Harry woke up early the next morning, feeling that familiar sharpness in his mind that always accompanied his plans in motion. He glanced over and saw Ron was already awake, stretching his long limbs in the bed across the room. The corner of Harry's mouth curled up into a smirk. Today was going to be a little different.
Rolling out of bed, Harry nudged Ron with his foot. "Get your trainers on, mate. We're taking someone else with us today."
Ron blinked, confused but curious. "Who? Not Hermione again, is it? She's always moaning about the running."
"No," Harry shook his head, already making his way over to the other side of the room. His eyes landed on Neville Longbottom's bed. They hadn't interacted much, but Harry knew enough. Neville was quiet, shy, and desperate to fit in. The kind of bloke who, with a little nudge, would follow along with whatever you threw at him.
"Neville," Harry whispered, shaking his shoulder lightly. Neville stirred, groaning as his eyes fluttered open. He looked confused, his voice groggy. "Harry? What… is it morning already?"
"Morning, mate. Listen, we're about to go for a run. You want to join us?"
Neville blinked in confusion, rubbing his eyes. "A run? Where?"
"You'll find out if you come," Harry said, with a sly smile.
Neville hesitated for a second. Harry could see the conflict in his eyes, but it didn't take long for the desperation to make friends kick in. Neville wasn't exactly popular, and Harry knew he'd leap at any chance to be included.
"Yeah, alright," Neville mumbled, pulling himself out of bed and fumbling for his shoes.
Ron was already tying his laces, looking at Harry curiously. "What's the sudden interest in Neville?"
Harry shrugged, playing it casual. "Figured we could give him a shot. We never asked him before, did we?"
Neville, now fully awake and dressed, stood awkwardly by the door. "Thanks for asking, Harry. Not many people… well, you know. It's nice to be included."
Harry flashed him a grin. "No worries, mate. Come on, let's see if you can keep up."
They made their way down the stairs and out onto the grounds, the cool morning air sharp against their faces. Hermione was already waiting by the Black Lake, stretching her legs, her hair tied back messily. She raised an eyebrow as Neville came trotting up behind Ron and Harry.
"Neville?" she asked, blinking in surprise. "It's good to see you join us. Why haven't you run with us before?"
Neville looked sheepish, shrugging. "I, uh, wasn't invited."
Hermione immediately shot a glare at Harry and Ron. "And why not?"
Harry raised his hands in mock surrender. "Didn't think he'd be into it. But I would have asked him eventually."
"Sure, after three months," Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes. She turned to Neville with an apologetic smile. "Well, I'm glad you're here now. Maybe you'll enjoy it more than Ron does."
Ron snorted, kicking a stone with his foot. "Come on, Hermione, Don't act like your not doing this because you want to look good yourself."
"I don't have to look good, this is for my health" Hermione shot back, crossing her arms.
Neville chuckled nervously at the bickering. Harry grinned at Ron, playfully nudging him. "Do you know why I was not afraid Neville would not join us"
Ron shook his head with a laugh. "You'd have forced him out here eventually, wouldn't you?"
Neville scratched the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly. "I suppose it's good I said yes then."
They started their run, Harry and Ron leading the way, with Neville lagging behind. He wasn't used to this kind of exertion, and after a few minutes, he was already gasping for breath, his face flushed. He had to stop to catch his breath more than once, but each time he did, Harry slowed down just enough to make sure Neville kept going.
"You alright back there, Neville?" Harry called out after the fourth time Neville had stopped, hands on his knees.
"I'm—" Neville panted, standing up straight with effort. "I'm fine! Just… catching my breath."
"Keep pushing," Harry encouraged, though his tone was casual, as if he already knew Neville wouldn't quit. "It gets easier."
"Easy for you to say," Neville muttered, grinning despite himself. He looked up at the castle, wondering if he should just head back, but shook his head and kept going. He wasn't going to back out now. Not after being invited.
When they finally reached the lake, everyone was breathing hard, but Neville looked like he was about to collapse. He bent over, hands on his thighs, sucking in air like it was his last.
Harry started to strip off his shirt, and Ron followed suit. Neville blinked, straightening up. "Wait, what are you doing?"
Ron looked at him with a grin, tossing his shirt to the side. "We're swimming."
Neville's eyes widened in disbelief. "In the lake? It's freezing!"
"That's the point," Ron said, already pulling off his shoes and heading for the water. "It helps with what comes next."
"What… comes next?" Neville asked, still baffled.
Harry smirked, stepping into the lake, the cold water hitting him like a wall, but it only served to wake him up more. "You'll see."
Hermione, who had already stripped down, rolled her eyes as she waded in after them. "It's not that bad once you get used to it, Neville."
Neville hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the warm safety of the castle. *I must be mad,* he thought. But with a resigned sigh, he stripped off his clothes and jumped into the lake.
The cold was a shock to his system, like ice gripping his lungs. His whole body tensed up, and for a second, he thought he'd forgotten how to breathe. But after a moment, he forced himself to take slow, steady breaths, and the panic began to fade.
"Bloody hell," Neville gasped, his teeth chattering. "You lot are nuts."
Ron laughed, splashing water at him. "Told you it'd be cold."
Harry watched with an amused grin as Neville adjusted to the water, the initial shock wearing off. "You'll get used to it. Just keep moving."
They swam around for a while, the cold lake waking them up and sharpening their senses. After a few minutes, they climbed out and sat on the shore, shivering slightly but invigorated by the chill.
"Alright, Neville," Harry said, settling on a nearby rock. "Here's the real reason we do this. You're going to learn how to feel your magic."
Neville looked confused. "Feel my magic?"
"Yeah," Harry said, nodding. "It's like meditation. But it's more about breathing, and connecting with the magic inside you. You've got it—you just need to tap into it."
Neville frowned but nodded. "Alright… I'll try."
The group sat in silence, legs crossed, focusing on their breathing. Harry closed his eyes, feeling the cool breeze brush against his skin. This time, he tried something different. He focused on the wind, letting it swirl around him, controlling its temperature without losing his concentration.
It was a delicate balance, like walking a tightrope. He could feel his magic stirring, responding to the cold, but as soon as he tried to push himself up, gravity snapped him back down, and he slammed into the rock, jolting out of his trance.
"Shit," he muttered, rubbing his head.
Ron, who had also been woken from his meditation by the sudden noise, looked over with a raised eyebrow. "What happened?"
"Tried to lift myself up," Harry muttered. "Didn't go so well."
Ron grinned. "Mate, you're trying to move your fat arse yourself. Start with something smaller like rocks."
Hermione, who had been focusing intently, finally opened her eyes with a sigh. "I think I'm getting it… but I am trying to focus on the physical side and feel and control the magic inside me first."
Neville, meanwhile, looked like he'd seen a ghost. He blinked, his face pale. "I… I felt something. Like… an ocean inside me."
Hermione and Ron both turned to him in shock.
"What?" Ron exclaimed. "How did you feel something on the first day and An ocean? I only feel like I'm sitting near a lake."
Hermione nodded, her eyes wide with disbelief. "I feel a river… but an ocean? That's…"
Neville looked confused, scratching his head. "Is that bad? I thought maybe I was doing it wrong."
Harry, who had already guessed the truth, shook his head. "Nah, it's not bad. It just means you've got more magic in you just like me, I see an ocean too."
Neville frowned. "That can't be right. I'm rubbish at magic."
"well It might not be you," Harry said, giving Neville a knowing look as he knew the real reason. "It could be your wand."
Neville blinked. "My wand? But it worked fine for my dad and my grandfather."
"Exactly," Harry said. "It might be too old for your magic. It's not about the wand itself—it's about how it connects to you."
Neville considered that for a moment, nodding slowly. "Maybe… maybe you're right."
"Of course I'm right," Harry grinned. "You should think about getting a wand that's meant for you. See how much better your magic works."
Neville looked thoughtful, nodding again. "Yeah… I'll look into it."
Harry leaned back, satisfied as he asked Neville "Hey Nev, do you have time to help us test something tonight" Neville asks "what test"
Harry grins as he assures Ned that it is a normal Test "Just some experiment we are running. nothing to worry about"
Neville nods unsurely as Harry, Hermione and Ron look at him, feeling like he signed a deal with a devil.
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