Chapter Text
Within the hour Narcissa had floo called first Severus for a genealogy potion then Augusta Longbottom and invited her to tea along with young Neville to play with the boys. Bellatrix needed a moment to gather herself so excused herself to her designated guest room until Augusta arrived.
They come shortly after receiving the invite and Neville is immediately grabbed by Haddy and brought to his bedroom while the adults talk.
"I'm really sorry," he says when the door closes.
"For what? What happened?"
"My mummy and daddy have been so nice since I got here.”
“That’s great Har- I mean Hadrian. I’m glad you finally have a loving family.”
“I told Mama and Aunty Bella your secret. I'm really sorry,” Hadrian rushes out while tears start to gather in the corner of his eyes. Neville freezes, mind racing a mile a minute until one thought sticks. He runs out of the room and back to where the adults gathered.
Bursting into the room, Neville runs straight to his Gran. Everyone stands as the door suddenly opens but relaxes when Neville appears. The child immediately bursts into tears as he grips his Gran’s dress.
“I’m really sorry. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad. I’m sorry,” he speaks into the fabric.
“My poor, Nevvie,” Augusta coos before rearranging him to sit in her lap. “How long have you kept this from me?”
“Found out at the beginning of first year at the bank. I’m really sorry. Please don’t hate me. Please don’t leave,” Neville cries harder.
“Leave? To go where? You’re still my grandchild even if you turn out to be the son of the Lastranges and I will always love you, Neville.”
“You promise?” Neville tries burying himself in her dress, her presence.
“I promise. Let’s get to the bottom of this.”
Severus steps forward as Augusta places Neville on her lap. The genealogy potion is spread on a piece of paper before Neville has to add a few drops of blood. A family tree quickly formed starting with Neville before branching out to parents, grandparents, and great grandparents. Neville can’t look as his finger is pricked, instead burying his face deep in his Gran’s neck. “What does it say,” he asks timidly as the silence stretches for a few seconds. Suddenly he hears a woman sobbing behind him, causing him to startle. His Gran is quick to hush him but Neville can feel the tremble that goes through her body.
“I am so sorry,” he starts sobbing. “I should have said something. I am so sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Nevvie. I should have known. Alice’s pregnancy was difficult to say the least. And I know I was not there during most of your formative years but I want to be there for you now. How about we say hi to your mummy. Let’s start there.” Without further preamble, Augusta picks Neville up and sits him right next to Bellatrix, who has no idea what to say.
”I have magic.” It seems Neville knows exactly how to start the conversation. “I’m sure Professor Snape told you that I don’t have magic and I’m bad at every subject but I do have magic. My uncle tests me all of the time and it’s there. I have magic and I promise to work harder so that you don’t have to get rid of me.”
“I would never get rid of you based on magical ability,” Bellatrix can finally get a word in as the child takes a deep breath. “And I didn’t get rid of you the first time,” she tries explaining but Neville shakes his head while hiding his face in his hands.
”My uncle said that you have to. If I don’t have magic I can’t stay here. You’ll drop me off in London and I’ll have nowhere else to go. Professor Snape had to have told you everything. I can’t do anything right. Wait! Harry, I mean Hadrian, is back to his real age. Do I have to go back to my real age? I won’t be at Hogwarts anymore. I barely got in the first time. My uncle had to test me for years before I was accepted. They won’t take me back.” Neville starts hyperventilating. He can’t help remember all of the tests and dangerous situations he was put through in his younger years before his uncle finally announced that he was able to go to Hogwarts. For as long as Neville can remember his uncle has always told him that he was incredibly close to being a squib and getting tossed onto the streets with nothing.
”Neville, honey, no one is going to abandon you to the street of muggle London. You have a family. If not with the Lastrange’s then you always have a place with me. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you more.” Lady Longbottom tries picking up her grandson once more but Bellatrix beats her to it by placing Neville on her lap and speaking accusatoringly.
”What kind of tests did his uncle do that would cause an immediate pain attack?” The older woman sinks back into her seat while speaking.
”He used to lock Neville in his nursery as an infant. He heard of magical children being able to teleport themselves into rooms they wanted to be in or getting themselves out of cribs to play. Neville had the most magnificent toys all over his room. Alice got most of it as gifts from the Order.” She finally looks up, pleading to the room. “You have to believe that I had no idea what was going on. Frank and Alice were at St. Mungos and I was there everyday to see if they could get better. If they could be moved back to the manor. I didn’t really have time for a baby. He already had a nanny house elf and August swore he could handle it. I had no idea that he was concerned about Neville’s magical until after he met with Dumbledore.”
”He met with Dumbledore? What did he say,” Narcissa asks as he sister calmly rocks her child with a muffle spell to prevent him from getting retraumatized by the memory.
”He went to ask if Neville was registered in the school. We all feared he was a squib due to the lack of accidental magic. It didn’t help that Dumbledore just shared one of the very few stories of young Mr. Potter. I can’t recall the exact events but he fell down some stairs and was caught by his magic bending the baby gate. There was not a scratch on the boy and he had to explain accidental magic to his guardians.
“That night, I was still at the hospital. I remember the healers had one last treatment they wanted to try before permanently admitting Frank and Alice. August planned to send the house elf away and lock Neville in his room again. Only this time he wanted to be sure that Neville got himself out of that room. I think he was starting to get used to being ignored. So he set the curtains on fire before shutting the door.” There are gasps of horror all around the room and Augusta can’t look anyone in the face. “The healers later said that the smoke damaged his lungs so severely that they weren’t sure he would survive,” she blinks away tears. “His own magic was able to heal him slowly but colds are still awful on his body.”
“I was not able to ascertain the origin of the fire until just before Neville’s first year. I had gotten into some nonsensical argument with my son and he blurted out all of these awful things. He told me I owe Neville’s acceptance to his intervention. If it were not for his teachings Neville would be a vastly different child. It took some prodding and a lot of tears but I got Neville to tell me some things and August has not set foot in the manor since. It has not been an easy two years but when I got your letter for tea I never could have guessed this would be the outcome.”
”I don’t think any of us would have guessed that this would be our lives.” Narcissa stands to sit next to the older woman before taking her hand. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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Neville ends up dozing in his newly found mother’s lap feeling safe and warm and a little embarrassed. He tries not to think about all of the people in the room with the two of them, especially Professor Snape, but the muffle charm helps block everyone but the two of them out. As the adults continue to talk Neville starts to feel vibrations in the chest of his mother as he’s slowly rocked. He assumes she’s humming but can’t hear any of the melody. Neville is quickly lulled into a calm state and even starts talking.
“I love you. You’re so nice and I love you. I always thought that you hated me for not having enough magic. A lot of people hate me for not having magic and school was so hard. I’m glad you’re here and I don’t have to go back. I love you. You’re so warm and,” Neville cuts himself off with a choked gasp as the soft vibrations turn into shaking sobs and the arms grow tighter around him.
He still can’t hear anyone else but knows that they hear him and everything is going to be different from now on.