The Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 1

AN: Starting a new story, heavily inspired by Voleur D'âme by Twubs. If you have not read that story then go and check it out, it is a fantastic Ron Weasley SI that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys good self insert fanfiction. The rest of Twubs' stories as well are definitely worth a read, some of the best SI I've read out there.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything else from the wonderful mind of JK Rowling, they belong solely to her and Warner Bros.

Thoughts

"Speech"

'Spells'

The whole compartment was silent, save for the sound of the people inside shivering, as the hooded figure pried the door open. They saw Harry fall to the ground in a faint, convulsing in what looked like pain and fear as the creature moved towards their downed friend. Now that they could see it clearer, it was obviously not human.

Just as it was about to reach Harry, the previously covered man in the corner of the compartment leapt up, and at the same time, Neville fell to the ground as 23 years of memories were rammed into his head with all the care and subtlety of a battering ram.

To the rest of the compartment, as they checked on him and Harry, it looked like he had fainted just as Harry had. But if they had looked beneath his eyelids, they would have seen his eyes rolling into the back of his head.

I groggily came to with a pounding headache, confused as to what was going on, before it hit me. I am Neville Longbottom. I remembered my whole life up to this point, but I also remembered another life. A life where I went by a different name.

I can't remember my name? I could remember almost everything of this other life, but not my own name, nor those of the others that I knew in that other life. My personality, my feelings and my thoughts were all there. As was my fasciation with, and knowledge of, this new world that I found myself in. The world of Harry Potter, that up until a moment ago, part of me thought was a fantasy world dreamt up in the mind of an author, and part of me knew as the world I lived in.

I tried to understand what had just happened. The best way I could try to describe it was that I had just merged with another person. I was still Neville, but I also had the memories and personality of another person imprinted upon me.

"Neville!" I looked up, my thoughts still a complete mess as I tried to come to terms with what had happened, to see Hermione leaning over me, an expression of concern across her face. "Are you alright? You fainted when that creature came in and you're still looking pretty shaken."

"I… I think I'm ok. Just some pretty traumatic memories," I replied, thinking through what just happened. I realised my last memory before the merge was the faint sound of a man and a women screaming in what sounded like unfathomable agony. I realised with a jolt that that must have been my parents being tortured, and I shivered as an image of the two of them writhing in pain flashed in my head.

"What did you see?" I looked over to see Ron looking at me with a confused look on his face, unsure of what could have been so bad in my memories.

"Ron!" Hissed Hermione. "You can't ask that! I'm sorry Neville, you don't have to tell us."

"No. No, it's ok I guess. As you guys know, Harry's parents were targeted by You Know Who at the end of the last war," I began to explain slowly, my voice shaking slightly. "But they weren't the only ones. He was also searching for my family. Just after Harry's family was attacked and he disappeared, several death eaters forced their way into our home. They wanted to know what had happened and where their master had gone. They hurt my parents. Hurt them really badly. They've never really recovered from it. They didn't die, but they didn't really survive that night either."

I felt tears gathering in my eyes as I explained my history, the tragedy that had defined my life as Neville to this point. Part of me didn't expect the pain as I said this to feel so real, but the fact that it did made me realise with certainty that even with this other set of memories, I truly was still myself. I am still Neville.

"They're still in St Mungos. They look after them in the long term spell damage ward there. That's what I saw when I fainted. I saw them. Saw them being tortured by those monsters."

I looked up to see them all looking at me aghast. Hermione was crying and Ron looked mortified for having brought this story out. Ginny was also red eyed, but it was Harry who caught my gaze. He was looking straight at me, but was the only one of them not looking at me with pity. Rather he looked at me with understanding, and I remembered that he also must have just seen his mother on that fateful night where his whole life changed.

"I'm sorry Neville, I didn't know," Ron mumbled after a few seconds of silence.

"It's ok. We all knew Harry's story, so I guess it's only fair that you know mine as well," I said, hoping to ease the awkward tension that had filled the carriage.

We looked up as the door was wrenched open. The man who had been sleeping in the compartment before the dementor came, who I now realised was Remus Lupin, stepped back inside.

"Are you all alright?" He asked, looking around at us all with a concerned gaze.

"I think we're ok now sir. Thank you for getting rid of that, that thing," Hermione said, on behalf of us all.

"A dementor, that was a dementor. Foul creatures that normally guard Azkaban," Lupin replied.

"Are you the new Defence against the Dark Arts Professor?" I asked, wanting to make sure I didn't accidentally blurt out his name before I should know it.

"Yes, I am Professor Lupin and I'll be teaching you all this year," He replied. "Now here, have a bit of chocolate," He said whilst handing out a few pieces to each of us. "That should help with the after affects of your exposure to the dementor."

"Thank you!" We all chorused back.

"You are very welcome," He said with a smile. "I must go check in with the conductor about what time the train will be in, but I will see you all at the castle." With that, he turned, gaze lingering slightly on Harry, and walked back out of the compartment, the door sliding shut behind him.

We sat in a comfortable silence, as we all slowly ate the chocolate that we had been given by the newly introduced professor. Eventually, the announcement came that we were nearing Hogsmede and we all got changed into our school robes.

As the train pulled into the station and we started to disembark, Harry edged towards me.

"Thank you for telling us about that Neville, I know it must of been hard," He began. "It means a lot to me to know there's someone else who's been through the same sort of thing I have. I wish I'd gotten to know my parents, and I'm sorry neither of us got to."

With that, he gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder and moved towards the door of the carriage.

The five of us walked across the platform towards where the carriages were waiting. I saw Malfoy coming over to cut us off. He was flanked by his normal two bodyguards and had his typical sneer on his face as he stepped in front of where we were heading.

"Hello Potter, I hear you and Longbottom had a little fainting spell on the train," He said cruelly. "I expected that sort of thing from the squib over there, but I didn't think you were so pathetic Potter! What, did the dementor give you some bad dreams. Poor little Potter!" He finished, sniggering at the end.

Harry was balling his fists up in barely controlled anger and Ron looked ready to tear into Malfoy, but before either of them had a chance, I stepped forward.

"Sod off Malfoy!" I said through gritted teeth. "We both saw terrible things from the war when we were babies. Maybe you should ask your father what happened, I'm sure he was told what the plan was! Maybe he was even involved in setting it up."

Malfoy flushed at the accusation about his father, before responding, "My father was found innocent of any wrongdoing in the war. It is not his fault your parents ended up as vegetables!"

I tensed up in anger as he said that, taking a step towards him with fury etched on my face.

"Don't you dare talk about my parents!" I said through through gritted teeth, readying myself to punch the git in the face.

I was surprised that, instead of responding, Malfoy's eyes widened and he took a couple of steps back. He opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again, seeming to think better of it. Sending one last glare towards Harry, he turned and walked away from our group.

I turned back to the rest of them, to see them all looking at me in surprise. Harry and Ron were grinning at me. Hermione and Ginny both just looked shocked, I guess at the fact that I stood up for myself, which must have seemed a little out of character.

"That was awesome mate!" Ron said as he threw an arm over my shoulder. "Can't believe you stood up to Malfoy like that, the git. It was funny seeing him scurrying away like that when you stepped up to him. Looked like he was about to piss himself!"

"Though that probably had something to do with the floor cracking under him!" Hermione added with a raised eyebrow.

I looked down and sure enough, there were some cracks running through a few of the paving stones where Malfoy had been standing. I must have been so angry that my magic lashed out in response to his jab at my parents.

"Oops," I said, looking towards the others with a sheepish expression. "I didn't mean to do that, he just made me so angry." I realised with a rush that I had just performed magic. Accidental magic, sure, but magic nonetheless. I could barely keep the grin off my face at the thought. I have Magic! This is amazing.

"I get that. He's good at getting under my skin as well," Harry commented, as the group started heading towards the carriages. This time without any more interruptions.

As we arrived at the castle, we found Professor McGonagall waiting in the entrance hall. As we approached she turned towards us.

"I hear that the two of you, Mr. Potter and Mr. Longbottom, were affected rather severely by the dementors. Please follow me up to the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey would like to check you over for any lingering effects. Miss Granger, if you could also come with me briefly to discuss your timetable," She said, turning towards the stairs.

Harry, Hermione and I moved to follow her, with Harry telling Ron that we'd catch up to him after this was done.

We arrived at the Hospital Wing a few minutes later, and McGonagall left Harry and I there as she left with Hermione. This must be when she gets given the time turner I thought to myself as they left.

"Right, let's get the two of you checked out then." We turned as Madame Pomfrey approached us, "Dementors on the train, really. What's next I ask you?" She muttered to herself.

We sat there for a few minutes as she checked us over, before reluctantly dismissing us after finding no lingering effects.

"Do try to avoid trouble and be careful this year Mr. Potter," She said as we moved to leave. "You as well Mr. Longbottom. I'd like to avoid having to undo too many of your potions accidents if possible," She said, not unkindly.

I guessed it was a pretty fair comment. I'd ended up here a lot over the first couple of year at Hogwarts due to accidents in Snape's class. Not as much as Harry had, I'm sure, but still a fair few times a year.

Thinking about it brought me to Snape. The man hadn't just been a strict teacher to me or others, Harry included, he had been actively cruel. Even knowing why he behaved as he did, it didn't stop the huge amounts of resentment I felt towards him.

He seemed to delight in my failures and how his presence exacerbated my lack of ability in his subject. He tended to always appear and loom over me at the most delicate stages of the potions we made, making me that much more likely to mess them up.

There was some real fear as well, although that was somewhat tempered by my newfound self confidence that came from the merge. The confidence coming from my other life itself, and from seeing what I would have become all on my own.

I resolved myself to be better in Potions. Not for the skill itself, though it was definitely useful, but to throw two fingers up at Snape and prove him wrong. It would also be a good way of solidifying my newfound self confidence.

As we walked down the stairs back towards the Great Hall and the Welcome Feast, I looked over at Harry. He looked lost in thought, as I turned towards him.

"You know, I know I've not been through the same as you Harry. All the fame and fallout from that night. But if you want to talk about your parents, or what you saw with the dementor in the carriage, just know you can talk to me. We both lost our parents, though in different ways. It was terrible and it will always impact me, but I at least had my Grandmother growing up to tell me about them. I can't imagine how it has been for you without even that."

"I… Thanks Nev," He said quietly, but with a small smile. "It's hard to think about them, particularly with what just happened, but I might take you up on that."

We walked the rest of the way in a companionable silence. He's going to need all the good friends he can I thought, thinking about what lay ahead of him. How hard his journey had been in the books, the suffering and pain he'd had to go through. Not this time, not while I'm here I thought. Harry was one of my only friends in this world as Neville and I'm going to do my best to help him this time.

We bumped into Hermione in the Entrance Hall, and I saw the new fine gold chain hanging around her neck. The three of us moved together into the Great Hall and made our way over to the Gryffindor table. We spotted Ron near the end furthest from the staff table and sat down just as Dumbledore stood up to speak. I sat myself next to Hermione as Harry went round and sat down next to Ron.

"Welcome, Welcome, to another year at Hogwarts!" He began, arms raised to the whole hall in greeting.

"I'd like to say a few words, before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. Firstly, I'm pleased to introduce Professor R J Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck Professor," He announced, gesturing towards Lupin.

Lupin stood and gave a short bow towards the rest of the Hall, to a smattering of applause. The other students seemed slightly put off by his somewhat shabby robes. However, our group was clapping loudly for the new professor, who's rescue of us had unsurprisingly set him in a good light.

"And our second appointment," Dumbledore started, once the clapping for Lupin had died down. "Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Professor Kettleburn, has decided to spend more time with his remaining limbs and retire. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce, that his place will be taken by none other than our own, Rubeus Hagrid."

Hagrid stood as his name was called, knocking the staff table slightly. His appointment was greeted to loud cheers from the Gryffindor table, but a more subdued response from the other houses. The Slytherins in particular, looked somewhat aghast at the appointment.

"That's great for Hagrid," I said to the others. "I'm sure he'll do a great job!"

"Course he will!" Harry replied, a happy smile in place at the good fortune of his friend.

Dumbledore gestured for silence as he continued his speech.

"Finally, on a more worrying note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, be playing host to the dementors of Azkaban, until such a time as Sirius Black is captured."

Muttering broke out throughout the hall as he announced this. With worried glances being thrown around at all the tables.

"The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day to day activities, a word of caution. Dementors are vicious creatures. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt, and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you, give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving."

I glanced at Harry as Dumbledore was speaking, to see him looking ashen at the prospect of the dementors being around the school. I wasn't surprised, I myself was feeling pretty anxious at the thought, given the memories they dragged up.

"But you know, happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times," Dumbledore said in a lighter tone. "If one only remembers, to turn on the light." As he spoke, he waved his hand past one of the unlit candles, igniting it with a small burst of magic.

"With that, let us eat!" He announced, as the feast began and the tables heaved as mountains of food appeared.

After the feast concluded, the whole hall slowly headed out on their way back to their dorms for the night. When Harry, Ron, Hermione and I got back to their common room, we said goodnight to Hermione, before heading up to the boys dormitory.

We all got a bit of unpacking done, before deciding to turn in for the night. I was set up on the bed to Harry's left, with Ron on his right. As I was climbing into bed, Harry turned to me and said, "It's good to see you again Nev. You seem a bit different this year, not in a bad way though. Anyway, I'll see you in the morning."

I laughed a little as I pulled the hangings closed around me. Harry was certainly understating things there!

As I lay there, I started to think. I was in a unique position. I knew what would have originally happened in this world, had I not merged, whilst the light side had won in the end, the toll had been high, higher than I can readily accept.

I need to change things. I realised that now, but I would have to be careful. I don't want to lose all foresight of what is going to happen, that's a powerful tool that I have, but I need a different overall outcome at the end of this. I lay there thinking about what I knew and what I wanted to change.

I need to sort my wand out. I'm not waiting until after fifth year. I decided that I would go and speak to McGonagall at some point tomorrow to try and resolve that situation. That would allow me to work seriously on the second issue. My magic. I need to be better than I am. Better than I would have been in the future. I know I have a lot of potential, I need to fulfil it! I tried to think of ways to do this and realised the obvious solution. The Room of Requirement; I can use that as a training room. With my most immediate problems for myself solved, I thought about what other bigger things I should try and change.

Then there's Sirius. I rationalised that there must be a way of sorting his situation out so that Harry can live with him. I'll try to make sure I go with them when that all goes down and focus on keeping Pettigrew captured. It will make such a difference to Harry. I'm sure that there will be ripples from this, butterfly effect and all that, but I would deal with them as they came.

My biggest worry was what would happen in fourth year and Voldemort's resurrection, but the benefit to Harry outweighed that risk in my mind. Crouch will probably still escape, so he'll probably find another death eater to help. With that, I decided that would be the main priority for this year, as well as improving myself.

I need to become better friends with Harry, Ron and Hermione. I added to myself. This might sound selfish, but I already considered them to be my best friends anyway. I would just try harder to be a good friend to them, and try to be involved with the plots they get caught up in.

Thinking about the longer-term goals. I want the war to go better for our side. That's the ultimate goal. Decisive victory at minimal cost. I thought through the key steps that I could reasonably achieve towards that goal. At some point I'll need to try and help Harry get stronger, so that he is much better prepared than he would have been otherwise.

I couldn't help but feel that I had forgotten something key. Actually, now that I was focussing on it, I can't remember how Voldemort had survived. I knew he had done something. I knew Harry was involved and I know the trio had originally been doing something to try and undo it in the seventh book. But I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was.

Whatever put me here must have taken that as well. The names from my last life and the key to Voldemort's pseudo immortality. I could work with that. It's a pretty big problem, but they found out what it was and solved it in the original version, so I'm sure I could deal with it when it eventually came out.

Ok, that gives me some goals to work on for now. I can build on that once I have made some progress. With that final thought, I rolled over and went to sleep, satisfied with what I had set out for myself to do.

I woke up the next morning, happy with what I had decided last night, and excited by the prospect of learning magic. Grinning, I got out of bed and got dressed for the day.

Harry, Ron and I headed down and met Hermione in the common room, before heading to the Great Hall for breakfast and our timetables. Once they'd been handed out, I looked over mine. Divination first this morning, then Care of Magical Creatures after lunch. I had the rest of the afternoon free, to get on with homework I assumed. On Friday I had Potions in the morning and Defence Against the Dark Arts in the afternoon. I squared my shoulders at the thought of Snape and my resolution for that class. Monday next week I had Charms, Transfiguration and DADA. Tuesday was Herbology, Transfiguration and Astronomy. Finally, Wednesday we had Charms and Potions.

There was an exclamation of surprise from Ron, and I turned to see him looking over at Hermione's timetable bug eyed.

"Bloody hell Hermione. Are you taking all the electives?" He exclaimed.

"Language Ron! And in answer to your question, yes, I am. They all just looked too interesting and I couldn't pick any that I didn't want to study," She replied, her look daring Ron to criticise her decision.

"How are you going to do them all?" Harry asked, also peering over at her timetable, "Some of these are at the same time?"

"Never you mind," Hermione retorted. Her cheeks going a little pink as she pulled her timetable away from them, putting it in her bag.

I grinned to myself and said, "It's like you'll have to be in two places at once."

She paled immediately and stuttered out, "We.. Well that'd be impossible now wouldn't it. You're all being silly, I can manage to attend them all just fine!" With that she turned back to her food and rushed to finish eating.

After we had all eaten, the four of us headed up to our first lesson of the day, Divination in the North Tower. The lesson went as I remembered it from the books, with Harry apparently having the Grimm appear in his tea leaves and Professor Trelawney making a big fuss over it and his impending doom.

I managed to break my first teacup. It seems that despite my second set of memories, I'm still fairly clumsy unfortunately, something to watch out for, I guess. The class seemed like a waste of time to me, I clearly wasn't going to learn anything useful here. Particularly anything helpful towards the goals I had decided on last night. I resolved myself to trying to change into a different elective class. I'll ask Hermione about when Runes is at lunch. I think that's my most useful option.

As the lesson ended, we all started to pack up. Just as I was heading towards the trapdoor, the Professor turned towards me and said, "I foresee you being late to our next class together. I urge you to take care on your way here then!" While pointing at me with ring laden fingers, eyes peering up through her oversized glasses.

I snorted in response and made my way down the ladder. As we were walking away, Ron asked me, "Why'd you laugh at her when she said that Nev?"

The three of them looked at me in interest as I replied, "Well, I decided that I want to swap to a different elective. So I think I will be pretty late to the next class of hers, regardless of the warning."

They all laughed in response as we wondered back down to the Great Hall for lunch. After we arrived and we had all sat down I turned to Hermione and asked, "When is your first Runes class, I think that is what I want to swap to?"

"Oh! That's such an interesting subject Neville, a good choice to take instead!" She pulled out her timetable to double check the time, before she turned back to me, "The first class is this afternoon, after Care of Magical Creatures."

"Great. I'll go and speak to Professor McGonagall now and try and get the change sorted," I said as I hurriedly finished off my food. "I'll see you guys down at Hagrid's for Care of Magical Creatures?" I asked once I had finished. They nodded in response as I got up.

I walked up to the staff table where Professor McGonagall was sitting. Once she looked up and noticed me, I asked, "Excuse me Professor, would it be possible to talk to you quickly about my electives?"

She nodded in acceptance and stood up from the table. "Follow me Mr. Longbottom," She said as she began to walk briskly out of the hall and led me up to her office.

Once we arrived, she moved behind her desk and sat down, whilst gesturing for me to do the same in the chair set out in front of her desk.

"Now, what is this about Mr. Longbottom, do you wish to change classes?" She asked.

"Yes exactly. Having had our first Divination lesson, I have decided that the class is not for me. I don't think I am going to get anything out of it and I think I could better use my time in a different class," I replied.

"And did you have one in mind?" She asked whilst smiling. I remembered that she had a fair distaste of Divination and must have been pleased to see one of her lions wanting to drop it.

"I did actually. I think Ancient Runes would be a useful class to take. I spoke to Hermione and she mentioned that the first class is this afternoon," I said, seeing her smile become a little more pronounced at my decision.

"Very good," She replied. "An interesting and useful subject to study Mr. Longbottom. Ok well that is not a problem. I'll make a note of the change and you can attend the first class this afternoon. I'm sure Miss Granger will be willing to share her textbook temporarily whilst you order a copy. Failing that, I'm sure Professor Babbling has a copy that you could borrow for a class," She fished out a new timetable whilst she was speaking and filled in my new schedule before handing it over to me.

"Now, is there anything else Mr. Longbottom?" She asked.

I steeled myself and said, "In fact there is Professor. I have decided that I should get a wand that is well suited to me." Her eyebrows started to raise as I spoke and I hurried on, "Until now, my Grandmother has insisted that I use my father's wand, but it just doesn't work very well for me. My magic feels sluggish when I try to cast with it." Her eyebrows were now approaching her hairline as I finished my request, "So I was hoping that it would be possible to go to Diagon Alley to purchase a new wand, one that is matched to me?" I looked at her hopefully as I finished.

She muttered under her breath, before letting out a frustrated sigh. "That was short sighted of your Grandmother. She should know that the wand chooses the wizard and that it is pointless to try and force these things. I will agree to take you this weekend Mr. Longbottom. However," She said as I started smiling at her response. "I will have to inform your Grandmother, as you will be leaving the school grounds."

My smile dropped immediately as she said that. That is not going to go down well. I thought as I imagined what my Grandmother's reaction was going to be. Shivering at the thought, I turned back to Professor McGonagall.

"If you have to Professor. I don't imagine she will be happy, but hopefully she will understand." I said, my thoughts racing as I tried to come up with what I was going to say to her.

"I'm glad to see you taking control Mr. Longbottom. Your Grandmother is a wonderful woman, but she can be a little overbearing I imagine," Professor McGonagall said with a small smile.

"You've got that right Professor," I said with a nervous laugh, still thinking about how the conversation with my Grandmother would go.

"Right, well I will see you in the Entrance Hall at 9am sharp Saturday then Mr. Longbottom, and we will go and get your new wand," She said. "Now, you should head to your next class. You would not want to be late on your first day would you?"

At the dismissal, I stood up. "Thank you Professor," I said sincerely and turned to leave her office.

"You are most welcome, Mr. Longbottom," I heard, as the door closed behind me.

I wandered down towards Hagrid's Hut from Professor McGonagall's office. As I came out on the door from the Entrance Hall, I saw Harry and Ron ahead a little way down the path from me. I jogged to catch up to them, and Hermione joined them just as I got there.

We walked down the rest of the way chatting between each other. I told them about what happened with McGonagall and they all seemed interested when I mentioned the wand issue.

"Hmm I wonder how much of an impact it has?" Hermione said, thinking out loud.

"Quite a lot I think," Ron, surprisingly, answered. "It certainly made a fair bit of difference to me with the little magic I've been able to try so far." As he spoke, I remembered that his first wand had been broken last year and he must have gotten a new one this summer.

"Hopefully it'll have a similar impact for me," I said. It definitely is going to have a big impact. I know how good my spell casting can get once I have my true wand.

Eventually we reached the paddock outside of Hagrid's Hut where he planned to give todays lesson, evidenced by the fact he was standing in front of it with several hippogriffs behind him.

Hagrid stepped forward once the whole class had arrived and were gathered around the area.

"Right now. Gather round," He boomed, cutting through the chatter easily. "First of all, did you all work out how to open yer books?"

"Bloody thing tried to attack me!" Ron muttered after Hagrid asked the class. I saw Malfoy step forward, and went to cut him off before he could say anything to try and undermine Hagrid's newfound authority as a teacher.

"You stroke the spine. The book calms right down once you do," I said loudly.

The class turned to look at me, before a couple tried my suggestion. Once the rest of the class saw these books immediately becoming docile, they all followed suit.

"Great Neville! 'm glad that one of yer managed to work out how to calm 'em down," Hagrid said, beaming over at me through his bushy beard, before addressing the class again. "Now if you'd all turn to the section on hippogriffs, you'll find some information on the beaut's that we'll be studying t'day."

With that he gestured behind him to the four huge creatures. They were massive, all of them ranging somewhere between 16 and 18 hands* at the shoulder. They struck a frightening image. Their size, coupled with the predatory gaze and features of a gigantic eagle, placed on top of a huge horse's body. The talons in particular, 6 inch long daggers, glinting dangerously in the afternoon sun. There was definitely a sense of majesty to them as well though, particularly when the one to the furthest right reared up and unfurled its wings, which must have been at least 12 foot across.

"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do," Hagrid began explaining to the class. "Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed to touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt," A more serious tone coming into his voice as he finished.

"Now, who'd like ter go firs' an' try sayin' hello ta one of 'em?" He asked the class.

I stood back, letting Harry have his moment as he stepped forward and Hagrid took him to meet Buckbeak. Having bowed, and received a bow in return, I watched as Hagrid placed him atop the great animal. Buckbeak took off at a run, before unfurling his wings and beating them to take off.

The class watched in awe as Harry flew a small loop, briefly coming down over the lake, before coming back over to land after a couple of minutes. I started clapping, with Ron joining in soon after as he dismounted. He walked back over to us, a grin on his face and his eyes shining happily.

That looked amazing, I better try that before Malfoy screws up this class! With that in mind, I turned to Hagrid and asked, "Could I go next please Professor?"

He smiled at me, "Course yer can. 'ere, this one is Stormswift. He's another proud one, so watch yer self as yeh approach."

I nodded in response to what he said and moved towards the hippogriff he indicated. He had a beautiful chestnut coat and seemed to preen in recognition as he noticed the appreciation in my gaze.

I slowly approached, making sure to keep eye contact as Hagrid had said. A few yards away, I stopped and bowed. I stayed in that position for a couple of seconds, before Stormswift bowed back. I smiled and straightened up, making my way closer to the fiercely beautiful creature.

I stopped just by his head, before reaching out to gently stroke the feathers on his neck, taking care to go with the grain of his coat. He leaned into my touch slightly, a low rumble of what I assumed was appreciation coming from his throat as I scratched into his lower neck feathers.

Suddenly I felt large hands grab me around the waist, before finding myself hoisted into the air and deposited on the hippogriffs back.

"He yah!" I heard Hagrid shout, accompanied by a smack on Stormswift's flank.

Stormswift took off at a gallop, and just as he was unfurling his wings, I heard Harry shout, "Enjoy it Nev! It's amazing up there!"

I smiled back over at him, Ron and Hermione standing next to him as they all watched me take flight on Stormswift's back. I let out a whoop of glee as I felt us leave the ground and basked in the feeling of the air rushing past me as we flew out over the lake.

I looked around, the castle laid out in front of me as I rode on the back of a hippogriff. I had never seen or felt anything so magical in either life so far.

I really am here, at Hogwarts. This is amazing, a true opportunity of a lifetime with magic quite literally at my fingertips. I thought as we flew. My other life as a muggle giving me some perspective on just how fantastical this all was and could be.

I smiled, happy with where I was, and happy with what I had decided to try and change in the future. This is the world I live in and these are my friends. I'll do anything for them and I'll make sure we are prepared better this time, starting with myself!

AN: Whoo, first chapter! Thanks for reading this first instalment in my new story, I am very excited to have got this written. I hope you enjoyed it and if you have any comments or feedback, please get in touch in the comments or drop me a message.

Some sections of this chapter, notably Dumbledore's speech and Hagrid's speech on hippogriffs, were taken from the original text.

*To give some scale, an 18 hands horse stands 6 foot at the shoulder.