The Chosen One [#Wattys2016]

THE LIGHTNING SHAPED SCAR

Uncle Algie was so pleased that he promised Neville to buy him his animal.

After Neville had safely landed in the garden, his grandmother had run out on hearing Algie's shrieks and whoops, only to find her grandson sitting on the grass, bewildered and staring at his hands.

An owl had reached them a week later, two days after Neville's eleventh birthday.

He had never before received a letter, but here it was, clearly addressed to him –

Mr. N. Longbottom

The Blue Room

7 Aspen Avenue

Devonshire

The envelope was thick and heavy and made of yellowish parchment. The address was written in emerald-green ink. It was stamped with a purple wax seal bearing a coat of arms; a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake surrounding a large letter H. And it was from Hogwarts! Neville was so excited that he spilled his grandmother's tea, which earned him a whack on the head and two hours of gardening work. By the time he had finished his punishment, showered and eaten lunch, he was bouncing on his feet.

His hands shook when he opened the letter at last. He pulled it out and read –

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,

Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards )

Dear Mr. Longbottom,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

He unfolded a second piece of paper that contained his book list.

That night, while Neville brushed his teeth, he smiled goofily in the mirror at the thought of finally going to the best magic school there was. And he got to go to Diagon Alley in London. And he would get a wand. Thinking happily of his latest adventure, he went to bed. The only thing that saddened him was that he would see Brittany only during holidays, but then, he realised, even she would have to go to school. She wouldn't have that much time now, would she? Cheered and consoled by that thought, he fell asleep.

Later that night, he woke with a terrible pain in his chest. The old scar on his chest, near his heart, was burning as though someone had pressed a white hot iron to it. He lay flat on his back, breathing hard as though he had just sprinted. The pain was so bad that he could barely reach the water glass on his bedside table.

"Gran!" he shouted, even though she too would be fast asleep. To his amazement, she came running into his room.

Neville was in for another surprise, when, instead of a sharp telling off about how he shouldn't wail like little babies, his grandmother fussed over his scar. She spoke a quiet spell under her breath and he felt incredibly calm, even though his scar still hurt like hell.

The next morning, he was allowed to sleep till late and when he came down for breakfast, he found his grandmother sitting on the dining table chair, waiting. She let him eat toast and eggs to his fill and then said –