Neville's Story

Though slightly withdrawn, Neville was back to his old self again before the end of the week. Having gotten over his crush on Hermione fairly quickly, Neville found that he enjoyed sitting with Harry and Ron as he continued to sit and study with Hermione. It also gave Neville more people to walk around the castle with to avoid Malfoy.

Harry and Ron were enjoying the benefits of being on Hermione's good side as well as she read over their work, often providing them with the proper answers without actually letting them copy her work. Harry seemed to be really busy, and Neville soon understood why. Though Harry had returned to the common room quite late, it wasn't unusual for students to study in the library, greenhouses, or in one of the many dungeons or classrooms. It wasn't until word got out that Harry was the Gryffindor's new seeker that Neville and the others understood why Harry was so secretive about where he was and what he had been up to.

"I'm sure he'll like this," Hermione said as she flicked her wand, causing the brushes to float in the air.

Ron merely shrugged as he held up on end of the bedding that Scabbers had ruined. Holding the other end, Neville nodded as he watched Hermione direct the brushes into several cans of paint then directed them to paint a large banner for Harry. Seamus and Dean managed to direct two brushes a piece, compared to Hermione's five, into the paint and onto the banner that Ron and Neville held.

"What's Quidditch again?" Dean asked, still unfamiliar with the wizarding sport.

Neville chuckled as he saw Ron rolling his eyes. Neville wasn't sure if Dean had said that just to get to Ron , or if he really didn't know.

"Well," Seamus said before Ron had a chance to say anything, "I've told you how each team has seven players; two beaters, three chasers, a keeper, and a seeker. Harry's a seeker. He basically flies around chasing the golden snitch."

"What's the snitch?" Neville barely held his laughter back as he felt Ron trembling in indignity on the other end of the cloth, causing the banner to sag as Hermione and Seamus tried to paint it.

"It's Snitch!" Ron said, going red in the face. Seamus nearly lost control of his brush, nearly painting Ron's face with the scarlet paint as Ron nearly dropped the sheet.

"It's a golden sphere enchanted with magical wings that make it fly really fast around the Quidditch field," Hermione replied as she sighed at Ron, causing him to stand straight and hold the cloth tighter.

"So what do Fred and George do?"

"They're Beaters, they hit this wicked fast and mean balls called the Bludgers. Bludgers are enchanted to fly at the different players; the Beaters try to knock other players on the other team off their brooms by hitting the bludgers at them." Seamus paused as he directed his brushes into the cans of paint. "Got it?"

Dean nodded as he directed his brushed back to the banner.

"Angelina, Katie, and Alicia are the Chasers," someone else said. Looking up, Neville spotted the Weasley twins' best friend, Lee Jordan as he examined their work. "Not bad," he said before taking a step back.

"They handle the Quaffle, a large red ball, and try to score with it by bringing it down the length of the field and throwing it into one of three hoops. Each team has a Keeper, who basically defends the hoops and tries to keep the other team from throwing the Quaffle through the hoops. Wood's Keeper for Gryffindor."

Tilting his head, Lee grinned as he watched Hermione's brushes at work. "You get ten points every time your team puts the Quaffle through the hoops. After one team scores, the other team gets the Quaffle and has to advance it to the other side if they want to score. Of course, the chasers on the other team can try to steal the Quaffle too.

"Hundred and fifty points to the team whose Seeker gets the Golden Snitch and the match ends," Lee added as he tilted his head to the other side. "Get the snitch and Harry's basically won the match for us."

Neville nodded as he listened to Lee's explanation. Though a fan of the sport, Neville had never seen it played live. He was excited at the prospect of finally seeing it live, even if it was only played at this level. He knew that Ron was a big Chudley Cannons fan and had seen several of their matches. Seamus had also seen several league matches. Being raised as Muggles, neither Hermione nor Dean had seen a live Quidditch match.

Lee was different. Like many of the older students, Lee had watched each of the six matches between the four Hogwarts teams. A third year like the Weasley twins, he was also the announcer for all the Quidditch matches. A big fan of the sport, he had lucked out and taken over during his second year as announcer.

"It's hard to find a good seeker," he said as he shook his head. "We got plastered last year against the Slytherins. Couldn't look them in they eye for weeks. Hope Harry's as good as they say he is."

Finished with the painting, Hermione flicked her wand at the banner, drying the paint instantly. With another flick of her wrist, she smiled. "Okay, fold it up and I'll take it up to my room."

Nodding, Neville and Ron quickly folded it and handed the banner to Hermione as Seamus and Dean cleaned up the remaining supplies. Heading up to the girls' dormitory, Hermione left the common room just as several of the Gryffindor Quidditch players entered.

Though he wanted to chat with Harry and the others, Neville held himself back as he pulled out the book that he had checked out of the library. Professor Kettleburn had told him to read up on it so that he could better care for Trevor, who had been very sluggish lately.

With the arrival of the Quidditch team, the common room became very crowded and noisy. Bringing his things back to the room he shared with the Ron, Harry, Dean and Seamus, Neville sat on is bed and pulled Trevor out of his pocket. Trevor seemed to enjoy staying in his pocket more and more and rarely ventured out unless Neville prompted the toad by bringing him out.

Neville didn't think that anything was wrong with Trevor or that the toad was afraid to come out, despite the fact that it was often used as an example in their lessons. Professor Flitwick sent Trevor flying, and had levitated the toad to show them the effects of the various spells that they were to learn in Charms class. Professor Flitwick had also taught Neville a binding charm that kept the Trevor within arms reach of him (Neville found that it was easier to leave several crickets in his hand to keep Trevor nearby).

"Wow!" he said as he looked up from his reading. "I never knew that toads hibernated.... Says here that you dig yourself a nice hole and hibernate for the winter since you're cold blooded....

"You're cold blooded, that's why you've been so sluggish lately," he said to Trevor as it finally dawned on him. "It has gotten a bit colder lately, and I doubt that staying in the terrarium during the winter would be good for you. But I can't just leave you out on the grounds. That nasty Mrs. Norris might find you and eat you while you're sleeping. Or that git Malfoy might try to take you while you're asleep."

Trevor croaked at him as he said that. Lately Trevor tended to croak whenever Neville mentioned Malfoy or the Slytherins in the toad's presence. "I'm not gonna leave you with Professor Kettleburn either. Who knows what he's got laying around that might eat you for dinner."

Casting a quick spell on the terrarium, Neville picked up Trevor and set the toad on the most soil. Closing the cover, he flicked his wand, causing a few crickets to drop from ledge and onto the ground before Trevor. Looking at the handful of small plants that he had planted in the terrarium, he smiled as he recalled how Professor Sprout had lent him some soil and a few plants for the terrarium.

"That's it!" he nearly shouted as Trevor snapped up a nearby cricket. "I'll take you to Professor Sprout. I'm sure she's got a garden aside from the greenhouses. You can probably stay there for the winter since she'll probably be unable to use an outdoor garden during the winter."

Trevor croaked as if in reply to Neville's idea.

Beaming, Neville smiled at Trevor before cleaning up his bed and heading back down to the common room and joining the others.

The entire house was gathered in the common room as all the Gryffindors were clearly anxious to be opening the season against Slytherin. Several of the older students wanted revenge for last years loss, which, as Lee had told Neville earlier, was very embarrassing.

"The house that wins the Quidditch Cup usually wins the House Cup as well," Percy explained to any first year that bothered to listen. "The points that the Quidditch teams get are added to the points for their house."

"So that means that Harry could win us an easy hundred and fifty points if he gets the golden snitch," Lavender said.

"More points then even Hermione can get in a month," Seamus joked as Hermione glared at him.

"More points then even we can loose in a month," Fred added as he and George tossed bags of peppermint frogs and various candies about the common room.

"If he gets the snitch in all three matches and we win them all, we should easily win the House Cup," Parvati chimed in as she snatched several peppermint frogs that George threw. "Course, that won't keep Hermione from trying to get more points for Gryffindor though."

"The way Snape keeps taking points from me and Harry in Potions, we'll lose whatever points Harry gets from catching the snitch," Neville added. Though he had intended it as a joke, he had obviously caught the others off guard with his remark.

"It's a good thing we have Hermione then," Dean added, prompting Hermione to glare at him.

"If Quidditch didn't get us any points, I'm sure Hermione would easily win the House Cup herself," Ron added. "She probably averages fifty points a day, if we don't include potions."

They continued to joke, though Neville thought that everyone seemed to have high expectations of Harry. As good as he was on a broom; Neville wondered how Harry would do in his first match. Yawning, Neville realized just how tired he was and nodded at the others before heading off to bed.

Waking early the next morning, Neville noticed that the boys' bathroom was fairly crowded. Despite it being fairly early still, too many people were anxious about the day's match to keep themselves in bed. Not wanting to wait too long to use the baths, Neville headed to another bathroom, only to find the same result.

"Morning Neville," Percy asked as the Prefect spotted him in the corridor. "Ah, didn't want to wait, eh?"

Neville, wearing his pajamas and holding onto his towel nodded. "Well, seems like everyone's up early today. Baths are full already. I'm just lucky that I get to use the Prefects' bathroom. Anyways, if you want to take a bath anytime soon, you should get in line."

An hour later Neville finally returned to his room. Looking at the time, he knew that Dean and Seamus would already be at breakfast, as he had seen them leaving the bathroom as he was just getting into the bath.

Picking up Trevor, he set the toad into his pocket and headed down to the great hall. Arriving just as the Quidditch team left, Neville sat across from Dean and Seamus. Eating his breakfast, Neville listened to Seamus as he explained the action he told Neville and Dean of the last match he had seen in person.

Finishing their food, Dean and Seamus eyed Neville. "Go on ahead," he replied as he reached for his goblet. "I'm going to stop by the greenhouses before I head out to the field. I'll meet you there."

Nodding, the pair stood up and headed back to the Gryffindor common room and dorms. A few minutes later Neville pushed his plates aside as he wiped his lips clean and stood up. Nodding in greeting to several Gryffindors who were still arriving or who were he had not noticed before, Neville smiled at them as he passed by them on his way out of the great hall.

Smiling as he patted the pocket that he had placed Trevor in, Neville made his way towards the greenhouses.

"I can't wait to see that idiot Potter falling off his broom," he heard a Malfoy say.

Looking up, Neville spotted Malfoy and his goons as they walked towards him. Just as he was about to turn back to avoid them, Trevor croaked loudly.

"Largebottom," Malfoy said as he made eye contact with Neville. "Get him!!"

Neville spun and ran, catching sight of Crabbe and Goyle as they set off after him. Feeling his adrenaline pumping, Neville didn't bother looking back at his pursuers, though he heard their loud steps as they chased him down the empty corridors.

Turning around a corner, Neville caught sight Crabbe and Goyle as they chased him. Somehow he had managed to put more ground between himself and Malfoy's goons. But where was Malfoy?

Taking another corridor, Neville realized his error. He had run into a loop. Stopping, he walked down the corridor, listening for his pursuers' footsteps. He could hear Crabbe and Goyle wheezing as they slowed their pace, knowing that they had him trapped. From the other end of the corridor Neville could hear Malfoy's footsteps as he closed in on him. Pacing back and forth, Neville drew his wand, not really sure what to do as he had yet to learn a decent hex or counter-curse.

Suddenly, Neville noticed a door. Hoping that Malfoy hadn't learned 'Alohomora' yet, Neville opened the door and slipped inside. "Colloportus!" he whispered as he aimed his wand at the door handle. Seeing his wand light up as the doorknob briefly glowed, Neville felt a wave of relief passing through him. "I'll have to thank Hermione for that one," he said to himself as he pressed his ear against the door, listening for signs of his pursuers.

"Where'd he go?" he heard Goyle shout.

"Obviously not here!" Malfoy screamed at his goons. "Did he take one of the side corridors?"

"I don't think so."

"What do you mean you don't think so?!"

"Well," Crabbe said barely loud enough for Neville to hear. They were just outside the door. Neville could hear his heart pounding, as he took a deep breath. Would they wait for him to come out if they couldn't get the door open, or would they simply leave since the Quidditch match was only an hour or so away?

"What'd he do, Apparate?"

"What!?" he heard Malfoy scream. "Like Longbottom could do something like that. He can't even turn his frog into something useful."

"Um, it's a toad," Crabbe corrected.

"I know that!" Neville could only imagine the look on Malfoy's face as he shouted at his goons for correcting him. "Crabbe, check the boys' bathroom down the hall. Goyle, you check the girls' bathroom."

Neville could hear them talking, though they were no longer standing close enough to the door nor shouting loudly so that he could hear their conversation. Clearly Goyle wasn't happy with going into the girls' bathroom to search for him, even though Malfoy had ordered him to do so. Hearing their footsteps as they ran down the hallway, Neville sighed in relief as he backed away from the door.

"Well, I can't wait in here forever, but I should wait until I know that they're gone for sure," he said to himself as he brought Trevor out of his pocket.

Looking around the room, Neville was surprised at how big the room really was. What he had taken for a broom closet or something of that nature, was actually a fairly nice sized room. "Well, I think they're gone by now," he said as he placed Trevor back into his pocket. Pulling out his wand, he opened the door. "Alohomora!" Opening the door, he peeked out. Seeing and hearing nothing, Neville quickly got out and closed the door behind him.

Several minutes later, Neville arrived at Professor Sprout's office. Having run most of the way, he was glad that he had managed to avoid Mr. Filch and Mrs. Norris, as well as Malfoy.

"Morning Neville," Professor Sprout said as she opened the door to her office. "Sorry dearie, you can't work in the greenhouses right now. I'm off to see the Quidditch match."

"Morning Professor Sprout," he replied, almost out of breath from running. "I'm not here for that." Pulling Trevor out of his pocket, he smiled weakly. "I was wondering if I could leave Trevor with you in one of the greenhouses or gardens over the winter."

Seeing Trevor in his hand, she nodded. "Ah, yes, I forgot about Trevor. He needs a place to hibernate over the winter, right?" Opening the door to her office, she stepped back into it. "Just set him in the garden out back. It's perfectly safe. Back when more students had toads they would just bring them here for the winter. Since Trevor seems to be the only toad here, he'll have the whole garden to himself."

Neville nodded as he entered her office and then quickly left through the back door. Smiling as he set Trevor down, he looked at the enclosed garden. The high stone fence and thick canopy top showed evidence of a thriving ivy plant as well as other vine plants that flourished here during the warmer seasons.

Standing up, he smiled as Trevor croaked at him before using his legs to burrow into the soft ground. "I'll come and check up on you whenever I'm here," he said to the toad as he slowly walked back into Professor Sprout's office. Sighing, he closed the door behind him as Professor Sprout waited for him.

"Don't worry about him," she said, reassuring him, "I'll check up on him. He's perfectly safe out there. There are still plenty of enchantments and spells that protect the garden and its inhabitants from danger."

Neville nodded as he smiled at the dumpy witch with her patched hat.

"Well, we better hurry if we want good seats for the match," she said as she closed the door behind them.

Arriving at the stands just as Hermione, Ron, Dean, and Seamus unfurled the banner they had painted, Neville was glad that they had saved him a seat.

Spotting the Gryffindor players as they walked to the field from the castle, the entire section around them erupted. Holding up the banner (which said 'Potter for President' and had a large Gryffindor lion beneath it, drawn by Dean the West Ham fan) they cheered as they spotted Harry. From their spot high in the stands, Neville barely saw Harry as he scanned the crowd. Spotting their banner, Neville thought that he saw Harry smile at them as the team headed into the lockers to change.

Soaking in the atmosphere around him, Neville wished that he could have seen a live Quidditch match before this. He could feel the electricity and excitement of everyone sitting in the stands.

Returning his focus on the match at hand, Neville cheered as the Harry and the others returned to the field. After brief formalities, the Bludgers and Golden Snitch were released. Tossing the Quaffle into the air, Madam Hooch and the fourteen players flew into the air.

In the back of his mind Neville listened to Lee Jordan's broadcasted voice. With Lee's help, Neville was able to follow the action in the air. Though high up in the air themselves, Neville had a hard time following the action as it zoomed everywhere.

Suddenly Neville felt the crowd around him moving. Looking around, Neville spotted the cause of the commotion. Hagrid, Harry's large friend and the grounds keeper at Hogwarts, was making his way over towards them, holding a large pair of binoculars. Though he didn't know Hagrid very well personally, he knew that the trio liked to visit him often in his hut by the edge of the grounds down by the forbidden forest.

Nodding a greeting at Hagrid (since any thing he said would have been drowned out by the screams and cheers), Neville returned his attention to the match above as Hagrid sat down.

Minutes into the match, Neville's attention was drawn to Harry as he went after the snitch, only to be blocked by one of the Slytherins. Following the action with the Quaffle, Neville stood up as the people standing in front of him blocked his line of sight.

Hearing many of the Gryffindor's around him gasp. He looked up, following their gaze, and spotted Harry on a bucking broom.

Terrified for Harry, Neville dropped his end of the banner as he followed Harry's plight.

"What are you doing?" he heard Ron shout.

Out of the corner of his eye Neville watched as Hermione had wrestled the binoculars away from Hagrid and was scanning the crowd. Whispering something to Ron, she pointed at one of the stands across the field as Ron took the binoculars from her.

With one eye on Harry, still fighting for control of his broom, and the other on Hermione and Ron, Neville forgot about the rest of the match.

As Hermione ran off, Neville continued to watch as the Weasley twins tried to assist Harry then settled on circling beneath him in hopes of catching him should he fall from such a great height.

Truly afraid for Harry, Neville barely realized that he had huddled up against Hagrid and was sobbing into the huge man's coat. It wasn't until Ron pulled him away from Hagrid that he realized that Harry was back on his broom, zooming towards the ground. Drying his eyes, Neville watched as Harry clapped his hand to his mouth and landed on all fours. Coughing something out into his hand, Neville looked on in amazement as he realized that Harry had caught the snitch.