Neville Longbottom and the Philosopher's Stone

Part 4

"Err, yes," said Neville and before he could say anything else Gran hurried him on into the back yard. She tapped on the bricks with her wand to open up the passageway. "Who was that?" asked Neville.

"I have no idea," snapped Gran and led him through into Diagon Alley. Neville gaped in amazement. He had never been in Diagon Alley before, indeed he'd never been anywhere so busy before. The narrow street teemed with people jostling past each other and scurrying in and out of shops. The bright and inviting shop fronts drew Neville's attentive gaze, but Gran would not allow him to wait and pulled him along by the arm until they stood outside a tall, imposing marble building with bronze front doors. "Wait here," said Gran. "I'm going into the bank. Don't go running off anywhere, I'll only be a few minutes." Neville sat down obediently on the marble steps to wait, and tried to keep out of everybody's way.

Gran did not return soon and Neville became quickly bored. He sat idly fiddling with his shoelaces and watching the crowds go by. He felt a little uncomfortable and exposed among all these strangers and he wished his Uncle Algie had come. He and Auntie Enid had come round yesterday for Neville's birthday and fussed him a lot, but they apparently had some important business to do and couldn't stay. Neville liked them. They were a lot easier people to get on with than Gran.

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted when he was buffeted from behind by something. It knocked him to his feet and as he tried to regain his balance he tripped over his untied shoelaces and fell onto the street. A huge hand wrapped itself around his left shoulder and hauled him back to his feet. Neville looked up. And up. Standing in front of him was a huge figure, twice the height of a man and even broader, with an absurdly wild thick black beard and a broad grin.

"Sorry 'bout that," he said in a friendly voice. "Didn' notice ya sittin' there. No 'arm done, right?" He picked Neville up in one arm and dusted him down with the other. Neville just stared at him in amazement and backed away from him a few paces when he was set down. "Watch yerself, kid. Yeh'll trip over them shoelaces again." He took a pink umbrella from out of his overcoat and, taking a quick moment to glance around as if to check no one was looking, tapped the umbrella on Neville's

shoes. Neville's laces twirled themselves around and tied themselves up in neat bows. The huge man winked, sat down on the steps and held out his giant right hand. "Pleased to meet yeh, youn' lad. Rubeus Hagrid, that's me."

"Er, Neville Longbottom," said Neville timidly, taking his hand, which the man shook so vigorously Neville thought his arm was going to fall off.

"Course you are, lad. I should've known we'd be seein' you sooner or later."

"Oh," said Neville and looked away. He thought of Professor Dumbledore's words and put his head down so the man couldn't see his scar.

"Chin up, lad," said Hagrid. "You shouldn' look so glum. It's a fine day, yer soon goin' to Hogwarts, yeh should be 'appy."

Neville looked up. "D'you know Hogwarts?" he said.

"Do I know Hogwarts?" replied Hagrid. "Didn' I say? Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." He put out his right hand again.

"You already did that bit," said Neville.

"Did I? Oh, sorry. No, there's not a man alive who knows more 'bout Hogwarts than I do. 'Cept maybe Filch. An' Dumbledore, of course. That man knows everythin', he does." Neville warmed to the strange man with his easy-going nature. Praise of Dumbledore was good enough for him. "So what you doin' then, sittin' 'ere all on yer own?" asked Hagrid.

"Gran's in the bank. She told me to wait."

"Wanted to keep yeh clear of the goblins, did she? Smart move, I reckon."