What Could Have Been - Harry Potter

Neville (Gryffindor)

{ published: 2_th october 2014. }

written for The Sorting Hat's Challenge, Twister Challenge, Greek Mythology Mega Prompt Challenge (epimetheus), Harry Potter Chapter Competition (The Sorting Hat), Pick a Card, Any Card Challenge (Jack of Spades), Pokemon Journey Challenge (1, go to the lab) & As Much As You Can Competition.

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Gryffindor. House of the brave, courageous and determined; House of Minerva McGonagall; House of Neville Longbottom.

Neville was a chubby, meek boy; cute, but chubby and meek. He was also hopelessly forgetful, and his Remembrall (a gift from his grandmother) always served as a reminder to his attention span. On top of that, he was clumsier than any of the other students combined. However, in spite of his flaws, he was a proud Gryffindor, and he would always be accepted into the House of Lions.

- - - - - - - - - -

(To this day, he wasn't entirely sure why he'd been put into Gryffindor of all places)

- - - - - - - - - -

"You're a definite Hufflepuff, aren't you?" the Hat mused. "That much is obvious."

'Oh. I see...' Neville responded shyly. 'Um, okay then.'

"What's the matter?"

Neville squeaked. 'Nothing, it's just that...'

"...Is there a particular House that you'd like instead?"

The magical hat of Godric G. was pulled further down the boy's face in embarrassment. 'My mum and dad were in Gryffindor, and I kinda want to be like them.'

"Yes, you're a Longbottom, aren't you? Your parents were strong Gryffindors. You carry their blood."

'I do?'

"Now, that doesn't mean that you have to chose the same House – Gryffindor will parry against your personality often."

'I don't care.'

Neville slapped a hand over his lips, but the damage had been done. Why had he let that rudeness slip-!

The Sorting Hat laughed.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

- - - - - - - - - -

(Dazed with happiness, he had ran off with it still on his cap. It laughed again)

- - - - - - - - - -

Present time. "That ends our show!" the Weasley twins called, bowing. A burst of applause swelled out from the crowd, and even if his hair was caked in frogs-spawn, Neville couldn't help but clap out of awe at their performance. One of the redheads winked and Evanesco'd away the eggs, whilst the other shushed everyone and ushered them back to bed before McGonagall discovered their late-night escapades. Neville hurried up the stairs to drop onto his bed, and already in pajamas, he cuddled into the pillows.

Dean/Seamus's snores soon filled their shared dormitory, and Neville closed his lids in an attempt to get some shut-eye. Mind buzzing, the Pureblood sighed and turned on his side. Automatically, his eyes fell on the empty beds across the room.

Five beds, three students. Apparently there had been an odd number of Gryffindors this year; three less than there should have been. Two males, one female, he had heard. Supposedly, they were Sorted into each of the other Houses. How odd.

His thoughts slowed as exhaustion embraced Neville, and he succumbed to the welcome doze. He drifted off, his dreams filled red: associated to violence as it was, the ruby also promised honour and great things to come. Inside, he grinned.

- - - - - - - - - -

(Neville was by far the most unlikely candidate for his House, but still in his House he was)

He was a true Gryffindor.

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WORD COUNT: 500.

prompts used: no words can end with the letter 'h'; alternatively, write about Neville Longbottom; alternatively, write about someone being Sorted; alternatively, write about any House.

A/N: and neville earns the final chapter because after hermione hesitated, ron picked the safest option, and harry was baited by the promise of power, neville is the only one worthy of being gryffindor because (like in canon) he chose to be brave even with the odds stacked against him. that was the basis of this whole fic: that the choice to become a gryffindor is what makes a gryffindor, which is where this version of the golden trio went quite wrong.

expect an epilogue.
- crystalcanon.

{ original chapter: 2_th october 2014. 
updated a/n: 23rd august 2020. }