A/N: Look, I edited it! Looking back on this (several years later), I don't like it much, but it has sentimental value so I haven't scrapped it. I edited a few things, but it remains mostly the same, for better or worse.
Don't Laugh at Me
by PadfootMew
Another day gone. Neville dropped his head onto his pillow and let the tears come.
It was the end of another long year. Once again, Harry had triumphed over You-Know-Who. And, once again, he, Neville, had only gotten in the way. Images of the past year flickered in his mind.
"Hey, Neville! Can't you do something right for a change?"
It was the end of Potions. They had just lost 20 points to Gryffindor because he and Dean's potion had exploded.
Dean hadn't meant it. He was tired and frustrated and angry. But the words hurt just the same.
Don't laugh at me
"Hey, look at the half-squib!" Malfoy's taunting voice rang across the hall.
"I-I'm not a hal-half squib--" he managed to squeak out.
"Of course not! You're ¾ of one!"
Cruel laughter echoed throughout the hall.
Don't call me names
He crashed on the broom, spraining his ankle and breaking the broom.
He did not get the keeper job.
As Madam Hooch led him away, the Slytherins started to laugh. A few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws joined in.
Their laughter hurt far worse than his ankle.
Don't get your pleasure from my pain
He looked around at the other boys. Seamus was snoring heavily. Ron's breath whistled as he breathed out. Harry and Dean made no sound at all.
He thought about the other Gryffindors, then the Ravenclaws, whose house his grandmother had been in. Then he thought about the Hufflepuffs.
In God's eyes
Finally, he thought about the Slytherins. They had caused him so much pain, and yet…
We're all the same
He wasn't stupid. He flourished at some things. Just none of the ones taught here.
I'll show them, he thought, I'll prove that I can do something. That I am smart.
Someday we'll all have perfect wings
(20 years down the line)
"And the homework for tonight will be…"
He was drowned out by a chorus of groans.
"Now class as I was saying, tonight's homework- give me an essay on three step-by-step ways to kill a dark wizard, to be handed in Tuesday. And no blood and gore, boys." With a look at the Weasleys.
The class perked up. Anna Potter raised her hand.
"Yes, Anna?"
"Professor, did you learn all this in school?"
"No actually. Most of it was first hand experience."
The class looked impressed.
Amy stayed after class. "Professor, were you good in school?"
"No. Really, Amy. Ask your parents, they'll tell you what a klutz I was."
"Professor Longbottom?"
"Yes?"
"I think you're a great teacher."
Don't laugh at me