While mother and son were under the care of a healer, Frank was still waiting for an answer. "Well, I'm waiting!"
"W-well, I thought... You know he didn't show..." Agernon stammered.
"You were trying to force magic out of him?" Frank's eyes narrowed. "That was why you almost killed my son? That?!"
Agernon felt his knees starting to shake. "I-I thought... i-if he's a squib..."
"You felt that dead is better than being a squib, correct?" The silence was answer enough for Frank. "You clearly didn't know that since our retirement we closely observed our son, and his accidental magic is quite subtle but very active."
Agernon looked floored by that declaration, but Frank Longbottom was not done yet. "As of this day I never want to see you anywhere near Neville again. Even Mother and Father won't be able to change my mind. You are an obvious danger to him with your hairbrained ideas."
Agernon wanted to protest, but was silenced with one hard look. Knowing that he would not be able to change his nephew's mind, he left to pack and then leave. He had a feeling that he wouldn't see Neville for a very long time.
"Idiot..." Frank cursed, then entered the house where he and his family were staying.
The house was silent, apart from his steps and the sound of the tip of his cane hitting the floor. Entering the room where his wife and son were treated, he saw that the healer had already left and Alice was reasonably well, even though she was in bed. Their son was right next to her, holding onto her and having fallen asleep.
"What did the healer say?" Frank asked his wife.
Alice sighed. "Don't worry about me, and Neville is now physically fine, but..." Now she looked sad. "I think this has been deeply traumatizing for him. Someone he trusted almost killed him. You found out why he did it?"
Frank snorted. "I did. He wanted to force accidental magic out of him, ignorant of the fact that Neville has done quite a bit of it."
"Well, our son won't anymore after such a shock." Alice held their son closer.
"And I made sure Agernon won't try anything again. I banished him from ever coming near our son again." Sitting down on the bed, Frank took a look at the sleeping Neville. "He looks more vulnerable than before."
"I feel the difference in him; while before he was bursting with energy, it's all muted now. We can't expect any magic from him for a long time. Trust a mother to know such things," Alice told her husband.
Both Longbottoms were truly angry with Agernon, who thoughtlessly had caused their son injuries that went far deeper than anything physical. For a child to suddenly stop showing the signs of magic hinted at a very serious problem. All of a sudden their son's future, which had always seemed so bright, had dimmed considerably.
...September 2nd, first day of the new school year...
"Now, don't be afraid, Harry. School is about learning new things and making new friends," Thomas reminded Harry while both of them approached St. Grogory's Primary School.
"Uh, yes, Uncle Tom." Harry tried to hide it, but he was very nervous.
Thomas had to chuckle. Them being called 'Uncle Tom' and 'Aunti Verni' had stuck, and they honestly didn't mind Harry calling them that, since to them it was a sign of affection. They were never trying to replace Harry's parents while still giving him all the love he needed. That it was only him escorting Harry to his first school day was due to Veronica being quite busy with little Mark and Sirius and Remus both already being at work - Sirius at the police and Remus buying teaching materials for his upcoming weekend classes.
Of course they had been sad they would miss this moment, but on the other hand, perhaps not crowding Harry was better. The young boy otherwise would most likely have lost his nerves. After all, this was a big step for Harry.
Harry himself tried not to freak out. The school uniform he was now wearing felt strange to him after all his life wearing loose and comfortable clothes. That thing around his neck, which Thomas had to bind for him, was not much comfortable, either.
"See, there is the school gate, and look at all the other children being escorted by their parents," Thomas told Harry, pointing out the obvious.
Seeing so many boys and girls his age being escorted to the school by their parents, Harry calmed down a bit. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad?
An hour later, Harry was quite excited.
After an introduction speech by the Headmaster, the new first-year students had been shown through the entire school and introduced to the place they would become very familiar with for the next six years. Harry had never thought there would be so much to a school! Right now the first years were divided into their respective classrooms for the next six years.
Harry only listened with half an ear and almost missed raising his hand when his name was called.
It was only when sitting at his seat and listening to the further introduction to the school, that he looked around. Most of the boys and girls looked nice enough and he did spot some children from the direct neighborhood. However, he froze when he spotted someone in particular.
Oh no, not him!
Dudley had tried to seek him out several times since the first unpleasant meeting, clearly to be mean to him. Harry thankfully at those time had always been with an adult. Now however Harry wondered what Dudley would do at school, and all of a sudden school didn't look to be that great anymore if he had to share classes with Dudley of all people.
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