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….

*** Additional Disclaimer***

For those of you who care there will be a lot of quotes from the Philosopher's Stone this chapter.

From now on I will be quoting less and less of the book, and the story will become more and more AU

Sorted Along The Lines Of Fate

The first sight Neville saw once inside was a tall black haired witch in emerald-green robes. She had a stern-looking face that Neville recognized from a look Gran gave when she was very cross. Neville made a note not to trifle with her; he had a feeling that if he did it might get rather ugly.

While she and the tall man talked and everyone else paid attention, Neville marveled at Magia's inner beauty. Her stone walls were filled with hidden torches. Looking up Neville saw that the ceiling seemed to have no end , a rare case indeed, because most buildings were built for shorter people and he was so tall that most ceilings were the first thing he saw. An immense marble staircase stood with all its grandeur. He noted the gentleness the curves, the soft light, and the welcoming smells; 'I can see you here,' he thought, 'there in all you beauty and power, and gentleness.'

Earlier, Professor McGonagall, as introduced herself, he only distantly remembered her name as if it were merely a dream. She led them across flagged stones rounded by many feet. Neville could hear the sounds of hundreds of children talking all at once, and knowing Magia's love of children, he smiled. Of course she would have children everywhere within her.

Suddenly, McGonagall turned and they were all shoved into a tiny room. All around him were bunches of tiny kids. Suddenly he was aware of how differently proportioned he was than the rest. They all seemed to peer about nervously and Neville was once again brought back to the young girls screaming in terror and calling him a giant. 'Are they scared of me, of about the sorting hat?' he wondered. Leonid was purring contentedly, and rubbing his face. It had a calming effect.

"Neville, relax. Everything will be fine. You will see. Now I have to go. I have to prepare for the sorting ceremony. I will see you shortly! Hugs and Kisses!" Magia said tenderly brushing his skin on his cheeks with her fingers.

Suddenly she was gone. Neville knew she would be back… she always came back.

"Welcome to Hogwarts", said Professor McGonagall. "The Start-of-Term Banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be, something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most house points will win the house cup, a great honor. I hope that each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourself up as best as you can while you are waiting."The elderly woman looked directly at Neville, " though some of you have found a way to always look as if you have everything in place, no matter what the state of things are, and others of you… others of you" she said looking at the ginger-headed boy who shared the boy that Neville now knew was Harry Potter's compartment. She shook her head and continued, "While some of you look as if you could do with a bit of washing up." Harry presently began trying to flatten his hair. It seemed like a useless attempt, as the boy's hair just seemed to actually always have that un-kept state that Neville found so stylish.

Professor McGonagall snorted, and then continued, "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.

Harry gulped hard, and Neville could see he was nervous. The two other boys were talking and Neville could not help but overhear the ginger one telling Harry how the sorting hat hurt a lot. 'Nonsense' Neville thought, 'Magia would never allow any of us to experience pain just to be sorted into houses.' He kind of chuckled under his breath.

The effect on everyone around the two boys was immensely powerful. Everyone grew silent, everyone that is accept Hermione, who was rattling of spell after spell, and everyone seemed keenly interested in them. Silence filled the chamber and deepened. Neville was actually rather impressed with Hermione's abilities of memorization. It suggested keen intelligence and the ability to notice details. She was right… Ravenclaw would likely be an excellent choice for her house. It would be hard, for he knew he would be in Gryffindor, but he would find a way to spend some time with his Ravenclaw friend.

Noticing Harry, he saw the fixed and focus-filled way he stared at the door. Harry seemed 'driven'. Neville was sure he would be in Slytherin. Then there was the Weasly boy… Now his family and Neville's family have been in Gryffindor for ages, with few being sorted into other houses. But Neville suspected that this Weasly would become Magia's exception.

Neville heard a loud bang, as if an unseen door had been opened and then suddenly 20 ghosts streamed past as several people gasped, everyone that is except Neville, because he was used to seeing things that are not 'supposed to be there'.

Some of the ghosts were there talking to the first years, but seeing a ghost for the first time had the 'First Years' shocked into stunned silence.

Suddenly, a sharp voice rang out and all the ghosts cleared out. "…The Sorting Ceremony is about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned. "Now form a cue," Professor McGonagall told the First Years, "and follow me."

They walked out of the chamber, back across the hall that led back towards the Great Hall to a pair of double doors,and into the Great Hall. Neville was first awed by the thousands and thousands of candles hanging in mid-air over 4 large tables, laden with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall horizontally, like a large T to the other tables, was another large table where the teachers were sitting.

Neville looked up, as Professor McGonagall led the first years up to the teacher's table, he noticed the ceiling was indigo black and the candles mimicked the stars of a night sky perfectly, and Neville realized that the ceiling mimicked Magia's robes to a T. It made him smile sweetly.

As they drew closer Neville could see the line bending so that it could cue directly in front of the table and then they were turning around to face the whole school. Neville could see the hundreds of faces, faces that up until now he only dreamed would be in the same room with him. And slowly it dawned on him how very ill-prepared he was for this sort of trial. Each face was a possible friend or foe. And each face represented a face he had no idea how to connect with. All though he had few fears… after all when you can have Magia's help instantly, why fear anything, he was terrified ,because Magia had told him ages ago, that there was one thing she was powerless to compel; she could not force someone to truly love someone. Infatuated, maybe, but truly love, never!

So as Neville looked into this sea of faces; true panic set upon him, and Neville thought his mind might go to pieces then. Just like a dream, Magia stepped in and caressed his face, temporarily blocking his view of the other kids.

"Sush! Neville calm yourself… its OK I am here! You will be fine!" came Magia's soothing voice from behind, "…Relax! Enjoy! Let me show you what is really going on behind the scenes that mere witches or wizards never know."

"It's bewitched to look like the stars outside…" Hermione was saying to Harry Potter. Neville looked up 'No, not true!' he thought, 'It's bewitched to look like Magia's robes.' The more Neville looked, the more he realized she was right. Either Magia's robes were bewitched to look like the night sky, or the ceiling was bewitched to look like Magia's robes, because the ceiling made it seem that they were under an open sky.

Magia, sensing his confusion spoke, "This ceiling peeks into my outer robes. The robes you see when you see me, and this ceiling are bewitched to look like the night sky, so in a sense both ideas are true.

A four legged- stool was placed, by McGonagall, in front of the First Years. On top of the stool was an old battered Hat. Neville sniffed the air… "Who would ever wear that manky old hat?' Neville wondered, 'it's fit only for the bin!'

"Careful Neville, remember everything in my home is me in one form or another. It may be manky and tattered… but it is still me and it is fit for far more than the bin." Magia reprimanded.

Silence descended on the Great Hall. Everyone stared at the hat… Then Neville saw Magia, who sat on the stool in front the first years, and then she began to shrink and shrink until the hat itself was bigger than she was. Eventually the hat changed colors and was transformed into the color of Magia's robes and then the hat began to twitch and then a rip near the brim opened and Magia in the form of this hat began to sing…

Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!

Neville blushed, he should have known. From many years with her, he knew she could read minds, that she was able to be direct, that no magic occurred that she was not a part of… so why would she not be the sorter of the first years into houses. It was going to take some getting used to. Things that seemed inanimate were not here at Hogwarts and he just needed to begin to accept that. That last line… was he right in thinking that it was an answer to the Weasly boy's comment? Neville was nearly sure it was.

When she had finished, the Hall erupted in applause. And Magia in the form of this hat, bowed to each one, and then sat down and became quite still.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward and held a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.

Neville noticed the young boy named Harry Potter, watched his queasiness and saw how nervous he was. "What do you have to be nervous for?' his thoughts questioned. Now that he knew the boys name, he knew more about this boy. He was the Boy-Who-Lived… the one who had defeated You- Know-Who… the incident with a juvenile broom and the chocolate made much more sense now…

' My Gram had said that before… before… that night… when…. It happened; well, that his parents and my parents had been real close, and that this friendship had nearly destroyed them all. It's a good thing Magia is about to put you in Slytherin, because I want nothing to do with you, for all we know you are in league with You- Know-Who and someone with that kind of power can be dangerous… I know that first-hand.'

"Granger, Hermione." Professor McGonagall was saying, bringing Neville jarringly back to attention. She nearly ran to the stool, and then jammed the hat on her head. 'Yes dear!' Magia's melodic voice rang in Neville's head. 'I see that you are of two minds indeed. I see you are attracted to the Ravenclaw and to Gryffindor as well. You have a ready mind and a wit for learning, and you will find people of your kind in Ravenclaw… but I see bravery, daring, and nerve and chivalry as well. And in the end, there are going to be three boys in Gryffindor who might need your talents to meet their fate, and so… '

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Hat said aloud. Neville's heart leapt! They were going to be in the same house after all! He made a mental not to ask Magia about her reasons for sticking the obvious Ravenclaw into Gryffindor. Not that he was complaining really, but he was curious.

A groan escaped from the Weasly boy next to Potter. Neville was so growing to be irritated with that Weasly kid. He hated when people hurt or abused his friends. Suddenly the Potter boy turned a sickly shade of grey! Neville wondered what this was all about.

Then Professor McGonagall called out Neville's name and he was so startled that he did not use his usual care about using his ever-growing limbs and he tripped over himself. The Great Hall erupted in laughter and Neville had to use great self-control to keep from imagining them without mouths at all.

Once Magia was snuggly placed upon his head, he sat down."Hey there Neville," Magia was saying in his head. "Ok let's hash this out. For Midras I invite them to join me in the process of deciding what house I put them in. So let's haggle this out. I cannot be fair to you if I do not say, your life would be easier and less stressful if I place you in Hufflepuff. You are loyal, and just and not afraid to work… it's all true. People in that house will try to pick on you less, and there is a boy named Cedric Diggory who will need your help in that house. It would be a great fit for you. But however, you too have bravery, daring, nerve and chivalry as well, and you would do well there once you learn the confidence of dealing with kids your own age. But Hermione and two other boys will need your help in order for you all to meet your fate. The choice is sat and thought a long time, and Magia patiently waited. Finally Neville chose…"Gryffindor' Neville thought

'That's my brave boy!' Magia shouted with joy, "GRYFFINDOR!".

Neville stumbled quickly off to his place and forgot his hat and half way back he turned and headed back. He supposed that to others it might seem that it was shyness why he raced from the stool, but in reality Neville's brain was racing. It had never occurred to him there might be any other choice for him but Gryffindor. The reality that Magia actually considered Hufflepuff spoke volumes to him about who he could really be inside. Was he, like Hermione, shuffled into another house besides the one they should be in order to fulfill some greater fate none of us are aware of? His mind was swimming in the vastness of this new information… did this stuff happen a lot? Who knew!

"Potter, Harry" McGonagall called out called.

Harry Potter stepped out, whispers suddenly broke out like hissing fires all over the hall.

"Potter did she say"

"The Harry Potter"

People were acting silly, making a spectacle of themselves, craning themselves to get a look at him.

'Hmm' said Magia's melodic voice to Harry a conversation that only Neville and Harry were privy to. 'Difficult. Very Difficult! Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, ah my goodness yes- and a thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting… So where shall I put you?'

Neville could see Harry gripping the sides of his stool and heard him think… 'Not Slytherin, Not Slytherin!'

'Not Slytherin ,eh?', Magia thought, 'Are you sure? You could be great you know, it's all here in your heard, and Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness, no doubt about that- No? Well if you are sure better be...' "GRYFFINDOR!" The last word the whole Great Hall heard.

Harry walked on shaky legs back to the table. Neville sat in quiet shock. This had shocked him more than Hermione the obvious Ravenclaw ending up in Gryffindor, more than Magia making it clear he might have ended up in Hufflepuff. This boy who obviously had immense power, who would surly become a Lord, maybe even a Dark Lord… being placed in his house…. How would he ever be able to hide his abilities from him; Neville sighed the sigh of one who is asked to pick up a heavy load.

'What are you thinking Magia, I do not understand!' Neville thought. The Gryffindor Table erupted into cheers and the twins were going on and on about Harry, Neville's instinct kicked in and he had a real uneasiness about this boy and the power his notoriety might have on him. Would be cocky and over sure of himself? All Neville knew was he was going to be careful about Magia not doing stuff for him around this Potter kid.

With all the Sorting Ceremony finshed, Neville caught the eye of Dumbledore who smiled at him. Neville noticed the Tall Guy who had brought them across the lake giving Harry the thumbs up. Harry grinned broadly, Neville realized that the boy had a relationship with the Tall Man similar to the relationship he had with Dumbledore.

As Neville watched, Harry smiled and gazed in a hero-worship kind of way at Dumbledore, and Neville felt a kind of jealousy arise from the pit of his stomach. 'Dumbledore is MY second father not yours; you can have the hairy giant all you want, leave Dumbledore to me.' Neville thought and then felt bad. ' Of course he had every right to be friendly with Albus if he chose… it's just… well Albus was all I really had in human form, besides Gram.'

Dumbledore raised up, opened his arms wide as if to begin a long speech. Then, showing his profound sense of humor that Neville had grown accustomed to over the years, he spit out nonsense!

As expected, at the end of the nonsense something happened, but not exactly what Neville expected. He had expected Magia to run around and do his bidding. Instead, she stayed at Dumbledore's side and barked orders to the army of house elves that made all things ready. She was dressed in robes Neville had never seen before this time. Instead of the starlit night robes she normally wore she was wearing robes that danced and shimmered like fire.

He tried to call to her, but she did not even answer. It was as if Magia were pretending not to even know him. This bothered him more than anything this strange night had delivered up to him. Morosely Neville piled his plate high and ate silently, not even enjoying it really; he was too occupied to think of much else. Magia never ignored him in all the years he had known her.

Sometime later the food was replaced with sweets and still Neville might as well have not even been there for all he paid attention to the conversation.

Then Neville heard the voice of the Weasly boy next to Harry call him from his morose thoughts. "What about you Neville?" It took a moment for Neville to recall what the subject was…' Oh yes our families...' he realized

"Well my Gram brought me up. She is a witch, But she kept me in the house a lot and I haven't really dealt with many of my other family members very much either. I think I may know one cousin... maybe?"

Hermione who was looking at him intently suddenly relaxed and began talking to the Weasly twins and Percy. This was it; the gentle way in which he began his friendships with kids his own age. Oh, he was sure there would be bumps and he might actually get some bruises along the way, But Neville was certain his lonely days without people his own age were over.

A/N:

A/N1:I know, I know I am two days late. Shame on me. But I do so good most of the time surely you will forgive me. I won't tell you that my grandmother died, or the dog at my homework... or any such trite as that. Suffice to say I was busy, and I am sorry. Real life exists whether we want to or not. Next might be more of the same but by December I will be back on Schedule and you will be sure to receive my normal scheduled updates.

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

While you read, think on these questions.

1. Why did a loud bang occur when the ghosts entered the chamber (BTW not cannon)??

2.Why did Neville hear Magia and the students conversations ?

3. Why does Neville think that Harry is the next Dark Lord and will this affect their relationship?

4. Why did Magia ignore Neville, and why did her robes Change?

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

Watch with us as we see Neville and Harry's friendship develop from a wary distance, to best-friends.