Chapter-48: Talk with Dumbledore

Justin was carried up to the hospital wing by Professor Flitwick, but nobody seemed to know what to do for Nearly Headless Nick. In the end, Professor McGonagall conjured a large fan out of thin air, which she gave to fourth-year Slytherin who fanned the ghost upstairs, to the hospital wing. This left Neville and Professor McGonagall alone together.

"This way Neville," she said.

"Professor," he said at once, "I swear I didn't…"

"This is out of my hands, Neville," said Professor McGonagall curtly.

They marched in silence around a corner and she stopped before a large and extremely ugly stone gargoyle.

"Lemon drop!" she said.

This was a password because the gargoyle sprang suddenly to life and hopped aside as the wall behind him split in two. Even full of dread for what was coming, Neville couldn't fail to be amazed. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that was moving smoothly upward, like an escalator. As he and Professor McGonagall stepped onto it, he heard the wall thud close behind them. They rose upward in circles, higher and higher, until at last, slightly dizzy, he saw a gleaming oak door ahead, with a brass knocker in the shape of a griffin.

He knew now where he was being taken. This must be where Dumbledore lived…

They stepped into the room, only to find it empty. Professor left him there, alone to wait.

Neville looked around, it was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little silver instruments, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of the old headmasters and headmistresses, all of whom were snoozing gently in their frames.

There was also an enormous, claw-footed desk, and, sitting on a shelf behind it, a shabby, tattered wizard's hat. He recognized the thing as the Sorting Hat. He hesitated a little bit and looked around to see everyone around was sleeping around him.

'It couldnt hurt if I just wear it once…' he moved to the shelf, and put it on.

Then a voice fall in his ears, "Neville Longbottom?"

"Er, yes," he muttered. "Sorry to bother you… I wanted to ask…"

"You have been wondering whether I put you in the right House," said the hat smartly. "Yes . . . you were particularly difficult to place. But I stand by what I said before… you would have done well in Slytherin…" Neville's stomach plummeted. He grabbed the point of the hat and pulled it off. It hung limply in his hand, grubby and faded. He pushed it back onto its shelf, feeling sick.

As he turned around, he saw that there was a red color bird on the other end of the office. He realized the bird was a phoenix, his grandmother told him once about it. Apparently, Dumbledore is one of the few wizards in the world that was able to tame the bird. As he paid attention to the bird, he saw that its eyes were dull, and while he had been staring at it, a couple of its feathers fell out of its tail.

He was just thinking that all he needed was for Dumbledore's pet bird to die while he was alone in the office with it, when the bird burst into flames.

"AH!" he yelled in panic.

By the time he stumbled to the bird's stand, it had burned itself completely and only the ashes of the birds remained. It was then Neville heard the sound of the door opening to see Professor Dumbledore walking in magenta color robes wearing his half-moon spectacles.

"Professor," He gasped. "Your bird… I couldn't do anything… he just caught fire,"

To his astonishment, Dumbledore smiled. "About time, too," he said. "He's been looking dreadful for days… I've been telling him to get a move on."

Neville didnt understand why Dumbledore seemed happy about what happened. Then Professor clarified, "Fawkes is a phoenix, Nevile. Phoenixes burst into flame when it was time for them to die and are reborn from the ashes. Watch him . . ."

Neville looked down in time to see a tiny, wrinkled, newborn bird poke its head out of the ashes. "It's a shame you had to see him on a Burning Day," said Dumbledore, seating himself behind his desk. "He's really very handsome most of the time, wonderful red and gold plumage. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, and they make highly faithful pets."

"Sir.." He hesitated, then spoke, "I didnt do it sir. I am innocent."

Dumbledore nodded, "I know Neville. I know that you are innocent,"

"You do?" he asked with astonishment.

"Yes, I believe you." Dumbledore spoke with a small smile on his face, "Still, I wanted to ask you something…."

It was then the door burst open and Hagrid came huffing and puffing, "Professor Dumbledore Neville is innocent," he immediately said.

Dumbledore was about to say something, but Hagrid cut him off once again, "I am willing to bet my life on it, sir. He is innocent. I know it. No blood of Frank and Alice could so such a thing…" Neville couldnt help but smile seeing how Hagrid was fighting to defend him.

"… sir we cannot let the boy…" Hagrid was going on and on.

It was then Dumbledore spoke, rather loudly, "Hagrid!" with his voice, Hagrid finally stopped, "I also believe that he is innocent."

"Oh," Hagrid spoke, now looking apologetic from his previous outburst. "… then.. I will be waiting outside the." With that Hagrid left the office.

Dumbledore then turned to Neville once again, "As I was saying before… Neville, I want to know whether there was something that you want to tell me?"

He thought for a moment. He pictured Ronan and Malfoy planning to kill muggles, he thought of the polyjuice potion brewing in the girl's toilet, and lastly, he thought about the voices that he had been hearing all around the school.

In the end, he made a decision, "There is nothing sir. Nothing at all."

***

As the term came to an end, everyone in the school jumped at the opportunity to go back home. Before they knew it, the whole Gryffindor common room became empty, the only people left were Hermione, Harry, and all the Weasleys. Apparently, double murder attempts were the catalyst, suddenly everyone wanted to go home and not stay at school. Neville's grandmother wanted to come home this year, but he declined their offer, considering that he had to uncover the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets.

The day of Christmas, as usual, Fred and George burst into their room early in the morning. They were exchanging Christmas presents when Hermione barged into their room as well. Apparently, girls could walk in and out of the boy's dorm, but vice versa was not possible.

"Fancy gift you got there," Ron said, as he saw the rather large half-opened gift that she had in her hands.

"What is that anyway?" Harry asked. He was also curious about what was in the box.

"It couldnt be!" Fred exclaimed, then he and George ran to Hermione and took the parcel from her. They quickly unwrapped it to see that it was a fancy box with a doll inside.

"He told me that production would take some time," Fred said, "He told me that it would take another 9 months or so to complete it," George said.

"Hello!" Ron said, "Can anyone tell what this is?"

"It is a gift from Ronan," Hermione said slowly.

"This is not a gift my friends," Fred said. "This a Mortal Combat's Official fighting puppet in flesh. And this a female fighter.. But this one is different from the one that we have." George said,

Fred nodded, "Yeah. This is one looks more refined"

Ron then knelt down on the floor with them, "Wait, is this the puppet that you spent hours talking about? You talked as if it was the best thing to pass the time,"

"Hermione," Fred said, "Can we open it?" George said.

"Sure,"

Quickly as they could, they unwrapped the doll, and soon they were greeted with a woman wearing a blue blouse and blue leather pants. She had her face covered with blue cloth. Fred then grabbed the remote from the box and told everyone to back away.

With one push of a button, the puppet rolled her body and jumped up as if it were a real living midget. The doll punched, kicked, rolled, and jumped on command, showing amazing flexibility and power. And based on the sound the doll was making, it packed quite some power behind it.

"This is…" Hermione was lost for words, seeing what it could do.

"Work of art. Ronan is a genius," George suggested. Fred nodded at the statement, "He is. This is just phenomenal work," Neville knew Hermione better, she was not impressed by what she saw.

"I dont get it," Ron declared, "How is this entertaining, I dont get it."

"Oh, you would know once we show you our puppets," Fred said. George nodded, "Ronan told us that we could take our home during the summer vacation,"

Neville then had a question, "So he made this, and now he is selling it? Has he opened a shop or something?"

Fred shook his head, "No. He was able to impress Zonko's nephew who is in Slytherin with these. He got so impressed, that he managed to convince Zonko to invest in it, so Zonko has a right to manufacture and sell these."

George then added, "While all Ronan had to do is just collect royalties."

Fred further added, "He would make quite of lot of gold with these."

It is only after the twins left, did Hermione turned towards them, "I have been up for nearly an hour, adding more lacewings to the potion. It's ready." They all sat up straight, everyone was excited.

"Are you sure?" Neville asked.

"Positive," said Hermione, shirting Scabbers the rat so that she could sit down on the end of Ron's four-poster. "If we're going to do it, I say it should be tonight." They all looked determined and were ready to blow the secret out in the open.