In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom

Chapter 22: The First Meeting with Voldemort

"Oh...Okay...But what was that lover boy? I mean why this nickname?" I asked directly and she tried to find the proper words but her memories showed me the right answer.

I saw Pansy stealing glances at me during classes and looking at me in a dazed manner during our breakfast or lunch. This somehow irked other little snakes around her and then the rumour of our love story began in Slytherin.

Her room partners accused her of ruining their house chances of winning the cup again and it went from simple exclusion to ugly bullying.

All because I saved her from troll and won points for Gryffindor and she somehow developed a silly crush on me. I saw that on Christmas, she only got one gift. That was mine. It was the gift I sent to all the girls in school but imagine her only gift from Gryffindor boy who didn't even take her seriously.

These little snakes were messed up. Too much pride and too little care for their fellow mates. No doubt snakes are cold-blooded.

Before I could talk to Pansy clearly or ask anything else, Hagrid came out of his hut with a big dog. "Now listen carefully. What we are doing is simple, yet I want you guys to be cautious. This is Fang. He will come with us and that will help us avoid any trouble that might come. I often take Fang with me when I go inside the forest, so he knows his way clearly. Now, follow me."

Hagrid took us inside the forest. He kept a big crossbow in his hands and the dog, Fang walked in front. I looked around and it was all slightly blue with some fog around us. The moon was clearly round and bright. The perfect setting for a scary scene.

In my mind, it was like a checklist going.

Silent surrounding check

Scary atmosphere - check

Walking inside a forest at night check

No preparation or planning check

The path was clearly tricky and at night, it was not clearly visible. If somehow things went to the south like they always do in every hero story, I had to find the best possible exit or hiding place.

I wanted to stay away from this forest trip as this was the only threatening event in the first year but somehow, I ran straight into it. Oh, Merlin!

While I was cursing these bastard snake kids, Hagrid stooped in his tracks and brought us near a broken tree. There was this silvery liquid on the ground that he touched and that got our attention.

"What is that?" Harry asked Hagrid and Hagrid with a heavy face replied "the reason we came here. This is the blood of a Unicorn that has been hurt badly by sinners. This is the second time in a week. I found one dead last Wednesday. We are going to find the poor beast. Ron and Harry with me while Neville will go with the girls and Fang."

Fuck!

I walked in one direction with Fang and the girls and I noticed slight issues in our smaller group.

"Hey, you? What's your name?" I asked the Slytherin girl who I had ignored till now.

"Millicent Bulstrode" She replied in a proud tone. Clearly another blood supremacist from a sacred twenty-eight family.

"Oh! Okay, Milicent. I will walk in front. you will walk to my left. Pansy, you will be on my right side. Maintain a distance of a hand with each other. Also, everyone lose your robes. In case we have to run, we can't do it in these loose robes." Giving simple instructions to the girls I took my robe and used a shrinking curse to keep it in my pant pocket.

My walking arrangement will give me a clear idea of what are we facing, enough space to perform and dodge any charm and without the stupid robes, I can run faster without fear.

I looked up and saw girls standing like fools.

"Hurry up! Do you really want to trip and fall in these oversized robes?" I ordered again and this time the girls got my point I think. I left our slightly heavy and oversized light lantern on the ground behind that might help the others.

We used Lumos and started walking together. After we walked some distance, I noticed the trees changing from the taller ones to these slightly thick ones with spider web type roots. This was the same kind of tree where Harry will face Volde.

"Girls, let's take a slight detour. I think this is near the lake area. There might be some animals around the lake. That is certainly not a good thing so follow me!" I told them and I took the exact route back, from one we came from after a slight detour. I mean I know there is some danger in the forest, so why go inside? All I need is to wait till Harry potter and their group finds the Volde and then head back with the rest.

"I think we lost our way and reached the forest boundary somehow. Anyway, this is the best. We tried to look for the injured Unicorn but sadly we failed. Too much darkness. Sad. Now we have to wait here. So let's just sit near that tree."

I told them and brought them closer to this huge tree which was just near the boundary of the forest. I was already feeling much better now. No matter what, Volde doesn't want to make a bigger scene since he still wants to get the alchemist's stone. So, he will try to run and leave and for us, this is just inside the forest and near the castle. So perfect place.

We sat silently near the tree and I told them to stop using the light charm. I felt this was much safer than going inside the forest deeply and I was wrong I think.

A big floating figure covered in a black robe came straight towards this direction and while I was thinking of a sneak attack, our Bulstrode girl gave us the biggest scream possible.

"AAAHHHHH...." The figure stopped for a few seconds and then looked toward us. Feeling the strong killing intent from the figure, I moved in front.