Chapter 2: Making Friends
Neville followed Delaney to the living room. He saw a boy with black hair playing with an action figure. He wasn't that used to seeing muggle stuff since he was a Pureblood but he would see stuff like this at Harry's house.
"Zach, this is Neville, he's our new neighbor," Delaney smiled.
The boy smiled up at Delaney and said. "It's nice to meet you, Neville."
"You too."
"Whose your favorite superhero?" Zach asked Neville.
"Superhero?" Neville asked, confused.
"Like Superman or Batman, you've never heard of them?"
Neville shook his head.
"I'll tell you all about them, sit down," Zach told Neville.
Neville sat down next to Zach.
"You have to excuse Zach, he's quite obsessed with superheroes," Delaney teased her friend.
Zach stuck his tongue out at Delaney playfully.
"How long have you two been neighbors?" Neville asked.
"Since I can remember," Delaney said.
Neville nodded.
"How come you've never heard of Superman?" Zach asked, finally like the question had been bothering him for ages.
"Well, my family is Pureblood so we don't know much about muggle stuff," Neville said, honestly.
Zach nodded appreciating Neville's honesty. They continued playing and talking.
"Dinner!" Zach's mom yelled.
The three kids ran towards the table to eat. Zach's older sister Kennedy who had also been at a friend's house had returned. She also had bright red hair but with blue eyes.
"Ken, this is our new friend Neville." Zach introduced his sister to Neville.
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
The kids sat down and started to eat.
"That was delicious, Betty," Alice complimented.
"Thanks Alice."
The adults continued talking.
"Well, welcome to the neighborhood."
"Thanks."
The Longbottoms left as did Delaney and her dad. They parted ways once they reached the Longbottom residence.
"Did you enjoy playing with Delaney and Zach?" Alice asked Neville.
Neville nodded enthusiastically. Alice smiled she loved seeing her son happy. She knew he had been nervous about making new friends.
As the month wore on the three seven-year-olds grew closer.
"Would you like to enroll Neville in school?" Bob asked Alice and Frank.
"I guess it wouldn't hurt, he would get to spend more time with Delaney and Zach," Alice said.
"And he also needs to know a lot about muggles too," Frank said.
Before Alice could respond the three seven-year-olds ran in the house.
"Neville, sweetie?"
"Yes, mum?"
"Would you like to be enrolled in muggle school?" Alice asked her son.
Neville was quiet for a minute and asked. "Would that mean I get to spend more time with Delaney and Zach?"
"Yes, you would."
"I would like to go to school."
"Okay, I guess it's settled then," Alice said.
Alice and Frank went to the elementary school.
"So, you say you're from England?" The principal asked.
"Yes."
The principal nodded and asked. "Does your son, Neville is it? Have a birth certificate?"
"Birth certificate?" Alice asked, confused.
"You don't know if your son has a birth certificate?"
Alice and Frank nodded.
"Well, that's a shame. You can't enroll him without one."
The Longbottom parents sighed. Neville is going to be disappointed. They left the office.
Neville was waiting for them patiently outside. Surprisingly Delaney was sitting next to him.
"What did they say, mum, dad?" Neville asked, his blue eyes looking up at his parents hopefully.
Before either one if his parents could say something the principal said bluntly. "You can't be enrolled."
"Why not? That's not fair."
"It's hard to explain, Neville," Alice said leaning down to her son's eye level.
Neville sighed, glanced over at Delaney sadly and said. "I'm sorry, Delaney."
"It doesn't matter, Neville. I know we'll stay close. I'll tell you everything at the end of the day," Delaney assured him, sweetly.
Despite Neville not attending school with Zach and Delaney, the three some became attached at the hip. You wouldn't see one without the other two. Delaney was the smartest of the trio. Zach was the athletic one. Neville was somewhere in the middle, he wasn't that smart and definitely not athletic. Delaney brought Neville out of his shell and Neville did the same for her though his shell was a lot harder to break through.
