Hogwarts: Neville's Insert Chapter 62
Neville nodded. "Pretty much. Simplest solution's usually the best one. I used a silver mesh weave and lined the inside of the Walkman casing with it. If you look closely, it's a little bulkier than a normal one. That's why it works — because it's battery-powered. Anything with a plug wouldn't work without more enchantments."
He leaned against the desk casually. "I've got other ideas, but they'd need proper rune work. If we ever want Muggle tech to work in the magical world, there's only two ways to do it: shield it from magic, or power it with magic instead of electricity."
Hermione looked back down at the parchment, eyes narrowed slightly. "This… is actually brilliant. It would work on battery-powered things. But how do you know about Faraday cages?" she asked, giving him a sceptical look.
Neville blinked, then laughed a bit nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Oh, that. I, uh… picked up a few physics books last year. Just out of curiosity."
Before she could dig any further, Neville cleared his throat and glanced at the door. "Anyway — didn't you say Gran was calling us down? We should get going. Come on." Without waiting for an answer, he hurried out of the room.
"Hey! Wait up!" Hermione called, chasing after him.
…
Wednesday, January 1st – King's Cross Station, Hogwarts Express
The scarlet steam engine let out a loud hiss and blew a thick cloud of white smoke into the air as it gave a lurch and began rolling forward.
The Hogwarts Express was departing, parents waving off their children as the train slowly pulled out of King's Cross.
Just as it was starting to move, two boys came jogging through the crowd, weaving around families and trolleys.
Neville reached the entrance first, grabbing hold of the side rail and pulling himself into the train. A moment later, Harry clambered in right after him, slightly out of breath.
"Told you we'd make it in time," Neville said, grinning as he adjusted the brown paper bag in his hand.
Harry gave him a look. "We almost missed the train."
Neville didn't respond — or more likely, pretended not to hear him — as he turned and started down the corridor.
"Come on, Harry. We need to find Hermione. Hopefully she saved us a compartment."
He wore a sweater vest over a collared shirt, his sling bag slung across one shoulder. The large brown bag rustled in his hand as they moved through the train.
"She did say she'd get here early," Harry said, following behind as they peered through compartment windows.
They didn't have to go far. Just a few compartments down, they spotted her — Hermione was sitting alone, curled up with a book on her lap.
"Ah!" Neville said with a grin, sliding the compartment door open.
"Well, hello there. Mind if we join you on this fine journey to the Scottish Highlands?"
He stepped inside with a theatrical bow.
Hermione looked up from her book, unimpressed.
"What took you so long?"
Neville flopped into the seat opposite her.
"Did you miss us that much, Hermione?"
She rolled her eyes. "You wish. I've been waiting here for over an hour. You two said you'd meet me early and never showed up. I was just about to start searching the train."
"Yeah, sorry about that, Hermione," Harry said as he sat down beside Neville. "We actually got here earlier, but someone insisted on getting a chicken burger from a Muggle shop. Said it wouldn't take long..."
He gave Neville a pointed look.
"But the queue was massive. We almost missed the train."
Hermione stared at Neville in disbelief.
"You almost missed the train… for a chicken burger?"
Neville looked unbothered.
"Hey, it was worth it. I heard this place was proper good — and judging by the queue, I wasn't wrong." He lifted the large brown paper bag. "And I didn't just get it for me. I got some for you two as well."
He opened the bag and pulled out a burger, the smell immediately filling the compartment.
"Besides," he added, unwrapping it, "even if we did miss the train, we could've just Flooed to Hogsmeade. Not a big deal."
He handed one burger each to Harry and Hermione.
Hermione took hers with a sigh. "You always have a backup plan, don't you?"
Neville leaned back in his seat, burger in hand. "Speaking of which… I reckon we should just skipped the train and Flooed to Hogsmeade for next term. it Would been fun exploring the place properly. Last time I was there, I barely saw anything."
He took a bite, chewed, then nodded in satisfaction. "Mmm. This is good. Told you it was worth the effort."
Harry, unwrapping his burger, looked at him. "Wouldn't we get in trouble if we did that?"
Neville shrugged. "Probably not. why would they care if we took the train or not, as long as we make it to hogwarts."
Hermione bit into hers, her expression softening as she chewed. "Okay… I'll admit it. This is really good."
She swallowed, then added, "And why do you want to do that after all we are allowed to visit Hogsmeade starting from third year, on Hogsmeade weekends."
"Really?" Harry asked, blinking. He took another bite. "Why haven't I heard about that?"
Neville shrugged as he finished off his burger, already reaching into the bag for another. "Probably 'cause you don't really hang out with anyone besides me, Hermione, Ron, and Luna. You barely talk to Seamus or Dean either."
Hermione gave him a sharp look. "I think they'll tell us more about it at the end of the year. But to go to Hogsmeade, we'll need written permission from a parent or guardian."
Harry groaned. "Brilliant. There goes that. i Doubt the Dursleys'll sign anything like that."
He looked over at Neville. "Think your gran could sign it for me?"
Neville shrugged, taking a bite of his next sandwich. "Probably not… but you could always just sign the form yourself. Who's going to know?"
Hermione shot him a glare. "That's forgery."
Neville shrugged again. "It's just a signature for the hogsmead permission no big deal. They won't know who signed it."
Hermione folded her arms. "How would you know? There might be a detection spell on it."
neville raised a brow. "You really think they'd go that far?"
Hermione huffed. "Suit yourselves. When you get caught, I'll be there to say 'I told you so'."
Neville grinned. "Well, even if he did get caught — he could just sneak out of the castle."
Hermione turned to glare at him again. "And get in trouble for it."
Neville just smirked. "Only if he gets caught."
He and Harry exchanged a grin while Hermione shook her head, unimpressed. She finished the last bite of her burger and pulled her book back onto her lap, flipping to her bookmark with a huff.
Neville leaned back in his seat and said, "Hey, fun fact about Hogsmeade — did you know students used to be allowed to go there any day of the week?"
Hermione glanced up from her book, curious. "Really? I didn't know that."
Neville nodded, gesturing to the book in her hands. "It's in Hogwarts: A History. They only changed the rule sometime in the 1940s or 50s, I think."
What he didn't say out loud was that he remembered it from Hogwarts Legacy. in the game, students could wander in and out of Hogsmeade whenever they liked. After he'd arrived in this world, he'd checked the records himself — and found out it was true. The rule had only changed later on.
Hermione frowned slightly, flipping a few pages. "Huh. I'll have to look that up"
"Would've been brilliant if they still let us do that," Harry said, staring out the window. "The castle gets dead boring after being cooped up in it for a whole year."
Neville nodded. "Yeah, but it was mostly for upper years. Don't think they'd have let first or second years wander out on their own — not without a professor keeping an eye on them."
Harry glanced across the compartment. "So why are you reading that book anyway, Hermione?"
Hermione looked up from Hogwarts: A History, her finger still marking her place. "I'm not really reading it — just skimming through. I was hoping there might be something about the Chamber of Secrets or the Heir of Slytherin. If it has been opened before, there might be a mention."
Neville suddenly snapped his fingers. "Right! We completely forgot to tell you about that."
Hermione blinked at him. "Tell me what?"
Harry leaned forward slightly. "About the Chamber. We asked Neville's gran about it while we were at her place."
Neville nodded, sheepish. "Totally slipped my mind — but can you blame a bloke? I was excited about the Premier League match."
Just like he'd hoped, Hermione's parents had helped them all get tickets to watch Liverpool vs Man City at Anfield on the 28th of December. The match ended in a 1–1 draw. Neville hadn't recognised most of the players, but he'd spotted a few names he remembered. Ian Rush being one of them.
Hermione huffed and raised a brow. "Well? Are you going to tell me what she said or not?"
Neville nodded quickly. "Right. So — I was right. The Chamber was opened before. About fifty years ago. Gran was only four at the time, so she doesn't know much first-hand."
Neville continued, "Well… Gran said that last time the Chamber was opened, a student died. But they said the culprit was caught."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Wait — they caught who did it? Did your gran say who it was?"
Harry sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… that's the thing. The person they blamed was Hagrid. He was expelled."
Hermione's eyes went even wider. "What? Hagrid?!"
Neville nodded. "Yep. Last time the Chamber was opened, Hagrid got expelled and someone was killed."
Hermione shook her head firmly. "No. It couldn't have been him. I mean — yes, he's a bit reckless when it comes to magical creatures, but he wouldn't go around petrifying people with a Basilisk."
Harry nodded in agreement. "He was framed. That much is obvious."
Neville leaned forward slightly. "I think the Ministry pinned it on him because it was easy. A death in Hogwarts would've caused a scandal. But blaming a half-breed? Easy out. Hagrid's half-giant — and just like how they treat Muggle-borns, the magical world looks down on anyone who's not fully human."
Hermione frowned.
Neville continued, "He was the perfect scapegoat. No real investigation, no real questions — just blame the half-giant kid and move on." Neville added, "And I think that's why Hagrid's so loyal to Dumbledore. Gran reckons Dumbledore believed in him — vouched for him when no one else would. Gave him a job as Keeper of Keys when he became Headmaster."
Hermione looked up. "Wait Dumbledore wasn't Headmaster back then?"
"No. Gran said it was someone called Armando Dippet who was Headmaster back then." Harry shook his head. "And according to Gran, the Minister's putting pressure on Dumbledore to hand Hagrid over again, saying he was the last one blamed, so he must be connected. Only reason he's not in Azkaban right now is 'cause Dumbledore's shielding him."
Neville nodded. "If I had to guess… the one who really opened the Chamber back then — it must've been Voldemort. Or at least, before he change his name i who would name their kid Voldemort."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "And Dumbledore knows who that is. I'd bet anything on it."
He glanced between Harry and Hermione. "And I think I know who was killed last time the Chamber was opened."
Harry frowned. "Who? And why would that matter now?"
Neville leaned forward slightly. "Because we could still talk to her. She's still at Hogwarts."
Hermione's eyes widened. "Moaning Myrtle."
Neville nodded. "Yep. She was the one who died. And she haunts the same girls' bathroom where I found one of the Chamber's entrances."
Harry looked confused. "But what could she tell us now? I mean… if she knew who the Heir was, wouldn't she have said something already?"
Hermione nodded. "Exactly. Surely she'd have told someone by now."
Neville shrugged. "Maybe. But she might not know who the Heir really was, but she might know who framed Hagrid."
Hermione looked thoughtful. "You think the student who framed Hagrid was Voldemort?"
Neville nodded. "Yeah. All signs point to it."
Hermione frowned, her voice a little softer now. "But wouldn't it be insensitive to ask Myrtle about her death? She's already really emotional. Wouldn't that just be… cruel?"
Neville nodded again, more thoughtfully this time. "I know. I thought the same. But then I remembered something I read about the school a while back..."
He leaned forward a bit. "Hogwarts gives out awards to students who do something 'significant' for the school — saving a life, uncovering something big. If Voldemort really framed Hagrid, and everyone believed he 'solved' the case, they'd have given him one of those awards."
Hermione's eyes lit up in understanding. "Then it should still be in the castle — in the Trophy Room!"
Neville nodded. "Yeah. It might be."
Harry, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. "Er… guys?"
They both turned to him.
"If he got an award, wouldn't his name also be in that?" He pointed at the Hogwarts: A History book still resting in Hermione's lap.
Neville and Hermione both stared at the book, then at Harry.
Hermione let out a small gasp. "Harry, you're a genius!" she said, already flipping through the pages.
"Why didn't I think of that?"
Neville blinked. "Yeah… why didn't you?"
Hermione shot him a quick look as she turned the pages rapidly. Then she stopped, tapped the paper, and said, " 1943 Found it! Here — Tom Marvolo Riddle, Award for Special Services to the School. This must be him."
She showed them the entry. "According to this, he was a fifth year at the time."
Neville nodded slowly. "Makes sense why he'd change his name, then. I mean… Tom? No one would take that seriously as the name of a dark wizard."
Harry and Hermione both turned to give him a look.
Neville held up his hands. "Hey — I'm just saying. 'Tom' isn't exactly fearsome. Not like 'Grindelwald' or 'Voldemort'. Then again, 'Voldemort' isn't that much better."
Neville snorted.
"Well, what could you expect from the bloke who named his followers Death Eaters?"
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance… then chuckled.
"I mean really," Neville said between chuckles, "Death Eaters? What were the other options — Death Chompers? Corpse Nibblers?"
…
They met Luna at the Hogsmeade Station and rode up to the castle together in one of the Thestral-drawn carriages. After arriving at the front gates, they parted ways.
Climbing seven flights of stairs, Neville, Hermione, and Harry joined the other Gryffindors making their way up to the Fat Lady's portrait.
The door swung open after the password was given, and the common room buzzed with noise — laughter, chatter, students catching up after the holidays.
As the three of them made their way deeper into the room, Ron stepped toward them from near the fireplace.
He gave them an awkward smile. "Hey, guys."
neville nodded "Hellu"
"Ron," Harry said with a small nod.
Hermione gave a polite but stiff, "Hey there, Ron."
Ron scratched the back of his neck, sighing. "Look… I'm sorry for what I said before the break. I didn't mean any of it, alright? I just thought you were ditching me and ended up acting like a prat."
Neville and Hermione stayed quiet, watching Harry.
Harry's face flickered through a few expressions — annoyance, confusion, then finally a tired sigh. "It's alright, mate. I get it."
Hermione let out a quiet breath. She'd half expected them to start arguing again. "Well, I'm going to go put my things away," she said, turning toward the girls' dorm. "I'll meet you two back here in a bit."
As she walked off, Neville turned to Ron. "So, how was your Christmas?"
Ron scowled. "Oh, it was awful, mate. I had to stay here with Malfoy — and of all the people, it had to be him. Absolute git the whole time. Wouldn't shut up, kept being a right pain. Real nightmare."
They started walking up the stairs toward their dormitory. "Oh — and thanks for the gift," Ron added, glancing at Neville.
Neville gave a small nod in return. "No problem."
Once they reached the dorm, Harry asked,"Any attacks while we were gone?"
Ron shook his head. "Nah… though that might be 'cause there weren't any Muggle-borns left in the castle over break."
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