Chapter 1
Neville, a young 11 year old boy was getting ready for his first year at the famous wizarding school Hogwarts. Standing on Platform 9 3/4, he gulped as his gaze landed on the massive steel beast of a train in front of him.
His grandmother placed a hand on his shoulder. “You will be just fine, boy.” Her old voice creaked. Neville gave her a nervous smile. “T-Thanks Grandmother..” He said, confidence lacking in his tone. “It’s alright, dear. Now do you have everything? Where’s Trevor?” Neville looked around. “Wait.. Where IS Trevor?!? Oh no….” He yelled as he started looking around, when his eyes landed on Trevor, his rather fat toad, sitting comfortably in the hands of another small boy. Even if Neville himself was fairly small, this boy was really puny compared to him. Trevor croaked comfortably. “Trevor!!” Neville practically screeched as he ran up to the boy. “Is this your toad?” The boy had a rather odd accent, Neville couldn’t immediately place it. “Uhm… Y-Yea..” Neville nodded as the boy shrugged, handing Trevor over. “Alright then. Im Mikael! But people just call me Mike.” Neville graciously accepted Trevor into his arms. “Err.. My name is Neville..” He mumbled quickly. “Neville Longbottom!” He added. Before looking away in embarrassment. “Neville is such a cool name!! I hope we can be-“ “Mike. Who is this pathetic boy you’re talking to?” A hand was placed on Mike’s shoulder, cutting him off. “His name is Neville, and he’s not pathetic, Draco!” Mike looked up at the newly introduced boy, his skin was pale and he had blonde, slicked back hair. “Tch.. Whatever, come on.” Draco said as he entered the train. “I’ll see you around, Neville!!” Mike smiled, revealing a gap in his teeth. Neville nodded. “Yeah, sure thing..” He said as the other two boys had already walked off. Trevor gave him a stern look. “Oh bug off, you!” He said as he returned to his Grandmother. “I got him!” He said.
“Oh, good! Now get on the train, boy! Otherwise you’ll miss it!” She said as she gave him a quick hug and pushed him and his belongings onto the huge train, leaving Neville to look for a spot amongst the students.
After a short walk, he found a coupé that only had one other student, a girl with long blonde hair and a dazed but kind expression on her face. “Excuse me…” Neville started. “Could I sit here?” The girl looked over at him and smiled. “Oh but of course! You are welcome here.” She said. “I’m Luna!” She added onto her previous statement. Neville got settled in before responding with “I’m Neville.” He added a small smile onto that. Luna seemed content with the answer. She was quiet as she looked out the window, Neville decided he should do the same.
Mikael and Draco walked through the wagons when they spotted an empty coupé. “Lucky!!” Mikael yelled as he took a seat after putting his stuff away. “You could say that again.” Draco answered when a soft meow could be heard from one of the boxes Mikael had with him. It was his cat, Nora. She seemed to have woken up. “Alright alright. Let’s get you out, hm?” He smiled after closing the door to the coupé as he let the tortoise cat out of her cage. She stepped onto his lap as she started to knead his knees when he pet her, as she laid down in response. “I still don't know why you took her with you, Mike.” Draco said as Nora seemingly glared at him. “Well, how could I not? She’s my best friend besides you!” Draco laughed at his comment. ”I guess you’re right.” He said as he started to fidget with his wand.
“Anything from the trolley, dears?” Was what woke Neville up from his trance on the scenery flashing by through the window. “Oh, no thanks. I’m alright.” He said. “I would like a chocolate frog!” Luna declared as she handed the trolley witch 8 Silver Sickles and a Knuts. “Of course, dear.” The trolley witch complied as she took the money and handed the girl a chocolate frog before moving on. Luna opened the package as the frog jumped out. She had a soft smile on her face. “Go on now, little buddy.” She said as Neville frowned. “Why did you let it go?” He asked as Luna looked at him. “I’m not that hungry, and it seems to be somewhat alive, after all.” She said as she looked at the card. “Oh! I got Rowena Ravenclaw. How exiting.” She said as she showed Neville the card as a stern looking woman met his eyes.
Mike and Draco were talking as a girl opened the coupé’s door, looking relieved. “Here you are, Draco!” She said as she closed the door behind her, successfully inviting herself in. “Silene.” Draco said in an annoyed tone, whilst Mikael smiled at her happily. “Hi Silene!” Silene gave him a shy smile in return. “Draco I have been looking everywhere for you! Mom said we were supposed to sit together!” She continued her story, sounding a bit frustrated. “Yeah, yeah. That old hag can say whatever she wants. You’re weird. I don’t want to sit with you!” Draco said as he huffed and turned away from the girl. “Oh..” Silene said, she sounded defeated. “You can sit with me, Silene.” Mikael said as he patted on the seat next to him. Silene gave him a weak smile. “Thanks, Mikael..” She said as she sat down. Mikael staying oblivious to the tense atmosphere as he continued to talk about what he was exited to learn.
When the train finally came to a stop, the first years were the first to come off, as they had to walk over to the boats for the ceremonial boat ride over to the castle. The students in awe of what they saw. “Woow…” Some said, as others only gasped, before returning to talking to each other, even more exited than on the train. When they finally arrived, the students from other years were all already sitting at their houses respective tables. Neville spotted the boy from the station, Mikael, as he looked around the great hall.
An old voice rang throughout the room. “Ahem.. Welcome, one and all, to a new year at Hogwarts! As always.. We start with the sorting ceremony. If all the first years would please step up to Professor McGonnagal to be sorted…” He paused as the children nervously waddled forward. “Alright. Let’s start the ceremony..” Dumbledore’s voice rang once more, as Professor McGonnagal shouted out names. After a while, only two kids were left.
“Neville Longbottom?” She said as Neville nervously stepped forward. “Hmm…. Interesting, yes… How curious….” The Sorting Hat exclaimed once it was placed on Neville’s head. “You seem like a Gryffindor to me…” “That must be a mistake! I’m sure to be a Hufflepuff!” Neville cried as the hat frowned. “Hmmm… But I certainly see a lot of courage in you, boy.. You have great potential to become one of the best Gryffindors of your year!” Neville protested for a while longer, but eventually the hat had enough and called out “GRYFFINDOR!!” As the Gryffindors finally clapped.
“Okay… Mikael Adder?” Mikael gulped. He hadn’t noticed how nervous he was until now. He sat down on the little wooden stool as he closed his eyes. “Nervous? Hmm?” Mikael let out a sigh. Draco had been sorted into Slytherin, and Draco was his best friend. Of course he wanted to be in Slytherin, but was it really the right choice for him? “Oh.. so you want to be in Slytherin?” The hat paused. “Hmm… Even when you seem so eager for Slytherin, you have great potential to be a Ravenclaw, Adder!” The hat grumbled before frowning once more. “Please… I want to be in Slytherin…” He mumbled under his breath as the hat sighed. “Hmm.. Alright. SLYTHERIN!!” It yelled out as Mikael smiled in reaction to the cheers he received from other Slytherins when he sat down next to Draco. Silene sitting in front of them. “Were in the same house Draco!” Mikael grinned as Draco did too. “And Silene is too!” He said as Silene smiled in response to hearing her name. Draco rolled his eyes as Mikael poked his side with his elbow.
“Now that everyone has been sorted…” Dumbledore’s voice filled the room. “Let the feast begin!” He said as food appeared on the tables, Mikael grabbing a chicken leg and some mashed potatoes, Talking with Draco and Silene as they excitedly spoke about their classes the next morning.
Neville felt a little out of place at the Gryffindor table, but assumed the Sorting Hat must’ve made the right choice. He didn’t really know anyone here, though. And all everyone was paying attention to was the ‘Chosen One’ a little further along the table from him. He was quietly eating until a boy with short brown hair spoke to him. “Hi! I’m Seamus! What’s your name?” He asked, he had an Irish accent, which Neville thought to be a little funny at first. “I’m Neville!” He said as he took another bite of his food. Seamus seemed content just talking to Neville whilst he ate, sometimes chiming in with a few jokes as they laughed.
When the feast was over, the students returned to their common rooms. Mikael, Draco and Silene following their prefect down into the dungeons, careful not to mix in with any of the Hufflepuffs. “Alright, and here it is first years!” Their Head Boy, Craig Bowker Jr, smiled as he opened the door by saying the secret code, ‘Pure Blood’. Mikael looked around as the Head Boy showed them their dormitory, as they departed from Silene, they started to set up their stuff around their beds. “Well, this is it, Draco.” Mikael had a giddy smile on his face as they laid in their beds. “Yeah, I guess it is Mike.” Draco had a smile that was just as, if not more giddy that Mikael’s plastered onto his face as they drifted off to sleep.