Neville Longbottom: The Boy Who Lived

Proof

".......the hell?" Hermione smacked Malfoy for the swear. "Language! Well, but by the sounds of it, Professor Pettigrew is planning against someone." Malfoy frowned. "Why would Peteyboi owe anyone a debt?" Hermione frowned at the professor's new nickname, but didn't argue it. "He does seem rather jumpy to have somehow saved someone's life. That's how wizard debts work. I read about it the other day!" Malfoy frowned. "Is that all you ever do?" She nodded absentmindedly. She suddenly sat up. "I'll be right back. Stay here!" She ran out of the portrait hole, slamming the painting behind her (much to the Fat Lady's dismay). A few minutes later, she ran back in with a small book in her arms. "I found this in the library the other day. This is where I learned about wizard debts. I forgot there was another section, called Blood Debts. Look!" We leaned over her shoulder to read the page.

Blood Debts- a debt that has been transcribed in blood. Even more Sirius (ayyy!) then an Unbreakable Vow, but both consist of two willing participants writing in blood a promise. Unlike the Unbreakable Vow, the person breaking their vow doesn't die. Instead, they shall be on the receiving end of a curse. The curse is never known, but chosen by the person receiving the promise. Death, illness, and such. This means of promise is considered part of the dark arts, and the spell has been banned by the Ministry of Magic to be written. Signs of someone under a blood promise are stuttering, inability to control magic, ghosts and other animals being weary, jumpiness, and a general fear and anxiety increasing .

Malfoy nodded. "He does stutter a lot, and is very jumpy. But a lot of people are, so we can't exactly narrow it down to that." I pointed to the page. "Well, we could ask some of the ghosts if they like him. But if you noticed, the bird thingamagig on the first day hated him, but loved everyone else." "An adarna." "Thank you Hermione." We nodded. All of a sudden, a hand grabbed our book. "What do we have here?" Harry and Ron were staring at the book. Harry smirked when he read this. "Looking up promises? Who you torturing guys?" Hermione stood up and got in his face. "Why do you care, Potter?" He shoved past her, and sat next to me. "Reasons. But seriously, I was listening to you guys. Wormtail is crazy close to my dad and his friends, they were in some gang or something when they came here. I never really liked him. Apparently, as a baby, I would cry if he tried to hold me. I pretend for my dad, but he's creepy." Malfoy snorted at the idea of baby Harry crying about the Dark Arts professor, but a quick glare from Harry shut him up. "Seriously guys, I can help." He got a dangerous smirk on his face. "In fact, I have an idea." He ran upstairs, and came downstairs with a silvery blanket. "My Dad gave this to me as a baby. He wasn't a legendary prankster for no reason." Hermione looked confused as me and Malfoy (yes I know bad grammar but I never saw Neville as  grammar-aware, so that was on purpose) gasped. "An invisibility cloak." I whispered. Hermione's eyes widened. "Wanna go stalk a creeper?" Harry whispered with a grin.

"Harry, this is boring, can we go back?" Ron moaned for what had to be the 999th time. Hermione smacked his arm. "Shut up! This is my first time breaking a rule, and to admit, this is quite fun! Go back is you wish, but Filch will catch you." Ron paled and shook his head. We had our backs pressed against the wall of Pettigrew's office, and the cloak was draped over us, successfully hiding us. A few minutes later, the door opened and quietly closed. We were hidden behind the desk. We couldn't see him, and he obviously couldn't see us. "I'm sorry, my dear friend, I know I made promised, but if I don't help him, he'll kill the both of them. I'm choosing the outcome with less death." A voice growled. We listened intently. It sounded like some kind muggle communication, their terepones, or whatever. "He's my good friends son. He isn't going to die. And neither is his friend. You gave the blood oath. To protect them both." There was a load thump, and some crying. "Please, Paddy, do you understand how little choice I have? Either one or three die. I made a choice." I heard an animalistic growl, almost like the one of a dog. "H was right about you." I looked over at Harry, who I felt shaking. His face was pale, but when he saw me, put on a poker face. A moment later, the hiss of water hitting fire, and then the slamming of a door. (Hey, he closed the g*d d**m door!). We got up, and ran to the library.

"Harry, what is it?" Harry had been really shaken, so Ron had pulled him off to the side. No, I'm not proud of it, but yes, I was eavesdropping. "Pettigrew call my godfather Paddy. And the whole gang calls me H." Ron gently hugged Harry. "Mate..". Harry put his head on his knees. "There's something else. Something Uncle Paddy told me. It all fits. But I hope I'm wrong."

The next morning, Harry was back to his, mean sarcastic, self. Until Dark Arts. He seemed more quiet, and angrier. He didn't glare, exactly, but his eyes grew more intense. He was the same Harry again at dinner, though. Just as he was about to chuck some mashed potatoes at a passing ghost, Hermione stopped him with a glare. "Excuse me, sir, May we ask a quick question?" The ghost turned around. It was the Fat Friar, the Hufflepuff ghost. "Sure thing, girly! As the kids say, wassup?" He even did the finger guns to accompany. Ron was staring at the ghost with an open mouth, completely appalled. "Sir, we were wondering how you felt about Professor Pettigrew?" His usually smiling, friendly face, grew uncomfortable and sad. "I used to know him, back in the days when he was at Hogwarts, great friend of your paps, boy. He was friendly and shy. I liked him. When he came back this year as a professor, well, none of the ghosts like him. He scares us, and we don't know why. We just try and steer clear." He shivered. "Lovely conversation. I bid you farewell!" Harry threw his hands up in exasperation. "Yep. Blood oath. The ghosts hate him, he stutters, is jumpy, and animals hate him. Proof!" Hermione nodded. "It makes sense. But with who?" Harry paled. Ron looked over, worried. "Harry?" Hermione asked. Harry stood up. "I, um, have to go, do, um....".  And then he ran. Ron shrugged, then ran after Harry. Malfoy walked over. "What's with them?" Me and Hermione shrugged. We didn't have an answer.

Author's Note-
Hey all! Sorry I haven't been updating, I've had a small case of Writers Block. Fun fun fun. But I have a cool idea for how this is gonna go!
Click that vote button, and have a
good night/day/life/ect...!
~Kat-the-Nerd