Chapter 117: "Accio Trevor"

After gently closing the door, Harry spotted Neville nearby and approached him. "Hey Neville, sorry about that. We were caught up in a fun chat, and your sudden entrance threw us off a bit," Harry explained.

Neville, looking a bit flustered, replied, "It's okay, Harry. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn't listen."

Hermione looked embarrassed. "I just wanted to help."

Harry offered some advice to Hermione, keeping his tone gentle yet firm. "It's good that you want to help, but it's also important to respect others' privacy. I guess you might be new to the wizarding world, being Muggle-born, so you're still learning our ways. Let me give you a tip. Think of Hogwarts as an aristocratic school in the Muggle world, filled with children from influential families. You should act here as you would in such a school—always with good manners and careful not to offend anyone. Offending the wrong person at Hogwarts can have serious consequences."

Hermione listened closely to what Harry was saying, nodding her head to show she understood, yet her face showed she was a bit confused. "But the books I've read about Hogwarts didn't mention anything like that, and Professor McGonagall told us Hogwarts is the safest place on earth," she said.

Harry gave a small smile. "Books don't tell you everything. What I'm sharing with you are some life lessons that will help you get along better in this world. It's important to be polite and respectful, especially when you're the new one around. You wouldn't want to start off on the wrong foot with the older students, would you?" he explained gently.

"My name's Hermione. Hermione Granger," she introduced herself more formally.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Granger. I'm Hadrian, Hadrian Potter," Harry introduced himself in return.

"Hermione's eyes widened slightly. "Potter? As in Charles Potter?"

"Yes, I'm his older brother. But, well, we're not exactly close," Harry said, his tone indicating he didn't wish to dive deeper into personal matters. "You might want to ask Neville about it sometime. I prefer not to discuss my family issues."

Hermione seemed eager to ask more, but a firm look from Harry made it clear that the conversation was over. She bit back her questions, nodding slowly in understanding.

Harry turned back to Neville, changing the subject to something more urgent. "You mentioned a toad, Neville?"

"Yes, my toad Trevor is missing. My Great Uncle Algie gave him to me, and I'm sure he's somewhere on this train," Neville explained, looking worried.

"Do you have a picture of Trevor? I can use a spell to call him to us, but I need to know what he looks like," Harry said thoughtfully.

Neville shook his head, indicating he didn't have a picture.

Harry pondered for a moment, then had an idea. "There's another way to do this. You can try the spell yourself, Neville."

"But I'm not very good at magic," Neville admitted, looking downcast.

"Don't worry, I'll help you," Harry reassured him. "Just say the words 'Accio Trevor' while picturing Trevor coming towards you. I'll handle the rest."

Hermione, who had been listening intently, looked puzzled. "Can magic really be used like this? I haven't read about anything like this in any of the books."

Harry smiled at her curiosity. "Not everyone can perform magic this way, but fortunately, I can. It is a little complicated and isn't something typically found in basic magic books, but you might find more advanced texts on it in the Hogwarts library. Now, Neville, are you ready to try?"

Neville nodded, and Harry encouraged him to focus. "Remember what I said: visualize Trevor coming towards you and say the spell with confidence."

Neville carefully took out his wand, and Harry gently held his hands to guide him. Harry planned to help Neville by using a technique called assisted magic. In this method, Harry would manage the flow of magic into Neville's wand and perform the wand movements himself, while Neville focused on the incantation and visualization.

Harry was trying this approach for the first time with someone else, but he felt sure it would work. Neville was using a new wand, unlike using his father's wand like in the books. Given Neville's inherent magical ability, Harry believed he could successfully cast the spell.

On their first attempt, Neville whispered, "Accio Trevor," but nothing happened. Seeing Neville's hesitance, Harry knew he needed to boost his confidence.

"Close your eyes, Neville, and clear your mind. Take your time," Harry instructed, waiting patiently for Neville to relax.

Once he sensed Neville's calmness, Harry continued, "Now, picture Trevor in your mind. Remember how he looks, the sounds he makes, and the way he hops around in the garden. Can you see him? Good. Now, imagine Trevor hopping towards you, think about how happy you are to see him. Hold onto that image, and when you're ready, call him with confidence. Just focus on Trevor coming to you and nothing else."

Encouraged, Neville focused deeply and then called out with more certainty, "Accio Trevor."

As Neville spoke the spell, Harry carefully adjusted the magical energy flowing through Neville's wand, making sure it was just right for the spell to work.

At first, nothing seemed to happen after Neville called out the spell. But then, out of nowhere, loud croaking filled the air, and a toad zoomed toward them from down the corridor. Harry quickly reached out and caught the toad in one smooth motion.

Neville looked on in disbelief, amazed that he had actually managed to cast the spell correctly.

"Great job, Neville! You managed to cast a spell that many fourth-year students struggle with, and you did it on just your second try. You've got a real knack for magic," Harry praised him, handing Trevor back to Neville.

Neville, still overwhelmed, responded, "I don't think I really did anything. It felt like it was all your magic."

Harry smiled and shook his head, "You need to give yourself more credit, Neville. The visualization and desire you put into the spell—that's the heart of magic. You'll learn more about this in your classes. Believe in yourself; you have great potential. Once you get better at controlling your magic, try casting 'Accio' on your own. I'm sure you'll be successful."

"Thanks, Harry," Neville said, a small smile beginning to form as he held Trevor securely.

Hermione, who had been quietly observing, chimed in with encouragement, "That was really impressive, Neville. Now that Trevor is safe, we should head back to our compartment."

As they were getting ready to leave, Harry stopped them. He had been thinking about Neville's potential Hogwarts house and wondered if he could influence a better fit for him. Harry believed that Neville might do better in Hufflepuff than in Gryffindor.

"Which house do you hope to be in, Neville?" Harry asked.

"Can we choose our house?" Neville asked, looking puzzled.

"Well, not exactly, but it does matter where you think you belong," Harry explained.

"I'd like to be in Gryffindor. My parents went there, and my grandmother likes Gryffindor too," Neville replied, thinking of his family's history with the house.

"Are you sure about that?" Harry pressed gently. "Susan will probably be in Hufflepuff. You might be happier there, surrounded by friends."

"But Gryffindor is better," Hermione interjected. "Professor Dumbledore was in Gryffindor, after all."

Harry turned to Hermione and questioned, "So? Why does that matter?"

"Headmaster Dumbledore is the most powerful wizard alive," Hermione said as if that settled the matter.

Harry countered, "Why should that influence your house choice? Hogwarts houses are meant to match you with like-minded peers. Many famous wizards and witches came from different houses. Think about the school's founders—Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. Are their houses any less important? I'd say the Hogwarts founders were more powerful than Professor Dumbledore. So, following your logic, maybe those are the houses you should be aiming for. Also, consider Merlin; he was sorted into Slytherin. Does that make Slytherin the greatest?"

Hermione looked puzzled and muttered, "But isn't Slytherin the evil house?"

Harry countered, "Merlin, one of the most respected wizards, was from Slytherin. Many important wizards come from there. So, another piece of advice—don't go around labeling Slytherins as evil. It won't end well for you."

Hermione mentioned, "But You-Know-Who was from Slytherin."

Harry sighed, "Arguing this point seems fruitless. It's good you don't favor Slytherin; as a Muggle-born, you might find it tough there."

Turning back to Neville, Harry added, "Hufflepuff is just an option, Neville. You should go where you feel you belong. Any house will be lucky to have you. And Miss Granger, I hope you end up in Ravenclaw. In other houses, you will find it difficult to make any friends."

Hermione was not happy with Harry's final comment, but Harry didn't linger on it. He simply said goodbye to Neville and headed back to his own compartment. Harry had shared quite a bit of advice with them. If they took it to heart, their time at school would likely be much smoother.

He believed Neville could thrive in any house, but Hufflepuff would provide the nurturing environment he needed to really come into his own. In the other houses, he might find it harder to find that kind of support.

For Hermione, Ravenclaw seemed like the best fit. There, she was less likely to face the kind of challenges that could make her feel isolated. It would also save her from being bullied into hiding in a bathroom during Halloween.

Harry wasn't planning on becoming very close to Hermione or taking on the role of her guide in the wizarding world. He simply didn't have the time or inclination to do so. So this might be the only time he was free to give her any advice. 

Back in the compartment, Harry caught up with his friends about his encounter with Neville. He explained the longstanding close relationship between the Potter and Longbottom families. His friends understood the situation well. They agreed that Hermione had been the one who acted rudely, not Neville, so they didn't hold any hard feelings against him.