Disclaimer: Not mine. I swear. The HPUniverse belongs to JKR. Really. (Unfortunately.)
***I decided that Loneliness needed more to the story, and the suggestion of my FIRST reviewer for that story helped the idea along. Thanx!
Bravery
Being Neville Longbottom was no fun, for the first fourteen years of his life. His first year of life, his family was in hiding from Voldemort. Then, ten years of being thought no better than a Squib was followed by becoming the laughingstock of Gryffindor. It had been a shock that he had gotten into Gryffindor at all. From day one at Hogwarts, Neville knew that, despite his new surroundings, nothing was going to change.
Repeatedly, throughout his first year at Hogwarts, Neville resigned himself to the fact that he had a brilliant gift for Divination. Either that or it had just become painfully normal to think about being treated like a Squib. Which was an awful thought.
And yet, partway through the year, Harry Potter said something extraordinary, in reference to Draco Malfoy. "You're worth twelve of him, Neville." Despite Neville's being the ultimate Cowardly Gryffindor, Harry thought he was worth more than Malfoy? And then at the end of the year, when Hermione cast the Body-Bind at him. She said sorry, but it was Harry whose eyes spoke volumes in apology as the Trio left the Common Room.
Vultures. That's what Neville thought, over the next few years, as he watched the way people treated Harry Potter from afar. Neville found himself oddly grateful that he wasn't Harry, and at the same time, jealous. He wasn't jealous of the fame, or the money – Neville hated being the center of attention, and he had plenty of his own money. Rather, Neville was jealous of Harry's strength, his inner courage that Neville was certain he, personally, lacked.
Even so, Neville was grateful that he could still talk to his parents, although they couldn't understand them. He knew that they loved him, and had physical reminders of that. True, Neville sometimes felt embarrassed because of what his parents (once two of the best Aurors in England) had become. But it wasn't that bad when Harry and Ginny found out, despite Hermione and Ron's knowledge as well being a little awkward. And Luna? She just knew things like that. Neville reveled in his fifth year, regardless of the Toad (Umbridge). For the first time, he had real friends.
Rejection is never easy to handle, Neville mused, but Malfoy took things too far. Of course, the fact that he was in the middle of cursing said Slytherin at the time just added a little viciousness to the spell. So what if Harry told Malfoy off back in first year? That was no reason to try and kill anyone close to Harry. Leaving the idiot behind, Neville felt his heart swelling as he realized that he was going to be included in this adventure, he was going to help rescue Harry's godfather!
Yet, things never do go exactly according to plan. It turned out to be a trap, and they were suddenly fighting for their lives, and then – and then Bellatrix Lestrange, (someday he would kill her,) she cursed him. The Cruciatus Curse. The agony was terrible, worse than anything he had ever felt, and there was a tearing feeling, like a barrier falling down, and then a flood – memories – whowhatwherewhenhow? – and Harry cast something, and Bellatrix was flung to the side – and then Harry's godfather, ("Sirius! No!") Harry's godfather, he died. Harry looked broken. Ripped to shreds. And the rushing feeling in Neville's head finally stopped, and he saw recognition in the wide green eyes, recognition from –
"Salazar?"
BRAVERY. Being Neville Longbottom had been a roller-coaster ride of put-downs and encouragements. But now – the Cruciatus Curse had shattered that barrier, the strong, heavy barrier that Neville had built between himself and his bravery, between himself and his own self-recognition of any bravery, between himself and memories of just who he was. One of Four. Neville. Luna. Ginny. Harry. Godric. Rowena. Helga. Salazar.
One of Four. And Neville had found his Bravery.
AN: PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! More coming!