Chapter 1
The Saving Plant
Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom of number 32, Admiral Way, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal. They were the last people you'd expect to involved in anything weird or strange, besides for being wizards, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense.
Mr. Longbottom was the director of the Spirit Division at the Ministry of Magic, which deals with duties and problems concerning those magical creatures classified as a "Spirit" by the Ministry of Magic. He was a tall, lean man, with a perfectly shaved mustache. Mrs. Longbottom was plump, and had a very odd face, almost making her look scary, which came in useful when she was raising her son Frank. The Longbottoms had a small cat, called Zizzi and in their opinion, there was no finer cat anywhere.
The Longbottoms had everything they wanted, but they also had a secret, and their greatest fear was that someone would discover it. They didn't think they could bear it if anyone found out about their grandson. Mrs. Alice Longbottom was married to their son, Frank Longbottom, but they hadn't talked for several years; in fact, it was almost impossible to do so, because her son and daughter-in-law had been tortured by the notorious Bellatrix Lestrange and had gone crazy. The Longbottoms knew that their son had a small son, Neville, and they were raising him. This boy was only 16 months old when his parents were tortured.
When Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom woke up on a dreary Wednesday morning, there was nothing there to suggest what was about to happen. Mr. Longbottom had getting ready to go to the Ministry of Magic and Mrs. Longbottom was just trying to get Neville to eat his breakfast.
None of them saw a small black and white owl, flutter past the window.
At a quarter to nine, Mr. Longbottom said goodbye to his wife, and his grandson, and used Floo Powder in his fire to get to the Ministry. It was at the Ministry that he noticed the first sign of something strange- people were whispering to each other in a hurry. As Mr. Longbottom came out of a fire grate, he saw his friend Arthur Weasley come up to him. Arthur usually joked around with him, but not today. Arthur went up to him, and told him in a stern voice, that the ministry had heard a rumor, that You-Know-Who had a heard about a prophecy, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…". Voldemort thought that it meant his grandson, Neville. The first time his son and wife met You-Know-Who, they were asked to join the Death Eaters. They replied no of course, and escaped as fast as they good. Voldemort got very angry and sought them down again. He asked them once more to join him, but once more their reply was no. Voldemort was very angry, and sought them down again. This time before he could kill them, Bellatrix Lestrange put them under the Cruciatus Curse, and made them go crazy. Voldemort tried to kill him then but the Ministry came and stopped him. There were strict rules at the Ministry that stated you were not allowed to go home, until the end of the day. So Mr. Longbottom tried to use the grates again to contact his wife and let her know, but it was no use. There were enchantments on these grates making it impossible to contact anyone. Arthur said that we could Fidelius Charm, except there wasn't enough time. Mr. Longbottom just had to get through work as fast as he could.
At work there was no way Mr. Longbottom could focus. He was so frightened. He wanted his wife, and grandson to live. Finally it came time for him to be allowed to go home. He used Floo Powder again to get home.
At home Mrs. Longbottom and Neville were perfectly fine. He was so grateful. Mrs. Longbottom was curious about why he was home so early, so Mr. Longbottom explained, Voldemort was after Neville. Mrs. Longbottom was frightened, and poor Neville didn't even know what was going on. He was just playing with the houseplant on the window sill. Neville loved plants, Mr. Longbottom thought "That boy will be good at herbology, when, if, he survived Voldemort's attack, and made it to Hogwarts, or if he even showed any sign of magic."
Meanwhile about 50 miles away, the Potters were happily playing in their house, with the fidelius charm to protect them from Voldemort. The prophecy did not specify who would be attacked. Voldemort could think it was the Potters, not the Longbottoms, despite what Arthur had said.
Mr. Longbottom decided that the best they could do was to hide in the secret room upstairs. Nobody knew about it, not even Mrs. Longbottom. Mr. Longbottom went upstairs and showed the room to her, with Neville in her arms. Mr Longbottom gasped as he opened the door. There inside the room was Voldemort, hooded. He was holding a wand in his his hand. "Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort chanted, pointing is wand at Neville. "NO" Mr. Longbottom yelled jumping in front of Neville, taking the curse himself. As Mr. Longbottom was killed, Neville stared at his grandfather. He started crying, and the potted plant that he had been playing with earlier started to grow. It grew so big that it nearly took up the whole of the room. Yet it was only going after Voldemort. It was choking him, and Voldemort could not cast any more curses. Another vine was around his wand. He knew he could not live, so he disapparated out of the house. As soon as he left, the plant withered away until it was the same size as before. Mrs. Longbottom who had been crying very loudly at her husband's death, was now staring at Neville like she never had before. She knew that Neville would be able to go to Hogwarts now. Neville started crying.
Chapter two
The Boy Who Lived
Miles away, Voldemort apparated to the Potter's house. A faithful servant of his, Peter Pettigrew, had told him their location and was now at their door. He blasted it open with a flick of his wand, to see James, wandless on the couch. He stood up and yelled "It's him! Take Harry and run!" Voldemort could not believe that James was wandless, but it would be much easier to kill him now. "Avada Kedavra!" chanted Voldemort once again. James crumpled to the floor like a child's doll. Next came Lily. Another faithful servant, Severus Snape asked him to spare Lily. Voldemort would spare her if only she would give him the boy. Voldemort went upstairs where !ily and Harry were. Lily, too was wandless. Voldemort said, "I will spare you if you give me the boy!"
Lily replied, "No!" So Voldemort chanted for the third time this night Avada Kedavra, and Lily crumpled to the floor. Now the moment that he had been waiting for, he would kill Harry Potter. Voldemort then yelled "Avada Kedavra!" while pointing his wand at Harry Potter, but the curse backfired. The boy only had a lightning shaped scar on his forehead, and Voldemort's body was destroyed, he took refuge in his snake, and fled the house. Harry Potter was the boy who lived.
Chp. 3 The Rumors on the Hogwarts Express
Don't let anyone know that you're the chosen one. Mrs. Longbottom explained to Neville as he got on the Hogwarts Express for the first time. After the night when Harry Potter lived the Avada Kedavra curse, he was known as the chosen one. That was not true though. Neville was the chosen one. That same night Voldemort had come to the Longbottom house and Neville had made a plant grow big, and Voldemort fled. Voldemort had gone to Neville first. Voldemort thought that Neville was a bigger threat to him. Neville had heard this story a million times, and it was probably the only thing that Mrs. Longbottom was proud of in her grandson. Neville was very clumsy, and the only sign of magic that he had shown. Mrs. Longbottom had started getting worried that Neville wouldn't get into Hogwarts because he had only ever showed magic when he was a baby. Neville said goodbye to his grandmother and got on the train. Nobody knew who he was or anything about him. He was free to go wherever he wanted on the train. Neville decided to go the first compartment he found. In the compartment there was a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth. She was looking through the school books practicing spells. At the sight of someone else in her compartment, the girl looked up. She said, "Hello. I'm Hermione. Who are you? Are you a first year as well?" Neville was a little taken aback at all the questions. Nobody had ever asked about him before and he had never asked about anyone else. Neville told her that he was Neville that he was first year. Hermione then asked if he was Muggle born and said that her Mum and Dad were very surprised when she got into Hogwarts, since they were muggles and had never even heard of witches or wizards before. They thought that it was a scam before they met Dumbledore in person. Neville thought that this girl was very talkative, but it was nice to have a friend. So Neville told her that he was Wizard born. At that moment Neville realized that he didn't have his toad. It was gift from his grandmother for getting into Hogwarts. Just as Hermione was about to go into detail about how she was excited to learn what house she would sorted into in. Neville got up and said "I've lost my toad!"
Neville started searching everywhere for him. His precious Trevor. Hermione said that she would help find him. They searched the whole compartment and still didn't find Trevor. Neville knew that he had him when he got on the train because he was squirming in his hands. They decided to go and check the next compartment over. In the compartment there were two boys that had clearly gotten food from the trolley witch. One of the boys, Neville knew was one of the Weasley boys. They were all redheads, and there were so many of them. The other boy Neville had to keep from gasping when he saw. It was Harry Potter. "The Chosen One". 'The Boy Who Lived" There were so many names for this boy but yet none of them were real besides for Harry Potter. Neville knew he could not say that he was the real chosen one, because it would put him in danger with Voldemort. Instead Neville said "Have you seen my frog?" Both boys shook their heads no, but at that moment Trevor decided to come out of his hiding place from under the seat. Neville picked him up and was just about to leave when Hermione said "You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon." and they left together.
Chp. 4 The Sorting
The train had stopped and Neville was getting off the train. A giant person was shouting "Firs' years over here. 4 to a boat!" Neville got in a boat with Hermione, Harry, and the Weasley kid who went by the name of Ron. Together they all saw the magical first view of Hogwarts. Hagrid, the giant man, knocked on the doors. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Neville's first thought was that this woman would not be someone he wanted to cross with. Hagrid said Firs' years Professor McGonagall. She replayed a very firm Thank you, and lead the first years in. They went into a grand entrance hall. She said it is time for your sorting. I will be back I a few minutes. Hermione started talking fast all over again, and asking what type of quiz it would be to get into the houses. She kept going on about needing to review her books, but she didn't have them with her. That made Neville worry. He didn't study any of his books. He didn't think that he would have needed to. Now he felt foolish. What if he humiliated himself in front of the whole school?! Professor McGonagall came back into the room with an old pathed hat and a stool. She waved her wand and the stool was put down in the center of the room, and the hat was on it. With another flick of her wand the hat jerked to life, and started to sing it sang:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on!
Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The sorting started when the hat screamed "Abbott, Hannah!" After a little bit the hat screamed "HUFFLEPUFF" Everyone sitting at one of the tables cheered. The girl he met on the train, Hermione got sorted into Gryffindor. The list then went on until it finally screamed "Longbottom, Neville!" Neville gulped and walked over to the hat. He put the hat on his head and it was almost as is someone was talking to him, but from inside his head. All he had to do was think, and this hat knew it. Instantly Neville started thinking, "please don't let me be in Hufflepuff. I can deal with ravenclaw but please don't let me be in Hufflepuff." In response the hat said. "Really? You're a loyal boy. Hufflepuff would do you good. Well I guess if you don't want to be in Hufflepuff, thn you better be in GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted the last word out loud. Neville could hardly believe it. He never thought he would be in Gryffindor. His grandmother was constantly telling him that he needed to be braver, but for some reason it was just hard for him. Neville was so excited he ran off to the Gryffindor table, before realizing that the hat was still on his head. Everyone started giggling as he ran back to the stool and placed the hat on it. He was still ecstatic. He saw Hermione at the table giving him a thumbs up, and smiling. He knew that at least one person didn't think he was stupid. At the table Neville saw more people go up to get sorted. Finally the hat screamed "Potter, Harry!" At that moment the whole hall went silent as he walked up to the hat. Neville knew that this would happen but it still annoyed him. Neville was "the chosen one", not Harry. It took the hat a while to decide which house for him to go in. Eventually the hat screamed GRYFFINDOR! And the loudest cheer Neville ever heard came from the Gryffindor table.
