I'm Not Perfect | Seamus Finnigan

Educational Decree Number Twenty - Four

"By order of the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. All Student Organizations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs, are henceforth disbanded. An Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club is hereby defined as a regular meeting of three or more students. Permission to re-form may be sought from the High Inquisitor (Proffesor Umbridge). No Student Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club may existwithout the knowledge and approval of the High Inquisitor." Read the new notice posted in the Ravenclaw Common Room.

"What!? DOES THIS INCLUDE QUIDITCH?!" Roger Davies, the Ravenclaw quidditch captain, shouted.

"Wait, wait. There's more." Luna pointed out.

"Any student found to have formed, or belong to, an Organization, Society, Team, Group, or Club that has not been approved by the High Inquisitor will be expelled." I read, "The above is in accordance with Educational Decree Number Twenty - Four. Signed: Delores Jane Umbridge, High Inquisitor."

"Expelled? Do you think she knows about --" Cho asked me.

"No. She can't have. If anyone told her, they'd have -- Well, I helped Hermione put a little curse on the paper, so if anyone blabs to Umbridge -- Let's just say, you don't want to do it. Ok?"

Cho nodded.

"Let's go into the great hall and see if anyone's told Umbridge."

Luna, Cho, and I walked to the Great Hall for breakfast. We watched everyone that came in the door and no one seemed to have been effected by Hermione and I's little curse.

We sat down and ate breakfast before going off to our first class.

 After class, I was walking to Herbology with Neville, Seamus, and Luna when I heard Malfoy talking to Harry, ". . .And as for Potter. . . My father says it's a matter of time before the Ministry has him carted off to St.Mungo's. . . Apparently they've got a special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic. . ."

Nevile charged at Malfoy.

"Neville, no!" Harry yelled, holding the back of his robes.

Neville tried to get free, fists flailing, while Malfoy stood there, quite shocked,

"Help me!" Harry said to us.

Ron helped to hold back Neville and I said, "Malfoy. I told you not to joke about that. It's not funny. I don't know how many times I have to say it, but I will seriously hurt you. Do you want to be carted off to St. Mungo's with such an unregonizable face your parents won't be able to tell who you are?"

Snape rounded the corner and sneered, "Fighting, Potter, Weasley, Longbottom? Ten points from Gryffindor. Release Longbottom, Potter, or it will be detention."

Harrt let go of Neville, who stood glaring at him.

"I had to stop you. Crabbe and Goyle would've torn you apart."

Neville stayed silent, just snatched up his bag and stormed off down the corridor.

 I just sighed sadly, "Neville's become my brother. And you don't know how much it hurts to see him upset. It gets so bad for him sometimes."

Harry looked grimmly at the ground, "I can only imagine. I mean -- I lost my parents, but -- to have them still here, but not even know who you are... That'd just be worse.

Luna ran off shouting, "Neville!"

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Neville's P.O.V.

"Neville! Neville! Wait!" I heard Luna shout behind me. I kept walking. She caught up to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

I whipped around and faced her, "What?"

"Neville, were you cry--"

"No." I said quickly, wiping my eyes with my sleeve.

She shook her head sadly, "Oh, Neville."

She threw her arms around me and hugged me.

I stood still. I didn't know how to react. I mean, she just hugged me. What do I do?

I felt the blush heat my cheeks. And I let it go. I hugged her back and cried. Thankfully nobody ever goes down this hallway. I'd rather not have something else for them to tease me about.

"You don -- It's just -- Why do they find it so -- so -- funny? How could they -- My parents d-don't even kn-know w-who I am! There's no c-cure! They'll always b-be --"

"It's alright, Neville. You've got us. You've got Emma, you've got Emma's parents, you've got your grandmother, you've -- you've got me. And Harry, and Hermione, and sometimes Ron when he's not being self centered and worrying about himself, and Seamus, and well -- especially me, Neville. I don't want to see you upset. I wish there were a way I could fix everything. I wish I could help your parents remember you. Or -- go back in time and stop it from happening -- but I can't. And it hurts."

By now she began crying. 

I didn't know she cared so much. 

"L-Luna?"

She took her head off my shoulder, "Yeah?"

"You really care that m-much?"

She nodded, "Of course I do, Neville. You and Emma are the first friends I've ever had. The only two people who've never called me 'Loony' -- and that means a lot, Neville. You understand what it's like to be bullied and -- and made fun of. And..."

She trailed off and just stared at me. 

"What?" I asked.

She just shook her head, "Nothing. I --

But she stopped when I did the bravest thing I've ever done. I kissed her.