Chapter: Neville Longbottom.
Augusta Longbottom had a reputation and a name.
They called her many things, but to one boy he knew her only as Gran.
"Neville? Great Merlin, where are you?"
"Oof, I-I'm here Gran."
Augusta stared irately down at the boy before her with mud spotted pants and plum red cheeks. He had his head ducked low as he tried to hide his muddy hands behind his back. Augusta narrowed her eyes at her grandson and wondered how he came to be so shy. Frank was never so bashful, in fact, at this age he had run her ragged with his wild antics. All done in the name of bold curiosity and daring adventure.
"What have I told you about tracking dirt into the mansion? Should I even bother mentioning you wasting time in the gardens again?" she scolded with a scowl.
"Sorry Gran. I lost track of time." Neville sullenly apologised.
Augusta sighed as she looked her grandson over.
"Why am I not surprised? If you spent less time fawning over your weeds and more time on your magic, you would have shown an ounce of spark by now."
Augusta turned her back to the boy and wistfully marvelled at the portrait of her son and his wife. The laughing couple dressed in fine robes on the day of their wedding, so full of life and opportunity. A deep ache of sorrow and heart break thrummed in her chest at the sight.
"You know my Frank, your father, had no trouble with his magic."
With her eyes misty with nostalgia, Augusta did not see how Neville hugged himself with his muddy hands and shamefully kept his head low.
Neville Longbottom peeked through his lashes and stared at his parents portrait. Unlike his Grandmother, his eyes grew cloudy with tears and misery. A wistful yearning to know the depicted individuals and a desperate want to hear the laughter the picture performed. He listened to his grandmother's story for what was most likely the sixteenth time this week. Again, Neville felt his chest tighten with shame as he was reminded yet again of all the ways he was nothing like his father.
*Snap*
"Lippy tells Mistress, guests arrive."
Augusta snaps at the house elf for interrupting her tale but straightens herself in preparation to host. Neville cringes away from his grandmother's fierce glare of disapproval as she eyes his messy state.
"Lippy, do help my grandson look presentable. I will not have him seen by our guests until then."
"Yes Mistress."
"He shall wear blue. It will suit him well. Alice always did shine brightest in blue."
"Yes Mistress. Lippy will dress young Master in blue."
Neville said nothing and obediently followed Lippy.
Neville studied his reflection with slumped shoulders and shiny eyes. The blue of his robes brightening the brown of his eyes and complimenting the subtle blonde highlights of his hair. Lippy clapped her hands encouragingly.
"Young Master looks most handsome, he does."
But Neville didn't smile or thank her for the compliment. Instead he slouched lower and miserably trudged downstairs to where he could hear his Grandmother entertain their guests.
At the age of nine, Neville Longbottom was aware he was nothing like his parents.
Too shy, too meek, too quiet.
Too much of a squib.
Neville hoped the blue of his robes would be bright enough for everyone to forget his squib nature, just this once.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
"I must tell you, Augusta, it was indeed such a shock. When little Sarah refused to come down all I could do was leash her to my side so she wouldn't float away," Aunt Helen shared with a laugh.
On cue, the entire table burst into laughter. All except a deceptively composed Augusta and her shrinking grandson to her left. Neville spooned at his soup despite feeling a loss of appetite.
"My word, barely out of infant hood and already showing such spark. Best watch her carefully Helen, magic like that will only grow stronger with age," Uncle Edgar warned as he twirled his moustache end and elbowed Uncle Devon with a wink.
"Hm… indeed, I suppose it is rather impressive…." Augusta listlessly complimented before sipping at her goblet of wine.
Neville could smell the sweet scent and knew it was one of her more special brew. He knew his grandmother only drank this kind when she was particularly moody. He sank deeper into his seat and gave up pretending to eat all together. To his utter dismay the laughter of their guests had shifted into stares of expectation targeted towards him. Neville felt his cheeks burn with mortification and dread.
"And how about you Neville? Any luck with your magic since our last visit?" Aunt May softly inquired.
Neville trembled in his seat and glanced towards his Gran. She only stared down at him impassively, leaving him to answer the question on his own.
"U-uh, I-I haven't-…erm…." Neville saw how his Gran's eyes seemed to cloud with disappointment before she swallowed another gulp of her wine.
"What! Still? Merlin's hell, have you not been trying at all? It's been years now son, and still nothing. Your cousin Jasper was turning things blue and setting things on fire at your age." Uncle Edgar burst with disbelief.
Neville ducked his head and refused to look over to his mentioned cousin. He knew the older boy was staring at him with eyes of pity. As if waiting, Uncle Devon shared his own opinions on why Neville was failing to create magic. He was followed by Aunt Helen and Aunt May offering weak excuses in his name. Neville remained silent while Augusta drank from her goblet after every spoken word.
Soon enough, Augusta ran out of wine and her empty goblet settled on the table with an ominously loud thump.
All noise simultaneously ceased as Augusta levelled her guests with cool eyes and a penetrating glare.
"Neville," she prompted.
"Y-yes Gran?" he croaked, aware of the redness to his cheeks and the tight clench of his fists in his lap.
"Your great-uncle has yet to return from his bathroom break. Go ensure he hasn't lost his way again."
No one dared to speak until the young boy had left the room.
With her grandson no longer present, Augusta Longbottom set out to remind her family members of her own magical greatness.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
"Young Master mustn't be so upset. Late bloomer is all he is." Lippy attempted to comfort.
Neville could only manage a weak smile in response as he continued his searching. The house elf meant well, but Neville had long stopped feeling comforted by her repeated words of encouragement. After so many years, he'd lost faith in her hopeful reassurance. Neville searched all the rooms for his great-uncle and was just about to give up.
He was on his way back to the dining room when aged hands grabbed him from behind, covering his mouth and dragging him elsewhere.
Neville fought frantically as his heart raced with terror.
"Come along boy, stop your struggling. This is for your own good."
He recognised the voice, but it brought him even less comfort. Neville was then reminded of a similar memory when he was four at the Blackpool pier. He increased his frantic flailing as his great-uncle dragged him up the stairs towards the roof.
"Those other lot think you a squib, but I know no boy of Frank's would ever be so disappointing. Stop your struggling son and let me help you, goodness."
They'd made it to the attic and his great-uncle struggled to open the window with one hand. It allowed Neville to scream for Lippy with crazed panic. She appeared with a snap and gasped angrily.
"Whatsit think he's doing? Let young Master go!" she cried as she fought to free Neville from his great-uncle's hold.
"Away with you elf, I'm only helping the boy," he snapped.
Lippy disappeared and Neville felt his heart plummet to his stomach as his uncle held him out the window by his ankles.
"HELP! GRAN! SOMEONE! HELP!" Neville cried while desperately trying to reach for the windowpane.
"NEVILLE!" he heard his gran cry from below.
Neville could see the blurry crowd of his relatives watching from below, while his great-uncle waved with a grin.
"Now you lot may think he's a squib, but I'll prove you wrong right now. Off you go lad,"
"No, no, no please! GAAAH!"
Neville had known what it felt like to fall. This wouldn't be the first time he'd been thrown, chucked, or dropped. Despite his familiarity with the feeling, every time always felt like the first. Terrifying. He was certain this would be his last. The scenery around him blurred into colours and gravity pulled him down with vicious force.
'This is it' Neville thought.
'This is how I die, If only I had magic. If only I was more like dad. If only….'
He squeezed his eyes tight and waited for the pain, the splatter, or the thump.
To his surprise all he felt was a jolt on his bottom and then he was going up instead of down. Neville opened his eyes from shock as gravity pulled him down once more only for him to bounce upwards again. The noise around him registered as his heart calmed and his bouncing slowed. All around him was applause from his relatives, none as enthusiastic as his great-uncle Algie by the window.
"Well done, Neville! I knew you weren't no squib."
They were cheering from him, congratulating him for his 'great show of magic'. Neville planted his feet firmly on the ground and hugged his torso tightly. He dug his nails into his skin and anxiously wondered when his stomach would settle. The noise of his relatives stopped when his Gran gave a sharp order for them all to shut up. They obeyed without question.
"Lippy, escort Neville to the gardens and stay with him until I call you."
"Yes Mistress. Come along young Master."
Neville followed without a word, he pretended not to see the thumbs up and bright grin from cousin Jasper.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
Gran never hosted another family feast, and she declined all invitations to visit.
Neville never saw his great-uncle Algie again either.
Although he did write him a thank you letter when his Hogwarts acceptance letter arrived.
Gran ordered Lippy to serve her more wine when she heard.
If Neville hadn't of begged to keep him, Gran probably would have sent his gifted toad back too.
Neville named him Trevor.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
Platform 9 and ¾ was frantic with families and excited children. Neville felt an odd mix of anxiety and awe towards it all.
"Do stay close Neville. It won't do to have you miss the train or some other," Gran scolded as she led the way.
Neville did his best to balance his trunk and Trevor in his hands and follow her. He rarely ever left the mansion because Gran herself rarely went anywhere. Their trip to Diagon Alley had been incredibly wonderful, even if he didn't get to buy his own wand. After finding himself a compartment and placing his trunk, Neville pulled out his wand.
Or more accurately, his father's wand.
It felt a little strange in his hand, but it worked well enough. It had earned him a proud grin from Gran and a praising tale of how great he'll be, 'just like your father'. Neville gave a short flick and held his breath with anxious hope, only to be disappointed by the lack of sparks. Other than his first attempt, the wand hadn't shown any other reaction to his ownership.
"You'll be alright, Nev," he whispered to himself.
He touched the empty candy wrapper in his chest pocket and patted it for reassurance.
It wasn't until he'd gone to join his Gran that he'd realised Trevor was missing.
"Gran, I've lost my toad again," he sheepishly confessed.
She sighed heavily at him and looked heavenly for a moment.
"Oh Neville," she tutted.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
"You'll make plenty of friends at Hogwarts. Though be sure to make the right kind and not the wrong sort. Gryffindor has it's fair share of imbeciles, but your father made great friends there. Your mother too." Gran lectured as she straightened his robes.
"Gran… what if I'm not," he hesitantly whispered.
"Not what? And speak up when you address someone, with a straight back too."
He attempted to straighten but found his head ducking low once again.
"What if I'm not a Gryffindor…"
Gran pursed her lips and sternly glared down at him.
"Don't be a fool Neville. As if the son of Frank and Alice would be anything else. You may be too shy and meek, but you are your father's son. You will not disappoint."
Neville could only nod his agreement, but his eyes never left the ground.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
This was not at all how he imagined the train ride would go. After all of Gran's tales about his dad and mum making friends during the train ride, Neville had wished for the same to happen to him. To his great disappointment, no one bothered him. It didn't matter that he was alone in his compartment with plenty of room for others. They took one peek at him and moved along.
"What am I doing wrong, Trevor?" he whimpered to the toad.
The toad gave a long croak but was ultimately no help.
Suddenly his compartment door slid open with a loud slam. Neville jumped in his seat and consequently let go of Trevor in his hands. Crowding the doorway were three boys who, by the plain black of their ties, must be first years too. Two of them were incredibly large with mean faces set in a grumpy growl. They guarded the boy in the centre who had silver blond hair and steel grey eyes with sharp features. Neville gulped nervously as the blond boy eyed him up and down.
"Ugh, I highly doubt a boy as round as you could be him."
"W-what?" Neville stuttered in response.
The blond scoffed and cleared his throat.
"I'm looking for the boy-who-lived, do you know where he is?"
"No, s-sorry."
"Tch, typical. Father did say someone as famous as Harry Potter would likely have great standards. I doubt you even pass the lowest of the lows."
Neville winced at the sharp laughter the two larger boys gave in response to the comment. The blond smirked with obvious pleasure before looking down at Neville once more.
"So, introduce yourself. Surely a fat boy like you would know how to do something so simple."
Neville's cheeks had turned plum red again and he blustered out his name. The blond arched his brow with interest and stepped closer.
"Longbottom you say. Ah, yes. Father mentioned you once. A shame about your parents. Though Father did say, if not for their blood traitor ways, they would have been worthy of association."
Neville's nails dug into his skin once again as the larger boys laughed. The blond appraised him a second time and let out a scoff.
"He reckons, if not for your barmy grandmother's reputation as a harpy while working with the Ministry of Magic, your family would have lost its standing among purebloods."
Neville loses himself for a short second, his mouth blurts words in a tone he's never used before. It seems to surprise the blond for moment until his lips twist into a sneer and his nose tilts up into the air.
"I'm Draco Malfoy, and if I were you, Longbottom….."
Neville gulps as the blond steps forward with a threatening glare. The two larger boys behind him crack their fists with warning.
"I'd be sure to remember my place."
Neville can feel his heart threatening to beat out of his chest, the tension between them rising until it snaps. The three boys leave laughing as Neville wallows in his shame for flinching at the faked lunge one of the larger boys had made. Alone again in his lonely compartment, he grips at the wand in his hand feeling unworthy.
"Some Gryffindor I'm supposed to be, right Trev?" he whimpers.
But there is no croak in reply.
"Trevor?"
Neville jumps to his feet in horror as he realises his toad had escaped out the door during the confrontation.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
He's lost count of how many compartments he's knocked on. By this point Neville felt rather humiliated by his stuttering attempts to ask after Trevor. One compartment barely even noticed his presence. He felt deep shame towards his useless efforts of making friends and asking after his toad. If only he could go back to his compartment and find Trevor waiting.
But no, Trevor was his responsibility and he promised Gran he'd take care of him.
"One more Neville," he whispered.
He pat the candy wrapper in his chest pocket for luck and knocked.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
"Ron, are you sure Scabbers is okay?" Harry dubiously questioned again.
"He's fine! I promise. He's just a fat lazy thing," Ron assured carelessly.
"Why keep him at all then?" Hermione wondered while staring at the rat in his lap with dull eyes.
"He used to be Percy's. Mum and Dad bought Percy a new owl as a reward for being a Prefect. I volunteered to take him on because I knew Percy would have refused the owl otherwise. He didn't want to put the useless thing down and the twins would have experimented on the old pest. Ginny had no interest in having a rat for a pet."
"Rather selfless of you," Hermione idly praised.
Harry nodded while poking at the rat with his wand.
Ron hunched his shoulders while his face turned a modest red.
"Not really, just made sense is all," he countered.
"Dunno, I wouldn't have thought to do it," Harry added.
Then again, Harry doubted Dudley would ever be torn over something like a pet. Chances are he'd just keep both and Harry would be stuck taking care of them. Ron's ears were extremely hot, and he mumbled excuses until Hermione sighed and cheekily repeated his words from earlier.
"Honestly, can't you read the room? We're complimenting you!"
"Whatever, Granger," Ron huffed with a scowl.
Harry and Hermione shared a laugh but they both saw the pleased twitch of Ron's lips. Their pleasant atmosphere was threatened once more as their compartment door slid open after a hesitant knock. Ron levelled his nastiest glare at the door, certain it would be his brothers. Harry and Hermione tensed and readily gripped their wands. They were determined not to be intimidated by the older Weasley's a second time.
"I thought I told you prats to- "Ron started with a growl in his words.
The rest of his sentence was swallowed down when he realised it was not his brothers', but a round faced timid boy. The boy was rather plump with terrible posture. He looked terrified with tears forming in his wide brown eyes.
"S-Sorry, but have you seen a toad at all?" he stuttered.
Ron suddenly felt like a bully and he looked to Harry with alarm. Unfortunately for Ron, both Harry and Hermione felt similar.
"Um, No? Sorry." Harry hesitantly answered.
To their great despair the boy suddenly let out a distressed wail and a few of his tears fell down his round cheeks.
"I've lost him! I've lost him already! Gran's gonna be so disappointed in me," he near sobbed.
Harry looked to Hermione urging her to do something, but the girl mirrored his panic. The two had never done well with others, let alone crying children. Thankfully, Ron had lots of practice with overly upset individuals.
"Calm down mate, here have a rest," He roughly guided.
It was through wet sobs and a handful of stuttered sentences that they learned the boy's name. Gradually, with Ron's careful coaching and Harry's awkward back patting, Neville calmed.
"Feeling better now, Neville?" Hermione cautiously broached.
Neville shamefully nodded with his head hung low. He couldn't handle the embarrassment he felt and kept his eyes trained on the ground.
"We're sorry about your toad," Harry offered.
"S'okay. I don't think he likes me much anyway. He keeps getting away from me."
"Well he already sounds loads better than Ron's pet rat," Hermione encouraged.
Harry nodded and added on to her words with a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, at least your toad moves. Scabbers hasn't done anything since Ron took him out of his cage."
But Neville's face scrunched up with misery and mumbled his disagreement.
"Or he likes Ron whereas Trevor probably hates me."
Ron looked at Harry accusingly while Harry shrugged his shoulders defensively. Harry had never tried to cheer someone up before.
"I doubt that's the case. You'll find him I'm sure. In fact, do you want a bit of help?" Ron offered.
Neville shook his head and curled into himself even more.
"No, no. I've already been such a bother to you all. I'll j-just.." Neville looked ready to cry again and the three friends panicked. Thankfully, the boy took a deep breath and regained control over himself.
"I'll just write to Gran tonight and tell her he's gone."
It was extremely hard not to feel sorry for the poor boy.
Ron felt his scar itch and peered over to the awkward duo across from him. With a decisive nod, Ron stood on his feet.
"None of that. Right on, up you get."
"What?" Neville timidly asked as he peered up at Ron.
"You said you've asked everyone, yeah?"
Neville nodded and Ron continued to speak.
"Well if nobody's seen it, we'll just go ask my brother Percy to help you out."
Hermione clapped her thigh with understanding.
"Oh, of course! Good thinking Ron," she praised.
"What do you mean?" Harry questioned looking just as lost as Neville.
"Ron's brother Percy is a prefect. I'm sure a wizard of his level is bound to know the summoning spell. Neville could ask Percy to summon Trevor instead of going door to door."
"You think so?" Neville doubtfully asked, but it was Ron who answered.
"Oh yeah, definitely. Percy's real talented with that stuff. He'll be real helpful. Besides, knowing him, he was planning on finding me anyway. If I go with you, it'll save him the trip."
Harry and Hermione subtly sagged with relief at hearing that. Thanks to the Weasley twins earlier visit, they were rather apprehensive about 'properly' meeting anymore of Ron's siblings. Neville still looked hesitant and unwilling to agree to Ron's offer. He ducked his head low and curled into himself some more.
"I don't want to be a bother," he whispered.
Ron was surprised when Harry quickly reassured Neville before he could even try.
"You're not a bother. Ron's a bit of a grump but he's the best kind of help you'll find around here. He showed Hermione and me to the platform and everything."
"Really," Neville marvelled, feeling drawn in by Harry's bright smile and praising eyes.
He looked over to where the tall red head stood and tried not to giggle at the frown on his lips and redness of his ears.
"Harry's right. You two should hurry to it. Who knows how long it'll take you to find Percy! Harry and I will stay here and mind the compartment for when you come back," Hemione urged.
With a more determined nod, Neville followed behind Ron in search of Percy.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
"So, a toad, aye? Why a toad? You didn't want a cat?" Ron absently grumbled as he side stepped out of the way of a few students.
"Um, yeah. He was gift from my great-uncle."
"Oh, that's nice."
When there was no further comment, Ron realised he would have to lead if he wanted more conversation from the round boy. In an effort not to let things grow awkward, Ron rambled. He cared little for the topic. Instead, he focused on minding his step and observing the boy beside him. There was something about Neville Longbottom that made his scar itch and his mood darken with guilt. A weaker version of what he felt when he'd first seen Hermione and Harry.
Neville didn't share much about himself, but it was enough for Ron to figure him out a little better.
Ron's just finishing up a re-telling of one of Charlie's letters when his name is cried from ahead.
"Ronald!"
"Ooph! Get off me Percy!" Ron growls as his older brother scrubs at his cheek.
Neville squeaks and steps to the side as the older red head fusses over Ron.
"Why don't you ever check your appearance? You had chocolate on your face, honestly do you wish to be embarrassed?" Percy scolded.
"So, what if I did!" Ron mulishly growled once released.
Percy clicks his tongue and turns his stare towards a wide-eyed Neville.
"Oh, hello? Are you a new friend of Ronald's?"
Neville would never be able to describe his first meeting with Percival Weasley. There were no words to accurately illustrate how he felt. No comparisons or metaphors. All he would manage is a quiet whispered warning. One should hope never to be held under the stare of Percival Weasley.
Ron shoved at Percy again, rescuing Neville from Percy's sharp glower, and shielding Neville slightly.
"Shove off Perce. Fred and George already had a go at Hermione and Harry. You leave Neville alone," he warned with a glare.
Percy sniffed pompously and adjusted his prefect badge.
"It's tradition Ron, you'll have your turn when it's Ginny's time."
"It's a stupid tradition. How do you expect me to keep any friends I make if you lot keep scaring them off!" Ron snarled.
Neville trembled slightly when the older Weasley's stare found him once more.
"If their so easily swayed then they're hardly worth keeping."
Again, Neville doesn't know what spurs his mouth into blurting what it does. It just happens and before he knows it, it's too late to swallow it down.
"Ron said you could help me find my toad. Can you do it or not?"
Despite Ron somewhat still shielding him, Neville steps forward a little more to face Percy. The older Weasley arches a brow while inwardly scoffing at the blatant cheek in the boy's tone. Ron himself looks to the timid boy with surprise having not expected something so surely spoken.
"Losing your pet so soon reflects rather poorly on the owner you know," Percy hums, not bothering to answer the question.
"Perce, don't be a prat," Ron warns with a glare.
But Percy is not looking at Ron, he's too busy assessing the round boy behind him. Neville can feel his knees threatening to buckle the longer he's held under the older boys stare. It feels too much like his Gran's disappointment and when he fell from the window. He brushes his hand against his wand pocket and curls the other around his chest pocket for comfort. Whatever Percy sees must satisfy him as he pulls out his wand and clears his throat.
"What's the name of your toad?"
After giving the name, Neville watches the older boy wave his wand with ease and utter the spell. He stares down at Neville haughtily and Neville doesn't dare blink. Ron gives an excited laugh as a croaking toad comes flying towards Percy's outstretched hand.
"Is that him Nev?" Ron prompts while poking at the trembling toad in Percy's grip.
Neville darts a quick gaze over the toad and nods.
"In the future, Mr Longbottom, I suggest you keep better watch over your pet. Hogwarts is by no means small and tiny animals such as Trevor are bound to get lost often."
While Percy is speaking with a smile, Neville shivers at the cold warning in the older boys eyes. It's a look he's witnessed his Gran give to her guests on occasion. It was by no means a threat, only a warning, and it was always delivered with a silent promise.
"T-Thank you," Neville mumbles as he grabs Trevor.
Percy Weasley smiles at him and Neville feels as if he's passed some sort of test.
"Of course, as a Prefect it is my duty to help all students to the best of my capabilities."
Ron gives a loud grunt and rolls his eyes and ushers Neville ahead.
"Yeah, Yeah. Thanks for the help, Perce. Nev and I are gonna head back, somewhere you bloody gits won't be pestering us."
Percy frowns and looks over Ron, fussing over him once more.
"You both should change into your uniforms. We're soon to be at the station and Professor McGonagall will expect you all too look presentable."
Ron swats at his brothers hands with a scowl and stomps Neville forward.
"Goodbye Perce," he groans.
Percy watches them leave and Neville feels his stare the entire time.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
"Look, Nev, I'm sorry about Percy. He gets to be a bit much for some. It's only gotten worse since he made prefect," Ron apologised as he walked Neville back to his compartment.
Neville gave a soft smile as he cradled Trevor.
"It's fine Ron. Honestly, I think it's rather nice. It's always been just me and Gran. I wouldn't know nothing about having brothers."
Ron frowned and idly scratched at his chest where his scar would be. Honestly, between Harry, Hermione and Neville, Ron's starting to wonder if he's got a type when it comes to making friends. He nudges Neville lightly and tries to lighten the mood between them.
"It's got it's not nice moments too. Once Bill and Charlie ate all of Percy's cake and lied to Mum about it. Fred, George, Ginny and I got the worst scolding of our lives."
Ron manages to weasel a few laughs and giggles out of Nev by the time they reach his compartment. The timid boy turns to Ron with a grateful grin and thanks him, but Ron's stuck his head in the compartment with a frown.
"Who're you sitting with, Nev?" he asks with a furrowed brow.
Neville turns red with embarrassment.
"Erm, no one. It's just me and Trevor in this one."
Ron scowls unhappily and gives a decisive nod.
"Right then. I'll hold Trevor and you change into your school robes. Then I'll help move your trunk over to our compartment."
"Oh no, really I'm fine. We're almost to Hogwarts anyway!" Neville blustered but Ron glowers at him sternly.
"Come on mate. No one wants to ride alone, and besides, we're friends now. You met Percy and everything. You're definitely coming back with me."
Neville bashfully shifts on his feet but eventually gives his agreement.
~(*)\(*)/(*)~
Ron is midway through another ramble about his brothers, when Neville encounters Draco Malfoy and his lackeys a second time. The blond has a furious frown on his lips with pink cheeks while his guard dogs look rather confused. Ron straightens to his full height, but his expression is far from pleasant. It was obvious the three had just come out of the compartment Harry and Hermione were minding.
"Oi, there a problem here?" Ron growls.
Neville brushes his hand over his wand a little nervously as Malfoy darts a quick glare his way before focusing on Ron.
"Tch, I see you've found others of your filth Longbottom. Red hair, and hand me down robes. No need to ask for your name," Malfoy sneered.
Neville steps closer to Ron and grips his wand readily but doesn't dare look away from the two larger boys behind Malfoy. He's not sure what expression Ron wears but it must have been quite the sight as Malfoy's cheeks darken with fury. Ron scoffs and hefts Neville's trunk up again with a better grip.
"Pfft, like I care who you are. Come on, Nev."
Neville follows behind the red-haired boy, who's dark glare is fierce enough to cause the two larger boys to step aside. Its obvious which compartment their about to enter and Malfoy can't resist having the last word.
"If Potter's chosen to surround himself with riff-raff like you, he's bound to see the right side of things soon enough."
Neville waits for Ron to give a comeback, but the red-haired boy doesn't bother. He carries on and pays Malfoy no mind. It serves to infuriate the blond further and he stomps off with a high-pitched cry of his minions names. It's only when their gone that Ron lets out a loud and heavy breath. The grip he has on Neville's trunk slackens.
"That was amazing!" Neville blurts unable to stop himself from marvelling at Ron's control.
But Ron doesn't share his enthusiasm, just shakes his head and presses at his chest. He looks almost as if he's in pain.
"Ron? Are you alright?" Neville worriedly asks.
Ron takes several breaths before he gives a nod and slides the compartment door open.
Harry and Hermione visibly perk up at seeing them, and Neville gives a nervous smile in return.
"Oh good, you're back. You won't believe the audacity of some snot faced prat who'd come in just before you," Hermione started with a haughty sneer on her lips.
Neville winced as Ron roughly shoved his trunk into place and grunted his response.
"Tch, if it was the blond-haired prick we just met, I already know."
Harry remained unnervingly quiet by the window as Hermione and Ron started sharing their impression of Draco Malfoy. Neville hesitantly settled beside the green-eyed boy.
"Are you alright?" he quietly asked.
Harry looked to him with a tight smile that did nothing to lighten the dark gleam in his eyes.
"Is being the boy-who-lived really such a big deal?"
Oh, Neville had forgotten Harry was THE Harry Potter. It didn't feel as important when he was stressed over Trevor. He wasn't sure what to say and from the intense exchange between Hermione and Ron, they would likely be awhile. Neville reached for Trevor and presented him before Harry with a small grin.
"Dunno but look! I got Trevor back!"
Harry blinked at the toad shoved before his face. As if comically timed, Trevor gave a loud and long croak. The giggle blubbered out of Harry unexpectedly and soon enough he was laughing. Neville's face grew hot with embarrassment while Hermione and Ron watched on with amusement.
As they settled down for the last leg of the train ride, dressed in their school robes. Ron grabbed Scabbers out from his cage and turned a serious frown towards Harry.
"Alright, now Harry, serious question. Between a rat and a toad, which makes the better pet?"
Hermione groaned and scowled at the red head.
"Oh, for goodness sake, Ronald."
"What? It's a serious question."
"I think a toad."
"Yes, but our answers don't count Nev."
"Hang on, I thought we already decided on a cat?"
"Ugh, come on Harry."
By the time their train pulled into the station, Neville was feeling rather optimistic towards Hogwarts.