The Ancient and Gallant House of Longbottom
“Young Master needs to bes waking up,” squeaked a voice piercing through pleasant dreams. He rolled over to face the opposite direction.
“Master Neville musts bes waking snows to meet Lords Kents and his gransies on time.” That final statement got him to roll out of his bed.
“Thank you Kavs, I’m awake now. Inform my Grandmother that I will meet her in the family dining room in in a few minutes.”
With his task completed and a new task issued Kavs left to do so. Neville entered his bathroom to complete him morning routine. He stared in the mirror at the young man that stared back at him. Today was the most important day of his life. All the preparation and classes with his family steward, Lord David Kent, and the Switzerland International School of the Magical Arts has led to this day where he was to prove himself to the Longbottoms Family Magics.
Life had not been easy for Neville, especially in the wake of his parents being tortured into insanity. After the tragic event, his grandmother Lady Dowager Augusta Longbottom nee MacAuley was appointed as his guardian. Control of the Longbottom’s vast Family estate was given to his father’s god-brother Lord David Kent. His parents were then laid to rest a year and a half after their tragedy, when the healers of St. Mongos Hospital for Magical Maladies deduced that their condition was irreversible, after many specialists and treatment methods.
In the year that followed he was believed to be a squib by his family due to his lack of accidental magic. This was disputed by Lord Kent who had witnessed Neville’s magic while his parents were alive. This led to him being magically scanned by the curse-breakers of Gringotts. The scan revealed that his magical core was blocked by 65%. The 35% left unblocked was just enough for him to be admitted to Hogwarts. He was however not powerful enough to be identified by international magic schools. When the block was removed his life changed. He was no longer ridiculed by his family for his lack of magic and Lady Longbottom finally allowed him to have play dates with other children, his favorite being Cayden Kent. Cayden was the 7th child of Lord Kent. Lord Kent was married to a quarter Naiad (sea nymph) whose creature blood made him highly fertile.
When he was six years old, the High Chancellor of the Switzerland International School of the Magical Arts turned up at Longbottom Hall. He revealed that Neville was enrolled at the School of the Magical Arts. At first he and his grandmother were reluctant to accept, but Lord Kent informed them that Alice and Frank had made provision for young Neville to attend this school for the five years before he attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. To seal his attendance is the fact that two of his playmates, Cayden and Susan Bones, was to attend the same school.
The School of the Magical Arts was a boarding school in Switzerland that catered for student from 6-18 years old. The initial five years had students boarding from Monday to Thursday and returning home for the weekend. This ensured that the students gained some independence while not being too homesick.
His first year curriculum consisted of Languages (French Latin and Greek), Magical Theory, Physical Education, Flying, Art and Muggle Affairs where they interacted with the muggle world through field trips. His second year saw the introduction of courses like Potions Theory, Herbology, Basic Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, and Italian and Russian added to his language studies.
In addition to his academic schooling, he, Cayden, Susan and Luna Lovegood, began lessons with Lord Kent and Lady Longbottom in Etiquette, Estate Management, Politics, History and Etiquette. Neville was doing so in preparation to become Lord of the Ancient and Gallant House of Longbottom, Cayden was doing so in preparation to become Lord Consort to an Ancient House like his papa (hopefully), and Luna and Susan in preparation to become Ladies of their houses (and any their spouse may be entitled to).
The next four years saw a transformation in young Neville that none thought possible. He gained a quiet confidence and was known for his magical strength, that while not the most powerful in the class he was in the top 5 of his year group. He was a quiet person but became a beast if provoked as many bullies realized when they decided to pick on his friends in his presence. He was grooming himself to be perceived worthy by the Ancient Family Magics of the House of Longbottom.
The Longbottoms were known as an Ancient house when the founders of Hogwarts decided to build Hogwarts. They were considered Ancient when the romans invaded the British Isles. They could trace their ancestry back to the Indigenous British Druids that ruled the lands before the Romans. They were also one of the nine families to hold the title of Duke in the magical world (Black, Nott, Greengrass, Ollivander, McMillian, Peverelle, Potter and O’Brian were the others). This title was granted by King Arthur himself for the Ancient family’s aid in Merlin’s war against Morgana. It was a proud heritage that Neville had to continue and build on, and he believed that he was prepared to do just that.
The 31st of July marked the first time he would encounter the Family Magics. He was now 11 years old (his birthday being the day before) and if accepted by the Family magics he would be recognized as Heir Apparent of the House of Longbottom. He quickly showered and got dressed as it was unacceptable to be tardy. When he entered the dining room he saw that Lord Kent had already arrived.
“Merry meet Lord Kent and welcome again to Longbottom Hall,” acknowledged Neville as according to tradition. He then turned to his grandmother, “Merry meet grandmother, I hope you are well today.”
“Merry meet Heir Longbottom and thank you for your welcome,” replied Lord Kent. His grandmother gave a stiff nod in acknowledgement but her eyes shone with approval and pride.
“Lacey!” a sharp pop indicated the arrival of the elf. “Could we please have some breakfast?”
“Oh yes Masters Nevies, Lacey be right back with your breakiefast.” With anther pop she was gone. When Neville took his seat at the right of the head of the table (the head being left vacant as there was no Lord of the House present), breakfast appeared on the table accompanied by Lacey who waited patiently to be dismissed. When she was dismissed the wizards and witch clasped hands.
“We thank you Mother Magic for your provision, so mote it be.” This blessing was accompanied by a quiver of one’s magical core to show magic’s acceptance. They then began to eat their breakfast and talk about the events that were to take place later that day.
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Neville stared at the imposing white building that was located in the middle of Diagon Alley. Beside him stood Lord Kent, with a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Neville’s nerves were making themselves known through his sweaty palms. With a nudge, they began to ascend the steps that led into the Bank. The bank was relatively empty and thus there was a short wait before they were seen by the teller.
“Well met Master Goblin. Heir Longbottom is here to participate in his ascension ceremony, could we please be escorted to Elder Sharpelance please,” explained Lord Kent.
“Well met Lord Kent. We were just about to contact you” stated the goblin. Upon seeing the puzzled expression on Lord Kent’s face he explained, “Heir Potter was escorted here today by Rubeus Hagrid and underwent his ascension ceremony. As the steward of the Potter Family, we thought you would like to know that your charge has been located and his identity confirmed.”
Lord Kent’s eyes were as wide as saucers in his surprise. He has been in an ongoing battle over the placement of the Potter Heir, with the Chief Warlock Albus Dumbledore, for nearly a decade. The Chief Warlock had tried to have the Potter wills sealed after he had hidden the Potter heir, but this was stopped by The Potter solicitors led by Lord Kent. The will revealed that David was the Steward of all things Potter and was named as a potential guardian of their son in the event that his god parents were unable to take care of him. With Alice being dead along with Sirius Black who was kissed before he could be given a trial, the guardianship of Haddricus Potter now belonged to him. Dumbledore had managed to gain physical guardianship of the boy on the arguments of his safety and blood wards (which David believed to be a lie).
When Dumbledore tried to take control of the Potter Estates as Haddricus’ physical guardian, he was promptly denied by the Wizengamot, who feared retaliation from the Potter Family Magics for their disregard of the Potter Will’s stipulation of guardian for the Heir Potter. David had spent the next decade rebuffing Albus’ attempts to capture the Potter estates and trying to locate the Potter heir secretly. He was surprised to see that Albus dropped the ball in allowing Harry to undergo the Heir Ascension.
He turned to Neville, “I’m sure you will be fine and you will be found worthy by your ancestors’ magic. I have to deal with this immediately. When you are finished ask to be escorted to the Potter Family Accountant, so that you can meet your god brother in person.” They were then led off by two different goblins down two different tunnels.
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With Neville
He took a deep breath before he knocked on the door bearing the Longbottom Family Crest. He was quickly admitted by the elder goblin.
“Well met Elder Sharpelance’” Neville said with a brisk voice, “I am here for my ascension ceremony.”
“Well met young heir. I hope you have been briefed on the procedure, and are ready to begin,” Sharpelance replied while retrieving the Longbottom Ceremonial Bowl.
With a nod Neville stepped forward while extending his right hand, palm facing up. With the aid of a ceremonial silver dagger, a clean cut was made and the blood collected in the bowl. When enough was collected, the cut healed itself (a property of the dagger). Sharpelance began a guttural chant which caused the Family Magics residing in the bowl and in Neville’s blood to react and call forth the family Totem made of brown and leaf green coloured magic (the color of the Longbottom crest and family magics). The Longbottom’s Family totem was a Dire Bear - a huge magical bear that only attacked when provoked or in the defense of its family. As the chant continued, the totem continued to grow until it was full sized, almost the size of a small house.
The Dire Bear stared into Neville’s eyes. His nerves got the better of him causing him to fidget. He quickly found that he could not talk or move while he was being judged by The Bear. After what seemed like an eternity, the bear suddenly lunged towards Neville and entered his chest. The warmth experienced by Neville was similar to when his gran gave him a proud look. The next stage occurred so quickly that Neville barely felt the searing pain on his right ring finger that usually accompanies the appearance of the Heir’s Ring. It was a silver band upon which the Longbottom crest was embellished. When the magic receded to the back of his mind Neville was feeling winded but immensely proud of himself.
“Congratulations Heir Apparent Longbottom, I hope our work will be as fruitful as with previous generations,” said Sharpelance.
“Thank you Sharpelance. It is my wish that our coffers will grow to new heights together. I need someone to escort me to see my god brother Heir Potter, if it is not an inconvenience,” replied Neville politely. Sharpelance rang a tiny bell on his desk which caused the door to open revealing a young looking goblin.
“Griphook will escort you Heir Longbottom to the Potter chambers, until the next time we meet young Heir, merry part.”
With that Neville left the office space into the tunnel, through a series of convoluted turns to meet his god brother for the first time since his parents’ death.
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With Lord Kent
When he entered the Potter Family Account Managers office, he was expecting a young man that resembled his fathers James Potter and Sirius Black with the eyes of Lily Potter nee Evans. It was not common knowledge but due to inbreeding in the black family, Sirius Black was unable to reproduce naturally and thus had passed on his genes through blood adopting the Potter Heir a day after his birth. As a child it was blatantly obvious that he would be a perfect blend of his fathers and mother. The child before him stretch out on a couch unconscious, was a carbon copy of James Potter but not a drop of Sirius Black was observed. He turned sharply to Bloodspear.
“Why is he unconscious Elder Bloodspear?”
“Well met Lord Kent. It seems that the Ascension Ceremony was a little more than his body could handle. It also cause a block on his magic to be broken which sent his body into shock. Our healers have treated him for this shock and he is now in a healing sleep,” covered Bloodspear.
“He seems to have a number of inconsistencies around him. He looks unhealthy and his scar seems to be fresh as though it was caused a day ago and not a decade ago. And then there is the block that was destroyed by the Ceremony,” Lord Kent looked troubled, “Could you have him thoroughly examined by your healers and a curse breaker before he wakes up please.”
With a nod Bloodspear rang for a messenger to call for those required. It took three minutes for the Healer and curse breaker to arrive. It took the healer a further ten minutes to diagnose Harry as malnourished and that his eyes needed to be corrected immediately to prevent any permanent damage. He was prescribed a month on a potion regimen consisting of Nutrient potions and a bone strengthener along with a vision correcting potion that worked over a week long period.
The curse breaker on the other hand had a bit of a challenge. He detected a powerful blood glamour which was a bit tricky but removable. He also detected a blood tethering spell that acted as a tracker (illegal) and finally, he detected two fragments in young Haddricus’ scar. The fragments seemed to be in constant battle according to the curse breaker. He recommended that Harry undergo a magical purge as soon as possible to remove the blood spells and the foreign fragments.
“Can the purge be arranged for today please Bloodspear? Preferably before he regains consciousness, I wish for my charge to be as healthy as possible before he leaves today,” asked Lord Kent.
“It can be ready in thirty minutes,” said Bloodspear with a nod to the curse breaker to set up the procedure.