Verander

A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys, you all are too kind. The end of this chapter is not my best, I was extremely sleepy when I wrote it, and I'm running late now so I don't have time to rewrite it. But then again, I'm still sleepy so I guess it doesn't really matter. But hey, it's an update right? Hope you all like it anyway!
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“Maybe this isn’t such a bad thing.” Hermione said unconvincingly as we walked slowly towards the large, prison like building.

“It looks like the outside of Attica.” And it did. There was a large cement wall with a tall tower and gate in the center. I just couldn’t wait to see what the inside looked like.

“I bet this thing is more secure than Azkaban.” I said bitterly, kicking a pebble that dared to cross my path with the toe of my sneaker.

“I’ll come visit you, all the time in fact. I’ll be here so much you’ll get sick of me.”

I turned and gave her a small smile. I wasn’t sure if I believed her or not, but the words comforted me a little.

“And don’t worry about Ron, he’s just shocked, he’ll come around, he knows you didn’t choose this.”

“Whatever,” I mumbled, my lips set in a frown as we made it to the front gate. Fuck Ron, I didn’t need him. This was the second time he had abandoned me when I desperately needed him. As far as I was concerned Ronald Weasley didn’t exist.

“Name please,” the guard said, his rough voice sending chills down my spine.

This was it, my life was over. Was it wrong to somehow wish Voldemort has found a way to take me with him? Death looked like sweet release compared to this.

“Harry Potter,” Hermione supplied for me, giving me a worried look as I stared ahead, my eyes empty and my face a mask of indifference.

“Neville Longbottom is waiting just inside the gate, he’ll show you around.” The guard said as the gate started to part. I blinked my eyes, my frown getting even more defined. I had no idea that they had gotten Neville. Suddenly I felt guilty, realizing that outside of Hermione and Ron, I honestly had no idea what had happened to my classmates and friends that last couple of months.

“Harry!” Neville exclaimed when the gate was open far enough for us to enter.

“Hey Neville,” Hermione said, her voice full of fake happiness. She smiled at Neville as he greeted her, giving her a warm hug before turning to me.

“Hi Harry,” Neville said, beaming at me. I tried to smile but it turned into more of a grimace.

“Hey Nev,” I replied in what I hoped was a ‘glad to see you voice’. Under any other circumstance, I would have been glad to see Neville. But here, in this place, no. Short of Merlin himself falling from the sky to beam me out of this hell hole, I wouldn’t be happy to see anyone.

“Well come on then Harry, no point in dallying around.” Neville said, turning to face Hermione.

“I’m sorry Mione, but you’re not allowed in this part of the center, I’m really sorry.”

Hermione nodded, turning to smile at me reassuringly. “I’ll be here on the next visiting day, I promise.”

“Sunday as 10am.” Neville said cheerfully , glad there wasn’t going to be any trouble about Hermione leaving.

“Thanks for everything Hermione.” I said, pulling her growing frame to my chest.

“I love you,” I whispered in her ear and I heard her sniff softly, “I love you too Harry.”

I pulled back, my hands still firmly on her lower arms.

“And I love you too,” I said cheekily, looking down at the ever increasing bump in her belly.

Hermione laughed, giving me one last peek on the cheek and a wave to Neville before exiting out of the still open gate.
I sighed, begrudgingly turning back to Neville. “Welcome to hell, eh?” I grunted, looking down at my feet dejectedly.

“Look Harry, I’m going to warn you, because you’re my friend and I don’t want to see anything happen to you. They don’t appreciate….attitudes here. If you behave and obey, it can be great. But if you don’t, well, just don’t try anything, please?” Neville pled, his eyes begging me to agree.

But I wasn’t a child, damnit! And I certainly wasn’t a housewife. News travels fast, I knew what this place was and they were fucking themselves if they thought I was going to roll over and play wife.

“Okay,” I agreed, because how could you disagree with a look like that? Neville worried too much, the least I could do was put his mind at ease for a little while.

“Great,” Neville said, reverting back to his bubbly attitude. It never even crossed his mind I was lying. Poor naïve Neville.

“Come along then, let me show you the ropes.”

That’s when I realized for the first time that there was another gate. We were standing in between two high cement walls.

“I take it back, even Attica wouldn’t be this hard to bust out of.” I mumbled as Neville waved to the guard to let us in.

“That is the Praesul building there, no Notours allowed.“ Neville pointed out a large building that closely resembled a church. It had a long pathway leading to it, covered by elegant arches. It had a dome ceiling that was covered in beautiful mosaic windows.

I tore my gaze away from the building and looked at Neville, confusion clouding my green eyes. “What are Praesuls and Notours?”

“Oh, uh, well, we’re suppose to let the teachers tell you all about that, but since I know you, I guess it won’t hurt.” Neville looked around nervously before taking a deep breath and looking at me seriously.

“Notours are men like you and me, you’ve probably heard it referred to as breeders, they don’t use that term here, they say it’s too derogatory. Anyway, Praesuls are men eligible to be their mate.”

“Hundreds of years ago a Wizard by the name of Admes became pregnant by his male lover. Healers of courses were befuddled, they couldn’t understand how it had happened. Long story short, they figured out that it was a complicated combination of potions Admes has accidentally absorbed into his blood stream after a particularly nasty potion mishap. It essentially gave him a womb that allowed him to carry children. They never released the formula because of the severe homophobia at the time, but it was kept on secure record. It only works on a small percentage of men though, they’re still not sure what determines it. However The Ministry figured now would be a good time to introduce it, ergo Abeoserum.”

“This is the Notour hall here, let’s get you settled in. I requested you be roomed with me, I hope that’s okay?” Neville looked at me nervously from the corner of his eye, obviously unsure about how I would take this.

“That’s great Nev, thanks.” I said, trying as hard as I could to make my voice sound bright.

It was hard to be happy, even fake happy, when you realized that your life was no longer your own. Of course, my life had never really been my own, had it? I was raised to save the wizarding world, not once, but twice it seemed. But finally I thought that after all the fighting, the fear, the anguish, the death, that I would be able to move on and live my life peacefully, the way I wanted to. Wrong again, Harry. Fate was obviously a very pisssed off bitch.

We walked down a long, light blue, hallway. There were rooms on both sides, I guessed about 50 -at least- all together. We had only walked a few feet when Neville turned towards a room on the right side of the hall, he punched in a code on the black pad next to the door and waited for a small beep before opening.

The room was fairly big, much larger than it appeared from the outside. There were two bed, one on each side of the room. There was a comfortable looking black leather couch sitting in front of a muggle entertainment system. I have to admit, that one surprised me a little. Add that with the key pad on the door and I was almost certain this place wasn’t being run by a pure blood. There was a desk and chair next to each of the beds, and two separate closets. There were screens in front of both closets, kind of like the ones in old Chinese films that the girls would get dressed behind. And in the corner there was a door leading to what I assumed was a bathroom. The grey shag carpet completed the surprisingly homey look.

“Your clothes are already in your closet.” Neville pointed to the right side of the room. “Along with your other personal items. Lunch is in about ten minutes so you can get situated before we go down if you like.” He smiled softly before making his way to his own closet.

He pulled out a pair of black slacks and a white button down shirt before moving behind his screen.

“Should I get dressed up as well?” I asked, looking down at my favorite -yet worn- pair of jeans and slightly too large t-shirt.

“Hmm, I don’t think you have to. I’m changing because my suitor is having lunch with me today. But normally the Praesuls don’t come in our dining hall unless they are with their Notour. However, it’s not uncommon for a newbie to steal someone’s date away, so have at it if you like.” Neville chuckled.

“That’s okay, I wouldn’t want to make any enemies on my first day.” I joked, but in reality I was having to talk myself out of changing into some of Dudley’s old clothes I still kept to sleep in. The more unappealing, the better.


The dining hall was packed. I scanned the room, seeing a few faces I recognized but couldn’t put names too. It wasn’t too hard, since everyone was staring at me. You would have thought I would be use to it by now, but I’ve found a person never truly gets used to being stared at like a circus freak.

“C’mon,” Neville whispered, pulling me by my arm to the closest table. I sat down and instantly a plate appeared in front of me. It was piled high with baked chicken and a array of colorful vegetables, a roll, and juice to top it off.

I glanced at Neville’s fish and made a face, “Do you really like that stuff?” I asked my face scrunching up in distaste. I despised fish.

“No, but he’s going to eat it all, aren’t you Nev?” A scathing voice sneered from behind me and my muscles tensed. Neville’s eyes widened slightly and I turned to see who it was that was causing him such distress.

Marcus Flint. He was as big, ugly, and intimidating as ever. I glared fiercely before turning back to Neville, biting my tongue so I wouldn’t make a scathing remark. I opened my mouth to continue when Flint interrupted again.

“Why sweetie, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Flint said, sarcasm oozing out of his voice as he moved to sit next to Neville, he arms flinging to lay across his shoulders with more force than was necessary.

“Marcus this is Harry, Harry this is Marcus.” Neville said softly, his eyes looked shameful and the situation finally sunk in. This was Neville’s suitor. This evil, slimy, nasty, disgusting, lying, cheating, backstabbing, rotten, no good, bastard of a man, Marcus Flint was Neville’s suitor!

Marcus grinned at me, my glare obviously not having an effect on him.

“Wait until Draco hears about this.” He said excitedly, his face lighting up like a kid in the candy story.

“Malfoy“ I wasn’t sure it was possible before but I think my glare actually increased to a full on death stare.

“Oh yes, he’ll snatch you up real quick.” Flint chuckled, an evil gleam in his dark brown eyes.

“I’d like to see him try.” I spat, my fist clenching on the table. I wasn’t even sure what was going on. I didn’t know Malfoy was a…whatever the bloody fuck they were called here. And why would he want me? It didn’t matter though, he couldn’t have me. No. Fucking. Way.

“Harry, Malfoy’s a pretty high rank.” Neville whispered, nodding to my plate, a sign that I shouldn’t say anything else.

“So,” I countered, I wasn’t going to let a couple of snakes like Malfoy and Flint intimidate me.

“You’ll see,” Flint cackled before getting up from the table and practically dancing away.

I gave Neville a look, demanding to know what was going on.

“Malfoy is in a small group of Praesuls that have precedents over the rest.” Neville said, as if that should explain it all.

Exasperated, I sighed, “What does that mean?”

“It means that whomever Malfoy chooses to court, doesn’t have a whole lot of say in the matter.”

He’ll snatch you up real quick.

The only thing my emotionally and physically drained brain could come up with at the moment was 'fuck'.