A/N - I don't own this, just the idea. And mind you, I thought of this when I was working and decided to write it.
Can I just talk about how much I love Harry Potter? After reading the books countless times, and watching the movies, and becoming a complete nerd and Potterhead that I am today, I can never thank JK Rowling enough for inspiring me to once again have imagination and use it to write fanfics about what I love.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, and don't forget to leave a review!
It was over. Voldemort was dead. It was true; good will always win. There would be no more deaths, as long as You-Know-Who is gone.
Neville Longbottom, seventh year Gryffindor, former class klutz, was now known as snake slayer of Nagini. After all of his fellow students had seen him pull the ancient sword of Godric Gryffindor out the raggedy, old Sorting Hat; something only a true Gryffindor could do. They would never look at Neville the same ever again. Not to mention he stood up to Voldemort, himself. Many thinking he'd die, no matter what. But they knew he'd die a newfound hero.
He now sat in the Great Hall with the other survivors. While he brushed ashes off of him from when Voldemort had set the Sorting Hat aflame on his head, many admirers, (mostly girls), were sitting next to Neville, mesmerized at their classmate still clutching the sword in his hand, telling them what he felt as he killed the snake.
After they had settled down, and were talking to others, Neville was looking around the Hall, seeing who was still alive, and who was missing; wishing it was no one who was close to him. The thought of more deaths of the ones he knew, would be too much for him to take. There was no sight of Harry, Ron, or Hermione. He knew they were here somewhere, and would hopefully get a chance to talk with them afterwords.
He spotted the Weasleys huddled together. He knew the loss of Fred was too much for them. Neville felt himself smiling as he stared at Mrs. Weasley. Ginny had told him it was her mother who had killed Bellatrix after she had shot the Killing curse at her daughter. Neville thought he would have destroyed Bellatrix himself if she had killed Ginny. He wouldn't have allowed one of his best friends to be killed by the person he hated the most in the world. He didn't know how yet, but Neville wanted to find a way to repay Mrs. Weasley for bringing his parents justice. For a split second, he had forgotten his parents were at St. Mungos, and that they would remain there for the rest of his life. He half expected to see them standing in front of him smiling and telling their son how proud they were of him. He decided to visit them after he was done helping clean up around the castle.
Seeing his Gran talking to McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Flitwick, Neville knew full well she was bragging to them about what her grandson had done. For years, she always seemed embarrassed by him and would scold him every chance she got; but he'd let her have this one moment of happiness to gloat, just this once.
A certain Professor, once Neville had feared for all of his years at Hogwarts was nowhere to be seen. For all Neville cared, Snape was sulking in Azkaban. He did kill Dumbledore after all, the bloody coward. Neville smirked at the thought of a Dementor sucking Snape's soul, and leaving his body to rot in a cell. He hoped to never again see the man who had frightened him, making him feel small and useless.
The strangely satisfying thoughts had left his mind when a glass of Firewhiskey was brought to him, and his two good friends, Seamus and Dean sat next to him. It was no sooner that the three men were joined by Romilda Vane and Hufflepuff, Hannah Abbott, (Neville could swear she was eyeing him hungrily, as she bit her lip), and the two girls sat very closely on both sides of Neville. He was shocked at the contact, he nearly choked on his drink. Both girls, ignoring Seamus and Dean, began to ogle over Neville.
"Hey, Neville", said Romilda, clinging to the young man's robes. He started squirming, obviously uncomfortable with this new kind of attention. He did enjoy it, but personal space is what he appreciated even more. "That was really incredible what you did!", she exclaimed, batting her eyelashes, hoping he would notice her brown eyes.
"Um, thanks", he said, releasing his hand from Romilda's grip. He turned to Hannah, who was also batting her eyelashes, while twisting her hair in her fingers.
Hannah tried her best to smile her sweetest smile. "Would you like to go somewhere bit more private?", she asked, almost pleading.
Neville knew that Hannah was a nice girl, but he barely spoke to her. He wasn't used to girls paying attention to him. He also remembered during his sixth year, that Romilda had been purposely unkind to him, telling Harry that he didn't have to sit with Neville on the train. He didn't but her innocent act for even a minute, as he glared at her. Brushing the girls hands off of him, putting his glass down, he stood up, allowing more ashes to fall off him, landing on the girls.
"Thank you ladies. I appreciate it, but I'd rather spend time with my best friends", said Neville. Trusting the sword to Seamus, leaving Romilda and Hannah looking aghast , he made his way through the crowd over to the Weasleys.
Watching Percy talking to his father, most likely to reconcile. As Neville searched for one Weasley in particular, he was shocked to see a flash of red run towards him. Before Neville could say a word, Ginny had flung her arms around him, hugging Neville very tightly. Hugging her back, he smiled, knowing from when they had gotten separated, he wanted to see her again. They minute they pulled apart, they silently agreed to talk somewhere else away from everybody. Ginny told her parents where she was going. Arthur and Molly were reluctant at first, but seeing she would be with Neville, they had no doubt he wouldn't keep her safe.
Side by side, Neville and Ginny walked out of the Great Hall to what was left of a corridor, noticing and respecting the number of dead bodies lying on the ground. One of them being Colin Creevey; he was small for his age, but he proved to Neville, that size doesn't matter as long as you have enough courage and heart.
The two of them sat down on a stone bench, and felt a slight breeze blowing through their hair. Feeling pain as he sat, Neville moaned as a white, hot burning sensation shot up his back. Ginny didn't have much damage done to her, just a few cuts and bruises. They began talking to each other about Harry, the casualties, and what happened during the war.
"I noticed you were battling Bellatrix too, Ginny. You're really strong", said Neville. Even though she was a year younger than him, she had a power in her, that he would wish for his whole life, but he'd never get it. He got distracted by a small smile creeping on her face.
"Thanks. You've grown a lot yourself. No offense, but you were the last person I'd ever thought would challenge Voldemort. Don't hate me for saying that", she said.
Neville smirked, as he saw her relax seeing he was fine. "Hey, I don't blame you", he said. "Six years ago, I wouldn't have believed it either. But the Hat put me in Gryffindor for a reason. For both of us".
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I guess we proved ourselves today".
"I always knew you were brave. You fought with us at the Ministry, you helped restart to D.A, and you fought today".
He could tell she was blushing. "I don't think I could have run in front of all those death Eaters, knowing I'd be killed on the spot. The Hat must have known you were braver than me, or it wouldn't have given you the sword. It knew what it was doing". They talked for a couple more minutes until Charlie Weasley had been sent for his sister. After giving Neville another hug, Ginny followed her older brother into the Great Hall.
Being left alone with his thoughts, Neville sat in silence, listening to people's conversations, and realized he still wanted to talk to one more person. His other best friend, the one who helped him believe in himself, more than anybody else ever had.
Neville stood up, and quickly searched for Luna Lovegood.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
A/N - Remember to review! I hope you enjoyed it!
