The Dead Never Return

Saint Mungos

It scared Ron more than he'd care to admit. The two were already intimidating enough as it was, add on to the fact they could communicate silently, he was terrified for their enemies. He, of course, didn't know about their telepathy of sorts, he only knew that, ever since they were young, could communicate with mere glances.

When Fred blew the air horn, nothing happened.

"Run!" Ron shouted, knowing what was coming.

Before anyone could move, they were all hanging upside down in the air by their ankles.

"Harry, get the window please," Nova grinned.

Harry walked across the bedroom, making sure not to set off any pranks. He opened the window and Nova quite literally threw everyone out of the window.

At least she added a cusion on the end for them.

"I told you!" Hermione sang.

***

"Fifty laps!" Coach shouted. "The first one done gets out of conditioning today!"

"See ya later, ladies!" Oliver grinned as he took off down the pitch, the team not far behind.

Nova had not moved. She simply stood there next to Coach.

"Coach, I-"

"If you tell me you're pregnant, I will be killing Potter," he cut her off.

"I'm not," Nova's face turned scarlet. "I wanted to tell you that I'm leaving early today."

"Why?" he demanded, wheeling around to look at her.

"Doctor's Appointment," Nova lied smoothly.

"Alright," Coach nodded. "But if you don't beat their sorry asses on these laps, I'm not letting you leave."

"See ya later, Captain," she grinned and took off down the pitch.

***

Nova walked through the threshold of Saint Mungos. She left her Quidditch bag on her motorcycle, seeing as she was not meant to tell anyone besides her family she is with the Puddlemere United team.

Everything and everyone stopped to look at her. Many people looked at her in a mix of shock and amazement. It wasn't long until people began to dig in their pockets for some sort of paper and pen.

Nova made her way to the desk, trying to ignore the stares.

"Is there a possibility I could see Frank and Alice Longbottom?" she said pleasently.

The receptionist just nodded and pointed in the direction she was meant to walk.

"Thank you," she flashed him a smile.

As she moved, people parted. They watched her like she was some diety.

This is why I don't like leaving the Manor, Nova thought to herself.

Nova recieved similar treatment when she got to the ward in which Alice and Frank were held.

"Mrs. Potter!" exclaimed one of the nurses.

"It's still Lupin-Black, ma'am," Nova correctly with a soft smile. "Harry and I have not married."

"My apologizes, Miss Lupin-Black," she corrected as her ears turned a bright red.

"Is there a way I could visit Frank and Alice Longbottom?"

"Yes. of course-"

"Alone, please," she whispered. "It's a personal thing."

"That's not a problem," the nurse nodded.

"Thank you-" Nova read her name tag. "Patty."

Patty beamed and rushed off, whispering to herself "Nova Lupin-Black knows my name!"

Nova walked over to the woman with a kind face and short brown hair. From all she's heard from Neville, her aunts, uncles, and dads, Alice was one of the kindest people. She didn't know as much about Frank, but she knew he, much like his wife, was kind and brave.

"Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom," Nova greeted softly. "I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm Nova. Nova Lupin-Black."

Neither made any sort of movement to show they acknowledged her.

"I'm a friend of Neville's," Nova said. It hurt her heart to know that they didn't know their own son. She couldn't imagine the pain Neville felt.

"I think you'd be proud of him. I know that I am," she began. "He's very brave and very kind. He fought against Voldemort. He spoke out against him. He kept the rebellion going while I was-while I was . . .gone.

"He weilded the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. He has never believe he was meant to be in Gryffindor, but I do. I know that he was meant to be in the house of the brave years ago. He views bravery as things being done in large extents, not the small acts. He is brave. His bravery doesn't present itself in the flashiness mine does."

Nova looked around and saw she was alone with the two, just as promised.

"Many people miss you. Not just Neville. Lily, James, Remus, Sirius, Marlene, and Dorcas all miss you," she whispered, placing hand on both of their hands. Her left on Frank's cold hand and her right on Alice's warm one.

"They're back," she whispered. "They're alive."

Nova closed her eyes and pictured Dorcas. Her face and smile flashed across her mind. She pictured Marlene with a smirk. James and Lily followed. Then her dads.

For the first time since Nova arrived, Alice moved to look at her.

"Friends?"

A tear slid down Nova's cheek as she looked up.

"Yeah. They are your friends," she said sadly. "And they love you very much. Very very much."

Nova put the image of Neville in their mind through her skill of legilimency. She showed them him working with plants. She showed them him after the battle. She showed them him with a smile. She showed them him at the Yule Ball.

"Neville," Frank nodded.

Another tear slid down Nova's cheek.

"Yeah. That's your son."

She showed them an image of her Pa showing her a picture of her, Neville, and Harry. They were giggling at something.

"I know it's something empty to hope for, but I hope you get better. I hope that you can meet your son in the right mind, that you can remember him," she said softly. "He deserves that. He deserves to be happy."

Nova closed her eyes, trying to control her tears.

Unknown to Nova, her hands began to glow a gold.

"Goodbye," she said softly as she stood.