The Domino Effect (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

CHAPTER 10: Neville and the Twins

Eight-year-old Neville is pouting. He was still pissed off that his Uncle Algie and grandmother dragged him all the way here. He wanted to spend time alone for his birthday, preferably in the Longbottom greenhouses. It's his birthday too. Just because his grandmother promised him cake after this, doesn't mean he should be here. Neville rarely has a party on his birthday. In the past, his grandmother would occasionally get sick so there are some limits on celebrations at the manor.

Another problem Neville is facing is he hasn't shown any magic at all. He has three more years until his eleventh birthday and he is worried about what would become of him if he won't receive his Hogwarts letter. There is a high chance he might not see his eleventh birthday. The Longbottom tradition is to push the child to the extremes so he or she could release magic. His own uncle threw him unto the lake and if it wasn't for his grandmother, he could have died.

So here he is looking around. He saw Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones being accompanied by Luna. He wanted to venture over there but his uncle insisted that he spend time with the boys so he shifted his attention to the older Weasley brothers, Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the twins but he could not find them either.

Godric Potter has become a Mini-Lord Potter with his bird's nest hair and his hazel eyes behind those round glasses. Lord Potter was very proud of him. He was always with Ron Weasley who is his best friend. Neville doesn't like Ron. He thinks he's obnoxious and he doesn't like Godric because he hates how Neville has to come here every time because of him.

Godric wasn't a bad guy, in fact, he is rather pleasant to talk to, Neville just doesn't like him. Seamus Finnegan is also with them today. The blonde, Irish boy was as enthusiastic as Godric. People think they are going to be the golden trio. Everyone expects them to be in Gryffindor and is going to rule the school. Lord Potter keeps reminding them that if they went to Hogwarts they might be nothing left. Lady Potter slaps his husband on his head for that comment.

Sometimes Neville thinks it's unfair. What about him? Neville is pretty sure he'd wind up in Gryffindor too, just like his parents but there are times he doubts himself. He doesn't have magic yet, how can he be sure he'd wind up in Gryffindor? Some of them had the nerve to comment to him that he might wind up in Hufflepuff and they made it sound like it was an insult.

"There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuff, you know." Fred or George said right behind him.

Neville was surprised. "Where were you two?"

George or Fred, Neville couldn't tell them apart yet, replied. "Oh, let's just say we did something for a while." There were a few shouts outside and the Weasley twins grinned. Neville knew the two did another prank. Lord Potter seemed to like their pranks and would often invite the twins for prank wars but the women are not amused by it.

"What you do?" Neville asked.

"Oh, let's just say a few guys..."

"...got their just deserts."

It was their discrete way of saying they did something to the food. Neville took note never to touch anything they are offering.

"They were talking nonsense..."

"...about Hufflepuffs being duffers..."

"...they didn't even know..."

"...that there are a lot of people here who are Hufflepuffs..."

"...Like Mister Diggory..."

"...And Madam Bones..."

Neville shook his head; he was getting dizzy looking back and forth on the twins.

"...We might end up in Hufflepuffs..."

"...I dunno Gred, they are a stickler for rules those Badgers..."