The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 40: The Burrow

*CW: Alcohol Usage & Mentions Events from the Last Two Chapters*

July - August 1996

"DAWN, WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR BREAKFAST?" Ginny shouted from the bottom of the stairs

I sluggishly made my way out of Charlie's old bedroom, leaning over the banister, "I'LL TAKE THE USUAL, GIN!"

Ginny nodded, running back into the kitchen. As I walked back into Charlie's bedroom, I saw Hermione waking up in her corner.

"Why is she always screaming..." Hermione slurred.

Before I could've responded, Hermione flipped in her sheets before pulling them farther over her head. Moments later, silence filled the bedroom again. While waiting for breakfast, I decided to get ready for the day... which was odd because doing it on my own was something that I haven't done in a while.

It's been a month since I've escaped the manor.

My first week at the burrow was horrible. I had constant night terrors and was an anxious mess. I had to get used to showering again, which was embarrassing considering Mrs. Weasley had to bathe me. I vomited everything I ate and could barely leave my bed. I had trouble adjusting to the light and the noise of the burrow. Whenever it was too loud or bright, I'd have a panic attack. Fred and George moved out of the burrow this week to open their joke shop in Diagon Alley. I was too sick to leave my bed, so I never got to say goodbye.

The second and third week were... better, I suppose. The night terrors still happened, and nothing about my anxiety changed, but I was able to leave my bed. I managed to eat, bathe, and walk by myself again, which was an improvement. The bright lights and loud noise still bothered me, but not as much as they used to. And after a week of sleeping on a mattress, Hermione and I were moved into Charlie's bedroom. Mr. Weasley also managed to obtain my trunk from Hogwarts, so I finally had all of my old things back. I had a mental breakdown when I saw Neville's ring amongst the things that were packed - I wasn't wearing the ring the day I disappeared because I didn't want it bothering me during my exams. But now that it was back in my possession, I've been wearing it everyday.

By week four, things at the burrow were more tolerable. Apart from the night terrors and anxiety (which haven't gotten any better and didn't assume would've), things at the burrow were tolerable. I managed to tell Hermione, Ron, and Ginny the full story of what happened at the manor... but we were also plastered, so I didn't know how much of it they actually retained.

This was also the week that Harry came to the burrow unannounced, and he... well, he was in for quite a surprise...

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"YOU'RE WHOSE DAUGHTER?" Harry asked frantically.

"I'm her daughter... but she is not my mother!" I scoffed, "What kind of mother tortures their daughter for two weeks?"

Harry shook his head, "I'm sorry... I'm really confused... THEY SAID YOU WERE DEAD? THE DAILY PROPHET? THE INTERVIEW? JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, I READ YOUR OBITUARY IN THE QUIBBLER AND THE DAILY PROPHET! AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU WERE HERE THE ENTIRE TIME AND ALIVE?"

"Well... yeah! Voldemort's forces were after me. I'm better off if they think I'm dead, don't you think?" I hesitated, "But what interview are you talking about? I don't read The Daily Prophet, remember?"

"Oh, right... I forgot," Harry explained, "At the beginning of July... right before Lucius was sentenced to Azkaban... Narcissa and Draco were interviewed, and during the interview they were asked about your disappearance and apparent death."