Neville was going to kill his parents. Well, maybe not, he'd just got them back but why did they have to decide since he hadn't had the Adorning Rite for his eleventh birthday, because they hadn't been able to do it, he'd have it for his twelfth birthday. He wasn't totally against having the rite. It was traditional, and his parents had not had the opportunity to do much for him.
They had, after all, been out of their minds in Saint Mungo's until very recently. It was only his father stealing back his wand from Neville that had brought them back to sanity. Even now they still needed some recovery. His father had taken up a morning jog, which he apparently didn't yet have enough stamina to match the distance he wanted to jog. His mother had her own exercise routine that she did in a leotard in the ball room every morning after breakfast. It was something she'd apparently done every morning save the month before Neville was born until the attack. His father blamed the conception of another baby Longbottom on her resumption of the routine.
Neville was going to be a big brother next Spring, something that Draco was going to be again too. Of course, he wasn't going to get as many siblings as Draco had acquired last Spring. Then again, that was a discovery of half-siblings, not his mother having another, like Draco had just told him about.
Neville took a deep breath, and stepped into the Conservatory. He really wished his father hadn't insisted on a fully traditional version of the rite, which required him to acquire everything he needed for school during the gifting, bringing nothing with him, just like he'd entered the world. He tried to act unconcerned about his nakedness, remembering how Seamus acted, even as he spotted the girls waiting in the glass room. He was sure that there had been conversation before he entered the room, but it was now silent.
He knew that at least Draco and Ernie had gone through the rite last year. They were big enough purebloods that it was pretty much required, but none of his Gryffindor mates had. Lavender had gone through the female version, which was not much different, though she had apparently embarrassed herself somehow due to an unspecified problem. He kind of wished she'd been able to come, but she was apparently on a cruise in the Med, so his parents had invited Ginny Weasley instead. She may have been a year younger, but Neville was in favor of the choice.
There were twelve people his age seated in the Conservatory, and unlike him, they were still in formal attire. He wouldn't be allowed to get dressed until his parents gave him the last of his presents, formal robes as the heir of the Longbottoms. The six boys, he knew most of them well. Harry, Ron, Dean, and Seamus were his roomates, and Draco was all of the Gryffindor boys' Slytherin rival. Ernie McMillian he didn't know that well, at all, save that he'd once been the boy's partner in Herbology. McMillian was not good with plants.
The girls Neville knew a lot less, though he had gotten to know a few of them better this summer. Mandy was the Longbottom's Summer guest, having only recently recovered her ability to walk. He'd actually met and got to know Parvati's sister Padma at the cookout following Jimmy's baptism. Both of them had really liked the hamburger, and sworn all of their friends to secrecy on the matter. He had grown to know the girls of Gryffindor in his year quite well. Neville was sure that Hermione and Sally-Anne were going to be challenging everyone to football later.
And then there was Ginny Weasley. She had been his date for Valentine's Day, despite not being a first year yet. When his parents had asked him which girl he'd wanted seated to his left, her name had come to mind, probably for that reason. Then he'd seen her at Hermione's in that bikini. She'd proven to him that despite being a year younger than the others, she was every bit a desirable girl. The dress she was wearing today did not reverse his opinion. He tried to ignore that as he walked across the conservatory to the chair, throne really, at the head of the arranged seating.
To his right as he sat down was Ron, who he'd chosen as his closest mate. His parents had expected him to chose Harry, but he was a bit closer to Ron, especially after Hermione had moved into the dorm. The chair was leather, and Neville's naked body stuck to it a bit.
"Friends, we're gathered here for our friend Neville Longbottom, a Longbottom of Longbottoms, on this his twelfth birthday," Ron began. "Since he did have his Adorning Rite for his eleventh birthday, through no fault of his own, his parents have decided to have it today. I have been chosen as his shepherd, and fortunately, as I am not the oldest Weasley, and thus didn't have the rite myself two Marches ago, his mother provided notes. A lot of notes, that I've been studying since Jimmy's Baptism, which as all Gryffindor knows, means I'm very ready for the job.
"Apparently, I'm supposed to roast him as we give him his presents for his upcoming year at Hogwarts in turn, around the room. This may be why I chosen, as I have plenty of resources to creatively tease him. They only way he'd have it worse, is if Fred or George were doing this. Not much worse, though. They gave me notes.
"As first person to Neville's right, is also my privilege to give Neville his first gift," Ron said, passing the his gift over. "I promise you that Fred and George have not touched it."
Neville opened the box to discover that it contained a metal box that was labeled "Neville's snacks." Opening the box there were fresh blueberry scones in it.
"It's charmed to keep them warm and fresh and ready for the journey to Hogwarts," Ron said. "I'm certain that you can get the house elves to keep it full, but I must warn you, blueberry scones are fattening, at least the way Mum makes them, and you were a bit pudgy before Wood started letting us practice for Quidditch with Harry and the team."
"Thank you Ron," Neville said. He would take that warning to heart.
"I think I'm next," Sally-Anne said. "As I don't want to loose my Herbology help, I'll forgo comments." She got up and put her package across Neville's legs. "Plus, I owe you after breaking yours.
Opening it, Neville discovered full set of Herbology tools, shovel, snips, spade, and hoe. Before he could thank Sally-Anne, however, Ron had to put his two knuts in.
"It seems that Sally-Anne wants you to really dig into class next year," Ron said. "How deep a hole do you want him to dig this year?"
"Deep enough so I can get out of Herbology," Sally-Anne shot back.
"Hmmm, three feet then," Neville said. "Thanks Sally-Anne."
"Draco, you're next," Ron said, as Neville put the present aside.
"Gee, I didn't notice I was sitting beside Perks," Draco said in a deadpan tone. Then he picked up his package and brought it. The shape made it a bit obvious. "Good thing you're doing this for second year, not first, or this wouldn't be something for Hogwarts."
Neville already knew it was a broom, but until he unwrapped it, he discovered that his parents appeared to have a lot better opinion of Neville's flying than Neville did. Almost all of the gifts were actually from his parents, but his friends had chosen from among them, for the most part. In a few cases, there had been a substitution, or his parents had talked with his friends' parents about them, like with Rons. Still, he had to keep the pretense that it was coming from Malfoy, even though he was sure that this was what his Gran called a Frank Extravagance. "A Nimbus 2001, Malfoy, you do remember our first Flying lesson."
"Point to Neville," Ron interjected.
"You've been practicing with Potter," Draco said. "But if you don't think it's worth it, rumor is that you're sitting beside the next first year who could make a Quidditch Team, if it wasn't for Potter."
"What Ginny? She doesn't fly," Ron said, with a wink to his sister.
"That's what she'd like you to believe," Neville replied, before getting an elbow from Ginny. "She's been steeling your broom to go on flights at midnight since she was five."
"Oh thanks for letting Ron know," Ginny said. "I'll never be able to borrow his broom to go flying at midnight again."
"I'll let you borrow this one ... after I fly it first," Neville said. He might not have been the best flyer, but this was a better broom than Harry's. He had to fly it first.
"Ginny, stay off Neville's broomstick."
"I'm not in his lap, Ron, and I'm keeping my hands to myself," Ginny shot back.
"Whose idea was it for me to sit between these siblings?" Neville asked.
"Yours!" Ron and Ginny chorused.
"Oh, right, whose next?" Neville said, looking back up from the broom. He handed the broom to Ginny. "Look after this for me. Padma, please tell me you've got something to save me from the gingers surrounding me."
"Well, I apologize for not wrapping them individually, but they're a bit numerous for that." Padma said, bring up a large covered basket. It appeared to be quite heavy.
Neville took off the cover, discovering a large number of standard size caldrons.
"It looks like you've got enough there to last to November, maybe," Ron remarked.
"Based on the reported rate of cauldron loss last year, it should be enough to last all year. You won't have to borrow Parvati's this year," Padma said. Then with a sudden sly, and grin that Neville more associated with Ron's brothers rather than a Patil Sister, much less Padma, she continued. "No stirring my sister's cauldron."
"I've got his broomstick in hand," Ginny said. "Not an issue."
Neville groaned. He had expected the broomstick comment, but didn't expect the cauldron one, and Ginny's return to it. He tried not to think about his physical reaction to it. He was hoping that this didn't continue, but he knew his friends. You were supposed to tease throughout this, and they were doing a bang up job. Perhaps the next one wouldn't be as bad, as Ernie MacMillian was not a Gryffindor.
"I think we've teased Longbottom enough about that," MacMillian said. "Not that I have any objection to it. It's just that I'm getting a bit hungry, and we can't eat until all the gifts are given, and you're dressed again."
"So I guess you have something for me?" Neville asked.
"Well, this is a ritual, and I am next in line, so I have a somewhat hefty gift," Mac Millian said, lugging a large rectangular basket, covered by a scarlet cloth up in front of Neville. "And it appears that I should have asked for a lightening charm." It landed in front of Neville heavily, but not dropped.
Neville took off the scarlet cloth and put it in his lap, to help hide his embarrassing reaction to the innuendo of his friends. Inside the box was a large collection of potions ingredients, something about the top five ingredients seemed to trigger a tingle in his mind.
"Hemlock, ginger root, knotgrass, caster oil, and moondew," Neville noted. Suddenly he remembered the combination's most common use, and decided to turn it back around."Either you expect me to die, or you want to make sure Ginny's ride on my broomstick isn't fruitful."
"You make my sister have a baby, it better be conception like Harry got Hermione, because otherwise, you're dead," Ron said with a very serious expression. MacMillian seemed to be somewhat disappointed at Ron jumping in like that, Neville figured, at his frown.
"Okay, what beast do you want to be rescued from, Ginny?" Neville asked, looking at her and then the rest of the gathering. They seemed to be somewhat astonished at his question. "What, Harry can't be the hero all the time."
"From your mouth to God's ears," Harry remarked. "Trolls, You-Know-Who ... last year was enough."
Ginny remained silent, her reaction to the question only evident in the blush of her cheeks. Neville couldn't stop himself from thinking how beautiful she was. It was not helping him hiding his visible reaction.
Next was Mandy Brocklehurst, who had been living at Longbottom Manor since the Summer began. Neville had not really seen her any more than he would have at Hogworts. He had his green house, and she preferred the library. Plus, he'd managed to go visit several of his friends, and Mandy had been pretty much confined to Longbottom Manor while she worked on recovering her ability to walk.
Neville knew it had been a long hard road for the Ravenclaw, but she was now able to carefully stand and push the box forward as she crossed from the far end of the conservatory. It was obvious that she was weak and it was taking her great effort to keep standing as well as push the tall box towards him. He knew enough that an offer of assistance from anyone would not be accepted.
"Longbottom, would that I could say that mine choice of gift was due to my exemplary work this class," Brocklehurst said very formally, and somewhat out of place among the much more friendly atmosphere. "It seems however, that can not hold up Ravenclaw's reputation in your house, as it seems that Gryffindor took advantage of your Head of House being the Transfiguration Mistress. Of those here I am dead last in our class in Transfiguration, it appears. So perhaps me giving you these transfiguration standard practice to the boy third in class in the subject isn't ideal."
Neville opened up the box via the built in doors on the side, finding the various objects from the marble bust of King George III to the small ivory buttons. Laying against the bust was a book whose title read simply "Transfiguration - McGonagall" Neville reached into the box and pulled it out. Opening the cover, it read on the front piece, "For Neville Longbottom, the mismatched adept."
"Wow, McGonagall really must like you, Longbottom," MacMillian said. "That's her personal guide to Transfiguration. Mother has one. McGonagall only gives out one of those a year, maybe two."
"You can borrow it Hermione, when we get back to Hogwarts," Neville said seeing the eager look on Gryffindor's resident genius and new mother.
"Thank you Neville," Hermione said. "I need to go on a library run. I'm starting to run out of things to read while Jimmy's nursing. And Brocklehurst, you wouldn't have been so low if I didn't hear Turpin, Li, and you plotting to regain the top spot last autumn. The others started studying after that. Thanks for the motivation."
Brocklehurst met Hermione's eyes, then Draco's. "I need to talk to you both, and Bones, about that," she said.
There was silence for a moment after that, but before it got too awkward, Ron spoke up, "Seamus, please tell me that you got something interesting for Neville in that box."
Seamus picked up the box in front of him and pranced up to Neville. He placed the box on top of the scarlet cloth that Neville was now using to provide himself a little modesty. Neville started to open the new box, when Brocklehurst's attempt at returning to her seat was stopped by her knees collapsing.
Neville had seen it happen to her before. It had resulted in quite a few nasty knots on the Ravenclaw's head. This time, though, Seamus was there before the girl could hit the floor, managing to catch her before she hit anything. He carefully helped her stand again, before assisting her back to her seat.
"Seamus, her potion is behind her chair," Neville said, noticing how Brocklehurst had been practically poured into her seat. Only once she was settled again, sipping her potion, did Neville open the box that Seamus had given her.
"I see that you left water in the goblet," Ron said, peering over Neville's arm at the box. "Did any of us actually get that spell right last year?"
"I think your twin brothers were having us on," Neville said. The box was filled with standard charm items, such as the goblet and a pillar to hold items you wanted to charm."I mean rhyming couplets for spells? Classic Fred and George."
"But it did explode, and I'm pretty sure that the leftover liquid wasn't water," Ron pointed out. "Lost more eyebrows with that spell."
"It worked with wine instead of rum," Seamus said. "With just a little alteration."
"Don't tell me you used it at Mass," Hermione said.
"Okay, I won't tell you about redoing the Wedding at Cana," Seamus said, returning to his seat. "But the best wine will be saved for last when you and Harry finally tie the knot."
"Harry, if we do, he's not invited to the reception," Hermione stated.
"Looking forward to the wedding night, Hermione?" Parvati said. "It would be a shame if you didn't get the fun to go with the child from Harry sometime."
Hermione buried her face in her hands, and Neville was glad he'd acquired the scarlet cloth, again. Harry on the other hand put his arm around Hermione's back, pulling her just a little bit closer.
Parvati smiled and stood, picking up another box for Neville. Neville pushed the other gifts to the side as she approached. The sliver box was heavy as she put it on his lap. He opened it discovering a box full of ink bottles. Most of them were labeled as black, but there were a few other colors, most notably one bottle of gold ink. You were supposed to use gold ink to address formal letters. As the heir to the Longbottom family, Neville knew he'd have quite a bit of use for that, especially next year when he'd be expected to host a gathering for his thirteenth birthday, which was a significant one for a wizarding heir.
"Gold," Ron noted. "So are you planning to write a letter asking for my sister next summer? It seems that you're already letting her ride your broom."
Neville put the box of ink bottles down, and turned towards Ron. "That is up to Ginny," he said firmly. Ginny was pretty, but it really was too early for him to be thinking about marriage, even if a thirteenth birthday was a traditional time for arranged marriages to be announced. It wasn't like anyone ever did that anymore. He only knew of one couple betrothed at the age at Hogwarts.
Dean stood up next. "I got another one that's just for you, and just of you, but this is the commissioned one," Dean said, picking up a frame covered with scarlet cloth. It seemed that his parents had an endless supply of scarlet cloths.
Dean held up the frame and let the cloth drop. It was a picture of Neville as a squire standing before his father and mother. His father was in full plate mail and his mother was dressed in a golden gown. Dean had managed to get his parents really well, but Neville was sure that he'd never looked so confident standing in front of his parents.
"Nice work, Dean," Neville said. "I look forward to the other one. It can't be as good as Ron's was."
"Oh, it's better," Dean said.
Next Hermione stood to bring up a thick wrapped object that didn't take Neville any time to figure out it was a book. The book worm would have chosen that from the list of traditional gifts. Neville quickly unwrapped it, revealing a copy of The Magical Guide to Second Year Spells, Gilded Edition.
"Anyone here who didn't expect Hermione to give a book, raise your hand," Ron said. No one did. "Thought not."
"I'll have you know, Ron Weasley, I didn't get a book for my personal present, just the ritual one," Hermione said, as she sat back down.
"That will be a first, then," Ron shot back.
"Harry," Hermione prodded.
"I guess I'm next," Harry said, picking up a rather hefty box that had been laying against the side of his chair. It was obvious that whatever was in the box was heavier than Harry was used to, and since Harry had been carrying Hermione's books around all of last Spring, that said quite a bit. He had both hands on it when he handed over to Neville.
"I think I'm going to have to have this box charmed before I pack it up," Neville said as he opened the box. There was smaller box on top of a stack of parchment inside, with "The Works" written across the top. A smaller label said "letterhead, A4 Ivory 24lb". He opened that box and found that each sheet was headed, "Neville Longbottom" in an ornate font. It looked almost like it had been done with the best calligraphy quill by a true artisans. The paper wasn't parchment, but a thick ivory paper.
"I thought you'd like that better than the magical stuff," Harry said. "It was flimsy and the script was unreadable."
"How bad was it?" Neville asked, a bit curious.
"A five-year-old could write your name better than that stock had it," Harry said firmly.
"Let me guess it was a Olinswolf Paper Product," Draco said. Harry nodded. "The Malfoy Family dropped our patronage of them after my Adorning Rite. I am not an using paper that claims that I am condemning anyone to everlasting punishment."
"I don't blame you, Draco," Neville said. "If this stuff is as good as it looks, I'll have to visit the place to get more."
"It's in the mall in Crawley," Harry said. "Walking distance from Hermione's house, which is now on the flue."
"I'm going to have to visit," Draco said. "And probably Victoria too. I'm not using that damn letterhead, especially not to write home to Julie, again. She'll never let me forget that letterhead."
"Little sisters are a pain, aren't they?" Ron said.
"Careful, Ron," Ginny said. "I'm not under wand use restrictions, and you know my hexes. Can I borrow your wand, Neville? I'll return it well polished."
"No polishing Neville's wand, Ginevra!" Ron shot back. "Bad enough that you're going to be ridding his broomstick." Ron's face was quite red. It was obvious to Neville that the pretense that Ron had set up to embarrass Neville as part of his role in the Ritual had been replaced with real sibling anguish.
"Ginny, I think you're next," Neville said, usurping Ron's role in hopes of preventing a fight with him in the middle. He had an eery feeling that he was going to be in the middle of these kind of conflicts a lot in the next few years.
"Right," Ginny said, before picking up a small box. She placed it on the floor and taking Harry's offered wand, tapped it once. It enlarged into a large trunk, which opened with another tap. "Pack," she ordered, and all of Neville's gifts from the Ritual thus far hopped into the trunk. "That's why you help Mum with the Landry, Ron," she concluded with a smirk.
"Wow, that was amazing Ginny," Neville said, as he looked over the solid oak trunk. It had his name written on the top, as well as the front edge of the lid. There were three locks, only one of which was turned.
"Mum taught me it when I was eight," Ginny said. "She said I had more than enough magical power and needed to learn something to contain it. I don't think she expected me to use it to help Bill pack for Egypt, though."
Suddenly the doors to the Conservatory opened, and Neville's parents entered. His mother was carrying a set of formal school robes, his father a set of Longbottom robes in their traditional Linconshire tricolor shades with gold pipping.
"Rise, Neville Francis Longbottom," Ron intoned ritually. "Into this world, naked you came. Innocent and unfledged you were, but like the birds of the air and their fledglings there comes a time when you must spread your wings and show the world who you are. Your parents have prepared for this day, this day when you take your first steps into the world."
Neville stood and took his place at the center of the Conservatory.
"Today your parents offer you both the robes of a scholar, and the robes of your heritage, to show the world how proud they are of their son. By which shall you be garbed today?"
Neville had thought about his choice. Both of the robes would be his, but there was great significance in either choice. The robes of the scholar, a new formal set of Hogwarts Robes, emblazoned with his Gryffindor crest represented a new path, to go in a new direction from the past. The heritage robes did not forgo that path, but it represented ties to the past and family as well. If he'd been offered the choice the year before, when he was supposed to have, it would have been easy. With the moment before him now, it wasn't anymore.
Neville turned to his father, and raised his arms to accept the robes of his heritage. His nakedness now covered in the rich silk, the royal blue under robe with gold piping, the forest green over robe with it's scarlet collar and cuffs. It settled upon his shoulders as he looked up to his father. His father hugged him, and then stepped back.
"Neville Francis Longbottom," his father began, "You are my son, in whom I am well pleased. Let all the world know of this, that my son is no longer a boy, but a wizard, standing on the threshold of adolescence. Let no one stand in the way of his journey to Hogwarts and in life."