A Neville SI Chapter 17

A Neville SI Chapter 17

Neville smiled sheepishly. "Well, it's a good thing it worked, even if just for a second. It gave us enough time to get out of the way—or we might've been squashed flat.". The earlier tensions seemed to fade away as they got to know each other better.

After they finished their dinner, Professor McGonagall returned. "Time to head back to the Gryffindor common room," she said kindly to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Mr. Longbottom needs his rest."

Hermione leaned over and hugged Neville. "I'll visit you first thing tomorrow," she promised with a smile.

"Get well soon, mate," Ron added, giving him a thumbs-up.

"See you tomorrow," Harry said, nodding.

Neville watched as they left, feeling a warm glow inside. He leaned back on his pillows and sighed, happy that everything had turned out relatively okay. Only he had gotten injured, and no one else was hurt. Closing his eyes, he let sleep claim him.

…

Neville made his way back to the Gryffindor common room after his shower, pondering better places to train as the chill of the changing seasons set in. His hair was soaking wet and stuck to his face. Running a hand through his hair, Neville reflected on the past week.

It had been a week since the troll incident, and, as usual, the Hogwarts rumour mill was at its finest, it seemed. The entire school had learned how Neville had killed a troll and saved Hermione.

There were a few versions of the rumour circulating, and the day after Neville was cleared to leave the hospital wing, he was bombarded by his fellow first-year Gryffindors asking him what had happened and if it was true.

Some of the stories he heard had Ron and Harry fighting the troll alongside him, helping in the ordeal. Neville thought this must have been Ron's doing, embellishing his side of things, but he didn't care. In fact, Neville preferred if they took all the credit.

The worst were Lavender and Parvati, who had besieged him with how he saved Hermione and how romantic it was, calling him Hermione's knight in shining armour.

He was even approached by the Weasley twins, who joked about it endlessly.

It had taken a week for the rumours to die down, mainly because the Quidditch season was starting.

Other than that, it had been relatively quiet. Neville and Hermione had started learning more spells together after classes, and Hermione was doing really well. Harry joined them occasionally, but most of the time Ron would distract him and lead him elsewhere.

Hermione had also become more relaxed about breaking rules and was less strict, seeming more at ease.

….

Late yesterday evening, Neville and Hermione returned to the common room after practising spells. Neville had his bag slung over his shoulder, carrying it like a sack.

Hermione was humming a tune beside him as they entered. She was chuffed because she'd finally managed to get Accio to work flawlessly after a week of practice, though it required her to concentrate hard and left her slightly winded.

Entering the common room, they were greeted by the usual chatter of students. Walking past them to get to the dormitories, they came across Harry and Ron huddled near the window, ostensibly doing their homework.

Hermione tapped Neville on the shoulder and whispered, "What do you reckon they're discussing? I bet they're definitely up to something."

Neville looked over to see Harry and Ron speaking in hushed, conspiratorial tones, their homework left forgotten. He shrugged and said, "Well, let's go ask them," wondering if they'd found out about the stone already as he and Hermione walked over.

They approached, and Neville said, "Alright, you two, what are you up to?"

Both paused mid-discussion upon hearing Neville.

Harry looked up and said, "Oh, hey Neville, Hermione. Just working on our assignments. You two just back from practising spells?"

Neville nodded. "Yeah, just got back. You haven't finished them yet?"

Ron grumbled, "We would have been done if someone had shared their work."

Hermione replied, "Well, how would you learn if you didn't do it yourselves?" as they sat down in the empty chairs.

Harry glanced at Hermione and asked, "Mind reading through mine?" He handed her his assignment.

"sure" Hermione nodded, taking the paper, and began to read through it.

While Hermione was reading, Neville leaned over to Harry and asked in a low voice, 'So, what were you two whispering about before we came in?'

Hermione looked up from the paper, leaning in as well, clearly interested.

Harry and Ron exchanged glances; Ron looked like he didn't want to share.

After a moment's silence, Harry leaned in and said, 'Remember earlier today when Snape confiscated that book?'

Neville and Hermione nodded.

'Well,' Harry continued, 'I wanted the book back, so I went to the staff room looking for him. I saw Snape getting his leg bandaged, and he was complaining about how someone was supposed to keep an eye on all three heads at once.' He paused. 'You know what this means?'

Neville shrugged, already knowing what Harry was getting at, but Hermione asked, 'What?'

'He tried to get past the three-headed dog on Hallowe'en. That's where he was headed when Ron and I came looking for you two. He's after whatever Dumbledore is keeping safe.'

'No—he wouldn't,' Hermione said. 'I know he's not very nice, but he wouldn't try to steal something Dumbledore is keeping safe.'

'Honestly, Hermione, you think all teachers are saints or something,' snapped Ron. 'I'm with Harry. I wouldn't put anything past Snape. But what's he after? What's that dog guarding?'

Neville shot Ron a glare for snapping at Hermione but said calmly, 'I don't like Snape any more than the rest of you, but I'm with Hermione on this one. I don't think Snape is the one trying to steal it. You can't always take things at face value; you should always look underneath the underneath,' Neville said, channelling his inner Kakashi.

Both Ron and Harry looked puzzled at Neville's comment.

Neville stood up and said, 'Well, I need to have a shower before dinner. See you lot later.' With a wave, he headed up to the dormitories.

….

Entering the common room, Neville spotted Hermione, Ron, and Harry sitting and waiting for him. He walked over and greeted them, "Alright, you lot, let's get to the Great Hall," while adjusting his sleeves.

Hermione sprang up from her seat. "Yeah, sure, Neville," she replied, and Harry and Ron followed suit. Ron was trying to distract a jittery Harry by chatting about something, which Neville tuned out. Turning to Hermione, he asked, "So, when do we leave for the holidays, Hermione?"

It was Saturday, 9th November 1991—the opening day of the Quidditch season.

Hermione shrugged and said, "It should be around Christmas. I'd guess somewhere around the 20th or 21st," she replied as they entered the Great Hall for breakfast.

The Great Hall was filled with the delicious smell of fried sausages and the buzz of excited chatter, as everyone was eager for the season's first match.

They sat down to eat, and Neville dug into some sausages, eggs, and bacon with toast, assembling them into a sandwich.

Taking a bite of his creation, Neville reached for his cup of apple juice. After swallowing, he took a sip. Setting it down, he noticed that Harry wasn't eating anything.

Harry was sitting opposite him, with Ron beside him, shovelling food into his mouth.

"Not hungry, Harry?" Neville asked, taking another bite of his sandwich.

Harry shook his head. "I'm not that hungry," he replied.

Hermione, who was sitting next to Neville, said, "You should eat some breakfast, Harry."

"I don't want anything," Harry said, hoping they'd drop the subject.

"Just a bit of toast," Hermione coaxed, handing him a slice.

Harry shook his head again. "I'm not hungry," he insisted.

Neville shrugged. "Leave him be, Hermione. He'll eat if he wants to."

Hermione looked like she wanted to argue but sighed and returned to her breakfast.

"Harry, you need your strength," said Seamus, who was on Neville's other side. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team."

Neville couldn't help but smile, seeing Seamus only make Harry more nervous as Harry thanked him sarcastically.

By eleven o'clock, they were in the Quidditch stadium stands. Harry had gone off with Wood and the other Gryffindor team players after breakfast.

The stands towered high above the ground, and a brisk wind was blowing. They were seated in the top row alongside Seamus, Dean, Parvati, Lavender, and all the other Gryffindor first-years.

They were holding a banner made from a bed sheet that read "Potter for President" with a large Gryffindor lion beneath it. Dean had made it, and Hermione had charmed the paint so it flashed different colours.

They stood there, waiting for the game to begin.

Looking down at the field, Neville saw both teams coming out onto the pitch, walking over to Madam Hooch, who was standing in the centre.

Fifteen brooms rose high into the air—they were off; the match had started.

As the game got underway, the commentator, Lee Jordan, enthusiastically narrated the action, "And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor -- what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too --" "JORDAN!" "Sorry, Professor."

Neville laughed at that, he had to admit that Jordan's commentary was quite entertaining.

Jordan continued his lively commentary, much to everyone's amusement, while Professor McGonagall couldn't help but chide him whenever he let his opinions slip in.

The crowd cheered as Gryffindor and Slytherin battled fiercely for possession of the Quaffle. Gryffindor's Chasers were in fine form, with Angelina Johnson making impressive moves, but Slytherin was giving them a run for their money.

While watching the match, Neville heard a familiar voice saying, "Budge up there, move along, excuse me," coming closer.

Turning his head, Neville saw Hagrid making his way towards them, holding a large pair of binoculars.

Ron shuffled over so Hagrid could sit beside him, just behind Neville and Hermione.

"Been watchin' from me hut," said Hagrid, patting the binoculars around his neck, "but it's not the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?"

"Nope," said Ron. "Harry hasn't had much to do yet."

"Kept outta trouble, though—that's somethin'," said Hagrid, raising his binoculars and peering skyward at the speck that was Harry.

Neville remarked aloud, "You know, Quidditch as a whole doesn't really make sense."

Hearing this, Ron became a bit defensive. "What did you just say?" he challenged.

"Just saying it doesn't make much sense," Neville replied. "The entire game relies too heavily on one position. There's no time limit—the match could go on forever if nobody catches the Snitch, and if someone does catch it, the game's over." Hermione nodded in agreement.

Ron crossed his arms. "You just don't get it. You've never even seen Quidditch before."

"Maybe so," Neville conceded, "but you have to admit some things don't add up. If the Seeker catches the Snitch in, like, a minute, then the game only lasts a minute. That's just daft—why would anyone pay to watch something that could end as soon as it starts or could drag on indefinitely? And then there's the scoring—ten points for a goal is fine, but a hundred and fifty for catching the Snitch? That diminishes the whole point of scoring goals at all if all it takes to win is catching the Snitch."

Seamus, who was sitting beside Neville, scratched the back of his head. "Well, when you put it like that, Quidditch doesn't make much sense," he admitted. Dean and Hermione nodded, agreeing with Neville.

Ron's ears turned red as he grumbled, "Whatever. You're just not smart enough to understand the beauty of Quidditch."

Neville thought to himself, "Yeah, more like J.K. didn't really think this through," as they continued watching the match. Shrugging, he glanced around, wondering if he could spot the Snitch, not particularly focusing on the rest of the game.

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