Standard Disclaimer applies. These characters and the situations are not mine, just a different interpretation

Coming to Hogwarts for the first time was a relief and an ordeal in one. It was a relief since it was final proof that I am a wizard. That I got my letter meant that I was not a squib, and that I would no longer be such a disappointment to my grandmother. The ordeal part of it came when I was packing my trunk. It was then that it hit me that I would be going to a new school with new people. I would be sorted into a house and though my grandmother said that it didn't matter which house I was sorted into, she was in Griffindor and expected me to do the same. Then again, most of the people that my grandmother talked to on a normal basis thought that if I got into Hogwarts at all, I would be a Hufflepuff.

The train ride was less horrible than I thought it would be. I sat in a car with my three of my fellow first years – one of them being Hermione Granger. It nice to find someone as nervous as myself, though she hid it behind a haze of inconsequential chatter. Of course this chatter alienated the other two people in our car, and nearly made me want to kill her. But when I discovered Trevor was missing, she immediately got up to help me, while the other two didn't. She had as much luck as I did in locating my frog, but she did meet Harry Potter – and she reminded me that he would be our year.

I met Harry Potter when we got onto the same boat. He was in black robes like the rest of us, but unlike the rest of us, he has a bright red collar around his neck. All around us I cold hear our fellow first years talking about him – 'oh he's Harry Potter!' 'Are you sure?' 'Yeah I think I saw a scar' and so on. Harry didn't say a word, just grinned at the approaching castle. He seemed friendly, excitable, like a puppy. But I still didn't introduce myself. He was like an island on a fast moving river; the water splashes up and around by never makes a noticeable affect. I, on the other hand, was an island in a sea of indifference. No one knew me, and the only reason I made it onto Harry Potter's boat was because everyone else shied away from first contact. Well all except for the other kid in our boat.

"Draco Malfoy" the boy said imperiously, holding out a hand to Potter.

Harry looked at his hand owlishly, then asked "What's a Draco Malfoy?"

Malfoy spluttered, "I'm Draco Malfoy! I'm introducing myself to you, you twit."

"Ah, my apologies," Harry said in a completely different voice. This one had a posh accent, and was deeper, more adult. "I am Harry Potter, pleased to meet you." For a moment he seemed content to leave things there and continue to watch the approaching castle, but some inner monologue reminded him of his manners. I knew the feeling although my interior monologue – being my grandmother - was more of an exterior monologue that reminded me of my manners. At any rate he looked to the big hulking brute of a boy sharing our boat and said "Hello I'm Harry Potter"

The boy looked confused for a moment then said "Crabbe." When he was sure there was nothing more come from Crabbe Harry turned to me.

"Hello I'm Harry Potter." He parroted with the same exact voice, tone, and intonation as when he introduced himself to Crabbe.

"Hi Harry," I said "I'm Neville" but I was interrupted.

"You'll want to be friends with me." Draco Malfoy said "You'll find that some families are better than others and I'm willing to be your guide."

Harry cocked his head to the side, then bared his teeth and started growling at Draco Malfoy. The kind of growl a wolf makes right before it attacks. Needless to say we were all taken aback. Malfoy quite literally since he edged as far from Harry as he could. As soon as Malfoy was at the edge of the boat Harry stopped growling and smiled at me, "You were saying?" He asked.

It took me a minute or two to find my voice but I managed to stutter out "Neville Longbottom, hi."

"Pleasure to meet you Neville."

"S-same here."

With that done Harry turned back to watch the castle as it came closer.

"What was that?" Malfoy practically yelled "Are you some sort of freak?" But Harry didn't respond, or give any indication that he even heard. In response Malfoy kept insulting him. I felt like saying something. Even if Harry Potter didn't mind all the things Draco Malfoy was saying, I did. I got more and more uncomfortable until I snapped "Give it a rest Malfoy" which led him to heap abuse on me and my family. Thankfully we landed on shore before he could get too creative.

As soon as we were off the boat I got as far from Malfoy as I could, which ended up putting me at the edge of the group. Imagine my surprise when I found Harry standing next to me looking for the world like he had been there when I arrived. I wondered how long he had been standing there. I hoped it hadn't been long because I must have looked like an idiot looking around for Trevor. Harry didn't say anything. I wasn't quite sure if he was being polite though.

As a group we entered Hogwarts, and it was a good thing we were on the boats first because the view from the inside was creepy, dark, and I think I had a nightmare or two here. Suddenly McGonagoll bent down and picked up something from the floor. "Whose toad is this?" She asked.

"Trevor!" I said immediately recognizing my toad. I had no idea how he got all the way here, but I was glad this was one more thing I wouldn't have to confess to Gran.

"I expect you to take better care of your pet in the future Mr. Longbottom." I then realized that everyone was snickering. Sheepishly, I gathered Trevor and wondered how I could keep him from wandering off again. Professor McGonagoll turned around to lead us into the Great Hall, I looked up to follow and found that Harry was once again next to me. Harry wasn't exactly looking at me, he was sneaking looks at Trevor out of the corner of his eye so I finally held Trevor out to him and said, "This is Trevor, he's my frog."

He croaked in response. At least three people turned around to look at us but the Harry was looking at Trevor, who ribbited in response. I tucked Trevor back to my chest, wondering if he would stay in my pocket, and laughed nervously not sure how to respond.