Neville Longbottom and the Philosopher's Stone

Part 3

But just as he was finishing, there was what sounded like a loud 'pop' from the garden and then shortly afterwards a heavy knock on the front door. Both Gran and Neville were surprised. They hardly ever got visitors, except when Uncle Algie and Auntie Enid came to stay. Gran hurried to the door and Neville cautiously followed, poking his head round the kitchen door to see who it was.

When Gran opened the door, a very elderly wizard with a long white beard and wearing bright purple robes and half-moon glasses was standing there. Gran jumped a little and her hand went to her mouth.

'Good morning, Augusta,' said the wizard brightly. 'I know you weren't exactly expecting me and I apologise, but after all, it is perhaps not such of a surprise I am here today, is it not?'

Gran paused for a moment and then nodded. 'I guess not, Professor. Come in, come in.'

'Thank you, Augusta,' said the wizard, stepping over the threshold. 'Neville has received his letter by first owl, then? Good, good. It is time, Augusta. It is time the boy was told the truth.'

Neville hurried back to his chair and sat down as Gran and the mysterious wizard came into the kitchen. 'Get up, get up Neville,' said Gran. 'Greet our guest properly. Neville, this is Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.'

Neville swallowed nervously, but the wizard seized his hand and shook it vigorously. 'It's been a long time, Neville. How are you?' he asked.

'W-w-w-well, P-p-p-professor,' stammered Neville. He wasn't good around strangers. 'B-but sir, we've never met.' He had heard of him, for sure, Dumbledore was legend, but Neville had encountered few people in his short life and this was not one of them, he was sure.

'Ah, yes,' said Dumbledore. 'Excuse me a moment.' He took out a wand, gave it a wave and a large plush armchair appeared in front of him in the middle of the kitchen. He settled into it. 'Does me good to rest my feet,' he smiled. 'Sit down Neville, I have some things I must tell you. It is perhaps only now that you are ready to hear them.'

Neville sat awkwardly and looked nervously up at Gran. 'It's alright,' she said. 'Don't worry Neville. We agreed when we took you in that this day would come. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. We felt it was for the best.'

Neville looked searchingly at Dumbledore, whose face was sad. 'I am only sorry George is not able to be here today,' he said, glancing at Gran. 'He was a good man, and a fine wizard, Augusta.' Gran merely nodded silently. Neville thought of poor old Grandad and his smiling face and how he'd wasted away. Neville had been there when he died. That had been four years ago now. He still missed him.

Neville was absently drifting away into memory, but a gentle cough from Dumbledore brought him back to the present. 'Neville, when you've been out and about among other wizards, have you ever had strange looks or people acting oddly towards you? As if they know you?'

'N-Not really,' said Neville. 'But we don't go out much.'

'We thought it best to keep him away from all that, Professor,' said Gran. 'We did our best to shield him from the trouble it would cause.'

'Quite, quite,' said Dumbledore. 'But a boy needs to understand the world, Augusta.'

'We taught him well. He knows all about our world.'

'I was not talking about our world, Augusta. I meant the world in general. Life. But I trust that Hogwarts will teach him that. Indeed it is more important than any magic we teach there.' He turned back to Neville who was reminiscing again. Now he thought about it, he did recall some odd instances in the past... He looked up. Dumbledore was smiling at him and looking into his eyes. 'Yes,' he said, and lifted up his hand and gently brushed aside Neville's hair from his forehead. 'It was because of your scar.'