Nadine Longbottom - Harry Potter Fanfiction

1. Demented Memories

Nadine was about to start her third year at Hogwarts now. She was sitting with Neville on the floor, eyeing the clock hanging on the wall, waiting for it to strike twelve. Nadine and Neville were about to turn thirteen in five minutes.

Neville's head was resting on Nadine's shoulder. Just when Neville was about to doze off, the clock struck twelve. She let out a little squeal and Neville woke up startled. Augusta came inside to wish her grandchildren and placed a kiss on both their cheeks. Nadine was happy to see Agusta forget her fear of her fire magic.

In the morning Augusta made them a small cake and gave the kids their gifts. Nadine got her mother's old diary. Alice had asked Augusta to pass it on to Nadine if something happened to her during the war so Nadine would get to know her better. An owl had delivered Hermione's gift which was a book 'Wandlore by Garrick Ollivander'. Nadine wanted this book since the time she visted Ollivanders wand shop. She found Wandlore really fascinating. Neville's gift was unexpected. He gave Nadine a shiny red box, when she opened it confetti burst out it, to which Nadine was giggling, but when a lock of her own hair, which had turned hot pink fell in her face, Nadine let out a high pitched scream. Neville was clutching his sides and laughing but he reassured Nadine that the colour would wear off in a week. Nadine got a really thoughtful gift for Neville; she got a Holly plant for him which symbolizes peace and goodwill and also, its wood is used in making wands.

When Nadine woke up the next day grand uncle Algie visited them. They had a small tea party and Nadine and Neville were engrossed in their books for the rest of the day. When she wasn't reading, Nadine was racking her brain to think of a gift for Harry, but it seemed Nadine wasn't a pro at giving gifts.

In the evening Nadine went into her parents room. Although Alice and Frank would never come back to live in the room, Augusta believed in cleaning their room every week. There were two boxes lying on the floor. Both had scribbled words on them. One was for Neville and one for Nadine. She took the boxes into her room, and went through her box. She found some pictures from her childhood. There were several photos of her mom and dad and another couple who Nadine knew as James and Lily Potter. There were some photos of Harry and herself. Finally Nadine knew what to gift Harry.

There were some pictures of Sirius Black too, the mass murderer who escaped Azkaban. He was in pictures with her parents and James and Lily. There were some pictures of Sirius Black with Harry, Neville and Nadine herself. There was one such picture in which Neville was sitting on Sirius' shoulders and Sirius had picked up Nadine and Harry in both of his arms. Nadine was tugging at Sirius' long hair and Harry and Neville were giggling. Alice, Frank, James and Lily were in the picture too. The picture clearly meant that the Longbottoms and Potters were really close friends with Sirius Black and from what Gran had told her, he was the reason Harry's parents were dead and there was a possibility of him being a Death Eater. That made Nadine hate Sirius Black with every fibre of her being.

Nadine had started reading the book 'Wandlore' which was a gift by Hermione,  reading about different wand woods and cores used for wand making. She was done reading the book by the evening. While reading, a thought about her own wand had began to resurface, which Nadine thought she had forgotten about. She clearly remembered when Ollivander had told her about her wand sharing it's wood with Voldemort. Her thoughts had been plagued by the topic. What if she become evil like him? What if she become stone hearted like him and his followers, who killed people ruthlessly and just for fun? It had become her fear now, an insecurity that had a tight grip on her.

Ron had sent an owl saying that they were going to be at DiagonAlley on August 31st. Nadine asked Gran to let her stay the night at The Leaky Cauldron with the Weasleys. Gran was reluctant because of Sirius Black being on the loose but eventually agreed.