"Does he know you're coming?" Neville nodded, and Lorelai scanned the appointment book. "Name?"

"Neville Longbottom."

Lorelai looked up at him for a second before motioning to the door. "Harry just went out for a second, but you can wait in your office. He'll be right there."

He nodded quickly and went to open Harry's office. Neville repeatedly turned the knob and pushed the door, but it never opened. After rattling it a bit, he sighed and turned to ask the secretary how to get the blasted door open. Without looking up, she simply said, "Pull."

Neville turned the knob, pulled the door, and groaned when it opened easily. "Pull," he mumbled. "How the hell did you make it through medi-wizardry training?"

"There's someone in your office," Lorelai said as Harry came in, nose stuck in a file.

"Really?"

"Yeah. He owled about setting up a meeting. He was in the book."

"Right. The book." I really should look at that thing more often.

Lorelai could tell he had no idea. "Neville Longbottom."

"Oh!" Harry grinned, snapping the file shut. "Right. I remember now." He walked into his office, pulling the door shut behind him. "You didn't have to make an appointment to see me, Mate. If you wanted to go out for a pint, all you had to do was ask."

Neville stood from where he had been sitting in front of Harry's desk and grinned.

"Well, since this isn't just for a social visit, I wanted to owl." He winced. "Sorry to be the bearer of bad news."

"Honestly? Seeing a friendly face is a good thing right now." Harry made his way around the desk and grinned at Neville. "So what's on your mind," he asked while sitting down.

Neville re-took his seat and let out a sigh. "Remember that Muggle you brought in from that bar fight? The one we were worried that wouldn't wake up? Well, he didn't, but Hermione's been helping me and I think we found a way to help. I did a ritual I learned from an Indian shaman to find out why he wasn't waking up. Harry, that Muggle was hit with a Confundus charm, followed immediately by the Cruciatus curse. That combination put his mind in a stasis." He took a deep breath. "Hermione did some research, and she thinks there may be a way to unlock the Cruciatus in some way, like the passwords to memory charms. This is where I need your help."

Harry tried not to let the stab of loss hit him when Neville mentioned Hermione, but it couldn't be helped. "I'm glad she's been able to help." And he was. He really was glad Hermione had been able to help. Maybe her not being here had given her more time to help Neville, so in a round about way, their fight had been good. The fact that he'd done what he'd done had a good consequence.

It was possible he was just trying to make himself feel better about the whole situation as well. "How can I help? I can promise you I know nothing about shamanistic rituals."

He laughed. "Trust me, I've had my fill of them. I won't be doing one anytime soon, that's for sure. I need to speak to someone who might know about a password to the Cruciatus. An expert you might say." Wincing, Neville carried on. "I need a pass to see Bellatrix Lestrange."

Harry blinked. "Why?" He was sure there were more eloquent questions he could ask, but... this was the woman who'd tortured his parents into insanity.

"Come on, Harry. They don't call her the 'Queen of Cruciatus' for nothing. The records show she's used the Cruciatus more than anyone on the sodding planet, excluding Voldemort. If there's a password, she'll know it."

"It makes sense." As much as Harry hated the thought, she was the only living person with the knowledge that might help. "Do you think she'll actually help you?"

He was unsure. Bellatrix Lestrange had the ability to make him lose all sense and want to strangle her, but if it meant helping someone, and possibly helping his parents? He'd do anything.

"It's worth a shot."

"Point." Harry nodded. "If you think you're up to it, I can get you clearance. If it can help you. They probably won't want you to go alone in the room." Harry couldn't imagine having to look into the face of the person that killed your parents and ask them for help. It'd be like him asking Voldemort for help. It just... seemed so wrong.

"To make sure that knickers aren't in a twist, I'll be asking Ginny, since this is a medical problem. Having another Healer will just help my case. And thank you Harry. I'll try not to kill her before I get the information out of her," he finished with a grin. "And I might take you up on that pint sometime."

"Taking Gin is a good idea. She could use the distraction. Besides, she always helped calm me down." Harry stood, grinning at Neville. "The pint will be at your leisure. I'll just have Lorelai schedule you in." He hoped he knew Neville knew he was joking.

As he stood, Neville rolled his eyes. "Yes sir, Mr. I-need-a-secretary-to-help-me-function, sir."

"Have you ever had one?" Neville shook his head. "Then don't knock it until you try it."


Summary: Neville comes to ask Harry if he can use his clout for help.