Chapter 4

The Manor

The first thing I saw after gathering my bearings was a chubby boy around my age and height. He seemed to have been waiting alone in the entrance hall. From the way he was wringing his hands and shuffling his feet he was clearly nervous. I had kind of forgotten how shy and self-conscious Neville had been as a child. My most vivid memory of him is his determined face after just having slayed Nagini. Chest heaving, bloodied and dirty. No one would ever call him anything other than brave. To see him as a child again, reminded me of the boy who lost his toad, was made to use a wand not fit for him, who had been teased and belitteled. He grew into a man to be respected. I would make sure to help bolster his self-esteem and help be who he wants to be.

The crack of our arrival had seemed to have alerted the mansions other inhabitants of our arrival as I could hear footsteps approaching us at a fast pace and a house elf had appeared with a crack, taking Madam Longbottoms in my opinion distasteful hat, coat and handbag. Just as it disappeared a man, roughly around the age of Madam Longbottom appeared. He wore dark blue robes with the Longbottom crest stretching over the left side of his chest. His pride in the family palpable. He looked at Neville with a slight frown as he registered the relived posture the boy adopted after his Grandmother arrived. As his gaze switched to us he gave a light sneer at my wardrobe. And possibly hair. Which girl had short hair after all.

"Neville." Said boy looked at his Gran and gave a shy but genuine smile. She gestured towards me. "This is Lilith. Her parents had been friends with yours. As they are dead, I decided to take her in. I intend to raise her as your sister."

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you." I gave him a light smile, hoping to make a good impression and befriend him (again?)." He returned my smile but looked stricken. His lip wobbled and shoulders drooped. Huh?

"Well, it seems you finally decided to replace the squib with someone with potential? But, did it have to be a girl? How should she continue our line?" At those words Madam Longbottom beside me narrowed her eyes at the man. Neville shrunk into himself and my heart went out to him. No wonder he thought so poorly of himself with an uncle like this.

And so, I did what every one of my friends would have done and exploded. I sneered at him, letting my gaze travel from top to bottom and addressing the angry woman before me.

"I thought the Longbottoms were a light family?" My tone was dripping with dislike. At her short nod I asked. "Who is this fossil then, insulting your heir? Attacking him because of what? Because he himself obviously lacks the ability to make use of what is commonly referred to as a brain?" Her lips twitched and Neville looked at me with wide eyes.

"Impudent child! We will teach you yet how to treat your elders!" He was obviously fuming. Why Madam Longbottom even tolerated his presence anywhere near her Grandson was a mystery to me.

"Elders? The only respectable elder in our current company is Madam Longbottom. A woman of integrity and honour. A woman with knowledge. Which is the reason she is not concerned about her Grandsons magical ability. Otherwise, she would have already called for a healer to determine the size of his core and whether or not he can use the magic it produces. Which you, obviously, lack the thought to do. You, instead act condescending, assuming and disgusting. Telling a young and impressionable boy such things! Your heir no less! Clearly, you don't deserve to be treated as an elder. You have no honour, no loyalty to the crest you so proudly display." Turning my nose up at him I turn towards Neville who seemed cowed. That wouldn't do.

"Would you be so kind and show me around Neville?" He nodded uncertain and gestured for me to follow him. Seems I came off to strong for the poor boy. With a last rude gesture at Algie I followed him. Behind us I could her a female voice almost growling and smirked. The old man was in for it.

Neville showed me room after room, quietly telling me what they are used for. The Manor was huge and I could feel the ancient wards pulsing around me. They were making sure I wouldn't hurt the child showing me his home. It struck me, just how far Neville had come in the seven years I knew him. He withstood all attacks against him and grew due to the challenge. How different could he be with a few other influences? Pondering this I managed to miss a step and fell face first onto the hard floor. The surprised and amused snort caused me to look at the chubby boy with a deadpan stare. I still hadn't recharged full and the potion was letting off. Shaking my head to get rid of the fuzziness I looked at Neville again.

"You know you have magic, do you?" He startled at those words.

"I don't. Uncle Algie already tried everything to make me show magic, but nothing works. I should be able to do something. He was right. It would be good if you replaced me I'm useless." The tears he had been holding back this whole time started to fall.

"If you didn't have magic, the manors wards wouldn't be connected to you as they are. They are using your magic to strengthen. Doesn't your manor have a log or something to examine the wards? You should be able to see whether or not you are adding something to power them. Squibs can't do that." Now he was looking at me weirdly through his teary eyes.

"How do you know that?" Yes... how do I know that? Since when did I know anything about wards, manors or the like?

"Instinct? I guess? I'm not sure actually. Let's ask your gran. She should be able to shouw it to you." Heaving myself up, we went to search for the woman and found her in one of the (far to many) living rooms. She looked to be fuming still. Looks like she is able to understands Nevilles reluctance now that Algie put a foot into his mouth and expressed his opinion to her in quite harsh terms. From the way she looked at Neville you could easily see her love for him. But... there was something else. Probably the same something that caused her to demand from Neville to use his fathers wand. I would have to change that... I really need a to-do-list. Sigh.

"How do you like the manor Lilith? Did Neville sow you everything?"

"I fear I will get lost quite a lot, Mam and I believe he showed me everything but the gardens. I hope I didn't anger you with my outburst from before. I... am working on controlling my anger, but it proves harder than imagined." Grimacing I remembered my outburst in Dumbledores office. Embarrassing, but justified.

"You will get used to the size faster than you think. How about we visit the gardens together, as far as I understand you haven't eaten yet. We will get the hous-elfs to bring us something." She smiled at us before leaning back and pointing at a couch across from her. Neville and I sat down as her face grew hard. "And no, I am not angry at you. If anything I am grateful. Never would I have thought Algie to be able to say such hateful words towards Neville. A child. I really have to apologize to you Neville. I have failed you as your Grandmother. I should have noticed and protected you instead of..well. And I am sorry I didn't come to your defence the instant he uttered those words. Algie has always been a bit difficult, but never unjust." She frowened, probably thinking of instances when Neville told her of his uncles behaviour, and she didn't believe him. "I will endeavour to make it up to you." She gave him a sad, but heartfelt smile, which sent him running at her and bawling into her skirt. She was stroking his hair as he looked at me.

"Let's see if we find a good place to sit in the sun, why don't we?" Taking a still snivelling, but much happier, Neville by the hand, we went outside. The elves provided us with a nice picnic blanket, and we sat down. As we did so sandwiches and a pot of soup, together with utensils appeared before us. Next a different elf appeared and held a few flasks out for me to take. Furrowing my brows I looked at Madam Longbottom.

"What are the, Mam?"

"Nutrient potions. For weight gain, to strengthen your bones and muscles and one for hair growth. Wouldn't do for a young lady to look like a boy, now would it? And call me Gran. As soon as we finalize the paperwork with the goblins, you will officially be a Longbottom."

"You really meant it? You want to adopt me, instead of just taking me under your protection?"

"Yes, I do. From what the goblins told me you have led a hard life before you appeared at Gringotts. To think Dumbledore of all added to your suffering instead of helping you. And for what? To be able to access your vaults? To hold power over you? To make sure you will never be able to surpass him? Old fool. Always having to hold the strings, always needing everything to go his way and threatening dark things when it doesn't." Neville was looking at her wide-eyed as she continued to rant at Dumbledore.

"But, isn't he supposed to be good?" Looking at his Gran with wide horrified and disbelieving eyes. Especially at her snort.

"No. He only looks after himself and what he considers good. Everyone else are children to him and children, in his opinion, need to be guided. Guided to do what he calles the greater good. Whoever dares to oppose him or have a different opinion, will be branded as dark, power-hungry or bigoted by him. He introduced far to many laws against our traditions, magic and beliefs. According to him we should spit on our family magic, just because we perform blood magic and rituals. If we did that, our family magics would weaken and leave ourself open for attack. You parents fate showed this, Neville. They believed in him and followed his words. Had they continued to follow our ways, the Lestranges would have been never able to gain access to our land, much less the manor. For the Head of house to forsake the family magics..." Shaking her head she sighed. "It's the reason, why I'm taking so much care to familiarize you to them. With Lilith, we will have to visit Gringotts first, so she can take out her Grimour. It will contain records on how to celebrate which event and what rituals to perform to strengthen herself."

I nodded along to her explanation. It made sense, now that I think about it. If you wanted to enter any of the Black properties without permission you would suffer quite a horrendous fate. It would be worse if you tried to harm any of the inhabitants. To think the Lestranges just breezed through the wards, not giving them the chance to flee... and why had the fidelius been the only ward protecting my family? As paranoid as people had to have been, they should have made sure they were protected, even in the event of the secret keepers treason. It's not adding up. How could people jeopardise their safety like this? Did their trust in Dumbledore run so deep? Even when the man only acted at the very end? He never fought, hell, it took him years to move his ass and fight Grindlewald and I bet the only reason he did it at all is that damned elder wand! I for one, will make sure not to trust or depend on him. Not again.

"But... he sounds power-hungry Gran! That can't be right!" Poor Neville looked distraught. It seems his Gran had planned to keep this darkness away from him.

"He is. No man or woman with as much power as he holds could be anything but power-hungry. Every of his positions are full-time work. For him to be doing all three, not taking advice or help, shows he thinks himself above us. Not to mention what he did to Lilith." At this she shook her head. Was she going to tell him about me? I frowned as Neville threw me a wide-eyed look. He looked scared.

"What did he do?" Madam Longottom frowned down at him.

"Let Lilith grow comfortable with us first, dear, and she will tell you herself when she does, alright?" The boy nodded and I felt relieved. "Let us eat then." After downing the potions I took myself a bit of soup. No need to upset my stomach with something to solid after having been starved for so long. Madam Longbottoms words caused me to think. Just how much was there we didn't learn about the magical world? And why didn't we? It reminds me of our last hear on the run. Without Hermione and her penchant for inhaling any end every book in her vicinity was the only thing which kept us alive. Without her knowledge we would have died multiple times...Why didn't I do the same? I frowned. Living with the Dursley's installed a healthy dose of self-preservation in myself. Where did it go? Grimacing into my soup I resolved to make sure I knew everything I need to survive in the magical society. And I could look into different sports! I always wanted to try some before coming to Hogwarts. And Neville could come too! We could use it as a bonding exercise! The thought made me smile. Yes. I would very much like that. Get some tutors to coach us in the theoretical aspects of our future school subjects and trying a few sports and see which fit! Looking at Madam Longbottom I couldn't say whether she would agree or not.

"Mada... Gran. I was thinking... There is so much we don't know. About Politics, conventions, school and such. Could you teach us?" She put down her cutler and observed me. Leaning back she answered. "Of course. I planned to wait till his sixth birthday before starting to teach Neville, but starting a few months early should make no difference. We will start with the usual duties of a heir and head of house."

"Could you teach us the theory of the subjects we are going to be learning at Hogwarts too? I would like to get a head start and maybe.. we could look at a few muggle sports? I read our magical potential depends on our mental and physical condition. Physical activity is supposed to strengthen the core and knowledge is supposed to help with control. Something about being able to understand the spells on a deeper level and therefore knowing just how much should be put into what spell?"

Her brows furrowed at that. "You wish to do muggle sports?"

"Yes. Our world had about two sports I can name and both seem inappropriate. Duelling takes a wand and Quidditch seems to dangerous for our age. Muggles have a multitude of different sports. Some teach how to defend oneself against attackers, others like soccer are more fun and stamina oriented. They have so many to chose from and every one of them is much saver than what the magical world has to offer."

"Very well. I will allow each of you to choose a sport for yourself from a list I am going to make up."

"Thank you!"

"Don't thank me yet. I will have high expectations from both of you. Whether or not I will allow you to continue with your chosen activity depends on your studies. I will not go easy on you. If you wish to get a head start I am going to make sure both of you will bring honour to house Longbottom." These words seemed to mean the world to Neville as the brightest smile I have ever seen on him split his face. He jumped at her, hugging her tight and promising her not to disappoint her. He really loves his gran. I couldn't help but smile at the sight. Their love for each other was obvious.

"Well, lets enjoy the rest of the day and tomorrow we will visit Diagon, make the adoption official and get Lillith some clothes."

We spent the rest of the day outside and Madam Longbottom (for I can't call her Grand in my head yet) told us some stories. Stories I never heard before and I loved it. The only person I remember telling me anything resembling stories or fairytales was Hermione. While we had been on the run she had been telling us muggle and magical tales alike. To have an adult tell them was a novel experience. We sat in the gardens till the sky grew dark, listening and basking in the comfortable atmosphere. That night I slept better than I had in years. I felt save, calm and welcome. I knew I would have to talk with the strict woman I would soon call family about my past and what exactly she knew about it, but right now, I didn't care. The potions were softly tingling in my veins, warming me up and the memory of the nice evening giving me hope for a better future. A future where I would get to be a child, listen to stories, be cared for and loved. It felt almost better than Hogwarts, which saddened me. The school was supposed to be my home. This time I will make sure it will be just that. I will fight tooth and nail for it!