Chapter Text
23 November 1994
When he sat down to dinner in the Great Hall, Neville Longbottom looked up at the head table and saw that the ministry people were there - no doubt for the first task tomorrow. The talk at the Gryffindor table was all about how Harry was finally going to emerge from hiding tomorrow and step out for the first task to triumphantly win it for the glory of Gryffindor. They hoped that it would replace all the points Professor Snape had taken from their house for each detention Harry hadn’t turned up to. Well, excluding Ron who was still rambling on about Harry cheating and Hermione and the twins who seemed to think that something bigger was up. He knew that it was unlikely that Harry would be back and was just glad that no one had bothered to ask him about what could have happened since Harry seemingly disappeared nearly three weeks ago.
The latest gossip in the house was that Harry had gone off somewhere to train for the tournament and, when it got to the point where owls wouldn’t even take off with letters to him anymore, that he had gone somewhere under very powerful wards with Professor Lupin. He knew that wasn’t going to happen. Despite what Harry had told him, he was pretty sure that he wasn’t going to be back at all.
He had just finished his main course when an owl appeared in the Great Hall and flew up to the head table in front of the Headmaster. Instead of dropping a letter, the owl dropped an object that looked like a howler. Instead of it being red it was gold and it didn’t drop onto Professor Dumbledore’s plate - it just hovered in the air and began to speak in Harry’s voice.
“Hi. This is Harry Potter. I’m very sorry to interrupt your dinner but there are a couple of matters that need to be cleared up. Firstly, Headmaster Dumbledore, please accept this as formal notice of my withdrawal from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am guessing that you probably worked that out since I haven’t been there for the past few weeks.
You may be asking why I am giving such notice and not my guardians. Fortunately, the fact that Minister Fudge, Mr Crouch and Mr Bagman approved my participation in the Triwizard tournament has been deemed to represent the Ministry’s emancipation of my person according to the lawyer that I found when I snuck out of the castle a couple weeks ago. Gringotts have accepted this evidence so - well - that’s nice.
I will also not be participating in your little tournament when it starts tomorrow. I wish all the best to Mademoiselle Delacour, Mr Diggory and Mr Krum but have absolutely no wish to join them. As I told anyone who would listen - I did not enter, I did not ask someone to enter on my behalf and I have no desire to put my life at risk for a thousand galleons.”
People started to murmur around him but he just laughed to himself as the message continued. He was glad that Harry was able to get to his money at Gringotts and had no doubt that he would have set himself up somewhere far away. He was glad that he had some small part in it - even though no one but Gran would know about it.
***
Wednesday, 3 November 1994
Neville knew he wasn’t a great wizard. He was barely average at school except in herbology. He wasn’t popular and didn’t really have many friends. He knew, however, that he was observant. He saw the way that people had been treating Harry since his name came out of the Goblet of Fire. It was clear from the expression on Harry’s face when his name was called that he was completely taken by surprise so Neville, unlike Ron, had no doubt that Harry had nothing to do with it. He saw how most of the people in their house assumed that he had cheated to get in and were actually proud of it. He could see people in the other houses - even Hufflepuff well maybe especially Hufflepuff - treating him like he was some sort of pariah and wouldn’t even talk to him. There were taunts and even hexes being shot at Harry in the halls. He also had noticed that Harry hadn’t been to breakfast this morning or dinner the night before and thought he may be having his meals in the kitchens to avoid people.
It was disheartening to watch. He and Harry were friends - perhaps not the best of friends - but they had taken all of their classes together since their first day. Harry had stood up for him very early on when he took on Malfoy for his remembrall. They often worked together - particularly in Herbology and Charms when Hermione worked with Ron. They were both pretty quiet in classes and both seemed to bring out the worst in Professor Snape - him because he was pants at potions and Harry - well he didn’t really know why. The two of them never partnered each other in potions for obvious reasons.
He wanted to do something to show Harry his support and maybe help him out but he knew that he was never going to be cleverer than Hermione in terms of preparing him for whatever would be coming his way. As he thought about it, he couldn’t understand how Harry could have been entered if he hadn’t done so himself - Harry said he hadn’t and he believed him.
Like many of the old families, the Longbottoms were quite wealthy - even more so with the wealth of Gran’s family (the Holbeins) added in. He was expected to manage the family fortune some day and so Gran had arranged for him to do some training with the family solicitor over the summer to learn about basic magical contracts. He thought about the requirements that he had been taught for making a contract valid - offer, acceptance, consideration, intention of entering the contract and certainty of terms - and of course capacity to enter into the contract.
The offer was clear - the tournament had been explained at the start of the term. The acceptance wasn’t so clear as Harry didn’t enter his own name. Consideration - sure that was there as there was a prize for winning. Intention - again Harry didn’t intend to enter the tournament. He didn’t think anyone gave anyone any details on the contract, but he hadn’t asked since he wasn’t old enough to enter - maybe they did. The last bit was probably the most contentious as Harry was only 14 and therefore not able to enter himself - as Harry was always pointing out. He couldn’t imagine his muggle relatives approving it. He thought that there was a very good chance that the contract wasn’t valid and therefore Harry should be able to remove himself. But he had only spent a couple of weeks with Mr Jaggers. He knew that Mr Jaggers worked out of his little Hogsmeade office on Fridays and that they had a free period in the morning before double potions. He also knew that Harry had some way of sneaking out of the castle to get to Hogsmeade as he had overheard him talking about it with the Weasley twins last year.
He decided that the best course of action would be to write to his Gran and explain the situation. Mr Jaggers was on retainer to their family so it wouldn’t cost anything, but Gran would need to approve the time and ensure that Mr Jaggers would be in Hogsmeade on the day. He would promise that he wouldn’t sneak out as well to reassure her - it was pretty easy to find the office and he could draw Harry a little map. He pulled out his quill and a fresh piece of parchment and wrote the letter - checking it over three times. When he was happy with it, he headed out to the owlery. He took Trevor for a bit of fresh air and they sent the letter off to Gran hoping against hope that she would agree.
Gran replied the next morning and said that it was fine with her and that he should mail her back and let her know when Harry planned to attend and to remind him that he should not go with Harry. But she did say that it was a nice idea and that she was proud that he had thought of it.
Since Harry wasn’t at breakfast again on Thursday morning, the next time he saw him was in Defence class. He didn’t like the class as Professor Moody intimidated him and so he found a seat in the back of the classroom. Hermione was already sitting up front with Ron so he made sure to leave an empty seat next to him for Harry to slip into when he turned up at the last moment. He didn’t dare try to speak during the class as Moody seemed to notice everything but he kept everything but the piece of parchment he was taking notes on in his bag so he could hurry off after Harry when he inevitably fled the room at the end of class.
It took a lot of dodging people, but he eventually followed Harry down into the dungeons (Harry had taken a very indirect path) and caught up to him as Harry was just about to touch a portrait.
“Harry? Do you have a minute?”
Harry looked like he stiffened up, “Um sure I was just …”
“Going to the kitchens? I noticed you haven’t been in the Great Hall lately and I totally get it. I just have something that I think may help things a bit that I want to discuss.”
Harry looked him up and down and shrugged before pointing out a pear on the portrait, “You just tickle it. The elves are always happy to help.”
He followed him into the biggest kitchen he had ever seen. Harry walked to a table in the corner and slumped into a chair. An elf wearing very strange socks immediately appeared next to him, “What would Harry Potter, sir, and his friend be wanting for lunch? We’s having the chicken pie that Harry Potter bes liking.”
“That’s fine, thank you Dobby - Neville?”
“Yes that would be lovely. Perhaps some tea as well for me?”
The elf nodded and quickly left.
Harry looked exhausted as he looked at him across the table.
“So, you know, I don’t think you put your name in that goblet and I think there is a possibility that you may not have to do it.”
“What? I mean thanks but Dumbledore, Fudge - they all say I can’t get out.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I learned a bit about magical contracts this summer. Here - maybe it’s easier if I show you the letter I sent to my Gran and her response.”
He passed them across and Harry read them and then looked up with a look of resignation in his face.
“Thank you Neville. I mean I really appreciate it, but I can’t afford to hire a lawyer. I mean I don’t even have the key to my vault and that apparently just has enough in it to get me through school. I mean I was thinking of just running away and hanging out in the muggle world but if I can’t even get my money…”
“And I’m guessing you don’t want to go back to the people you live with in the summers.”
Harry just shook his head without meeting his eye.
“Don’t worry about the money. Mr Jaggers is on retainer to my family - he looks after our … well some things for us. So he gets paid whether we use him or not and Gran has given her permission for him to help you. Since he’s a lawyer, anything you tell him will be confidential - like he can’t tell me or even my Gran. It’s just - and it’s only a guess because he’s the lawyer not me - but if it could get you out of it - it would take the pressure of the tournament off of your shoulders - maybe people will …”
Harry just shook his head, “They’ve already made their minds up. It’s like second year again but somehow worse. Professor Sprout won’t even look at me. Snape is somehow worse than usual…”
“But at least you won’t have to compete. I know it is dangerous… look, I am aware that you can sneak out to Hogsmeade. Mr Jaggers works from his office there on Fridays. His office is just here,” he said pointing to the map he drew, “I can lend you a plain overcloak to wear so that no one recognises you as a student - I think a muggle coat would stand out.”
Harry shook his head, “No that’s ok, I have something. Do you reckon it will work?”
“I honestly don’t know. But it is just a talk, he can’t tell anyone what is discussed, and if he gets you out than you are definitely in a better place? If not, well, you’ve lost an hour or so tomorrow morning when you would have been trying not to be found anyway. I mean I know you have a way of getting into Hogsmeade without being seen…”
Harry gave him a weak smile, “Two actually. Do you want to come? I’m sure your Gran wouldn’t find out.”
“Gran would kill me and she definitely would find out. Plus I don’t want to interfere in your private business. Shall I say you’ll be there tomorrow? If you get there for 9 you’ll have plenty of time to get back in time for potions after lunch.”
“If you’re sure it won’t cost you or your Gran any money. Why not?”
***