Mrs. Weasley stood frozen, a hand pressed to her mouth as if to stifle a gasp.

“Neville?” Percy asked, locking eyes with him in stunned disbelief. He and Bill supported George on either side, and upon closer inspection, Neville saw the extent of George’s injuries from the Death Eaters’ attack. A deep gash slashed across his forehead, dried blood crusted over his face. His blood-soaked shirt likely hid more wounds. Neville cringed at the sight.

“Er... hi,” he said sheepishly, an embarrassed flush rising in his cheeks. His heart pounded and his stomach twisted with unease. He had expected their shocked reactions, mirroring his own when he first learned from the Minister about Harry’s dire illness. At first Neville thought he had misheard—he knew Harry had only been poisoned by Yaxley when Neville last visited his parents at St. Mungo’s. But the Minister confirmed the grave truth. Harry deserved all their support; Neville would do anything he could to help without hesitation.

Mr. Weasley demanded, “What’s going on?” His expression shifted from shock to bewilderment, though his stare at Neville remained steady.

Lines creased the corners of Mrs. Weasley’s eyes as she peered at Neville with suspicion. “Why were you impersonating Harry? Where is he really?”

Red-faced, Neville knew he would be bombarded with questions once he had agreed to Malfoy’s scheme. He quickly explained, “I’m sorry… but for the plan to work, I just had to.” As an afterthought, he added in a whisper, “It wasn’t my idea; it was Malfoy’s.”

All eyes turned to Malfoy, who remained composed despite seeming weighed down by an unseen burden. Their gazes then shifted between the Minister and Neville, silently seeking clarification.

“That’s quite right,” Minister Shacklebolt stated matter-of-factly. “We couldn’t risk putting Harry in such chaos. I’m sure you agree this was the right decision, Arthur?”

“Yes, of course,” Arthur replied slowly. Though his eyes brimmed with bewilderment, he knew facilitating Harry’s safety was paramount. Still, he couldn’t deny his astonishment. “How did you come up with all this, Draco?”

Malfoy’s gray eyes grew thoughtful for a moment as he glanced up. “When I discovered Yaxley had a large stash of Polyjuice Potion at his hideout, I decided to steal some,” he admitted.

“And Yaxley had no idea you took it?”

Malfoy shook his head, an embarrassed look crossing his face. “I’m pretty good at sneaking things out unnoticed,” he confessed in a dull tone.

Some DA members grinned at Malfoy’s admission, but Percy and Hagrid only raised their eyebrows skeptically. Neville allowed a small smile to crack through, vividly picturing Malfoy’s sneaking around at Hogwarts, but he kept quiet.

“What happened next?” Mr. Weasley asked impatiently. “You must have obtained part of Harry’s body to add to the potion, correct?”

“Yes, that,” Malfoy replied hesitantly, lowering his gaze with another embarrassed look. “I want you all to know that invading Potter’s privacy wasn’t my intention, but acquiring some of his hair for Longbottom was necessary so he could impersonate Potter. It was a foolish plan, but the only one I could devise without arousing Yaxley’s suspicions about my true aims.”

George’s ears perked up. “No, it was actually quite clever,” he countered, a lopsided grin spreading across his face before he winced in pain, clutching his stomach. “You really had us all fooled,” he added, his voice hoarse and weak.

Malfoy smirked at the compliment. “Yes, well, I didn’t know Longbottom was capable of playing his part so convincingly.”

With a quick huff, Neville exhaled. “Imitating Harry was easy—I just had to close my eyes and act dead. But I wasn’t confident casting spells. Luckily everything worked out, in my opinion!” A faint smile crossed his face.

“Don’t underestimate yourself, Mr. Longbottom,” the Minister commended. “It takes great courage to fight as you did.”

The DA members patted Neville’s back admiringly, recalling his difficult fifth year spellwork.

Bill eyed Neville and Malfoy. “But how did you get Harry’s hair? I’m sure you had no idea where he was staying. I’ve only told a select few.”

Malfoy shot Neville a pointed look, as if urging him to speak up about the matter.

Turning beet red, Neville squirmed uncomfortably and stared at his trembling hands before continuing. “After Yaxley gave a speech inciting Death Eaters to find and kill Harry, crowds of people swarmed St. Mungo’s trying to get inside. I—I overheard Hermione mention some place where they could hide Harry. I didn’t catch the full name, but Luna—”

“Luna?” Mr. Weasley interjected with a furrowed brow. “Xenophilius’s daughter?”

Neville nodded, and Mr. Weasley craned his neck, scanning the gathered crowd for any sign of her. “Where is she?”

“She’s looking after them, Arthur,” Slughorn replied quietly.

Mr. Weasley’s eyes flickered with dawning realization. “Harry... Ron—”

“Ms. Lovegood informed me she had visited your home previously,” said Slughorn, glancing at Bill. “which is how she knew where they might be lodging.”

Mrs. Weasley’s brows furrowed anxiously as she regarded Slughorn. “How are they? Had they awakened before you departed?”

Shaking his head mournfully, Slughorn replied, “They remain unconscious, Molly.”

She heaved a heavy, grief-laden sigh. “It’s been hours. Surely—”

“I’m certain whatever tribulation they currently face is not easily resolved; that explains the prolonged duration,” he said, casting his gaze downward as he struggled to conceal his concern.

After the Death Eater attack, Hagrid voiced his first comment, asking in a sorrowful tone, “They’ll survive, won’ they?” His gaze was fixed steadily on Slughorn.

Slughorn briefly met Hagrid’s eyes, and it seemed he couldn’t say what he knew, but Hagrid nodded as if understanding the unspoken meaning.

The DA members were silent. When they had gathered at Hogwarts earlier to await the Minister’s orders on how to counter the Death Eaters, Neville had informed them about Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny’s situation. He was glad no one had pressed for more details out of respect for their privacy, though they had certainly discussed among themselves how and why it happened.

The Minister cleared his throat, turning to face the members of Dumbledore’s Army. “For now, I suggest you all return home. Tonight has surely exhausted you, but I am deeply grateful for all your invaluable help,” he said.

Some DA members began to protest:

“We won’t leave!”

“We’ll wait for them to wake up!”

“We can’t rest while they’re still unconscious!”

The Minister raised a hand to quiet the restless group. “I understand your devotion, but waiting here will benefit neither you nor them. We will send word the moment there is good news.” Facing Malfoy, the Minister commanded, “Come with me to the Ministry.”

With a sigh, Malfoy nodded curtly.

The DA members hesitantly dispersed with loud pops, Disapparating one by one. Only the Minister, Malfoy, Hagrid, Slughorn, and the Weasleys remained when Neville’s fake galleon grew warm in his pocket as he prepared to leave. He immediately retrieved it, recognizing the signal. “It’s Luna!” Neville announced.

The group turned to him sharply. “What is it?” Mr. Weasley asked with alarm. “Did something happen?”

Neville looked at him uncertainly. “I’m not sure. I told Luna to contact me right away if something were up.”

“Could they have woken up?” Percy asked hopefully, glancing at Neville and his parents.

Taking the Death Eaters’ wands that Neville still gripped, Kingsley gave the Weasleys an encouraging smile. “Young Malfoy and I must return to the Ministry. Keep me informed, Arthur.”

Mr. Weasley nodded before addressing the others. “Some of us should go back to Shell Cottage to check on them. Molly and I will take George to St. Mungo’s to be treated.”

Leaning on his brothers as his strength waned, George said, “Dad, I think I’m alright. Let’s all just go to Shell Cottage.”

Casting a worried look at her son, Mrs. Weasley asked, “Are you sure, dear?”

“These mere scratches won’t bring a Weasley down, Mum,” George replied jokingly.

She rolled her eyes. “Alright, but we’ll go straight to the hospital as soon as we find out what’s going on with the other four.”

“Aye, aye,” he replied, gesturing a small salute.

Malfoy quickly asked the Weasleys, “Send my regards to Harry, will you?”

Neville was surprised to hear Malfoy use Harry’s first name, possibly for the first time. He wondered if the Weasleys had noticed as well, since they simply nodded in response. Then Malfoy and the Minister Disapparated from the forest.

Neville turned his hopeful gaze back to the Weasleys, eager at the prospect of speaking with Harry after the chaotic night. “Can I come with you?”

Bill smiled at him. “Yeah, I’m sure they would like to see you, especially Harry. After all, you have a lot of explaining to do. I’d love to see Harry’s reaction when you tell him how you managed to fool us all by pretending to be him.”

Neville turned scarlet, terrified of Harry’s reaction, yet despite his pounding heart, he was also excited to discuss the successful plan Malfoy had suggested—to finally defeat the remaining dark forces that had ruined so many lives.

----------------------------------------

The waves lapped gently around Shell Cottage, soothing a lone figure with long blonde hair and silver-flecked eyes. Earlier that evening, Luna Lovegood had gazed out her window, admiring the moon’s radiance over the vast sea. With Professor Slughorn’s departure hours ago, she was free to explore the lovely cottage. But now her mind wandered as she sat watching four sleeping figures—Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Though seemingly asleep, their fluttering eyelids and twitching fingers revealed restless dreams. At each small movement, Luna glanced over hopefully, wishing for someone to wake.

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When Neville warned Dumbledore’s Army that Harry and his friends were in danger, Luna responded at once, agreeing to meet Neville at the Ministry of Magic despite her curiosity about the strange situation. Arriving at the crowded Atrium, Luna quickly spotted Neville with Draco Malfoy and Minister Shacklebolt. Their urgent expressions told her this was a dire emergency requiring the Minister’s and Aurors’ help to save Harry and the others.

Neville had explained the events to her, looking frustrated as he struggled to recall a location. He described meeting Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, and overhearing their question about where to hide. Though Neville couldn’t name the place, Luna somehow knew it was Shell Cottage—her refuge when a house-elf freed her from captivity at Malfoy Manor during the war with You-Know-Who. Before returning to fight at Hogwarts, the cottage had brought her comfort.

The candlelight beside Luna flickered, allowing her to notice Ron Weasley stirring. She hurried to Ron’s bedside. “Hello, Ron,” she whispered, her excitement evident despite the hushed tone. Nearby, Hermione and Ginny stirred briefly but remained asleep.

Ron blinked awake, trying to get his bearings. His eyes met Luna’s; she gave him a small smile. “L-Luna?” Ron croaked. He turned his head and saw Hermione and Ginny lying in nearby beds. “W-what happened?” he asked weakly. “Am I—”

Seeing Ron’s confusion, Luna said gently, “You were the first to wake up.”

Ron frowned, glancing at her. “Wake up? Have I been—”

“You were unconscious for a while,” Luna said.

“Why?”

Before Luna could answer, Ginny stirred again with a moan, and Hermione abruptly sat up in bed, blinking rapidly and breathing heavily as she stared blankly at the wall. Running a hand through her hair, she seemed to be trying to remember something.

“Hermione?” Ron called softly.

At the sound of her name, Hermione’s head snapped towards Ron’s anxious face.

Their wordless exchange made Luna even more curious about what had happened while they were unconscious. Have they seen anything? she wondered quietly. “Hello Hermione, it’s nice to see you awake as well.”

Looking surprised at Luna, Hermione opened her mouth to speak. “Luna?”

“Is this real?” Ginny asked gently, prompting Ron, Hermione, and Luna to whip their heads around to look at her. She cast a bewildered glance at her brother and Hermione.

Watching them with raised eyebrows, as if Ginny’s question was odd, Luna responded, “I am as real as I can be, if that’s what you’re asking.”

They stared at her uncertainly, their confusion growing after whatever encounter preceded this.

Sitting on Hermione’s bed facing the three of them, Luna inquired, “What do you all remember? Has the ritual—?”

“The ritual!” Ron exclaimed, eyes wide with realization.

Hermione’s hand flew to her mouth. “So we’re back...” she murmured through trembling fingers.

Luna nodded in agreement. “Yes. You all only just woke up.”

Her statement left Ron, Hermione, and Ginny momentarily speechless, but they all turned to look at Harry.

Ginny got up from her bed and went over to Harry’s still form. “Why isn’t he awake?” she asked worriedly, brushing his hair back from his face. “Did we finish the ritual?”

“Looks like we made it back,” said Ron, though he looked uncertain. “We’re awake, right?”

“But why isn’t Harry waking up too? He should be awake if the ritual worked properly, shouldn’t he?”

Hermione looked pensive. “I would think so, yes. What’s the last thing you all remember before waking up here?”

Ron and Ginny blinked in confusion, struggling to recall the hazy events of their shared experience. Before they could respond, Hermione added, “I only have vague, fragmented images. I couldn’t make sense of it all.”

“Me too,” Ginny said with disappointment. “It’s all a blur.”

“Weren’t we doing some kind of tasks?” Ron asked uncertainly.

Hermione sighed thoughtfully, gazing upward as she tried to piece together fragments of the dream. “There was a golden potion… and I think mirrors too, but I’m not sure...”

Seeing Ron and Ginny nod in agreement, Luna asked “Were you guys dreaming or something?”

Hermione shook her head, struggling to find the words. “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. It felt like we were transported somewhere else entirely.” She trailed off, unable to fully articulate the strange experience.

“Like we were in a different dimension?” Ron guessed quietly.

“Yes, but...” Hermione glanced worriedly at Harry’s unconscious form. “Did you see Harry there with us?”

“I think we all did,” Ginny replied hesitantly. “Though he didn’t seem like himself.”

“Not nice?” Ron offered.

Luna’s thin brows knitted together in concern. “Why wasn’t he nice?”

“I-I actually don’t know if he was or wasn’t...” Ginny replied thoughtfully. “But he seemed different somehow... and I thought I’d seen a doppelganger of Harry.” She scrunched her face, straining to remember the details.

“Another Harry? You mean there were two of them?”

“I’m not sure of what I saw... I may have been hallucinating at the time.”

Luna gently disagreed, “I don’t think you imagined it.” Her three friends looked up, meeting her dreamy silver gaze.

“How could you know that?” Hermione asked, curious.

“I don’t,” Luna replied, pressing her hands together as a faraway look crossed her face. “But I believe that whoever you saw was no hallucination.”

“So you’re saying it was really him, then?” Ron asked impatiently.

“I’m only guessing,” said Luna.

With a sigh, Hermione rubbed her arms as if suddenly chilled. “It all felt so real... But did we learn anything? Or complete the tasks?” She looked at Ron and Ginny, frustration etched on her face.

Ron bowed his head in contemplation. Gazing out the window, Ginny’s expression was distant. For a few minutes, no one spoke. Luna slipped into deep thought as well, still mildly curious about what had happened to them and why Harry wasn’t waking up.

“I guess we must have finished some tasks,” Ron said finally. “But before I woke up...” He sighed deeply. “All I can remember is bars… like we were imprisoned.”

Luna’s eyes widened. “Imprisoned? Were you three doing something illegal?”

“No, I don’t think we were,” Hermione quickly protested, her eyes narrowing in thought. “But the bars were somehow real,” she said slowly.

Shifting to sit beside Harry, Ginny asked, “If that’s true, what exactly were we doing?”

Hermione shrugged, defeated. “I don’t know. Something important happened… something remarkable.”

“Do you think it was waking up from the ritual?” Ron asked anxiously.

“If we succeeded,” Ginny replied, voice trembling, “Harry should be awake too, right?”

”Are you saying we failed the ritual?

Ginny didn’t respond. She brought her shaking hands to Harry’s still ones.

Ron turned to Hermione, whose face had paled. “I don’t feel sick. There’s no burning under my skin like Harry described when he was ill,” he said.

“I feel fine too,” she replied, panic creeping into her voice. “But I don’t think the burning would start immediately if we failed.”

Ginny’s eyes glistened with tears in the candlelight. “I don’t want to believe we’re awake because the ritual failed,” she said, glancing at Ron, Hermione, and Luna as if seeking reassurance. When her friends didn’t respond, she hastily checked Harry’s pulse.

Ron, Hermione, and Luna held their breath anxiously until Ginny’s sigh of relief signaled that Harry was still alive. However, Ron continued to wring his hands tensely as Hermione hugged her knees, both wearing identical expressions of deep thought, perhaps trying to unravel the mystery.

Hermione jumped to her feet, catching the others off guard. “I need to consult the Anima book right away. It may explain what’s happening!”

“Luna, how much time has passed since we began the ritual?” Ron asked suddenly.

“I’m not certain,” Luna replied, pondering. “I arrived just a few hours ago to keep an eye on all of you.”

They jerked their heads up, perplexed expressions crossing their faces.

“Look after us?” Ginny questioned. “What for?”

Ron and Hermione’s eyes darted around the room, as if expecting to spot something or someone else meant to be present.

“It’s too quiet in here,” Ron confessed, gesturing to the rest of the house.

Hermione’s face filled with foreboding as she asked urgently, “Where are the rest of the Weasleys, Luna?” The Anima book she had planned to read now forgotten, she focused intently on Luna.

Luna cocked her head, glancing at Ron and Ginny before speaking quietly, “Your brother George was kidnapped.”

A heavy silence fell, broken only by the whip-crack of the burning candle. As Luna’s words sank in, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny reacted with dawning horror.

Ron leapt from his bed, face suddenly pale and freckled drained of color. “What?!” he cried.

“When did that happen?” Ginny asked anxiously, wringing her hands.

Clutching her chest, Hermione tried to steady her breathing. “Where have the others gone, Luna?”

Luna gazed at the three panic-stricken faces before her. “To the Forbidden Forest.”

“We must go,” Ron said urgently, stepping toward the door. “Now!”

“Wait!” Luna cried out, halting their movement. “It’s too late for you to go.”

“What do you mean ‘too late’?” Ginny asked, her voice taut with alarm. “If they aren’t back yet, something’s wrong!”

Luna sighed heavily. “The Minister and Neville helped devise a plan to ensure everyone’s safety.”

“How can you know if it worked?” Ron asked incredulously. “The plan could have failed!”

“You made a plan with Neville?” Hermione interjected quickly.

“And the Minister,” Luna confirmed.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stared at her in disbelief. “Neville?”

“Yes,” Luna replied quickly, beaming at them. Then, she took her fake galleon from her pocket and fiddled with it. Looking up at her friends, she said, “There. Neville will know soon. I promised to alert him through this coin once you awoke.”

Exasperated, Ron asked, “You expect us to just wait here for Neville?” He bellowed, “I’d rather be out there getting my brother back than waiting here!”

Anxiously, Hermione asked, “How sure are you that the plan will work?”

“I’m not, but—”

Loud popping noises cut off Luna’s sentence.

“That sounded like people Apparating here,” Ginny breathed.

Without another word, the four friends dashed out of the room and towards the front door. In the distance, they saw a group approaching the house, walking side by side. Luna’s face lit up when she spotted Neville among them, looking worn out but talking enthusiastically with the Weasleys. George was there too, supported by his brothers—clearly unwell, but alive.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley glanced up at the front door in surprise as they noticed Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna. They and the other Weasleys quickened their pace, intense longing and excitement on their faces.

To give them space, Luna moved back as the Weasleys rushed forward and enveloped Ron, Hermione, and Ginny in tight embraces. Tears poured from Mrs. Weasley’s eyes as she tenderly held her children and Hermione, saying “Oh, thank goodness you’re all okay. We’ve been so worried.”

Right behind her, Slughorn came in and sat down on a kitchen chair. Hagrid squeezed through the door next, grinning at Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as he entered. Neville also smiled happily at the scene.

“What happened?” Ron asked immediately after his family finished hugging. He helped the injured George to the living room sofa so he could lie down.

“Oh, it was insane,” Bill began. “If it weren’t for Draco Malfoy, we would have been in serious trouble.”

“What does Malfoy have to do with it?” Ginny asked, intrigued.

“He had it all planned out,” Neville explained eagerly. Capturing the rapt attention of Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, Neville proceeded to recount the events, beginning when the Minister contacted him about Malfoy’s treacherous scheme to ambush Yaxley and the Death Eaters. He also depicted the attack by Dumbledore’s Army, the centaurs, and the Aurors who had encircled the forest.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley tended to George’s wounds with Slughorn’s help, listening as Neville recounted the night’s events: George and Harry’s capture, Neville taking Polyjuice potion to impersonate Harry. By the time Neville described his ruse, the Weasleys’ eyes were wide with shock and admiration. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna laughed and praised Neville’s skillful acting and dueling, with Luna patting his shoulder.

But then Hagrid asked, “Where’s Harry?” He glanced around, and the Weasleys, Neville, and Slughorn briefly searched the room too.

“Harry should be here celebrating with us,” Percy agreed loudly.

Neville nodded approvingly and said, “I was so eager to tell him about the plan that I’d forgotten Harry wasn’t here when I arrived. He wouldn’t want to miss this.”

All eyes turned to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, who replaced their joy with sorrow. Luna sent them sympathetic looks.

Hermione met their eager gazes and inhaled deeply before delivering the news. “Harry is still unconscious.”

Everyone stared, dumbfounded by her words, except for Ron, Ginny, and Luna.

“But why?” Mrs. Weasley asked, perplexed, after a moment of silence.

“We don’t know,” Ginny answered sadly. “We all woke up except for Harry.”

“Has the ritual failed?” Professor Slughorn asked, his voice wavering anxiously.

“We don’t think so,” Hermione replied uncertainly, looking down at her feet, “but I’m not so sure anymore.”

“What do yeh mean yeh’re ‘not sure anymore’?” Hagrid asked worriedly.

Hermione sighed. She felt compelled to meet his eyes when she hesitantly glanced back up at him.

“We couldn’t remember the last thing that happened before we woke up,” Ron answered miserably on Hermione’s behalf.

Bill cleared his throat. “But couldn’t you tell if something went wrong? Do you feel any different? Are you in any pain?”

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny shook their heads.

“Have you checked the book for any possible information?” Professor Slughorn asked.

“Not yet,” Hermione replied. She and Professor Slughorn walked over to the kitchen table, where the Anima book lay open. Hermione picked it up and flipped through the pages until she found the ritual. After reading the page in under a minute, she shook her head in disappointment. “There’s nothing here that gives us the answers we need.”

Silence fell over the room. Professor Slughorn helped Hermione hurriedly skim every page as they desperately searched for a solution.

“Isn’t there another book we can check?” Ron asked anxiously, but no one responded.

Luna could sense the frustration growing as everyone talked urgently, trying in vain to figure out what to do next.

“I don’t understand why Harry won’t wake up,” Ginny told her mother worriedly. “The only explanation I can think of is that he must still be facing some inner struggle alone. If not that, I have no idea what’s going on.” She slowly walked to Harry’s room, distressed.

Luna wished she could comfort her friends in their desperation or help in some way, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough. As she reached the bedroom doorway, she saw Ginny sitting at Harry’s bedside, clasping his hand as she watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, the only sign he still lived. Seeing Harry’s peaceful expression, Luna wondered what he could be dreaming about in that moment.

To be continued...