The Legend

by ·

August 3, 2013

Sir,

I’ve heard so much about you, in the books and in the papers. I can’t believe a legend like you would teach, in my opinion you would have been a great auror. It’s your choice(and I tell you it’s the best). There have been interviews and I’ve even read in some books that you were not that brave in your starting years! That’s a rotten lie, isn’t it. How could they even say something so untrue! But since I wasn’t there and I wanted to prove them all wrong can you please just say “It’s a lie” ans reply (It would be great).

P.S. Every time I read or even hear something about your parents… I don’t know how did you you cope with it. I could never… No one could ever… You ARE a legend.

Thank you for writing to me! Since the Battle of Hogwarts all those years ago, I’ve gotten piles of mail, and many of the letters are very similar to yours. It never fails to surprise me that I would have so many fans out there, and I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. I wouldn’t say that I’m a legend, there are very few wizards deserving of that title, but if Harry’s story can be a positive influence in the world, then I’m all for it, legend or not.

First off, thank you again for having such faith in me, even as a little boy! I wish I could tell you what you want to hear. I really wasn’t brave at all when I started Hogwarts, and I still wonder how I managed to get into Gryffindor when I was eleven. Hearing about everything that Harry and Ron went through while we were at school; I was scared, and I dreamed and hoped that I could be as brave as them. But it never seemed to happen. In my seventh year, when Harry and Ron weren’t around and everyone was so scared –including me! – I had to be brave, for everyone else. For Harry and Ron and Hermione. But believe me; I was scared out of my mind! But to tell you the truth, I don’t know if I could’ve done half the things I did that year if I wasn’t. I was never more scared in my life than when I was standing in the courtyard, staring Voldemort in the face. You know, when he tugged the Sorting Hat over my ears, everything got so quiet, and in that moment I understood: being scared is not a weakness, but a requirement for being truly brave. You can’t be brave without being scared first – that’s what bravery is, after all. And we all know what happened next…

So no, it’s not a lie. But that doesn’t make it bad. The way I see it, it kind of makes it better, don’t you think?

Neville