How It Started

Chapter 16 - Neville Longbottom.

As we exited the class-room, I couldn't help but eye Harry. Sure, we were learning about the houses but why had he asked that question? Did he have queries about his Gryffindor status? I couldn't see why, I mean judging by the trophies we had passed by today, his father was a Gryffindor champion.

As I was eyeing Harry, I had failed to notice the concrete pole we were ever so quickly approaching. I finally noticed it, as I walked directly into it. My nose began to hurt immensely as I made direct contact with the concrete, I stepped back slowly and couldn't see very clearly because of the small tears welling in my eyes.

I began rubbing my nose, not looking as I continued stepping back. I fell into someone and we both fell to the floor, I looked around to try and see who I had just fallen on top of.

" Bloody hell, Neville. " Ron mumbled, I sat up immediately, quick to apologise to Ron who shrugged it off, offering me his hand to stand up. I nodded, wiping the small tears off of the inner corners of my eye.

" Everyone alright? " Asked a very amused Harry, I nodded again, not finding the power in my voice to respond.

I had just embarrassed myself, in front of what I had hoped would be my future friends. After the small event that had just taken place, would they wish to be friends with such a destructive person?

No-one seemed to say anything or move for a short moment, but then Hermione asked if we should continue now everyone was alright. I looked at the ground as they walked on ahead, looking around to see how else I should make my way to the common room.

" Neville - are you coming? " Vesper asked, I looked over at them to see them all waving me over. I smiled, glad they'd still wish I be their friend and I ran over to catch up.

" Confused us for a second there Neville. " Ron said, patting me on the shoulder. I smiled at this as we began our walk down the hall's and to the common room, we stepped inside and sat on the sofa's around the fire place.

No one said much, as we all settled into the sofa's and we all became, well I assume we all became quite comfortable with the silence. I kicked my leg's up onto the sofa and earnt myself a glare from Vesper, I set my leg's back down as Hermione burst out laughing as well as Harry.

Ron eyed me sympathetically.

" She acts like she is everyone's mom. " Ron said to me, I smiled at this.

" I reckon she'd hurt you, if you didn't follow these rules. Judging by her glares. " Hermione laughed at this, setting her hands in her lap.

" She wouldn't hurt a fly, I believe. " She smiled at Vesper, who in return smiled back.

I felt a great deal of comfort by this playful teasing atmosphere that we had created. We sat there and continued to talk and joke around with each other and at the end of the few hours, we had covered no homework but we had expanded on our friendship's.

" Weren't we supposed to write a potions essay? " Hermione asked, as we were nearing 2 hours of just talking amongst ourselves. Vesper's eyes widened at this.

" Yeah and it's three pages AND due tomorrow. " She said, very matter-of-factly but also slightly worried. Hermione nodded, also seemingly now more stressed.

" It's alright guys. It's the first day, I'm sure he won't be too fussed. " I comforted, they both nodded but still had a panicked look written plainly on their faces.

Ron's own eyes widened and for a short moment, I believed maybe he was concerned about the essay's due.

" Dinner begins in 10 minutes! " He gasped, immediately raising and looking around at us, he ushered with his hand's for us to also follow after him. Biting down a laugh, which all the other's didn't quite manage to mask, we all walked out of the common room and down the winding hall's that would lead to the great hall.

" I swear, your only personality trait is liking food. " Vesper said, Ron shot her a glare and shook his head aggressively fast.

" I'm also incredibly funny.. " He opened his mouth to continue but no word's came out, no biting on my tongue could stop the laugh that escaped me and the other's. Ron began laughing too and we entered the great hall as a big laughing mob.

All of our joy suddenly plummeted as a face obstructed my view.

It was Malfoy.

The bad Malfoy.

" Salutations, dear brother of mine. " Vesper said, doing a mini salute with her hand mockingly. Draco's mouth pressed into a hard line, as he crossed his arm's. Behind him were too very large children.

" What? " Vesper asked after a moment of silence.

Draco's eyebrow's furrowed in mockful misery. He pressed the back of his palm to his forehead, as he fell dramatically into one of the boy's. They righted him again.

" Do I not have the honour of being introduced to your friend's, Vess? " Vesper's eyebrows now drew together, had he called her Vess?

" I told you not to call me nicknames, Draco. " She said, a scary anger now present in her voice. She composed herself again, the joyful smile replacing the angry stare that had been prominent before.

" And plus, I haven't been introduced.. to these two.. lovely specimen. " She said with a half-hearted smile, he shrugged her off, promptly walking back to his own table. We walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down around each-other.

" Vess, huh? " Ron asked, instead of getting angry as she did before, she rolled her eyes, playfully elbowing him.

" I just don't like HIM, calling me nicknames. " She answered, her eyes flitting over to the Slytherin table for a short moment.

" I don't think anyone would like him calling them nicknames, I feel bad for his future girlfriend, if he ever get's one. " I blurted out, Ron raised his eyebrows at me. And Vess.. I mean Vesper smiled.

" That was a brilliant insult Neville. Now say it to his face. " She suggested, I gulped, looking back at my food. Everyone erupted into a large fit of laughter. I couldn't help but smile as I stared at my plate.

I had finally found my people.