CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE:
HOUSE LONGBOTTOM
TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1996 - Potter Manor
Neville was still a little stunned by what Susan had told him last night. Here it was the morning after. Susan lay sleeping in his arms and it was, he thought, the most pleasant experience in his life. In her arms, the horrors of yesterday melted away and he hoped it had been the same for her. They had a good cry together for their loss, and consoled each other for hours. She was really special, he thought. How could he be this lucky to have such a wonderful woman as his wife and consort? He smiled as he thought that had anyone told him a week ago he would be married, he would have thought them insane. Had they said Susan would be his bride, though, well there was no one else out there was there? He liked other girls, but Susan had always been different. Was it love at first sight, he wondered. They had, after all, been together in some way since the day they first met.
She had told him about what witches her age had to do to help their magic. She had been very careful in telling him, but very thorough as well. By the time she finished, he knew she had to have sex not out of lust or love but to help her magic grow with her so she could be the witch she was born to be. Sexual frustration for an adolescent witch led to all kinds of problems, worst being the loss of her magic altogether. Young witches eased that frustration two to three times a day on average. What stunned Neville was that many young witches chose to allow other witches to ease their frustration. For many, it was less awkward than doing it alone and Susan admitted the physical intimacy was nice and made it easier. It was called "Girl Sex," Susan told him and it was called that for a reason. The need for frequent physical release was unique to immature witches. Once they reached full maturity, the need would end. Her Auntie had told her that while she might find the idea of physical intimacy with another girl appealing now, it would never equal or replace her desire for a boy. Once she was mature, she would no longer find she had interest in Girl Sex at all. When this would happen varied. Typically, a girl reached their full maturity between the ages of twenty and twenty five; although the girl could reach it as early as eighteen if she gave birth to a child (which, of course, required a boy).
Susan had girl partners. She did not lust after girls or crush on them. Her fantasies revolved around one boy, him. When a girl was pleasuring her, she imagined it was Neville and that made the whole thing even more intense. She did admit it was fun to pleasure another girl. It was more fun doing the same for her one true love, Neville. She had told him that her usual partner was Hannah Abbott; a girl Neville thought was quite pretty. At school and when she was home with her Auntie, Hannah could come around for their daily sessions of girl sex. What really stunned Neville was Susan's admission that when she was visiting him at Longbottom Manor, she and Amber would be together for her therapy, as she called it. She had insisted that he bond with Amber, for all that Amber had done for him and for what she had done for her. Amber didn't need it for herself, but knew that Susan did and what was best for Susan was best for Neville, which was what she had been bonded to ensure.
Susan told Neville she had a private talk with Hermione. It was about the arrangements in her House. The reasons really did not apply to Neville as he was not the Head of two houses, but the specific bonding rites in Harry's house were described. Susan wanted Neville to at least consider sort of relationship with Amber has Harry's concubines enjoyed with him, to include children if she asked. Neville was surprised when he realized this did not bother him in the least.
Neville had already made his mind up about bonding with Amber before he and Susan spoke. Whatever she wanted, he would do. But he somehow knew if for no other reason than they both had seen how happy Harry's Concubines seemed, that she would probably insist he take Amber in. He had a moment alone while she showered the night before when he was able to speak with Bandy, the male Elf placed in charge of seeing to the needs of Longbottom House while they were at the Estate. He and asked Bandy if there was a secluded lake nearby where he and his girls could enjoy a quite day and picnic together. There was one, about a half mile walk from the Manor along a horse path through the woods. He then asked if there were horses as there had been at Longbottom Manor. Amber had taught him to ride and later he had taught Susan and he thought a horse ride followed by a picnic under a large tree by the lake and all the love making he hoped would accompany it would be perfect. There was a stable and he made arrangements for three horses and a picnic lunch to be ready for him and his family in the morning. He had yet to tell Susan, but hoped she would like the surprise.
Neville lay there with Susan in his arms, thinking about all that happened and luxuriating in the sweet smell from her luscious red hair and the feel of her softness and warmth against him. He heard her sigh contentedly and felt her shift. He felt her lips against his and pulled her close as he let the kiss deepen. She broke the kiss and he opened his eyes seeing her beautiful face so near to him.
"Good morning, my Husband," she whispered.
"Good morning, my Bride," he replied. "Sleep well."
"Mmmmm," she sighed laying her head down on his chest again. "Wonderfully. You?"
"Never better with you in my arms, Love."
"I love you, Nev."
"I love you too."
"So are you awake," she almost giggled.
"I guess so."
"Make love to me?"
Who was Neville to deny Susan anything?
Neville and Susan joined Amber outside their rooms around eight that morning. They were all dressed in the same clothes from the day before, but it did not really matter as the Elves had freshly laundered them during the night. They followed the smells back to the dining room where a large breakfast buffet had been laid out. Neville saw Professor McGonagall, Hermione, and the two Greengrass sisters were already eating as they arrived and Luna was slowly picking through the buffet.
"Where's Harry," Neville asked.
"In the kitchen cooking," Hermione replied.
"Why's he doing that?"
"He likes to."
"And we're here," Astoria said, "'cause we're not allowed to help."
"Besides, the food is marvelous," Daphne said, "much better than Hogwarts."
Luna said nothing as she left the buffet with a plate full of her breakfast favorites.
As Neville piled his plate with eggs, bacon, sausages, toast, breakfast potatoes and kippers he asked: "So where are the other two - um…?"
"Mallory and Dora," Susan added helping her occasionally memory challenged husband.
"Mallory is in London," Hermione replied. "She's doing something for Harry. Dora is away arranging the transfer of the Bones and Longbottom possessions to the Estate."
As they were sitting down, Harry arrived from the kitchen with a platter of pastries that he placed on the table. Neville watched as Harry went through the buffet, unable to say anything because the food was really good.
"So Neville," Hermione asked, "any plans for today?"
"I think my girls and I could use a little alone time after…" Neville began. It was as close as anyone came to discussing the attacks from the day before. Luna ate in silence and the others discussed things that were less painful. Harry, it seemed was going to tour more of the Duchy today. Daphne and Astoria were planning a shopping trip to Pottersport. Professor McGonagall was heading to Hogwarts to work on course outlines for the upcoming year. It was during her discussion that Neville learned she was retiring from Hogwarts and the course outlines were for Harry, Hermione and the Greengrass sisters and not for her position at school. Neville and Susan were invited to attend as well and eagerly agreed as they both knew it might not be safe for them to leave the Duchy for some time.
After breakfast was over, Neville led Susan and Amber out of the Manor and following the directions he received towards the stables. He arrived and found three horses saddled and ready to go and a large picnic basket as well. His idea of a peaceful ride to a lake and private picnic earned him a long kiss of gratitude from his bride.
Neville was a little concerned as he and the others slowly rode down the horse path towards the forest ahead. He wondered whether the events of the day before would haunt them as they rode amongst the trees and was relieved when both women seemed relaxed as they rode through the forest. He guessed that the path and the fact that they were much further south such that the trees were very different worked in a way that the memories did not come flooding back.
After what Neville believed was about a half a mile, the path reached an opening in the trees. Before them was a large lake, just as he had been told there would be. Neville picked up the pace into a trot hoping to find a large shade tree where he and the others could enjoy the day. It did not take him long to find one that he thought was perfect. His ladies were right behind him. They dismounted and removed the tack from the three horses. Neville had been told that the horses would return when called or when it was time to head back for dinner that evening; otherwise they would be grazing in the grassy field that bordered the lake.
As soon as the horses moved off, Neville and his girls kicked off their shoes. Amber attended to the picnic basket and began spreading blankets on the ground while Susan drew Neville into a long, passionate kiss. Neville had felt nervous about what was going to happen. He was going to make love to Susan with Amber nearby and then bond with Amber with Susan watching. Whatever nerves he was feeling was gone the moment his lips met Susan's.
They slowly undressed each other as they continued to kiss, their hands exploring each other as they had the day before. Shirts, a bra, jeans and Susan's knickers were soon tossed away and Neville laid Susan onto one of the blankets intent on suckling her delectable breasts. She moaned with pleasure as he began doing just that. Emboldened by her very favorable response, his hand parted her legs and he began working her towards release, her hips responding immediately and thrusting into his hand. Neville could tell she was very aroused and probably would climax quickly. His fingers were soaked almost from the moment he touched her sex. Her moans louder and her breath increasingly ragged, he drove his fingers into her. Moments later, she moaned his name and when rigid as the pleasure reached its apex.
Neville had completely forgotten that Amber was close by. He was reminded when Susan removed his shorts and he heard a gasp that was not from his Consort. Neville looked over and hoped that the surprised expression on Amber's face was a good thing as he felt Susan's mouth surround him and take him in.
Neville lay there sometime later. He had rewarded Susan for her wonderful efforts in kind and then made love to her…or was it the other way around? For their first time, Susan had been on top and largely in control. Not that Neville had minded one bit. As she rode him, he was able to look into her beautiful face and caress her stunning body and watch her pleasure build to release and then build to release again. His beautiful angel now lay snuggled into his side with her red, sweet smelling hair brushing his face as his chest, upon which that perfect head lay, rose and fell. He had forgotten all about the day before and, for that matter, all about the fact that Amber had been there the whole time.
A soft kiss on his cheek that was not nestled in Susan's hair caused him to remember reality. He turned his head and a soft pair of lips found his. He knew it was not Susan as she still was relaxing at his other side. The kiss was loving and tender and not at all what Neville was expecting. When it broke, he missed it if only for a moment and he opened his eyes to see Amber smiling down at him.
"Neville, Darling," Amber said softly. "You are going to bond with me, aren't you?"
Neville nodded.
"Then there are a few things I want to say and to tell you before we begin."
"Why?"
"I want you to know without a doubt that what I say is of my own free will and not as a result of the magic of the bond. Can you accept that?"
Neville nodded and soon felt her soft lips against his again.
"First," she continued, "can I ask you a question?"
Neville nodded.
"Why here?"
"This tree, the lake, the forest," Neville said, "it's a lot like where Susan and I bonded. Better even."
"Better?" Susan whispered.
"No Death Eaters," Neville replied. "Harry and Hermione have a bonding place: a place where she bonded with him and where he bonded with each of the others; a place special to all of them because of that. I wanted a place like that as well. It is to show you, Amber, that while Susan is my love and life, you are no less important or special to me."
"Thank you," Amber replied with a hitch in her voice and tears on her cheeks. Before Neville could ask her what was wrong, she was kissing him again which told him he probably had said the right thing.
"Neville," she said when she finally sat back from an amazing kiss, "I love you."
Neville's jaw dropped. "In - in what way?"
"I've known you your whole life. I've changed your nappies, fed you, and held you when you cried. I've watched you grow and never once believed your Gran when she said you were probably a squib. I always knew you were a powerful wizard in the making and did my best to help you see that too. I was your teacher. Taught you to read and write and dream. I am your friend. I watched you head off to school for the first time and saw you grow each time you came home to me. I watched you grow into the wonderful young man you are now. I'd like to think I had a hand in it."
Neville could only nod.
"I - I tell you this, Neville, so that you know. The Concubine bond is usually involuntary on the witch's part. She has no choice, really. I have no choice. But I want you to know, this is my will. I want to be yours forever! I want this, Neville. I want to be bound to you!"
"You do?"
"You have a huge heart, Neville," Amber said as she placed a hand on his chest, "a huge heart. I know Susan owns a large chunk of it and all, but there's room for me to claim a bit for myself as well. A piece of it is more than most women deserve, Neville. It's more than I deserve."
"Amber," Neville said, "what are you saying?"
"I can be happy as your Concubine," Amber replied. "I want a chance to be happy."
"A love bond?"
Amber nodded. Neville did not know what to say.
"Say yes, Dear," Susan said.
"Okay," he said to Amber and Susan both.
"Thanks," Amber said. "I'd also like babies," she added.
Neville gaped at her.
"Nev," Susan said, "I'm probably going to be pregnant in the next few weeks. Consorts can be that way. Say yes."
"Okay. Babies then." Neville actually felt relaxed this time when Amber kissed him. He knew it was because he did have feelings for her but more importantly it was because Susan did not seem to mind.
"Finally," Amber said with tears in her eyes, "did Susan tell you about us?"
Neville nodded. "She said it was a needs not lust thing."
Amber nodded. "Still, it is fun. Would you mind terribly if we still do that?"
"I…"
"Could you at least let us and watch and decide?"
Neville nodded. "Susan?" he asked.
"Say yes," she said.
"Okay."
"Since I see you are ready," Amber said looking at Neville's natural reaction, "then I am too."
Neville nodded. "Amber Selma Harker," he said firmly, "I, Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, Head of the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom, take you as my Concubine…" A few minutes later, and Neville knew that Amber was one sexy woman.
Hours later, the three were riding back to the Manor. Amber was now bound to him and had Love Bonded as well and had permission to carry his children. They had their picnic lunch in the nude and had made love or had sex - Neville was not sure of the difference if there was one with these two lovely women - several times. Girl sex was a huge turn on and Neville had done his part from the beginning as two had become three in a way. He was certain Harry and the others would know what had happened. 'His Girls' were sporting very goofy grins of thoroughly sated witches and he knew his face mirrored theirs. He did not care.
TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1996 - St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, London U.K.
At ten in the morning, Mallory entered St. Mungo's Hospital in London on a mission. It was a mission that Harry had assigned to her literally at the crack of dawn that morning. There was something Mallory wanted to tell Harry, something she learned last night before she went to bed, but when Harry and that night's bedmates Minerva and Astoria explained what Harry needed, Mallory new her news could wait. This was more important.
She learned that Neville's parents were in St. Mungo's in the James Thickey Ward. She knew this ward was for patients undergoing 'long term care.' In reality, the residents of this ward were suffering from what had been deemed permanent afflictions. Few if any would ever leave a hospital again. She had spent two months on the ward while training to be a Healer. It was, in her mind, the most depressing place she had ever seen. The patients were all deemed incurable cases and what really aggravated her was that no one seemed interested in trying to find a cure for their afflictions. The ward was staffed with only a single Healer whose responsibility was merely to monitor the health of the patients. What care the patients actually received was delegated to nurses and orderlies.
When Harry went to bed last night, the thoughts about Neville and his parents plagued him. He could barely sleep and Minerva and Astoria helped him reach a decision and come up with both the plan and means to make the plan work. He was going to have Neville's parents transferred to Mistress Agnes Hospital where, he hoped, they would receive better care and where Neville could visit them safely. Through his witches, Harry learned that has Head of and allied House, he could assume guardianship over the Longbottoms until such time as Neville requested that role. Mallory was given two sets of documents that morning. The first were the guardianship papers which she was to take to Gringotts for authentication and registration. Harry wanted it done as soon as the doors opened at eight so that there was no chance anyone else could file before he did. The second set of documents were the actual transfer orders which Mallory as a Healer had to countersign. Both the guardianship papers and the transfer order named "The Duke of Charenwell" as the person assuming custody over the Longbottoms. This was part of a larger subterfuge to keep Wizarding Britain ignorant as to the status and whereabouts of Harry at least until the reading of Sirius's Will in less than two weeks.
Mallory's first stop was at the Hospital Administrator's office to present the papers. Once they were verified, a separate set of documents was signed discharging the Longbottoms to Mallory's care. She then requested to review the Longbottom's medical records. The first pages covered the initial tests and diagnosis performed the day the couple was admitted on November 17, 1981. The two had been attacked by Death Eaters and subjected to prolonged exposure to the Cruciatus Curse which had left them in a near catatonic state. While this was not particularly unusual, the fact that they had remained in that state was very strange. In most all cases she was aware of, the patient recovered in a few days or weeks at the most. Those that did not recover died. Here, after three weeks the Longbottoms were transferred to long term care and forgotten. There were no follow-up evaluations or even any indication that any Healer suspected that something else might be the cause of their condition. Yet another reason she was glad she no longer worked here.
She placed the records in her bag. Although they were probably of little use to her, she still needed them to open the file back in Pottersport. She then went to check on her new patients and perform the first true physical that either had had in years in order to determine that it was safe to move them.
Mallory entered the James Thickey Ward a little after eleven. She reported to the Healer on call and showed him the paperwork. He gave her a bored nod and told her where the Longbottoms were located. He made no move to help her or show her around, not that she was surprised. The indifference in this ward was endemic and had not changed since she was a Healer in Training. Fortunately, the Ward was well organized and she was able to find her new charges with ease. They shared a screened off cubical and had for years. She entered and what she saw was not what the medical records and charts she had skimmed had told her to expect. The couple was sitting up on their beds and speaking to each other in low and hoarse voices. According to the records, they were supposed to be nearly catatonic and certainly uncommunicative. Something had happed, and it confirmed her suspicion of misdiagnosis. The couple turned to her. They were both extremely thin and gaunt, a product of fourteen years on a mostly liquid diet and being practically bedridden.
"Good morning," Mallory said, "I am Healer Grant."
"Morning," they both croaked.
"Where are we?" the man asked.
"St. Mungo's," was all Mallory said in reply. She could tell they were both very confused and disoriented. It was understandable under the circumstances. "But that's only for a few more minutes, I hope."
"We're going home?" the woman asked.
"Not just yet," Mallory said as she started casting diagnostic spells to ensure they were fit to travel as well as determine what treatment they may need upon arrival. "You're being transferred to another facility that I believe will offer you better treatment."
"We have a baby at home," Mrs. Longbottom protested. "He needs us."
"I have been assured he's being cared for," Mallory replied.
"What happened to us?"
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions and I will see to it that they are answered, but later. First things first: transfer and a full medical work up. Can you stand?"
They both could with some difficulty. Mallory stood between them and held them up. "Okay, I've determined it's safe to transport. Here we go!"
Without any sensation at all, the scene shifted from the dark and depressing long term care ward at St. Mungo's to a brightly lit room. Mallory called this type of travel jumping. Dora called it shifting. In reality it had no name as to name it formally would have been deemed as giving a concubine status and recognize that they had an ability other witches and wizards did not. Having traveled that way before, Frank Longbottom now knew that this Healer was a Concubine of someone's. What puzzled him was why she was willing to reveal it.
They were standing in front of a reception desk of some sort and there was a young woman seated there. Both the Longbottoms began to lose the strength to stand and Mallory had to hold them up.
"Little help?" she asked and the young woman looked up.
"Healer Grant?" she said, then noticed the two people she was trying to hold up. A wand came out and two wheelchairs appeared just behind the Longbottoms and the young witch got up to help Mrs. Longbottom into one of the chairs while Mallory attended to Mr. Longbottom.
"What do we have here?" the witch said as she returned to her desk.
Mallory reached into her bag and took out the papers and files. "By order of the Duke, patient transfer from St. Mungo's. Who's the On Call?"
"Healer Dade," the witch replied. "I'll get him."
"Thanks, Stephanie," Mallory said as the witch left and headed down the hall at a trot.
"Where are we?" Frank Longbottom asked.
"Mistress Agnes Hospital, Pottersport," Mallory replied.
"Where?"
"Later. I know the two of you either have or will have a thousand questions. Our priority is to get you checked out and return you to your son as soon as possible, okay?"
Frank merely nodded in reply.
A tall man in Healer robes entered the room just ahead of Stephanie.
"What have we here, Mallory?" the man asked.
"Patient transfer."
"Yes, Steph did say that. These their records?" he asked indicating the large files.
"Yes Jeff," Mallory replied. "As you will see they were clearly misdiagnosed."
Jeff read through a few pages of the file. "Clearly," he agreed. "Recommendation?"
"Full work up, physical, magical and mental. We needn't worry about the condition they were in I don't think. Focus on their current condition. I also want a recommended course of treatment and, unless it is necessary, if they can be discharged today…"
"I understand," Healer Dade said as two orderlies appeared. "Exam room three," he told them and watched as the couple were wheeled away. "So what's really going on Mal?"
"They were in long care. As you see, the diagnosis was prolonged exposure to the Crutiatus…"
"Obviously not. Fourteen and a half years?"
Mallory nodded.
"Idiots!"
Mallory nodded again.
"Do they know?"
"Don't think so."
"I would advise someone they know tell them."
"I concur."
"Is there anyone?"
"There is. That was why I recommended discharge today unless it is medically necessary to keep them here."
"Where will you be?"
"Home. Call when you are finished."
"Will do. Anything else?"
"I'm not sure if they've eaten."
"I'll take care of that."
"Thanks Jeff."
TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1996 - Potter Manor
"So you're saying they're better?" Harry asked. Mallory had returned to the Manor and was eating lunch with Harry, Hermione, Minerva and the Greengrass sisters.
"Mentally? Probably," Mallory said. "Physically they are emaciated and weak as a result of fourteen and a half years of relative inactivity and a liquid diet. It will take months for them to fully recover from that."
"But how?"
"They were both misdiagnosed. While over exposure to the Crutiatus can lead to the state they were in, the patient either dies from physical shock or recovers within a few weeks. Whatever caused them to be catatonic for over fourteen years, it was not that curse."
"I don't understand," Harry said. "I mean that curse hurts like hell."
"You've been under it?"
"Twice."
"Tell me Harry, aside from the pain, could you think clearly?"
"Yeah. Couldn't do anything, but I was aware of what was going on around me. If I hadn't been, Voldemort would have killed me for certain. Why?"
"The Crutiatus causes most if not all of a person's pain receptors to fire at the same time," Mallory said. "There are other curses that do something similar, but they're not Unforgivable."
"What's the difference?"
"Simply put, your mind remains protected under the Crutiatus. It was designed so the victim would not lose their minds or pass out or otherwise avoid the pain. The victims cannot escape the spell which is why it's so insidious. Yes, overexposure can cause what happened to Neville's parents, but that is more from physical shock and exhaustion than mental injury. Even then, it usually takes days, even weeks for that to occur."
"And they were only under it for a few hours," Harry added.
"And yet they were left legally insane for years," Mallory nodded. "There was something else going on. Odd that they recovered now."
"Why?"
"I mean, it was only hours after Neville…"
"Oh my!" Hermione exclaimed. "Excuse me," she said getting up. "I just remembered something I read recently!" With that she dashed out of the room.
"What was that about?" Astoria asked.
"Hermione probably read about a curse that fits the facts," Harry said. "She's off to the Library to double check."
"Is she always like that?" Mallory asked.
"She has been that way practically since the day we met," Harry chuckled. "Not that it matters, but does this have any effect on Neville's status as Lord Longbottom?"
"No," Daphne replied. "The title has passed to Neville and that is irrevocable."
"How? Why?"
"Remember Harry," Daphne explained, "some of the papers you executed this morning? One set claimed your right to exercise guardianship over them?"
Harry nodded.
"Well, as they are both of age, those papers were not worth the parchment they were written upon unless the Longbottoms had been declared legally incompetent and were under a guardianship prior to your filing of the papers."
"They were," Minerva said. "They were declared incompetent in December of '81. Lord Algicyrus Longbottom was named their guardian and when he passed away in '83, Augusta assumed the role."
"And as that was a legal proceeding," Daphne continued, "it cannot be revoked simply because the person regains their sanity. They must petition for release from the guardianship or their guardian must do so and the case must be reviewed and ruled upon by a court of competent jurisdiction. If your want conclusive proof, remember Neville was wearing the ring."
"The ring?"
"A Head of House Ring cannot be worn by anyone other than the Head of House. Once it passes to a new Head, it can only pass on to the younger generation. It can never pass back."
"So when Neville's Gran was killed and Neville was emancipated…?"
"Neville became Lord Longbottom," Daphne finished. "His father, by virtue of his status, was cut from the chain of succession."
"You sure?" Harry asked innocently.
Daphne picked that up. He was not questioning her knowledge or integrity. "Harry," she said, "while my family may not be pureblood supremacists and while we loath that philosophy, we are still an old and respected House. My sisters were taught customs and practice of society from the start. I am sure that Neville is unquestionably Lord Longbottom."
Harry chuckled.
"What?" Daphne asked.
"I knew taking you and your sister in would come in handy."
Daphne smiled with appreciation. "Glad to help."
At around three that afternoon, Mallory had returned to the hospital to check on the Longbottoms. While they were not given a clean bill of health, there was no really good reason why they could not be discharged. They were both weak and grossly underweight from a combination of years of inactivity and a liquid diet and their magic was weak as well from lack of used or mental stimulation. Mentally, they were fine if confused, but that was to be expected. Their condition would take weeks to improve, but nothing that a healthy and robust diet, increased physical and mental activity and a load of potions could not cure. A couple of potions would allow them to walk normally and for an acceptable period of time without fatigue which would help their muscles develop again and would allow them to be independent to a large extent. Still, they were cautioned to take it easy for the first few days. They were discharged to Mallory's care - the main reason why they were not held over as Healer Dade probably would not have discharged them if there was not a Healer in residence where they were going.
The Longbottoms had not been told much. To them, one minute they were being tortured and the next they were awake in St. Mungo's each much thinner and looking like death warmed over. They were still a little disoriented when Mallory jumped them into the Sitting Room in the Private Apartments of the Manor. They were asked to sit in a love seat and did as they were asked, each hoping someone would tell them what was really going on. A magical being neither had ever seen before offered them glasses of pumpkin juice which they accepted.
"I'd offer something stronger," she said, "but Dr. Grant says you're not ready."
Healer or Dr. Grant had already left them alone, saying she had to go and find their hosts.
"What's going on, Frank?" Alice Longbottom asked.
"No idea," Frank growled. "If I didn't know that James Potter was dead and that traitor Sirius Black in prison, I'd say this was one of their pranks. That being said, this might be a Death Eater trick."
"I'm not so sure," Alice replied. "Seems to be a bit much. I mean, they had us, didn't they?"
Frank nodded.
"How long?" Alice asked, "how long were we out?"
"Seemed like no more than a few hours," Frank said. "By the looks of you and from what that Healer Dade said, I think it was longer."
Alice nodded. "Much longer, I fear."
The door to the room opened and they saw the Healer they knew as Mallory enter with and older woman, a very young woman and young man. The young woman they did not recognize. They did recognize the other two.
"Professor McGonagall?" Alice asked. "James? It can't be! We were told you were dead!"
The three women took seats opposite from the Longbottoms while Harry walked up to them. He looked Alice straight in the eye and held out his hand. She saw his eyes and her jaw dropped open. "You must be Alice," the young man said. "We met once before, but you weren't you then. It is a pleasure to finally meet the real you." Alice was too stunned to reply.
Harry then offered his had to Frank. "And you must be Frank. Welcome to our home." Frank was also too confused to respond and barely noticed when the young man let go of his hand and took another seat opposite them.
"You're not James?" Alice asked.
"No," the young man replied. "But no worries. I get that all the time."
"Who are you?" Frank asked.
"Harry Potter," the young man replied. Harry watched as Neville's parents tried to process this information. It was several seconds before either of them could speak.
"You can't be," Alice protested. "You can't be James and Lily's boy! He's the same age as Neville and Neville is only a baby!"
"We were all babies once," the young man said.
Frank figured it out first. "How long?" he asked. "What day is it? What year?"
"Today is Tuesday, the Second of July, 1996," Harry replied.
Alice's hands covered her face and she was clearly crying. "Fifteen years?"
"Fourteen and a half," Harry said, "approximately."
"And our Neville?"
"Is fine," Harry said. "My friend Neville is spending the summer with us. He's out on the grounds now."
"Can we see him?"
"Most certainly, but later," there was an air of command in Harry's voice. "There are things we need to discuss first before your joyous reunion."
"What happened to us?" Frank asked, still trying to process the assault of information.
"That is indeed one of two things we need to discuss," Harry said. "The other of course being what has happened since you've been away. Mallory?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom, to be frank we are perplexed. You were admitted to St. Mungo's in 1981 in a catatonic state following prolonged exposure to the Crutiatus Curse. You both remained in that state until this morning."
"That's not possible," Frank said. "The curse does not do that! A few weeks, maybe, but over fourteen years?"
"Hence, the reason we are perplexed. Hermione?"
"I'm Harry's Consort Hermione, by the way," the young woman said. The Longbottoms knew that Harry was not yet sixteen. This woman did not look much older at all. They were far too young, but the Longbottoms decided to keep quiet about this for now.
"We suspect you were hit by a different curse just before you blacked out," Hermione said. "What can you recall?"
"It was Tuesday, November 17th," Frank replied. "We were having a relatively normal work day, given the need to round up all of Voldemort's supporters. Our son was with my Mum for the day and we had returned home for lunch. Just as we were getting ready to return to the Ministry, four Death Eaters broke through our Wards and attacked us."
"Do you remember who they were?" Hermione asked. She knew the answer but was subtly testing their recollection.
"Bellatrix Lestrange, her husband Rodolphus, his brother Rastaban and a fourth one. I don't recall his name."
"Barty Crouch," Harry growled.
"No," Frank said. "I'm pretty sure I would have remembered if my Department Head was one of the attackers."
"It was his son," Harry explained.
Franks eyebrows went up for a moment before he continued. "Alice and I gave them a good fight for a while hoping back-up would arrive but my guess is they disabled the warning wards. They got a couple of lucky shots in and disarmed us. They then began taking turns torturing us. Two of them would hold us under the Crutiatus while the other two asked us for any information regarding the whereabouts of Harry Potter. We didn't know. Nobody did. They didn't believe us."
"How long?"
"Three, four hours at the most. The sun had just set when I blacked out."
"Try to remember what happened just before you blacked out," Hermione said.
Frank thought for a moment. "Bellatrix was torturing me. I guess that kid was torturing Alice because I could see and hear the other two and they weren't doing it. I heard someone say 'Aurors' and the curse was removed. She still had her wand on me and seemed to mutter something and that's it."
"Alice?"
"She hit me with something next. No idea what. Couldn't hear the incantation."
"And the next thing you remember was waking up this morning?"
They both nodded.
"From your perspective, how much time did you think had elapsed?"
"A few hours at the most," Frank answered.
"I thought as much," Hermione said. "It was a Black spell."
"Clearly it was dark magic," Frank began.
"No," Hermione said, "a Black spell as in the family Black."
"What do you mean?" Frank asked.
"The Blacks had their own spells, as well as very detailed notes about other dark spells," Hermione said.
"And how do you know this?"
"Harry inherited the Black library," Hermione replied. "Included in that collection were about thirty magical journals written by past Lord Blacks and cross-referenced. It would seem that historically Blacks have not been potioners as, with the exception of Phinues Nigellus's journal, the potions references are rudimentary at best. But as spell casters and warders, that's another story. Any dark spell you've ever heard of and many you have not are described in detail. Moreover, at least a few of the Blacks were spell crafters. It was a Black that invented the Crutiatus Curse which they shared with like minded witches and wizards. But there were some really nasty spells they never shared. One of them was the spell that Bellatrix used on the Longbottoms."
"And I've take it you've read these journals?" Frank asked.
"Not cover to cover, no," Hermione replied. "I noticed the referencing when we were cataloging the Black library and decided to check it out. I picked a curse I knew of - the Crutiatus and skimmed the references to it in several journals. That referencing led me to a custom Black curse designed to mimic over exposure to the Crutiatus Curse.
"The spell was invented over three hundred years ago. The most recent entries were by Orion Black, who experimented with it back in the '70's. He found out that what the spell does is block all higher brain functions and places them in magical stasis. The victim loses the ability to think, reason, remember, sense time, but still can respond to stimulus acting mainly on instinct and muscle memory. Basically, they are reduced to the intelligence level of a reptile.
"Previous Blacks had also experimented with the spell. Apparently, they wondered whether it could be countered after an incident in 1702 when a victim miraculously recovered. They soon found the spell was reversible to a limited degree."
"How?" Frank asked.
"First off, one Black who used his own daughter as a test subject found a counter-curse that the caster - and only the caster - could use to break the curse. Full recovery was almost instantaneous. The Blacks also learned that while the spell seemed permanent, the truth was if the caster died, it would be lifted within a half day or so."
"There are other spells that can do that," Frank noted.
Hermione nodded. "Six, to be exact. Four of which the damage to the brain is physical and permanent. The other two are well known to Aurors and their emergency medical teams and easily countered. Mallory told me that the initial test done when you were admitted showed your brains appeared undamaged and yet you did not respond to the counters. We were discussing what happened to the two of you and I suddenly remembered the Black journals. Bellatrix was a Black. I figured she must have known about that spell."
"So why didn't she just kill us?" Alice asked. "It's not like we could have stopped her at the time."
"With Voldemort gone, the Ministry took the position that only the Killing Curse used post Voldemort would warrant the Dementor's Kiss," Hermione continued. "The Crutiatus still earned a life sentence, but you still lived and could hope that someone would bribe the right someone and you'd get a reprieve. By casting that curse, all they had on Bellatrix and the others was proof they used the Crutiatus."
"Throw in Barty Crouch and there was serious incentive to sweep it all under the rug," Minerva added. "The Ministry did not want to admit publicly that Death Eaters were still a threat and Dumbledore quietly instituted policies aimed at getting the at-large Death Eaters to come quietly. Bellatrix and her friends were the last to be tried and their trial was limited to their activities before Voldemort supposedly died. Your torture was not even a charge."
"And what happened to the Death Eaters who did come quietly?" Frank growled.
"Found innocent by reason of the Imperious Curse to the man or woman," McGonagall said, "including several who were original Death Eaters."
"What the hell were we fighting for then," Frank exclaimed.
"Dumbledore felt that with Voldemort gone it was best to allow sleeping dogs to lie," Minerva replied.
"After all," Hermione huffed, "why throw half the Purebloods in bloody prison? It's not like Dumbledore or the rest of the Wizengamot wanted retribution for what happened to Muggles and Muggleborns!"
Frank Longbottom was livid and doing his best to control his temper. He and his wife had lost almost fifteen years of their lives and of their son's life because it was politically expedient not to do anything. Death Eaters walked free and unpunished because their government believed that it was prudent. This was not what he believed in nor was it why he and his wife became Aurors. Laws were made to be enforced and to uphold and protect the Greater Good, as Dumbledore had said. Apparently, that Greater Good did not include non-Purebloods! He was disgusted.
"So," Alice said, "any idea how we came out of it?" She was trying to quell her own rage that what they had been told. "I doubt Bellatrix would have…"
"Your son killed her yesterday afternoon," Harry said without any hint of emotion.
"WHAT?" the two Longbottoms exclaimed.
"Didn't she get life in prison?" Frank asked incredulously.
"She did," Harry replied. "If you're a Death Eater these days that does not seem to mean much."
"But Voldemort's dead," Alice protested. "He died that night when he killed Lily and James!"
"No he did not," Harry said gravely. "His body was destroyed, but he did not die."
"Horcrux?" Frank asked in horror.
"We think six," Harry nodded.
"Merlin's balls!"
"Frank!" Alice scolded.
"Voldemort's back, isn't he?" Frank said softly.
"I've had to fight him five times," Harry said.
"Five? No one has…" Frank began. "You're what? Sixteen?"
Harry shrugged. "I fought him five times in his various states. I destroyed him three times, if you include Godric's Hollow," Harry said. "The last two times, I only managed to draw. He's back."
For the next two hours Harry, helped at times by Hermione and Minerva, told the Longbottoms of the new world they had returned to. They told them of Harry's very different career as a student. They told the Lonbottoms of the Prophesy and how, until that Halloween night in 1981, Neville and Harry were both tied to the future of Voldemort. They told of Harry's first year, culminating in his killing of his own professor who was possessed by Voldemort at the time. They told of the Chamber of Secrets Second Year and how an undersized twelve year old boy killed a twenty-meter long basilisk and defeated Riddle again. They told of Third Year and the innocence of Harry's Godfather Sirius Black and Fourth Year and Voldemort's return to a body. Then they told the Longbottoms of Fifth Year. Harry focused on their son and how he grew from a meek yet nice boy into a warrior and how he stood and took fire from the best Voldemort had to deploy - his inner circle.
"Was Neville hurt?" Alice asked.
"Broken nose and wand, that's it. Didn't stop him, though."
"What do you mean?" Frank asked.
"He still had fists. Beat one of them senseless."
"And what was the toll?"
"Eleven Death Eaters captured. Bellatrix escaped. Voldemort was injured although not fatally."
"And you and your friends?"
"Hermione was touch and go. We all were injured but she was the only close call."
"Wait, you're telling us that six teens, none of whom were beyond O.W.L. levels took on Voldemort's best, and Voldemort himself…"
"I was the only one of us who faced him," Harry said.
"…and you won?"
"Fought them to a standstill," Harry said. "Winning happened when others showed up. But Sirius was lost," Harry sniffed. "He was the closest thing I had to a father. A lucky shot. Just a stunner from Bellatrix. He was right next to me. Fell the wrong way. Into the veil."
Alice gasped.
"I'm sorry, Harry."
"S'okay," Harry said. "He wanted to fight. Just had bad luck."
"And yesterday?"
Harry told the Longbottoms what he knew. When he finished, he could swear there was a look of awe and pride on their faces. Frank was saddened to learn his mother had died, but was proud to hear how his son had done in battle. His son. His son the warrior. His son had seen more than he had in some ways and had withstood a harder baptism of fire than he had. Frank's first taste of combat was ten Aurors against two Death Eaters, two low level ones. His son was outnumbered two to one by Voldemort's best. Frank was a fully trained Auror, six months into the job when he first stood in the line of battle. His son had only just finished taking his O.W.L.s hours before and went charging off into battle. A few weeks later, his son is again in battle and kills Voldemort's top lieutenant. His son. Frank knew that when the history of this war was written, provided the right side won, while Harry would figure prominently, Neville Longbottom would be right up there. His son.
His thoughts were interrupted.
"Neville?" he heard Alice gasp.
A/N: RELATIONSHIP SCORECARD:
If you didn't read the Intro, you missed that. This is so you can keep up with who's with who and how.
Key:
Names in Italics = OCGr – Gryffindor, Hu – Hufflepuff, Ra – Ravenclaw, Sl – Slytherin. (Number indicates last year completed. No number means they finished all seven years.)
Harry James Potter, age 15.
1. Hermione Jane (Granger) Potter, age 16 (Gr-5); CONSORT (POTTER).
2. Dora (Tonks) Black-Potter, age 21 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
3. Minerva Grace (McGonagall) Potter-Black, age 68 (Gr); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
4. Mallory Michelle (Grant) Black Potter, age 39 (Hu); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
5. Daphne Renee (Greengrass) Black-Potter, age 16 (Sl-5); CONCUBINE (BLACK).
6. Astoria Lynn (Greengrass) Potter-Black, age 14 (Sl-3); CONCUBINE (POTTER).
Bill Weasley, age 25.
Fleur Patrice (Delacour) Weasley, age 19; CONSORT (BILL WEASLEY).
Neville Algicyrus Longbottom, age 15.
1. Susan Marie (Bones) Longbottom, age 16(Hu-5); CONSORT (NEVILLE).
2. Amber Selma (Harker) Longbottom, age 33 (3/22/63) (Sl-5); Sold to Riley Hooch 7/20/78; sold to Frank Longbottom 4/28/80; CONCUBINE OF NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM (7/2/96).