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Written for;
Hogwarts; Back To School; Neville Longbottom
Are You Crazy Enough; 182. Pumpkin Juice
One Way Or Another
After being told for so long that he'd never go to Hogwarts, that he'd probably turn out to be a squib - defunct - getting his letter a few days before his eleventh birthday was a miracle for Neville.
He was overwhelmed with excitement, his mind flashing from one scenario to the next to the next, with him learning enough magic to be as cool as his dad was, to remember never to take people and friends for granted, to be caring as his mum had been.
He thought about drinking pumpkin juice in the Great Hall with his housemates; probably Hufflepuff, but he didn't care.
He'd be free. Free of his grandmother's criticisms and harsh words, free of his Uncle Algie trying to force the magic from him.
The excitement lasted a whole minute.
With school came pressure.
Pressure to be as good as his father with a wand.
Pressure to learn quickly.
Pressure to make the best friends.
Pressure to hide his home life from other people.
It wasn't that Neville was ashamed of his parents, anything but. It was simply that he didn't like the idea of sharing them. He didn't get to see them all that often, and even when he did…
He cherished his parents and the moments he got with them, but he was sure that the other kids, with the happy homes and the perfect lives wouldn't understand.
He'd hide them. Hide them, and the best parts of himself, because he refused to allow anyone to try and take them away or sully their memories.
He may not have the same perfect life that the other kids would have had, and he may not be the best at magic, or perfectly caring of others, or anything else that would make people want to be his friends, but he'd be a good son.
He'd make them proud of him.
One way, or another.