Post by Neville Longbottom on Aug 9, 2006 12:12:03 GMT -5
The smell of rotting remains plagued the air as Neville returned to Hogwarts. The sky was a gloomy gray and the presence of those who were lost littered the morning air. Neville was making his way across the grounds this morning to view all that had happened to his former home. He had not returned since the attack, and he was distraught at what he was seeing.
As he approached the castle, he came face to face with nothing but rubble. It was as if the entire castle had been ripped from its location. As he circled the castle, the base of his robes wet with morning dew, he peered around looking at all of the damage. In all actuality, all that was left was the basement floors. The reamains of what appeared to be the Slytherin common room, the kitchens, and his former potions classroom.
Neville shuddered a bit as a gostly image of former Professor Snape's face crossed his mind. His greatest fear had been realized many times since his first encounter with a boggart in his third year. Since then he had many accounts which had changed his fears. He never thought, however, the the next time he had to face it, it would be without his closest friends. Harry Potter had indeed felt valiantly, side-by-side with his friends until his death.
It was quite a sight. Neville remembered it like it were only moments ago. The duel to end all duels. Or, at least it was supposed to be. No one actually got to see him die. However valiantly he fought, Harry sealed the door behind him after he entered. No matter what he could do, Neither Neville or any of the other D.A.s could open it. With tears on their faces the D.A.s simply defended themselves from opposition and listened to the screams of pain that arose from inside the doors from both Harry and Voldemort.
They all fought with all of their power until Harry's screams became silent and Voldemort's bacame a laugh. A sick, twisted, hateful laugh. It was then the doors opened and the death eaters dissappered. Neville, Ron, and Hermoine burst in to find Harry's lifeless body on the floor. The three began to weep, knowing that the worst had happened. The boy who lived was dead. The wizarding worlds source of hope was gone, and all hell was about to break loose.
Since then, Neville, along with many other of Harry's classmates and friends had trained and become Aurors. Neville was now the spitting image of his father, and he got his support from his still very frequent visits to his parents' new hidden home, as St. Mungo's was no longer open for business. He knew that if Voldemort was going to be stopped, it would take a joint effort from all involved with harry's life. He was ready for it.
After wiping a small tear from his eye, Neville climbed down into the potions classroom. He immediately walked to the former location of his desk and sat upon a pile of rock that now sat in its place. He smiled a teary-eyed smile, remembering his friends and all of the good times that they had spent together. He remembered it as if it were yesterday, laughing and joking with his buddies. Oh how he missed those days. They were so much simpler.
With a shake of his head, Neville pushed away his memories. Now was the time to be strong. The times were changing. Wizards were living in fear for their lives, and the select few that chose to fight against what's wrong had to always be on the lookout. It was not safe anymore for wizards and muggles alike. Voldemert's hand now stretched further than ever, and with the power he had, you could never know who to trust.
As Neville climbed back out of the classroom, he walked towards where the owlery once stood. He had seen some owls flying near there and he needed one. As he approached it, he found that a small portion of the tower, though it had fallen, was still intact. As he peered inside he saw an owl that he had recognised. "Hedwig?" Neville proclaimed as he reached his hand out for the owl. As it climbed upon his arm, Harry's faced flashed before him, bringing more dirty tears.
Holding Hedwig with his left arm, he wiped his eyes with his right sleve. Looking at Hedwig, Neville pulled a letter from his robe pocket. "I need you to get this to Ron. It is very important." Neville said as he place the letter in Hedwig's mouth and then proceeded to pet her until he lifeted his arm and sent her off into the morning sky. "Good luck Hedwig," said Neville as the owl dissappeared.
Nodding, Neville began to leave the grounds. He had seen enough sadness, and cried too many tears for one morning. The time for action was once again coming, and Neville could feel it...
As he approached the castle, he came face to face with nothing but rubble. It was as if the entire castle had been ripped from its location. As he circled the castle, the base of his robes wet with morning dew, he peered around looking at all of the damage. In all actuality, all that was left was the basement floors. The reamains of what appeared to be the Slytherin common room, the kitchens, and his former potions classroom.
Neville shuddered a bit as a gostly image of former Professor Snape's face crossed his mind. His greatest fear had been realized many times since his first encounter with a boggart in his third year. Since then he had many accounts which had changed his fears. He never thought, however, the the next time he had to face it, it would be without his closest friends. Harry Potter had indeed felt valiantly, side-by-side with his friends until his death.
It was quite a sight. Neville remembered it like it were only moments ago. The duel to end all duels. Or, at least it was supposed to be. No one actually got to see him die. However valiantly he fought, Harry sealed the door behind him after he entered. No matter what he could do, Neither Neville or any of the other D.A.s could open it. With tears on their faces the D.A.s simply defended themselves from opposition and listened to the screams of pain that arose from inside the doors from both Harry and Voldemort.
They all fought with all of their power until Harry's screams became silent and Voldemort's bacame a laugh. A sick, twisted, hateful laugh. It was then the doors opened and the death eaters dissappered. Neville, Ron, and Hermoine burst in to find Harry's lifeless body on the floor. The three began to weep, knowing that the worst had happened. The boy who lived was dead. The wizarding worlds source of hope was gone, and all hell was about to break loose.
Since then, Neville, along with many other of Harry's classmates and friends had trained and become Aurors. Neville was now the spitting image of his father, and he got his support from his still very frequent visits to his parents' new hidden home, as St. Mungo's was no longer open for business. He knew that if Voldemort was going to be stopped, it would take a joint effort from all involved with harry's life. He was ready for it.
After wiping a small tear from his eye, Neville climbed down into the potions classroom. He immediately walked to the former location of his desk and sat upon a pile of rock that now sat in its place. He smiled a teary-eyed smile, remembering his friends and all of the good times that they had spent together. He remembered it as if it were yesterday, laughing and joking with his buddies. Oh how he missed those days. They were so much simpler.
With a shake of his head, Neville pushed away his memories. Now was the time to be strong. The times were changing. Wizards were living in fear for their lives, and the select few that chose to fight against what's wrong had to always be on the lookout. It was not safe anymore for wizards and muggles alike. Voldemert's hand now stretched further than ever, and with the power he had, you could never know who to trust.
As Neville climbed back out of the classroom, he walked towards where the owlery once stood. He had seen some owls flying near there and he needed one. As he approached it, he found that a small portion of the tower, though it had fallen, was still intact. As he peered inside he saw an owl that he had recognised. "Hedwig?" Neville proclaimed as he reached his hand out for the owl. As it climbed upon his arm, Harry's faced flashed before him, bringing more dirty tears.
Holding Hedwig with his left arm, he wiped his eyes with his right sleve. Looking at Hedwig, Neville pulled a letter from his robe pocket. "I need you to get this to Ron. It is very important." Neville said as he place the letter in Hedwig's mouth and then proceeded to pet her until he lifeted his arm and sent her off into the morning sky. "Good luck Hedwig," said Neville as the owl dissappeared.
Nodding, Neville began to leave the grounds. He had seen enough sadness, and cried too many tears for one morning. The time for action was once again coming, and Neville could feel it...
