The End of the Beginning

Chapter Five: The Longest Night

"Only if you tell me what possible significance the fact that it's the shortest day of the year can have," Percy said, digging his thumbs into the bottom of Oliver's back again.

"It's the longest night."

-"Keeper's Secrets", Wood's Keeper.

Neville smiled at Hermione as she came into the room and snuggled up against Susan under their blanket, passing her lover a cup of hot cocoa. Neville shook his head and turned back to the book in his hands. He was getting used to the displays of affection the two women showed. The fire crackled merrily as Neville turned a page, falling back into his book and into the Muggle world contained within its pages. He licked his lips slowly, ignoring the sting of his cracked lips as his eyes drank in the words. He was soon lost in the world beneath his eyes, gasping as a sword penetrated his hero's chest. He screamed suddenly as a hand covered the words he was reading. He glared up at Dennis, who gave him a small smile.

"You're being called," Dennis said. He nodded toward Percy who looked slightly put out after yelling Neville's name a few times.

"Oh," Neville said softly. He replaced the bookmark, setting the novel on the table as he stood and walked over to Percy.

Percy frowned down at him, his blue eyes ice cold. He silently looked over Neville's face before spinning on his heel, heading out of the common room. Neville followed, sighing softly at Percy's antics.

It had been like this for days, since Percy walked in on him and Draco in the Common Room. Neville had tried to explain but gave up after Dean pointed out he had nothing to explain. It was Percy's fault he had issues with his former lover moving on. The pair walked to Dumbledore's office, both saying the password at the same time. Percy glared at Neville before stepping onto the moving staircase. Neville rolled his eyes and joined Percy, wondering what Dumbledore could want with them this late at night.

As they opened the main door of the office, they saw Dumbledore standing at his desk, feeding Fawkes a bit of candy. There was no smile or twinkle to be found on the old man's face as he nodded to them, motioning for them to take a seat.

Neville did as requested and frowned, wondering what was going on now. Percy sat next to Neville, playing with the pen that he'd brought with him for taking notes. Dumbledore finally sat down and looked at them. "I received a frantic message this morning from Gryffindor Tower. Abbot Finch-Fletchley is missing."
*

Seamus groaned softly as he finished the long walk from Hogsmeade to Hogwarts. He rested against a rock, slowly rotating his sore ankles. Even with the magical healing Lucius had given him before leaving they still hurt, not used to being worked in such a manner -- even before Lucius crushed them.

He glanced around him, making sure no one was around, before lifting his sleeve and looking down at the laughing skull on his arm. He had done it. He didn't know why he had done it but that was a moot point now. He was a Death Eater, forever and always.

Lucius had seemed quite pleased when Seamus received the mark. More then just the pride one held for a favorite pet performing well. It was almost fatherly pride. It scared Seamus. At the same time it gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling, to have someone that proud of him. His father hadn't been proud of him for quite a while.

He sighed deeply and stood, picking up a stick to help him along, limping slightly, and wincing with each step. He raised his eyes up to the castle in front of him, and tried to picture his friends and lovers, to imagine what they were doing now. They could be in class, taking notes, gossiping and sleeping. Or perhaps they were just sitting down to tea. Little light sandwiches dangling from hands and lips as they attempted to finish the last of their late homework and talked even more about what was going on in the wizarding world. Maybe Dean was leaning over to Draco, attempting to read over the blond's hand as he copied down star charts, yawning, still tired from attempting to stay awake in Binns' class. Neville would probably be bouncing baby Abbot on his knee as he babysat him for Justin, laughing as the young child burped up tea and tried to steal "Uncle Nevvie's" biscuit.

Sighing, Seamus trudged on, ignoring the pain and the burning of the still fresh Dark Mark. He threw his walking stick into the lake as he passed it and pulled open the heavy doors to the Entrance Hall with a small groan. His muddy cloak left dragging marks as he walked across the marble floor and into the Great Hall. Standing in the doorway he surveyed the scene and realized that it wasn't the homecoming he had pictured his entire walk here. Something was wrong. The students and staff of Hogwarts stood in small groups, voices hushed, whispering. Neville's head was bent over a map, checking off places as each group checked in before heading back outside.

Draco was standing off to the side, his eyes resting on Neville, arms crossed over his chest, a cigarette dangling from his lips. You knew things were bad if Draco was smoking. He had sworn off the habit when Snape threatened to put a poisonous powder in one of his slender fags.

Hermione darted around the room, checking reports, marking off spots on the map, a spell book in hand as she glanced absently at it before tossing it into a pile of searched and now forgotten books. Grabbing another from Madam Pince she flicked through it as she ran to check in with another group. The scene threw Seamus. Memories filled his head of a time not that long ago when he stood in this very doorway and watched the same scene. It was then that he had to tell the gathered of Ron and Hannah's deaths. At least this time Hermione wouldn't faint and nearly kill herself on the end of a table.

"Honey, I'm home," he called out tonelessly. Everyone looked up at him, faces sad and drawn.

Dean started slowly toward Seamus, eyes never leaving his face, before breaking into a run and sweeping the shorter boy into a tight embrace, nearly cutting off Seamus' air supply. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he clutched his lover, mumbling something Seamus couldn't quite catch. It didn't matter. Seamus held on tight to Dean, his own tears staining his cheeks.

Dean finally pulled away and brushed his thumbs over Seamus' cheeks, wiping away the tears. He leaned closer and placed a small kiss on the boy's nose before leading him into the Great Hall, filling him in on the search for Abbot as the doors shut behind them.

*

Justin stared out over the lake, the cold wind whipping at him, tearing at his cloak, leaving him defenseless to its icy fingers. He watched blankly as the rest of his group trudged across the ice, peering into cracks, checking. Just in case.

Suddenly a scream rang out. Susan dropped to her knees, reaching into the hole Draco had made when he fell in. Lying flat on her stomach she reached in, searching under the edges before pulling out a wet, frozen blanket. Ernie stared at it before lying across from her, closing his eyes as he searched under the ice. The expression on his face told everything. Inch by inch, he carefully hauled up Abbot's body. Even though the child had been in the water for what could have been the entire time he was missing, Ernie carefully bundled him in his cloak, holding him close, trying not to feel how cold he was, trying not to notice how his eyes stared up sightlessly into the sky.

Susan clutched the blanket close to her, following Ernie. Her head bowed, hot tears streaking down her frozen cheeks as they headed towards the castle. Justin barely saw them go. He was still staring out over the frozen lake, a tear freezing to his cheek.

*

Earlier that day...

Justin gave Abbot a small smile as the babe cooed, thrashing his arms around, knocking off his Hufflepuff hat that Hermione had knit for him. The pair was walking across the Hogwarts grounds towards the lake. "Mommy wants to see you little one. Wants to see you all dressed up." Justin bent over, picking up the little hat, mashing it down on Abbot's head, and causing the baby to squeal slightly. Abbot looked up at him, blinking his brilliant blue eyes before blowing his father a raspberry. Justin smiled again as he carefully stepped onto the snowy ice. "She misses her little one." Abbot agreed by blowing another raspberry.

The cracks and holes in the ice showed as dark shadows as the rising sun hit them. Justin sat down next to one, fixing Abbot's blankets, kissing his son gently on the temple. "Daddy loves you," he whispered. "Tell mommy I love her too," he whispered, as he carefully slid young Abbot into the hole and under the ice. He sat there, a smile on his face as Hannah appeared, her arms reaching out to take Abbot from the ice. The sun's rays played over the crystallized ice, causing the hallucination to vanish. Justin hummed lightly as he stood, walking back across the ice carefully, a small smile on his face.

He wondered what Abbot and Hannah were doing now, as he pulled on his pajamas, sliding into his nice warm bed. The baby cradle next to him looked forlorn and far more than just empty. He reached out to adjust a little blanket, smiled and closed his eyes, dreaming of his wife and son.

*

Dumbledore pulled Neville away from the maps and notes, leaning in close to be sure they weren't overheard. "An owl has just arrived you may wish to see," he whispered, handing the scroll to the young man.

Neville accepted it and gasped has his eyes grazed over the words. "No."

"I'm sorry."

Neville glanced at Percy, before back at Dumbledore. "Are we sure?"

"Positive," Remus said from behind them. "I checked the house myself."

Neville closed his eyes, Mrs. Weasley's face appearing in his mind's eye. "How could they?"

"I do not know. The Weasleys were the most secure of those under our protection. If they could have gotten to them then I don't know how we are to keep the others safe."

"Bring them here," Neville, said at once. "We were the safest during the war and by gods we're going to be the safest after. I'm not allowing another family to die. Not after all I've worked for." Neville strode off; nearly slamming into Arabella Figg and Mundungus Fletcher as the pair appeared in the middle of the Great Hall to help with the search for Abbot.

Arabella looked after Neville then looked at Dumbledore and Remus, raising an eyebrow.

*
Harry sat in the Quidditch stands, looking out over the field, wishing he could feel the breeze that was rustling the tops of the flags. The memorial the students had set up to those lost in the war shone in the moonlight, the slowly dying flowers ruffling slightly, bending in towards the names carved in the marble.

Footsteps drew Harry's attention. He turned to look at Percy who was slowly climbing the stands to sit with him. The pair sat in silence for a long moment before Percy coughed. Harry waited but nothing came forth and Harry was happy to just sit there, waiting for when Percy wanted to speak.

"I still love him."

"I know."

Percy looked at the silvery image of his brother's best friend. "How do you know?"

"It's written on your face," Harry said softly. "Every time you look at him, touch him."

"Spying are we?"

Harry smiled, shrugging. "I'm not bound to this place, I just find it peaceful to sit here. He loves you too you know."

Percy snorted softly. "Right, and he shows it so well."

"Perce, he's been hurt."

"So he decided to hurt me back?"

"No. He decided to move on."

"Why?"

"Ask yourself. The answer is within you."

"Because I was stupid."

"Yes...and no."

"Thanks, Dumbledore."

Harry laughed. "Not even close. He moved on because he fears what he feels for you, fears who you are...what you are."

Percy stared down at the memorial below them. "What I can do."

"That, too."

"I love him."

"I know...and he knows, too."

"You know about...?"

"I know. And they're happy."

"I miss them. I didn't get to say..."

"I understand," Harry interrupted. "But they know."

"How can they?"

"It's part of being dead. We know things."

*

Evening meal was a silent affair that night. They sat around the table, heads bowed. Sniffling could be heard here and there. News of Abbot had spread like wildfire. When Madame Pomfrey came in, shaking her head, Susan had gone into fits and was now in the hospital wing, under sedation, Hermione by her side.

The news about the Weasleys' murders hadn't come any better. Fred, George and Ginny had tried to leave, to go to their parents' bodies, but Dumbledore held them back, telling them it wasn't safe. They were now in Gryffindor Tower with Bill and Charlie, grieving. Percy left the tower soon after his older brothers arrived and now couldn't be found, though Dumbledore assured Neville he was safe and still on the grounds.

Dumbledore looked around before standing, his mere presence calling for silence. "Tonight, we have lost two of our own. We grieve the loss, and we honor the memory. I ask you now to stand, and raise a glass. To the life unlived, and the lives lived well."

Neville stood with Dumbledore, repeating the words. Slowly the others stood, tears flowing down their faces as they spoke. Neville watched as, one by one, they stood, their voices raised to the sky.

Only one sat, only one continued to eat. Justin didn't hear a word around him as he worked on his baked potato, his vision filled with Hannah and Abbot.