The next morning, Darius told his mother of his suspicions and she was stunned speechless by the implications. They both dressed themselves and rushed to the Flamels' rooms. They entered after knocking and found Nicolas sitting at the same spot as yesterday.

'Master, I wish to converse regarding a crucial manner with you.'

Barely smothering a grin, he replied, 'I can tell. Both of you rushing here early in the morning was a big indicator. Now sit down and tell me what's bothering you.'

I took a seat and explained the predicament and my conjectures to him. He hung his head down as he mulled it over. My heart was beating fast and he finally replied a few moments later, 'I agree with your theory, young Darius. I am sorry that I did not know of such a travesty; I may have been able to help via alchemic methods if I had known earlier. However, your method is also a viable one and you should go ahead and try it. Also, if you are agreeable to it, I feel you should carry along two vials of the elixir of life.'

'I will do as you say. I think I know why you tell me to do so. But why do you ask for my agreement. The stone is yours, isn't it?'

'The stone was yours when you used your guile to successfully acquire it with none the wiser. You can also consider it my initial gift as a master to my apprentice. Now go! I suppose you have several arrangements to make today morning.'

They got back to their apartment and partook a hurried breakfast. Then after dressing in fine wizarding wear, stepped up in front of the fireplace. His mother had taught him the necessary wizarding etiquettes well and he knew the significance of a visit to the manor of a Noble and most Ancient House. His mother went ahead first. She threw a handful of floo powder into the flames and watched as the flames turned emerald green. She stepped into the fire and clearly articulated, 'Longbottom Hall!'

He took his turn after her and following the same pattern, found himself rushing past several exits before halting in front of one and stepped out of the fireplace. He saw his mother conversing with a stern looking older lady. She looked rather thin and bony but seemed formidable all the same.

'Good morning, Madam Longbottom! My name is Darius Icarus, currently a student in Hogwarts, two years your son's senior. I owled Neville yesterday night as I felt we had information of great importance to your family. However, he is not present here?'

'Hello Darius! I heard of you from Neville a couple of times. Apparently, you have managed to skip a year at Hogwarts? That is a most commendable achievement; it's been a long time since that last happened. As for Neville, he is working in the greenhouse out back. He will be along shortly.'

'This is slightly fortuitous then. I realized later that I did not want Neville to be a part of this so soon. If you are fine with it, would you please come with us to another venue. We can tell Neville that we are leaving for a short while and will be back soon.'

'I don't know why all the cloak and dagger, but I will accede to your request. I am rather intrigued by now. Wait here while I go and let Neville know I will be back soon.'

She was back soon enough and we walked over to the fireplace. I told her we had to go to St. Mungo's and she finally seemed to work out some things.

'It seems you are aware of my son and his wife's condition. But what do you intend to do by going there. Judging by your reticence in bringing Neville along, are you going to attempt to revive the two of them?'

'Very astute of you, Madam Longbottom! Yes, that is what me and my son are going to do. Darius was recently apprenticed to a person of great skill. During one of his lessons, he realized something that may help the duo. We need you there to authorise the Healers to let us enter the ward. We didn't bring Neville with us, in order to not raise his hopes. Though we are fairly confident in our theory, it would not do the boy any good to gain false hope. But fear not; the treatment we will attempt, will not harm them any further in any way whatsoever.'

'I realize you are only attempting to help them, but you do know that the healers there weren't able to help the pair for close to 11 years now, don't you?'

'Yes ma'am, but we would like to try nonetheless', I stated quite firmly.

She sighed and then headed to the fireplace. My mother and I cast glamours to disguise ourselves and told the matriarch that we didn't want any extra attention because of this. We were going to try and help her son and daughter-in-law and that was it. All three of us flooed to St. Mungo's. With deft footsteps, she led us to the fourth floor. The sign on the floor said it was for Permanent Spell Damage and we headed directly to the Janus Thickey Ward. She told the healers to let us in and we headed to the beds at the end of the room with partitions around it.

'Madam Longbottom, I require you to wait outside the partitions. I know that you probably want to be present for the treatment but it involves secret knowledge that you are not liable to be privvy to. I thank you for your understanding.'

She huffed at that but finally settled to wait outside. My mother and I both went inside and saw the couple on the beds. They looked rather care-worn and just slept on the bed, blankly looking at the ceiling.

My mother first erected another ward, so that nobody could just burst in. I casted 'muffliato' to silence any sounds and then proceeded towards Frank first.

This whole endeavour hinged on the explanation given by Perenelle yesterday. According to her, the Cruciatus curse was a means of controlling pain rather than causing it. It was only when it was used with hatred and the intent to cause pain, like the death eaters, that the spell worked as a torturng curse.

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According to the healers they were incapacitated due to the torture they suffered but I felt differently. I believed that the curse damaged the connection of their minds to the body. The Cruciatus curse, like the Killing curse, does not leave any physical evidence on the victim. Thus, the generally drawn conclusion of their pain receptors and nerves being overwhelmed is immediately out of the question.

The more likely conclusion is that their minds retreated inwards to protect themselves and that they only show any fragment of reaction in particular conditions, such as Neville's presence. I had already told my mother what I would be doing and got right down to it.

I cast the somnus charm to put them both to sleep. I didn't want them awake for this. On the off-chance that they remembered what I did when they woke up, I would be in a lot of trouble.

'Crucio!', I casted the Unforgivable for the first time. Like with most people who try it, the curse did not seem to function, but I knew better. If I fuelled more power and hatred, I could use it to torture them. But in the current inert state, I pushed as much magic as I could and tried to reduce pain and remove the residual effects of the previously cast curses instead.

My conjecture withstood the test, and I could almost feel the broken mind start to pull itself together. I signalled mum and she quickly took the vial of Elixir I had handed to her before this and forced the Elixir down his throat. He seemed to visibly improve as his greying hair darkened, wrinkles relaxed and his body thrummed with vitality.

We left him still asleep and hurried to his wife. Repeating the same method, we managed to get her health back to normal as well. We removed the wards and stepped out to see the Longbottom matriarch as well as a healer waiting outside.

I pointed my hands to the beds with a flourish and told them, 'Congratulations! Our theory was right and they should be alright now. We have them under a Somnus charm but they should wake up any minute now. Madam Longbottom, perhaps it's time to call Neville.'

The healer and the matriarch completely ignored us and rushed to the beds. They could see that the pair were in visibly much better shape.

'They seem to be in much better condition. This is unbelievable. Thank you. But I would rather wait till they wake up before bringing Neville here.'

'As you wish, ma'am.'

We had to wait another 5 minutes before Frank started gaining consciousness and barely a minute later, Alice was getting up too. You could already see the difference; instead of the dull, featureless eyes before, they were bright and vibrant and seemed to be sizing up everyone around.

Frank finally spoke up, 'Where are we? What happened to Neville? The death eaters in the house- '

Madam Longbottom cut him off right there, 'You are at St. Mungo's Frank. Neville is perfectly safe at home and the death eaters who went after you and Alice are behind bars at Azkaban. But I have something distressing to tell you; It's been about 11 years since that day, Frank. You were in Mungo's and we couldn't find a way to wake you up. It is due to this lady and her son here that we were finally able to revive you.'

Frank and Alice seemed to be in shock after hearing that. They must find it hard to fathom that they missed out 11 years of their lives.

'MUM! DAD!', Neville rushed into the ward and made a beeline towards them. He hugged both of them repeatedly and kissed them on their cheeks before settling down and holding hands with them.

Madam Longbottom looked towards us and I just shrugged, 'We were confident about the results, so I sent a Patronus to Neville with a message and told him to floo to St. Mungo asap.'

'A messeger Patronus! A corporeal one? That's beyond impressive at your age!'

'Thank you, Madam Longbottom. I suppose you have a lot to celebrate now. We shall take our leave now. The news is going to spread like wildfire and we would like to get out of here before too many people arrive.'

'But why? You should be recognised for your efforts. I have no doubt a lot of people will want to meet you.'

'And that is exactly what we wish to avoid. We will also be unable to tell you our method of cure as that could place me in trouble. Suffice to say, it is knowledge gained from my master.

One last thing, you have to make sure that both of them eat as much food as they can. The healing may have helped them for now but they need to eat to replenish their heath for good. Goodbye!'

Saying that we quickly walked out of the ward as we saw a joyous Neville talking animatedly with his parents. I cast disillusionment charms on the both of us and we quickly headed down to the lobby. I could already see half-a-dozen healers rushing towards the ward. We made our way to the lobby and used the floo to get back to our apartment.

We finally relaxed and then collapsed on our couch. Even though the theory was sound and even affirmed by Nicolas, it was pretty nerve-wracking to try it. There was also a slight possibility of failure wherein their minds had truly collapsed and not just retreated into a shell like them. I was optimistic though; they were highly regarded Aurors, so they should be mentally strong and have at least some degree of Occlumency skills.

We relaxed for a while and then I headed to Nicolas for my lessons. We had a busy morning and mum joined me after lunch again to sit in on Perenelle's lecture.

That evening, a special edition evening Prophet was released with the news of the Longbottom's awakening.

LONGBOTTOM COUPLE WAKE UP AFTER MORE THAN A DECADE

Frank Longbottom, lord of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Longbottom and his wife Alice Longbottom rose from their long stay at St. Mungo's today, writes our reporter, R. Almeidus. According to Mungo's, they were awakened by an unknown pair of people brought in by the Longbottom matriarch today morning. They did so in secrecy, without the presence of healers, as is custom; leading us to believe that there were some powerful family magics used. Attempts for an interview with the Longbottom matriarch were rebuffed. 'My son and daughter-in-law have woken up after more than a decade and the next reporter to trouble us better be ready to have themselves and their entire publication sued', she said.

Nevertheless, it is a happy occasion and our paper gives our heartiest congratulations. We only wish we knew more about the mysterious helpers and their methods. We leave a standing invitation for the pair to appear for an interview with our paper. For more details

Pg 02 Further details on the Longbottom's awakening

Pg 08 What happened to the Longbottoms and the death Eaters responsible for it

Pg 20 Doctors left dumbfounded by sudden improvements

I was happy to have been of help to them and the picture on the paper of the entire family together left me well-satisfied for our efforts.

The rest of the summer passed by quickly with all the lessons and practice involved. The wizarding world at large were still curious about the identities of the two healers. My lessons went well and according to Nicolas, I could now be officially considered as an apprentice alchemist. Perenelle taught me more history in that one month than Professor Binns is likely to do the next entire year. My Cantatio had reached the levels of being able to play a song; far from its full potential of an entire symphony.

The summer quickly came to an end and soon enough I was on platform 9¾, boarding the Hogwarts express for my 4th year.