I don't own the story or the characters of Harry Potter, this work is entirely fan-made. The rights to everything Harry Potter belong to J.K Rowling.
I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has read and supported 'The Fight of Two Generations' which as of tonight has reached over 32.5 thousand views. I honestly couldn't have done it without you. It means so much to know that so many people enjoy the story.
The frosty January had been cold, especially in the highlands at the castle, the main factor for the low number of people staying over the winter break. Harry and Zoe spent their Christmas in their Cottage in Godric's Hollow, having recently renovated the house and magically expanding it from the inside, giving it another floor and a basement. The Potter's had given their presents to Neville and Hermione before they left school, to account for them not being there at Hogwarts this year. Hermione and Neville had also spent Christmas with their families, though they refrained from having other guests due to the Hogwarts pariah business. As January came around again, the cold weather arrived, along with the promise of new beginnings. Neville had been studying a lot for the subjects he was struggling with and had not quite managed to figure out why his wand had not been performing. However, he had friends that would help him find out. "Alright, just remember the incantation and use it on the ball in mid-air. Ready?" Zoe asked as she palmed a golf ball. At Neville's nod, she threw it in the air, waiting for the spell to strike it. "Glacius!" Neville cried as the wand gave a jerk and a dim blue light shot from it. The golf ball merely fell to the grass, topped lightly with snow. "Hmm. The incantation was borderline perfect and the wand movement was correct. I don't see what might have caused this power fault." Zoe sighed and told him. Harry caught her words and got up from Hermione's side, causing Hermione to reshift her book that was in her hand slightly. "I think I might have a theory. Neville, that wand was your father's, yes? Something that Mr Ollivander the wand-maker told us when we got our wands came back to me." Zoe slapped her forehead in annoyance. "How could we have forgotten. Neville, the wand chooses the wizard or witch. That wand was not meant for you, though it worked perfectly for your father. You need to get a new one, one that calls to you." Neville punched the air in triumph at finding an answer. The Potter twins grinned at him and Hermione shook her head in annoyance at her reading time being disturbed.
The Saturday was a beautifully clear one, meaning most students were out on the grounds in their winter cloaks, though there was a smattering of people inside the draughty castle. One person who was not enjoying the outdoors was Professor McGonagall, who had throughout the winter break, been marking and taking on the duties of Headmistress more seriously. The majority of the board of Governors had insisted that she stay on as the Headmistress, even if Dumbledore was able to come back to society. Lucius Malfoy had objected to both sides of the argument, saying that both were too lenient on the student populace, including his son, Draco. "Your school is going to be very different from the original intention of the founders, Headmistress. Salazar Slytherin was the most prominent of these, and as such, would be disappointed that the Headmistress would allow sub-magicals to enter their school, not only as teachers but as students. This is something that must change." He would drawl in some form or another, every single meeting. Minerva had friends and allies on the board as well, such as Andromeda Tonks and Augusta Longbottom. These two were supporters of the original view of the founders, one that was not misconstrued. The meeting was a futile one and had been wildly unsuccessful in swaying opinions on either side. Minerva invited Augusta and Andromeda to her office for some refreshments, after making sure that Lucius and the others had left the castle without causing mayhem. During their chat, there came a knock on her office door.
"I know, we could ask Professor McGonagall to let you out of the castle for a day to get you a new wand. It isn't efficient ordering a wand by an owl, because you have to feel it calling to you. Trust me, Neville, it will be worth it." Harry said as they walked back inside, hands chilled to the bone. Zoe's wand buzzed, "Oh right. I have to get to Quidditch practice guys, see you later." They waved goodbye to Zoe and looked at her in pity. A frosty broom was a dangerous one, and Oliver Wood would not back down from practice, especially since their next match was with the Hufflepuffs and their seeker, Cedric Diggory. Harry and Hermione headed to the library to do some research for the ongoing petrifying mystery as Neville headed in the opposite direction to ask Professor McGonagall about a trip to Ollivanders. He knocked on the office door, was greeted by the Headmistress and strangely, his grandmother. "Good afternoon Professor, I was wondering if I could have a day from school, today or tomorrow preferably." He smiled sheepishly and looked at his Gran who asked back "Neville, why? You aren't trying to get out of homework, are you, young man?" He gulped and replied: "No, it's just… I think I need a new wand. I know this one is special because it's my dad's but I talked to Harry and Zoe and they gave me some advice. Apparently, Mr Ollivander said to them that 'The wand chooses the wizard or witch'. I never got to choose one, and so I have no core that called to me." He reasoned with his Grandmother. Augusta looked at Professor McGonagall for an answer and got a nod in return. "Very well Mr Longbottom. Go with your Grandmother now and make sure you can finish practising the spell for Monday's lesson."
The shop had no other customers in it, making it feel abandoned yet it still held an air of comfort as the two Longbottoms entered. The wand-maker himself was tending to the shelves but noticed immediately the two people in his store. "Ah, Mrs Longbottom, a pleasure to see you again. And this young man must be Neville. Might I ask why it is you are here? I have a hunch which I hoped you could clarify for me." The old man said in an excited tone. Neville furrowed his eyebrows and straightened up from a slight slouch. "You see, Mr Ollivander, I have been using my father's wand since I began at Hogwarts. It has worked fine for me since then, up until recently. I have performed spells not usually attempted at my level such as the seize and pull charm, without fail, though as of late, I have noticed that my magic has begun shrinking in not only power but controllability. I believe that it is because I have not made a bond with this wand and a core has had no chance to call to me." His aristocratic accent slipped through as he acted like an adult, as he was expected to when he became of age and Lord Longbottom on his fifteenth birthday. Mr Ollivander smiled and bowed his head, glancing subtly at Augusta before retreating into the aisles of wand boxes. "Now, Heir Longbottom, I believe your father's wand contained a sliver of dragon-heartstring, did it not?" Neville nodded and the wizened wand-maker continued. "Well, I think that this wand does not perform for you well, due to the core. The wood is also a minor factor in it, but the core is the heart and soul of the wand. With one that disagrees with you, fights you, it will not work forever. Now, I would like to try you with a wand that befits a master of flying and herbology. A chestnut wand with a shard of thestral spine. Give it a wave, please." Neville did so and the building creaked. "NO! NO! Put it down, please." He did so, gingerly. "The core isn't right, but we seem to be getting somewhere, yes. This one. perhaps?"
Harry saw Neville come through the portrait into the common room with a wide grin plastered on his face. He walked up to the table and placed his new wand next to Harry, supposedly for inspection. Taking the wand in his left hand, Harry admired the slim and sleek look to the wood and the weaving branch-like handle where Neville's hand would go. "Looks good, though, it's the purpose that counts. We have the duelling club tomorrow, with a new chaperone too. Want to test it out then, or we could try the meeting area." Indicating with a wry grin and two fingers, Neville pulled Harry to his feet and they ran to the meeting area for the Society. After a brief run and an explanation of the core elements of his new wand, Neville closed the door and lit up the lights on the wall. "Incendio." He flicked the wand lazily and looked at Harry with glee, who shot back a look of pride. Harry raised an eyebrow "Duel?" and Neville nodded. "Duel." The two spent the next two hours trying out non-offensive spells that wouldn't damage them on each other, paying close attention to the new wand, which obeyed Neville's every command. The Chestnut wand was a perfect fit for him. It chose people that had a strong affinity with the earth and was great for herbology and controlling different forms of flora and fauna. Despite the sudden influx in power, Neville still wasn't able to beat Harry in a one-on-one duel, evident by the soreness of Neville's legs when they were hit with a jelly-legs jinx. Pulling him from the floor and cancelling the jinx, the brothers turned to each other and shook hands, a sign of respect when duelling in a formal and non-lethal environment. With just minutes to spare until dinner started, they rushed out of the meeting room, extinguishing the lights before they went and made to sprint to the common room before they ate to change into less-sweaty clothes.
As they came around a corner, Harry tugged Neville back and made a gesture with his hands to look carefully around the stone at someone. "I told you already, people are delusional, Potter can't be the Heir of Slytherin. Uhh… Why am I even explaining this again, you idiots will just forget it by tomorrow." Draco groaned and carried on to the next staircase with his lackeys, thinking he was alone. Harry and Neville shared looks of equal intrigue but kept themselves quiet until they were in the dormitory, changing from the duelling clothes. "Malfoy knows something about the Heir, or at least, he thinks he does. We have to find out what he knows." Harry said, alive with adrenaline from the duelling session. Neville zipped up his jacket and nodded along, reminding himself of the words that the Slytherin had said. "We have to tell the girls first though, they can help. I bet we could try brewing Polyjuice potion if we had the ingredients for it. Hermione and Zoe could brew it whilst we pilfer the items form Snape's cupboard." Harry was mildly shocked at his words. "You honestly frighten me sometimes, mate. Wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of one of your pranks. Though I don't think that Polyjuice is a good idea. It takes too long to brew and we can't afford to have more casualties." Neville smirked as they headed down the staircase from the dorms to be greeted by Colin Creevey. "Hi, Harry! What was up with you and Neville running from the third-floor earlier? Was that Giant dog still there? Can you show me it, that would be awesome in my album?!" Harry shoved past the boy as he and Neville marched off to the great hall, having to face yet another mealtime of isolation with Hermione and no-one else. The house tables were still split, with most people afraid of being near Harry. The new rules to enforce safety amongst the students was that you could only sit and go to your own tables during mealtimes unless you had express permission from the Headmistress or the new Deputy Headmaster Flitwick. The 'Outcasts', privately known as the Rogue Society had not yet asked about the new ruling, as the rule was only silently put into effect. Once again, the hall stood and held it's breath as the Boy-Who-Lived took his place amongst the Lions.
More character growth for Neville and some lore sprinkled in as well. Be warned, most of the 'facts' that a certain wandmaker gives are either canon or complete nonsense that came from my head. If it seems more like the second one, well, complain I guess. I don't care that much. I do this for fun.
Neville's wand is going to be different than canon, thanks to Pottermore/Wizarding world information about wand cores and woods. If it wasn't that clear, his wand is made of chestnut wood, as information says that it works well for Herbology. His core is the same and the design (if it even matters for a non-visual story) is too.
Rambling again, aren't I? Well thanks for reading again. Stay Safe
-E