friends, never ememies ; NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM

TWENTY-TWO

SCOTLAND, HOGWARTS GROUNDS 

"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" The headmaster, Professor Dumbledore stood at his podium with his all too familiar half moon glasses at the edge of his long nose, his white beard and hair that both reached to the top of his knobbly knees hidden underneath his pale blue robes which lead down to his ankles. "I have a few things to say before we become befuddled by our excellent feast. I myself am particularly looking forward to the flaming kiwi cups which, while somewhat treacherous for those of us with facial hair,"  he chuckled, the already sorted first years that sat at their house tables began to chuckle along. "Oh uh yes I'm pleased to welcome Professor R J Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense against the Dark Arts. Good luck to you Professor," Dumbledore announced as he stood up and the whole of the great hall applauded the new chair.

"potter..potter!" Malfoy growled from behind Harry and Ron. two boys turned to see Malfoy with his fresh new hair cut of the trending curtains, Crabbe and Goyle seated opposite him, Pansy Parkinson seated next to the large boys. Dracos new mate Blaise Zabini who was a black male and sat beside the pale boy. "is it true you fainted?" he snarled, Blaise dramatically fell onto the Slytherin table, earning a loud chuckle from their spot. "i mean you actually fainted?" he laughed at the raven haired boy.

"shove off Malfoy," Ron growled at the Slytherin, shoving his mate away from Malfoy.

"how did he find out?" Harry looked up to his mates through his round glasses. y/n glared to where slytherins sat snickering.

"just forget it," Hermione reassured, all their heads turning back to where Dumbledore stood proudly.

 "As some of you may know, Professor Grubblyplank, out cater of magical creatures teacher for many years has decide to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs, Fourtunatly, in delighted to announce that his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeous Hagrid!" Dumbledore announce as the room cheered once again, Hagrids face went a deep red as he stood up and sent the water goblets flying. 

hermione and y/n were noticablly the loudest ones cheering for the large man, seamus behind using his pinkie fingers to whistle, ron and harry cheering loudly, dean shoving seamus back onto his seats, meanwhile the rest of the hall grew silent.

 "On a more serious note," he paused and Hagrid sat down. "Hogwarts, at the request of the ministry of magic will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban," he announced causing a variety of conversations to scatter across the room. "The dementors will be stationed at the entrances to the grounds. While thy are under strict orders not to enter the castle itself, you will go on about you daily activities. Under no circumstances are you to approach them. It is not in the nature of dementor to be forgiving," continued Dumbledore. "But you know happiness can be found in the darkest of places, only if one remembers to put on the light," his hand waved over the candle flickering beside his eye and hovered over it, light it back on.

each house took turns in leading their students out to the great halls doors, not to mention in years. so as they left the hall y/n's small group of mates could see the cluster of second years opposite them. y/n walked along with Neville Longbottom, his toad Trevor scooped in her palms, she stroked the toads scales whilst Neville and Dean Thomas had a conversation about their new subjects they were excited for.

"Here listen, she just won't let me in," seamus began, the third year dawdling behind the second years that they were locked out of their common room. Everyone paused at the top of the stairs facing towards the Fat Lady portrait.