Hi!: Erm this is my first fanfic...in the history of ever. Reviews are welcomed--constructive critism please, no flames!

Summary: This fic is about Neville Longbottom's 7th year at Hogwarts. How he rebels against the Carrows and Snape, how he grows as a wizard, and maybe a touch of romance? A bit of Neville/Luna.

Disclaimer: Sadly I'm not JKRowling. -tear- I do not own any of the characters. Based upon information in Deathly Hallows (so some spoilers, obviously). I'll also be putting some lyrics at the begining of each chapter. I think it adds a little something. XD Credit to the artist will be given.

On a cold dark winter night hidden by the stormy light
A battle rages for the right for what will become
In the valley of the damned a warrior with sword in hand
Travels fast across the land for freedom he rides

And the sign from the master on high screams aloud and across hear the cry
For the kingdom of fire and ice and the power to be alive
Be strong ride on, carry on through the war
Come along carry on, living for ever more

"Valley of the Damned", Dragonforce. Album: "Valley of the Damned"

Ready to Fight

Neville Longbottom awoke suddenly. He sat up in his bed, his legs tangled in his sheets, his pajamas drenched in a cold sweat. He had just awoken from a dream--nightmare, rather, which included Bellatrix Lestrange and other hooded death eaters surrounding his house. "Come on out Longbottom," Bellatrix had cackled, and with a flick of her wand Neville had burst into flame.

Nightmares like this had been occuring all too often, in light of recent events in the wizarding world. Voldemort had killed Scrimageour--sure, the Prophet said that he had 'resigned to spend more time with his family', but it was well known that Voldemort had influence over the Prophet, as well. Of course they were going to say that. They weren't going to openly say 'we tortured your Minister and we've imperiused Pius Thicknesse to do our bidding', although everyone knew that that was the truth. The wizarding world was at war.

Neville clenched his fists in anger. In addition to Voldemort being in charge of the Ministry, they now required registration for all muggle-born witches and wizards. They must also submit themselves up to questioning on how they came to possess magical qualities--as if they stole magic. It was outrageous. Gran said they were sending muggle-borns to Azkaban. Hermione Granger and Dean Thomas were both muggle-born. Neville couldn't stand the thought of two of his closest friends in danger. There was nothing he could do, and he hated it.

All summer Neville had been waiting for some word from his friends about some sort of, well, rebellion. He wanted desperately for Harry, Ron, or Hermione to send him an owl with a plan. A plan for rebellion against the evil that was settling itself over everything, and everyone. The evil that had tortured his parents, the evil that was looming overhead, ready to strike and cause more despair than it already had. Neville was not an idiot though, he knew no such owl would arrive. Besides, owls' weren't really a safe form of communication anymore--owls could easily be intercepted.

Neville sat back in his bed, thinking. He knew that the time to act would come soon enough. In a week he'd be returning to Hogwarts. But even Hogwarts wasn't safe, with their new employees, the Carrows, two death eaters Neville had come face to face with the year before, and Snape as headmaster, he knew that this was going to be quite a year at Hogwarts. Neville shuddered. Oh yes. This year was going to be different.

He might not be able to stop or vanquish Voldemort. He might not be able to save the countless muggle-borns who would soon be thrown into Azkaban. He might not be able to do anything--but this wasn't going to stop him from trying.

Neville Longbottom was ready to fight.