In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom

Chapter 19: The Test Of Ravenclaw

After the six months of Hogwarts, Professor Rvaenclaw informed Neville that she will take a test on the coming Sunday. For Neville, this was much more important than any final exam. When he went near the ROR she was already waiting for him.

"Good morning Neville. Today I shall test how much you have learned about runes and how much you have grown over the last few months. Follow me!"

Neville followed her to the top of Look Out tower. This was one of the four towers surrounding the Quad and it mostly resembled the astronomy tower.

"Here. I want you to find 3 runes that are imprinted on this tower or that you can find with your naked eyes. You cannot leave the roof or go below. I hope you can fulfil this task before the night!" Professor Ravenclaw just told Neville and then left the tower.

Neville was too confused at this point. He like many Gryffindor students had used this tower's bridge but he never came on the terrace. Now, he has to find the runes that are here!

"What kind of test is this? I mean she should have given me some complicated rune to unravel or something to fill. Now, how will I find three runes that are inscribed here?"

Neville grumbled and then started using charms to trace any hidden secret door or something. But there was nothing. He kept on looking for any secret symbol or hidden doors but none. Finally, he used an engorgement charm to increase the size of any small inscribe that he could find.

"Here, this is definitely a symbol. But how is designed in a rune?" After finding the first rune symbol near the edge of the tower's boundary he was finally feeling relief.

<><><> Hermione POV <><><>

"What is wrong with the professors? How can there be so much homework!" I was losing my head looking at the homework list. After the vacation, it seems our professor felt we were too happy and decided to do something about it.

"This homework list was no less than a dementor's presence in my life. I could hardly breathe and relax after classes." She grumbled alone in the library.

After I came back from the holidays I think Harry changed somehow. He would often go on his night tours with Ron and they both are definitely hiding something. But now, they even ended up losing so many points I collected with Neville with our hard work. These two boys were too different from her.

"I need to find better friends. Harry is still good but Ron is a lost cause. Nothing like Percy. He would only approach me when he wanted to copy my homework and would avoid me the whole day otherwise. Stinky Weasley!" Hermione complained to herself and picked up her notes. She decided to go to the library when she suddenly noticed Harry coming back from Quidditch practice. He was looking sad and bruised.

"Hey, what happened Harry?"

"Oh...Nothing Hermione. You know our quidditch captain is making me train like hell to make sure we perform well in our finals against Slytherins. I hope we can win this match and get the points that I lost. I am sorry for that incident Hermione!" listening to Harry who was apologizing to her, Hermione felt much better.

"At least you have a conscience! Where is Ron?" I asked Harry. Generally, Ron would be Harry's tail but that stinky guy was again missing.

"No Idea. I think he spends more time in the library now to avoid the crowds and sleep peacefully there!"

"What a stinky guy. I will never share my homework with him ever again. Take these notes, this will help you with your homework. I am going to spend some time on the roof." I gave harry the notes that I had prepared and decided to spend some time alone on our tower's roof.

It was one of the few places where you could spend time alone and breathe freely.

After I climbed the stairs I found the strangest thing. Neville was rolling on the floor looking like a mad man.

"Neville?!"

<><><> Nev POV<><><>

"Bushy head? What are you doing here?" I asked Hermione who suddenly came on the roof. I have finally figured out two runes that were inscribed here and was looking for the third one when she came suddenly.

"What Bushy head! My name is HERMIONE GRANGER, Neville Longbottom!" Hermione shouted angrily at me and for a moment I was shocked. This was completely out of character for her.

"Woah! Calm down, Bushy...I mean calm down Hermione. What happened?" I asked her nicely feeling irritated. I mean it was one thing for you to barge in here when I am doing such an important test and the second thing, you are clearly taking out your anger on me which is uncalled for.

"Nothing! What are you doing on the floor!" She asked me in a grumpy manner.

"Well, I am looking for these strange symbols here. It is kind of my hobby." I had to give her a white lie and focus more on my runes.

While I started looking for runic symbols are drawings, I felt Hermione's eyes at my back. I kept ignoring her and focused on my test. I had already found two runes that were marked near the boundary wall but where is the third one.

By principle, these runes were performing a particular action and these first two were designed to prevent students from jumping from here or throwing things from here. But the entrance door had no rune. No rune near the other edges or in the centre. Where is the third rune?

"Do you need my help? Tell me what symbols are looking for?" I heard Hermione's voice and found she squatted near me.

"Something like a strange symbol that you think is too good to be carved here for no reason." I gave her a simple explanation. I don't think she will stick here for long in any case.

Four hours later, I was proved wrong. She ended up helping me locate 2 more runes. One was just at the end of the staircase and one was actually on the outside of the tower wall. It was just a coincidence that we discovered that one.

"Wow! I never knew people inscribed runes here! This is like a treasure hunt Neville. Tell me why they have been carved up here?" She asked me and looking at her tired but smiling face, I think she deserved a more honest answer.

This girl has her own mojo that is for sure.

"I think the one near the staircase is testing identity for anyone going down from here. You notice how the numeric symbols are marked in the circle. I think those numbers represent age and then that icon represents our house name 'lion' and in a way, this might act as a signal if someone other than Griffyindor students enters from the top inside Hogwarts.

I think in the early days, they used this to make sure no one breaches our school or here in this case our house. Quite a simple anti-theft protection rune if you ask me.

The second one outside of the tower is a strange one. It looks like it is in sync with the position of the sun and moon and has symbols that represent some sort of collection of energy but it is too complex for me to understand it clearly."

I told her frankly. Yes, the last rune on the tower wall is clearly some sort of magic collection rune and it is working like a solar battery. Instead of solar energy, it is collecting magical energy from nature but the whole process is too complex. I think it will take me another year to understand something like this.

"You know Neville, I enjoyed this small break. I am going back now. There is still a lot of homework pending and I need to finish it." Suddenly Hermione decided to head back and it puzzled me. She was definitely enjoying this small activity and it seems like our bookworm had one or two adventurous bones inside her but why this sudden desire to go back?!

"Oh...Cool. Take care Bushy Head!" I waved her goodbye and just when I thought I would hear her scream back on calling her bushy head, she just smiled and went downstairs.

"Well, she is a nice girl. Pity, she is not in Ravenclaw!" I suddenly heard a voice from my back which made me jump in fright.

"Professor! What was that! I mean... since when you were here?" I asked her sheepishly. I mean this was supposed to be my test but I had extra help and it was definitely not something I finished alone.

"I was always here Mr Longbottom. And don't worry the test was not actually finding the runes but it was to judge their work and their structure. I think you definitely passed this test. Now please copy the runes you found and we will work on these four in the next six months. Trust me if you can understand even 2 of these clearly enough, you can start your grimoire."

"YES! WOAH!" Thank you, professor. Don't worry you won't ever regret this. I promise to fulfil my promise. Thank you, professor!

I thanked her again and again and it was such a nice way to finish my day!

<><><> Hermione POV<><><>

"That was fun but yeah! that was no hobby. Even Neville had gotten his own personal secret. Those symbols definitely looked like ancient knowledge. I should check the library." I kept talking to myself.

When I entered the library I found one sleeping Ron in a corner!

"Ughh...This waste! A coward! Look at him, sleeping on books and drooling on them. Disgusting!" Thinking this I just told our librarian, Madam Pince about him and left silently.