A Placement
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Three very different people sat around a small table in an unused classroom, at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.
A giant of a man that was starting to show is age, with a big bushy beard that reached down to his stomach and with kind eyes.
An older woman with an unbreakable expression.
A young man with black oily hair a pointy nose, piercing beady eyes with a scowl across his face.
“The meeting for the placement has begun.” The woman said.
“For who.” Said the good-natured giant.
The woman almost hesitated, “Who have two placements today, one for Neville Longbottom though we already have placement with a trusted distant ‘cousin’ of his… it our second that requires are deliberation of one Harry Potter and his cousin Dudley Dursley.”
The two-man reacted in quite the same way, though they would later deny it if ever asked.
“WHAT WHO HURT THEM I’LL GO AFTER THE SORRY WIZAR-“, the young man held his hand up for the giant to stop, he did if reluctantly.
“I agree Hagrid thought it pains me to think it, that we should… deal with those responsible for them needing to be placed but… it was their home life that was the issue wasn’t it.” Hagrid looked to the woman to deny what the man had said and when she didn’t.
“Sorry Minerva I know you can’t tell any information about the case beyond what we need to know.”
“Me not denying it was all the confirmation you needed Snape.”
A small lapse in conversation occurred, before Hagrid said, “…Is Harrys cousin a Muggleborn lad?” Minerva nodded.
Snape decided to input, “I’ll start a small investigation into that family’s bloodline two Muggleborn even directly from a squib, is very rare, rarer than one squib in ten generation in a wizarding family.”
Minerva nodded agreeing with the assessment, then pointed at the table and a list of names, financial statements, benefit details and psychological profiles appeared to grow out of the wood of the table.
“Let’s begin.”
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We waited a couple of hours, we got to know Neville quite well surprisingly Dudley and he hit it off, but it didn’t stop me form liking him. Surprisingly enough.
We met the members of staff who were in charge of our ‘placement’ whatever that was.
One was a giant said he knew my parents when they came here, seriously how old is this guy?
The other was kinda scary, he must be a vampire being that pale.
Dudley must have come to the same conclusion, because he started screaming .
“Your dead!” Dudley pointed at him. Then looked at me.
“He’s dead!” He grabbed Neville’s shoulders and shook me back and forth like mad.
“The man is dead! We must exorcize this ghost, or he will sit at the table!” What? has he gone crazy, he has been through a lot in the last twenty-four hours, he’s lost it.
Poor Neville having to deal with him.
I stopped him, made him step one step back. Turned to face the man who was ‘dead’, seriously saying that to vampires is probably really insensitive.
Its worse than that time you called that pregnant women fat.
I held out my hand, “I apologise for my cousin Mr Vampire, I know it’s insulting when people call you dead but don’t worry I know your alive where it counts.”
He looked at me as if what I said was somehow worse, his face kinda looked like dough, he couldn’t seem to decide what expression he was going to make but he eventually settled on a scowl.
I knew I was getting to lucky with nice adults three outa for ain’t bad.
The man then spoke, “We have decided to place you with the Weasleys, they do have a reputation for being poor but with the financial benefits with taking both of you… that won’t be a problem in the future.
Professor McGonagall hit him on the upper on with her wand, “That was not appropriate Snape, just because you got stuck with the paperwork.” Snape snarled.
Neville softly asked beside us, “Where am I going?”
Hagrid said jolly, “Your going to a distant cousin of yers, and guess what she even goes to this school!”
Neville actually looked a bit excited. Then frowned.
She looked back to us, “We will deliver all your medicines we expect you to take them all and madam Pomfrey will be checking on you within a months’ time… ok?”
Dudley said in response, “When can I go home?” Neville huffed in confirmation.
Madam Pomfrey said gently, “No. Not on my life are you ever going back to those people.”
She turned towards the adults, “And if I here anyone allowing that to happen I will end them.”
Dudley frowned he almost started to cry again but he knew he wasn’t going to win. Neville had a more complicated face, but his excitement hadn’t gone away.
And are all adult witches this scary? I hope not.
But does that mean were going to the same house? I was almost looking forward to it before. I don’t know if its going to be any fun now with Dudley there.
But I try to look enthusiastic, “What are they like.” I don’t really understand what happening with being ‘placed’ but I knew I was going to be staying with some people for a while.
“Their nice if a bit wild, they have some kids around your age and some older kids that can help you study if you need it, and the parents are quite loving.” Some other kids that … might be nice.
Dudley didn’t look to impressed, “Do they have a power system for my computer?” All the adults seemed confused at the word, Dudley was silently fuming now.
He huffed out, “Its like a TV?”
Snape nodded, “I know they’re the only self-respecting wizard with a TV, and with the ability to cast protective charms that won’t affect electronics, your computer should be fine.” I swear this guy managed to insult people just by existing. Though every else seems to think its normal coming from him so it must be a consistent thing.
Dudley sighed with relief.
I ask, “When are we going,”
Professor McGonagall responded by levitating all our luggage, and said, “right now,”
And we disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
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