Hope you enjoy the Chapter!
In this story I'm trying to bring a new light to Ron and Neville that shows them as succeeding when they are given self confidence and determination by Harry and others.

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Harry Potter

Hogsmeade station

"Want a hand?" Harry asked the girl he had met earlier. She had been struggling to get her trunk from the train.

"Yeah," Harry took the trunk from her hands and place it onto the platform. "Thanks,"she said as she hopped onto the platform. "The castle looks amazing doesn't it, I saw it from the train, I reckon it will be better up close though don't you."

"Yeah, I guess. I'm more interested in the magic. I hear you can do some truly amazing things with it. Anyway we have to take the boats up to the castle now."

"What are you talking about everyone takes the carriages." She was saying before she was interrupted by a deep loud voice.

"First years this way!" Hagrid shouted from afar. A grin beamed across Harry's face as he looked down at the small girl. She looked at him in a complete look of disgust and walked away muttering under her breath saying something about boys.

All of the first years walked over to Hagrid.

"Hey Hagrid." Hagrid called to the giant of a man.

"Hi Harry, excited to get started at Hogwarts." Harry nodded beaming with a smile. "Right, everyone follow me." He called to the group.

They followed Hagrid through a pathway for a short while, a few minutes at best, until they reached a huge midnight black lake. The sun was setting upon it as the majestic colours covered the lake:orange,red,violet,orange and so many more.

About fifty small wooden boats which could fit around three people each lay in front of the students on the shore of the lake.

"Everyone push a boat up into the lake, then climb in." Hagrid ordered to the kids.

All the students followed instructions and soon all were in boats.

Hagrid in a boat of his own looked around at the boats, pleased they were all there he called "Forwards!" And the fleet of little boats began to move up through the lake. They had been going minutes when they turned a corner and there perched atop of a gigantic mountain a vast castle sat. With hundreds of turrets and towers the windows sparkling there Hogwarts sat watching over its new students.

"Ooooooh!" Called the students as it came into site.

They glided across the lake which was as smooth as glass.

They all sat in silence staring up at the castle before they finally reached the cliff face which was covered in ivy. They passed through this and Hagrid called "heads down." They all ducked down as they passed under the mountain and seemed to be going straight under Hogwarts. The passage then opened into a harbour type place within the cave. They all clambered out and up through a passage way until they were standing in front of huge oak doors.

Hagrid then banged on the Huge oak doors. They swung open and revealed an elderly women standing and waiting for them In a high and mighty posture.

"I am Professor Mcgonnagal please follow me."

They then followed the Professor up a staircase or two until they met huge golden doors.

"This is the great hall, you will shortly be sorted into your houses. I will be back momentarily." She then entered the hall with Hagrid and the first years were left in silence.

They then burst into muttering to each other. Harry and Ron had been discussing how they were to be sorted.

"Fred told me we had to perform a spell and George told me we had to take down a fully grown troll." Neville turned green at this.

"Nah, we put on a hat and it sorts us just like that." Harry said chuckling at his rhyme.

"A hat, now how could a hat do that?"Ron asked beginning to laugh.

"Yes how can a hat do that?"Neville continued.

"Well the hat is a brilliant hat, looks like a dork and a bit like a fucked up fork." Harry said in between his laughs. "It's tough, ruff and likes it up the duff." All three burst into laughter at the last sentence.

"You'll be fine Nev, it's a hat, nothing to be nervous about, we'll be friends no matter house we're in right." He said elbowing his new friends.

"Yeah, well, not if you're in Slytherin." Ron grunted.

"Fine, if me or Nev is put in with the Snakes then you don't have to be friends with us." Harry replies to Ron. "Though you could be a snake."

Ron stared at him and put his fingers in his mouth and did a gaging motion which they all laughed at.

"Please have some Manners." A blonde haired boy said from Ron's side. "Although judging by your appearance you're a rugged disgusting and poor Weasley. I am however Draco Malfoy. And you are?" He asked Harry and Neville.

"I'm Harry Potter." Harry said to the arrogant and posh boy who claimed to be called Malfoy.

"So the rumours are true, Harry Potter at Hogwarts, who would of guessed. You're not like people say you are though. Bet you don't even know a spell, see I know a few my self family secrets I'm afraid can't tell you. I guarantee I could wipe the floor in a duel with you."

"Nah, you are chatting out your ass. If you can? Do a spell."Harry demanded.

"Can't, family secrets." Draco exclaimed.

"Just a basic will do."Harry said.

"I don't know any basic spells, too easy for me."

"You don't know any magic do you?"

"Yes I do."

"Prove it."

"Yeah well, you can't do any either." The blonde haired boy stated.

"Scourgify." He casted the spell at Rons robes which instantly turned from a tattered grey to a glistening black.

"Wow!" Ron shouted. "That was awesome."

"Yeah well, know what kind of people you should know, you're clearly talented, we can help each other there." He put his hand out to shake it but Harry cast a small burning charm on his hand and he began to whimper. Before Malfoy retaliated Professor Mcgonnagal walked out of the hall and said to the crowd. "We're ready for you know, please line up in pairs and follow me. They all lined up and followed her into the huge and glistening hall.

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Neville Longbottom

The great Hall

Neville stood behind Harry and Ron as well as standing next to a girl he'd never seen before.

They slowly approached the front of the hall in dead silence as many whispered and muttered came from the long benches that surrounded the four house tables.

Finally after what felt like a lifetime for Neville they reached the stool.

Neville really struggled with anxiety and public speaking and appearances(with all the staring and judgemental faces) were the worst.

Once the sorting had reached his name just over half of the students had been sorted into their houses including Ron who to no surprise was put in Gryffindor, 'no wonder, his whole family is' Neville thought.

But the moment had come and Professor Mcgonnagal had finally called his name. "Longbottom Neville."

There was a few chuckles at his name but most remained talking to their friends completely ignoring the sorting.

Neville walked up to the stool and of course Neville tripped over his robes and smacked into the floor.

Getting up and ignoring the laughter,Neville severely blushing rushed to the stool and shoved the ragged hat onto his head.

'Well,well, interesting, quite so, yes, is loyal to friends, Helga's house of course, but do anything including your life, well of course that's Godric's, you have though a keen thirst to prove yourself to your grandmother and peers. Well it better be.' "Gryffindor." It chanted to the hall, and the Lions clapped the boy onto there table where he sat next to Ron.

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Harry Potter

The Great Hall

'I sware, if I get put in Slytherin I will kill someone.' Harry thought as he walked up to the stool grabbed it and ignored the glaring faces from every single person in the hall after his name had been called. At first it had been silence but it then burst into muttering which faded as he put on the hat.

'Well! I have not seen one like this in well decades, last time I saw this was fifty years ago, his intelligence did not bring good to the world instead a world of rage.' The hat said to Harry within his mind.

'Do you mean Voldemort?'

'Don't say the name, but yes the young child who was once called Tom riddle was insanely like you but I know better, darkness I saw in him and I warned him and the rest, but you, you are different, you share the same gifts true, your mind very brilliant, your passion, your loyalty to those you love and that thirst for knowledge it is incredible. You are difficult. Very difficult. Where to place you. I believe Hufflepuff is out of the question you share too greater qualities of the rest to be considered to be placed there however you are an open book. Your training I see is intense yet you have perceived through it showing your courage and determination however the skill you have to get through it is impressive, yes, very impressive. I believe I am left with two options, Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.

This may take sometime, you are a particularly difficult customer, the last time I saw someone like you was Merlin himself and that was a thousand years ago.'

After what felt like hours the hat came to a decision. "Gryffindor." It chanted to the hall.

Yet none clapped, all stared towards him. He looked around the room at the puzzled faces. He walked from the stool to the Gryffindor table where no applause took place, only stunned looks.

"What?" Harry asked to them. But none responded.

The sorting continued and the feat beggined. Harry was still perplexed at why people were shooting him weird and curios looks.

"Nev?" He asked towards his new friend who turned to him. "Why do people keep looking at me weird?"

"Harry," he replied "you were on that stool for thirty three minutes. That is insanely long and people were stunned and pissed they had to wait longer than the entire normal ceremony for one sorting. I know it's not your fault but it was weird and you are the boy who lived you know, a big deal. So it was weird.

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Hope you enjoyed!