The Rebirth

Hagrids Hut

Hey! Sorry for the lack of posts it's been a busy week, hope you enjoy this chapter, and thank you to those who always read my new stuff❤.
Enjoy!
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Harry and Ron had escaped the crowds, and were now walking towards Hagrid's hut. The little clay chimney was smoking, indicating that he was in. Harry had put the cloak back into his backpack – they didn't need to hide anymore. Soon they were at the door which smelt of stale rock cakes and plants – the scent was so familiar, it was like being hugged by memories. Ron knocked, and the door opened. But it wasn't Hagrid who answered.
Even though Harry and Ron often visited Neville Longbottom, his transformation still shocked them to this day – Ron always asked what Neville was actually putting into his pumpkin juice – "you can't be drinking pumpkin juice 24/7 and look like that Neville, trust me." He'd laugh, prodding his belly.

They now looked at him, slightly taken aback, as he beckoned them in. He was dressed in a tweed jumper and khaki trousers, also looking taken aback yet happy at the sight of his two former classmates.
They walked in to see that Hagrid was not actually in the hut – the table had two mugs of butterbeer, and Neville walked back to his seat where there was a herbology book open.
"Hagrid will be back in a minute, he just popped out to get me something. How are you guys?"
"Erm, yeah, great. You?"
"Not too bad, teaching as usual. Your kids are good, but they do have some of your cheek." He laughed, but dropped once he looked properly at their faces. Harry and Ron, who, to this day, weren't very good at lying to their friends, wore expressions that simply screamed that something was wrong.

"Oh no. I know that look, it's never good. Bloody hell Ron, Harry, tell me what's going on."
"You're starting to sound like me!" Laughed Ron, trying to change the conversation. Neville raised his eyebrows. "Come on mate, I think it's obvious that we're not kids anymore – you don't need to tiptoe around other people, especially those who want to help."
"Fine. At this bloody rate, the whole of Hogsmeade will know." Sighed Ron, but he had an affectionate glint in his eye. Neville was one of their greatest friends, and Harry and Ron couldn't be more proud of him for making his life something amazing – his parents would be incredibly proud.

Wait, Neville's parents! Harry realised it far earlier than Ron did – how could they tell Neville that the woman responsible for his parents going mad had a child? How does someone even react to that?

"Neville, we have a situation. And we will tell you. But I don't want to cause you any trouble. We don't want you to get upset, or get any ideas – not that you would, but it's just – I do trust you, but-"
"Just tell me." Neville now looked stern.
Ron, who finally seemed to understand, spoke into the silence. "It's Bellatrix."
Neville was silent, before saying "why is it always me?"
-

After a full explanation, Neville sat in his chair, shocked. He had barely spoken a word, occasionally nodding or widening his eyes. Now that Harry and Ron had finished explaining everything, a tense silence hung over them.

"So Ivy's after you then." Neville rubbed his neck, looking stressed.
"We don't really know what she wants, but it's pretty obvious what it's based off." Ron tapped his fingers awkwardly on the wooden table.
"So why are you here when you could be figuring out what she wants?"
But before anyone could respond, a rather large figure had walked in, carrying a potted plant in one hand and a book in the other, both of which looked very small in proportion to the man who carried them.

"Ah, Hagrid. Just the man we're looking for."