Chapter 1: Lost Toad
Neville stalked up and down the train corridor, his eyes scanning frantically. Not on the Hogwarts Express for ten minutes, and he had already lost his pet. It had been a gift from his Gran besides; she would be so disappointed in him. Was a toad really that hard of an animal to lose? Dogs and cats and owls went missing all the time. But a toad... he would have thought even he would have a better handle on it.
"Here, Trevor! Come on out, Trevor!" He almost definitely looked a tad ridiculous, patrolling down the aisle and clapping his hands, so he kept his beckoning applause as quiet as he could to avoid laughs or jeers. He expected as much to come his way at some point. Neville had always been the favorite of bullies at his primary school; why would the top wizarding school in Britain be any different?
"What are you looking for?" a voice called from above. Neville glanced up from where he had been keeping his eyes resolutely to the floor.
He beheld a witch already in Hogwarts robes. She looked to be about his age, with frizzy brown hair, even deeper brown eyes and a kind face. She drew about even with him in height.
"My... my toad," Neville stammered. "He hopped away, right out of my compartment!"
The little witch passed no judgement, as Neville might have expected her to. "Not to worry, I'll help you look for him." She stuck out a hand. "I'm Hermione Granger."
"Neville. Neville Longbottom."
He waited for the inevitable laugh over his amusing surname, but it didn't come. Instead, Hermione turned around and flounced up the train car.
In that moment, Neville realized he had just met the nicest person he had ever known...