Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, sadly. -cries-

Note: This fanfic takes place after Neville's fifth year at Hogwarts. The sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has never happened.

Title: Strength in the Weak and Courage in the Afraid

Chapter Three: The Unknown Potion

Neville woke up to a glorious day.

Potions class! All right!

As odd as it seems, Neville dressed in a hurry and was asked to sit at the most popular seats in the Great Hall.

"Come on, Neville! Sit over here!"

"Longbottom, I saved you a seat!"

"Hey, Neville!"

"Sit here at the cool table!"

Neville sat next to the trio, grinning happily.

"Uh, we didn't invite you to sit here," Harry said coldly. He still hasn't forgotten about the Cruciatus Curse.

Neville narrowed his eyes at him and refused to give up his seat.

"Did you see me fight Malfoy? Ha! He sure got what was coming to him…"

"Neville, no offense or anything, BUT SHUT UP! WE SAW IT!"

"Geez, Harry, just in case you missed it—"

"I'll be sure to miss it next time," Harry said sarcastically.

"Tell me, Mr. I-am-so-famous-now-that-I-beat-Malfoy, who-just-so-happens-to-be-a-Slytherin-so-50-points-from-Gryffindor, what do you get by mixing… uh… dragon's blood with unicorn's horn with paper clips, quills, bubble gum, sugar, bunnies, plastic, cloth, chocolate, a severed human's head, pepper, eggs, galleons, parchment, coconut, pineapple, Polyjuice Potion, basilisk's fang, goat's milk, butter, cheese, telephones, butterbeer, horse hairs, rocks, trees, feathers…."

As Snape was rambling on, Neville was listening to every word, proving to Snape how smart he was.

"… and a…. wand?"

Severus Snape smirked haughtily. There was no such thing as such a potion, and he was sure that Longbottom would have no clue.

Neville remembered every ingredient in the potion.

"Professor, you would get dragon's blood with unicorn's horn with paper clips, quills, bubble gum, sugar, bunnies, plastic, cloth, chocolate, a severed human's head, pepper, eggs, galleons, parchment, coconut, pineapple, Polyjuice Potion, basilisk's fang, goat's milk, butter, cheese, telephones, butterbeer, horse hairs, rocks, trees, feathers, and a wand mixed together, sir. Which would create a very nasty odor and requre a caldron with a diameter of 13 feet," Neville answered ingeniously.

Snape's mouth hung open. He could not deny that Neville's answer was correct, for there was seriously nothing wrong with it.

"…rig—I mean, whatever! You—I—What—"

Snape turned away from Neville and seated down. He avoided Neville's raised hand for the rest of the day, forced to pick on Hermione.

"NEVILLE! YOU REALLY SHOWED SNAPE!"

"THAT WAS BLOODY BRILLIANT!"

All around, Neville was receiving complements from his classmates after Potions class. However, there were three people in the crowd of Gryffindors who were not at all pleased.

"Look at him, the great prat. Last year, he couldn't hold a wand with burning himself, and now he's the coolest kid in school!" Draco snarled.

"I totally agree with you, Malfoy, I—" Harry broke off quickly. Had he just said "I," "agree," and "Malfoy" in the same sentence?

"Yes, he is really showing it off. He actually raised his hand in class, more than me! MORE THAN ME!"

"Calm down, Hermione!" Harry shouted.

It may be strange to see Harry, Hermione, and Draco chatting like childhood friends, but it is nothing compared to what happened in the common room.

When the old gang arrived in the common room, each jaw was on the floor.

Neville was the star of the party. He was literally break-dancing on the floor, while chugging a glass of butterbeer, while singing an opera song expertly.

Ron quickly ran up to cheer him on. Harry and Hermione dropped into armchairs as far away as possible.

"I can't believe it! Neville! How could he have more attention than me? I brought the downfall of Voldemort, I have to fulfill the prophecy. And everyone's cheering Neville on because he beat Malfoy up and showed Snape in class?" Harry complained.

"Exactly, Harry! AND he acts like he's smarter than ME! DOES HE STAND UP FOR ELF RIGHTS? DID HE HELP YOU IN THOSE TASKS TWO YEARS AGO? DID HE DISCOVER AN ESCAPED CONVICT, ONLY TO REALIZE THAT HE WAS INNOCENT? DID HE HELP SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS? DID HE HELP GET THE PHILOSIPHER'S STONE? HUH?"

Hermione took several deep breaths.

"Which is why we need a plan… yes, a plan to bring about his downfall. I don't know how he got so smart, or so popular in two days, but just you wait…"

Read and Review, please! Hope you guys found it funny... sorry for the short-ness, I'll try to lengthen the next chapters!