Resistance

Chapter 15 - Harry's Return

Neville could hardly believe his eyes, even though this was what he'd been waiting for all year. Harry, Ron and Hermione, there in the little upstairs room of the Hog's Head. It seemed bizarre to see them in that setting, with Ab. They all looked older somehow, their clothes were ragged and their hair long and unkempt. But then he hardly looked spick and span himself.

'I knew you'd come,' he said again, as he hugged Hermione, not caring that she was a girl. 'Kept telling Seamus it was a matter of time.' Even as he said it, a part of him still wondered that he'd actually been right. He wanted to keep touching them, to prove they were real.

'Neville, what's happened to you?' asked Harry, peering at his face.

But Neville wasn't going to be distracted by questions and waved Harry's concern away. He could hardly wait to get them back to the Room of Requirement and show everyone. Show them that he'd been right, that they were going to fight and win. 'This is nothing, Seamus is worse. You'll see. Shall we get going then?' He had to restrain himself from dragging them into the tunnel, but as he turned away from the room a thought struck him. 'Oh, Ab, there might be a couple more people on the way.'

'Couple more?' said Ab, scowling at him. 'What d'you mean, 'a couple more', Longbottom? There's a curfew and a caterwauling charm on the whole village!'

'I know, that's why they'll be Apparating directly into the bar. Just send them down the passage when they get here, will you? Thanks a lot.' He was too happy and excited to be bothered much about Ab's sulking - and he knew that Dumbledore's brother would help, even if he grumbled about it. He helped Hermione into the tunnel, then followed Ron up.

Harry stopped to say something to Aberforth, and Neville used the chance to pull out his Galleon and send the message. A shiver went up his spine. Soon they'd all be back together, and it would all be over - or at least, beginning to be over. Taking Hogwarts back would be the start, and from there they'd get back the Ministry, and defeat You-Know-Who properly.

Neville felt as though he was walking on air as they made their way back along the tunnel, and couldn't stop grinning. He could hardly wait to see the looks on the faces of the DA when he arrived in the Room of Requirement. On the way, he filled in Harry, Ron and Hermione on events in Hogwarts. They reacted with dismay, but Neville had the feeling they didn't really understand just what it had been like. Their own story was more exciting - they confirmed they'd escaped Gringotts on a dragon - but when he tried to find out exactly what they'd been doing, Harry changed the subject to Hogwarts.

By the time he'd relayed the events of the past year, right up to his Gran's escape and his own close encounter with the Carrows, they'd reached the portrait at the other end. Barely able to contain his glee, he pushed open the door into the familiar room and cried, 'Look who it is! Didn't I tell you!'

The next minute passed in a blur with everyone rushing to greet their three lost friends. Neville smiled even more broadly at the amazement and delight on the faces of his comrades. They'd been through so much, and now the end was in sight. Seeing Harry was in danger of being completely mobbed, he called out in his best authoritative tone, 'OK, OK, calm down,' and watched as the DA obeyed him.

Harry, Ron and Hermione expressed interest in the Room of Requirement and how it worked, and everyone chipped in with telling how the room had evolved since they started living in it. Neville felt buoyed up by happiness and anticipation, almost bouncing on the balls of his feet. But as the conversation turned once again to what Harry and the others had been doing for the past year, he began to feel a sense of unease creeping over him.

Harry didn't look right. Apart from being unkempt and unshaven, which was to be expected, he was also pale and his scar appeared more livid than he remembered. When Seamus asked what the trio had been aiming to steal from Gringotts, Harry went so pale Neville thought he was going to faint. He swayed and beads of sweat appeared on his brow, Ron grabbing his friend to hold him upright. Neville's vague misgiving was replaced by real alarm.

Cursing himself for not being more thoughtful of his friend, he grabbed a chair and tried to get Harry to sit, but Harry cut off his solicitous questions and muttered, 'We need to get going,' to Ron and Hermione, who looked as anxious as Neville felt.

'What are we going to do then, Harry, what's the plan?' asked Seamus, who still looked hopeful. Seamus, who'd been so sceptical all along, now seemed to be clinging onto hope more than Neville, the true believer, could.

Harry looked like he could barely keep the room in focus, let alone form a coherent plan. He was white and sweaty and shaking, his face tight with pain. Only Ron's sturdy arm was preventing him from sliding to the floor, as far as Neville could see. And he knew how Harry felt - not the pain necessarily - but the pressure, the feeling of everyone looking to you when you were inadequate for the task. 'Plan?' said Harry stupidly, as though he'd never heard the word before. He managed to go on, seeming to force the words out. 'Well, there's something we - Ron, Hermione and I - need to do, and then we'll get out of here.'

The words hit Neville and sank in his stomach like a lead balloon. He couldn't quite believe he'd just heard the last sentence. Maybe Harry was confused. 'What d'you mean, "get out of here"?' he asked, staring at his old dorm mate.

'We haven't come back to stay,' said Harry. His hand was at his forehead, rubbing his scar. 'There's something important we need to do-'

Neville seized this. 'What is it?' he asked, his mind whirring with possibilities. Was it to kill Snape? Rally the school around him to fight?

'I-I can't tell you,' replied Harry, still looking as though he might fall over at any moment.

Once again, there was a leaden sinking sensation in his stomach. He felt a sense of events spiralling out of his control. He'd imagined this encounter so many times, he couldn't understand why it wasn't going the way he'd always supposed it would. He knew he must be frowning at Harry, knew he must sound impatient, but he didn't care. He'd had so much faith, kept working for this moment even when no one else thought it could come. He'd thought Luna and Ginny were dead. He'd seen his own Gran hounded out of her home because of him. All for this day. 'Why can't you tell us? It's something to do with fighting You-Know-Who, right?'

Harry was looking at him with bleary eyes, as though he couldn't quite see him. 'Well, yeah,' he said, rather reluctantly.

'Then we'll help you,' said Neville firmly. Around him, he could feel the DA's agreement. He felt them like an extension of him, behind him, ready and willing to follow where he led.

'You don't understand,' said Harry, his tone flat and despairing. 'We-we can't tell you. We've got to do it alone.'

Neville couldn't understand it. Why had Harry come back to Hogwarts if he didn't want anything to do with his old friends? 'Why?' he asked, not able to articulate the rest.

'Because Dumbledore left the three of us a job, and we weren't supposed to tell. I mean, he wanted us to do it, just the three of us.' Harry seemed to have difficulty getting his words out. His mind was elsewhere. Neville had the feeling Harry saw him as an irritating fly that he wanted to swat away and stop bothering him. Hurt and anger were growing inside.

'We're his Army,' he said, aware he sounded like he was pleading. Aware that he was pleading. 'Dumbledore's Army. We were all in it together, we've been keeping it going while you three have been off on your own-' his voice was picking up volume and momentum as all the emotions inside him bubbled up.

'It hasn't exactly been a picnic, mate,' said Ron warningly, still supporting Harry.

But Neville wasn't going to allow them that. 'I never said it had, but I don't see why you can't trust us. Everyone in this Room's been fighting and has been driven in here because the Carrows were hunting them down. Everyone in here has proven they're loyal to Dumbledore - loyal to you.' The last three words sounded like an accusation.

All year he'd been talking up Harry Potter, the great Harry Potter, the Chosen One. The one who would return and make everything all right. But now he was here, Harry seemed smaller than he'd remembered. He didn't look like a hero. He looked a shaky mess. Neville remembered Harry's odd dreams and funny turns, the visions and strange behaviour that had sparked the first rumours about his not being 'quite right'. Neville knew the crap in the Prophet wasn't true, but to see Harry now, it would be hard not to believe it.

And after all this time, all Harry had to say to his loyal followers was that he couldn't trust them to tell them what he was doing, and that he had to get away as soon as possible. For the first time, doubt crept into Neville's mind. What if Harry's detractors weren't all wrong?

Harry started to say something in response, but they were interrupted by the portrait hole opening again and Luna and Dean entering the room. Neville's heart skipped at the sight of Luna, but quickly dropped again as he realised he'd dragged her and Dean - and a lot of others too - out of safe hiding places just to see Harry looking like he was on his last legs, about to push off and leave them in the lurch again.

He tried to explain it to Harry. 'We all thought that if you came back, it would mean revolution. That we were going to overthrow Snape and the Carrows,' he explained, feeling the heat rising in his cheeks as anger at his own stupidity built up inside him. Why had he believed that Harry would bother to come back to help them? It was obvious that he, Ron and Hermione were above such mere trifles as their schoolmates in danger.

Harry was looking and sounding increasingly like a trapped animal, eyes looking for an exit, hands moving as he tried to explain himself. 'Listen. I'm sorry, but that's not what we came back for. There's something we've got to do, and then-'

The DA wouldn't let him finish, Michael Corner interrupting. Neville looked around at their angry, hurt faces and knew they were reflecting his own expression.

Ron was now trying to fob them off. 'What we're doing will benefit everyone in the end, it's all about trying to get rid of You-Know-Who-' he said heatedly.

'Then let us help!' exploded Neville, unable to let Ron finish. 'We want to be a part of it!' He wanted to grab at Ron and shake him. Ron, who'd always been the ordinary one, the sidekick. Didn't he know what it was like to be one of the ordinary masses, not wanting to be a helpless spectator of events that would affect his whole life?

Behind them, more people were trooping through the portrait hole. Ginny was there, smiling at Harry as though there was no one else in the room, followed by her older brothers, plus Lee Jordan and Cho Chang. Everyone was coming back to fight. Yes, Longbottom, because you called them! Because you've been telling them every day since September that that's what would happen! He heard Snape's cold voice saying, 'they will follow you to torture and to death.'

'You've got to stop this!' Harry was facing him. His cheeks had more colour in, probably from anger. He was standing unsupported by Ron and was glowering at Neville. 'What did you call them all back for? This is insane!'

Neville didn't know how to answer. Everyone was talking at once. All he could see was Harry. He felt that he understood Harry very well now. The pressure of being the one everyone looked to, of carrying people's expectations. He'd felt it a bit himself this year, but rather than sympathising, he'd offloaded as much as he could onto Harry's absent shoulders. Now the boy was here in front of him, Neville felt the full force of Harry's inadequacy.

After a hasty whispered conversation with Ron and Hermione, Harry turned back to the Room to make an announcement. To Neville's relief, he was finally asking for help. There was something hidden in Hogwarts that they had to find to defeat You-Know-Who, and they thought it had belonged to Ravenclaw. As members of that House chipped in with suggestions, Neville watched Harry. He could see the strain and desperation on that face. He resolved in that instant to help Harry, against all the odds, whether Harry wanted his help or not.

The conversation had concluded with Luna to take Harry to the Ravenclaw Common Room to see a statue of the House's Founder. Harry was still muttering asides to Ron and Hermione, and Neville had the feeling something big was going on. He showed Harry and Luna to the door, feeling a renewed anxiety that he'd never see them again. 'Be careful, Harry, they're always patrolling the corridors at night,' he cautioned. Part of him wished he could go with Harry. He didn't want to lose him or Luna so soon after regaining them. But he also knew he couldn't leave the DA. He watched the two of them scurry away, then turned back to the Room.

'All right everyone, whilst Harry and Luna are gone we need to get ready,' he said, sounding more confident than he felt.

'Are we fighting or not?' asked Seamus, rather belligerently.

Neville was about to say he wasn't sure, but he stopped himself. Having just watched Harry, he knew how hard it was to look to a leader who clearly had no more idea than you did about what to do next. 'We need to be ready for anything,' he told the DA. 'Make sure you're all comfortable, get your wands. Those who don't have wands need to make sure they stay with someone who does, at least until they can get one.'

'We're calling in the Order of the Phoenix,' said Fred Weasley. 'They'll all want to fight too.'

'Good,' said Neville loudly to the room. 'The Order of the Phoenix is like the adult version of Dumbledore's Army, they were trained by Dumbledore himself. They fought in the first war and they'll fight again now, they've got Aurors and everything.' He reeled off the limited information he'd picked up during his brushes with the Order. 'Having some adults to help will make a big difference.'

'But Harry didn't want to fight,' called Michael Corner.

Neville opened his mouth to respond, but Seamus got there first. 'I dunno about anyone else, but Harry didn't tell us to resist the Carrows all this year. He didn't help us rescue first years from being tortured, or get us to mess up Halloween or remind everyone why it was worth not giving up on Hogwarts. Neville's the one who's done all that. If Harry doesn't want to help us fight for Hogwarts, that's up to him, but he can't stop the rest of us. I've followed Neville all year and he's done all right by us. I'm not going to stop now.'

A ragged cheer went round the room. Neville felt giddy with emotion - shock, horror and at the same time, pleasure. Even Ginny was joining in. He looked guiltily over at Ron and Hermione, but they didn't seem to have noticed as they had their heads together in eager conversation. As he watched, both got up and made their way over to the exit. Whatever Neville was or wasn't going to lead the DA into, Ron and Hermione clearly had plans of their own.

'Well, I say we wait for Harry to get back, and for everyone else to arrive,' said Neville loudly. 'Harry might need more people to help him look for this thing he has to find. And if we all go out now they'll know something is up and they might catch Harry. So we wait.'

To his surprise, everyone seemed to accept that. A buzz of excited conversation went round the Room, as everyone began catching up with friends they hadn't seen for many months. Neville didn't join in the chatter. He found Trevor and scooped his toad into his pocket, then took his copy of Comprehensive Defensive Magic and re-read some of his favourite passages. He knew them almost off by heart, but it was comforting, especially seeing his father's notes in the margin. It seemed like they were written for him, his father speaking to him from the time he was sane.

A steady stream of people trickled in through the portrait hole, many of whom were greeted with great enthusiasm. Neville made it his business to greet each in person and explain the plan. Even the adults didn't seem to question him. One of them, a black Auror whom he remembered as Kingsley Shacklebolt gave him a particularly firm handshake. 'Honoured to meet you, I understand you've been leading the Hogwarts resistance,' he said in his deep slow voice.

'You're from Potterwatch, you're Royal!' said Neville in surprise.

Shacklebolt smiled and tapped his nose. 'My fame has spread,' he laughed. He seemed calm but serious and Neville liked him at once.

'Mr Shacklebolt,' he said quietly, drawing the Auror to one side. 'I'm sort of leading at the moment, but I'm not really - well, I don't really know what I'm doing. If it comes to a fight, would you be able to... help me?'

The Auror smiled. 'You must call me Kingsley, and of course I will help you. You've done a great job this far, but none of us expects you to run a battle alone. If it comes to a fight - which I think it will - we'll be alongside each other. I knew your parents, as a matter of fact. They were good people,very fine Aurors. I can see both of them in you.' He squeezed Neville's shoulder, and quickly started up a conversation with Remus Lupin to give Neville a chance to compose himself.

After what felt like an eternity, Harry and Luna reappeared as suddenly as they'd gone. Both looked excited and breathless but thankfully unhurt. Neville hurried over, but before he reached them, Harry called out, 'They're evacuating the younger kids and everyone's meeting in the Great Hall to get organised. We're fighting!'