AN: I don't own this stuff get over it.
Sir Cadogan's Advice to Neville
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Third floor hallway, right hand side...
"Halt! Who goes there?", a voice cried out.
Neville Longbottom looked around for the voice that addressed him. Searching the hallway up and down, his eyes finally settled on a portrait of a knight in full armor on a small, fat pony. It looked like a fine spring day in the portrait, the wind was softly blowing the grass that the pony was busy grazing.
"Are you speaking to me, sir knight?" Neville asked, timidly. He felt a little weird to be singled out, he usually tried to stay in the background and was not used to the attention as well as having never really had a conversation with a portrait before. The ones in his manor intimidated him – always comparing him to his other so-called more noble and braver ancestors while he was in hearing range, but never engaging him in actual conversation. His grandmother had continued the tradition, constantly comparing him to his father. He did not seem to measure up to her expectations, but then, he was only 11. Who knew what he would grow up to be?
"Indeed, young Gryffindor, I am. You look troubled, young man. Might I be of service?" answered the portrait.
"Only if you know how to stop someone doing something they shouldn't." answered Neville, still surprised that the portrait was not only talking to him, but taking an interest and offering advice, instead of the criticism he was by now used to.
"That's easy, my lad! Stand up to them – tell them they are doing something wrong and stand in their path if necessary." said the portrait.
"Thank you, sir knight. I shall try." replied Neville, taking the knight's words to heart.
And so, Neville resolved to stop Harry, Hermione and Ron from leaving the common room that night. He didn't want his house to lose any more points. He only hoped that Harry, Ron and Hermione would not be too angry. He envied their closeness, but knew he had to do something. Although he ended up hexed by Hermione by the full body-bind curse (Petrificus Totalus), and was discovered in that state by his house-mates hours later, he withstood their laughter, knowing he had done what he could. As far as he was concerned, it was worth it for the points that he earned at the end of year feast. His bravery in standing up to his house-mates earned points from the Headmaster and ended up putting his house in the top spot, thus earning the House Cup for the year.
Neville resolved to himself that from then on he would follow this advice. And, though it was tested many times, Neville's strong will won the day. He supported his friends whenever he could, first by going to the ministry with Harry and standing up to the Death Eaters, then by keeping the others safe during his seventh year and finally by resisting Voldemort's fire curse and killing the evil snake, Nagini. Yes, he was a true Gryffindor and proved it by being brave, not for bravery's sake, but for his friends and finally, for his way of life.