A/N: Um… Yeah, I'm just going to hide here in the corner and throw you readers little one-shot tidbits until I figure out what the heck I'm going to do next in Picture A Pirate. Really, I'm so sorry about not updating often/quickly. And I'm not even going to look at how long it's been since PAP was updated… No excuses (although I will mention I'm excited about being really close to finishing my NaNoWriMo story); here's a one-shot.
I was reading "The Soft Voice of Forgiveness" and read the quote, and saw it as an answer to a question I've been pondering for a while—why is Neville Longbottom in Gryffindor? It's just one possible answer.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine, the two quotes aren't mine… heck, even the notebook the one-shot is in isn't mine.
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"Only the brave know how to forgive." –Laurence Storne
"Meek and soft-spoken Stephanie turned out to be the bravest one of all." –Jennifer Martin; "The Soft Voice of Forgiveness" in "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Letters"
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Harry Potter stood next to Neville Longbottom, both of the Gryffindors looking down at the dying man crumpled on the ground before them. Voldemort stared back at them through rapidly fogging eyes. Behind the two war heroes, what seemed like the entire Wizarding World urged them to finish him off, to turn away, to spit on him, to do something.
Ignoring the multitude behind them, tuning out the calls of Albus Dumbledore and their friends, the pair knelt next to the pained form of the fallen Dark Lord, each taking one of his hands in their own. Crimson eyes flickered between the two, using the last vestiges of focus to ask a silent question. Neville's quiet voice silenced the crowd that had been shouting mere moments before, though not one of the preoccupied trio even seemed to notice the sudden quiet.
"We forgive you." Mere seconds after the words were spoken, Tom Riddle breathed his last, hands falling limp in the two boys' grips. Both Harry and Neville remained frozen, a sort of tragic tableau, until Harry reached out and closed the dead man's eyes.
Albus' voice broke the silence, echoing over the group as the two war heroes turned to carry the corpse away. His words were accusing.
"Harry, Neville! Why did you do that! Look at all the deaths he has caused, all of the pain!" Two solemn gazes turned on the old man. Harry's response was spoken in a disapproving tone.
"We are Gryffindors. Gryffindors are supposed to be brave, are we not? Tell me, what can be braver than forgiving one who did evil?" The pair of Gryffindors disappeared with the fallen Slytherin amidst absolute silence, not one of the crowd having a suitable answer to Harry Potter's parting query.
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End
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A/N: So there's one… hey while I'm talking to myself/anyone who reads this down here, has anyone read anything by R.A. Salvatore? Personally I love his Forgotten Realms or whatever books—Drizzt is definitely becoming one of my favorite characters. And Guenhwyvar is my pretty kitty. :) I have to go buy the Legacy of the Drow series. Maybe I can get it in the Collector's Edition like I've gotten the others…
Kaaera