Chapter 62: Return to Hogwarts
"Goodbye Nan. I promise to write regularly." Neville hugged his Nan before separating from her at the manor gates. Lady Augusta just kissed her Grandson on the forehead and whispered, "Whatever you do Nev, make sure you are safe!"
"I promise," Nev replied before leaving her.
Inside the carriage, Pansy looked at the scene and just after Neville left his Nan, she jumped out of the carriage and ran straight into her arms. The poor girl had a life-changing experience in the last two months without the support of Lady Augusta, she would have been abandoned somewhere.
"Thank you…Lady Augusta. Thank you…" Pansy said after her tears opened the gate of her eyes and started flowing out.
"Hush. Sweet child… in future, just calls me Nan like Nev. You are a part of this family now and you will always be, in future. Now, go and enjoy Hogwarts. Try to find new friends and have a great year!" Lady Augusta calmed down the emotional teen and sent her back with some guidance.
Hermione already said her goodbye in the morning, and she just waved her hands from the carriage to lady Augusta.
The trio from Longbottom manor started their second-year journey after getting their respective owl notices. In the second year of Hogwarts, Neville is sure he will be facing a Basilisk and the very thought unsettled him.
Hermione is pumped up with newfound confidence and spirit. The new books that she wrote with Pansy are very popular among the first year and the adults who are new to the wizarding world.
The sales bought a lot of income for both of them. Hermione got a lot of money (only 1/10) and with that, she bought a lot of new books.
Most of these were outside the Hogwarts curriculum and some of these like Alchemy and its mastery and Voodoo - the art of African Magic are still taught in different schools.
Pansy, who pocketed most of the income from the books is not that happy about going back to Hogwarts. For her, that place brings nothing more than painful memories. Her friends had already abandoned her after some mere rumours with Neville and now, she is sure that no one will even talk to her.
However, thanks to Hermione's teachings, she learned a lot of new spells and if someone decided to play tricks on her, even a small one, she will show them her progress closely.
"I can't believe the holidays are over so soon! It was so much fun in the last month. Right, Pansy?" Hermione asked her new friend.
"You know I don't even want to go back. Everything I actually needed and wanted was already there back in Manor." Pansy replied in a low mood.
"Oh, come on! Don't be sad. I am sure your friends in Slytherin will welcome you back. This is a new year. They can't be angry with you till now!" Hermione replied but even she knew somewhere it was just empty words.
Slytherin doesn't make friends with the blood traitors, and this was what Longbottom's are after opening that Library. Blood traitors.
They gave precious knowledge that should belong to the pureblood families to the muggle wizards and witches. There is already a tide of hate and discrimination against their family in the wizarding world.
Neville will be safe in Gryffindor but Slytherin. It won't be a nice place for her. But she didn't say anything to Hermione. Hermione is too naïve in Pansy's books. Pansy shifted the topic to the Lord Saviour, Harry potter.
Harry potter escaped his uncle's home a month back and they all met him when Library opened. He was happy living with Weasley, and the twins were daring enough to use a flying car to rescue him.
"Well, who do you think will be the new professor for the DADA class? There is no news about this!" Hermione asked Nev who was lost in his own thoughts about the diary Horcrux and was silent during most of their journey.
"Who cares. I just hope he is not like the last one!" Neville replied without care and soon their carriage came near the Railway station.
The trio got off their carriage and made their way to the famous station of the wizarding world. One by one, they rushed towards the pillar and disappeared inside the platform of Platform 9¾.
Hurrying into the Hogwarts Express, the trio started searching for an empty compartment. "Let's grab some empty seats. Dean and Seamus will also join us I believe." Neville said and soon they moved to the backside.
"Finally!" Hermione said once she found an empty compartment and soon all five kids were sitting together.
Four Gryffindors and one Slytherin. The weirdest combination considering they were all friends now and no one was bullying the lone Slytherin. Well, a picnic with dragons is the best way to make best friends. That's for sure.
"Hey, you guys, check this out!" Seamus cried in excitement and used a simple floating charm on a small locket. However, the moment he bought his wand out and said "wingardium leviosa" the other four moved back or used a shield charm on them.
No way, who made Seamus a Pyrotechnician. This guy can even blow up a glass of water let alone a locket. But nothing happened. No, something happened but it didn't blow up.
"Woah! It is flying. Seamus used a flying charm, and it didn't blow up!" Dean was more excited than anyone in class considering his friend is also his roommate and he is often scared sometimes when Seamus is practicing his charms near him.
"It's not the locket, it's the gift from my aunt. You know, our Irish family has a long history of blowing things up on the mother's side. No one ever told me. But last week I got a letter from my aunt, and she gifted me these bracelets."
'Seamus as an Irish can blow things up via magic. Talk about stereotype and weed logic with Rowling. What the hell she was smoking anyway?!' thinking these things, Neville just chuckled while Seamus was showing the amazing focus Pocus Bracelets. These are famous for wizard kids who have difficulty focusing their magic on the target and act better with a wand.
"It's flying!" Neville suddenly said.
"Yes, we all know Neville," Dean replied from his side, but Neville suddenly said something that shocked the other five.
"I mean the car. Harry and Ron and flying in the car!" Neville said with a sigh and started laughing at the stupidity and bravery of the duo. At least it seems like they are having fun.