Neville's Mysterious Pen Pal

Chapter 2

Neville woke up the next blissful morning and looked around for anything unusual. He saw an owl beside him in his four poster bed. It wasn't Trevor but a small snowy owl like Harry's. He read the letter tied to its legs.

Vertor or whoever you may be,

I really don't know what the bloody hell you are up to but at any rate, if you are looking for a girlfriend, you sent your owl at the wrong direction. I have already made a commitment with the wonderful Draco Malfoy. Your owl flew directly to the Astronomy Tower when I was waiting for him. Good thing his Slytherin friends distracted him for a while for he would kill me if I had a (let's say) secret admirer. When I was waiting for him, I sent your owl to go someplace else like what you have stated in your letter. So the point is: Thanks, but no thanks. I am completely flattered but try your luck someplace else. Tip: Don't ever write like that because you'll never get a suitable girl in that manner. Oh, don't tell anyone about Draco and me. He'd rather keep it a secret.

From,

L.T

P.S. By the way, please send my owl back.

Neville crumpled the letter. Of all people, it went to Draco's girl. Wait a minute, Draco--has a girlfriend--not from Slytherin? Neville wondered as he tried recalling any person whose initials are L.T. Unfortunately, he remembered none. This is one big rumor that Parvati and Lavender would love! Neville thought excitedly. However, Neville was a goody-two-shoes boy and he wouldn't go to the extent of feeding Parvati and Lavender some juicy information just to be closer friends with them. He felt that writing to an unknown person was more honest and more like himself. He finally realized that it was a good idea after all. Neville started scribbling a reply:

L.T,

Thanks for tying my letter back to my owl and sending my owl someplace else. About your Malfoy secret--don't worry, your secret is safe with me--and the whole Slytherin clan. Don't worry, nothing will happen to you. No one would care for you anyway--at least, I didn't. I don't know if you are illiterate or blind or something of that sort but it was clearly stated in the letter that I was looking for a pen pal. Girlfriend? I have loads. You think I'm your secret admirer? Guess again! It looks like it's the other way around. You are my secret admirer. How dare you write such a letter to the one you marvel at? It's such a pity you actually fell for the letter. Honestly, I can't believe you actually fell for me. Do you reckon I will love someone other than a Slytherin? The point is: Thanks, but no thanks.

From the one you think highly of,

The Wonderful Draco Malfoy

Neville couldn't believe he wrote such a letter. He just wrote and wrote whatever was on his mind. He didn't realise he would end up being so tough. Should I send this or not? Neville wondered as he went towards the owl hesitatingly. Finally, Neville tied the newly written letter to the leg of L.T's owl. "Give this to whoever wrote this letter," Neville whispered to the owl. Pleased with himself, Neville smiled. Ok, so I will send the letter. Whatever happens, at least L.T and Malfoy would wreck each other off! No one would think it's me--the good-for-nothing goody-two-shoes Neville Longbottom. There is no evidence because I just threw her letter and she sent my owl someplace else. Ha Ha, Neville told himself happily as his thoughts were playing tricks on him again. He finally decided that he should go out of his shell once in a while and apply his toughness.

Neville ate breakfast in the Great Hall with his usual Gryffindor colleagues. Then, he went to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures. Neville got annoyed with Rita Skeeter about the Blast Ended Skrewts. After lunch with Dean and Seamus, he headed towards the Diviniation room. On the way, he heard din and movement. He hid behind the nearest wall and peeped towards the wall where he heard the commotion. It was Malfoy and a girl who Neville recognized. His jaw dropped.

Malfoy and Lisa Turpin! Neville gasped, Lisa Turpin--the fourth year Ravenclaw? It was Lisa Turpin whom he was writing to all along! He couldn't believe his eyes. Turpin and Malfoy--together? Weird! How did Lisa get acquainted with Malfoy? Malfoy isn't Ravenclaw material. Lisa seemed so nice but it turned out she was the opposite based on the letter. Malfoy have probably influenced her, Neville thought as he started listening intently to the conversation.

"How dare you write to me like that! What has gotten into you? I thought we were going on fine!" Draco said with an angry look.

Lisa must have written back to Malfoy himself, Neville thought.

"Excuse me. You started it! You wanted to break up with me in the first place," Lisa replied hotly.

"I never broke up with you. Do you have any proof?"

"Just this letter," Lisa said as she showed the letter which bore Neville's handwriting.

"I didn't write that," Malfoy said flatly.

"It has your name on it," Lisa replied coolly.

"Lisa, goddammit! If you want us to have a relationship, quit the fight! After all, that's not my signature," Draco's voice drawled.

"Fine,"

Draco grabbed the letter and reread it carefully. Finally, he threw the piece of parchment.

"What's the matter?" Lisa asked, concerned.

"You actually told this git about us?" Malfoy asked with an expressionless face.

"Well--er--" Lisa stopped short as Draco's eyes narrowed.

"I told you not to tell anyone! Now, my reputation will be dung. You! You--you're a Ravenclaw!" Draco shrieked.

"So...?"

"I'm not suppose to meddle with you Ravenclaws!" Malfoy said, paranoid.

"Oh," That was all Lisa could answer.

"Lisa, I think we should have time apart. I don't think I can handle any of this any longer," Malfoy said calmly.

"YOU'RE BREAKING UP WITH ME?" Lisa told Malfoy in a way that seemed like the world fell apart. "Is it just about yourself you are thinking about? Don't you care about anything else aside from your reputation, your hair, and your good looks? Don't you know that there are a lot of people who care about you but you don't do anything to repay them? Can't you get that to your slick sexy pushed back hairy head?" Lisa looked at Draco pleadingly.

Neville walked hurriedly towards the trapdoor. He was pleased with himself but at the same time, he was also feeling a bit of pity for Lisa. As he climbed up, he heard the faint sobs of Lisa Turpin.

After Divination, Neville ate dinner with Harry and Ron. After dinner, they went to the Common Room where Harry and Ron left and joined a frantic Hermione. Neville continued to his dormitory and saw his owl, Trevor. He grabbed the parchment tied to Trevor and read it:

Vertor,

Hey! I got your letter and I would love to be your pen pal. Since your refuse to give me your true identity, I will not give you mine too. You can call me Amelia Nasus or Amelia for short. Take note--that's just my penname. I'm a Hufflepuff fourth year girl. So you are from Gryffindor eh? What year? A lot of people call Hufflepuffs a bunch of duffers but being one isn't so bad. Based on your letter, I heard you were going through a lot of hard times lately. Well, same here. Everyone bullies the Hufflepuffs--I'm so sick of it! Everyone, especially the Slytherins. In your letter, you said that a lot of people laugh at you for being so utterly useless and careless. I don't get why anyone should laugh at you. You seen like a nice guy. Good thing you aren't a Slytherin. I heard your parents are in St. Mungo's. I'm so sorry. A teacher embarrasses you? I have a feeling it's Prof. Snape. Yeah. He always finds a way to dock points from Hufflepuff. Anyway, er--how do you find the Triwizard tournament so far? I wonder who put Harry's name in the Goblet? I don't think he has anything to do with it. It's not just like Harry to go to that extent. You are cheering for him aren't you? You are after all, a Gryffindor. I'm cheering for Cedric. He is after all a Hufflepuff. Harry isn't so bad though. I was surprised by the way he did the first task. Don't worry. I won't go to the extent of buying those "Potter Stinks" badges. I hate Malfoy anyway. I just hope it's a Hogwarts victory. Enough of the tournament, please tell me all about you. You don't have to tell me who you are. Just tell me your likes, dislikes--you know that sort. I'll tell you mine when you reply. I guess that's all for now. By the way, don't be afraid to tell me your problems. We are going to be friends, remember? Therefore, we should be open.

Looking forward to your letter,

Amelia Nasus

Neville kept the letter. He was in such high spirits although he started wondering who Amelia really is. He decided he would reply first thing in the morning. He called it a night, so he put Trevor back to his cage and conjectured that he would have an amazing sleep that night.