Author's Note: Okay this is yet another drabble. Bored yet? Hope not, but anyway, this is from Neville's point of view on the DA, his new confidence, and the upcoming school year.
Ugly Duckling
I have a lot to be thankful for, and the person I should probably be thanking would be Harry Potter. We've never been that close, really, even though we've shared a dorm for the past five years. He mostly hangs around with Ron, and I slow things up a bit.
Well, at least, I used to slow things up a bit. Now thanks to the Defense Association (or Dumbledore's Army, I call it by both names) that won't be happening anymore. All I needed was someone to believe in me, and teach me what needed to be done.
Ever since I…lost…my parents to the Cruciatus curse, I've lived in fear. What if she comes back to finish me off? Not that she'd have much fun, because I wouldn't have been much of a match against her. I may be in Gryffindor, but I certainly didn't used to act like one.
My problem, at least when I think about it now, was my Gran. I mean, I love her and everything, she's my family. It's just, she wanted me to be her son. I'm not Frank Longbottom, and that's probably why Harry was the appropriate one to teach me confidence.
He knows what it's like to be judged based on your parents and their behavior and accomplishments. People liked to compare him to his own father, just like me. I think now, though, my Gran realizes that I am not her son. I'm my own person, and the fact that I snapped my dad's wand in the Department of Mysteries not long ago helped things along.
I needed a new beginning, and getting my own wand is probably one of the best places to start that. Sure, Gran was flaming mad at me when she found out, but then she discovered how I had helped Harry out in the Ministry, and how I dueled a Death Eater. Considering I only escaped with a broken nose, when you think about what happened to Ron…I'd say that's quite an accomplishment compared to I would have done if this had happened in my fourth year.
Next year, is going to be very different. Harry wants to continue with the DA, and I plan on helping him with it as much as I can. I think in time, Harry and I could become great friends.
Heck, there may even be a girl in my future, though I might be pushing it a bit. Besides, the girl I've been interested in is already starting to get involved with one of my dorm mates. I don't have that much confidence quite yet, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to work on it.
All I know is, I'm ready to be the Gryffindor that I was meant to be, no more meek and shy Neville who always gets caught in the trick step, forgets the password, is scared of Snape, and trips over any little thing in his path. Malfoy is going to get a taste of his own medicine, and he'll be getting his comeuppance soon enough.
You know, it's funny in a way. I've always thought of myself much like that little duck in the muggle children's nursing rhyme. The Ugly Duckling, as I recall the name. Only, I always wondered when it would be my turn to become that great person at the end, and I think now my time has finally come. It was my favorite story as a little kid, and now I know why.