Without another word, she immediately signalled her aurors, spun on her heel and walked out. The aurors waited for her to walk out of the room before following her, one at a time.
From behind the door frame, Neville quietly walked away, heading upstairs to his room. He needed to think.
He'd barely reached the door when Fluxy popped in next to him and said, "Mistress 'Gusta wants you to see her in the welcoming hall." The little elf was clearly terrified
Neville nodded and said, "Thank you, Fluxy. I'm on my way."
'Damn,' he quietly thought.
As soon as he stepped in through the door, before he even had a chance to ask his grandmother what she wanted, she spoke first.
"Neville," she snapped. "Where would I find the Potter boy, at this moment?"
"I do not know," he replied. "He no longer lives with his Aunt and Uncle."
Both true statements, in and of themselves. But, quite misleading.
'There's no way I'm telling her he's staying with Hermione,' he thought. 'Harry's already told me about those wards there and I don't want to see her get hurt.'
"You've been writing to him," she glared. "Where do you send those letters?"
"I send them via Hermione Granger, a House- and year-mate. And, no, I do not actually know where she lives. I just know it is in an area somewhere just south of London."
"That's useless to me!" snapped Longbottom. As she spun away again, she snapped, "You can go."
Shaking his head, Neville walked back out.
He had a letter to write.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Monday morning's 'fire-side' within the Department of Mysteries was a slightly more raucous affair than normal - for Unspeakables, that is. Instead of the quiet murmurings of people speaking quietly to one another, voices were at almost normal volume. That is, until Unspeakable Croaker walked into the room. Then it was almost instant silence.
"I'm jumping in first concerning a major happening," he said. "As some of you know, the young knight engineered the taking of the near-comatose Longbottoms from Mungo's. They were taken to Gringotts and placed within their time dilation chamber, together with a team of Healers. One of them, the team leader, is an expert on curse damage; his second is an expert on physiotherapy for the long-term bedridden.
"We are aware that, before they were taken into the chamber, both Longbottoms were discovered to have actually been under the effects of a mind-related curse; not long-term Cruciatus damage, as previously thought. The curse had been lifted off both before they were taken into the chamber.
"We also now know the chamber was set for a one to twelve ratio. That is, for every two hours outside time, a full day will pass inside. The time dilation is expected to begin to terminate at or about 4.30am on Tuesday morning. It is expected to take half an hour for the time dilation effect to completely terminate.
"The young knight will have the dog standing by as they come out. They are now expected to be completely healed and healthy."
That had a few mutterings from the Unspeakables, making it the equivalent of shouts of outrage or jubilation.
"The timing with regards to the meeting of the fuddy-duddies is not coincidental, either. Our analysts agree it has been timed so that the Longbottom two, now known as Leo and Lisa, will have a couple hours to be brought up to date with what has been going on while they have been in seclusion before the start of the second trial of the dog.
"We also know that the young knight has been often sending them letters passing them via the VC magics the goblins employ. We have not been able to sight them, but believe he is sending them updates. He's been sending them in via house-elf.
"Just this morning we have learned the young knight informed Leo's heir he was responsible. The old dragon now knows and is likely to be on the warpath. We know she cannot get to him at Bookworm's, but he intends to go shopping for new robes today in Diagon.
"We will have agents on sight in case the old dragon finds out before his shopping is complete. If she does and makes it there before the young knight leaves, she is to be incapacitated and warned off.
"Next?"
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry knew Neville had to be quite guilt-ridden about telling his grandmother about his letter. That was not something that he would allow to continue. He hadn't been working on the boy as hard as he had to get him to stand tall and proud for all that work to be wasted.
So, he'd send a very short note to let his friend know he wasn't upset with him.
Then he snorted at the simplicity of it and pulled a small off-cut of parchment to himself.
~ # ~
Nev,
I know and it's okay. You did the right thing. I'm actually proud of you for making the decision you did. Remember first year, when you stood up to us for the first time?
However you can, even if your grandmother tells you 'No', be at the Wizengamot on Tuesday morning. You're going to love it.
If your floo's blocked, the Knight Bus is a wild ride. At the tall red box, go inside. Lift the handset and hold it to your ear. The telephone number is 'magic' (62442).
No code, this time.
Harry
~ # ~
"Dobby," he called.
"Yes, Master Harry?" asked the elf.
'Damn,' thought Harry. 'His elf-popping is getting almost silent.'
"Letter for Neville, Dobby," he replied, handing over the letter. "Again, give it to him only when he's alone."
"Yes, Master Harry," replied Dobby, before he popped away again.
With that letter sent, he began to make a start on his next update letter to Frank and Alice.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
Harry was only just making a start on his letter to Frank and Alice when Sirius turned up.
As he walked into the dinette, he said, "Morning, Pup! Ready to do some shopping?"
Harry sighed and said, "As ready as I'm going to be, I suppose. Let me call Hermione―"
"No need," she called as she walked in behind Sirius. "I'm here."
She was excited.
Sirius turned to her with a wide grin. "Hello, my little darling," he cheerily said before opening his arms wide for a cuddle.
Hermione was quick to duck in and accept.
"Oi!" said Harry. "Hands off my betrothed, Black!"
As Sirius chuckled back, Hermione blew a raspberry at him. That just had Sirius laughing even more.
"No respect," Harry mock-grumbled. "That's what I get. No respect, at all."
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