Disclaimer: Obviously I don't own Harry Potter or these would be actual stories and not just something that I write in my free time!
Anyway, thanks to ChallengeMistress87 for this challenge!
XoXo
"! Mr. Longbottom!" a reporter screamed down the street, trying to catch up with Neville Longbottom. Neville turned around and looked at the reporter with wide eyes, wondering why someone would want to talk to him. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I'm with the Daily Prophet and I was just wondering what your thoughts about the late Remus Lupin were."
"The Daily Prophet?" Neville answered, confusion evident in his voice. The reporter bobbed his head up and down excitedly. "But why would you want to talk to me about him?"
"Just because you were one of his students and you knew him well."
Neville nodded at this and took a deep breath. "Well, here it is. When I first met Remus Lupin, I wasn't exactly sure how to feel about him. He had a very different way of teaching. He actually cared about us, you know? It seemed as though every other teacher just wanted to force feed us information and then regurgitate it onto an exam. Yes, that description is rather disgusting, but it helps you see the big picture does it not?"
The reporter smiled and continued to jot down what he was saying.
"I guess when Lupin was teaching us, I actually understood what all the hype about Defense Against the Dark Arts was for. I understood everything that he was talking about and I actually wanted to learn.
"But then, you know, he died. The tragic ending for all of us humans is it not? We all die whether we like it or not. He might not have been the greatest person in the world, but I can honestly say that he probably inspired me to be a professor at Hogwarts and show kids their potential.
"But it wasn't just that he was a great teacher. He knew how to create a relationship with people. No, not in the way that your thinking." The reporter smirked, but didn't say a word as Neville carried on. "He was friends with all of us and was available for us to talk to all the time."
Neville took a deep breath, but didn't slow down. "But now he's gone and gone with him are many of those that were loved and lost in the war. Yes, we still have our memories of Lupin and the others. But is that really enough? I mean, our children will never know the teacher that we all knew and they will never be able to understand how to fit into a world that hates them as Remus Lupin did.
"So, what is my perspective on Remus Lupin?" The reported nodded again, tears glistening in his eyes.
"He was a very good teacher and he showed us that it didn't matter who you were as long as you had the gall to do something. He was my favorite teacher and my inspiration for showing children their potential.
"I hope that answers your question," Neville said solemnly, lowering his eyes and smiling at the reporter. He nodded and started to take off, but Neville added one more thing. "Rest in peace Remus Lupin and all of the others that died in the war."
And with that, Neville turned away and continued down the street, tears gathering in his eyes as he walked into the small shop.