Hogwarts Year Two
Summer 1 (part 2)
When Harry, Hermione, and Neville awoke the next day it was time to return to the "real" world. The time compression had ended while they slept and their guardians would be waiting for them. The threesome joined their friends for breakfast, said their "goodbyes", and then left the school. When they arrived at their destination they found Rick, Sirius, and Lucy, but no Augusta.
Rick explained that Neville's grandmother had decided to remain in England, but had sent Neville a package. When he opened the package Neville found a letter and the Longbottom family ring. Rick cautioned Neville not to put the ring on until after reading the letter.
Neville,
I hope you are well and that you enjoyed the summer school session. I have been made aware of your achievements at that school and I am proud of you. I understand now that it was my forcing you to use your father's wand that held you back in your magical development. Enclosed you will find the Longbottom family ring, it is your right to wear it now that you have come into your powers.
I know you aren't of age yet but the ring should accept you, if it doesn't then we will have to wait until you turn seventeen and try again. Mr. Black will explain what you must do and say when you put the ring on, follow his instructions and you should have no problems. Once again, I am very proud of you and you have shown that you, Neville, will be a good family leader. But, don't be in any hurry to give me great-grandchildren.
Love,
Gran
After reading the letter Neville found another piece of parchment, it was a proxy so Augusta Longbottom could hold and vote the Longbottom place on the Wizengamot until Neville reached age of majority. Neville understood that the proxy would only be needed if the ring accepted him. He asked Sirius what he needed to do and Sirius explained.
Neville placed the ring on his right ring finger and was surprised when it adjusted to fit and even more surprised when he felt his magic expand in side. Neville repeated the words Sirius had told him to say and was surrounded by a brief flash of magic. When Neville said that as head of the Longbottom family he released all binding on his magic the others were almost knocked down by the resulting surge.
Lucy immediately did diagnostic charms on Neville and found that there were several bindings, or the remnants there of, still present. She told Neville, and the rest that two of the bindings had the same signature as those on Harry before he was unbound – Dumbledore's. In a way this didn't surprise anyone, Dumbledore was the only person the two boys had in common, the question was why had this been done.
Lucy suggested they go and test Neville to see how much his magic had changed. The six of them went outside to an area set aside for magical use and dueling. Lucy setup the targets and asked Neville to only use what felt appropriate to hit the targets. Neville let loose with a stunner and Lucy noted the readings. Next she asked that he put as much power as he could into the spell, the results were noted and Lucy removed the targets.
"Neville, your power has increased. The first time I measured your power you were at a 26, normal for your age. This time your causal casting showed you at 40, but your full power casting was an amazing 75. You are almost as strong as Hermione but still below Harry's level. At this rate you will be another very strong wizard like Harry", Lucy explained.
Harry asked what was on the agenda for the rest of the summer and was told that Augusta had said that Neville could spend it with his two friends and they had decided to take Neville to see Disneyworld. Neville looked puzzled but Harry and Hermione looked excited and explained what an amusement park was. Rick said they were going to see both Disneyland and Disneyworld so they could compare the two places. But they wouldn't start until the next day as all three adults wanted to hear what the threesome had learned in school.
The rest of the day was spent getting Neville some appropriate clothes, so he wouldn't stand out on the mundane side of the parks, and telling the three adults about school and the awards. Harry did say that he wanted to get back to Privet Drive before Hogwarts as he intended to change the wards there so they depended on Petunia instead of him and he intended to create real blood wards there in place of the pitiful ones by Dumbledore.
Bright and early on Monday morning Harry, Hermione, and Neville were up and out for their run. Neville had progressed so that he could now keep up with his friends lasting the complete time and distance. The kids were doing their "cool down" walk when they heard someone calling for help. The three ran toward the cries and found a young girl standing on the beach and a young boy was seen far out in the water.
The girl said it was her brother and he was caught in a riptide and was being swept out to sea. Both Harry and Hermione summoned their Air Elementals and were off before even thinking. It didn't take the two long to get the boy and return to the shore to find Neville standing over two older boys lying on the sand. Neville explained that the two boys had started picking on the young girl and that he had to subdue them. The boy Harry and Hermione had rescued wasn't breathing so Harry took him straight to Lucy at the house.
Lucy had no problem reviving the boy; Rick and Sirius went with Harry to return the boy to his sister and to see about Neville. The two boys were still lying on the sand and the girl was hysterical because her brother was missing. Sirius told Harry and Hermione to get wet so they could explain how they had rescued the boy and he would take care of the the other two.
When Harry and Hermione returned from the water they found a big shaggy dog sitting by Rick shortly there after two police officers came to take a report. Rick explained that Harry's dog had come back without him and he had followed the dog to the beach where he found Harry and Hermione dragging the young boy out of the water unconscious. He had started CPR and the boy was okay it seemed, but needed to be checked out at the hospital and his parents called. When asked about the two other boys Neville explained, as he had been told, what had happened – the boys tried to attack the young girl and himself, he had "punched" them out. One of the officers recognized the boys as "trouble makers" he had dealt with before and placed them in handcuffs.
It was only after everyone was back at the house that Rick told the threesome they had managed to get outside the wards and onto the public beach. The trip to Disneyland was put off until the next day so they could check up on the young boy and girl, and so that Neville could be schooled in correct behavior around mundanes, or muggles as they were called in England, and not cause a problem. Part of the day was spent getting Neville a wand holster like Harry and Hermione had, one that would keep the wand secure and hidden even in the water.
The six went to see the young girl and boy, and their parents. The threesome were hugged and had their hands shaken almost off by the parents. It came out that the girl and boy were eight and seven respectively and had sneaked out of the house to go swimming without their parents. The boy, Tommy, had been given a clean bill of health by the hospital, but told to rest the rest of the day. It turned out the family was going to Disneyland the next day, so the two "families" decided to go together (at least to the normal side of the park).
The parents, Sally and Dick Jones, wondered why three young children were out so early in the morning alone, but Rick explained that they were used to running each morning and had never caused any trouble as they did their run and came home for breakfast. It was decided that the two families would meet at IHOP for breakfast the next morning and then go to the park for the day.
When they returned home that evening Lucy said one of the kids needed to learn first-aid and simple medical diagnostics in case of emergencies; Hermione volunteered to be taught since that was an interest of hers. Harry and Neville also learned basic magical first-aid but were asked why they didn't use their wands to get the boy from the water, they said they just reacted. It did come out Neville had done his stunners without a wand as his was at the house.
The next morning, after the kids had finished their run, Neville was introduced to IHOP and made like Ron Weasley in that he made a pig of himself on the all you can eat pancakes. Harry and Hermione teased him about it endlessly and explained that Ron was a schoolmate with a bottomless pit for a stomach and poor manners. This was the first time at Disneyland for Neville, Tommy, and Sally (the young girl) so there were at least three dropped jaws when they got to the park. Rick had already gotten the threesome full pass bracelets for the park and insisted that Tommy and Sally have them also, his treat.
Over the next three days the kids had a ball and the adults were worn out. It was decided that Sirius was the biggest kid of all as he rode anything the kids rode, except the tame rides, and rode the biggest roller coaster at least ten times. On Friday Rick, Sirius, and Lucy talked the Jones family into joining them at Seaworld so Sally and Tommy could enjoy it with Harry, Hermione, and Neville. It turned out the Jones family was running low on funds so it was arranged for them to win a contest with a $5,000 cash prize. Both families had fun, but all too soon it was time for the Jones family to go home.
On Monday the six of them went back to Disneyland, but to the magical side, for another two days. Neville had a ball and even entered one of the dueling matches for his age group and won. Sirius also dueled he won his match, but the highlight was when Harry challenged Sirius to a duel and Sirius was hard pressed to win. When some older boys tried to harass Hermione they found out she wasn't one to be picked on, she had them down and bound very quickly and it took two security guards to remove the bindings before escorting the two out of the park. Harry and Neville both said they would never make Hermione mad at them, they liked walking around too much.
That night when they got back to the house Rick, Lucy, and Sirius wanted to know why the two boys had zippers on their mouths. Hermione explained that most people were helpless if they couldn't say their spells, even in a whisper, so that she had removed that ability first. Sirius wanted to know how to do that spell, he said it would come in handy at work on some of the "wind bags", and Rick said it would be handy to him also in his line of work for the MBI. Both men were taught how to apply the spell and everything was fine until Sirius found out nobody but Hermione or Harry could remove the zipper without the removal spell.
Now it was time to head to Florida so Neville could see Disneyworld, and the three kids could compare the two parks. It would also be during this time that the three kids would be receiving extra training, but that was a surprise from Sirius. The six ended up staying in the same house that had before so Harry and Hermione were right at home. The first night Sirius handed them a handmade book and told them to look it over, but to keep it hidden. He said he would explain everything later and that he needed to get Lucy to help him brew a potion first, and that would take several days to prepare.
Harry recognized the book as one from his family vault. It was the book that the Marauders had created when learning to be animagi. Harry's book had been his father's. The kids noticed that one of the first steps was to learn Occlumency so they could "clear their minds". The book went on to explain how to make the potion to help determine what, if any, their form could be. Just looking through the book told the three that it would take a while to accomplish the change, if they were even able to change, and that they needed someone to watch each step closely.
The next morning Sirius asked what they thought about his surprise. The kids were excited, but asked why they needed to keep the book hidden since Rick and Lucy already knew. Sirius explained that the material covered was considered too advanced for anyone below seventh year and even then it was taught very infrequently and in most magical places animagi were required to register their form and therefor it became public knowledge. It was explained that the trip wouldn't take place until Monday, three days away, so the next three days would be extra training in magic, martial arts, and self-defense; and the lessons started today.
After breakfast the first subject was three hours of potions. Next up was a short break then Charms for an hour and a half. Lunch was after Charms, followed by Transfiguration for two hours. A short break, then it was time for Rick to teach them more martial arts which included Judo and Karate. After supper Rick had a surprise for them, he had found someone to teach them how to use their staffs in a magical way. Neville felt he would be left out since he didn't have a staff, he was wrong. The staff instructor had brought an assistant along and while Harry and Hermione showed the instructor what they could do, Neville was busy choosing the materials for his own staff. Neville's staff would be Redwood with Ruby dust, Granite, an Eagle feather, and his own blood. Harry asked if it would be possible to add dragon blood, that was an explosive combination when tried before making the staff. Hermione suggested some type of plant be included, it turned out that the combination was very stable when the sap of a Venus Flytrap was added.
Neither the instructor or his assistant were staff makers so the construction would have to be handled by someone else, the kids immediately thought of Grimstead. When the instructor heard who they suggested he said that Grimstead would never consent to making a beginner's staff, he was wrong. Grimstead showed up the next afternoon and reviewed Neville's staff components and told Harry to make the staff and he would watch to make sure it was correct.
The kids didn't have class that afternoon as the adults wanted to watch Harry make a staff, they had never seen a wand made, much less a staff since very few wizards used a staff any more. Instead of using the piece of wood supplied by the instructor Grimstead suggested they harvest fresh heart wood for the staff, so off to California they went, all six of them – Lucy stayed to watch the potion. Rick and Sirius were surprised when Grimstead had Harry do the harvesting. Next they went to collect a fresh feather and a chunk of granite. In place of the Ruby dust Grimstead suggested Ruby slivers. Grimstead had Neville collect fresh sap from a Venus Flytrap since Neville was so good with plants.
When they returned Harry, under Grimstead's watchful eye, parted the wood and started inserting the components. The feather was split lengthwise and inserted first, next the sap, several spells later the Granite and Ruby slivers were inserted. The last thing added was six drops of Neville's blood, straight from his finger. Harry closed the staff and handed it to Grimstead to be finished, but Grimstead handed it back and told Harry to smooth it and then he would show Neville how to carve the correct runes on it, and show Harry and Hermione how and what to carve on their own staffs.
While Harry sanded and smoothed the staff, Grimstead worked with Neville to determine the correct runes and to show him how to carve them on scrape pieces of wood. Grimstead suggested they eat supper before starting the carvings as once started the carvings had to be completed without interruption. When the staff instructors arrived the three kids were in the middle of caving their runes and were not to be disturbed as There was no staff instruction that night as it took three hours for the carvings to be done.
Grimstead asked that he be left alone to seal and treat the staffs with his family secret sealant. He said it would take at least two hours to finish and then the staves would need to dry overnight. He was offered a room the night. The next morning the trio wanted to see their staves first thing but it was after breakfast before Grimstead said the staves were dry enough to work with. The seven of them went outside to a secluded area and Neville activated his staff under Grimstead's instructions. Sirius made the mistake of trying to pick up Harry's staff to look at it, wrong move he was stunned. Once he was awake Sirius was told that to touch someone's staff without permission was dangerous. Each of the kids tested their staff and it was plain to see that with the addition of the runes the staffs were much more powerful. Neville was taught how to shrink and expand his staff so it would always be available to him. Grimstead suggested that Neville, and Hermione, both get a second holder for their staffs. Harry already wore two, one for each wand he carried.
That night Harry told Neville that the staff was his birthday present, and it was handmade at that. Neville was surprised as he had forgotten about his birthday, as had Harry about his own. It was after supper when Hermione gave both boys their present from her, books of course. When the staff instructor arrived, with his assistant, he was treated to cake and ice cream before the instruction began. The instructor was surprised to see Grimstead still there and had to ask if Neville's staff was safe to use. Of course it was Grimstead informed them. Even though Neville was a class behind Harry and Hermione he managed to keep up, and even surprised the instructors with how well he used his staff. The lead instructor noticed the runes on Harry and Hermione's staffs and asked when they had been applied and by who. They were told that Grimstead had taken care of that for them (they had been cautioned not to reveal Harry's skills). The instructor said he would return each night for the next week to finish the instruction and after that they needed to practice what they had been taught.
Monday through Friday was spent at Disneyworld during the day and Neville had a grand time on both sides of the park. The biggest problem the group had was getting Sirius off the roller coasters. Neville, Harry, and Hermione all competed in dueling matches and improved their skills, they each won several matches. Hermione managed to win against a few adults, and Harry was undefeated, while Neville was finally defeated in his third adult match. There were several surprised adults that week, being defeated by a youngster wasn't what they expected. Each night the staff instructor returned and by the end of the week he said they had learned as much as he could teach them, they just needed to keep practicing to improve their skills.
~O~O~O~
Back in London
It was August 1st, Ginny Weasley was going to Diagon Alley to get her school supplies, and her wand! All of the Weasley children were getting their supplies for the upcoming year at Hogwarts. The twins managed to obtain several joke items without their mother noticing. This was would be Percy's second year as prefect and he could hardly wait. Ron was trying to figure out how to get the "love potion" in Hermione and was happily daydreaming about the results.
Dumbledore on the other hand was trying to understand why the wards at Privet Drive were still strong, he had determined that Harry wasn't there, yet again. His spy in the neighborhood had said she hadn't seen Harry there all summer and hadn't been asked to watch him in some time. Dumbledore knew that Harry was staying with Sirius but Sirius had been out of sight for the complete summer.
On August 1st Lucius Malfoy returned from his sentence in Azkaban, the wizard prison, having served his term for attacking Harry Potter and his wand was returned to him, thank goodness it wasn't the one used to cast dark curses. Lucius was met up by his wife and son and the three returned to Malfoy Manor so he could clean up and have a decent meal. He would make sure that Potter paid for him going to Azkaban.
Susan Bones had spent the summer having fun, but also studying ahead for the coming school year. She had seen some of the events the past year at school and was not going to get behind. A muggle born had out done her in school, now Susan was not a pure blood purist but it still got to her. She had heard the rumors that three first years, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, had faced down the DADA teacher and won. Even three on one the teacher should have been able to defeat three first years.
Luna Lovegood, daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood the editor of a monthly newspaper, spent the summer before her first year at Hogwarts with her father looking for strange magical animals. Luna was sad because her mother had died just two years ago in an accident while trying to create a new spell, but Luna knew she would see her mother again in the afterlife. Luna and her father had run into the Weasley family while getting her school supplies, she and Ginny had been friends years ago but were estranged now even though they lived only a few miles a part.
~O~O~O~
The 15th of August when Harry, Hermione, Neville, and the adults returned to England. The threesome agreed to meet in Diagon Alley on the 20th to get any school supplies they needed. Neville went home to spend some time with his Grandmother and to catch her up on his adventures over the summer. Hermione went home to see her parents and to catch them up on her summer. Harry and the adults went to Potter Manor, and from there Harry would go and check on his properties and add to the charge of all the ward stones, after fixing the wards at his Aunt's house.
Harry found that it was easier to charge the ward stones using his staff as it didn't take as much out of him, even with almost overcharging the first one. The wards at Petunia's were easy to change since Grimstead had shown him how to do that. All it took was a few drops of his Aunt's blood and several spells, plus the addition of a ward stone. The wards at Privet Drive were now stronger than ever, much stronger than Dumbledore's wards ever were and they were keyed to Petunia instead of Harry.
A/N: Okay, this isn't in the books so I need some help here. I ask that you include suggestions for the animal forms for Hermione and Neville. Take into account their elementals and their strengths. Also, to answer one of the questions asked in the reviews, who should Neville be paired with Susan, Ginny, or Luna (who appears this year)? Well the wards at #4 are now changed, this should really confuse Dumbledore since his wards are now gone.
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