Neville Longbottom, Azura's Star – Oblivion.

"AHHHHHG!" Neville screamed in terror as he abruptly sat upright, his unfocused eyes darting in every direction. He was terrified, with absolutely no idea where he was.

"Where… where am I?" he asked himself, swallowing nervously as he examined the strange… sinister cathedral in which he found himself. His body trembled, colder than he had ever felt before, yet at the same time… he felt strangely light, as though an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Neville! Are you all right?" Professor Dumbledore's voice called out as she approached the young Longbottom. Her face radiated immense relief at seeing him, mixed with what appeared to be a measure of guilt.

"Professor Dumbledore? What happened? Where am I?" Neville asked softly, completely disoriented, his eyes scanning his surroundings as he struggled to make sense of what he was experiencing.

Then, suddenly, Neville's eyes widened as he remembered how he had ended up in this situation. The professor's words, the ritual, and above all, Aegon Targaryen.

Everything came rushing back with all the subtlety of a giant, causing Neville to struggle to his feet.

"Professor! Where is Aegon? Did everything go well?" Neville asked in utter confusion, with no idea what he was supposed to do. Everything was beyond his control. He had no idea where the hell he was or how he had gotten here.

Professor Dumbledore sighed heavily, opening her mouth to answer. However, she was interrupted by a thunderous shout coming from somewhere outside the mysterious cathedral.

"FUS RO DAH!"

The moment those words were spoken, words Neville recognized as the very same ones Aegon had used to save his arse in the Chamber of Secrets, the foundations of everything around him trembled. An instant later, the cathedral's glass ceiling was illuminated by ravenous crimson flames, just as Aegon roared.

"FIGHT, YOU FUCKING BITCH! FACE YOUR DEATH WITH DIGNITY!" the young Black heir thundered in an extraordinarily powerful voice, followed by a terrifying storm of lightning that illuminated the entire amethyst sky of this strange place, and then by a woman's agonized scream.

Neville couldn't help shuddering. He recognized that voice. He had heard it loud and clear during his first year, amid the disaster involving the Philosopher's Stone. It was a voice that had tormented him for countless nights, one that, in his memories, sounded so cold, untouchable, and terrifying.

But now… that same voice, the one Neville had learned to associate with domination, evil, and dark power, radiated nothing but desperation, fear, and absolute terror.

Lady Voldemort, one of the most dangerous witches in the magical world, was terrified of the new Black heir, a realization that made Neville swallow with considerable difficulty.

Just how powerful did Aegon have to be for Voldemort herself to fear him? For the woman considered the most powerful Dark Witch of all time to flee in absolute terror?

It was an interesting thought, but one he had no opportunity to explore further, because another feminine voice, one that was… familiar, and which filled the young Longbottom with an extraordinary warmth, suddenly made itself heard.

"We must hurry. Lord Aegon won't be long, and Neville needs to be ready," the woman declared. She was… strange, yet familiar at the same time. She had no face, at least not like Professor Ariana or Aegon. Instead, she was a beautiful and elegant feminine silhouette composed entirely of an unknown golden magic.

She radiated an extraordinary warmth, filling Neville with a comfort he hadn't known he needed. The young Longbottom opened and closed his mouth without uttering a single word, at least until he shook his head quickly and answered.

"Who… who are you?" he asked hesitantly, intrigued by the golden silhouette. It was as though he had known her his entire life, yet somehow couldn't identify her at that moment.

The golden silhouette turned her… gaze… toward Neville, who could only swallow as he regarded the mysterious woman. Neville couldn't see a face, but he didn't need one to feel the immense love and sorrow that woman carried within her.

And all of it revolved around him.

Then the mysterious woman spoke again, her voice broken, yet overflowing with infinite love.

"I thank all the Gods, or fate itself, for granting me the immense pleasure of seeing you once more, my son, even if only for one fleeting moment," the feminine voice said, utterly broken. Her words were filled with immeasurable sorrow, mingled with the purest love imaginable.

And then, with all the subtlety of a Bludger, Neville understood. The familiarity of her voice, the maternal warmth flooding his body… he remembered where he was and what the hell he was doing here, and with a gasp of absolute disbelief, he spoke.

"Mo… Mother?" Neville whispered in a broken voice, gasping as he saw… felt… his mother's warm arms wrapping around him with all their strength. By Merlin, how he had missed this, he thought, tears filling his eyes as he returned the embrace.

"Oh, my boy, my sweet boy," Lady Alice Longbottom replied, clinging to Neville with all her strength, while the young wizard did something he had never imagined would be possible.

Embrace his beloved mother.

"Mum… Mum… I… I've tried to be strong, to make you proud. I…" Neville attempted to speak, only for tears to begin pouring down his cheeks once more, completely beyond his control. He was far too overwhelmed by everything happening around him to finish his words.

"Don't say anything, my boy. You've… you've been so brave. I'm so proud of you, Neville. So very proud," she said in a broken voice, tears flowing uncontrollably. It was an extraordinarily intimate moment, but Neville didn't even acknowledge Headmistress Ariana's presence. He simply wanted it never to end.

He wanted to remain here, in this moment, forever.

However, the warmth of their reunion was shattered by another thunderous explosion, followed by a scream of absolute agony from Lady Voldemort, and finally a tremendous impact from somewhere outside the cathedral.

"What was that?" Neville asked in confusion, receiving his answer a second later when the cathedral's enormous doors were destroyed by a body hurled through them at tremendous speed.

A body familiar to Neville, Ariana, and Alice.

Lady Voldemort's body.

But to Neville's surprise and satisfaction, the terrifying figure he had grown accustomed to seeing in the past was nowhere to be found. Elizabeth Riddle was receiving the worst beating of her life.

Behind the Dark Lady's battered body, Aegon Targaryen strode through the doorway with slow, dominant, and terrifying steps. The armor Neville had seen him wearing in the Chamber several months earlier once again covered his body.

"By Merlin," the young Longbottom whispered, while Professor Ariana critically observed Aegon's movements. Rather than a wizard, he resembled an apex predator stalking its prey.

The fact that the prey in question happened to be Voldemort made the entire spectacle even more surreal.

Lady Voldemort attempted to rise, raising her wand with a furious scream, undoubtedly intending to cast some spell, but Aegon moved first.

"WULD NAH KEST!"

Neville shuddered as he watched Aegon's body… move at a speed that was simply absurd, so fast that neither Voldemort, Neville, nor even Professor Dumbledore could react.

The young Black heir moved until he stood directly before a stunned Voldemort, then swept his wand through an elegant movement, a gesture as fluid as water, the tip of the arcane instrument glowing with magical power.

Immediately afterward, Voldemort's body shot violently upward, levitating several meters into the air, before Aegon made another movement, this time downward, elegant, precise, and lethal, forcing Voldemort's body to crash against the floor with such tremendous force that Neville couldn't help grimacing in discomfort.

Especially considering that the very ground trembled with every impact. Aegon wasn't showing the slightest hint of mercy, and Neville couldn't help feeling satisfied. Every blow devastated the Dark Lady's body, and still Aegon never hesitated.

He hurled her body into the air, only to stop her abruptly and sweep his wand through an arc, slamming her down with a powerful whipping motion, so powerful that Voldemort actually bounced after striking the ground.

"By Merlin, Ariana! Who is that young man?" his mother asked, her arms unwilling to release Neville for even an instant, although the young Longbottom had absolutely no problem with that.

Professor Dumbledore sighed and answered.

"He's Aegon Black, Sirius's boy," she said softly, causing Neville's mother to gasp in surprise and disbelief, just as Aegon unleashed ravenous bolts of lightning from his wand, making Voldemort scream in agony as she writhed like a salmon out of water.

The professor was about to respond when Aegon spoke again, those strange words emerging from his mouth once more, without mercy or hesitation.

He was utterly dominating the battle with terrifying ease.

"GAAN LAH HAAS!"

Neville couldn't help shuddering at those words. A sharp chill ran down his spine as he watched a dark, sinister amethyst mist erupt from Aegon's mouth directly toward Voldemort's body, and the moment that strange spell struck the Dark Witch…

"AHHHHHHHG!"

Voldemort's scream was filled with agony and desperation. Her body twisted violently as Neville watched in disbelief and some fear as Voldemort's skin abruptly turned pale. The Dark Witch's voluptuous, alluring body began to wither slowly while she struggled unsuccessfully to stand and defend herself.

But just then, Aegon attacked again, without hesitation, without mercy, more than willing to bring all of this to an end.

"GAAN LAH HAAS!"

The powerful spell thundered once more, the amethyst mist appearing again and accelerating the withering of Voldemort's body. To Neville's astonishment, she began crawling desperately across the floor, as though attempting, without success, to escape the young Black heir's fury.

"It's over," Aegon decreed. His voice was distorted by the magic covering his body, deep and so powerful that even a single breath seemed capable of making the entire cathedral tremble. It sounded as though two people were speaking at once, as though beneath Aegon's voice there was something… ancient, powerful, and dominant, something extraordinarily proud of knowing itself the absolute victor of this place.

"NO! NOOOOO!" Voldemort screamed as she desperately attempted to crawl away from Aegon, beneath the young Black heir's merciless gaze. He evidently had no intention of showing her any mercy.

Without the slightest ceremony, Aegon seized Elizabeth Riddle by the throat before effortlessly lifting her now-fragile body and, to Neville's astonishment, raising her toward the amethyst heavens of this strange realm.

As though she were an offering.

"Oh Meridia, Daedric Prince of Life and Lady of Infinite Energies, accept this humble offering!" he shouted, a fierce act far more significant than Neville could have imagined.

The moment those words were spoken, something changed completely around them. This cursed place seemed to hear Aegon's words, accepting them and… somehow responding, although the young Longbottom was utterly unprepared for what he would witness next.

Neville felt a monstrous power beginning to gather above his head, so monstrous that he couldn't find a suitable adjective to describe whatever was happening.

It made Voldemort and Professor Dumbledore seem like two insignificant insects. Even Aegon's overwhelming power appeared eclipsed by whatever was taking place.

The entire atmosphere within the macabre cathedral tightened almost unnaturally, as though the air itself had grown heavier. An unknown, primordial, overwhelming energy began asserting itself over every corner of the place, making the young wizard's skin prickle immediately. Then came the tremors, gentle at first, but strange enough to put him on alert.

And then something even worse happened.

To Neville's absolute disbelief, the mysterious cathedral's ceiling began to vanish, slowly disappearing as though it had never been solid in the first place, revealing above them a sky that was anything but natural.

There was no sun, none of the familiar blue Neville loved so much, not even ordinary clouds. Instead, an immense amethyst storm dominated the entire firmament, swirling above the cathedral with unsettling majesty, as though some unknown will had claimed the heavens.

And although that alone was strange enough to leave any man speechless, what happened next left him completely stunned.

Before Neville's astonished eyes, the storm began to change.

It wasn't a rapid process, but neither was it truly slow. It was like watching an impossible shape gradually take form within the chaos, as though the clouds themselves obeyed some superior being. The amethyst whirlwinds began reorganizing, tracing increasingly distinct contours, until they finally assumed a recognizable shape, one that, curiously enough, only confused Neville further.

An eye.

An enormous feminine eye.

It glowed with supernatural intensity, as though composed entirely of pure magical energy. It was the strangest thing Neville had ever seen, and he couldn't help feeling insignificant, utterly overwhelmed by what still awaited him.

Neville felt his mouth go dry.

"By Merlin!" Professor Ariana murmured, unable to look away. "What the hell is that?"

Neville turned his head to look at whatever was in the sky, desperately wanting to understand what was happening, but at that very moment, Aegon stepped forward. To the young Longbottom's curiosity, he didn't appear nervous in the slightest, as though he were accustomed to this sort of thing.

He didn't seem nervous.

He didn't seem disturbed.

With a composure that seemed almost absurd under the circumstances, he raised the defeated body as though it were an offering. The gesture possessed an unsettling solemnity, as though he were presenting tribute before the colossal presence now watching them from the heavens.

Finally, he spoke.

"I have a gift for you, a fragment of a corrupted soul, all yours."

And with those words, he threw the defeated dark figure's body at his feet.

Then, to Neville's disbelief, the… Goddess answered. Her voice was feminine, powerful, and ethereal.

And utterly terrifying.

"Chosen of Akatosh, what a surprise to find you here. I never imagined that you, of all mortals, would make use of my Star, even in its putrid, corrupted state," the Goddess declared with thinly veiled contempt, not toward Aegon, but toward something else entirely.

Neville looked around, hoping Professor Dumbledore knew what was happening, but to the young Longbottom's growing frustration, that was not the case.

The professor, who normally always had the answers, was every bit as confused as he was, watching everything with wide, incredulous eyes.

Aegon merely shrugged before answering.

"This disgusting necromancer has profaned and mutilated her own soul. She's been attached to a young wizard's soul like the filthy leech she is. She's yours to do with as you please. Her damned soul lies beyond Arkay's domain," the young Black heir answered, thoroughly confusing Neville in the process.

Immediately afterward, the immense eye fixed its gaze upon Voldemort. Its iris began to glow as a blood-red aura enveloped Voldemort's body before hurling her toward the heavens at tremendous speed. As this happened, the Dark Lady's body began to… disintegrate. A strange purple radiance consumed Voldemort's form within seconds, and she could only scream in absolute agony for a few moments before her corrupted soul dissolved into strange particles, disappearing into the immense hurricane.

The eye shone with a tremendous radiance, evidently pleased with Aegon for what had just occurred, before answering.

"Ahhh, a soul foreign to Mundus. A delicacy I shall be able to boast about before my siblings. Your offering is accepted, Dovahkiin. You may keep the Star. It will return to me sooner or later, but it shall serve you well upon your journey," the Goddess declared, prompting Aegon to nod gratefully and Professor Dumbledore to sigh with relief.

"It's over. It's finally over," the professor said, causing Neville to release a relieved sigh of his own before turning toward his mother…

However, at that very moment, Neville's happiness transformed into absolute terror, because Alice Longbottom's feminine silhouette had begun dissolving into strange golden particles, which seemed to drift away into a beautiful, mysterious… blue expanse. It resembled an infinite rainbow, so beautiful that Neville was left breathless.

"What… what's happening? What's happening to me? Neville?" his mother asked desperately, and the young Longbottom wished with all his strength that he could throw himself into his mother's arms, embrace her, and never let her go, or failing that, go with her.

"MUM! MUM, DON'T LEAVE ME! MUM!" he screamed desperately as Professor Dumbledore held him firmly, although the young Longbottom noticed that her hands were trembling too, helpless and unable to do anything about what was happening.

However, Aegon's words interrupted the heartbreaking moment. They were firm, yet filled with warmth and understanding.

"I know it's difficult, Neville, but… she's going to a better place. She'll be in Aetherium, in the realm of the Aedra, at the very genesis of magic itself, waiting until the time comes for you to join her and your father. Her soul hadn't moved on because her mission wasn't finished. Her protection… that was what prevented Voldemort from possessing you. Without that threat, she can finally rest," the young Black heir explained with a sad smile, gently placing a hand upon Neville's shoulder.

"Let her go. Say your goodbyes and live to become the best version of yourself, a wizard she would be proud of," Aegon said softly, bringing tears to Neville's eyes. He could only nod quickly and focus upon his mother's silhouette, watching as a peculiar… blue energy manifested behind her, a beautiful, vibrant shade overflowing with life itself, slowly absorbing Alice Longbottom's soul, returning her to where she belonged, toward the origin of all magic.

"I… Mother, I promise I'll become the greatest wizard in the world! I'll be good, and I… I'll make you proud! I PROMISE!" Neville shouted, trembling in Aegon's arms as he watched helplessly and desperately while Alice Longbottom's luminous form disappeared, absorbed into Aetherius.

"Give Lord Akatosh my regards, Lady Longbottom," Aegon remarked with amusement, just as her form was completely consumed. Immediately afterward, a blue flash erupted, an explosion of pure magic originating from Aetherium itself, purging the Star of every remaining trace of dark magic…

And expelling the three wizards in the process.

Neville could only feel his eyes being blinded for an instant before a strange sensation, like a warm yet powerful mist, lifted him, leaving him utterly disoriented, and before he knew it…

"AHHHHHHHG!"

Neville's scream was terrifying as he abruptly sat upright. His soul had returned to his body, his heart pounding violently, his eyes wide open as he looked around with growing desperation.

"NEVILLE! NEVILLE!"

Augusta's cries, his grandmother's, pulled Neville out of his shock. His eyes focused upon the wrinkled, tear-streaked face of the Longbottom matriarch, before he heard Aegon and Professor Ariana gasp desperately, both of them also returning to their respective bodies.

Professor McGonagall hurried toward Ariana, helping the Headmistress sit down with considerable difficulty, while Lady Lily rushed toward Lord Aegon, supporting him with unmistakable concern upon her face.

"Did… did it work?" Lady Augusta asked, refusing to release Neville from her arms.

The Headmistress didn't answer immediately, but nobody blamed her. It was obvious that the experience had been… exhausting.

Professor Dumbledore settled behind her desk just as Fawkes landed upon her lap, singing softly to the evident pleasure of everyone present.

The elderly witch gently stroked the bird before sighing and answering.

"Aye, it worked. Neville's soul remains whole and free of Voldemort's presence," she said with an extraordinarily tired smile, causing his grandmother to sigh with relief as treacherous tears escaped her eyes, tears she very quickly wiped away.

Although Neville merely raised an eyebrow, having noticed the entire thing.

His grandmother was evidently preparing to continue the conversation, but at that very moment, the mysterious jewel Aegon had used to help him began to levitate. Its former dark-purple color had been… completely purged, giving way to a beautiful cyan-blue gemstone that pulsed powerfully, as though it were a magical heart.

The mysterious object floated toward a recovering Aegon, although it was obvious that the young Black heir was exhausted, more exhausted than Neville had ever seen him, but considering what had happened… he could hardly blame him.

He would speak to Aegon at Hogwarts. He wanted to ask about everything that had happened, about his powerful magic… any advantage he could gain against Riddle would be useful, and something told Neville that his greatest asset was House Black.

"I'll be taking my leave for today. I'm exhausted and have matters requiring my attention. Neville, Headmistress, Professor, Lady Longbottom, a pleasure," he said courteously, before taking Professor Evans by the arm. Both were enveloped in a cyan sphere before simply disappearing on the spot.

Leaving behind an office with more questions than answers.

Lily Evans, A Couple of Days Later – Aegon's Workshop, Grimmauld Place.

"Are you sure everything is ready?" Lily asked with evident desperation, nervously intertwining and separating her fingers as she played with her wand and the Targaryen medallion adorning her choker, a symbol of her belonging to House Targaryen.

It was the fourth time she had asked that same question.

And for the fourth time, Aegon answered with the same kindness and patience he had shown from the beginning. The young Targaryen understood perfectly well that this moment was extraordinarily difficult for the redhead, and it would have been impossible to blame her for her nervousness.

"I've checked everything, Lily," he answered calmly, offering her a small smile. "Absolutely everything. It's ready, and so is Ciri. The mission must be swift. In this dimension, we're safe from the Hunt thanks to my enchantments, something we won't have over there. Once we arrive, we'll have a four-minute window before Eredin's scouts invade."

The redhead nodded slowly, although the gesture did nothing to dispel her anxiety. She gently bit her lower lip, lowering her gaze for several moments as she attempted to organize her thoughts. There were so many things that could go wrong, so many possibilities her mind insisted upon imagining, that she could barely remain calm.

Finally, she raised her head again.

"Will it be the Harry I saw?" she asked hesitantly. "That sweet little boy growing up without his father and mother to protect him? The one who seemed to desperately need love?"

The final part of her question emerged with a sadness impossible to conceal. Her beautiful green eyes glistened slightly as she remembered her little boy's face, that innocent child whom she wanted to embrace more than anything else in the world.

Aegon nodded without hesitation.

"It will," he assured her with absolute certainty. "I used your little experiment to map the universe he comes from, the one you traveled to. I managed to identify it and establish the necessary parameters to locate exactly the same place."

The Targaryen paused briefly, allowing the distressed mother to absorb his words.

"You have nothing to worry about, Lily. It will be the Harry you saw. Not another child, nor a different version of him. Exactly the same one."

Lily released a deep sigh of relief, raising a hand to her chest as she felt some of the tension finally leave her shoulders. She was still nervous, terribly nervous, but the certainty with which Aegon spoke managed to provide her with a measure of reassurance.

"If he's waiting, this will be quick," the young Targaryen added as he finished adjusting his robes.

His movements were calm and meticulous, showing not the slightest hint of concern. The fabric fell elegantly over his shoulders as he finished adjusting it, and Aegon checked one last time that everything was in place before turning his attention toward his wife.

Beside him, Ciri was also finishing her preparations.

The beautiful woman carefully adjusted the sword at her waist, tightening the straps that held its scabbard in place. It was an elegant weapon, with refined lines and carefully balanced proportions, evidently magical in nature, forged by Aegon himself.

A weapon that Lily knew Ciri wielded with lethal precision.

Finally, the Silver Lioness raised her gaze toward her husband and nodded with determination.

"We're ready," she declared firmly.

Those words caused Lily to feel another sharp pang of nervousness.

The redhead watched them both for several moments, her gaze shifting from Aegon to Ciri as she attempted to control the growing agitation of her heart. Everything was prepared. They had checked the details, considered the possibilities, and taken the necessary precautions.

Now all that remained was to take the next step.

Lily swallowed, briefly pressing her hands against her dress before approaching the couple.

Her expression reflected a mixture difficult to describe: hope, fear, impatience, and an emotion so intense that it threatened to overwhelm her at any moment.

Because, for the first time since she had lost her life, the possibility of seeing her little Harry again truly seemed within her reach.

"Be prepared for anything, and remember, no mercy. They showed Harry none," Lily declared with determination, causing both of them to nod gently.

Immediately afterward, the three joined hands, just as Ciri's eyes began glowing with the characteristic cyan-green radiance so familiar to Doren magic.

And in the blink of an eye, the trio disappeared…

Next stop, Number Four, Privet Drive. There was a little stag who needed saving.