AN: Okay, so this idea occurred to me when I was reading a awesome HP fic called "Paige Potter: The Deathly Hallows" by GreekEMTSlytherinSpriteFairy. If you want a good read, check it out. No, it isn't a "Harry-is-a-female" story. Anyway, my story is centered around Neville and Remus. It is NOT slash; more like a former teacher and student after the Second Wizarding War. So here it goes.
It was over. It was all actually over; he could hardly believe it. Remus felt like he might pass out from the sheer relief, but thankfully, Sirius noticed and sat him down before he keeled over. Remus shook his head slightly and gazed down the bench he was perched on, eyes alighting on the dark-haired man that ended it all. Harry wasn't a child anymore, Remus reflected, and felt nothing but pride for the man James' son had become.
For all the relief they felt, there was still pain; too many of their loved ones hadn't made it through the night. Remus was lucky; Sirius and Tonks both made it through, and the majority of his friends and those he considered family did as well. That only a few on their side died didn't do much to soothe the losses, it was something.
Sirius, for example, looked utterly peaceful as he watched his deranged cousin, Bellatrix, fall to Molly Weasley's hand. The death of Voldemort's last and greatest general had been just the chance Harry needed to make his final move; in the end, Voldemort's rage betrayed him and left him open to attack. Remus himself felt utterly blissful watching Greyback die at the hands of a former student. In fact, it had been none other than Neville Longbottom. Remus always knew that boy was destined for greatness and seeing him sitting with Godric Gryffindor's sword at his feet, made Remus proud. Proud to know him and proud to have taught him. A tired smile made its way across his face as he watched Luna and Neville sit quietly with each other.
Sirius followed his line of sight and a low laugh rumbled out of him.
"I know," Remus answered his friend's unspoken comment. "They are perfect for each other..."
While Remus was proud of all of his students, the grief he felt for those they had lost was very nearly overwhelming. Young Colin Creevey was among the list of the dead, and his younger brother Dennis was inconsolable and it was no wonder. Colin's death was needless; he shouldn't have even been there. Remus could only imagine he doubled back after the underage students were evacuated. The lad wanted to fight for his school, his home, but he just wasn't quick enough. He wanted to be angry with Colin, but he couldn't; he would have done the same thing.
Lavender Brown had died as well, after Greyback mauled her. Anger that Greyback took the life of one of Remus' students burned white hot in his chest, but soon it was replaced by pure sadness. Lavender had been a sweet, gentle, and passionate young woman. She hadn't deserved to go like that, but then again, no one did.
On the other side, Vincent Crabbe met his end in the Room of Requirement. There was no body to bury, but Harry, Hermione, Ron, and even Draco Malfoy came forward to confirm his death. It turned out that Crabbe let loose Fiendfyre in an attempt to kill the Golden Trio but hadn't been able to control it and was lost to the flames.
Remus' heart ached for Crabbe's parents; now that he was a father himself, he simply couldn't imagine losing his son.
"Foolish boy," he whispered. Crabbe may have been a Death Eater, but he - like so many of the dead - was only a child. He had been full of hate and anger and was misguided by his parents' old-fashioned beliefs and died because of them.
But perhaps the most painful death of all was Fred Weasley's. The young prankster - although he was so much more than just that - died way before his time, fighting for what he believed in. Seeing Fred's body, watching George scream in agony at losing his twin, Remus was hit by the injustice of it all. These people he fought side by side with were children. Fred and George hadn't even made it out of their teenage years and yet they fought like soldiers and died like them, too.
For hours on end, the survivors worked together to lay to rest their loved ones. Harry, Sirius, Tonks, and Remus took great pleasure in watching Voldemort, Bellatrix, and Greyback's bodies be burned to ashes. They did not deserve to be buried. They did not deserve to be remembered, even though they would be forevermore by anyone who survived that day.
Some time later, as the sun began to sink into the horizon just beyond the castle doors, Remus saw Neville limp painfully outside.
"I'll be right back..." Remus said, offering no further explanation. His companions just nodded and went back to whatever they all had been doing. Remus slowly walked outside and saw Neville. He was just standing on the bridge, completely still, looking up at the sky. Remus approached carefully, not wanting to startle the boy.
"Neville?" Remus said. The young man spun around quickly, disregarding his injuries. Remus put his hands up in surrender.
"Oh, sorry, Remus."
Remus waved a hand and said, "Don't worry. After everything you've been through, I'd be worried if you weren't jumpy."
Neville chuckled, but it was empty. He shifted his weight a little to relieve his injured leg a little.
"You know...now that she's dead...I feel..."
"Relieved? Happy?" Remus supplied, knowing that Neville was talking about Bellatrix.
"Well...yes...but I also feel...confused. And empty."
Remus said nothing but looked at him curiously and he elaborated. "Ever since I found out that Bellatrix was one of the monsters who tortured my parents, I've been out for revenge. I managed to kill Rodolphus and Rabastan...and Barty Crouch, Jr. is already dead...but I wish I had gotten Bellatrix. I wish I had been able to see the light leave her eyes when I killed her...and now, I can't."
Remus remained silent, knowing that Neville would continue. "I'm not a killer and I never wanted to hurt anyone, but I'm glad that they're dead. Is that wrong?"
"No."
Neville looked at him in surprise. Clearly, this wasn't the answer he had been expecting. "Neville...I knew your parents. They were - are - good people and I wanted to kill the people that destroyed their minds. And I wanted to kill Greyback for so long...he was the one who turned me into a werewolf. But you did that."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize! I'm not angry. In fact, I'm glad it was you who got that...that monster in the end. It was...satisfying to see the young man, whom I taught, stand up to Voldemort and destroy his followers. I am proud, Neville, just to know you. You are a hero."
Neville sniffed quietly and wiped away the tears that welled up in his eyes. "Thank you, Remus. But you know...you're a hero, too. You're my hero and Harry's and Hermione's and Luna's and...well just about everybody's."
"Why?"
"Why? Bloody hell, Remus. You've been discriminated against all your life. You've put up with people shunning you just because some evil bastard turned you into a werewolf when you were a kid. And now look at you! You're a war hero, and a hero in so many more respects. You are a great man, Remus."
He smiled sadly at Neville. He was proud of Neville, more than he could ever express in words. But what Neville just said, gave him hope that someday people would see him as more than just a werewolf. But then...
"People already do, Remus."
"How did you...?"
"It was written all over your face."
Remus nodded and they fell silent. A few minutes later, Neville said, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For believing in me...back in third year when Snape said that you should be careful 'cos I was in the class on the day with the Boggarts. You stood up for me and said that you were sure that I would perform admirably. I might not have been able to tell you then, but it meant a lot to me. You were the first person to really believe that I was more than just a clumsy goofball who would never live up to his name."
"Neville, you never needed to live up to your parents' name. You only ever had to make your own. And I always knew that people underestimated you."
The young man smiled and though he was clearly exhausted, the expression brought light back into his eyes.
"Remus...what do I do now? I've avenged my parents', Voldemort is gone, all the surviving Death Eaters are being shipped off to Azkaban...I don't know what to do now."
"Neville, you live your life. You're so young and you have your whole life ahead of you. Do what makes you happy. Settle down with Luna, have a couple kids. Or don't. Maybe return to teach at Hogwarts. Who knows where life will take you? If there is one thing that I've learned throughout all of this, it's that you've gotta do what makes you happy. Sod the rules."
Neville grinned at him and all of a sudden, it hit Remus. The boy he had known was gone. In his place was a brave, caring man who would always do what he thought was right.
"Thanks, Remus." Neville stuck out his hand and Remus took it, shaking his hand. Neville pulled him into a hug and said, "You know, you should really think about returning to Hogwarts to teach. The new kids are gonna need someone they can count on."
The two men separated and Remus said, "I'll think about it. I've got a son to raise, you know."
Neville laughed and said, "That's right. Teddy, yeah?"
"Yeah."
They started walking back to the castle, and Remus watched Neville carefully. He winced with every step he took, although he tried to hide it.
"Neville?"
"Yeah?"
"Let me help you, eh?" Remus put Neville's arm around his shoulders and put his arm around Neville's shoulders, to support him. Together, they made their way back to the castle and Madam Pomfrey attended to him as soon as she could.
As Remus walked back over Sirius and Tonks, he smiled to himself. It may not be now or for a while, but someday, all would be well.