I WILL TRY
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Longbottom, Neville." The elderly transfiguration professor called the boy's name. Shakily, the boy made his way to the stool holding the hat, but not before tripping in the process.
Neville fearfully dropped the hat onto his head as he took his place on the stool. Nothing happened. The boy started to panic. Maybe there had been a mistake. Perhaps he was a Squib after all. Just as Neville started to hyperventilate a small voice started talking.
Oh my- not a Squib, I assure you. You have plenty potential. Hufflepuff maybe? You're full of loyalty. Hmmm. Perhaps Slytherin? You have a strong desire for revenge.
'No! I can't be in Slytherin. I'm not evil! I don't belong in Slytherin.'
But Longbottom, you-
'I don't think I could be in Slytherin.'
What about Gryffindor?
Neville started at this. Gryffindor? Since when had he belonged in Gryffindor? They were brave and strong and loyal. Neville was cowardly, weak, and scared. No one ever used the words Gryffindor and Neville Longbottom in the same sentence…unless they were saying he didn't belong there.
'You are wrong. I do not belong in Gryffindor. Draco Malfoy belongs in Gryffindor more than I do.'
Why do you believe that you cannot be a Gryffindor?
'I- well I'm not Gryffindor material, am I? I'm a coward. I'm not brave at all.'
What makes you think you have to be brave?
'Well, the song of course. You said, 'You might belong in Gryffindor, where they're brave. Their daring, nerve, and chivalry…well, it was something along those lines.'
What about courage? You have plenty of that!
'Courage? I don't have courage. Courageous people don't get scared. Courageous people save others. Courageous people don't cry.'
Neville's shoulders slumped. Courage? He never was and never will be courageous. That was for other people.
Courage does not mean always being the hero.
'Then what could courage be? Eating your vegetables? Cleaning out from under your bed?'
The battered hat chuckled.
That is not courage. While it is extremely frightening to sometimes eat a horrid vegetable or clean under the bed, it is not courage.
'Then see? How could I be courageous? I'm just….I'm Neville Longbottom. Nothing more.'
Sometimes…sometimes courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day that says, 'I will try again tomorrow'.(1) That, Neville Longbottom, is what makes you a…GRYFFINDOR!
A/N: I know it was short and the ending was abrupt….I might rewrite it later…..please tell me what you think if it doesn't trouble you too much. Thanks!
1- The quote is by Mary Anne Radmacher-Hershey