The Seers' Truth: A Broken Beginning

Chapter 18

In Remembrance

"Professor?" said Hermione, as Harry and Ron came over to Neville to assist him. "Professor Snape, excuse me, Sir?" She started for the front of the room, where Snape was working with Edward, but Harry put a hand on her shoulder.

"Wait, Hermione. I don't think I'd interrupt him right now."

"Nonsense." She pulled out of Harry's grasp and proceeded to the front of the room. She could now see through the barrier at this close proximity, but she still couldn't hear. What she saw was enough. The Pensieve Edward was looking into was crawling with dementers--thousands of them, by the looks of it. Hermione shivered even though she was not that close. She turned and went back to Harry, Ron and Neville, pulling her wand out of her pocket as she went.

"Ennervate!" she said, and Neville blinked awake. "Are you alight?" she asked. "I've never done that spell on a person, only on animals."

"I'm fine," said Neville with a strange haunted look. "I've never done that spell on a person either. Only on devils--I mean animals."

"Neville," interrupted Ron. "What's wrong? What did you see? If it will help to talk--"

"Not for talking," said Neville. "Mum. Mum's the word--"

Harry guessing what Neville had seen in the Pensieve, he put a supporting hand on his shoulder. Harry's own parents' death was one of the nasty memories he had to relive when faced with a dementer. He understood. "Neville," he said, "It's no shame to be upset. I saw my parents, in front of Voldemort--your parents--"

"I don't--know my parents," said Neville with a frown.

"Don't you go to visit them--I mean--er--on break--"

Neville thought about it for a minute. "No. I mean, I guess I do. I don't know--Where are they?"

"St. Mungo's!" Ginny interrupted suddenly. "Didn't you know?"

A look of total horror passed over Neville's face. It was instantly replaced by a look of total indifference. "Oh yes," he said. "I--ddid--magic--first time--when--when--the window--"

"When your uncle dropped you out of a window, right Neville?" said Ron. "You told us."

"Yes," said Neville, with relief.

"Then you used that as your happy memory after all," said Hermione. "Did it work? Did you get a Patronus--did any smoke come out of your wand?"

"Awnd?" Neville said in a little squeaky voice. "No. The smoke just went into the wand. She sucked it right out."

"Mr. Longbottom," said Snape as he directed Edward back to his seat. "Please come here."

"I did. Already," whined Neville.

"I'm aware of that," said Snape. "Come here. The rest of you are dismissed."

"Let's wait for Neville," said Ron.

"This happened to Neville before," said Harry softly to Ron and Hermione. "Remember in DADA last year when we were studying Cruciatus Curse? Afterwards, Neville wasn't speaking sense."

"I remember," said Hermione. "What do you think he saw in the Pensieve?"

"The same thing he remembered when Moody Crucioed the spiders," said Harry. "He saw his parents--"

"My Mum went in to see them when we were at St. Mungo's," said Ginny with a shudder. "I never knew--

"So, after Moody's class last year--" said Harry thoughtfully. "He didn't stay babbling for very long. What did he do?"

"He went to have tea," said Hermione. "With Moody."

"Not Moody," whispered Harry.

Harry and Hermione both hit on the same thought at once. "Crouch!"

"And Crouch was one of the Death Eaters that was convicted of torturing the Longbottoms!" said Harry.

"And you know this--how?" asked Ron.

"I'm sure Harry read the papers about his parent's death," said Hermione. "It was all over the Daily Profit--for weeks afterwards--all the Death Eater's trials--"

"Hermione?" questioned Ron.

"First year," she said with a blush. "I looked up the old papers, after I found out who Harry was--Sorry Harry."

"It's ok," said Harry, happy not to have to explain that he saw Crouch's trial in Dumbledore's Pensieve. After all, he had promised not to.

Neville came out of the classroom looking pale, but not as frazzled as he did a few minutes ago.

"What did Snape want?" asked Ron.

"J--just to tell me, to come b--back-"

"Back? After Apparition? For what?" snapped Harry. "A detention?"

"No," said Neville thoughtfully. "I d--don't think--"

"He can't do that!" said Ron.

"We'd better hurry," said Hermione.

Neville was looking into his bag confusedly, "I t--think I left my Dark--De--Defense b--book--Oh no, here it is."

Hermione, who was peering into the bag with him, noticed a glowing red ball. She said, "Neville, has that Remembrall ever worked right?"

"Well," said Neville, "It always gl--glows r--red, but then, I'm always for--g--getting s--something. I--I w--wonder w--what?"

"Can't be your homework," said Ron. "We haven't had this class yet."

They paused for just a moment before entering Professor Sinistra's Apparation class.

"Come in, come in," she said. "Don't hover at the door, like a bunch of post owls." Harry's impression was of no nonsense kind of teacher rather like McGonagall, but with a bit of a sense of humor. He didn't know what house she was in. She was a petite woman with fine blonde hair and very pale blue eyes.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville all sat together. There was not much chance to talk, but Hermione wrote on the top of her note parchment--I have an idea.

The class was almost an even split of Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs--all fifth years. Samara and Beatrice were not in the class. Neither were Edward and Ethan. Malfoy was there with Crabbe, but Goyle was conspicuously absent. The houses seated themselves in neat little groups. None of them mixed.

"You may sit in these seats," said Professor Sinistra. "But the first time I catch you for any transgression, you will lose the privilege of sitting by your friend. There will be no second chances in this class. After all, you don't get a second chance to Apparate if you botch it.

"All of you who are here had to receive permission from your Transfiguration teacher to be scheduled for this class. If you cannot consistently transfigure objects and animals, you cannot Apparate. So, for those of you who are missing friends, there is nothing I can do to help you.

"Apparition is a tricky subject. Unlike other subjects, it cannot be taught exactly from a book."

Hermione glanced over at Harry to see him smiling at her.

"You can learn theory from a book. You could write down all the right answers on a test that I give and still not be able to Apparate. Some wizards grow to adulthood and never learn to Apparate. That is because Apparition is a state of mind as well as a magic.

"Who knows what the word sorcerer, means?

Hermione's hand shot into the air.

Sinistra looked at the rest of the class, who were sitting quietly taking notes or listening. Sinistra nodded to Hermione. "For today, please say your names before you answer," she said. "That way, I will learn your names."

"Hermione Granger: The word Sorcerer came from the word "source" which means all there is. A sorcerer draws on his own source of power; therefore one who could draw on the source is a sorcerer."

"2 points to--what house child?"

"Gryffindor."

"Very well then, Gryffindor.

"Can someone tell us some of the possible places we might look for our source?"

"Inside ourselves. Wizards and witches," said Lisa Turpin, and collected her two points for Ravenclaw.

"The Elementals," said Draco Malfoy.

"And those are--?" asked Sinistra. Draco started to answer, but Sinistra had already moved on.

"Susan Bones. Earth, wind, fire and water," answered Susan.

"Very nice. 2 points to Slytherin and 2 points to Hufflepuff." She nodded at both Draco and Susan.

Sinistra settled herself at her desk and looked at the class. "This is the most important point you need to learn to Apparate. The space and elements around you seek to help you. You are master over all of the animals--even the magical ones--because only wizards and witches have the ability to Apparate--objects, animals or yourself. The wizards that do best at Apparition have a bit of an attitude. Their arrogance doesn't allow them to fail. I guarantee that if you can transfigure a cup into a turtle, you can Apparate, but some of you won't believe me, and that is your downfall.

"Simply put, you dissolve an object to it's molecular level, which is similar to transfiguration, summon it, which is a kind of charm, and reform it where you wish, which of course is again transfiguration with some obvious changes. We will begin with objects, progress to animals and when you are proficient enough to manage that; we will attempt human Apparition, with some safeguards.

"The mistakes most often happen at the reforming level. That is when you fail to reform part of the object or yourself. In the case of people, any failure to reform properly is called 'splinching.' It is not usually easily correctable by another wizard; just like failed transfigurations are not usually correctable by another wizard. Mistakes are made for one reason and one reason only--lack of resolve on the part of the wizard. It is essential that you concentrate in this class.

"Only about 20 percent of you will actually learn Apparition in this class. There is only one reason why the rest of you will not learn. You will give up. You will quit before the spell is finished. I will warn you now, in my class, if you fail to Apparate an animal you will care for whatever it becomes, until it dies of natural causes--"

Sinistra's hazel eyes flashed fire as she looked at the Slytherins. "And there will be no mercy killings," she said. "When you make a mistake, you take responsibility for it. Now. We will begin."

She placed a cup in front of each of the students. "I want you to transfigure the cup into a turtle."

Everyone in the class got the transfiguration on the first try.

"Very nice. You are all able to Apparate. How many of you believe me?"

A few hands hesitantly went into the air--mostly Ravenclaws. One hand belonged to Hermione, but Ron and Harry kept their hands down, afraid that Sinistra might ask for a demonstration. Harry noted that Draco had raised his hand.

"He probably already knows how," commented Harry in a whisper. "Has to Apparate to Voldemort, doesn't he?"

Ron sniggered.

Sinistra walked through the rows, telling some students to transfigure the turtle back into a cup, but she told everyone different colors, and she paired the students with another student across the room. Hermione was paired with Lisa Turpin. Ron was paired with Justin Finch-Fletchley and Harry, predictably, was paired with Draco Malfoy.

"Now," said Sinistra, "I want those of you with turtles in front of you to look at your partner's cup. Transfigure it into its composite molecules, summon it to yourself and then turn it back into a cup."

There was quite a lot of crashing cups breaking on the floor, and some people, Harry included, let the molecules slip through his fingers somehow and couldn't properly form the cup in front of him. It became a red puddle instead of a red cup. Hermione also seemed to lose something, because although her cup looked right, it was not completely solid.

"Hey, look," said Draco snidely. "The mudblood made a ghost cup. Maybe you can give it to Nearly Headless Nick as a deathday present."

The class chuckled, but Professor Sinistra was not amused. "2 points from Slytherin. Didn't I just say that lack of confidence is the reason why many fail to learn Apparition?" she said. "I will not have students taunting one another in my class. Let's see yours, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco managed to bring the cup to himself and transfigure it but the handle was missing.

Sinistra said nothing, but Harry couldn't help but snigger. "Doesn't look like you did much better, Malfoy," said Harry.

"There will be no disparaging remarks in this class, Mr. Potter. None. If you cannot encourage one another, keep your mouth shut. Understood?"

Harry nodded.

"2 points from Gryffindor."

Sinistra continued to walk around the room helping people for a while. No one, as yet, managed to wholly bring the cup to himself or herself. Then Sinistra suggested the unthinkable.

"While your partner is doing the spell, I want you to encourage them. Tell them that you know they can do it. Tell them that they are gathering up all the molecules and drawing them close to themselves. If they seem to be having trouble concentrating, you can put up a silencing shield for them. You may move closer together if you wish, but physical space has nothing to do with it. Begin."

Harry raised his hand. "Professor Sinistra, I think Malfoy and I would do better with different partners. We are not exactly supportive of each other."

"No," she said shortly.

"But Professor--"

"Mr. Potter, these are not arbitrary partnerships. According to the cast of the runes, as well as tarot, these are the best partners I can give each of you. Now, choose who will begin, and then begin." She turned away, leaving Harry with a rather disgruntled Draco.

"I didn't choose you either, Potter," said Draco. "I would've rather had the mudblood. She's smarter."

"I would have rather had Neville," spat Potter.

"Fine. I'll go first," said Draco.

"Yeah, better hurry up and learn to Apparate, faster to get to the Dark Lord," said Harry.

The cup dropped and shattered on the table. Draco put his wand under Harry's nose, and Professor Sinistra was suddenly beside them repairing the broken cup. "Try again," she said.

Harry waved his wand and the cup vanished. It was like liquid in his mind. It felt untouchable, like the invisibility cloak, he struggled to hold on to all of the pieces. "You can do it, Potter. Just like you Accioed that broomstick last year--it's coming together."

No, thought Harry, like he Accioed the Triwizard Cup last year. He HAD TO do it, to bring Cedric's body back and save himself. Suddenly all the pieces were there and the cup was sitting in front of him.

"Bravo," drawled Draco. There was no other sound. Draco had erected a silencing shield for him and coached him.

"Thanks," Harry said, a little uncomfortable to be in Draco's debt.

"Don't mention it. My turn." Draco dropped the silencing shield and the noise of the room came crashing back.

"Can't concentrate with all this noise," complained Draco, and Harry put up another silencing shield for Draco.

"This isn't hard," said Harry. "You can do it, Draco. Pretend it's someone you care about--in danger--" Harry was thinking how easy it would have been to escape the Chamber of Secrets if he could have Apparated, but apparently, Draco had some form of reference too, because the cup literally snapped itself into form in front of Draco.

"Draco," Harry asked curiously, "Who were you thinking of--"

"None of your business, Potter," Draco sneered. "No one. I'm just better at this than you are--"

Draco raised his wand and smashed down Harry's silencing shield. He stalked over to Professor Sinistra. "I've got it," he said. "When can I start on animals?"

"It will be a while yet," said Professor Sinistra. "Right now, I'd like you and Harry to join one of the teams that are having trouble and coach them."

Harry ignored Draco as he headed back to the Slytherin side of the room. Harry went to help Neville and Terry Boot. Terry went through all the calculations involved in changing the cup, which actually made Harry a little queasy.

Neville, red-faced was stuttering.

"Neville," confided Harry, "if I had looked at all those numbers, I would have never gotten it back to me. Just relax. It's no harder than simultaneously doing a transfiguration and a summoning spell. You can do both of them."

Neither Terry nor Neville had managed to bring the cup anywhere near themselves. They were no closer to success when the class ended, and Neville's stuttering had gotten worse. He could barely string two words together. "I sh--sh--shouldn't be here," said Neville. "I c-can't do this."

It was only when class was over that Harry realized the only people who had managed to bring the cup intact to themselves was Draco and him.

===

Neville was walking with them, but once they reached the Great Hall, Hermione asked, point blank, "Why are you stuttering like this, Neville?"

"L-like what?"

"You did this before," said Harry. "When Barty Crouch, masquerading as Moody, showed us the Cruciatus Curse. Remember?"

"No," said Neville hesitantly. "B--Barty?"

"I don't like him going to Snape like this," said Hermione.

"I have to--" said Neville.

"Go with him, Hermione," said Harry. "Keep the dungeon door open for me."

"What are you going to do?" asked Hermione.

"Cloak," whispered Harry and took off for Gryffindor Tower at a run. He usually didn't like to use the Invisibility Cloak during the day. Too many people were around and it was hard to walk without inadvertently running into someone, but this was an emergency. Running through the corridor when you could be seen was difficult enough. Running when you were invisible was impossible.

Harry walked as quickly as he could down the stairs from the dormitory. Ron opened the portrait hole for him and he hurried to the dungeon. Hermione was standing in the doorway of the dungeon talking to a very annoyed Snape.

"I just wanted to ask one more question about the Patronus," she said. "If it is usually an animal, is it possible to be a magical animal?"

"Yes," Snape said in exasperation. "I really need to talk to Neville now, Miss Granger. Good-bye."

Harry managed to brush by her under the Invisibility Cloak, just before Snape pushed her out and shut the door.

Snape led Neville back to the Pensieve. "I saw something in your Pensieve that I didn't expect to see," he said. "I want to see it again."

"No," whined Neville. "I really--"

"I removed the charm," interrupted Snape. "You will not have to remain within the memory like you did before. Just watch it, not live it."

Neville started to cry.

"Stop sniveling," snapped Snape, "And come here!"

Neville did as he was told, and with Snape's help, he siphoned off a thought just as Dumbledore had done. Harry moved closer, still under the Invisibility cloak, to see the thoughts in the Pensieve.

++

In the Pensieve, there was a blinding flash of light.

"Crucio!"

When Baby Neville opened his eyes two more men were lying on the ground, but his parents were also on the ground: twitching and crying.

The bad people were hurting his Mum and Da. They asked questions and every time they spoke, his Mum and Da would cry out like babies.

"Mum-mum-mum-" Baby Neville, in the Pensieve, cried fretfully.

Baby Neville could tell that the bad people were hurting his Mum and Da--If they weren't hurt, they would come when he cried--he cried to a long time and no one came--His frustration gave way to anger. They were supposed to come when he cried. His cry rose to a screech of uncontrollable rage and the sitting room window shattered.

++

Snape looked at Neville in wonder.

++

The sounds in the room dropped to silence except for Frank and Anne Longbottom's moans. "They have a child," said Narcissia, staring at the broken window. "A son. Draco's age. I'd forgotten."

"That young?" said the one they called Barty. With one more glance at the broken window, he said, "I'll find him."

Baby Neville hiccupped and sucked his thumb.

Finally, Valeriana put her wand against his mother's stomach. "Leave Frank alone," she said. "Maybe he will tell us more if he's watching his wife suffer--Crucio!"

His mother's cries echoed in his ears.

"Crucio!"

They didn't sound human anymore.

"Crucio!"

Surely that wasn't his mother?

"Crucio!"

His father was sobbing and whimpering. "Stop. Stop. Please. Stop."

They stopped. Only his mother's ragged breathing was heard. She began to cough and spat clots of blood on the carpet. She lay, twitching uncontrollably, her hands clenching and unclenching.

"Tsk. Tsk, Valeriana," said Narcissia. "Too rough. We don't want to kill her before we get the information. You'd better let someone else take over."

Lucius put the point of his wand under his father's chin. "Where did the Ministry Muggle-lovers take Our Lord?" he asked menacingly.

"I don't--" Lucius spun around and pointed his wand at Mum. "CRUCIO!"

++

Tears were running down Neville's face. He was sobbing, and Snape was completely ignoring him. If Harry ever wanted to curse Snape, it was now. The cold-hearted son of a--

++

Suddenly the pensieve rippled as if a strong wind had blown across it.

++

"There!" said Snape excitedly. "That's it."

What? thought Harry. What did Snape see?

"Neville, it's blocked," said Snape. "It's a memory charm. If we can just--"

Snape turned toward Neville, but this was a Neville that Harry had never seen. His wand was raised against Snape and his eyes were glazed. "Imperio!" he snapped. Snape, never expecting anything like this from Neville, was hit squarely with the spell--a spell that the old Neville never would have been able to control.

"You were mistaken," said Neville, his wand trained on Snape. "You saw nothing out of the ordinary. Just Auror torture. No point in making this child suffer more. Tell him to go."

"Yes," said Snape. "Just Auror torture--" But already Snape was reaching for his wand. Harry realized that Snape was no longer controlled by Neville's Imperio, if indeed he ever was--With a quick flick of his wand, Neville's glazed look vanished.

"I have the Pensieve ready," said Snape, as if Neville had just entered the room. "It's not charmed. You won't have to stay in the memory like you did before. And you won't need your wand."

Neville looked at his wand in confusion. He had no idea why he had it in his hand.

"Put your wand away, and come here," snapped Snape.

"No--" protested Neville. He started to cry.

"Stop sniveling," Snape's voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "And come here! NOW!"

Neville did as he was told. With shaking hands and Snape's help, he siphoned off several thoughts just as Dumbledore had done. Harry, still under the Invisibility cloak, watched thoughtfully.

Neville had put his hands over his eyes. He was silently crying while standing beside Snape. Snape ignored him, his eyes on the Pensieve.

++

In the Penseive, there was a blinding flash of light.

"Crucio!"

When Baby Neville opened his eyes two more men were lying on the ground, but his parents were also on the ground: twitching and crying.

The bad people were hurting his Mum and Da. They asked questions and every time they spoke, his Mum and Da would cry out like babies.

"Mum-mum-mum-" Baby Neville said fretfully against the Mutus Charm, but no sound was heard.

Baby Neville could tell that the bad people were hurting his Mum and Da--If they weren't hurt, they would come when he cried--he cried to a long time and no one came--His frustration gave way to anger. They were supposed to come when he cried. His cry rose to a screech of uncontrollable rage and the sitting room window shattered.

The sounds in the room dropped to silence except for Frank and Anne Longbottom's moans. "They have a child," said Narcissia, staring at the broken window. "A son. Draco's age. I'd forgotten."

"That young?" said the one they called Barty. With one more glance at the broken window, he said, "I'll find him."

Neville hiccupped and sucked his thumb. He was suddenly exhausted, but did not sleep. He watched the people who were hurting his parents. In his little baby mind, he sensed this was important--

Finally, Valeriana put her wand against his mother's stomach. "Leave Frank alone," she said. "Maybe he will tell us more if he's watching his wife suffer--Crucio!"

His mother's cries echoed in his ears.

"Crucio!"

They didn't sound human anymore.

"Crucio!"

Surely that wasn't his mother?

"Crucio!"

The Pensieve rippled and then cleared.

++

"Professor," said the fifteen year old Neville, "I want to stop. Please. Let me--"

"Just a little more," said Snape. "Do you know why you want to stop?"

Harry clenched his fists. Of course Neville wanted to stop looking at this. Only a sadistic son-of-a-bitch like Snape would enjoy watching this.

++

Frank Longbottom was sobbing and whimpering. "Stop. Stop. Please. Stop."

They stopped. Only his mother's ragged breathing was heard. She began to cough and spat clots of blood on the carpet. She lay, twitching uncontrollably, her hands clenching and unclenching.

"Tsk. Tsk, Valeriana," said Narcissia. "Too rough. We don't want to kill her before we get the information. You'd better let someone else take over."

++

"Please. Please. Let me--quit," begged the fifteen year old Neville. "I don't want to see this again." Neville was crying uncontrollably.

Snape was completely unmoved.

"Please--" Neville reached out and touched Snape's sleeve.

Snape shoved him away, as if he'd been burned. "Shut up! You little brat and let me think. And you call yourself a Gryffindor? Stop Sniveling and pull yourself together!"

Neville wrapped his arms around himself and hiccupped as he tried to get control over his sobs. He looked and sounded remarkably like the one year old version of himself in the Pensieve.

"Do I have to look?" Neville asked.

"Yes," said Snape shortly.

Harry's hand had gone to his wand. If Snape didn't stop soon--But then he hesitated. What did it take to break a memory charm? Harry wished Dumbledore were here instead of Snape. Why hadn't Snape sent Neville to Dumbledore? The awful truth hit him. Snape wanted to know what the memory was before he gave it to Dumbledore and the side of light.

Snape turned back to the Pensieve. "Just a little more Neville. You can handle it. If it helps your parents, you can do it, can't you?"

Neville sniffed and nodded. They turned back to the Pensieve.

++

Lucius put the point of his wand under his father's chin. "Where did the Ministry Muggle- lovers take Our Lord?" he asked menacingly.

"I don't--" Lucius spun around and pointed his wand at Mum. "CRUCIO!"

"Albania," breathed his father.

"It's a big country," said Lucius.

"I don't know where!" moaned his father. "I swear--"

"I believe him," said Desmond Lestrange.

"One way to be sure," said Narcissia pulling a small vial from her pocket. "Veritaserum."

She pulled open father's lip and dropped some into the space between his lip and his clenched teeth.

"Why--Why didn't you use it before?" Da croaked.

"You've turned too many of our friends over to those Azkaban monsters," said Lucius softly. "You've got a long way to suffer before you die--"

"Tell me how much you know about our Dark Lord," said Desmond. Da began to speak, but it didn't sound like him. He sounded far away and so sad--

The Penseive rippled wildly.

++

"No. NO. NO. NO," Neville was inconsolable, his wand in his hand.

Snape stunned him, and took the wand, placing it out of reach on one of the far desks. Neville dropped to the floor, crying. "I don't--even remember them," he sobbed. He was shaking, but now, somewhat in control.

"Do you know what I'm looking at?" said Snape as he stared into the blank, silvery Pensieve.

"It's b--ad. Evil. They knew--He-who--who--who--"

"I know who," said Snape. "What else do you want to tell me?"

"Mum-mum-mm. Said. Safe. Not--not-ss-ssafe."

"Ok," said Snape, "I understand. We're not going to talk about that anymore."

Neville breathed an audible sigh of relief, and put both hands on his forehead. "Hurts," he said.

"I know," said Snape. "I know what if feels like. You're babbling. That's good enough for me. Rest for a moment. Then we will try again."

"NO! I won't!" Neville began to screech uncontrollably and the glass in the front case of Snape's cupboard shattered.

"Somnus!" pronounced Snape and Neville immediately dropped off to sleep. Snape left him lay where he fell, and did Repairo on the cupboard. Then he went back over to the Pensieve. He waved his wand over it, and the silvery blank space was bypassed. Snape and Harry looked at the next part of the memory while Neville slept--Harry from his vantage-point under the Invisibility cloak and Snape, by touching the contents of the Penseive and entering the memory.

++

Baby Neville couldn't see any more. A black robe blocked his view. "I've found the child," said Barty Crouch. "I can't get him out. He's protected."

"Let me see." The woman, Valeriana, came over and stared at the now visible Neville. He looked into her hooded black eyes and was afraid. She examined the wards for a moment and then pointed her wand at him to open the wards. "Rescindo," she said and although the fire of the spell rolled around the outside of his hiding place, the spell was not broken, and Neville stayed inside its protection.

"Avada Kedavra would get through it," said Barty.

"Be my guest," said Valeriana gesturing. "He's an Auror's child and until I know what he's protected by, I'm not trying Avada. I don't want to end up like my sister."

Barty nodded. "I guess you're right. These children are dangerous."

Valeriana sighed and stooped down to Neville's level. "Hello, little wizard," she said softly. "Get the Mother."

Barty dragged Neville's mother over to his hiding place, but Neville did not think she looked like his mother. No one was still living inside of her body. Her eyes were as smooth and blank as a lake on a clear day. "Your son needs you," Valeriana hissed. "You have to open the ward. He's going to starve to death! No one will find him!"

His mother stared at him unseeing. "Mum-mum-mum-mum," said Neville plaintively, but no sound came out. The others could see his lips moving and encouraged him. His mother did nothing but occasionally twitch or moan. Once she shivered all over and opened her mouth and screamed. Baby Neville began to cry.

++

Harry put his hand over his mouth to keep from crying himself. It was intolerable for Neville to have to see his parents like this! Snape was sitting unmoving and unemotional beside him. Since his consciousness was within the Pensieve, Harry had no idea how all of this was affecting Snape. Knowing Snape, he probably didn't care at all.

++

"She's useless," spat Valeriana, pushing her aside. "Ok little wizard. You are going to have to do this yourself."

"Are you crazy?" asked Desmond. "He's a baby. He can't do magic."

The Pensieve flickered again and went silver.

++

Snape emerged from the memory. He looked absolutely horrible. Harry had never seen him look so worn and tired. Dark circles were under his already dark eyes, and he looked like he had lost about thirty pounds in the last ten minutes. He rubbed his skeletal face with his long fingers, and reached for his wand. "Dissimulatum aspectum," he murmured and Snape looked more like his usual self. Harry stared, open-mouthed. Snape had just done a glamour charm on himself and then he awakened Neville. "Help me to see this, Neville," said Snape.

"What?" Neville looked at the Pensieve and for a brief moment it cleared.

++

"Have you had a good look at the window?" said Valeriana, glaring at her husband. "All I need is a crack." Valeriana sat next to him for the next half-hour coaxing him to reach for a stuffed owl, a magic rattle that showered sparks like a wand, a cookie, a bottle--

++

It went silver again, and Neville was shaking like he was freezing to death. "Hurts," he croaked. "I--I--I--couldn't--" He shut his eyes and covered his face with his hands. Then he raised his face and held out his hand.

"Accio!" cried Neville and his wand was in his hand.

"Expelliarmus!" spat Snape.

"D--D--id I just try to--OHH!" Neville covered his mouth with his hands and whispered, "I'm sorry--I--"

"You're more of a wizard than we thought, aren't you, Longbottom?" snarled Snape as he pocketed Neville's wand.

"What h--happened?" asked Neville. "I d--idn't d--d--o it on purpose."

"I know. Someone doesn't want us to see the next part of the memory," said Snape. "And we do want to keep you in one piece, Neville. Dumbledore is so fond of his Gryffindors. Fragile little things that they are--let's try to speed this up--shall we? I would like to get some dinner and go to sleep tonight. How about some nice memories to get you relaxed? Let's go back to the evening before--say three hours before the Death Eaters came--Maybe your parents will tell us what you cannot."

Snape pulled Neville's wand out of his own pocket and handed it to him. Neville took it hesitantly.

"This should be easier," said Snape.

Neville nodded.

"Can you speak now?"

"I c-can," Neville stuttered.

"Do you know what information your parents were tortured for?"

"Where--where was the D-D-Dark -LL--"

"What else?" said Snape. "There was something else."

Neville tried to talk, but not a single word would come out of his mouth. He nodded furiously, and then covered his face again sobbing. "Hurts," he muttered.

"It's Ok," said Snape. "Maybe your parents will tell us something--earlier"

Snape helped Neville take yet another memory from his temple and put it in the Pensieve. Neville looked a little calmer. He had dried his eyes and wiped his face with his handkerchief. He seemed to be breathing easier, which made Harry feel a little less apprehensive.

++

The toddler awoke and looked at the mobile like illusion that had been magiked to entertain him, but today it didn't distract him from the cold, ugly fear that filled his child's heart. Baby Neville Longbottom started to cry. "Mum-mum-mum-mum-mum-" he sobbed.

Almost immediately he felt his father's warm arms surround him. He snuggled against his father's bare chest, his tiny hands gripping the dark hairs that grew there. It was as if his father had been sitting beside his crib waiting for him to awaken. Indeed, Frank Longbottom had been awake and troubled. He shifted the baby to his left arm and tucked his wand into the waistband of his pajama bottoms because he didn't have a pocket and tonight he wanted his wand nearby.

Neville sniffed and blinked his large blue eyes at his father. "Da--"

"Shh-hh-hh."

"Awnd!" said Neville reaching--

"Yes, that's Daddy's wand," said Frank, readjusting his son in his arms so he couldn't reach the wand.

"Mum-mum?"

"Mum's asleep," said Frank Longbottom as he settled himself in the rocking chair by the fireplace and cuddled his only son. "As you should be, my little lad."

"No," said Neville.

"Yes," his father contradicted.

"No, seep."

"Yes, sleep. Sh-h-h-"

Neville and Frank watched the fire in silence for a few minutes. Then Neville lifted his head from his father's shoulder. "Foo," he said.

"Floo," Frank corrected automatically.

"Foo, Maam-Ah."

++

Neville chuckled softly at his baby voice. "I--h--h--ad a dr--dream," he said.

"I surmised as much," said Snape softly. "They should have listened to you."

++

"No, floo," said Frank pushing his son's head against his shoulder. "We're not going anywhere tonight. Go back to sleep."

But Neville didn't go back to sleep. "Mum-mum-mum-" began Neville getting louder and louder and louder--

"Frank?" called Anne Longbottom from the bedroom, "What's wrong?" Rubbing her eyes she wandered into the sitting room.

"Neville woke up," Frank said.

"But you were already awake, weren't you?" asked Anne softly. "What did you dream, Frank?"

"Nothing. Just a feeling," said Frank Longbottom. Anne, who had long ago learned to trust her husband's feelings, returned to their bedroom and retrieved her wand. She put it in the pocket of her night robe and together they sat in the room. Talking softly, so as not to disturb Neville, they waited.

"It should be over," Anne said.

"It's not," replied Frank.

"But Voldemort is defeated. I can hardly believe it. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes--"

++

"I didn't know your parents were there at his defeat," said Snape.

Neville didn't answer.

++

"Do you think Narcissa and Valeriana are going to let their sister's death go un-avenged?" interrupted Frank.

++

Harry sucked in his breath. Narcissa? He thought, as in Draco's mother?

++

"Well they should. She was trying to kill a baby! What kind of sick--"

"Sick is right," interrupted Frank. "But that doesn't make them less dangerous."

"What are they going to do? Take out their frustrations on the Potter baby? If they do, they may be just as dead as Laurel. I wonder what spell Lily Potter did to protect that child? It's certainly awesome."

Frank shook his head. "I don't know, but I wouldn't want to try to kill him. The reflective curse not only killed Laurel. It reduced Voldemort to something--" Frank shivered. "Lower than a slug."

++

Harry crumpled a handful of the Invisibility cloak in his hand. He knew about Voldemort, of course, but he never knew about Laurel. He never knew that he--or his mother's protection--had killed someone. He was so distracted that he almost missed the next sentence spoken by Anne.

++

"Do you really think that Voldemort was possessed by the soul of Salazar Slytherin?" asked Anne.

"From what I've heard of Salazar, I don't think he had a soul," said Frank, "But it doesn't matter what we think. It only matters that the fanatics believe it. They will try to find Voldemort's remains. I'd bet Galleons on it--"

"The immortality," said Anne. "That part was right at least."

"I don't think I'd want to be alive if I had to live out my days in the thing that Voldemort was left with--You didn't see him. I pity the wizards in Albania who are charged with finding a way to imprison him."

Anne shivered. "I think he's formed his own prison." They sat in silence for a while, admiring their perfect baby boy, whose eyes were finally drooping.

"What happened to the Potter boy?" asked Anne. "Did Dumbledore really send him to live with Muggles?"

++

Me, thought Harry. They're talking about me.

++

"That's the news at the ministry," said Frank. "But it's all very hush-hush--Dumbledore's afraid Voldemort's followers will still try to kill him. His mother's spell gives him some protection as long as he's with her relatives, and Dumbledore's not sure what part he plays in Trelawney's prophecy. He went to see her to find out."

"Where's Sybill living now?"

Frank shook his head, "I don't know. Somewhere secluded where her inner eye is unclouded."

"Too bad there isn't a place where her brain is unclouded," quipped Anne.

Frank snorted.

++

And so did Neville. It was all Harry could do to keep from laughing himself.

"Do you remember anything about Salazar?" asked Snape and the laughter died from Neville's eyes.

"Ju--just that he was a S---S--Slytherin. And one of the F--founders of Hogwarts."

++

A silence followed. The only sound within the Pensieve was the sound of the rocking chair moving and the growing howl of a cold November wind.

"I'd hate to see that Potter child raised by Muggles, Frank."

"Me too."

"He's just Neville's age," said Anne.

"It's not that Dumbedore wants him to be raised by Muggles. It's that he wants the boy to be safe."

"There are a lot of places in the wizarding world which could be safe," spat Anne.

"Such as living with two Aurors, perhaps?" said Frank with a twinkle in his eye.

"Perhaps," she said, moving behind Frank and rubbing his tense shoulders. "Why don't you lay Neville in his crib," said Anne. "He's asleep."

There was a flash of light and a soft pop outside that had nothing to do with the wind--followed by another and another and another--

++

Neville froze a look of terror on his face. "They're c--c--coming."

"Finis," said Snape, with a wave of his wand. "I think it's time for you to go get something to eat. It has to be almost supper time."

"P--Professor. Why don't I re-re-m-member them?" Neville was shaking uncontrollably. "My parents--"

"You will," said Snape. "Now that we know. It will just take time, and I think you're at the end of your endurance today. Come back on Monday after classes."

"Know w--what?" asked Neville.

Snape didn't answer. "Come back on Monday, after classes." He repeated. With a wave of his wand, he produced a pot of tea and added a potion to it. "Now, drink this," Snape said. "And I'll see you on Monday."

Afterwards, Neville paused at the door, and Harry slipped by them. "Professor," he said. "Thank you. I want to remember my parents."

===

When Neville got back to the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron and Hermione were waiting for Harry to come down from his room. "Want to go to dinner with us?" asked Hermione.

"Sure," said Neville cheerfully. "Have you seen Lou around?"

"He's at the library with Edward," said Hermione. "They'll be here shortly."

"So what did Snape want?" asked Ron, as Harry came down from the dormitory.

"It was strange," said Neville. "We just had a cup of tea and talked about my parents. I think he was worried about me." Neville shook his head. "Maybe there was more to Samara's cheering charm than we thought."

"It couldn't have lasted that long," said Harry. "Are you sure Snape was--er--Cheerful?

"Well, just nicer, I guess," said Neville. "It had to be the cheering charm."

Ron shrugged. "Let's eat," he said. "I'm starved."

<<<===>>>