Know Thyself {Neville Longbottom}

I. Mimbulus Mimbletonia

Stink sap from this plant can be used to nurse ill animals.

"You reay to go sis?"

I smiled up at my older brother, Benny, and nodded my head. Yes, I thought, I am absolutely ready to attend my fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

I followed him onto the train until we found an empty compartment. As soon as we had put our trunks away he rushed back out to find his girlfriend, Tamera Dawson. I sighed and pulled out one of the many books I had brought from my trunk. Benny is a year older than me, making this his sixth year at Hogwarts. He and Tamera have been dating on and off for about a year, much to my confusion. Their relationship puzzled me because it seemed like all they ever did was snog or fight. Tamera isn't the most fantastic person to be with. She's very demanding and determined to have Benny all to herself, all the time. I've tried consulting Benny about her, but he just tells me to bugger off so I decided not to meddle with their mercurial romance.

I settled down with a book about magical creatures as I was quite interested in Magizoology and began to read, vaguely aware of the train moving.

After a few chapters I looked up to find the car still empty, save for myself. I shifted into a more comfortable position and resumed reading, but only proceeded a few more pages when I heard a knock on the car door. I glanced up and grinned at the sight of my best friend, Cece Bruins. Her real name is Clarisse, but she isn't fond of it so most people know better than to address her as such. She slid the door open, and dropped a large bag on the seat opposite me. I set my book down and pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. We hadn't seen each other all summer, because her parents don't approve of our friendship.

It's mainly because I'm not a pure-blood witch, also I'm a Hufflepuff and Cece's a Slytherin so they don't hold me in very high regards. Unfortunately, her parents are pure-blood wizards who think themselves better than anyone who isn't of noble descent. Thankfully, Cece is nothing like them; one of the reasons we became friends. During breaks we can only write to each other but at Hogwarts we spend every minute possible together.

As we both sat down, giggling with happiness, I stared at the bag next to her. She laughed and tossed it to me. "I figured we needed something to snack on while we spill our hearts out to each other."

I laughed and opened the bag to find it piled high with all of our favorite sweets. "Blimey Cece, what place did you raid this time?"

"Shhh! Not so loud!" She said as I poured out the candy next to me. I grabbed a Chocolate frog and tossed her one, laughing despite my efforts to be serious.

"So, tell me everything!" she said eagerly. I smiled and moved to sit by her as we began our annual train ride conversation. Awhile later, our stomachs were filled with sweets and our faces red from laughter.

"You're kidding me! He really fell over in his chair just as he was about to kiss you?" I said, trying not to choke on my third chocolate frog.

"I'm serious, he's leaning towards me one second and then the next he's on the floor! Of course it totally ruined the moment, especially because I started laughing, but I still don't see why he hasn't written since then." She said shrugging.

I shook my head and stood up, checking my pocket watch as I did.

"Blimey, is it that late already? I'd better take my brother's robes to him so he doesn't forget to change before we arrive."

"Are you sure you're the younger sibling?" Cece asked jokingly.

"Sometimes I wonder..." 

I rummaged through his trunk until I found them, and told Cece I'd be back in bit.