I've returned from the past

Chapter 21

"Harry, look at this." Harry walks over to Ron and glances at the files. "Neville has been filed as a missing person two years ago." He takes the folder from Ron's hand, leaning against his desk as he flips through the files. 

"That's strange. Where was he last seen?" 

"He wasn't last seen, that's the issue." Ron points at the person who filed the report- Hannah Abbott. His wife. "He was supposed to come home one night- after blowing up in a rage and never came back. It took a week for Hannah to file the report because she thought he'd just travelled or gone away for a long walk as he usually does." 

Harry flicks through, his frown only growing. 

"What was the argument about?" 

"She refuses to say. I even tried to get Seamus on it but she won't spill." Of course she won't. 

"Who was put on the case?" 

"Penelope Fawley but she's..." 

"Also missing still," Harry takes a bit off the apple he'd originally been eating. "She must have found something. A kidnapper?" 

"To take Ms Fawley is a bold move. Especially with her husband so dead set on trying to find her." Harry only sighs. "Where was her last location." 

"Godrics Hollow." He pauses and glances at Ron who shrugs helplessly. "I dunno what to tell you mate. If it's coincidence it's a might large one if not... then your involved. Which might be why Hannah didn't want to tell us. She knows us so I don't think she'd assume we'd judge." Harry shrugs. 

"I'll go and take a look around," Harry says, dropping the papers. "Is dinner still on for tonight?" 

"As always," Ron offers and he grins, patting his shoulder as he walks out to the floos and apparates to Godrics Hollow, quickly turning to walk along the pavement at a decent speed that would have none of the muggles guessing where he'd come from. 

He glances around for anything suspicious but he's not expected to really find anything. The Potter Cottage is still shambles, the derelict building neglected and damaged and it makes him feel a twinge of guilt-

Until it wasn't. 

Until it wasn't. In fact. It as completely whole, fully rebuilt and Hadrian stood outside the building, gawking at the building that had been resurrected right before his eyes. 

"What..." he casts a revealing charm but nothing shows. A green charm chucked over his shoulder has a raven landing on his shoulder. "Did you see that?" 

"See what?" The bird asks, glancing at the building. "Oh it's whole again. That's interesting." 

"Yeah but it just..." he shakes his head. If Death knew it would have said something. He pushes open the small gate- squeaking on old hinges and walks towards the front door- the front lawns perfectly manicured. 

He doesn't feel any danger, yet. 

He pulls out his wand and opens the front door, looking into a brightly lit interior and walks in with mild confusion to see it fully furnished- pictures of Harry on the wall with his parents and even with Frank and Alice and Neville- 

Odd, it should be destroyed... he turns to look at the staircase before being abruptly halted by a sense of danger and glanced at the portrait of Neville to see the babies eyes following the way Hadrian was going. 

Death stares at it- Harry stared at it- and blasted the portrait into smouldering smithereens- 

"That wasn't very nice." He whips around and spots Neville in the doorway, looking haggard and pale with a gentle frown on his face. His eyes darkened slightly and looked so different from that curiosity he used to have.