Neville Longbottom was wandering the halls of Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, attempting to remember which staircase led to his quarters. (They had rearranged themselves again.) He stumbled backwards at the sound of someone screaming. It was coming from the Girl's Dormitory.
"I can't go in there," he said. "I'll get into trouble."
The screaming grew more intense and Neville knew that someone was in danger. He took a deep breath and debated running for help.
"Let go of me!" The girl screamed. Neville recognized the voice. It was Hermione Granger.
Closing his eyes and trying not to think about how much trouble he might get into, Neville threw open the door to the Girl's Dormitory. "Neville!" Hermione shouted.
Neville opened his eyes and saw that an ogre had Hermione trapped against a wall. The ogre was incredibly ugly and he looked as though he could kill her with one motion.
"Neville, get help!" Hermione pleaded.
Neville froze. He could leave. He could go get help. However, Neville knew that if he left, the ogre would probably kill Hermione before help arrived. Taking a deep breath and praying that he was not making the wrong decision, Neville used his wand to shoot fire at the ogre.
The ogre let out a cry of rage and ran at Neville, forgetting about Hermione. Neville stepped backwards out of the Girl's Dormitory. The ogre threw himself at Neville, sending them both crashing through the fifth-floor window.
"Neville!" Hermione screamed. She ran out of Gryffindor Tower as quickly as her feet would allow. When she reached Neville and the ogre, she was relieved to see that Neville was still breathing. The ogre had landed on his head and died.
"Neville, are you alright?" Hermione asked, kneeling beside her friend.
"Hermione…" Neville said in a pained whisper. The fall had hurt him badly.
"Oh God, I have to get help," Hermione said, about to stand again.
Neville grabbed her arm and pulled her back down. "Don't…leave…me…"
"Neville, I have to get Madam Pomfrey."
Neville looked up at her, using the small bit of strength he had left to hold back tears. "Tell…my gram…I love her…"
"Neville, don't talk like that. You're going to be alright."
"Tell her…Promise."
Hermione knew that Neville was dying. There was nothing she could do for him except make him feel comforted. "I promise, Neville," she said. Tears welled up in her eyes. "You saved my life. You're a hero, Neville."
A peaceful grin appeared on Neville's face, and then, he was gone. Hermione wept for the loss of her friend.
When news of Neville's heroic actions spread, most of the school sincerely mourned his passing. A plaque honoring his bravery was placed inside of the Great Hall for all to see, a most fitting tribute for the boy so few had noticed over the years. Dumbledore had made certain that no one would ever forget Neville Longbottom.