The Other Chosen One [Harry Potter - Neville Longbottom Story]

The Letter

He breathed in deeply. As he exhaled slowly he eyelids fluttered open.

His first thought that morning was, 'Still here then?'

He hated it here, his grandma was always disappointed in him, all because he wasn't the great wizard who had his parents murdered by You Know Who, but he was the Squib who's parents were tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange.

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Yes. The small, podgy, black haired boy facing the mirror was Neville Longbottom, NOT Harry Potter.

Though in a few months they would meet and become close friends their relationship goes a lot deeper than that. Deeper than the scar on one boy's forehead, deeper than the love they feel for their friends and deeper still than the pain both feel for the loss and withdrawal of their parents. Much, much deeper.

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Neville's POV:
I trudged down into the kitchen to where my paternal grandmother awaited my return.

"Neville." She looked at me as I enter.

"Y... yes Gran?" I asked timidly, this wasn't a good start.

"This came for you."

I heart leapt into my mouth when I saw the letter on the table, "Oh my," I whispered.

I plucked the letter off the countertop and slowly scanned the address with my eyes. Yes that definitely was my name Neville Longbottom. Finally I turned the envelope over and tentatively peeled back the wax stamp showing "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" I knew I'd get in, even when my grandmother would always put me down and call me "Squib" and say I'd let my parents down... all because she never noticed my magic.

"Here," Gran handed me my father's wand. "You will use your father's."

I felt so honoured that I could carry a piece of him with me, even if he was ill from the torture he and my mother endured... I am and always will be so, so proud to call myself their son.

"Well?" Gran interrupted my thoughts, "What do you need?"

We read through the letter until we got to the last section about supplies.

"Ok, it says:

'Students will require:
1 wand,
1 cauldron, (pewter,standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials,
1 telescope,
1 set brass scales,

Students may also bring, if they desire, an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICK.'

"Oh Gran! Please can I get a toad please!"

I jumped up and down with my hands pressed together hoping she'd say yes.

"If you MUST then I suppose I can allow it." She rolled her eyes but I was too happy to care.

I WAS GOING TO HOGWARTS!