Hogwarts: Neville’s Insert (A Neville SI)

Hogwarts: Neville's Insert Chapter 73

Author's Note:

Hey guys!

Sorry for the long wait on this chapter. I've been a bit stuck on what to write next—since the story is still set in February, I've been scratching my head trying to figure out what should happen for the rest of the school term. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them!

Also, I had some trouble editing this chapter—ChatGPT has been giving me a headache lately—so if it feels a bit off, that's probably why. I ended up painstakingly editing this one using Grammarly instead.

Thanks for understanding, and I hope you still enjoy it!

"But what I find most troubling," he said, voice quiet but serious, "is how Voldemort managed to bewitch young Astoria at all. My sources tell me he's been hiding in a forest in Albania—far from Hogwarts."

He turned then, eyes settling on Neville, Harry, and Hermione. "Please… continue."

Neville gave a small nod. "Well, anyway," he began, "we figured he was trying to come back to life. I mean, before this, he was just… petrifying people. But kidnapping someone? That was different. That meant he had everything he needed. It was the last step."

He glanced at Hermione, then at Harry. "That's why I asked Hermione to go get a professor while Harry and I went down into the Chamber to stall Riddle. I would've gone alone, but only Harry could open the entrance—Parseltongue."

Neville gave a small shrug. "And we were right. Tom was close—really close. If we'd waited any longer, he might've come back properly."

Dumbledore nodded, voice soft. "And you were right. Had you not acted, Tom may very well have returned."

Neville nodded again. "Yeah. We dealt with the basilisk, made it out… and once the diary was destroyed, he vanished. That was the end of it."

Dumbledore gave a slow, thoughtful nod. "I see."

…

Monday, 15th February 1993 – Hogwarts Hospital Wing, Hogwarts

McGonagall raises an eyebrow, glancing at all three of them. "One thing I'd like to know. How, exactly, did you leave the common room? I gave the Fat Lady strict instructions not to let any students out."

Neville rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Uh… we flew out the window."

McGonagall stares at him. "You… flew?"

"Yeah," Neville mumbled. "Brooms. Window. It was the fastest way."

She closes her eyes for a moment and sighs. "Merlin, help me. I'm getting too old for this."

Snape sneers from nearby. "Typical. No regard for rules or authority—just like always."

Neville gave Snape a flat look and said. "If you'd prefer two dead students instead, be my guest."

Mr. Greengrass frowns deeply, arms crossed, voice low but sharp, "There is something I would like to know, I understand why Astoria was taken. But why Daphne? What reason would he have to take her too?"

Dumbledore answers steadily, hands clasped behind his back, "My guess would be… Astoria's condition had weakened her too much. Her life force alone wouldn't have been enough for Tom to return in full. When Professor Snape found her, Miss Daphne remained behind to watch over her sister, and Tom took the opportunity. He needed another life, and Daphne was the closest one at hand."

Lady Greengrass lets out a soft gasp. She pulled them into a tight embrace. "Oh my…"

Astoria hugs her mother back, trembling, while Daphne leans against her mother.

Dumbledore nods slowly, glancing toward Harry, Neville, and Hermione. "It was fortunate they went after him…"

McGonagall's voice cut in, sharp and dry. "Very well," she said, eyeing the boys sternly. "So you found out where the entrance was – breaking a dozen school rules into pieces along the way, I might add – but how on earth did you all get out of there alive?"

Neville blinked. 'A dozen? Pretty sure it was only two. Maybe three, if you count flying out the window separately…' He frowned slightly but kept his mouth shut. No need to argue technicalities with McGonagall when she looked like she was one sentence away from giving them all detention until they graduated.

He raised an eyebrow instead and gave a casual shrug. "The same way we went in, of course."

Harry let out a short laugh before nuzzling Neville.

Astoria covered her mouth with both hands, her shoulders shaking. Daphne actually snorted.

Neville turned toward Harry, bewildered. "What? We came out there the same way."

Hermione groaned quietly and stomped on his foot.

"Oi!" Neville yelped, jerking his leg back. He turned to her, half-glowering. "That hurt! What was that for?"

Hermione shot him a glare that said 'Think before you speak, you dolt,' without needing to say anything at all.

McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a prayer for patience.

Dumbledore, meanwhile, just looked quietly amused, the corners of his mouth twitching ever so slightly, eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses.

"I do believe, Minerva," he said lightly, "was asking how exactly you managed to defeat both the basilisk… and young Tom."

Neville blinked, looking a bit lost for a moment. "Huh? Oh—that." He gestured to his shoulder. "Well… Lumina helped. A lot."

The blue phoenix gave a soft chirp, nuzzling her head against Neville's cheek. He smiled faintly and scratched under her feathers before continuing.

"She blinded the basilisk and kept it busy. I was keeping Tom distracted while Harry, uh… Harry was on his broom, flying above. He threw the diary straight into the basilisk—pretty sure that's what finished him off."

Neville wandered over to the chair where Harry had left the sword, picked it up, and turned back to face the others.

"And we used this," he said simply, holding up the bloodstained blade. "Killed it with this."

He ended with a shrug, like it had been just another school project and not a life-or-death battle in a hidden chamber beneath the castle.

Neville kept it as vague as possible

Snape snarled at the answer, "How delightfully convenient,"

Dumbledore asked, "Ah, Lumina… and where did you find a phoenix? A blue one, at that. I don't believe I've ever encountered a phoenix quite like her before."

"Actually… I found her egg here. In the castle." He glanced toward McGonagall.

"Remember that day, Professor? When Hermione and Harry came to you because I'd gone missing? I'd fallen asleep in an old classroom and ended up bringing Luna Lovegood to the Gryffindor dorms later that evening."

McGonagall's eyes narrowed slightly in recollection, but she gave a small nod.

"Well, that day," Neville continued, "I found her. She'd just hatched. The moment I touched the egg, she bonded to me."

Lumina let out a proud little trill on his shoulder, fluffing her feathers as if to confirm his words.

Dumbledore nodded, turned to Hermione next. "And what happened on your end, Miss Granger?"

Hermione wrung her hands together as she spoke. "Ron and I, after leaving Harry and Neville, went to Professor Lockhart's office. He was the closest professor, and he had written all those books, so I thought he would be our best option. We told him everything—what was happening and where Harry and Neville had gone. At first, he acted like he was going to help us. But then he suddenly turned around, pulled out his wand, and tried to Obliviate us."

She takes a shaky breath. "I dodged it. We'd been practicing spell-dodging, so I managed to roll out of the way. But Ron wasn't as lucky. He got hit. When I asked Lockhart why—why he would do that—he said he couldn't let us ruin his reputation. Said he had a career to think about. He then tried again. But I got a Protego up in time. The spell bounced back and hit him instead."

Dumbledore nods once, rubbing his beard. "It seems the truth has a way of catching up to even the best liars."

"I will personally see to it that he is never allowed near a classroom again," McGonagall said stiffly, voice low and tight with fury. "That man should never have been hired."

Snape muttered under his breath, "At least we're in agreement on one thing."

Madam Pomfrey tsked sharply, bustling over to check on Hermione despite her protests. "Trying to erase the memories of children… disgraceful. And this is what passes for Defense education?"

"I'm fine," Hermione insisted.

Seeing the ward settle, Dumbledore gave a small, relieved chuckle. "Well… messy as it was, matters did turn out for the better."

Dumbledore clapped his hands lightly. "Of course, there's still the matter of consequences. After all, you four did break quite a few rules."

He paused, then added with a smile, "Well, let's see. All of you will be receiving Special Awards for Services to the School, and I believe I'll award one hundred points each!"

Neville stared, unimpressed. "That's it? Points and a shiny cup?" he muttered.

Snape snorted. "Your arrogance knows no bounds, Longbottom."

Neville turned to face him fully. "When you've killed a sixty-foot snake that can murder you with a stare, then we'll talk. Until then, maybe you should worry about your own incompetent staff. Lockhart nearly erased Ron's mind. He would've done it to Hermione too if she hadn't known a fifth-year spell. What are you doing about that? " Neville's voice didn't rise. He wasn't yelling. He was calm and Controlled..

Snape said nothing in return this time.

Harry glanced over to Ron's bed, where the redhead still lay unconscious, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. "What about him?" he asked. "What's going to happen to Ron?"

Dumbledore looked toward the redhead, who was still asleep. "Mr. Weasley will have to remain here for observation overnight, and his parents will be informed. As for Professor Lockhart…"

His voice dropped slightly. "He'll be turned over to the authorities. We'll let the Ministry handle it."

Just then, a loud rumble echoed through the ward.

Everyone turned.

Neville blinked in surprise. "What? We haven't eaten yet, and I used a lot of magic earlier."

There was a beat of silence before Dumbledore let out a deep, warm chuckle.

"Well then. I believe that calls for a feast."

He turned to McGonagall. "Minerva, if you'd be so kind, ask the elves to prepare dinner for the entire school. And… perhaps escort our younger students as well. I'd rather not risk another incident before dessert."

McGonagall nodded briskly and turned to leave, but before she could reach the door, Mr. Greengrass spoke up. "We'd like to take both our daughters home for the weekend, Headmaster. After everything… I think a break from the castle would do them some good."

Dumbledore nodded. "As much time as you need. They deserve it."

McGonagall turned to Harry, Neville, and Hermione. "Well? What are you three standing there for? Hurry up! I have to get to the kitchen after I've escorted you lot."

Neville muttered to no one in particular, "I need a bloody shower," as he started to walk out of the hospital wing.

That's when Snape stepped in front of them, his eyes on the weapon. "I'll be taking that."

Neville raised an eyebrow. "It's mine."

Snape stepped closer. "That may be so. But I'm not letting you roam the school armed. Hand it over."

He reached out—but before his fingers got close, Lumina flared her wings open with a whoosh. She let out a piercing cry that made several heads turn.

"I think she's daring you to try," he said calmly, not even bothering to hide the smirk on his face.

Snape's lips curled into a grimace. His hand twitched toward his wand.

"Severus," Dumbledore said softly. "Leave it."

Snape stiffened. He turned toward the Headmaster, jaw tight, nostrils flaring—then spun on his heel and stalked out of the room without another word, his robes snapping behind him.

Dumbledore turned to Neville, his tone quieter now. "I suggest you keep that hidden, Mr Longbottom. Don't parade it about the castle."

Neville nodded. "Yeah. Wasn't planning to."

Dumbledore nodded and said, "Well, if you'll excuse me," as he adjusted his robes slightly. "I need to inform Mr. Weasley's parents and send a letter to the Minister regarding Hagrid and Mr. Lockhart." With that, Dumbledore walked past them, and the three of them finally left the Hospital Wing to follow Professor McGonagall.

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