In Harry Potter as Neville Longbottom

Chapter 26: Exams, Quidditch and Quirrell

----Neville POV----

"Hey, Kellah? What's happening?" I asked Kellah, a classmate who was painting something on a large cloth banner.

"This? Don't you remember Neville? Two weeks later is the Quidditch final and it's Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw. After Harry and Ron's incident, our house points had fallen down to the third place. But you got another 80 points from our professors. However, there is still a difference of 10 points between us and top Slytherin.

If we win the final game, we can win our house cup! Imagine Gryffindor winning the House cup after so many years." She explained with a slight glow in her eyes.

Yes, I truly forgot our final match with the snakes.

"Oh! Nice. What about the exams before that?" I asked and our lovely Kellah grabbed the nearby brush and threw it at me.

For Hogwarts students, the final year exam and final quidditch match are the most important events. One decides their personal glory while the other reflects their house glory respectively.

Thanks to my performance in defeating the Troll, our house already had much higher points than Slytherin and it looked like we will end the seven-year reign of Slytherin but somehow Harry and Ron managed to fuck it up.

Then my performance in the forest brought 50 points from our head of the house, professor Minerva but the old Gandalf tried to downplay the whole thing and gave me only 30 points. Still, I am the top points bringer to our house.

Slytherin is only 10 points above us now but the Ravenclaw is also only 40 points behind. This is the first time after seven years that there is a high chance for snakes to lose the cup. The main question was "who will win in the end? Lions or Ravens?"

In the original story, Harry will miss this year's final and Ravenclaw will beat them perfectly but now things have changed thanks to me. And with my final act in store, I am sure Gryffindor will win the cup in end. No matter the result in Quidditch.

I chuckled and left the common room and while I was crossing the library I saw one cute bushy head burying herself in a small tower of books. There was also one miserable Ron with her along with Seamus and some girls.

Ha...Our bushy head had transformed much this year. She went from a strict bookworm to a homework network master and after she shared her notes with students, she won many friends. Seriously, this girl finally found her way of making friends. At least before exams, she has more popularity than me and Harry.

The Trio hunt for Philosopher's stone came to an abrupt end when both the Hagrid and our DOD professor, Quirrell went on a short break. Hagrid took a leave to calm his giant venerable heart after reading the papers while Quirrell, I believe gave the official excuse of his failing health and in reality, might just need personal space to recover some strength to fight our lord saviour in the final battle.

The two face bastard escaped my attack but he won't get a chance to come back and spend the final days in peace. For him, I already had my plans. Why should I waste the grand opportunity to splash some more dirty water on our Gandalf?

His response to all the criticism in papers is that 'Hogwarts was safe and there was no danger on its grounds'. Since you want to say this, then don't blame me later.

Thinking this, I looked at her again and then left silently. Time waits for no one. While they are focused on the exams and Quidditch, I had to focus on the bigger goals of this year. My higher studies.

I am already more than halfway through the fourth-year curriculum and there are some new spells and hexes I want to try. I wanted to start making my grimoire but for that, I am waiting for a reply from our Egypt store.

They have some empty Grimoire books that collectors ask for from time to time and I put on a purchasing order a few weeks back. Still, it will take some time along with money.

-----Gryffindor Common Room----

After the training was over, the Gryffindor players were still debating how to tackle the final game. Ravenclaw this year was a well-balanced team that would show some surprising teamwork and strategy from time to time to beat other teams. This year, the point difference in the house cup was very low and hence the atmosphere in the Quidditch room was tense.

But just as they were discussing the final strategy the twins shared the worst news possible for the team

The referee for the final game is "Professor Snape!"

Gryffindor captain Oliver Wood felt like the whole world was against him and in a dejected manner he told everyone to go back before giving final advice to harry - "focus on the golden snitch and grab it as fast as you can."

Harry had a lot of pressure on his thin shoulders and he was frightened now. He nodded his head like a chicken and went back to the common room. For him, the final game might be the last game of his life.

"Harry, thank god you are back!" Ron shouted from a corner.

"Ron, what happened? Your hair...?" Harry asked his friend whose face was turned half black and hair half burnt.

"It was Seamus. I am telling you. That bastard tried to kill me, Harry." Ron replied in a dramatic fashion.

"Seamus! Why?" Harry asked and looking at Ron he was sure it must be something that Ron had said.

"Nothing. He just attacked me when I said something about Hermione. I am sure Hermione asked him to do this. Anyway, if it was not for her notes, I would never sit with her. I am telling you, Harry, half of our Gryffindor is crazy with exams and the rest is with the final game.

Tell me, how was your practice today?"

"It is the worst thing, Ron. You know Snape is the referee for the final game. He tried to kill me last time and he knows that we are on him. He might kill me in the final match and then steal the stone for Voldemort!" Harry whispered to Ron in a very low voice.

Ron as a true friend gave him a lot of suggestions on how to escape the final game by 'breaking his legs to jumping in the lake'. But they both knew Madam Pomfrey will fix harry if needed before the final game.

"Harry, you are my best friend mate. I will always remember you. Don't worry. You will be the youngest seeker forever. Good night." Ron said to Harry before going back to the dorm to fix himself and get some sleep.

Strict studies for one evening had already given him a lot of headaches.

One week later, the final exam started.

Harry had no idea how he passed. From one classroom to another, he went into a trance and panic and somehow managed to do his charms. Neville had no issue except the potion class where Professor Snape gave him the toughest potion in the first-year coursebook but Neville passed it perfectly. Even if Snape was practically standing behind him, he had no fear or anything.

Before leaving the exam hall, he let out a huge fart just to irritate Snape and gave him payback. It was quite childish and funny but it worked perfectly in this case. Oh, the face Snape made after the fart was worth it.

The one who was the most excited was Hermione and her small study group. Just after the exams, they started discussing the final answers to check if they all were correct or not. Even Dean and Seamus were happy to be part of this group.

Our Professor Quirrell came after the exam and Harry noticed that Professor Snape was kind of threatening him with his eyes. He felt Snape was going to force Professor Quirrell to help him in getting the Philosopher's stone and give it to Voldemort.

While he tried to talk to Ron and Hermione about it, Neville had a sharp glint in his eyes.

He said something to Dean and Dean asked him "Are you sure Nev? What if you are wrong?"

Neville just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Nothing. I might get some punishment but if I am right, we might catch a dark wizard who managed to fool Dumbledore and stop him before he does something in Hogwarts."

Dean nodded and ran back to the dorm. A few minutes later, he sent an owl to his Uncle.