Neville's Speech

Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling
Gen
G
Neville's Speech

Harry has been missing for a few hours. He told me to kill You-Know-Who's snake in case Hermione and Ron can't. I think he's going to surrender himself to Voldemort. I just really hope he doesn't, he's our only hope. I walk out to the school courtyard where the previous battle took place, the battle that took many lives. I glanced around and noticed the school's old sorting hat underneath a pile of rocks. I took it from underneath the rubble and wipe off its dust.

I glance towards the bridge and noticed the hoard of death eaters along with Voldemort marching our way. Other members of Dumbledore's Army and The Order of the Pheonix started to emerge from the castle doors as well, along with other students and teachers. Voldemort had a huge grin on his face and I saw why. Behind him is Hagrid tied up and carrying... Oh, Merlin... he's carrying Harry's dead body.

"Neville, who is that?" Who's Hagrid carrying Neville?" Ginny asked as she approached me with her Father closely behind her back. I am unable to answer due to shock.

"Harry Potter is dead?" Voldemort shouted for everyone to hear. "No! No!" Ginny shouted running towards Hagrid but her father pulled her back.

"Silence! Stupid girl!" The Dark Lord hissed.

"Harry Potter is dead, from this day forth, you put your faith in me!" He stated then turned to his Death Eaters and once again he shouted "HARRY POTTER IS DEAD!" laughing maniacally after. "Now is the time to declare yourselves, come forward and join us or die."

I came forward limping. "Well, I must say I hoped for better." Voldemort mocked, making his Death Eaters laugh. "And who might you be young man?" He asked. "Neville Longbottom." I answered, causing another round of laughter among the Death Eaters. He looked at me and said "Well Neville I'm sure that we can find a place for you among our ranks-"

"I'd like to say something!" I interrupted loudly. Voldemort doesn't seem to like that but he let me speak. "Well, Neville I'm sure we'd all be fascinated with what you have to say." He told me.

"It doesn't matter that Harry's gone." "Stand down Neville!." Seamus interrupted. "People die every day! Friends. Family. Yeah, we lost Harry tonight, but he's still with us in here!" I screamed pointing at my heart. "And so is Fred, Remus, Tonks, and all of them. They didn't die in vain!" I told them and then turned to Voldemort. "But you will! Cause you're wrong! HArry's heart did beat for us! For all of us! It's not over!" I shouted and pulled the Sword of Gryffindor from the hat.

And just after I pulled the sword out Harry jumped up from Hagrid's hold and got to his feet, yelling a jinx at the Death Eaters. He ran towards us dodging Voldemort's enraged curses. We get inside the castle but before I got inside I was hit by a powerful hex and then everything went black.

When I woke up, the sight of the raging battle is what greeted my eyes. I saw the Sword of Gryffindor laying beside me and took it. I looked around to see Ron and Hermione being chased by the snake. I run towards them and slashed off the snake's head using the sword in my hand. I turned over to the courtyard where Harry is dueling Voldemort just in time to see the Dark Lord collapse. The war is over. We won. The wizarding world will now be at peace.