A/N Yet again, quite short, but as I mentioned before, I think it's best this way. I hope you enjoy this last installment of Horcruxes.
Disclaimer: The thoughts and some characterizations belong to me, but everything else is property of Ms. Rowling. Direct quotes come from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows page 732.
It was strange; as soon as the body bind curse was thrust upon him, Neville did not panic. He simply stood still and thought furiously. Not that he could do much else.
"Neville here is going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me," Voldemort said in his silky, snake-like voice. Now Neville started to get concerned. What was Voldemort planning to do to him?
Then he felt it. There were flames dancing on the Sorting Hat. His head was on fire! Neville felt an intense searing pain for an instant, but it soon died away. It was a strange sensation, to feel flames on one's head but not feel the pain associated with them. If he could have, Neville would have squinted his eyes in confusion.
Then, several things happened that Neville did not expect. An army of centaurs came galloping out of the forest and started shooting arrows at the assembled Death Eaters, who were quite perplexed. An enormous giant came stumbling out of the forest yelling "HAGGER!" The centaurs seemed to be aiding him by shooting yet more arrows at Voldemort's giants. Neville was thoroughly confused at this point; what exactly was going on? And was Harry really dead?
Suddenly, Neville felt the body bind curse fall off him, though he did not know why. As for as he could tell, no one had uttered the counter-curse. But it didn't really matter; all that mattered was that he could move now. He got up and ripped the flaming hat off his head, grasping the sword it contained. He felt a brief sense of pride; he was a true Gryffindor! He remembered Harry telling him how he had pulled the sword out of the hat in the Chamber of Secrets; how fitting that he should do the same five years later.
In one fluid motion, Neville cut the head off the snake that was at Voldemort's side. Blood gushed out of the wound, soaking the ground around it. The snake died almost instantly, but Neville could have sworn that he heard a scream issue from him. Neville felt a strange sense of relief; he had completed the task Harry had appointed to him. He felt like he could conquer anything. But unfortunately, the feeling did not last. Voldemort seemed to be speechless for moment, but then everything started moving and there was a great flurry of noise.
Neville turned to be faced by a Death Eater. He started dueling with him and quickly disposed of him. Neville smiled triumphantly again. Strange, that after his friend had died he was smiling. A normal person would be crying… Perhaps it was simply because he had done something to help defeat Voldemort. Perhaps it was because he had finally found his courage. Perhaps it was because for some reason he felt like the snake had a lot to do with… Well, everything. He felt as though some puzzle had been completed, though he didn't know why.
Neville had little time to think, as he was mostly occupied with disposing of as many Death Eaters as he could. He wished Harry could have seen him. But now was not the time to grieve. Now was the time to fight.
Neville watched the people around him break into small groups; even some House Elves had decided to join the fray. It was in this moment that Neville thought that battle could be beautiful.
A/N That was my first attempt at writing Neville as well. :D Some reviews would be much appreciated. And hence, Horcruxes comes to an end. Thanks to all of you who stuck with it the whole way! Review, s'il vous plait! Merci. Bisous ~ the shattered star
