Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Challenge fic for Hogwarts Classes Category Competition by Montly

Herbology (Write about Neville)

And Colors Competition by Empress Empoleon

Brown (positive)

And The Gemstone Challenge/Competition by dancer 4813

Agate (Write about a Gryffindor)

And Quidditch Position Challenge/Competition by why the caged bird sings

Keeper (write about someone or something that's protecting an object/person.)

And The Greenhouses Competition by Slytherin Cat

Ragweed: courage - Write about a Gryffindor

Protecting the Protector

Neville had been underestimated for as long as he could remember.

Gran had never thought he was good enough. She had always compared him to his father and as much as he tried to be as similar to his father as possible, it was glaringly obvious that he was in fact not his father. That had always been something that had been the cause of a great deal of disappointment for Gran.

Most of his teachers at Hogwarts had underestimated. He had been shy, almost painfully so when he had entered Hogwarts as a first year.

He had asked the hat to place him in Hufflepuff so that he would not have to face Gran's disappointment in the coming years if he were to be placed in any other house.

The Sorting Hat had sent him to Gryffindor, completely disregarding his wishes.

Neville was thankful for that now.

He had been able to meet Harry Potter in the Gryffindor House. One of the only people who had not underestimated him but encouraged him to do as well as he could and helped him when he needed the help.

That was why when Harry had gone to the Department of Mysteries in their fifth year at Hogwarts he had followed.

It had made Gran proud of him finally, true, but that was not the reason he had. He did not need Gran's one-sided approval any longer. He only needed the confidence in himself and the belief that very few people had in him.

He had not gone to make Gran proud. He had gone to help protect Harry.

They had all known that with Harry's utter refusal to acknowledge danger, he would need at least a few people with him to help him as there were definitely Death Eaters lurking within the Ministry.

Harry protected everyone. It was only fair that he had other people protecting him as well. It was a difficult job protecting the Boy-Who-Lived but it was one no one minded doing.

He was their friend and would do anything for them. In return they could only offer the same.

Neville knew that fighting in the Final Battle would be dangerous. That entire Seventh Year had been the most dangerous in their lives with all the Death Eaters occupying Hogwarts. It had only been through pure luck that they had not gotten caught.

Neville had led the rebels within the castle.

He did not think he could but he knew what Harry would have told him. Harry would have known he could and he had.

Neville had grasped the hilt of the Sword of Gryffindor that Harry had given him tightly. He waited patiently for the right moment to strike. To complete the task Harry had given him.

The time had come and he had taken the opportunity.

The entire courtyard had rung with an ear-splitting silence as Voldemort's pet snake, Nagini, was beheaded. Voldemort's eyes had widened before pure fury had taken over his features.

Neville had seen this coming too.

Killing Nagini would help Harry, who was protecting the entire WIzarding World from the megalomaniac that was currently furious beyond measure.

Neville knew there was a very real possibility of dying.

But he was protecting their protector and friend.

It would be worth it.