Will You Ever Return to Me?

Chapter 9.

Wessex, England.

Despite not getting much sleep, both Harry and Megan walked through the country side at a brisk pace. Harry hoped the Ministry investigators already left--not that he counted on them to do anything productive. But he was almost certain that Bellatrix and Hund were involved in this. Voldemort was gone, even if Bellatrix believed otherwise, but that didn't mean the world was safe.

As they approached what was left of the house, Harry felt the precise moment they passed through the wards that kept Muggle from seeing its magical nature. Harry didn't think Mrs. Longbottom was the sort to booby-trap her residence--that was more like the Malfoys and the Blacks--but he still drew his wand.

Nothing happened. Harry walked around the ruins. The method of destruction was obvious: someone used magic to break several key support points, and walls, ceiling, and roof collapsed on each other. He shuddered, wondering if Mrs. Longbottom wad dead already when it happened or had actually been buried underneath.

"Hey, what're you doing here?" a voice demanded.

Harry turned to find himself staring down an aimed wand. Neville almost dropped it. "Who are you?" he said.

Harry had to admit to himself that he was afraid. He knew what a loss of someone you loved could do. "Neville, don't you recognize me? I'm Harry--"

"Harry Potter is dead," Neville said. "He died in Azkaban." He then looked at Megan. "And Harry wouldn't be with any girl except--"

"First of all, Neville, Megan isn't my girlfriend. As for dying, that's ADPL." He hoped that term would make Neville believe him.

It didn't. "Lots of people know that one," Neville said. "Harry is dead."

"Do I look dead?" Harry asked. "You can send an owl to Ron and Hermione, I'll wait."

"If you're alive, I should try to bring you in. You did escape from Azkaban, and you did kill--"

"That's also ADPL," Harry said.

Megan suddenly drew her wand. "What the hell haven't you been telling me, Potter? You killed? You were in prison? You escaped? You're a criminal on the run? I trusted--no wonder you didn't want to be brought in--did you put Ms. Clarence under Imperius--and what the hell's an ADPL?" She stopped, out of breath, but then opened her mouth again. Harry shook his head and laughed.

"What's so funny?" Megan demanded. "I've been--"

"You could have found out this at any time by simply going to newspaper archives. The story must have been covered in America, and even if it wasn't, there's got to be a magical library with past issues of the Prophet. Miss Lyman and I actually had a bet going as to when you'd find out. I'll have to pay up now."

"You... you took that risk? What if I went straight to the MLEA?"

"The American Magical Law Enforcement Agency?" Harry asked. "Well, Professor Clarence has friends there. We'd know, and I'd have to go into hiding again. An inconvenience, and a loss for you, but not life-threatening. I certainly do not have Professor Clarence under the Imperius curse--not to mention that for the idea to work, I'd have to do the same with Professor Lyman and Ginny at the very least. And in case you haven't noticed, all three are powerful witches, and they wouldn't be easy to control." He waited for Megan to absorb this, and continued. "ADPL is an acronym we used during the war. It stands for 'Another Daily Prophet Lie'--we've had too many of those."

"Why should I believe you?" Neville asked. He thought for a moment. "Show me your Patronus."
Harry wasn't sure if he'd be able to produce one after all he's been through. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the memory.... Entering the Common Room... the Quidditch team shouting, 'We won!'... Ginny running towards him... hug... kiss...

"Expecto Patronum!"

Harry opened his eyes. A bright white stag was prancing above them in the sky.

He looked at Neville, who appeared shocked. Only now did Harry notice how exhausted his old friend was. He warily stepped forward and was crushed in an embrace. "You're really alive... how?"

"I'm sorry, Neville," Harry said. "Your grandmother..."

"Do you know who it was?" he said.

"An idea, but no proof," Harry said. "And I don't think we should discuss this here. Plus, Luna will want to know too. Is she all right?"
"She is. But her dad's injured, so she watches him at St. Mungo's. Their house was destroyed the same way--but there was no Dark Mark, so it didn't get much publicity."

"So where are you going to live?"

"We'll rent a place for the summer, and then we'll live at Hogwarts, like we usually do."

"Why don't you room at Grimmauld Place?" Harry suggested. "I could use company, and the house should be watched."

"Grimmauld--" Megan asked.

"Grimmauld Place. My godfather left it tome. I lived there for a few months after the war."

"Err... all right," Neville said.

"Hold on." Harry took Megan's arm and Apparated with her.

Neville popped out a moment later. "Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London," Harry said, and a large house seemingly popped out of the ground.

Harry tapped the door with his wand. It creaked open. "Lumos," he said. "Be careful."

Their feet raised clouds of thickly piled dust. The house wasn't the cleanest place in the world when Harry lived here, and apparently no one has been inside since then. They stepped into the living room, and Harry couldn't believe what he saw by the light of the wands.

The fateful bottle of cognac was still on the table.