Neville Longbottom was walking in a carriage of Hogwarts Express. He was deep into his thoughts and nearly stepped on a toad, which jumped out of a compartment. Following the toad, a boy appeared, quick as his pet. He grabbed the toad and murmured apologies to Professor Longbottom.
Neville heard someone arguing in the next compartment. Stepping closer, he heard his students' voices.
"Come on, let's exchange", said one them. "We've already got five cards with Severus Snape, and only one with Dumbledore".
This voice was familiar to Neville, as well as the others.
"But you do have one, why would you need another?"
"Why do you need it yourself? How many Dumbledore cards have you got?"
"Three, but so what?"
"Pleeese!" begged the third voice.
Neville, smiling, looked into the compartment, and the three boys hushed up.
"James, Louis, Albus, what's going on?"
The boys started talking over each other.
"Uncle Neville, Louis doesn't want to exchange Chocolate Frog cards!"
"But I've already got Snape's card!"
"You can have another one!"
"Quiet, quiet", said Neville and took an open package of Chocolate Frog out of his pocket. The frog itself had gone, but the card was still there. Neville smiled when he saw the person on it.
"Louis, what if you get Hermione Granger's card along with the card of Severus Snape?"
Louis looked at the Potters, and they nodded, agreeing. They already had "aunt Hermione's card". The exchange was completed, and James smiled at Neville, satisfied.
"Thanks you, uncle Neville", he said.
Professor of Herbology smiled back and closed the door. He kept walking, listening to the voices, which were coming from every compartment. The students were discussing the next year in Hogwarts, the summer vacations, lessons, news and everything else that was of any interest for young wizards and witches.
Having come back to his compartment, Neville sat by the window and looked at the green, running away field, trees and flowers.
He remembered that when a child, he used to collect Chocolate Frog cards and exchange them with his friends, and how he always looked for his toad Trevor.
He remembered the dangerous things that were happening to him at the school. Remembered the war. Remembered Dumbledore, Snape and the others. Innocent people died, the best people he ever knew.
But then he remembered the happy faces of James, Louis and Albus, and he stopped frowning and smiled.
Hogwarts Express keeps running form King's Cross station to Hogwarts, which has been built anew. Hundreds of boys and girls sit in the red carriages, ready for the new school year, new friends, and new adventures. Neville is sitting here, too, and now he is Professor Longbottom.
Neville closed his eyes.
He felt so good!
