Neville Longbottom and the Boy Who Lived

Chapter 14 - Courage

Two days later, Neville approached Professor McGonagall after class. He wanted to do what he needed in private, but Hermione continued to ask questions concerning the upcoming exams. Finally the bushy-haired girl was finished, and Neville cleared his throat.

"Professor McGonagall, can I speak to you?"

The Transfiguration professor looked at the boy over her spectacles. "What can I do for you, Mr. Longbottom?"

"I...I just wanted to say, I'm sorry for what I did that night. I realize what I did was against school rules, and I'm not trying to offer excuses for it. I did it because I thought someone needed help, and I chose to help even though I knew what the consequences would be. I want you to know I understand why I was punished."

McGonagall sighed. "Sit down, Mr. Longbottom." She motioned Neville to a seat in the front row. "I know what you were doing, and just like when you defended Mr. Weasley at the Quidditch match, I'm proud of your loyalty to your house. But I did warn you about breaking rules, and so you were punished. Maybe taking fifty points from you was a little harsh, but I wanted to impress upon you the seriousness of your actions. My only question is why you are here apologizing now? You've served your detention; the points are gone. What do you hope to gain today?"

Neville cleared his throat. "Professor, I know I'm not the smartest or most talented in my year. But I know what I did. My Great-Aunt Enid told me a long time ago that when I get caught doing something I shouldn't, I need to take responsibility. I realized I hadn't done that yet, and that's what I'm doing today."

Professor McGonagall smiled. "Mr. Longbottom. Neville. Your great-aunt is a very wise woman. I'm glad you came here today. I want you to remember, no matter what happens, you should always come to me for help before you set out to break a rule on your own. At the very least, I will be able to help with your safety, and that is our primary concern. That is, after all, why the rules are in place to begin with."

"Thank you, Professor," Neville said as he stood up. "I'm glad I'm in your house."

"I'm glad you're in my house, too."

*****

With the weight of his punishment finally off his shoulders, Neville was able to prepare for his exams with some measure of peace. In fact, he seemed to be in a better state of mind than Harry. A couple of times Neville had awakened in the middle of the night to find The-Boy-Who-Lived staring out the window. Neville tried to encourage him; to let him know he didn't have anything to worry about, but Harry would just look away and stare back at the forest. It was as almost as if he was waiting for something to emerge.

On Monday, the exams started. Thanks to Hermione and her wonderful revision schedule, Neville felt confident during the written exams. He remembered almost all of his incantations for both Charms and Transfiguration, and even most of his potion ingredients. The fact Professor Snape wasn't present for the written portion helped Neville immensely, although the potion master's absence appeared to weigh heavily on Harry, Ron and Hermione.

The practical exams, on the other hand, were a different matter. Neville did all right during Charms and aced Herbology, but in Transfiguration his snuffbox never did lose its mouse whiskers and continued to sniff the air. And then there was Potions.

That practical didn't go well from the start. Neville tried his best to brew his forgetfulness potion, but with Professor Snape hovering around, he missed every detail. First his flame was set too high. Then he put his ingredients into his cauldron in reverse order. When he stirred his potion with the wrong hand, what was supposed to be blue became pink, and Snape didn't allow the potion to be tested without Madam Pomfrey on hand to quickly counteract the effects.

With the exams finally over, Neville allowed himself a sigh of relief. He was still lonely as Gryffindor house was continuing the silent treatment that had started the night of the lost points. However, Neville had become better at avoiding the older students and the torment they tried to inflict. One thing that made Neville feel a little better was his flying.

He still didn't go very fast, especially compared to the Quidditch teams, but he had discovered a simple joy in that which had once terrified him. In that way, flying was not so different from Hogwarts itself. He had boarded the Hogwarts Express with trepidation and an anxious toad. No matter the result of the exams, he knew he would head home a far different person than when he had started.

He had friends, even if he couldn't say he had a best friend. Aside from Harry, Hermione and Ron, both Seamus and Dean had got over his indiscretion. And true to his word, Justin continued to give Neville support, even when the rest of his house was still upset with the Gryffindor first years.

*****

As people started going to bed, Neville slid into a large armchair in a corner of the common room, his book and toad on his lap. His vantage point let him see the moon reflecting on the lake below. It was a peaceful moment; lost as he was in the comfortable cushions as he shut out the entire world behind him, focusing only on the soft breeze coming through the open window ahead.

Finally, Neville opened his book and started to leaf through the pages. He only hoped Gran was having someone do some basic upkeep in his garden at home, so he could start growing some of the basic magical plants, and continue the cuttings of some of his work from school.

He had just dog-eared a fourth page when he heard Harry's voice.

"We'd better put the cloak on here, and make sure it covers all three of us - if Filch spots one of our feet wandering along on its own -"

Neville was instantly furious. The trio was at it again. It wasn't enough that Gryffindor was going to finish last in the House Cup standings. They were going somewhere, and that was going to cost everyone again. He dropped his book in the armchair as he stood up.

"What are you doing?" he demanded. He was so angry, Trevor almost had the life squeezed out of him.

Harry quickly tried to calm Neville down. "Nothing, Neville, nothing."

Neville looked each of the students in the eye. "You're going out again," he seethed.

Hermione was quick to intervene. "No, no, no. No, we're not. Why don't you go to bed, Neville?" Her tone was patronizing. Neville had never been so upset with Hermione. Harry looked around the room, as if Neville wasn't even important enough to deal with.

"You can't go out, you'll be caught again." Neville pleaded with the trio, hoping to convince them to do the right thing. "Gryffindor will be in even more trouble."

"You don't understand," Harry said condescendingly. "This is important."

Neville raced to the portrait hole, blocking the exit from the common room. He was prepared to make a stand; he just didn't expect having to do so against his friends. "I won't let you do it," he cautioned. And then inspiration struck. "I'll - I'll fight you!" He hoped the threat of physical violence might deter them. He was, after all, the first year who stood up to both Crabbe and Goyle.

Instead, his statement had the opposite effect. Ron was getting angry now, and over the past year, Neville had seen many examples of the Weasley temper. "Neville, get away from that hole and don't be an idiot -"

For Neville Longbottom, that was the final straw. "Don't you call me an idiot!" he screamed. He turned to Harry and tried to stare into his soul. "I don't think you should be breaking any more rules!" After a quick breath, he returned to Ron. "And you were the one who told me to stand up to people!"

"Yes, but not to us." Ron seemed bored now, as if Neville was no longer worthy of his attention. "Neville, you don't know what you're doing." The red-haired student took a step forward, apparently challenging Neville. Neville was ready. He dropped Trevor, and as the toad hopped to a safe position underneath a table, Neville prepared himself by raising his fists in front of him.

"Go on then, try and hit me! I'm ready"

Neville didn't take his eyes off of his opponent, readying himself for Ron's attack. He barely heard Harry grumble, "Do something." And he was stunned when Ron stood down, and Hermione stepped forward drawing her wand.

"Neville, I'm really, really sorry about this." Neville was confused. He wasn't prepared to fight Hermione, and certainly she wouldn't jinx him.

He was wrong.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

When Neville had been hit by the Leg-Locker curse by Malfoy, he thought it was bad. But this curse was a thousand times worse. All four limbs were immediately pinned to his side. His jaw slammed shut, and his eyes were forced open. And the suddenness of it all caused his body to rock and finally fall, face first, on the floor in front of them. In fact, the only things he could move were his eyes.

Neville immediately recalled his nightmares. He was in the exact position his mum and dad had always been in when the dreams started and they were being jinxed by the four cloaked figures. Hermione turned him over, and he tried to communicate his sense of fear to her. She was in tears for what she had done, but she gave no indication of releasing him from the spell. Even Harry seemed sickened as he stared at the helpless student.

"What've you done to him?"

Hermione closed her eyes. "It's the full Body-Bind. Oh, Neville, I'm so sorry."

Neville tried desperately to plead with them. I don't care how sorry you are, let me out of this. But no words would come. He couldn't even form a sound.

But Harry only motioned for Hermione to join them. The-Boy-Who-Lived looked at Neville and whispered, "We had to, Neville, no time to explain."

"You'll understand later, Neville," Ron said as he stepped over the supine boy, and just like that Neville was alone, paralyzed, and more scared than he had ever been before in his life.

Neville's mind raced trying to make sense of what had just happened. He had thought Harry had learned his lesson from the punishments handed out over the past few weeks. What could be so important Harry is willing to risk further punishment, maybe even expulsion, Neville thought.

As the minutes ticked by, Neville was reduced to thinking about the situation. Hermione's spell had seen to it that Neville could do nothing to interfere, but that didn't stop him from reasoning out the trio's purpose. Neville didn't know how much time had passed before he realized their destination.

The third floor corridor.

It was the only reasonable possibility. They'd been in the Dark Forest, and neither Harry nor Hermione had given any indication what they were looking for was there. All of the times Neville interrupted the trio in the library; what he had mistaken for studying, could have been research. And clearly the monster behind the door in the third floor corridor had to have a purpose.

Maybe it's protecting a treasure.

Neville needed to get free. He had to go to Professor McGonagall so she could save his fellow students. And after several long moments he remembered he wasn't alone in the common room. Trevor!

The boy wizard set aside the fear from his dreams, the pain of betrayal from his friends and the physical discomfort setting in by being in a stiff position. He cleared his mind and focused on his familiar, searching out the connection with the amphibian. Instantly his enhanced vision came into focus and he could view himself from underneath an armchair.

He brought Trevor from under the chair, and began the arduous process of moving the toad across the common room towards the portrait hole. He hoped he would be able to keep the connection through several floors. He had never taxed the connection that much before.

Trevor maneuvered through the hole and clumsily fell out from behind the portrait into the corridor beyond. The toad continued a short way before Neville found another potential ally. Cleaning the paintings in the hallway was Rinkle the house-elf. Neville sent Trevor towards the elf as quickly as the toad could hop.

"Hello Mr. Toad," Rinkle said as he noticed the amphibian. "Which of the young masters or mistresses do you belong to?"

"Rinkle, it's me," Neville tried to say. "I need help." But all that issued from Trevor was "BRRAAAAPPPP!"

"Who is it that needs help, Mr. Toad?" replied the house-elf.

He can understand me! Neville was elated. "In the Gryffindor common room. Hurry!" Neville communicated through Trevor's "BBRAAAPP! BRRRAAP!"

Rinkle picked up the toad and snapped his fingers. In an instant, the house-elf appeared in front of the fire. "Young Master?" Rinkle asked as he spotted the prone student.

"Full-Body Bind!" Neville tried to say. "BBBRRAPPP!" said Trevor.

With a wave of his hand, Rinkle broke through the curse, and Neville was free again. "Thank you, Rinkle," he gushed. "I was definitely in a tight spot. But now I need more help."

The house-elf squeaked. "What can Rinkle do for the young master? Would he like something to eat?"

"No, thank you. I need you to go get Professor McGonagall and bring her here immediately. It's a matter of life and death."

The house-elf let out a tiny, "Eep!" before he snapped his fingers and dissolved in front of the student's eyes. Neville had one more thing he could do in order to either help Harry and the others, or get them into extreme trouble. He raced to the armchair and picked up his book.

When Professor Dumbledore had given Neville the book, he told him that the picture not only allowed him to talk to his grandfather, but also would pass on a message to the headmaster. The boy was relying on that connection.

He opened the cover of the book at the familiar visages smiled at him. "How are you, child?" asked his grandfather.

"I'm all right, Gramps, but I need to speak to Professor Dumbledore now." The focus of the picture seemed to shift, and the kindly-faced bearded wizard now filled most of the picture. "Professor Dumbledore, I know I'm not talking directly to you. But you need to tell the real professor that Harry, Ron and Hermione sneaked out tonight. I think they are headed for the third-floor corridor, and the three-headed dog-monster that lives there. Whatever treasure that beast is protecting, they're going after it. Please go help them."

The picture returned to its regular view, and the Dumbledore in the picture nodded at his grandfather, then turned and walked out of the frame. "Neville," his grandfather began. "You've done the right thing by getting help."

"Yes, you have," spoke a voice from behind. Neville spun around to find Professor McGonagall crossing the common room from the portrait hole. The professor looked down at the book. "Mister Longbottom," she greeted the visage.

"Professor McGonagall," replied Gramps. "It's been awhile since we last spoke."

"Too long, old friend," the professor replied. "But now is not the time for pleasantries. I have students in mortal danger and I have to talk to Neville."

"'Bye, Gramps," Neville said as he closed the book. He looked up at the stern woman. "How much did you hear?"

"Start at the beginning. Don't leave anything out."

In less than two minutes, Neville detailed both the initial encounter with the three-headed dog from before Halloween and the events of the common room less than a half-hour old. He then moved on to his supposition about what the dog was guarding.

"Mr. Potter and the others came to the same conclusion. They, however, believe that Professor Snape is trying to steal the object and have gone to stop him. Come with me."

The teacher and the student exited the common room and out of Gryffindor Tower. "Go to the infirmary," instructed the professor. "Tell Madam Pomfrey the third floor corridor has been compromised. Accompany her to the corridor, but do not proceed through the door until told to do so. Do you understand?" Neville nodded. "Then go, quickly."

Neville raced through the hallway as McGonagall started up the stairs. His mind continued to move every bit as fast as his feet. If they're going after the treasure, they must have a way past the beast, he thought. Is it possible even worse things await my friends? His adrenaline propelled him faster than ever.

He burst through the infirmary door and called for the nurse. Madam Pomfrey entered from another door, and after Neville passed on Professor McGonagall's message, she exited again. The nurse hurried behind her desk and pointed her wand at a large bag on the top shelf, well out of reach. "Accio!" she cried and the bag flew to her hand.

"Come, Mr. Longbottom," she said, and both adult and child headed back towards the third floor corridor.

The closer he got to the infamous doorway, the more trepidation he felt. Too many possibilities presented themselves to the student. Any combination of injuries and fatalities might have occurred, all because he wasn't strong enough to stop his friends. He fought to overcome his sense of despair.

Upon reaching the third floor corridor, Madam Pomfrey carefully opened the door. The sound of a harp floated into the hallway, and the nurse opened the door. Inside, the large three-headed dog was snoozing comfortably in the corner and in the center of the room was an open trap-door. The music was coming from an instrument charmed to play continuously.

"Stay outside the door," the nurse said. "If the harp stops, close the door as quickly as possible. I'll be back soon." She took one step forward and jumped through the trap-door.

Neville tried to take stock of what he was feeling, but he was overwhelmed. He waited patiently, listening to the harp play the same tune over and over. Every time it paused, he prepared to lock the animal in, but the instrument merely started again, and Neville breathed a sigh of relief.

After several minutes, he heard Madam Pomfrey's voice coming from the trap door. "Mr. Longbottom? You must grab hold of Mr. Weasley and pull him clear. Understand?"

"Yes." He took one final look at the still sleeping dog and approached the trap door. Just as he reached it, an unconscious Ron Weasley levitated in front of him. Neville grabbed hold of the red-haired student and moved him away from the opening. As Ron lost line of sight with the witch below, he dropped like a marionette whose strings had been cut. Neville did his best to pick up his fellow Gryffindor and move him into the hallway.

He turned back toward the trap-door in time to see Hermione come floating out of the hole, followed shortly by Madam Pomfrey. The nurse moved to the prone form of Ron, waived her wand, and whispered "Mobilicorpus!" As she began to descend the stairs with the injured student, Professor McGonagall emerged from the trapdoor.

The head of Gryffindor house quickly cleared out of the way, and to the surprise of both Neville and Hermione, Professor Dumbledore levitated through the trap door, clutching an unconscious Harry. Harry's breathing was very shallow, and his skin was a pasty white. Neville's heart was in his throat as the headmaster raced past him.

Neville, Hermione and Professor McGonagall followed. The odd assortment of Hogwarts residents proceeded as quickly as possible to the infirmary. Both Ron and Harry were placed on beds, and Madam Pomfrey quickly set about stabilizing both patients. The gleam was gone from Professor Dumbledore's eye as his worry played out across the rest of his face. Finally, the headmaster spoke.

"Minerva, stay with the boys. I need to have a discussion with Miss Granger and Mr. Longbottom."

The nurse spoke up as the two students began to leave. "Miss Granger needs to come back in thirty minutes so I can attend to her injuries."

"Fine, Poppy, fine. But, you have your hands full for the moment and I need to know what happened. Miss Granger and Mr. Longbottom will be back for you to look over before you're ready for them I'm sure."

Professor Dumbledore led the Gryffindors to a large stone gargoyle. As the headmaster spoke the words, "sherbet lemon," the hideous statue jumped aside revealing a stone staircase beyond. The headmaster motioned for the students to follow and quickly all three were in front of an ornate wooden door. The door was opened and Neville was suddenly in the most incredible room he had ever seen.