Harry wasn't quite sure what to do with himself now. The most worry, and happiness he ever felt in his life circled through him like a dog chasing its tail.

He was leaving the Dursleys...

If Sirius could somehow free himself...

He was going to live with anybody but the Dursleys...

But the whole world thought his godfather was a murderer...

Neville still wasn't sure how he'd wound up in the circumstances of asking The Harry Potter for anything, let alone a book on his life, but last time he'd been done he'd handed it to him of all people, so finally when the noise had subsided he'd tapped him on the shoulder asking for the little thing.

He handed it over without comment, his future mapping out before him in ways he never could have fantasized about in his cupboard. He'd never have to go back to his cupboard!

He watched with a sense of longing as Sirius caught his eye one last time with a wink, just for them, before he and Remus went back to their little sofa still whispering. Harry almost couldn't breathe for a moment as he stood there worrying and hoping, hoping and worrying-

"Come on Harry!" Ron grabbed his arm and pulled him back to their seat, the three of them still smiling so much for Harry he finally let the hope win out. This would all work out.

Everyone was sitting back down again, a new weight in the air like even Voldemort's impending return hadn't created. These kids would get out of this alive, and everything would be different.

Neville immediately regretted his decision when he saw the chapter title, and couldn't even spit it out until Ron elbowed him in the side, and it came out more as a squeak than anything.

"You what?"

"Ronald!"

"How could they have managed that-"

The hubbub of outburst was starting to last so long the four kids were beginning to wonder if they were going to make it out of this alive any more than they would have in the future.

Dumbledore finally had to take to his feet for anyone to notice he'd been audibly trying to clear his throat for some time, cutting off Charlie and Tonks' non so quiet whispered conversation about how vividly the book would go into details when that dog ate those kids. He calmly sat back down and spoke patiently. "We have all had our concerns over this matter for some time now, but we can no more change the outcome of this story than leave these premises until all is said and done. Now then, shall we allow Mr. Longbottom to continue?"

Neville did not want to continue. He wanted to hand the book back over to Harry, or anyone else for that matter. Coward that he was, he wanted to give it to Hermione instead, he knew she'd take it without a second thought, but then he thought of his gran and how disappointed she'd be in him yet again, being such a coward over something like a book. It wasn't happening to them, and he'd have to hear it all regardless. He tried to take an uneasy breath without the contents of his stomach swirling in the ever present whirlpool they were, but couldn't quite start without that quaver still present in his voice.

This time, Harry tried to force himself not to sink low into his seat, to worry and fear about all of this, and just accept it as fact. He wouldn't let himself peek at Sirius and Remus anymore and check their reaction, he was no longer confident he'd have that luxury of anyone caring about him for long if Voldemort really came back. It was another worry to add to the ever growing pile. If even he got away from the Dursleys and had a chance for any kind of normal life, how long would it last?

"You'd think the school would just make those mandatory all year," Charlie at least tried to keep a casual tone to his voice as he laughed.

"Guess even the teachers won't fight us every step of the way," Tonks shrugged without remorse.

Sirius was hardly paying attention to a word the little Neville kid was saying, attention solely focused back on Harry once more and concocting every way he could think of to get Harry away from all of this. He didn't like how, resolved his godson suddenly looked to it all.

Neville still had to fight down a squeak of fright. He had too much of a vivid imagination apparently, he could picture that all too easily.

Neville winced at his own bad advice, thinking himself more stupid by the minute for not putting that together. He'd gone into the Forest with Harry for crying out loud and he was still too dumb not to realize something else could be on his mind.

Neville gazed at that in surprise, thinking himself mildly less stupid than before if Harry's two friends didn't notice the same thing, and they did look quite as abashed as he just had.

"That is the best news I've heard all year," Arthur couldn't help but laugh. Maybe the book would actually even deviate away from Harry, and by extension his son, about the trapdoor altogether?

"At last, he has the proper reaction to something," Ron nodded as if this had been a great concern of his, at least getting a small smile out of Harry in here.

"I'll bet she says that after every exam," Ron said non-to-quietly.

Hermione flushed as answer.

"I didn't know anybody learned that," Remus muttered under his breath, distracting Sirius for a moment who almost allowed a genuine laugh, and only restrained himself for the embedded werewolf secret between the two. Then he blinked in worry of how he was going to explain that to Harry.

"I'll bet Ron says that after every exam!" Hermione said with a proud smirk for finally getting back at him.

Ron laughed appreciatively and even nodded his agreement, causing Hermione to frown in confusion how someone could laugh at such mocking.

Harry's fingers flitted up to cover the mark now with an uneasy frown, he was certainly not looking forward to that.

"Is that all it takes to defeat anyone?" Tonks theatrically popped herself on the forehead. "Why hasn't anyone gotten on a spell yet to recreate the sun's temperature, keep the weather toasty year round and we'd have world peace!"

"Put that on your resume, I'm sure they'll take to it in an instant," Charlie chuckled.

Ron chuckled awkwardly for a moment, sure he wouldn't have said that with Neville present, but he just nodded without surprise.

"As long as it wasn't, put your name at the top of the exam," Remus said lightly enough, he too was growing rather worried by Harry's stoic expression in here.

The boy looked at him for a moment just like always, before looking away just as fast. Remus didn't understand the change, and his worry only grew.

"And you actually stopped?" Ron asked mock politely. "We've only got a year until the next exams!"

Hermione huffed and tutted softly, but the smallest of smiles did appear for a moment.

Neville looked quickly at Harry, he didn't understand at all this sudden reaction, but nor did it seem Harry did either. He looked very upset at himself for not understanding, well, himself, but Neville couldn't help feeling slightly better that at least he hadn't been the one who was missing something.

Well this certainly wasn't starting off well, considering Hagrid was a third of Harry's current problems at that school.

"I mean, no," Charlie shrugged at several startled expressions around him. "Dragon trading's illegal, yeah, but I'd still expect Hagrid to know a couple, considering he wants one."

"You don't think anything concerning dragons is odd," Tonks scowled, more mad at herself than him though at how she'd missed that.

Harry finally gasped in understanding where all this could be leading, but Ron was still scowling between him and his brother and waiting for someone to say it already.

Ron huffed and considered getting up to go get a drink just to prove his point, but he was too curious to hear and Neville hadn't stopped.

"Well if it was Snape, or Quirrell, or anyone around school like you're thinking, surely Hagrid would have recognized them and known they weren't a dragon dealer," Hermione pointed out.

"Could have just paid anyone around Hogsmeade to do it for them though," Ron shrugged off such a thing.

That explanation made perfect sense to everyone but the four kids, who still thought Hagrid rather gullible for all this.

"Oh Hagrid," Dumbledore sighed. He was not truly mad at his old friend, could not even be disappointed in what the man did in his own free time, after all Fluffy was his dog to talk about as he wished. Still, he was sad for this.

"One, that I know of," Charlie said with honest disappointment this didn't seem likely to change that.

"Let's hope it stays that way," Arthur said pointedly, "if not less."

It took Neville a few moments to realize what he'd even said, and then his mouth flopped open in horror. By the time he glanced up, he saw the others were already past their shock and into even more murderous worry, Black was even muttering some even more unpleasant things about getting the gamekeeper fired for being the cause of Harry's trouble this year. Neville sunk even lower in his seat and his voice quieted considerably as he continued, only just barely keeping their furious attention and very much regretting every word out of his mouth.

Remus already had his face buried in his hands, he couldn't bare to watch as well as listen as Harry ran up to that dog to his doom.

The thin air in the room was suddenly a touch more breathable once more, and Dumbledore didn't try to hide his comforting smile once more. This was indeed the best course of action those kids could take.

"Can't be that hard to find the twins and ask them," Arthur said helpfully.

"Perfect," Tonks said eagerly, a teacher should have been the obvious choice to go ask for Dumebldore, except the small problem that they'd ask why first. Maybe Flitwick or Sprout would have been better to come across now.

"I'm sure you at least surprised her," Sirius agreed absently, he certainly had never known a student to ask for this.

"Timing!" Tonks groaned miserably.

"It's not, you know, going to get stolen right this second though," Charlie protested. "Whoever knew about this Fluffy secret has so for months, clearly they're waiting on something else, maybe even for school to let out."

"Or for Dumebldore to leave the castle," Tonks reminded her friend, and Charlie bit his lip to stop himself arguing back, it didn't matter he reminded himself as he watched his youngest brother, they were going down there regardless.

"Well maybe he should cut out a few," Remus whispered under his breath, though he'd never have conceived the idea Dumbledore couldn't do anything before now.

"Or at least prioritize better," Sirius finished the thought for him, as natural as breathing.

"Well, yeah," Tonks groaned, though she really couldn't even blame McGonagall for the skeptical tone, she'd be the same way if some little eleven year old tried to convince her of the same without the backstory.

"Well I'd hope not," Arthur frowned.

"Probably best you don't accuse Snape outright, she already can't process this bit," Ron nodded.

"People said that about Gringotts too," Charlie grumbled, and someone had already nearly proved that wrong. Nothing would stop You-Know-Who getting what he wanted, even his little brother, and his hands began to shake as the image kept playing in his head.

"Can't let that heat bog you down again," Tonks said with chipper, and Charlie didn't even pinch her that time he was still so worried.

"But then, he'll be back sooner than the next day," Arthur wrestled futilely for some sort of logic against his son going, but already he may as well be facing down that troll without his wand, there was no stopping the books words funneling through Neville.

"Overgrown bat he is, always sneaking up on people," Sirius sneered.

"Is it though?" Remus scowled.

Hermione really didn't either, and she'd never been at a loss for an answer before. This whole experience really had done something to her, more than just learning magic.

"Won't be necessary if he kills me first," Harry said quietly enough only Ron and Neville heard him, and neither of them laughed. Good.

"Why me?" She demanded in a panic.

Neville parroted with the faintest smile.

Ron snickered and leaned over Neville's shoulder to read,

Hermione huffed and crossed her arms, but no one could miss she was smiling now. Truly, learning how to laugh really was the best of this experience.

The adults just watched, dumbfounded as the kids managed to keep laughing through this. Neville finally kept going solo though.

"No," Sirius moaned, his hands aching again to pull Harry into his arms like the newborn he'd once been and never, ever let go. He didn't even want Harry at that school anymore, let alone there, but he had no more power than anyone else to stop this train wreck coming.

"That timing!" Tonks groaned for the poor kids.

"I like to think the teachers actually do regular checks on the Stone," Arthur shrugged. "Professor McGonagall might have even been motivated to do so early because of Harry," he finished with a smile at Harry, which he quickly returned. It was a nice theory at least, to know he hadn't been completely ignored.

"That's a sight you never want to see," Sirius said wisely, and with far too much practice under his belt.

Harry and Ron were cringing just a bit at the end, they'd never even met McGonagall and wanted to get on her bad side even less now after that.

None of the adults were particularly comforted this would last, the chapter title still lingering in their heads refusing to give them that kind of solace.

"Damn," Ron cussed under his breath, but then he saw Hermione looked quite upset with herself as well and said much louder, "well, if we couldn't even last against McGonagall, guess no one can blame you."

She smiled at him appreciatively.

Remus put his face back in his hands and Sirius had to fight off the urge to pick up Harry and never let him back down even more. This certainly felt like it was it, and they were about to start having to arrange his funeral.

Charlie felt like whacking the kid upside the head just like he would any of his siblings proclaiming something so foolish.

"I wish that was my biggest fear," Arthur said through numb lips.

Neville could hardly believe the words he was saying as he began, but by the time he was done he didn't even have to look at Harry to know he'd say it all again to You-Know-Who himself right now if he had to, because he would have done the same.

He glanced up with a defiance on his lips to back Harry up on this, only to see he didn't have to. All of the adults were looking at these kids, the next generation with something Neville had never seen in his life, but he'd only hope one day his Gran would bestow upon him.

Pride.

They would still have been stopped if given the chance, but the fact all four of these kids sat the exact same way saying they'd get up and go do this now if it would stop Voldemort was no more different than anyone else of age in this room.

With no one else they'd turn to, they had to respect that they did not like it, but they could be proud of it.

"C'mere Harry," Sirius called softly, and he was more than happy to get to his feet and jog back to his place between Remus and Sirius on the floor. Sirius wasn't settling for that this time, and fulfilled his wish of bending down and scooping him up, Harry laughing in surprise as nobody had ever done any such thing to him before, and found himself half sitting on both of their laps. Something warm glowed inside of him he didn't even have a name for he'd never felt in his life as Neville continued.

"What's this I'll?" Ron challenged, before he got up preemptively this time and went to go sit by his dad.

Arthur took the opportunity to wrap a protective arm around his son, while Harry felt that feeling he still couldn't put a name to grow.

Hermione made a little tutting noise, she knew Harry was smarter than that.

Neville still wished he could somehow change that to three, that he would go with them in this future as much as he would now. Even if he did cry every step along the way, he knew he'd do everything he could to help.

Ron threw his back and laughed hard, while Hermione blushed faintly but looked nothing but proud, unable to admit she'd been silently wondering about her grades this whole time in between everything else, and it was clear Ron had guessed as much.

Sirius rubbed his hand up and down Harry's back again, laughing for himself Harry did seem to enjoy some attention then.

Tonks had to bite her tongue against saying otherwise. She wouldn't have dared try this and she was about to graduate, what chance did these little first years have?

"Well, I can't say he isn't thinking ahead at least," Remus sighed, catching Harry's eye with a smile.

"He'd blame Peeves?" Charlie offered, though the majority of him was still somehow hoping his brother got caught along the way and this was all a big misleading nothing.

Neville's heart stuttered for several moments in surprise, before he forced himself to smile. Was his wish really coming true?

'Sorry,' Harry wished he could say to him, but Neville had merely flinched a small bit at the lie without looking up. Even if he'd volunteer to go, it didn't mean they'd want him.

"Right in one," Ron nodded with far too much comfort for Arthur's taste.

"Ah the courage it takes to stand up to your enemies, and friends," Dumbledore smiled kindly at the little Gryffindor reading, while Neville flushed vibrantly at the praise and kept going, his voice stronger by the word.

Harry and Ron laughed that time, but not as if they found it funny.

"He took on Crabbe and Goyle," Ron uneasily reminded Harry, "and we're half the size of them. We could be in trouble before we even get to Fluffy."

Neville was half convinced this was a delusional dream, since they weren't mocking him, but he wasn't going to let that stop him until he woke up.

"Can't pick and chose that," Charlie disagreed with an uneasy laugh of his own Ron nodded along with.

"Oh," Neville's face puckered with disappointment, he'd honestly been hoping he came along after they explained.

"I'm so sorry Neville," Hermione gasped.

"It's alright," he didn't want to explain his pathetic hope to her, but he didn't want her to feel bad either so he kept going as if he really meant that.

"The right move I suppose," Tonks said grudgingly, "she'd get Filch up there faster than you could hit the next corridor."

"Stop encouraging them!" Charlie groaned. He lost any hope himself and got up to sandwich his brother again, and Tonks couldn't blame him.

Dumbledore hummed to himself in satisfaction even as he saw the other's look of confusion. The castle was Peeves home, and he wanted nothing Dark in there any more than they did.

"That was brilliant Harry!" Ron cheered. He loved doing impressions and couldn't believe he hadn't thought of this himself.

Sirius gave his arm a comforting squeeze as he thought the same, he just couldn't bring himself to say it, he still wouldn't encourage Harry doing this.

All ten of them took in a very deep breath. If they'd been able to cling to a single delusion before now, it was gone.

And then released that breath and accepted the inevitable. At least Harry wasn't going in alone, even Charlie and Arthur couldn't hold anything but worry instead of anger for that.

Sirius couldn't believe he had it in him to laugh at a time like this, but glory it had been a long time since he'd had something to laugh about in regards to Snivlius playing a harp, he let loose now. Harry grinned up at him in admiration Sirius could laugh in the face of danger like this.

"Poor thing musn't get much sleep then," Charlie said absently, before he grimaced in disgust if it got another nap in after snacks.

"I see what Hagrid means about him not being much trouble," Tonks said drolly. She still wasn't any less worried that thing wouldn't eat them on the way back up.

"Who says chivalry is dead?" Hermione sighed.

Sirius, Remus, and Arthur all began taking uneasy breaths they couldn't quite hide. At least the dog they'd known about, now came the unknown which was still worse. What was going to happen to these kids?

"Of course you do," Sirius nodded without surprise. His little godson would put Merlin to shame.

Remus flinched and Charlie gulped audibly, both of them with the most experience of bites and just how fast this could go badly.

"I like to think I would have said it looks like a nice foot down," Ron huffed.

Sirius fought viciously against the desire to scream in Harry's ear about thinking up that plan now! Instead he took a steady breath and whisperd for him alone what he knew James would want him to know most in this moment. "You're the best friend any of those kids could ask for."

Harry beamed at him, that unnamed feeling almost pouring up his face now.

"Better than crunch, I suppose," Charlie huffed.

"Why do I feel like that's not there to break their fall?" Tonks groaned.

"Good instincts," Charlie grumbled no matter how much he hoped she was right.

Arthur squeezed his shoulder and Charlie gave his arm a little jiggle. It was an even split of how much they wanted to pull him back from all this by his ear and hand him over to his mother to never be released, and tell how proud they were.

Neville groaned and had to resist the urge to eat the page rather than find out this doom.

"Struggled?" Hermione asked in a very strangled voice, giving them even less that they needed to imagine about all this.

Ron yelped in disgust and Harry had to childishly fight the desire not to tuck his legs up under him now and crawl even farther into their laps.

The adults were fighting the mad desire to check the floor themselves that wasn't going to appear in here now as well.

Neville loved plants, he spent a lot of time looking up stuff about them, and he'd swear he heard of this before in some tropical location. Vines that strangled you, that liked dense, dark, damp forested areas... Devil's Snare?!

Neville felt no better he'd remembered only a moment before Hermione about something, it wouldn't do anyone any good!

Charlie dropped his arm and leaned away from his brother on instinct, trying to stop himself doing anything to strangle Ron now! Arthur, in contrast, pulled Ron even tighter to his side, all but on his lap at the need to get his son away from that!

Sirius would feel bad for doing this to Remus later as he meant nothing towards him by it, but he pulled Harry all the way to him, right into his chest as something died inside him. He had hated Herbology class and never paid a lick of attention, he would not have been able to help Harry with this.

Tonks made a pitiful noise and had to fight the urge to go to Hermione and wrap her in a hug as well. Even after all these years her dad still resorted to doing things the Muggle way when he wasn't paying attention, she should not have that stricken look on her face there with no one to remind her nobody here blamed the little eleven year old for panicking.

Hermione made a wet noise that was almost a sob, and Tonks lost her will, she didn't like sitting alone anyways. By the time she'd plopped down in between her and Neville with a cheerful enough smile, Ron had managed to say through his dad's strangle hold, "sorry."

Hermione just nodded to show she'd heard even as she buried her face in her fingers rather than anybody else see what an idiot she truly was.

Tonks wrapped an arm around her and whispered softly in her ear about her dad, and Hermione peeked, up at her with hope.

Neville really hadn't paused all that long for these exchanges anyways, still too worried he was about to say the words Harry Potter was dead, and the others were glad for it, or they'd have taken the book away themselves and found out. They were grateful to Tonks' comfort, but they still needed to hear those kids got out of this!

"I'd like to see you try it sometime!" Hermione finally shot back with her usual ire now that she knew she hadn't killed them both.

"Not now you two," Arthur cut in patiently before Ron could retort.

"I'd like to see none of them try it again," Remus muttered anyways.

Dumbledore couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's vivid imagination, and his complete lack of fear at this not only infused the others with a bit of comfort, but made Sirius suddenly jerk in surprise as he realized, "hang on! You already know what's down there, don't you!"

He hadn't been quite sure exactly what month it was when this started, and there was no telling how far in advance this had been set up, but if Dumbledore was holding back-

"I've a shrewd guess from knowing my staff, but nothing more or less than you," Dumbledore responded calmly, this had been designed so that no two teachers knew everything, a very practical choice now that it was under such threat. Not that he hadn't made a few suggestions here and there..."I do know what I myself put down there, and known no harm will come to any of the children from it."

Dumbledore's, the greatest protection, was the one they shouldn't be worried about? They all tried to force themselves to believe that, but after his clear lack of caring at Harry's living conditions, none of them one hundred percent believed him either.

"Seems likely," Charlie agreed, already glommed back to Ron's side and so trying not to jitter as much.

Sirius squeezed Harry to him once more and took that breath with him, no matter his panicky mind telling him otherwise nothing was happening to Harry in here it didn't mean he wanted to hear of even a scratch on him in this future.

"Oh," they all murmured in wonder at the vivid idea.

"I don't know why you wear glasses Harry, your eyesight must be amazing," Ron told him earnestly.

Harry grinned at him in thanks, while Remus frowned where nobody could see. Fluffy had been inordinately easy to get by, considering Hagrid's slip of the tongue, and of all the deadly plants in the world, Professor Sprout had used one with a very easy escape method for a bunch of first years. Now the youngest Seeker in a century was going to find this one a piece of cake...but surely he was being paranoid at how 'easy' this was...

"Not so bad yourself," Harry congratulated right back, he couldn't claim he'd have thought of that.

Arthur and Sirius exchanged commiserating looks these boys were still treating this as fun, even if they couldn't scold them as the praise was deserved.

Then Arthur blinked in surprise to find himself doing any such thing, and smiled faintly as Sirius turned full attention back to the book.

Arthur and Charlie startled in surprise, but were infinitely thankful for whatever experience Ron did have on a broom he hadn't been clean knocked off.

"Good job Harry," Sirius whispered in his godson's ear, even if he did wish more than anything he still wasn't down there doing this.

Harry nestled even closer to Sirius, his ear pressed right his godfathers heart now where he hoped he'd never have to move again.

"Astonishing good or bad though," Tonks muttered, tapping her toes impatiently.

Remus jerked so uncomfortably and was now openly glaring at Dumbledore, Sirius couldn't help but notice. Whatever was bothering him though, Sirius knew he'd like to hear later, so for now he reached out and grabbed his wrist, giving it a gentle squeeze, with his bad hand too, the other still keeping Harry against his chest.

Remus was so startled by the familiar affection he nearly lost his entire train of thought as he and Sirius finally looked at each other again, openly and honestly for the first time over Harry's head. He would tell Sirius later, and they would tackle this together, but for now Remus relaxed back and slung his arm over the back of the couch and reached over casually to mess with Harry's hair and keep breathing evenly.

Even Charlie and Arthur were starting to get an odd feeling for this though as they exchanged an uncomfortable look over Ron's head. This certainly was...convenient.

Ron had been smiling almost in anticipation for this, but now saw their faces and deflated. They didn't think he'd be able to do this, they still didn't think he could do anything.

Ron smiled at his best friend again, at least somebody believed in him.

Charlie blew out a breath, his shaggy hair only out of his eyes for a moment before he told Ron, "at least you're going into this confident."

Ron beamed and sat up a little straighter in his seat.

"You get to restart from the beginning?" Tonks offered in a hopeful enough voice.

"That won't be a problem though," Charlie scoffed, "Ron hasn't lost a game to Bill all summer, this'll be a cakewalk for him."

Ron glanced down to see for himself he wasn't actually glowing no matter how much it felt like it.

"I mean, would it be better if they kept cheering you on? Talked to you like normal ones?" Hermione asked, she'd find that distracting.

No one wanted to be the one to remind her these kids weren't chess pieces who could keep talking and cheering if they got smashed into pieces, and couldn't just be put back together at the end of every game.

Sirius flinched uneasily but hoped Ron hadn't seen, he didn't really believe Ron would let Harry get hurt.

"I'm just imagining you kicking and smacking them around until they give up their space," Charlie told his brother with a fond smile.

Ron accepted the teasing with grace, even if he was fighting off the urge to ask someone to replicate this for him now, it sounded like a blast getting to play as a piece. Maybe he'd even get to ride a horse and not have handicap players then.

Ron made such an undignified noise from being smushed into his dad and brother's embrace he would have been embarrassed by it if he'd had the breath.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley there is no chance you're even going to school next year if-"

"Well I'm not going to be the reason You-Know-Who comes back," Ron used the last of his air to tell his dad.

Arthur finally felt his stuttering heart find some semblance of normal again as he looked into his youngest son's face before forcing out a breath. It was bright red with indignation, alive and always with that little scowl from when his mother chastised him for not cleaning his room as much as she thought he should.

He nodded to show he'd heard him, he really had, but it hadn't ever made those words bearable to his ears.

"Yes Ron, please keep shouting your moves like that," Charlie chuckled just to make sure his lungs were still working. "Then the other pieces will be forced to use another strategy."

Ron didn't really think the pieces were that intelligent, but agreed all the same. It's not like he wanted to hear about his brains getting knocked out, then dad probably really wouldn't let him go to school, or out of his arms for the next year, or worst of all, tell mum about this.

Neville despised the words coming off of his tongue, how Mr. Weasley and Charlie looked like they were going to drop dead themselves having to hear about this. It just didn't seem fair they got dragged into this and had to hear such a thing, but he knew if he didn't read it somebody else just would, and he didn't want to be a coward when Ron was being so brave about it all.

Ron shivered himself now, he may not have regretted this, but he wasn't going to ask to have this recreated anymore either, he decided as he nestled between the two.

Arthur was having to blink carefully and swallow several times to stop himself crying, that just had to be true. His youngest son would not die like this.

"Looks like someone got inspiration," Sirius muttered in disgust, though he couldn't say he was displeased Harry didn't have to shove his wand up this one's nose as well.

"Probably give up your soul or something," Sirius said in disgust, pulling Harry the closest yet. If there was one thing he was most worried about down there, it was Snape's. Especially as he'd make it easiest for himself to slip by and leave anyone else to die.

They all gave a shiver at that, considering they were still trapped in this place, at least sans fire.

Hermione let out a great sigh, and smiled of all things. Neville looked at her as if in concerned for her health before continuing.

"I'd hope it would take her longer than that," Remus shifted in unease.

"Nah, the shorter the time, the more confident she is. If it takes longer, I'd think she was double guessing herself," Sirius shook his head as he watched the girl, who was looking almost longing now like she'd hope this would appear in front of her so she could prove she could do it twice as fast as herself.

"I'm sure it's designed that way on purpose," Remus said with a side eye at Dumebldore, he still wasn't quite buying a first year figured out something Snape had done, even he wasn't that much of a simpleton no matter how much they joked about it in school.

Sirius' hands were starting to shake, he was worried he was going to hurt Harry he was holding him so tight. All he could think of was James, the most crystal clear memory of him since his time here, and how proud he'd be of his son. Protecting his friends at all costs like this, giving his last breath to Voldemort. He couldn't lose Harry the same way, he'd beg to go back to Azkaban and die there rather than this.

"It's alright Sirius," now, remarkably, Harry was the one comforting him. He seemed to have no distress for however tight Srius' hold was, and in fact snuggled all the closer still. Sirius forced himself to keep breathing, keep listening.

"It was more than luck," Remus whispered, unsure himself of what he was trying to tell Harry, but it was vitally important he understand at least this. "Your mother loved you, that means something Harry."

Harry looked him in the eye and nodded solemnly, reaching up and running his fingers over his scar once more. He finally had a name for that feeling, that stung his eyes and had him leaning back into Sirius. Love, his mother had loved him, and he already loved Sirius. It was like it had always been there and he finally just knew what to call it.

Hermione still wished she could go over and hug him now. He was braver than anybody she'd ever read about, and he was her friend.

"Yeah, but like, no one is!" Ron told her sincerely. "I don't think Bill's ever even gotten a perfect score on a Charms exam!"

Hermione tried to scowl at him that wasn't the point, but she'd learned Ron's joking town by now and instead returned, "you know what I meant," with a smile.

Sirius still remembered the first time he'd held Harry, James had just gotten him to sleep for the first time and he and Lily were watching with pride when he held the tiny babe. It had been the height of Voldemort's power, and all they'd cared about in that moment was each other. Harry was a fighter then, and he was forever.

Neville gazed down at that for a long time in shock before looking up to show he was done. Nobody was really sure how to move forward with that information for a moment.