Harry Potter and the Return of Dumbledore's Army

Part the First

Neville Longbottom was out in the back yard of his grandmother's house, tending to the garden he'd set up. He was always happiest when working with plants. Herbology was one of only two classes at Hogwarts that he'd managed an Outstanding OWL in - the other being Defense Against the Dark Arts, due largely to the tutelage of his friend, Harry Potter. Neville had every intention of continuing his studies of magical plants, and hoped someday to achieve the post of Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts, once Professor Sprout retired.

That was, if the school ever reopened. At the present, it didn't appear that it would. The death of Albus Dumbledore at the end of the previous year, at the hands of their former Potions and D.A.D.A. teacher Severus Snape, had left countless parents uncertain about the safety of their children. The Ministry of Magic was trying to assure the public, but they were fighting a losing battle; with Voldemort still on the loose, large numbers of wizards were packing up their families and fleeing the country. Neville had already been forced to say goodbye to his friend Hannah Abbott, formerly of Hufflepuff, before her father had dragged her all the way across the ocean to Canada (although in their final meeting, Hannah had whispered to Neville that the second she turned seventeen she would be returning immediately, and intended to help the Ministry's fight against Voldemort).

Neville had no illusions about what the future looked like, and knew what he intended to do. If Hogwarts reopened, he would return and complete his education; but seeing as that looked unlikely, and since he was only a few days from being seventeen, he intended to contact whomever necessary to present his humble services to the aid of the Ministry. Neville had gotten to see firsthand what Voldemort's Death Eaters would do, even to a pureblooded wizard such as himself; and it had been Death Eaters that had tortured his own parents into insanity. And anyone like that, Neville would give everything he had to defeat (he flushed with modest embarrassment, remembering the times his friends had told him they were proud to have someone so brave in Gryffindor).

As he sat back and wiped the sweat off his brow (July was proving to be unusually hot that year), Neville caught the flap of a wing out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head and shielding his eyes from the sun, he saw a gorgeous snowy owl winging its way out of the sky. He smiled to himself, recognizing Harry's owl Hedwig immediately. He'd been hoping for post from his friends over the summer, but was mildly surprised to be getting a letter only a few weeks after Dumbledore's funeral. He had figured Harry, who'd been particularly close to Dumbledore, would still be grieving.

Hedwig landed in the grass and carefully picked her way over to Neville. "Hello, Hedwig," Neville greeted her politely. "Thanks," he added, as Hedwig stuck out her leg and allowed Neville to remove the attached letter. "Why don't you go up to the attic?" Neville offered. "My gran's owl Laertes is up there, he'll be happy to share some food with you - I don't have anything on me, sorry." Hedwig, however, refused to move. She fluffed her feathers and peered at Neville carefully. "Are you expecting a reply? Right now?" Neville asked, nonplussed. "Well, at least have some water while you wait," he said, removing the lid from his tumbler of water and offering it to Hedwig, who accepted gratefully.

Neville unrolled the parchment and began reading. He grew more and more shocked the further down he got.

Neville,
Hi, it's Harry. Hope you're doing okay.
Listen, I'm sure you know by now that Hogwarts probably isn't reopening. I have mixed feelings about that - Hogwarts was home to me for six years, it's disturbing to think I can't return there. On the other hand, it kind of doesn't matter, since I didn't intend to go back anyway.
Neville, you know about as well as anyone, except maybe Ron, Hermione and Ginny, that I've got a certain - responsibility to deal with. Well, Dumbledore's death has really opened my eyes about it, and I'm not willing to sit back and let Voldemort and the Death Eaters come for me anymore. It's time I started going after them.
The others agree with me, and we're starting something. I don't want to say what, although I doubt this letter would be intercepted, but the point is, I'd like you in on it. I think you have as good an idea what I mean to do, and what it's going to take, as anyone - and you have more right than anyone to have a role in this fight, after what happened to your parents, and what you've helped me with. I trust you, Neville…there's not a lot of people I'm prepared to say that about, but I do, I trust you with my life. We're going to be up to some things which you have particular talents at, that we could really use.
So you're warned, not everything we do will be completely legal - but Dumbledore and his group that fought Voldemort last time broke the laws too, it was the only way to get things done since the Ministry was useless. If that makes you not want to come, I'll understand - it may well cost you any chance of being Professor of Herbology someday (don't think I didn't know about that!).
If you want to help, send your reply with Hedwig, and be in Diagon Alley August 2. I can't tell you where we are, but someone will meet you there and bring you to our place. And don't tell anyone what you're doing; if your gran asks, tell her a bunch of us are getting together to talk about our futures without Hogwarts. Show her this letter if she asks - it's been enchanted so anyone who reads it besides you will see a short letter inviting you for a couple days. That'll take care of the immediate future, and we have a cover for you for after.
Hope to see you soon, Neville. We could really use your help.
Harry.

Neville read the letter three times to make sure he took it all in. Then he turned to Hedwig, who was still watching him carefully. "Hedwig," he said calmly, "I need to have a word with my gran before I can reply to this. Why don't you come inside and I'll find you something to eat?" He held out his arm, and Hedwig readily hopped onto it. Neville stood and transferred Hedwig to his shoulder, and walked into the house.

His gran was in the living room, doled up in a truly astounding dress, and was adjusting her stuffed-vulture hat while peering into the mirror. "Hello, gran," Neville said.

"Hello, Neville," his gran said vaguely. Then she noticed his reflection in the mirror, and turned to peer at him. "Whose owl is that? Seems I've seen it before…"

"She's my friend Harry's," Neville said. "You know, Harry Potter?"

"Yes, of course," his gran said, her eyes still locked on Hedwig. "Well, and what was Mr. Potter writing you about?"

"Well, gran," Neville answered, "some of us have been concerned about Hogwarts closing…"

*****

"…just saying it's better as a Potions room, that's all," Ron was saying as he and Harry climbed the stairs from the basement.

"You're just saying that because you're used to Potions in the Dungeon," Harry teased.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Harry, plants need light. There's no light down there!"

"Oh…right," Harry said, frowning. "Is there a spell to duplicate sunlight?"

"Don't think so," Ron answered, sitting at the table in the kitchen. Harry sat opposite him. "Didn't Professor Sprout say something about how a lot of plants can tell the difference between real sunlight and magical sunlight?"

"I think so," Harry said, thinking hard. Then he brightened. "Hey, there's that room with extra-big windows South and East on the second floor. It gets plenty of sunlight!"

"Brilliant!" Ron said. "No, wait - isn't it kind of small?"

"Maybe we can magically enlarge it, like the practice space," Harry suggested. "We'll figure it out. Put that down as the best choice for now, and put the basement for Potions."

Ron obligingly wrote down the idea on a clipboard he was carrying. "What's next?"

"Lunch," Harry said firmly. "I'm starving."

"Oh, thank Merlin," Ron said, tossing the clipboard over his shoulder. "I could eat everything in the fridge, and then the fridge." Harry laughed.

The door handle jiggled, and Harry and Ron both had their wands out and pointed in a heartbeat, but it was Hermione's head that poked through the door. "Harry!" she exclaimed excitedly, ignoring the wands, "Hedwig's back!"

Harry stood quickly as Hedwig leapt off Hermione's shoulder and winged onto the table a bit awkwardly; she was carrying six or seven letters. "Hi, Hedwig," Harry said, stroking her feathers. 'Did it go all right?"

Hedwig hooted tiredly; Ron appeared with a goblet of orange juice and some toast and bacon for Hedwig, as Harry and Hermione removed the letters. Harry began opening them and reading as Ron and Hermione listened restlessly. "Justin is a definite yes," Harry told them rapidly. "But he won't be able to leave until late August, his parents want him to stay there until they're sure Hogwarts won't open again. They think he's got a shot at Head Boy."

Ron snorted. "Not likely, with you around."

"But I wouldn't be, Ron, not even if Hogwarts did reopen."

"Yeah, but they don't know that."

"Anyway, Justin knows Hogwarts won't reopen, so he'll be here." Harry opened the next one. "Hey, Alicia's in! She's arranging a transfer to Madam Malkins' shop in Diagon Alley so she can be closer!" He looked up at Ron and Hermione's smiling faces. "Bloody hell, if we could only get Oliver Wood we'd have the entire Quidditch team from first year!"

"Can't get Oliver, mate," Ron said, shaking his head. "He's starting for Puddlemere now, it's too high profile."

"I know," Harry said, opening the next letter. "This one's from Neville!" He scanned through it quickly, his face growing slightly alarmed.

"Harry?" Hermione said anxiously as Harry finished. "Harry, what's wrong?"

"Neville's coming today!"

"Today?" Hermione squeaked. "Oh, no, he's early! We haven't told anyone!"

"I'll take care of it," Harry said firmly, heading for the door. "Check the rest of the letters, and let me know if there's anything else crucial, then get some lunch. And get rid of the letters once you're through."

"All right," Ron said hesitantly. "Er…are you sure?"

"Positive. Don't worry," Harry said, pulling the door closed. "It's taken care of."

*****

Neville walked slowly down Diagon Alley, taking in the sights. He'd been coming to Diagon Alley since he was very little, but it still seemed like an amazing place to him. He watched a group of youngsters looking forlorn as they came out of Flourish & Blotts, and when he looked in the window he saw why; there was a large sign which said "Booklists for Hogwarts Not Yet Available!"

Neville kept walking, and noticed a new storefront. It would have been hard to miss, actually. With so many Gryffindor colors, and so much remarkable merchandise on display in the windows - a large flashing sign proclaimed "You-Know-Whoopies on sale here!" - Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes had no trouble drawing customers. Thinking he probably had a moment to stop in and say hello before his rendezvous, Neville fought his way into the store.

The entire shop was packed. Neville saw Fred (or possibly George) over by a garish display, demonstrating a product to a gaggle of laughing students. Not far from him, Fred and George's friend Lee Jordan was standing atop a counter, minus his head. He whipped off the Head-Vanishing Hat with a flourish and gave a bow that had the whole store cheering.

Neville worked his way towards the register, and just before he got there a voice shrieked "Neville!" and Neville was flattened against the counter in a strong, warm hug.

Turning his head, Neville finally got a glimpse of his assailant and broke out in a grin. "Susan!" he said, and hugged the girl from Hufflepuff tightly. "What are you doing here?"

Susan Bones pulled back and smiled brilliantly at Neville. "I work here, silly! Fred and George hired me for the summer since they're so busy!"

"That's terrific," Neville replied. "What's it like working here?"

"Oh, it's insane," Susan proclaimed, raising her voice to be heard above the noise. "Fred and George are completely mad! But they're great to work for, I haven't had such fun in ages!"

"That's great, Susan," Neville said. "By the way, what's a You-Know-Whoopie?"

Susan chuckled. "You put it on someone's seat, and when they sit down a loud, deep voice bellows 'The Dark Lord is my master!' Almost got Fred and George arrested by the Ministry!"

By the end of her explanation Susan was yelling; the crowd was really getting into Lee's performance. "Listen," Susan shouted, "I'm due a break, how about heading to the back with me? We can Floo to my place and catch up, I hardly ever saw you last year!"

"Er…" Neville thought fast. "I'd love to, Susan, but I've got to meet someone!"

Susan laughed as though Neville had said something very witty, and hugged him again. "I know you are, Neville," she said pointedly in his ear.

Neville's eyes widened as he caught on. "Actually, I guess I could spare a bit of time," he said.

"Oh, good," Susan said. She pulled him around behind the counter and ran right into George (or possibly Fred), who was coming out of the back with more stock. "Fred," Susan said, "I'd like to take my break now so I can catch up with Neville!"

Fred gave Neville a welcoming grin. "Looks like you've already caught him, well done. All right, back to work!"

Susan slapped Fred's arm lightly, but she was smiling. "Please, Fred?"

Neville knew Fred would be helpless against Susan's sad-puppy-dog eyes, and he was right as Fred folded immediately. "Oh, very well," he said, pretending to be put out, "but not one jot more than an hour, right?"

"Yes, sir," Susan said cheekily, snapping off a very Peeves-like salute, and dragged Neville into the back room.

The noise was dimmed to almost nothing in the back, and Neville suspected there was a Silencing Charm. Susan led Neville to the center of the room, and turned to face him. "Susan, you know why I'm here-?" Neville started.

"Neville," Susan interrupted, "what was the first password of the year to get into Gryffindor Tower our fifth year at Hogwarts?"

Neville was caught off-guard by the question, but realized what was going on; Susan was making sure he was really Neville. "Mimbulus mimbletonia," he answered readily.

"And what was D.A. originally going to stand for, before it was changed to Dumbledore's Army?"

"Defense Association," Neville said. "And Ginny Weasley was the one who suggested Dumbledore's Army. And Angelina Johnson suggested 'The Anti-Umbridge League' first."

Susan smiled. "And Fred?"

"Er…" Neville racked his brain. "'The Ministry of Magic are Morons Squad'?"

"It was 'Group', but close enough," said Susan, and hugged Neville again. "We had to be sure, Neville. Harry told me the questions and the answers he knew only you would know."

"I get it," Neville said. "Er, is it all right to talk here?"

"Oh, yes. Fred and George are masters of not wanting to be overheard."

Neville grinned. "Right." He hugged Susan again. "I really missed you."

"You, too," Susan said quietly into Neville's chest. "It's been bad, since auntie died. Mum has been a wreck." She shook her head. "I don't want to talk about that. You know what I really missed about you, Neville?"

"No, what?"

Susan pressed her hand to Neville's cock through his robes, making him squeak. "That."

Susan shoved Neville into a closet before he could blink and pulled the door shut behind her. "Susan," Neville gasped weakly as she began tearing at his robes like a woman possessed, "Are you sure you want to-?"

"Neville, don't," Susan pleaded. "I'm sad about my auntie and I'm horny as hell and I'm scared out of my wits we all could die tomorrow for what we're doing here, so please just make love to me and then we'll go on, all right? No obligations, just… please?"

Neville licked his lips. "All right, Susan," he said, trying to keep his voice calm and reassuring.

Susan smiled wetly and finished getting Neville exposed, and stroked his cock until he was hard. She lifted her skirt and pulled aside her knickers, and wrapped a leg around Neville as he positioned himself. She pulled out her wand, cast an Anti-pregnancy Charm, and slowly guided him in.

They'd done this just once before. Both fifteen, both terrified virgins, it had been a surprisingly pleasant experience; once they'd realized they were both as scared as the other, they were able to laugh away the tension and just enjoy it. It had if anything strengthened their friendship, and it was a sign of how much they trusted one another that Susan felt she could make such a request of Neville and be certain there wouldn't be negative consequences. But they were good friends, and friends sometimes needed things from each other…

Susan whimpered as Neville thrust slowly, holding her leg up and pressing her back into the wall. She put both arms around Neville's neck and whimpered into his chest, "More." Obligingly, Neville picked up the pace, and soon Susan was sobbing with pleasure as Neville pounded into her. Her nails dug into Neville's shoulders as she drew closer to climax, and her teeth pulled at Neville's robes as she tried to keep quiet. Finally she wailed as her orgasm hit, and Neville came inside her with a hoarse moan.

After regaining their breath, Neville and Susan cleaned themselves up with a few Charms. Susan threw her arms around Neville again and gave him a big, wet kiss on the lips. "Thank you, Neville, I really needed that."

"I guess so," Neville said, smiling timidly. "Glad I could help."

"Bet you are," Susan answered in a saucy manner that almost no one ever saw from her. "Come on, we'd better get you there."

"I won't be late, will I?" Neville asked as Susan led him out of the closet and over to a fireplace.

"No, we weren't sure when you would get here," Susan answered. "I only heard from Harry you were coming three hours ago." She stepped up to the fireplace. "Time to go, then," she said, offering Neville the dish from the mantel.

Neville took a small handful of Floo powder, but hesitated. "Er…Susan, where am I supposed to go?"

"Oh!" Susan's hand flew to her face. "I'm so sorry, Neville!" She fumbled in the pocket of her robe, and pulled out a bit of parchment. "Here," she said, handing it to Neville. "Read this."

Neville raised his eyebrows in confusion, and he glanced down and read the note:


The headquarters of Dumbledore's Army may be
found at number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, London.