ᵖʳᵒᵘᵈ ᵖᵃʳᵉⁿᵗˢ ; ʰᵃʳᵐⁱᵒⁿᵉ ✓

Chapter Thirty-Five

Chapter 35 - Reborn

The more Poppy considered their idea for the Longbottoms, the more she began to think it might be the only way to break them free of the potion prison this couple were trapped in. "They've been getting a little of Dumbledore's magic fed to them in potion form for well over a decade. With this abominable misuse of power, that magic has had plenty of time to infuse into every single cell of their bodies. I can't see a few doses of magic-infused antidote overcoming that amount of damage. Deliberately preventing healing is bad enough, but to plot and scheme to keep them in this condition - the old goat should face the veil for this abuse alone."

The Italian mind healer was swearing in his native language again, only for his Minister of Magic to gently point out that all staff and students of the Institute were currently learning Italian. He instantly offered his apologies.

"This Dumbledore has deliberately stopped this couple healing for all those years to further his own goals! I have no English words bad enough to say about him. I offer my services to aid you with this...this...agh - again no English words strong enough."

After discovering what they were going to attempt, Neville wanted to try right away. Augusta didn't seem inclined to say no to her grandson so Poppy laid down the law.

"We will be doing these attempts a patient at a time, so you need to choose. I will then administer the maximum dose of antidote potion and, an hour later, the attempt will be made. During that hour, the people making the attempt need to eat and rest. This has never been attempted before but we all think this is our best chance of success."

Turning to his grandmother, Neville said what was on his mind. "How am I supposed to choose between mum and dad? What if this doesn't work?"

Ruffling his hair, Augusta was so proud of her grandson and tried to answer his questions as best she could. "There is no doubt in my mind that Frank Longbottom would insist you try to help Alice first. As to this not working, there is no way your magic could ever hurt either of them. If it only pushes some of that old bastard's magic out of your mum, it's still an improvement. It's something that may have to be repeated a few times - we just don't know. Just do your best and we'll see what happens, and remember - you won't hurt them."

Hermione had asked Dobby to fetch Luna, and then some snacks. As soon as the little blonde discovered what they were about to attempt, Neville was plonked into a chair and Luna promptly sat on his lap - feeding him snacks between kisses. When it was time to act, Luna tenderly kissed him before resting her forehead on his. "You can do this, Nev. Use the mountain of love you have within you to push every last scrap of that hateful old man out of your mum."

With his arms wrapped around his betrothed, and his gran smiling at him, Neville felt ready to deal with anything. Moving toward the bed that held his mother, Poppy had last minute instructions for them.

"I'll be monitoring Alice, while Dr Russo will be monitoring Neville. If either of us shouts stop, that's what you'll immediately do. Don't make us have to stun you."

Nodding, Neville placed his right hand on his mother's forehead while his left rested on Alice's abdomen. He felt Hermione's hand on his left shoulder while his godbrother gave his right a reassuring squeeze before resting his hand there.

Looking over at Luna and his gran, both wrapped in each other's arms for comfort and support, Neville knew exactly what he had to do here. Thinking of introducing Luna to his mum and dad was a dream for him, and the focus Neville would use here. Gathering his magic, he pumped all the love he had for the people around him in there too - as if casting his patronus - before releasing his magic into his mum. As Neville felt his magic leave in one enormous burst, an ocean of reserves was suddenly available to him as Harry and Hermione began pouring their magic into him. Gratefully accepting their gift allowed Neville to continue with this level of magical transference into his mum.