A/N/:

I do not own Harry Potter or any of its affiliates, nor do I profit from this body of work, because I did not write Harry Potter. I am simply a fan who likes to imagine what if I was the author, J K Rowling, if I was, it might have looked a lot like this….

Propelled Towards a Different Outcome

Hermione was talking a mile a minute again. "You would not believe how hard it was to finally convince my parents that I had 'accidentally' fixed my teeth. It took some time but I think I finally managed. I normally would never lie to them, but you did not seem to want anyone to know you have 'accidentally...' she said using her fingers as quotes, "… fixed them for me. I don't believe I can thank you enough, I simply hated those teeth…." Hermione said, and then stopped, looking at his dejected face and seeing that he seemed uncommunicative; she stopped short and said nothing for some time. Together they watched London pass from view, and the houses became farms with cows and fences.

Around a quarter past twelve there came a loud clanging noise out in the corridor and a dimple faced woman arrived, slid the door back and asked in a voice that was dulled by the many times on this trip alone she had asked the same question, "Anything off the cart, dears?"

Neville, whose appetite was off the charts due to his incredibly fast metabolism, realized at once that he was very hungry. He jumped up and made his way quickly to the cart, Hermione was not far behind.

The was cart filled with all the favorite candies a young witch or wizard wanted. These candies were common place for him, but Hermione looked at them with the eyes of wonder that only someone who was only just now entering the Wizarding World could.

Her eyes roved over the candy, drinking the sights all in. "OK," he said, "Pass me one of every candy, two Pumpkin Juices and one piece of Steak and Kidney Pie." The lady handed them to him and he handed it to Hermione to hold while he dug out 16 Silver Sickles and counted out 33 Bronze Knuts. Together they went back to their seats. Hermione stared at the pile of candy, she had already eaten her lunch a half hour ago, she wasn't hungry, but she was curious. While he had ate, she picked each item up and asked questions about them.

"Is this Licorice it smells like it?" she asked

He nodded his head and began downing his pie, swallowing it down with Pumpkin Juice.

"And this, this reminds me of Jelly Bellies that the Muggles eat." She said. It was a statement that ended up sounding like a question.

"I've never heard of Jelly Bellies, but be careful with those, they can have some nasty tasting ones, I had a cousin once who vomited once after eating one of t skunk and the mouthwash at the same time." He warned through a mouth stuffed with pie.

"And is this Bubble Gum?" she asked

"Yes and trust me those bubbles can last for days" he said between bites, "the room fills up with bluebell colored bubbles."

"She called these Cauldron Cakes how cute, they look a lot like what Muggles call cupcakes with the center hollowed out and frosting inside and some licorice for a handle. And these look a lot like Mince meat pies, she called them Pumpkin Pastries. Chocolate Frogs?" she looked at him for an explanation and tasted the Pumpkin Juice that he had handed her when they got to their seats.

Having finished his pie he was more than willing to explain. "That is a chocolate frog, go ahead and have it, but be careful, know that they have been enchanted and so they can jump and croak, but they only have about one good croak in them so don't lose it."

She opened the package and missed; the frog jumped and nearly ended up in her Pumpkin Juice. She caught it just in time. The frog lay in her hand a second and she stared at it. "Here you have it" she said, " I just cannot stomach putting something in my mouth I literally just had to catch, somehow I can't get the idea out of my head that it is alive."

" Suit yourself" he said. And gobbled it down in one bite. Hermione gasped, "It's Rowena Ravenclaw", she nearly burst with excitement, " You know,", she said "part of me really does hope I end up in Ravenclaw, though Gryffindor would be nice as well!"

"Really, I would never want to be sorted in any house other than Gryffindor! Why a Longbottom has been in the house of Gryffindor in every generation since the houses were formed." Neville exclaimed.

Thinking of Gryffindor House made him think of its Lion, and thinking of its lion made him think of his Lion form, and thinking of his Lion form had made him think about Leonid, and his mind drifted back to the fact he still had not heard anything from Gran about him. Neville grew quiet again. After quite some time, the tension grew so thick in the compartment that you could cut it with a knife.

Hermione sat looking at him, and as the time passed and no letter was sent by owl; worry crossed his features. As if she simply could contain herself any longer, Hermione nearly shouted her question at him" What are you so sad about? I know it's hard leaving family and all but you'll be able to send post via the owls at Hogwarts and you'll be able to go home for the holidays.

Neville realized she had jumped to the wrong conclusion; yes he was sad to be leaving Gram, but that was not all, he was also sad about leaving Leonid behind. "Oh that's true but I saw my Gran crying, and well, worse yet, I've lost my cat Leonid." He quickly explained.

"Have you tried looking for him, on the train I mean," she queried.

The simplicity of doing an actual search of the train had never occurred to him. But why not, after all it was possible that the cat had simply mosied on up into the train and was lounging around someplace. After all, that would explain why he had not received an owl saying they had found him. Neville jumped up and he and Hermione headed off in separate directions. He towards the back part of the train and she towards the front each agreeing to meet back here when they were finished.

Neville came up to a compartment close to the rear of the train, and knocked on the door. Someone inside answered the door and there sat the boy who Neville assumed had lost his parents and one of the ginger headed boys, not the twins though which caused Neville to relax some.

"I beg your pardon but have you seen a ocelot cat, he would be about this big and he answers to Leonid." Neville started, motioning to the side of his leg at about Leonid's height, " I am awfully worried, he has a nasty habit of running off, I was wondering if he was on the train."

The two boys shook their heads.

"Well he's probably home with Gran, and if that's the case I might not get him back all school year. Well if you see an ocelot he's mine let me know." And then Neville left, he was going to give up and he would send her an owl. He headed back to the compartment and once again crashed straight into Hermione.

"Where are you going?" she asked "Have you checked all the compartments down there?" she asked once she regained her breath.

" I am giving up. I will send an owl to Gran and ask her about Leonid when we get there. I give up!" Neville explained.

"NO! You can't!" she exclaimed, "You just can't! Come on Neville I will help you!" she said walking past him in the direction of the compartment he had just come from, the one with the boy.

Hermione was at it again, prattling along at top speed and Neville was feeling a bit bored, when she introduced herself and asked for the boy's names. That was when the boy who Neville had been so fascinated about said his name was Harry Potter. The second he said his name Neville saw something in his mind's eye. He was not sure why but when Harry introduced himself Neville saw a juvenile Broom and heard children laughing, and smelled a powerful smell of chocolate. Shaking himself from his thoughts he tried to focus on what was being said. 'Is she telling them now that she wants to be in Gryffindor and then Ravenclaw second; how strange?' he thought. Now she was sending herself and him on their way. They checked out the last two cars and then headed back to their own compartment.

When they entered the compartment he quizzed her, " Hold on, why the sudden change in mind about Gryffindor?"

"Well, since it seems that all my friends will be in Gryffindor I figured I want to be in the same house you all are in." She stated emphatically.

"And how is it you figure we will all be in Gryffindor?" he questioned.

"Well, you are a Longbottom, and they are Potter and Weasley." She said as if it were a matter of fact.

Neville guessed that in a muggle sort of way that made some logical sense. But he knew Magia and he knew she was never bound by familial lines. She chose her people based on character, but deep down he hoped she was right.

As they watched, the sun dipped into the horizon and the sky purpled and suddenly Hermione was up. "Neville you simply must get your robes on. I have had them on for hours, and it can't be long now. I will leave and let you get dressed." As she opened the door to the compartment the loud noise of children laughing, yelling, and misbehaving sounded. A big boy ran into her as she stepped out. Hermione had obviously had enough! The sound that escaped her throat sounded a lot like a growl." Enough! I am telling the Conductor before my new set of teeth get knocked out too!" She slammed the door and off she was only just dressed when he heard the announcement that they would be at Hogsmeade in 5 minutes. In another 5 minutes Hermione was at the door and together they stepped off the train.

A very tall man, taller than Neville and bigger boned even than he was, stood holding up a lantern and saying, " Firs' Years, Firs' years over here. All right, Harry? C'mon, follow me. Anymore Fir' years? Mind yer step now! Firs' years Follow me!"

Neville did as he seemed to do a lot recently, because of his rapid growth and tripped, plunging into quite a few people in front of him. Pulling his long arms back he over-compensated,and fell backwards on his butt hard, and the pain extracted a sniffle from him.

" Ye get yer firs' sight of Hogwarts in a sec, " The man leading them along said. " Jus roun this bend."

Oo and oh's escaped everyone's lips as everyone caught sight it.

Neville saw a great black lake and then perched upon a high mountain on the other side was Magia's home.

Magia was quick at Neville's shoulder now."Am I not a beauty" she exclaimed, "every inch of her is me Neville, in another form"

Indeed to Neville, Hogwarts was the most beautiful place he had ever seen.

" No Mor'in four to a boat. " the tall man said pointing to the boats.

Neville and Hermione followed the Weasley and Potter boy into a boat. "Everyone in!", the tall man who sat in a boat all to himself asked, " Right then, FORWARD!"

And the fleet of first years glided across the lake, which was silent, and for that Neville was eternally grateful. Nothing had quite prepared him for meeting Magia all over again in this new form.

As they disembarked upon the inland harbor the tall man called, "Hey! You there, is that your bloody cat, I been hearing so much about?

There sitting on the dock was Leonid, and Neville nearly jumped with Joy! Leonid leaped up in his arms, obviously as glad to be with Neville again as Neville was to have found him. "Don't you go running off like that again! You silly cat!" he said to the wayward pet.

Off they all went up the passageways until they reached the front lawn that served as the castles entrance. They climbed thick steps and crowded around a huge oak door.

"Everyone here, and you there, do you still have that bloody cat.", The tall man was clutching at a huge handkerchief, "allergic to them bloody things I am." And presently he blew into the huge thing in a long bellowing sneeze.

The big man raised his fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

Magia opened to him and sang welcome a song into his ears as he walked through the door…

A Hundred Greetings From Me!

Come on, my love,
Keep your promise to me,
Take greetings from me,
Over to Harris,
To John Campbell,
My brown-haired sweetheart,
Hunter of goose,
Seal and swan,
Of leaping trout,
Of bellowing deer,

Wet is the night,
Tonight and cold,
If the MacNeills,
Have to put to sea,
Men of high sails,
And swift of ships,
And of banners,
Blue and green,
No left-hander,
Could take her rudder from you,

Come home my sweet I welcome thee.

(What a beautiful song the gaelic people wrote to sing to their when when they returned from a sailing voyage.)

A/N:

SO MANY QUESTIONS!
SO FEW ANSWERS!
ALL WILL BE REVEALED!

While you read, think on these questions.

1. What did Hermione do to convince her parents that she had accidentally fixed her teeth??

2.Why Hermione change her mind about Gryffindor? Was she being honest with Neville about why she changed her mind ?

3. What will the sorting hat say to Neville ?

4. What will happen to the golden trio is who he is?

Answer these questions in the comments and we will try our best to respond.

Watch with us as we see Neville and the Golden Trio be sorted into their Houses.