Courage.

'Let's ask Little-Miss-Know-It-All what it means.' After all, I am one of the best friends of the great boy-who-lived. The most courageous person at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. How could I not know what courage was.

The only problem is, I don't know. This is probably one of the hardest things I will have to say in my entire life, but I have absolutely no clue as to what courage is.

I mean, I know that Harry is considered brave. He's the Gryffindor poster boy. I understand that he has had so many bad things in his life and he stand up to them. He fights He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named almost yearly and he comes back and people treat him like a hero.

But there are so many other brave people who go unnoticed.

I know that I am not the bravest person in the world and I am fine with that. It's just that, well, let's just say that Ron isn't the only one who is capable of being jealous. I am just much better at hiding it than he is.

Ron is like he is because he just wants a little bit of the spotlight that his family all has to clamor to share. I, on the other hand, live in the spotlight. I was born in it. I was raised in it. I was constantly told that I was the sun and moon for my parents.

I suppose that is why I try so hard at school. I want to be the sun and moon and stars for the teachers. I want to keep my spotlight up all year long. Impossible.

Especially as Harry for a best friend. I am constantly passed by, known only as that smart girl who hangs out with Harry, I am cast aside constantly. I personally feel that running into a situation blindly is not bravery.

That's all that Harry does. He sees a problem and he runs in head first to save the day. Somewhere in this equation he realizes that his rash choices were stupid, but by some sick twist of fate, something always saves him and he comes out virtually unscathed, then when the next year rolls around, the cycle of stupidity continues.

Harry isn't really stupid, he just has this complex that it is necessary that he defeat every bad guy within at least a ten mile radius of himself. This is not even including Voldemort, Wormtail, and now just recently Bellatrix.

I know that this can be good, but does it make me bad if I like to think before I act, and cover all my bases. Apparently, according to the entire population of Hogwarts, it does. I am some freak who just goes around 'magically' knowing every answer. Did anyone ever consider the possibility that I may be the only student who ever actually read the books?

Obviously not, and I have to suffer for everyone else's stupidity. I could have stopped caring and trying a long time ago. This would have been so much easier! But I didn't give in. I still pressed on. I still refuse to change to the way that they think is the best way to be.

For me, this is my courage. This is my strength. Nobody would think that this is courageous. I like to think of myself as a very brave person who has managed to finally beat the odds. I kept up my values and I have become a somewhat popular person in this school. Although I must admit, that comes with the territory of being Harry's best friend, I am a well rounded person.

Courage come I n many shapes and sizes. I had an obstacle I had to overcome. I knew it would be difficult. I shed more than a few tears along the way. But I have risen to the challenge. This is what I call courage.