Ch. 121 Meaning of Courage

The news of our complete victory over the Imperius curse sent shock-waves throughout the school.

This was felt mostly by those students in their fifth year and below, because they had all experienced the dreadfulness of the curse. Defense Against the Dark Arts being a core subject until one becomes a NEWT level student. They now had a clear understanding of just how far ahead my friends and I were besides our insane grades, which were actually getting even better as time went on. They were completely subjugated by the curse, whilst one twitched, the next ignored it, the third punish the caster, and the last turned it around. The only others who showed better results than the general student body were Harry, Ron, Cedric and the better duelists in the club.

Hence, Hogwarts was buzzing about us once again.

In all honesty, this happens whenever one of us does something others see as impossible or unreachable. It happened when Christian took on the four best duelers in the club at once, when James successfully created a self aware puzzle which could configure itself and fight back a bit, or when Victoria squashed the entire Potions club with her own research. We are at the center of a lot of gossip. I usually get gossiped about at least three times a week and I still sometimes see girls reading certain types of books with a passion. Books I really wished I didn't know existed, but still kinda flattered about. Didn't know Hogwarts could have a Doujinshi/fanfic culture of its own.

But anyway, there was actually something many people overlooked after Moody held his class. There were certainly many who showed their strength of will, but there were also some affected by this event in a very different way. Two of these individuals were unsurprisingly Harry and Neville, so I arranged a little meeting with the both of them in the Exchange.

I actually believe that the two of them should be able to support each other. They have suffered a lot in their lives due to the Unforgivables and Voldemort. They can understand each other's pain.

"Aedan, how come you wanted to see me without Ron or Hermione? And how come you wanted me to bring Neville?" Harry asked me curiously as Neville stood behind him looking very nervous.

Although I've invited the kid to the Exchange, and I've spent some time trying to help him, he tends to have a self-depreciating point of view. He believes he would get in the way of the people who come and won't believe that everyone who comes is welcomed, no matter the reason.

"That is because both of you are the people who need to talk about Professor Moody's class the most. And I am probably one of the only people in this school who could understand some of what you've been through." I answered in a very gentle voice.

"Wh-why would you want to t-t-talk to me about that?" Neville asked as his face paled.

"Because I know about your situation as well Neville. In all honesty, I am pretty much the middle ground between what happened to the both of you." I answered with a sigh, but keeping a compassionate look on my face.

"What do you mean by you're the 'middle-ground'?" Suddenly asked Harry, cautious about this subject due to some of what he knows about me.

The kid knows that, like him, I lost both of my parents. The only difference being that my aunt truly cared for me and my cousin like her own children, and we care for her as a mother.

"Well Harry, like you know very well, we both lost our parents to similar circumstances. But what you don't know is what I've experienced and by who's hand. That is something Neville would understand a lot better than you." I answer the growing Harry gently as I look at Neville.

"Wh-what do you mean?" The clumsy kid asked cautiously.

"Well, the culprits were the same as the ones responsible for your parents... and they also did it to me." I answered the nervous teen.

"You mean...her?" He asked with fear this time.

"Who's her? What are you talking about?" Interrupted Harry.

"Neville, if I talk about my own experience, would you be willing to tell Harry and myself about your own? I firmly believe we can support each other in this area." I asked the boy with a very gentle and supportive voice.

The teen was very hesitant. It's understandable since it is a very painful thing when his own parents can't even recognize him due to their insanity.

But after struggling with his thoughts, he gave me a nod of confirmation.

"Thank you Neville." I say with a gentle smile as I began my own tale. "As I've said, my own parents were killed by Death Eaters about six months before Harry's were. The difference between us, and by extension the similarity between Neville and I, is that this was done mainly by two very devout followers: Bellatrix Lestrange, currently in Azkaban, and Bartemius Crouch Junior, died during his incarceration.

Bellatrix Lestrange is actually the cousin Sirius hates the most Harry. Pure blood maniac. Dark Arts fanatic. And arguably the most fervent follower of Voldycunt's. It would be an un-debatable fact if not for Barty Crouch Jr., one of the only other Death Eater to seek out his master after his fall on that fateful night. He was also the son of the current Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation." I explain to the two with a calm and steady tone.

Harry was shocked that Sirius had such a cousin, which made sense since he hadn't spent that much time with the man yet. They had arranged for him to start living together this Christmas actually, so Harry hadn't been introduced to the infamous Black family yet.

Neville was pale and almost trembling as he remembered the names of the two who broke his parents.

"These two decided to erase the Bones family for not being 'true nobles' apparently. They were upset that my parents, much like both of yours, had actively fought against their master. So on that very night, they attacked and wiped out every member of my family except for my Aunt, who was working at the ministry, and my cousin who miraculously survived. I on the other hand, was found by those two twisted souls and tortured for behaving defiantly. Bellatrix found it amusing as she watched me writhe on the floor, but was infuriated when I only glared at them in response." Was my next bit of explanation as I look at the two teens.

"How did you escape? And how do you even remember it was them? You had to be 4 years old!" Harry asked in astonishment, getting Neville to look at me with the same question in his eyes.

"I didn't," was my simple answer, "and it is not always a good thing to be able to remember everything Harry."

The two had very somber looks on their faces. It was mostly likely due to the fact that although they had suffered a lot in their lives, in very different ways, but they couldn't truly remember what had happened on those nights.

"S-so what happened after that?" Asked Neville as he picked up his courage.

"They decided to keep me alive and bring me to another devout follower by the name of Ignacius Avery, uncle of two other death eaters, currently in Azkaban. He is less famous than the other two, but he is nearly as loyal. The difference lies in their expertise. Bellatrix and Junior are good fighters and lieutenants, but Ignacius was an expert in dark rituals. This led him to being a researcher instead of a front-line fighter. I still don't know if this was fortunate or unfortunate, but I was a perfect test subject for him. So I spent the next 8 months imprisoned in a cell, alone, having rituals tested on me, being tortured in the name of his progress, until his master was defeated and he started doing reckless things to find him. Luckily this led to Aurors tracking him down, rescuing me and having me reunited with my aunt." I say as i finish my summary of my experience with Death Eaters.

Harry and Neville were just speechless. Aedan Bones, the strongest and brightest of their generation had such a dark past. It just couldn't compute. It was already a miracle that he ways alive, much less sane and so capable in their eyes.

"How can you be so-so-so..." Harry tried to find the words to describe my attitude towards my past, how I am in life, and what I do.

"It is very simple, my past is there for me to learn from it. I learned that I needed strength to protect those I care about, so I started studying everything I could about magic. I learned that the conflict about Blood purity is idiotic, outdated and self destructive, so I found my moral compass. I then learned that our world has been stagnant for too long, leading to it crumbling from the inside, so I aim to spark a Renaissance. And I don't dwell on it, but improve because of it." I say with a confident smile on my face.

"Now Harry, I would also like for you to share how your life has truly been. Too many only see the 'glory' of your achievement and never realize that you had basically disappeared until you came to Hogwarts. It will do you good to have some else to talk with." I follow up as I gently ask the kid.

He hesitated a bit, but he started to tell the both of us how his life had truly been at the Dursley's.

It always makes me want to have those animals arrested and/or butchered for what they had done to the kid. Until Harry was forced to go to school, he didn't even know his own name. They treated him like a servant. He was conditioned to never surpass his moronic cousin. They tried to insult and beat any traces of magic out of him. Stuffed him in a cupboard. Never gave him anything. Used any money Dumbledore arranged to take care of the kid on themselves. Ruined any chances of him making friends by blaming every act of bullying, theft or wrongdoing Dudley had done on him. Insulted his parents and caused serious psychological harm on him. And this is all when you gloss over the little things.

'Yeah, I'm having them arrested on Child Abuse in terms of physical, psychological and financial abuse, and I'm adding Child Neglect charges. This is happening as soon as Harry is properly set up with Sirius.' I thought as Harry finished recounting his past.

He then looked at myself and Neville, fearing being judged or being looked down on.

"Thank you Harry for sharing with the both of us. It proves you are healing the harm down to your psyche when you are able to properly discuss this." I say to encourage the teen gently.

"Now that we've shared, would you be willing to as well Neville?" I asked kindly.

It took him a few minutes before he could really talk. Half of it was because of our stories and the other was because of his own, but he powered through. He still couldn't believe that the famous Harry Potter. The youngest Quidditch player in a century, had suffered through so much. While I had such a past as well.

But he was eventually able to talk about what happened to his parents. How they've been in St. Mungo's for a long time and couldn't even recognize him. How he had to live with his grandmother's constant disapproval and being compared to his excellent father.

He simply got everything off of his shoulders and told the two people close to his age about his problems.

After he was done, he looked at the both of us very nervously.

"That was very brave of you Neville. Thank you for being able to tell your story." I say to the guy, making relax the tension in his body a lot.

"I'm not brave. I can't even fly or do anything right. Heck, my biggest fear is one of our Professors." He said as his confidence dropped again.

"You know Neville, I've never understood why people always think that being courageous is the same as being fearless." I said aloud.

""What?"" The two said in surprise.

"You see, having courage is not to say one doesn't fear anything. To charge forward without fearing anything is recklessness, but to be able to face what your fears and keep moving forward, that is true courage.

This is why I believe you are among the most fitting Gryffindors I have ever met. You fear so many things Neville, but you always step up and face them. In first year the Headmaster recognized it, so he gave you points. Every potions class, you face your own biggest fear. Every time you go to the hospital, you face your fears again. But here you are, moving forward through it all.

You are brave Neville. And never forget you are." I say to the kid with absolute confidence.

it took a moment for what I just said to sink in, but once it had, it hit hard.

"Thank you." The kid said as his eyes started to water and as he kept on thanking me while I tried to calm him down gently.

It took some time, but he was able to finally calm down with mine and Harry's support.

"I just wanted the both of you to know you weren't alone. There are others who have suffered a lot as well and that we can help each other." I gently explain to the two growing teens.

"Of course everything we just said will stay between us, but if you two ever have any problems in this department, you at least know you can talk to someone. But I also think this is enough for tonight. A good nights rest will do wonders now, and I hope you will feel lighter in the morning." I say in conclusion as I stand up from my own chairs.

The two boys agreed, saying their thanks and good-nights before taking their leave.

'I hope this will help Neville. The guy needs a little boost.' I thought to myself as I head back to my own dorm.