A Magical Adventure (HP/GOT/MCU)

Chapter 28: The Summer Holidays (Part 2)



29th July 1992

Granger Residence

"Hermione, dear, time to wake up."

Blinking profusely, Hermione lifted her head to discover that they were finally home. Emerging from the car, she stretched luxuriously before trotting back to the trunk to help with the unpacking. Grabbing up her two bags, Hermione followed her parents up the drive.

Inside, she made her way up the stairs and thence to her room. After kicking the door shut behind her, Hermione dropped her bags with a groan. Only here in the safety of her own room could she feel free to complain about the weight of her bags.

For as long as she could remember, her parents had always had the same holiday deal: she could buy any books she liked, provided that she would be the one to carry them, without complaining. Sure, she could have used the spacially expanded bookbag she got for Christmas, but it was best not to arouse suspicion in public by stuffing two large bags worth of books into a small backpack.

A soft chime alerted her to the arrival of a message from her friends. Friends! Hermione could still scarcely believe that she had not one, but three people she could call friends.

Children can be cruel, she would be the first to admit that. She had tried to make friends in primary school, and all she got in return were names like 'buck-toothed bookworm', 'know-it-all' and 'teacher's pet'. Childish insults no doubt, but they hurt all the same.

Then, almost two years ago something happened that explained why she was different - Hermione Granger was a witch! While her mum and dad had taken some convincing of this fact, the instant Professor McGonagall had spoken those special words Hermione had known deep down this was indeed true. This is why she didn't fit in with the children in her class, because they were not like her.

Well, Hermione Granger was done with being an outsider, she was going to a place where everyone would be the same as her - a place where she would finally have friends.

Saying goodbye to her parents at the barrier had been hard, but a new life awaited her and she was quite prepared to run through a brick wall to get there. On her first sight of platform 9 3/4, it wasn't the bright red Hogwarts Express that caught her attention. It was the group of four witches already in their green-trimmed Hogwarts robes that drew Hermione like a moth to a flame. Unfortunately, just like said moth, she got burned. Deciding to introduce herself, Hermione was met with looks of disgust and derision.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. She was supposed to be among peers. She was supposed to make friends. Confidence severely dented, she quietly boarded the train and sat down in an empty compartment in the company of her only friend, a book. A young boy entered, but she didn't try to initiate a conversation. It was of no use, it was just going to be the same as primary school.

And then another boy walked into the compartment followed by a bespectacled boy with messy hair. There was something about the boy, maybe it was his carefree smile, maybe it was the way he carried himself or maybe it was just the quiet confidence he exuded.

They started talking, and then Benjamin ("friends call me Ben") dazzled her with displays of magic that she could hardly believe were performed by a first year. She had spoken her thoughts too rapidly, as she usually did when nervous, and at once regretted it. Her parents had told her that she could sound rather severe that way. It was one of the main reasons why she couldn't make any friends.

She was prepared to be shunned once again, or atleast politely ignored. Instead, Ben had taken her quirk in good humour. He hadn't been offended because she wouldn't agree with him instantly. He calmly explained his points and demonstrated facts. It was easily the most engaging conversation she had ever had with someone of her own age. The passion with which he spoke about his desire to learn everything about magic at Hogwarts mirrored her own. Finally, there was someone she could relate to!

The last year that she had spent at Hogwarts was easily the most wonderful time in her life. She made friends, real friends, she learnt magic, and she had someone who would constantly challenge her. Ben had been learning magic for years, and it showed in the way he did everything so effortlessly. A part of her was vexed, it wasn't fair that he got a headstart. On the other hand, Ben was never puffed up about his success. Quite the opposite, he was ever so humble and helpful.

She really liked her new friends, but there was something about Ben that she couldn't quite place. Maybe it was the way he sometimes spoke, sounding so sure as if he knew it was going to happen. Or maybe it was because he was never really surprised at anything, as if he expected things to happen that way.

That puzzle was solved last month after they stopped Quirrel (and apparently Voldemort!). It turns out, Ben could see the future, or atleast possible futures. She was fascinated by the concept of the multiverse and couldn't wait to question Ben in detail. She wondered what happened to her in the future he had seen.

After all, Ben didn't exist in that world (she still had a hard time believing that). Was she still friends with Harry and Neville? Was she in Ravenclaw? Was she happy? What did she do after Hogwarts? These questions had plagued her mind the first few days after she came back from school.

But as she spent time with her mum and dad, and exchanged messages with her friends, she realised it doesn't matter what happened in another world. She has friends here, she is happy now, and what she does after Hogwarts is her choice. She would still pick Ben's mind about the things that he had seen, but for now she was content.

Picking up the diary, she smiled as she saw Ben's message. Getting a pen from her table, she started writing back.

Ben - Hi, Hermione. How are you doing? Are you back yet?

Hermione - Hi, Ben. I'm doing fine. We just got back, haven't even started unpacking yet. Are you and Harry alright?

Ben - Splendid. Both of us are doing great. Listen, it's Harry's birthday in two days. I doubt he's ever gotten a proper present from the Dursleys, much less a celebration. So, we're going to arrange a little surprise party at my house. Do you think you and your parents can make it?

Hermione - Definitely! We'll be there.

Ben - Wonderful. And don't worry about driving all the way from Crawley to London. I'll just open a portal, and we'll have you over here in a jiffy.

Hermione - Thanks, Ben. That would be great.

Ben - Alright. See you in two days. Bye.

Putting down the book, she once again marvelled at the convenience of magic. Diaries that carried messages like E-mail, portals that can transport people across cities in a moment. Hermione couldn't wait to learn it all. But for now, she had something more important to do. Attending the first birthday party she had ever been invited to!

///////////////////////////

30th July 1992

Longbottom Manor

Neville carefully repotted the valerian sprig and fed it a healthy dose of dragon dung fertilizer. It was looking much better than how he had found it after coming back home. He would have to remind their house-elf, Alby to keep the plant where it can get plenty of sunlight after he goes back to school. It wouldn't do to have his hard work ruined by neglect.

Taking a glance at the afternoon sun, he decided to call it a day. He stood up and stretched to release the knots in his back, then took a satisfied look around at the work he had done this month. Dittany, Wormwood, Valerian, Wiggentree, Ashphodel; it was a matter of small pride for him that he knew how to treat magical plants years ahead in his Hogwarts curriculum. Taking off his dragonhide gloves, he departed from the greenhouse and made his way to the manor.

Like most days, the house was quiet. Not at all like how you'd expect it to be on this day, Neville's birthday. But this is how it had always been. During the war, the Longbottoms were staunch opposers of the blood purists, so naturally Voldemort and his ilk directed their ire towards their family, causing the loss of many of their loved ones.

Neville's birth was a rare cause for celebration in those trying times, but even that happiness was marred a year later when his parents were attacked in their very home and left incapacitated. Since then Augusta Longbottom had allowed very few people into her home, and only those she knew she could trust. The tragedy that befell her only child left the old matron heartbroken and only the thought of raising Neville into a man her Frank would approve of, had given her hope.

Walking into his room, he took off his sweaty clothes and went to take a bath to wash off the grime he accumulated working in the greenhouse. Coming back, he changed into a set of clean clothes and laid down on his bed. Absent-mindedly his eyes drifted to the bedside table, that held a picture of his mom and dad.

Everytime he saw their smiling faces, that familiar pain showed up in his chest. It was especially bad on days like this, which would've been completely different if only they were here. Many times he had wondered how his life would've been if his parents were there with him. He loved his Gran, but he would give anything in the world just to once see his mum and dad smile at him, to embrace him, to tell him they loved him.

He was broken out of his musings by a soft chime coming from a small brown leather-bound diary. A smile broke out into his face as he realised what it meant. Sitting up, he retrieved the diary and a fountain pen Hermione had given him for Christmas. Messenger Diaries! Seriously, how had no one ever thought of that?

Ben - Hi, Neville. Happy Birthday! How are you doing, mate?

Neville - Hi, Ben. Thanks. I'm doing great. What's going on?

Ben - Just wanted to check if you're still on for tomorrow. You're coming, right?

Neville - Yeah. I'll be there, although Gran would have to attend a Wizengamot meeting, so unfortunately she wouldn't be able to come.

Ben - That's too bad. I guess we'll see her another time, then. Do you want me to pick you up?

Neville - No, that's okay. I'll just use the floo.

Ben - Okay. You know the plan, right?

Neville - Yeah. Pretend like you, me and Harry are going shopping in Diagon Alley, while everyone else takes care of the party arrangements.

Ben - Great! I'll see you tomorrow at 11, then. And by the way, I didn't forget your birthday, pal. I'll give you your present tomorrow myself. It'll be epic, so look forward to it. Bye now.

Neville - Bye, Ben. I'll see you tomorrow.

Neville tapped the 'Date' one last time and watched the ink sink in, and when no other words appeared, he closed the diary shut and placed it on the bed. He didn't think Ben had forgotten about his birthday. No, Ben was easily the one most attentive to details among his friends.

The revelations in the Headmaster's office last month were shocking to him. Other worlds, other universes, other 'Neville's! It was a lot to process. Thankfully, it didn't change anything about the way he saw his friend.

He still remembered how he was this time around last year. Shy, timid, alone. Even though Longbottom Manor rarely saw visitors, Neville had attended several gatherings with his Gran. But because of his assumed status as a squib, everyone gave him a wide berth, if not make outright fun of him.

Ever since he was small, Neville wanted to be good at magic. No, he needed to be great at magic. It was the only way he could save his parents, when so many other accomplished witches and wizards could not. So, he had studied the books in the Manor library, while waiting for his magic to show. Unfortunately, it never did.

Without any indication of powerful accidental magic, everyone started assuming that he was a squib. Neville refused to believe that. He can't be a squib. He needed to be a powerful wizard to help his mum and dad. But as the years kept passing, Neville began to lose hope.

But he still wouldn't give up, he couldn't. So be it. If he couldn't learn powerful spells, then maybe there were other ways in which he could help. That drew his interest to Herbology. After all, potions were just as powerful as spells. So he started learning about magical plants, while everyone else saw this as him giving up on magic and playing around in the dirt.

Suffice to say, by the time he boarded the Hogwarts Express, he didn't have a single friend. It was Ben that drew him out of his shell. Ben didn't pity him, he encouraged him, believed in him when no one else did. That silent validation meant more to Neville than anything else.

And then, Ben did something that made Neville respect him even more. He stopped Voldemort! If not for him, the Dark Lord would've escaped and soon his worst followers in Azkaban would've joined him. Neville didn't begrudge Ben's choice to keep them in the dark. He did what needed to be done and none of his friends were in any danger because of his actions. No, as far as Neville was concerned Ben was a hero, and he would gladly follow him anywhere.

He just hoped Ben wasn't lying when he said that Neville would become a great wizard one day. That would be a real bummer.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.