Grindelwald's Burden (Books 1-7)

141. The Lost Diadem

"Neville..." Y/n said surprised but happy to see him.

"But how..." Harry said confused.

But Neville had spotted Ron and Hermione, and with yells of delight was hugging them too. The longer Y/n looked at Neville, the worse he appeared. One of his eyes was swollen yellow and purple, there were gouge marks on his face, and his general air of unkemptness suggested that he had been living rough. Nevertheless, his battered visage shone with happiness as he let go of Ron and said again. "I knew you'd come! Kept telling Seamus it was a matter of time!"

"Neville, what has happened to you?" Y/n asked him.

"What? This?" Neville dismissed his injuries with a shake of the head. "This is nothing. Seamus is worse. You'll see. Shall we get going then? Oh." he turned to Aberforth, "Ab, there might be a couple more people on the way."

"Couple more?" repeated Aberforth ominously. "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." said Neville. "Just send them down the passage when they get here, will you? Thanks a lot."

Neville beckoned to the four to follow him and Y/n went first as he held out his hand to Hermione and helped her climb up onto the mantelpiece and into the tunnel, Ron followed Harry turned to address Aberforth.

"I don't know how to thank you. You've saved our lives twice."

"Look after 'em, then." said Aberforth gruffly. "...Even that GrindeIwald boy...I might not be able to save you lot a third time."

Harry nodded and clambered up onto the mantelpiece and through the hole behind Ariana's portrait.

There were smooth stone steps on the other side It looked as though the passageway had been there for years. Brass lamps hung from the walls and the earthy floor was worn and smooth, as they walked, their shadows rippled, fanlike, across the wall.

"How long's this been here?" Ron asked as they set off. "It isn't on the Marauder's Map, is it, Harry? I thought there were only seven passages in and out of school?"

"They sealed off all of those before the start of the year." said Neville. "There's no chance of getting through any of them now, not with curses over the entrances and Death Eaters and dementors waiting at the exits." He started walking backward, beaming, drinking them in. "Never mind that stuff...Is it true? Did you break into Gringotts? Did you escape on a dragon? It's everywhere, everyone's talking about it, Terry Boot got beaten up by Carrow for yelling about it in the Great Hall at dinner!"

"Yeah, it's true." said Harry.

Neville laughed gleefully. "What did you do with the dragon?"

"Released it into the wild," said Ron. "Y/n and Hermione were all for keeping it as a pet..."

"Don't exaggerate, Ron..." Hermione said unimpressed.

"Well..." Y/n chimed in. "It would have been nice, but far too much work to look after. Besides that dragon has long earned some freedom."

The other three nodded their heads.

"But what have you been doing?" Neville asked now. "People have been saying you've just been on the run, Harry, Y/n, but I don't think so. I think you've both been up to something."

"You're right about that..." said Harry.

"Tell us about Hogwarts first Neville, we have not heard anything." Y/n said.

"It's been...well, it's not really like Hogwarts anymore." said Neville, the smile fading from his face as he spoke. "Do you know about the Carrows?"

"The two Death Eaters who teach here?" Y/n asked.