the hallows - f. weasley

- c h a p t e r - t w e n t y-t w o -

 After Hermione was nearly strangled with a hug, Neville spun on Gemma–sweeping her off her feet as she laughed and clung to her best friend, "Oh, Nev!"

"I knew you'd come!" Neville briefly placed his hands on her scarred face–as if making sure she was actually there before he hugged her again and said to Harry, "Kept telling Seamus it was a matter of time!"

"Neville, what's happened to you?" Harry didn't even acknowledge what he said.

Gemma winced as she took in the injuries on Neville's face: one of his eyes was swollen yellow and purple, the gouge marks looked vaguely like how her new still-healing scars looked from Fenrir Greyback, and he just generally looked like he had been living rough since the last time she had seen him.

"What? This?" Neville waved a hand at Harry as he shook his head, "This is nothing. Seamus is worse. You'll see. Shall we get going then? Oh," Neville quickly turned to Aberforth, "Ab, there might be a couple more people on the way."

"Couple more?" Aberforth repeated–raising his brows. "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. Just send them down the passage when they get here, will you? Thanks a lot."

Gemma snickered as he didn't even give Aberforth a chance to respond–instead turning to help Hermione into the passageway. Ron followed her up, and then Neville, who Gemma whispered to go ahead.

He squeezed her hand and murmured, "It's good to see you, Gem. Like really good."

She smiled wanly at him, "And you, Nev. Shall we get tea after this?"

"One hundred percent."

She turned as he climbed into the passageway and looked at Aberforth and Harry as the latter said to the former, "I don't know how to thank you. You've saved our lives twice."

"Look after 'em, then," Aberforth told him gruffly. "I might not be able to save 'em a third time." He nodded at Gemma–his blue eyes piercing, "Take care of your sister, too."

Gemma could hear the pain in his words as she grabbed Harry's hand and replied, "I'll be taking care of him."

Harry snorted and rolled his eyes, "She will be."

Gemma winked at him before turning back to Aberforth and sincerely saying, "Thank you, Aberforth. Ariana would be proud."

The wizard cleared his throat, nodding a couple times before urging, "Get goin'."

Harry helped Gemma onto the mantlepiece before following her up and onto the smooth stone steps on the other side.

Gemma grabbed Harry's hand as they joined the others and started their walk through the dimly lit corridor.

"How long's this been here?" Ron questioned–staring at the dirty walls. "It isn't on the Marauder's Map, isn't 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," Neville explained. "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 with a smooth turn of his heel and stared at them in delight. "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!"

Gemma smirked a little, remembering their escape not even twelve hours ago.

"Yeah, it's true," Harry confirmed–his hand still intertwined with Gemma's.