It was a tradition that they had started after the war, each day and night before he was to go to Hogwarts a small celebration was held. It mostly was just hanging out at home, getting his supplies and exchanging gifts. This year was no different, except that his father was missing another year. Their celebration was almost over. A soft sigh came from his lips as he looked out of the window of the apartment that he shared with his step-mother. Well, she had adopted him as her own, legally, right after she married his father but no one, not even him, minded that not many wanted to understand that she was his mother. His fingers traced the window pane one last time, until his next break. They had moved into the apartment shortly after his parents had married and it was here that he was raised with the stories of fantastic creatures and other worldly beasts. His father never had anything bad to say about the stories that he was told. It wasn't like he believed them anyways....okay that was a lie, he believed in most of them.

"Alan are you ready? We're meeting Charlie today." 

Charlie Weasley was the friend of his mother, and it was Charlie who gave him the much needed 'male bonding time' that he lacked after the death of his father. "Yeah hold on!" He called out before grabbing a small package wrapped in brown paper. It was for Charlie.

Waiting at the base of the stairs was his mother. It was easy to see that the woman wasn't his mother by birth; her dark features were mismatched with his lighter ones. A wide smile graced her lips as she held her hand out to the boy. He walked closer to her with a smile of his own. She had been the mother figure in his life since he was only five years old. It wasn't until he turned eight when he was formally adopted as her own. She ruffled his hair softly and he fought back the blush that was threatening to bloom like wildfire on his cheeks.

It wasn't long until they had reached their destination - Platform 9 3/4. Slowly the pair made their way through the winding crowd and it was Alan who spotted the tall red head first. "Charlie!" The two yelled in unison as they charged forward, Alan manned the cart that held all of his supplies and other things, while his mother held onto the package that was intended for Charlie.

---

This was the one place that he loved the most, Hogwarts. It brought back many painful memories but like the light that triumphed over dark - the good memories outweighed the bad ones. There were many great times that he had in the halls of the old school. Much of it had been rebuilt and paintings of those that lost their lives during the final battle graced the walls. However, it wasn't the same. It would never be the same. [i]He[/i] could never be the same. This was the place where Neville Longbottom had flourished in times of light and darkness. This was the place where so many friendships were built up, only to come crumbling to the ground.

But he wouldn't trade his memories for anything. They made him wiser and more capable of protecting the future generations of witches and wizards that came through the very halls that he once called home. He still called it home, Hogwarts would always be home. This was the place that tore his relationship with Hannah Abbott to the ground. She hated this place and she didn't understand why Neville would hold on to such a place. A feminine voice pulled him from his thoughts and he smiled. Shay understood why he chose to come back, she understood better than anyone. He looked at the school and took a deep breath. There were still times when the professor would sit within the halls or wander the school grounds lost in his thoughts and memories but he was getting better. He had his students and Shay to thank for that. Turning slightly to the young woman, he gave her a small smile.

"Yeah, let's get going." 

This was, and always will be his home.