July 30, 1992
Everyone thought that I wasn't magic enough to make it into Hogwarts. Even I didn't really think I was. But my letter came this morning.
Gran realized what it was at once and decided to just go ahead and open it. I guess she thought that if it was a rejection letter she'd just throw it away to try and save me the humiliation. But it wasn't a rejection letter at all. After she read it she threw the door to my room open, which startled me awake, and shook the letter around happily announcing that I made it into Hogwarts. I think it's the only time I've ever seen her so proud of me. But for as happy as she was I think I would have preferred to read it on my own first.
We had a small party to celebrate my birthday and my getting to go to Hogwarts. It got rather embarrassing to have everyone keep coming up and offering congratulations, especially since I could tell how relieved they all were that I wasn't a squib after all. At least none of them tried telling me they knew I could do it.
August 8, 1992
Great Uncle Algie brought a present for me today. He said he was so pleased that I made it into Hogwarts he wanted to give me something special. It was a toad.
Some people say that toads went out a while back but I like them. I used to play with them in Gran's garden when I was little. Of course, those were just ordinary garden toads.
I decided to name my toad Trevor. He seems to like the name, he looks at me whenever I say it. But he doesn't seem to like it very much around here. In the first hour I had him I lost him three times! Luckily he turned up before I had to let anyone know I lost him already.
August 23, 1992
Gran and I went to Diagon Alley today to pick up my school supplies. I never thought there'd be quite so much to get. I have new school robes (all with my name inside just like the paper said), a hat that I really don't want to have to wear (I hate hats so much), a new winter cloak, protective gloves, and some new clothes. I have all of my books and all of the equipment I need. Of course the one thing I was really looking forward to, getting my own wand, never happened.
We worked our way through all of the stores and finally wound up in front of Ollivander's Wand Shop. I was so excited… my wand. But as I headed up the walk to the shop Gran called me back, shook her head, and told me I didn't need a wand. When I told her that of course I do, I can't do magic without a wand, she informed me that I already have a wand. My father's wand.
The way she said it told me that I shouldn't argue with her. But I didn't want to use my father's wand. Not that I don't love Dad, but I'm not him. Gran's made a point of letting me know that I'm not as good as he was. But even if that wasn't the case I don't want to be Frank Longbottom. I want to be Neville Longbottom. But, like a good boy I kept the peace and decided to take my father's wand. Maybe I'll be able to make Gran proud.
September 1, 1992
This has been some night.
I managed to no only lose Trevor this morning while I finished packing but I lost him again at the train station, again once I was on the train, and on our way to our dormitories. When we were on the train a really nice, if more than a bit bossy, girl named Hermione helped me try to find him. We weren't successful (Hagrid, the gamekeeper, found him when were getting out of the boats) but she kept trying until we covered the whole train.
In one of the compartments we met Harry Potter! Well, actually we didn't meet him. Hermione started talking to him while I stayed invisible at the door. I don't know what I would have said to him anyway. I know I wouldn't want to talk about my past so I can't imagine that he'd really want to talk about his.
I managed to get sorted into Gryffindor. The sorting hat took a while deciding where I should go. It was stuck between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. It decided after it said that while I'm very loyal, determined and fair that I have a hidden courage that I need to find and a strength that few possess. I'm not sure what that means but I hope I live up to it.
While I was up on the stool I was so sure the hat was going to tell me there was a mistake and I'm not magical enough to be there after all. I guess I was so relieved to have been sorted that I just kind of forgot that the hat was still on my head. I ran off wearing it. The whole school was laughing. I guess it was pretty funny.
After dinner we were shown to our dormitories. I don't know how I'm going to remember how to get up here. Staircase here, hidden panel there, go behind this tapestry, take a right at this corridor… and then the password. I hope I make it though the first week.
Trevor finally decided to show back up. I found him over by Seamus' bed. Silly toad.
