***Flashback, the Great Hall that evening***

The hall, much like earlier that day, was abuzz with people debating in fierce whispers. Rumors and suppositions swirled about the hall like leaves in a cyclone as all four houses and all three schools pondered what was going to happen in regards to Harry Potter.

Harry would have been mildly gratified to know that a lot of people were starting to piece together that there was little concrete information on his life outside of Hogwarts… and not much inside it, to be honest. If the oath had been genuine, then someone had a lot of explaining to do.

On top of that, many students (and a few teachers) realized they had not treated Harry all that well over the years, particularly during the Heir of Slytherin debacle… and on that note, did he say he killed a basilisk with a sword?!

Even if Harry had shown up, the sheer level of conversation and debate happening would have meant he likely could have got to his table unmolested before anyone realized he had entered… and a few were hoping for just that, with Dumbledore and McGonagall at the head table looking at the front doors worriedly, hoping that Mister Potter would put in an appearance. Dumbledore's frown was deep and worried through the whole of the meal, and perhaps that was why he didn't see the subtle tide in the ranks of the students.

It started at the Gryffindor table, around Neville Longbottom. The normally timid boy had a determined and even angry expression as he gestured animatedly to those nearby. Soon, his end of the Gryffindor table grew quiet as they listened. As whatever tale he was telling spread up the table, Parvati and Lavender went to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables, respectively, and spoke to their friends there.

And, as so often happens in Hogwarts, the story originally told by Neville spread up and down the hall. One enterprising Durmstrang student picked it up from a passing Ravenclaw, and, scowling, whispered in Victor Krum's ear. As that was happening, the Beauxbatons students were holding court in their own manner.

By this time, several Professors had noticed the susurration. Flitwick and Sprout were both curious, but while there were dark looks toward the fourth years at the Slytherin table, no one had done anything particularly foolish… so they waited and watched.

Snape and McGonagall were both lost in thought on the subject of Harry Potter, one in rage and one in sorrow. Snape stabbed at his salad with vicious accuracy as he plotted on how to bring the foolish brat to heel, while McGonagall seemed a bit morose as she tried to devise a way to reconcile with Harry.

However, while most of the Hogwarts staff were ignorant or reluctant, Madame Maxine and Karkaroff were far more alert. Maxine could spot a juicy story making the rounds easily, as anyone who spent most of their time in the vicinity of teenage girls could. Karkaroff had learned long ago as a Death Eater to pay attention to those around you… and this was trouble brewing, plain and simple.

Both were about to rise and interrogate their students when Neville Longbottom stood from his seat at the Gryffindor table. The hall quieted considerably, which finally drew Dumbledore, Snape and McGonagall from their individual reveries.

McGonagall looked perplexed as Neville strode up the aisle toward her position at the table. She'd never seen the lad act so… brazen! For a moment she was convinced that it was the boy's father Frank Longbottom on his way to do battle in the Wizengamot, he held himself so strongly!

Neville came to a halt in front of McGonagall. "Professor, as Head of Gryffindor House, I ask if you are aware of the altercation that took place by the Black Lake this afternoon."

McGonagall's brow furrowed. "I am afraid I have not heard of such a thing, Mister Longbottom."

Neville frowned, glancing at Dumbledore. "Harry Potter and myself were talking at the shore when over a dozen Slytherins with Draco Malfoy at their head came and demanded that Harry take back his words about Tom Riddle."

Dumbledore, who had been idly looking towards the doors, winced and refocused on Neville at the mention of Tom.

"After Harry reminded them that he could not take the words back, as they were part of his confirmed oath," Neville emphasized, "Draco and the Slytherin's were incensed. When Harry commented that Riddle, as a half-blood, had created a situation that destroyed dozens of Pureblood houses, Draco attacked… along with every other Slytherin."

McGonagall's eyes widen. "How many were there?"

"Seventeen. Harry had to shield over thirty hexes, some of which were cutting curses."

The hall went deathly silent at that. With that much combined spell power, a cutting curse could be lethal, even if it was one of the more benign cutting spells.

"When I cast my shield to support Harry, several hexes rebounded into the crowd and Snape came over, calling Harry out and deducting fifty points for attacking a student."

Snape rose, his face red with rage, but although Neville flinched at the movement- to the confusion of McGonagall- he continued in a steady voice. "I checked the point total, Professor, as well as the detention log. Not one of the Slytherins that attacked us have been punished in any way."

There were jeers from the Slytherin table, calling Neville a liar and a fraud and a squib, but the words were swallowed up in the face of a hundred angry glares towards the Slytherin table.

McGonagall cleared her throat. "What, precisely, do you wish me to do, Mister Longbottom?"

She felt a sudden weight on her as Neville said, in a perfectly serious voice, "I want you to enforce school discipline, Deputy Headmistress McGonagall."

McGonagall felt all the eyes turn on her. "...Mister Longbottom, in-house discipline is normally handled by the Head of House-"

"Who," Neville interrupted, "has belittled and berated Harry on a near-constant basis for over three years and is known by the entire student body to practice outrageous favoritism with his House."

Snape fumed and snarled out, "Sit down, Longbottom! Your pathetic whining serves little purpose!"

Longbottom turned, and looked Snape directly in the eye. "This is a matter between me and my head of house, Professor." And turned back, to the amazement of all in the hall. Fred and George watched with utter glee on their faces as Snape's face started to redden even further.

McGonagall felt a sudden nervous tension rise as Neville turned back to her. "Mister Longbottom, it is not my place-"

"To enforce discipline? As a professor, head of house and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts?" Neville said in a flat tone.

McGonagall's nerves stilled as she felt her hackles rise. "Enough, Mister Longbottom. This is neither the time nor place for such things, and is quite disrespectful!"

She was the second person that day to see the rare sight of a thoroughly angry Neville Longbottom… and behind him, she was shocked to see much of Gryffindor had similar expressions. She knew, then and there, that she had failed a critical test in their eyes.

"Very well, Professor." Neville said, and McGonagall flinched at the coldness of his tone as he turned to Dumbledore. "Headmaster, it seems I must appeal to you for justice in this."

Dumbledore spread his hands genially. "Come now, my boy, this is all-"

"A misunderstanding?"

Dumbledore found himself hesitating, remembering the rage on the boy's face earlier that day… similar to the expression he wore now. "Ah… well, I'm afraid that without Mister Potter here to corroborate your story that my hands are tied-"

Jeers and shouts of dismay started to echo through the hall, and Neville was opening his mouth to say something when, from the Slytherin table-

"I saw zis, 'Eadmaster Dumbledore."

Heads snapped around to see Victor Krum rise from the Slytherin table, his dark eyes narrowed. "My friends and I, ve are out on deck of Durmstrang's ship, speaking of your school, ven suddenly ve are hearing shouting on ze shore nearby. We is seeing Mister Potter surrounded wif Mister Longbottom there," he gestured lazily to Neville, "and he is hafing vords with zis one." He turned and pointed to an impressively pale Draco Malfoy. "Ve is not hearing vords, but ve is seeing zis one and zese… strakhlivets... zese cowards be casting zere curses." Victor said with a disgusted glare toward the clump of students around Malfoy, who varied from indignation to terror to sneers of disdain.

Dumbledore paused, obviously not expecting that. "Ah… well… unfortunately, as you are not students at Hogwarts, your testimony is unreliable. You could be attempting to aid Mister Potter as a fellow champion-"

"Indeed, zat is vhat I am doing, but I am no liar, Headmaster." Victor said with clarity and purpose. "Furthermore, ve drew wands and came to aid Mister Potter, but Mister Longbottom defended him quite vell." Victor gave Neville a small nod of respect, which cracked Neville's noble bearing and had him sporting a sheepish smile before nodding back. "Zen I saw zis man," he pointed to Snape. "Berate Mister Potter for attacking students, ven Potter did no such thing during whole… mamka…" a few Durmstrang students smirked or rolled their eyes at the word. "Ah, during enormous mess. He scowled and shouted until Mister Potter made oath that he did not attack the students… and I vill witness zat oath as confirmed. Zen he shouted and scowled more."

A few students laughed at that, and Snape looked like he wanted to shout down Krum… but Krum wasn't a Hogwarts student that he could simply belittle into silence.

Krum glared at the potion master. "You disgust me, Mister Snip. In Durmstrang, ve are hardy people and classes match us, but no Durmstrang teacher vould ever even think of acting as… ah, what is the vord… abusive as you are to students!"

He turned back to Dumbledore. "Zis is vhat vas seen, and I vill give my own oath to zat, if needed!"

To say Dumbledore was bewildered would be like saying a Sahara was maybe a little dusty around the edges. "Ah… well, in that case then, I suppose that ten points from each participating student for this is appropriate."

The hourglass for Slytherin immediately nearly drained itself, to groans from the green-clad members of the student body. However, Neville was unappeased. "And?"

Dumbledore blinked. "And what, Mister Longbottom?"

"You aren't seriously going to leave it at that?"

"That's over a hundred and fifty points, Mister Longbottom."

"Who bloody cares about points?" Neville said with exasperation. "Points don't matter! It's all for a silly cup at the end of the year for someone to hang in their office! Sod the bloody points!"

"Mister Longbottom! Language!" McGonagall exclaimed with a scowl… and was utterly ignored, to her surprise.

Dumbledore looked at Mister Longbottom with apprehension. "Well, what on earth do you think is appropriate, Mister Longbottom?"

"Detentions, suspensions, permanent notes in their records, limited wand priveleges… something!"

"That seems a little harsh, Mister Longbottom."

"Thirty-odd curses on one fourth year who's already been attacked and bullied for three years is harsher still, Headmaster."

The chorus of assent from the assembled students had Dumbledore quite unnerved… but he shook his head. "Nevertheless, Mister Longbottom, their current punishment will stand."

Bedlam. Students shouted, yelled, cursed, and demanded greater punishment… the teachers looked visibly unnerved at the evolving riot that appeared to be taking shape. Even the Slytherins seemed to be angry at members of their own house! However, a cannon blast brought their attention back to Krum, holding his wand aloft.

"Comrades, zis is not proper. Headmaster is head for reason. His punishment, ve must abide by." There was a chorus of groans and mutterings that accompanied that, but the staff table relaxed in relief.

"However, until such time as I feel zese cowards haf been punished properly…" Victor said, stepping over the bench. "I vill not share my table with zem."

And the hall watched with shock as first Krum, then the rest of Durmstrang rose and split towards the three other tables, which magically expanded to accommodate their new occupants. The Slytherin table looked shockingly empty, and the house as a whole was glaring at a livid Malfoy and his cronies for not only costing them their hard-earned points, but more importantly the prestige of hosting one of the foremost magical schools in Europe at their table.

Dumbledore watched this happen with profound unease, looking to Karkaroff for aid, but finding no kind looks there. In fact, the entire staff table, including Hagrid to his horror, were looking at him with extreme displeasure.

Neville simply bowed and said. "Very well, Professors. Good evening."

As he turned and headed back down towards his table, he heard the rumbling voice of Hagrid. "Twenty points ta Gryffindor fer standin' up fer yer friends."

Neville gave the half-giant a smile and quickly rejoined his year-mates, who met him with hearty applause, and Victor Krum, who met him with a handshake and an open seat next to him.

***Flashback ends***

Harry and Hermione gaped at Neville, who had turned red up to his ears as the story was retold.

"As you can guess, Harrykins,"

"Our wee Neville is quite popular now!"

"I heard the girls were swooning in the hallways when he passed!"

"The suits of armor stood and bowed!"

"The portraits applauded!"

"The Lady of the Lake poked her hand out of the water to give him a big thumbs-up!"

Hermione threw a pillow at the pair before they could continue. "Oh enough of that!"

Harry noticed that Neville's blush had only deepened and found himself wondering if at least one of those claims were true.

Regardless, he stood and walked over to Neville. "Neville, remember what I said down by the lake?"

Neville looked up. "Yeah, Harry?"

"I think you might just be the best damn Gryffindor in the school now. I mean, I pretty much just threw a wobbler in the Great Hall, but you actually stood up to Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore."

"We told him Harry, big brass ones." George said solemnly.

"Poor lad's probably going to get more fanmail than you!"

Neville shot the twins a look but smiled regardless. "Thanks Harry."

"No problem Neville. Thanks for sticking up for me. I probably need to head to bed, people are going to be asking a lot of questions tomorrow..." Harry glanced over to the overflowing question box in the corner and sighed. "At least it's not Skeeter rushing in with quill in hand." he grumbled.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh no, Harry, the Prophet! Someone's almost certainly sent to them, this is-" she started fretting.

Harry waved a hand and sighed. "I know, I know… that's a problem for tomorrow morning though. I'm gonna go rest up, I get a feeling it's going to be mental…"

After thanking Neville once again for his earlier help in evading Albus 'Can-muncher' Dumbledore, Harry bid his fellow Gryffindors good night, went to his dorm, ignoring the red-faced and frigid Ron, and went to bed.

**************** Author's Note *****************

I translated a few Bulgarian words for Krum, and I think I did okay with the accent... a bit tricky that. As always, please read and review!