Neville's Story

Clutching his father's wand, his wand now, he frantically searched for Trevor. He was sure that the toad had been in his pocket when he took his father's wand from Gran. Lost in thought, he'd easily missed the toad sneak out of his pocket. Searching the corridor, he quickly found the toad and then made his way back to the empty compartment where his things were while other students either sought out their friends and companions or stowed their things away. Settling in, he set the toad on the empty seat across from him.

Turning to look out the window, he smiled at his gran and uncles as they waved at him. Watching them disappear into the gathered crowd as the train pulled out of the station, he turned as he heard a gentle knock on the door.

"Mind if we sit in here?" a girl asked as she slid open the door to the compartment. Looking up, Neville saw a girl with bushy brown hair and fairly large front teeth slip into the compartment and sit down. Already wearing her Hogwarts robes, she was obviously prepared for the trip. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said as she looked at him.

Holding a small bag, another young girl, also wearing her Hogwarts robes, entered behind Hermione. "Hi, I'm Lisa Turpin," the raven-haired girl said as she stowed bag overhead.

"Dean Thomas," a tall black boy said as he slipped into the compartment. Wearing blue jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt, he was lugging a small bag as well. Beside him was another boy similarly dressed and lugging a small trunk behind him as well. With Dean's help, the two of them put the trunk overhead.

"Seamus Finnigan," the boy said as he and Dean sat beside Neville.

"Um," he said, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, "Neville Longbottom."

"Can you do any spells with your wand?" Hermione asked as she pulled hers out of her bag. "I've been reading up on the different spells but I haven't tried any yet."

"I, um, just got it today," he replied as he watched Hermione take aim at Trevor.

"Oh, do you mind?" she said as she flicked her wand in Trevor's direction. "Wingardium Leviosa!" she said, sending the toad flying against the closed window. "Oh, I forgot the swish!"

Neville's eyes widened in horror as Trevor, who had just received as a birthday present, banged off the window. Startled, Neville simply stared as Hermione shook her head and took aim at Trevor again.

Seamus and Dean chuckled as Trevor jumped off the window and back towards Lisa. "Wingardium Leviosa!" Hermione said as she swished and flicked her wand at the air-born toad, causing it to levitate in the air before her. Seeing that Trevor was alright, Neville smiled and relaxed a bit as he chatted with the others. .

Trevor was still floating in the air as the door opened to reveal a dimple faced woman pushing a cart. "Anything off the cart, dearies?" she asked.

"Um, some Chocolate Frogs, and some Bertie Bott's," Seamus replied as he pulled out several silver Sickles and handed them to the woman. Getting a few bronze Knuts back, he tossed several chocolate frogs at Dean.

"A pack of Drooble's Best, two Pumpkin Pastries, and two Cauldron Cakes," Neville replied as he felt his stomach growl.

"Are they live frogs?" he heard Dean ask as Seamus tore one open.

"Course not, they're enchanted," Seamus explained as he sorted through Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans.

Eying the Seamus as he took a bite out of the head of his chocolate frog, Dean opened one up as the woman with the cart moved to the next compartment. As they ate their assorted lunches and candy, they continued to chat. Both Dean and Hermione were from muggle families while the rest were from wizarding families.

"Which house do you want to be in?" Hermione asked in general as she finished her lunch.

"House?" Dean asked, clearly perplexed.

"Well, students are separated into four different houses," Hermione explained. "I've heard that Albus Dumbledore was a Gryffindor."

"Not sure really," Dean replied as he finished his lunch. "So we just pick which house we go into?"

"I don't know really, some sort of test I'd imagine," Hermione said as she shrugged.

"If you're from a muggle family, how is it that you know so much about everything already?" Seamus asked.

"Well, I read it in Hogwarts, a History," she replied matter-of-factly.

"The other houses are Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," Lisa added as she set her food aside. "I'd like to be in Ravenclaw."

"Well, I'd never really put much thought into it really," Seamus replied shrugging his shoulders.

"Don't look at me, I don't even know about the houses," Dean replied.

Feeling everyone's attention turning onto him, Neville realized that something was missing. "Hey, has anyone seen Trevor?"

Looking at each other, they others realized that the toad was no longer floating around in the compartment. Looking around the compartment, no one found any trace of the toad.

"Maybe he's out in the hallway," Lisa suggested as she pointed out the open door to the compartment.

"Well, why don't we go ahead and check while you boys change into your robes," Hermione suggested. "Once you've all changed, then come help us look for Trevor."

Nodding the boys quickly began to change once the girls had left the compartment. Dressing quickly, Neville slipped out of the compartment. Opening each compartment, he asked if anyone had seen Trevor.

As he searched for his missing pet, Neville heard the announcement: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately." Frantically searching, he still had not found Trevor as he felt the train slow down before finally stopping. Seeing other students emerge from their compartments, Neville gave up the search as everyone made their way off the train. Resigned to his fate, Neville joined the other students.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" he heard someone shout as he stepped off the train. Making their way over to the huge figure that was calling out to the first year students, the five of them joined the crowd of first year students.

"C'mon, follow me- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me," the giant figure said as he led them away from the train and the older students.

Depressed at having lost Trevor after having the toad for only a few weeks, Neville fought a losing battle to contain his emotions as he followed the large man. Dwelling on his lost pet, Neville barely registered the darkness around him as walked through the forest.

As the first students rounded the bend, Neville heard their collective "Oooooh!"

Looking up as he turned the bend, he understood why as he saw the castle perched atop a high mountain on the other side of a black lake, it's windows sparkling brightly, nearly looking as though it itself a part of the night sky. Only the moonlit outline of the castle's many towers and turrets hinted at the existence of the castle as the windows looked to be part of the starlit sky.

"No more'n four to a boat!" the man shouted as he indicated a small fleet of little boats on the shore nearby. Following Hermione into a boat with two boys that he's spotted while searching for Trevor, he smiled weakly at them.

"Everyone in?" he heard the large man ask. "Right then- FORWARD!" the man shouted, sending the boats off magically. Silently, they made their way across the lake towards the towering castle on the other side.

Awed by the magnificent sight before him, Neville kept his eyes glued to the castle and barely ducked in time as the boat approached the cliff and passed under it, taking them into a secret harbor. Stepping out of the boat, Neville spotted the large man approaching them. Unsure of why the large man was approaching them, Neville was surprised when the man called out to him, "Oy, you there! Is this your toad?"

"Trevor!" he replied, surprised to find the toad with the large man. Taking his pet from the large outstretched hand, he quickly placed Trevor into his pocket as he made his way into a passageway with the rest of the first year students.

Making their way up a flight of stairs, they were brought to a pair of oak doors. "Everyone here?" the man asked as he turned to scan the group. Spotting Neville, he added, "You there, still got yer toad?" With a slight smile, he turned and knocked on door three times with his gigantic hand. The door immediately opened, revealing a tall black haired witch in green robes with a very stern face and sharp eyes.

"The firs' years," the man said as he waved his large hand over the group, "Professor McGonagall," the man said as nodded at the witch.

"Thank you Hagrid," she said giving him a slight bow, "I will take them from here." As Hagrid left she pulled open the door to reveal a large entrance hall lit by flaming torches. Following the professor across the flagstone floor to a marble staircase Neville could hear the sound of hundreds if not thousands of voices coming from above. Still following Professor McGonagall, Neville and the rest of the first years entered a smaller chamber on the side of the hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said, finally addressing them. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you're waiting."

Turning her gaze onto the gathered first years, Neville realized that he'd fastened his cloak improperly, as he had been rushed while changing. Fixing his cloak, he turned to Dean and Seamus, each giving him an approving nod.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," Professor McGonagall said before turning around and exiting the chamber.

Around him, Neville heard various students whispering, many wondering what the Sorting Ceremony entailed, others trying to talk themselves into being calm, and a few declaring what house they wanted to be a part of.

Focused on keeping Trevor in his pocket, Neville screamed when he spotted the pearly white head emerge from the wall. Unsure if the scream came from him or if it was other students around him, he watched as the ghosts glided across the room talking to each other, barely paying the gathered first years any notice. Too frightened by the appearance of the ghosts, Neville barely registered that several of the students had begun talking to some of the ghosts.

"Move along now," said a sharp voice, snapping Neville out of his trance. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

Relief flowed through him as the ghosts floated away and through the opposite wall. Feeling his heart beat return to a normal pace as it stopped pounding in his chest, Neville took a deep breath.

"Now, form a line and follow me," ordered Professor McGonagall.

Taking several deep breaths, Neville stepped into the line behind Dean and Seamus. Trying to keep himself calm, Neville smiled his fake smile as he and the other first years walked out of the chamber, back through the hall, and through huge double doors into the Great Hall.

Neville was again awestruck as he looked upon Hogwarts Great Hall. Similar to the feeling he had when he first saw the castle as he and the other first years stood on the path by the lake, the sight of the enchanted hall was simply amazing. Lit by thousands of candles, each floating in midair, Neville spotted four long tables where the rest of the students sat, many of them turning to see the first year students as they entered the hall. At the top of the hall was another long table, this one for the gathered teachers, who were also watching the entrance of the first years. Unlike the ceiling in the hallway that was so high that the light did not illuminate it, the ceiling of the Great Hall was enchanted to appear as though it were the night sky. Behind him he heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, a History."

Peeling his eyes from the ceiling, he faced forward, fighting the urge to turn around so that he could at least see a friendly face. Dean and Seamus also appeared to be focused on keeping their eyes forward, neither one daring to turn around as they felt hundreds of eyes upon them.

Eyes forward, he watched as Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool before the gathered first years. Placing a pointed wizard's hat that had clearly seen better days on the stool, she turned to face them.

Neville nearly shouted in surprise as the hat twitched. A moment later a rip near the brim of the hat opened as it began to sing:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil:

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Stunned, Neville failed to realize that he was clapping along with most of the other first years and all the other students gathered in the Great Hall. Eyes still on the hat, he watched as it bowed to each of the four tables before quickly becoming quiet again.

Sighing in relief, Neville heard other students voice their relief, though he thought he heard Hermione voicing disappointment over not having to perform a spell and use her wand.

With a nervous smile, Neville watched as Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long piece of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she explained. "Abbot, Hanna!"

Calming his nerves, Neville watched as student after student was called forward and put on the sorting hat. Still wondering which house he fit best, he tried to recall the song that the hat had sung. He definitely didn't want to go to Slytherin. He would probably end up in Hufflepuff, since he was a fairly hard worker.

"Finnigan, Seamus," he heard Professor McGonagall call. Watching as Seamus approached the stool and hat, it seemed to take an awfully long time for the hat to sort Seamus. Finally, the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Smiling as his friend ran to the table furthest to their left and was greeted with shouts and handshakes, Neville hoped that he would about the possibility of being a part of Gryffindor.

"Granger, Hermione!" he heard. He watched as she eagerly ran to the hat stool and put on the hat.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted. Again, he watched his friend run towards the Gryffindor table and sit by Seamus. Nodding, Neville decided that he also wanted to be part of Gryffindor where two of his new friends were a part of.

"Longbottom, Neville!" he heard Professor McGonagall call. Nervous, he approached the stool. What if the hat refused to place him in Gryffindor? What if the hat thought that he didn't have what it took to belong in Gryffindor? Losing himself to his nervousness, he tripped as he walked over to the stool.

With a deep breath, he placed the hat on his head. "Longbottom," he heard the hat say to him, "definitely full of potential. An uncut gem, definitely. What house will best shape you into the true jewel that you are? You'll definitely be a hard worker if you want to live up to your potential. How about Hufflepuff?" the hat asked.

Gryffindor, please, Neville though, almost pleading with the hat.

"Gryffindor," the hat said, contemplating. "Yes, your father was very brave too, as was your mother. Both were in Gryffindor."

Neville trembled as the sorting hat mentioned his parents. He wondered if the hat knew what had happened to them. "Sad, sad," the hat said, reading his mind. "You see what happens to the courageous and brave? That could happen to you too. Are you sure you want to be in Gryffindor? Hufflepuff could be so much better, so much safer."

Please, Neville thought, Gryffindor. He could feel himself shaking as he tried to maintain control of himself, not wanting to cry in front of the whole school. It was no longer just about being with is friends, it was about proving his worth to his gran.

"Ah," the hat responded, "you are truly brave." The hat almost radiated warmth as it sat on Neville's head. Neville thought that if he had been watching the hat, he would have seen it smile. "GRYFFINDOR!" he heard it shout.

Overjoyed, Neville jumped off the stool and ran over towards the Gryffindor table. "Um," he heard the hat say. "Perhaps you should return me to the stool," it suggested.

Stopping, Neville heard the other students laughing as he handed the hat to "McDougal, Morag."

Still beaming, he returned to the Gryffindor table and was promptly greeted by Seamus and Hermione, then the rest of the Gryffindors that were sitting nearby. Neville sat and watched as the other students were sorted, waiting for Dean's name to be called. Would he be placed in Gryffindor as well? Hoping that he would, it would complete the group that had been in the compartment, minus Lisa who had declared her desire to be part of Ravenclaw.

"Potter, Harry!" Snapping his head up, Neville watched as one of the boys he had met earlier slowly approached the stool. Around him he heard people whisper, "Is it really him?" "The Harry Potter?" "We saw him on the train earlier, helped him with his things."

Even Neville, who had lived a fairly secluded life with his gran, recognized the name. Harry Potter, the boy who lived. The one who had defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Neville watched intently, as everyone else probably was, as Harry Potter set the sorting hat on his head and sat on the stool. Sitting near the end of the table that was closest to the Sorting Hat, Neville could see that Harry was straining as he apparently was in deep conversation with the hat, perhaps just as Neville had been.

Though it seemed to take forever, the Sorting hat finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" A loud cheer erupted from the table, along with chants of "We got Potter!" as Harry made his way over to the table.

"Thomas, Dean!" he heard finally, as the cheers finally died down at the table. Shaking Harry's hand, Neville turned to watch as Dean put on the Sorting Hat and sat on the stool. "GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.

Smiling, Neville shook Dean's hand as he joined the table. Sitting beside Seamus on the other side of the table, Dean beamed as the other Gryffindors welcomed him.

As the final student "Zabini, Blaise," was made a Slytherin, Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

At the head table, Albus Dumbledore (Neville recognized the famous sorcerer from his Chocolate Frog Card) stood up. Beaming, he looked over the four tables of students.

"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are? Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!

"Thank you!"

Sitting back down Dumbledore was applauded by the gathered students and teachers alike.

Turning his attention from the headmaster to his own table, Neville spotted the plates full of food before him. Feeling his stomach growling, he filled his plate with roast chicken, lamb chops, boiled potatoes and fries, though he kept his eye on the plate of Yorkshire pudding and roast potatoes as well.

As he ate, he kept his ears open as he listened to the students around him talking.

Seamus and Ron were talking with a nearby ghost while Hermione was talking with several older students.

"Like this," Neville heard the ghost say irritably as he seized his left ear and pulled. His head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder, holding on barely by a small bit of flesh that remained to connect his head to his neck. The ghost looked pleased at the stunned and shocked faces of the first year students (the other students having cautiously averted their eyes as they heard the tone of the ghost's voice). Stunned, Neville's jaw dropped and his eyes bulged as he tried to erase the image from his mind. Blinking, he heard the ghost mention the Slytherin.

Shifting his attention back to his food, Neville barely listened to the others talking about the ghosts. Keeping his ears open, he listened as the conversation turned from ghosts to introductions among the gathered first years, who were discussing and their families.

Ron, sitting beside his twin brothers and the Prefect Percy, was from the well known Weasley family. Although Ron shrugged off most of the twins' jokes about his youth, and Percy's stern looks and reprimands, he occasionally turned bright red at their remarks.

"I'm half and half," Seamus stated between bites of food. "Me dad's a Muggle. Mam didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him."

Chuckling and laughter greeted Seamus' statement as those around him imagined the types of surprises a Muggle would experience from living with a witch.

"What about you, Neville?" Ron asked as he gripped a goblet in one hand and his fork in the other.

"Well," he replied, clearing his throat, "my gran brought me up and she's a witch," he explained, glad that no one seemed to know about his parents. Not wanting to leave it open for any other questions on why he was being raised by his gran, he added, "but the family thought I was all Muggle for ages. My great-uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me - he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned - but nothing happened until I was eight. Great-uncle Algie came round for tea, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my great-auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced - all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here - they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great-uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad." Reaching into his pocket, he gently petted the sleeping Trevor.

"Well, my parents are both Muggles," Dean stated as he drained his goblet. "Mum and da were surprised, so was I really, that I was accepted here. Quite a shock for us all when we went down Diagon Alley to get my books and wand."

Smiling, Neville continued to eat, glad that no one seemed to be asking him why his gran had raised him. Offering the occasional opinion or remark as the talk drifted to the various professors, the classes, and hobbies, he slowly began to feel that he truly belonged.

Finally, when it seemed that no one could eat anymore of the wonderful food, the bountiful feast that had been laid out for them vanished from the table, Dumbledore stood up. A great hush fell over the entire hall as everyone turned to face the headmaster.

"Ahem," the headmaster said, waiting for complete silence, "just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have just a few start-of-term notices to give you."

Smiling, he eyed each of the first year students. "First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember as well." Neville got the distinct impression that Dumbledore had flashed his eyes at the Weasley twins who were sitting near him.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker," he nodded to a haggard looking man standing by the end of the head table "to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Hearing Harry laugh, Neville threw him a disbelieving look. Had Harry misunderstood the headmaster or was Harry one who loved to put himself in harm's way?

"Must be," he heard the older Weasley, Percy, say. "It's odd, because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere - the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that." Percy puffed his chest as he added, "I do think he might have told us Prefects, at least."

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. Turning to look again at the High Table, Neville smiled, figuring that he could fake knowing the song with so many others singing it.

With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore conjured a golden ribbon and sent it over the heads of gathered students, and the ribbon twisted into words.

"Everyone," he said, seeing the puzzled looks on many faces, "pick their favorite their favorite tune and off we go!"

Using his wand to conduct (though it appeared that few followed the Headmaster's lead), Dumbledore lead the students and teachers as they bellowed:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.

Not really knowing the words to the song, Neville occasionally sang the wrong lines, though he noticed that he wasn't the only one trailing behind. Like Dean and Seamus, he appeared to be listening to Hermione, who seemed to know the entire song. Finishing the song, he realized that many several people were still singing and others had already finished. Smiling, he and the others watched the twins as they sang, the last ones to finish the song.

Clapping his hands, Dumbledore stopped conducting as the twins finished singing. "Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here!" Nodding and smiling, he pocketed his wand. "And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

"Gryffindor first years!" Percy shouted as he stood up, gathering the first years to him. "Follow me!" Leading the gathered first years through the chattering crowds, Neville noticed that several older students had ventured off (probably to meet their friends in other houses) or to visit with their favorite professors before heading to bed. Only the first years, who didn't know the lay of the castle, followed their respective prefects.

Tired and weary, Neville fought to keep his attention on the various passageways that Percy lead them through. Smiling occasionally at the moving paintings, he barely noticed that Percy led them through two hidden doorways, one behind sliding panels while the other was behind a hanging tapestry.

Coming to a sudden halt, Percy indicated a bundle of walking sticks floating in midair ahead of them. Indicating that the first years should be cautious, Percy took a step forward. Suddenly the sticks flew at Percy, as if someone was throwing them.

"Peeves, a poltergeist," Percy explained. Turning to face the bundle of sticks, he raised his voice, "Peeves - show yourself!"

A loud, rude noise, answered the prefect.

Eying the floating bundle of walking sticks, Neville tried to make himself less obvious as Percy tried to talk to the poltergeist.

With a sudden pop, a little man with a wicked, dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross-legged in the air, clutching the bundle of walking sticks.

"Oooooooh!" the poltergeist replied, cackling evilly. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!" Swooping suddenly at them, he forced the first years and Percy to duck.

Sticking his tongue out at the prefect, Peeves vanished, dropping the bundle of walking sticks. Surrounded by the others, Neville stood there, frozen, as the other first years leapt out of the way, leaving him alone beneath the falling walking sticks.

Pulling himself out of the pile of walking sticks, he hoped that his encounters with Peeves would be few and far between. Dean and Seamus chuckled as they helped him back to his feet before setting off after the rest of the Gryffindors.

Standing at the end of the corridor, Neville spotted a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress. Smiling at them, she nodded at Percy, "Password?"

"Caput Draconis," Percy replied, causing the portrait to swing forward, revealing a round hole in the wall. Scrambling through with Dean's help, Neville entered the Gryffindor common room, a cozy, round room full of squashy armchairs and a huge fireplace.

Entering the common room, Percy indicated where the boy's and girls dorms were. Following Dean, Seamus, Ron, and Harry, he found the open room that was to house the five of them. Each bed, a four-poster, had deep red velvet curtains, and beside them were their trunks and bags. Falling into the bed closest to his trunk, the middle bed between Harry and Dean, Neville sighed blissfully. Pulling Trevor out of his pocket, he sat up and placed the sleeping toad in his cage.

"Great food, isn't it?" he heard Ron say two beds down. "Get off, Scabbers! He's chewing my sheets!"

Hearing Dean and Seamus chuckle at Ron's misfortune, Neville smiled as he changed. Falling into bed, he pulled his covers over him and quickly fell asleep, tired and drained from his long day.