12 Chapter 12— Neville Longbottom

~Fun Fact: Did you know that Harry and co. had to go to the forbidden forest as punishment for doing something forbidden. Makes perfect sense, no?

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I'll be honest, this was a hard pill to swallow. To me, they used to be people from a fairy tale and I don't think I ever truly accepted that this was reality for me. But seeing Frank and Alice Longbottom absolutely broken in front of me brought one question to the surface.

"Why..." I uttered quietly. "Why the hell would anyone do this to someone?"

Dad crouched down in front of me, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Son, although the Wizarding World is a truly magical place, there are very evil people here who enjoy bringing suffering and harm upon those who have done nothing to them."

I glanced over at Harry, who looked just about ready to cry.

"I-Is this what happened to my mummy and daddy before they died?" He asked, sniffling.

"I can't tell you for sure Harry." Dad said. "I wasn't there that night. But I can tell you one thing, become strong. Strong enough so that those who would harm you will think twice before doing so. That goes for the both of you, understand?"

We nodded silently. Just as we did, a slightly chubby blonde boy walked into the room nervously.

"U-Uncle Adam, who are these people?" He asked nervously.

"Oh, Neville, meet my son Aayan and his best friend, Harry."

"O-Oh, hello. I'm Neville Longbottom." Neville said timidly.

"Hi, Neville. I'm Aayan but you can call me Yan. I can't say I understand what you've been through. But if you'd like, we could become friends." I said.

A look of sadness flashed across his face as he gazed on his parents. He looked back at me. "I'd like that."

"What about you Harry?" I asked.

"M-Me too, if that's okay..." Harry said, trailing off.

"Now, this is cute and all, but perhaps it's best if we give Neville and his parents some time alone, alright boys?" Dad said softly.

We were walking out of the room and into the corridor when we ran into an old witch wearing green robes, a fox-fur scarf, a witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture, and a large red handbag.

'Ah shit, it's Augusta Longbottom.' I thought nervously.

Now mind you, I had no quarrel with her. But from what I've seen and heard of her in my previous life, she is one terrifying woman.

"Adam, good to see you son!" She barked happily, making all of us jump.

"H-Hello, Aunt Augusta. How've you been?" Dad asked, sweating nervously.

"Same old." She said, nonchalantly. "And who is this?" She asked, her eyes shifting from my dad to me.

Her gaze itself immediately made me stand up straight. "Aayan Barak, ma'am." I replied stiffly.

"Well, well. Unlike you Adam, seems like your son's got some manners!" She said, laughing. "And what about you then, boy?" She said, looking at Harry.

"H-Harry P-Potter, ma'am." Harry said, his nerves getting the better of him.

'Ah, he done fucked up now!' I thought exasperatedly.

Dad must've thought something similar as his face contorted to what I could only describe as sheer discomfort.

"Bless my soul and old decrepit body, are you telling the truth?" Augusta asked, shocked.

"Yes, ma'am" Harry said firmly, realising it was too late to go back.

"Well, well. Where have you been hidden all these years?" She said, not to anyone in particular. "But enough of that, come with me." She ordered, taking us back to Neville and his parents.

"B-But, we've already been there, Aunt Augusta!" Dad tried to say, but was quickly silenced by Augusta.

"Since when did you get brave enough to talk back to me, little Adam?" She said, smirking at him.

That shut him up instantly. 'Ah, so that's where our nicknames came from...'

*****

After seeing Neville a second time, albeit more awkwardly than the first, we left St. Mungo's and were walking down the cobbled streets of the Alley when lo and behold, we ran into the same haggard old lady as last time. And guess what she had in her arms? Yup, Firewhiskey! And lots of it. There were bottles in her pockets and in her bag. As soon as she was out of sight, I turned to dad and Harry.

"I told you! I freaking told you!" I said, laughing.

"...." Was the only response they could give in the face of my amused laughter as we walked down the alley and onwards to home.

*****

A while later, we finally got back home and had dinner after which I ran upstairs to my room. 'I'm gonna have to plan out my goals and objectives for the next few years.' I thought, furiously scribbling down notes.

They were as follows:

- Become more familiarised with my mind.

- Once the above is done, start experimenting with creating false memories.

- Try to find out more about lightning magic and experiment with it.

- Start physical training once I turn eight. Probably going to consist of running, sports and Boxing/Muay Thai.

- Learn to cook, it is an essential life skill. Also won't run the risk of being poisoned later on in life as I'm the one cooking!

- Help Neville become 'Deathly Hallows Neville' a lot earlier. The boy could do with some confidence.

- Review all Secondary school education and hopefully take A-Levels while at Hogwarts.

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Those were my plans for the next few years until the Hogwarts letters arrive. In all honesty, I've been taking it too easy these past few years out of a desire to spend time with the father I never had. And I wouldn't change these years in the slightest. But the fact remains that it was time for me to up my training significantly because in the coming years, Moldy and his Dickeaters would come and finish what they started. And I'll be damned if I let them.

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