Neville Longbottom and the Philosopher's Stone

Part 18

Neville hesitated. He remembered what he had seen in the Mirror of Erised before Christmas. He did want to be stronger, to be better than he was. But most of all he wanted people to care about him, to care for him. He looked up at Quirrell and the hideous face of Voldemort and he knew without question that Voldemort did not care for anyone but himself. He kept reminding himself who this man was. "W-what do I want? I want my parents," he stammered, forcing out each word through a mouth that seemed locked in fear and refused to open.

Voldemort laughed again. "No spell returns the dead to life. I hope you've been taught that. The dead stay dead and gone, lost forever. Your parents were fools, they stood and died with no thought for themselves, as if they could hope to save you. Your mother especially, she died needlessly as though living on meant nothing to her. Do not make their mistake, boy. Give me the Stone, and live."

Neville took a step backwards and clutched the Stone more tightly in his hand. For a moment it seemed he was detached from his body, seeing through someone else's eyes. He heard himself say "No" in a frail voice and felt himself turn to run. He heard Voldemort yell "Stop him!" and Quirrell move. He felt a hand seize him on his shoulder and twist him round.

Now he was back in his body, forced in by the searing pain through his scar. He fought as hard as he could as Quirrell pinned him down and scrabbled at his right hand for the Stone. Quirrell seized his wrist in an attempt to shake the Stone free and suddenly a whole new level of pain shot through him. But Quirrell seemed to feel it more and his hand jerked free from the wrist. Neville thrust up his left palm onto Quirrell's chin to push him away. Again the pain came, but this time Neville could not remove his hand. Quirrell beat at Neville's right arm with his fist but he screamed in agony as if he was burning. "What's happening?" he cried. His skin was beginning to blister and behind him the face of Voldemort was writhing on his skull. Suddenly his other hand came plummeting down on the side of Neville's head and everything went black.