"We have our tail again," Harry said. It was after their last class but before dinner and they were walking in an empty corridor. They had seen members of the Inquisitorial Squad on more than one occasion following them. Fortunately for Harry and Hermione, most of the Slytherins didn't have a clue on how to be discrete much less their current follower, Vincent Crabbe.
"Ok I've still got the cloak," Hermione said. "Split on the next hallway."
"What do you have in mind?"
"Just a stinging hex. Like the one I had to use on you in the tent," Hermione replied. "I think Crabbe needs it on his rear. Lead him away and then back this way," She then thought softly, "Just wish I could shove a little fiendfyre up his arse."
They both remembered the stories of Crabbe torturing the students in the seventh year and just a few days ago, but two years in the future, in the Room of Requirements when he tried to kill them with the Killing Curse and Fiendfyre. Though that Crabbe ended up dead due to his stupidity, it didn't temper the dislike of the person following them at all.
Harry remembered the excruciating pain of the stinging hex Hermione did when the snatchers had shown up at the tent, and he knew she had done it non-verbally. He smirked at the idea of Crabbe enduring that pain because he knew Madam Pomfrey hadn't been very quick in finding cures for the various Inquisitorial Squad members ending up under her care.
At the next hallway Harry and Hermione went in opposite directions. Crabbe was under direct orders from Umbridge not to let Harry Potter out of his sight so he immediately ignored Hermione and followed the tarnished Gryffindor golden boy. He was surprise when after about thirty feet Potter turned and started walking directly back toward him.
"Hello Vincent," Harry said with a smile as he walked past the thoroughly confused Slytherin. Crabbe had no choice but to turn and follow Harry back the way they had just come. He, of course, didn't see the wand come out from behind the invisibility cloak nor the white light that connected with his rear.
He did feel the pain that erupted almost immediately and swung around to find out who had hexed him. Hermione had immediately moved down the hallway just in case Crabbe tripped over her trying to find who did it. All Crabbe saw was empty hallway.
Tears filled the Slytherin's eyes as he forgot all about Harry Potter. Gingerly he made his way to the Hospital Wing. Every step brought excruciating pain as his pants chaffed over the swelling stings. Madam Pomfrey spent several hours compounding his problems by finding the most painful way to diagnose his ailment.
At one point she gave him a potion which resulted in him having diarrhea. Crabbe spent over an hour of pure agony sitting on a toilet with his arse covered in painful stings. Finally Pomfrey gave him a jar of yellow cream that had to be reapplied several times a day. Unfortunately for Crabbe, there wasn't a single person in the Slytherin house willing to help him.
As they walked away after disposing of Crabbe, Harry turned to Hermione, 'What are we going to do about those jerks? The older they get, the more dangerous they'll become."
"I don't know Harry," Hermione said. "What can we do? They haven't done anything yet."
.....
At dinner that evening, Harry and Hermione asked Neville and Luna to meet them in the Room of Requirements at seven because they wanted to share a secret with them. That gave them enough time to get there first and start extracting the memories they needed to show the two.
Shortly before seven, after making sure Neville and Luna weren't being followed by checking the Marauder's map, Hermione escorted the two of them into the room. When Neville and Luna were seated on the chairs that were there for them, Hermione began. "We wanted you two to come this evening because we have something we want to tell you. But first we need to get you to agree to not tell anyone what that is."
"The information we are going to tell you can't go beyond this room," Harry said. "You can't even make a tiny slip up," He looked at the two of them. "If Dumbledore comes to you and asked you for the information, you can't tell him."
Neville and Luna both got a curious look on their face. "Why wouldn't we tell Professor Dumbledore?" Neville asked.
"We think you'll understand once we explain it to you," Hermione looked at both of them "Harry and I know you two. We might even know you two better than you know yourselves. We know that if you promise us that you'll not tell anyone you won't."
Luna stared at the two of them for several seconds before replying. "You're my friends. I would never tell something you didn't want me to."
"Luna, be very careful about saying that," Harry said. "You're going to find out things that you're going to want to tell your father and you can't."
"What kind of things?"
"We can't say, but it'll be something you'll probably not be happy with, though we think you will understand," Hermione replied.
"Gran has always believed in Professor Dumbledore Harry," Neville said nervously. "You're not going to put me at odds with her are you?"
Harry looked at Hermione who shrugged. He turned back to Neville and thought about what he could say. "I can honestly say that I think if you know what we'll tell you, it will go a long way to helping her believe in you like we believe in you."
Neville pondered that information before replying, "I'll make the promise not to tell anyone as long as it doesn't put me against Grans."
"I'll make the same pledge," Luna said. "As long as it doesn't put me in direct conflict with Daddy, I promise not to say anything."
Harry again looked at Hermione. "I think once they find out what we have to tell them it will be fine," She said. "I'd trust either of them with my life."
"True," Harry agreed and turned back to their two friends, "Ok, do either of you know what a pensieve is?" He asked. When both Neville and Luna shook their heads he continued. "That thing," He nodded at the basin, "Will allow you to see our memories. It belongs to Professor Dumbledore, but since he doesn't need it right now, we borrowed it."
"You can view memories?" Luna asked with her eyes protruding even further. "I wonder if Daddy knows about them. He would love to see Fudge's memories about his dealing with the Goblins."
"Well the person has to be willing to give the memory before you can view it," Hermione explained.
"Oh," Luna replied with obvious disappointment. "Well that wouldn't work."
"I'm sorry. But it will let us explain something to you, something that you're probably going to think is unbelievable," Harry explained. "We're hoping with our memories, you'll find it easier to accept."
"Now we want to start with memories you can remember with us," Hermione said. "Neville, do you remember our first year when you stood up to Ron, Harry and me when we were headed out of the common room to go after the Stone?"
"Yeah."
"I've got my memory of that night in the bowl," Hermione said. "I want to get you comfortable using the pensieve. Go with Harry and take a look."
In the Pensieve Harry and Neville appeared in the Gryffindor common looking at themselves as they were during their first year.
"What are you doing?" the memory Neville said as he appeared from behind an armchair, clutching Trevor the toad.
"Nothing, Neville, nothing," said memory Harry, putting something behind his back.
Neville stared at their guilty faces.
"You're going out again," he said.
"No, no, no," lied the memory Hermione. "No, we're not. Why don't you go to bed, Neville?"
Harry looked at the grandfather clock by the door.
"You can't go out," said Neville, "you'll be caught again. Gryffindor will be in even more trouble."
"You don't understand," said Harry, "this is important."
But Neville was clearly steeling himself to do something desperate. I won't let you do it," he said, hurrying to stand in front of the portrait hole. "I'll - I'll fight you!"
"Neville," Ron exploded, "get away from that hole and don't be an idiot-"
"Don't you call me an idiot!" said Neville. I don't think you should be breaking any more rules! And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!"
"Yes, but not to us," said Ron in exasperation. "Neville, you don't know what you're doing."
He took a step forward and Neville dropped Trevor the toad, who leapt out of sight.
"Go on then, try and hit me!" said Neville, raising his fists. "I'm ready!"
....
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