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A Single White Rose	By : Pat Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 5839 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The Suitor in the Common Room

Neville nibbled at the end of his quill, screwing up his face in concentration. He'd found a quiet spot in the Gryffindor Common Room and was working on his Potions assignment for tomorrow.

In actual fact, Neville was quite good at the written work required by his potions master, but doubtless that was forgotten by his almost uncanny inability to complete a practical application without ensuing disaster.

Neville was sure of only one thing; he knew the answers to the questions before he entered the potions classroom, however, once he was in the classroom, his mind went blank.

Once that occurred, panic set in and, without fail unless helped out by Hermione, disaster was sure to follow. He knew that he was the butt of jokes all over the school, even among his fellow Gryffindors, he thought sadly.

Hermione had told him that it was all just a mental block and that, if he could conquer it, he'd be as good as she was in potions.

Neville sighed. Hermione was a good friend, as were Harry and Ron. They'd just never understand why he became so rattled by Snape.

In point of fact, Neville had a morbid fear of failing ever since he was a little boy. When his parents had been kidnapped and tortured, he'd felt, as many small children do, both guilty and somehow responsible for the situation. That if somehow he'd been a better behaved little boy, all this wouldn't have happened to him and his parents.

His grandmother hadn't helped the situation by insisting that Neville 'act his age' and remember his station in life. She meant well, but she'd come from a generation of wizards who believed in not showing one's emotions to the general public.

When he'd first arrived to stay with her, she'd been decidedly uncomfortable with the little boy's emotional outbursts and had done her best to curtail them. Even to this day, she never said a word either pre or post St. Mungos visits. It was just their duty as family members, nothing that needed to be discussed.

"Neville," called out one of the first years who'd just come in through the portrait. "You have someone who wants to see you."

Neville shook himself out of his ruminations.

"Who?" he said.

"Dunno," said the small blonde boy. "But it's one of the Slytherins," he said, wrinkling his nose in distaste.

Neville's eyebrows rose at that.

"Um, okay, thanks," he said as he put away his parchment and quills. Why on earth would one of the Slytherins be at the common room door?

Neville hastily straightened his robes and walked to the portrait. As he stepped out, he saw the back of a boy who was tapping his foot.

"Hello," he said hesitantly.

The young man turned and Neville let out a sigh of relief. It was Blaise.

Blaise's eyes twinkled.

"Been busy with homework, have you?" he asked.

"Why yes, I have, how did you know?" Neville said.

"Well, you do have rather a lot of ink stains on your robe and your fingers," Blaise said in a teasing manner.

Neville looked down at himself and was mortified to realize he looked like he'd had an accident with an ink pot.

Blaise cursed himself mentally. He hadn't meant to make Neville feel self-conscious, he'd have to remember not to tease quite so much.

"I was wondering if you'd help me with something," said Blaise.

"Help you?" said Neville quite befuddled. No one had ever asked him for help. Well, not if they could help it.

"Yes. You're rather good at Herbology and I'm quite hopeless with it. Just haven't applied myself, I guess. I was wondering if you'd help me with some revision before our next test," he said, indicating the thick book he held in one hand.

Neville felt a surge of pride. Herbology was his best class and Professor Sprout had told him privately that he was her best student.

"I thought we might study in your common room, since the library is crowded at this time of the day," Blaise said, cool as a cucumber.

Neville's eyes widened at that and he started to nervously shuffle his feet. An annoying habit he couldn't break himself of.

"Well, umm, I'm not sure," Neville began. He looked at Blaise and his heart was thudding a mile a minute in his chest. He really wanted to say yes but was afraid of what his mates would say.

The smile on Blaise's face started to fade.

"I'm not here to cause trouble, you know, only to study, but if you don't feel comfortable with me, I'll understand," said Blaise.

No, thought Neville in a panic. I don't want him to leave. I like him. I want to be with him—err study with him.

Blaise studied the expressions that ran quickly over Neville's face. Aha. Neville did want to spend time with him.

"Here," he said as he withdrew his wand from his robe pocket. "You can keep my wand while we're in the common room. Will that make you feel better?"

Neville blinked in shock staring at the wand he was being offered. It was a mark of tremendous trust for a wizard to allow himself to be made basically disarmed and vulnerable.

"Thank you," Neville stammered. "But there's no need. I trust you," he said.

Neville turned towards the portrait of the fat lady, who was tutting at him.

"Whisper the word, my dear," she said, glaring at Blaise.

"But," Neville began to object. He had offered his wand for goodness' sakes!

Blaise grinned at the fat lady.

"No worries, I'll just stroll over here, shall I? Out of hearing range?" he said as he moved away.

The fat lady nodded graciously. This one had manners at least.

Neville whispered the password, cauldron, and the portrait swung open.

"Come on," Neville said with some relief.

Blaise joined him and soon both had entered the common room. Blaise looked around with great interest. It was only slightly different from the Slytherin Common Room. The fireplace was magically ablaze and only a few first and second years gaped at the appearance of a sixth year Slytherin among their midst.

"Umm, there's a quiet corner over here that I like to use," said Neville, indicating his favored spot.

They sat down at what was normally the chess table during the evenings, and Neville started to question Blaise about what he needed to cover. They were amiably discussing the uses of the Dittany plant when they were interrupted.

"Bloody Hell! What's he doing in here?" came the voice of an enraged Ron Weasley.

Hermione followed Ron into the room quickly at the sound of his outburst.

Two very surprised Gryffindors stared at the scene that greeted them.

Neville and Blaise Zabini were sitting curled up side by side on a bench with a book in front of them. They looked up in surprise at Ron's unexpected entrance, but hadn't yet moved apart.

Blaise recovered first.

"Good evening all. Neville and I were just catching up on some revision," he said with a cheeky grin.

Ron went red in the face and looked like he was about to explode. Hermione quickly grabbed his arm and held on for dear life.

Neville, who'd been frozen for a moment, started to try and get up off the bench but found himself unable to when Blaise slipped an arm around his waist and held him in place.

Hermione's eyes narrowed at the proprietary gesture.

"Ron, please put our books away. We need to get downstairs to help Harry with the gifts," she said firmly.

Ron spluttered.

"If you think I'm going to leave this wanker in our common room you've got another thing coming, Hermione," he said darkly.

Neville tilted his chin up in the air.

"I invited him, Ron. He asked for help with revision and I'm giving it to him," he said in a stronger voice.

Hermione looked curiously at Neville. He was blushing as usual but didn't seem distressed in any way. Whatever reason Blaise was here didn't seem to be too upsetting.

"Nevvy, can you help Ron drop these books off?" she said gently while dumping her five tomes on top of Ron's.

Neville looked confused and automatically glanced at Blaise. He got no help there because Zabini had a blank expression.

"Hermione, I really don't think—" began Ron.

"Enough, Ron, I know what I'm doing," she said.

Neville started to get nervous, maybe it was best if Ron was out of the room. His hate-filled glance towards Blaise sealed the deal for him.

He stood up and, with a look of apology towards Blaise, took some of the books out of Ron's hands.

Hermione patted Neville on the back.

"Nevvy, once we get those put back we'll go down and meet Harry in his quarters," she said.

Blaise slowly stood and stretched in a cat-like fashion.

"Go ahead Neville, I'll be waiting for you when you return," he said.

Ron opened his mouth to protest but received a hard push in the small of his back that sent him reeling towards the stairs. Hermione's expression looked like thunder. Best to follow her lead, at least for the moment.

Neville and Ron disappeared up the stairs and Hermione turned back towards the young Slytherin.

"Now," she said coldly. "Tell me what is going on between you two, and don't lie to me or I'll hex you all the way back to the dungeons," she said with a dangerous glint in her eye. No one was going to hurt Nevvy if she had anything to say about it.

Blaise looked at the bushy-haired witch with the grim expression and recognized her strong need to protect her friend. It was only proper that someone act as chaperone and protector to the boy. Apparently, she had chosen the role for herself. In that case she was owed an explanation.

"Please sit down," he said calmly, holding out a chair for her. "I will explain my intentions to you because it's obvious how much you care for Neville," he said.

Hermione looked suspicious, but in the interest of fairness, decided to hear him out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Wedding Gifts and Invitations

When Ron and Neville returned to the Common Room they found Hermione and Blaise in deep conversation.

Ron had frowned and started to join them but Hermione held up her hand, indicating he wasn't to approach.

Ron fumed. What was going on? First Harry and Professor Snape and now Neville with one of the most popular of the Slytherin boys. Had the world run mad?

Ron scratched his head and looked down at the boy beside him dancing from foot to foot. Ron grinned. He did look rather anxious.

Ron decided a little friendly persuasion was in order. Neville had never been able to keep a secret.

Ron stood up to his full height and loomed slightly over Neville.

"So, Neville," he said. "What's going on here between you and Zabini?" he asked.

"Going on?" squeaked Neville. "Nothing's going on, Ron, I was only helping Blaise umm—Zabini to study for his Herbology quiz," he said, looking miserable and uncomfortable.

Neville looked longingly towards Blaise speaking with Hermione. If only Blaise would come over, he'd know what to say to Ron.

"So it's Blaise now," Ron said sharply. "When did you start calling him by his first name?" Ron said as he settled into his interrogation mode. He knew he would find out the truth. Neville couldn't lie well even to save his life.

Just then the confab between Blaise and Hermione broke up.

"Ron," Hermione called.

Ron was momentarily distracted from his prey and Neville used that moment to scurry over to his new friend.

"Let's go now and help Harry out with his gifts," she said calmly. Then she dropped the other shoe.

"Blaise will be joining us."

Neville's heart leapt. A sunny smile broke out over his face as he turned towards Blaise.

Blaise caught his breath. He looked at the shining brown eyes and hopeful expression and knew he'd kill anyone who tried to take away that look of happiness.

Ron drew breath to object but Hermione dug her fingers painfully into his arm.

"Ouch, that hurts, Mione," he growled in a low voice to his girlfriend.

"Look," she hissed in a small voice.

Ron looked over at the tall handsome lad, who was engrossed in Neville's face. He looked from one to the other. They were in a world of their own.

"Blimey! He's a bit keen, isn't he?" asked Ron sotto voice.

"Yes, I think they both are," said Hermione quietly.

"Well, what are we going to do about it?" Ron asked in a cross fashion.

"We're going downstairs to help Harry," she said firmly, guiding Ron towards the door.

Ron fussed and fumed the entire way down to the dungeons.

Hermione, Ron, Neville and Blaise ended up in the antechamber to the Great Hall, further separating out gifts that had already been registered on Harry's list of thank yous.

They filled their arms with gifts that had already been tagged and written up.

"We'll meet you downstairs, Blaise," she said.

"Right, just as soon as I make these last entries," Blaise replied.

Ron snarled. Since when had Hermione become so friendly with a Slytherin?

"Ouch, cut it out, Hermione," squawked Ron after Hermione had stomped on his foot again. He'd almost dropped one of the wedding gifts.

"Behave yourself, Ron Weasley," she said. "I'll explain later," she said more quietly.

"Come along, Nevvy," Hermione said. "Blaise will be along in a few minutes," she said cheerfully.

Neville followed Hermione and Ron out the door, trailing behind them and glancing backward at his friend working industriously to complete the list.

About half an hour later in the dungeons...

"Ron, I'll make sure there's enough room, don't worry about it," came the voice of Hermione Granger.

Severus strode quickly through the opening and startled the four Gryffindors, who were in various stages of handling boxes and opening gifts that were piled all throughout his sitting room. Neville Longbottom dropped the silver teapot he had been holding in surprise.

"What in Merlin's name is all this!" he snarled at them.

Harry answered. "Severus, these are all our wedding gifts that have arrived so far. We ran out of room in the antechamber next to the Great Hall and had to move them here as more came in," he said shyly.

"Hello, room for one more?" came the voice of Blaise as he entered carrying another load of gifts in his arms.

Severus turned in frustration and barked at his Slytherin. "What kind of madness is this? Get rid of all these things. I won't have them cluttering up my sitting room."

Blaise just raised an eyebrow. "Neville, here are the rest of the gifts you couldn't carry," he said kindly.

Neville blushed profusely but gave a shy muttered thanks to Zabini. Zabini cleared his throat.

"I hear there's to be a Halloween Ball this year. I've seen it posted" I was wondering," he began.

Ron bristled. "Hermione is going with me," he growled out, grabbing a startled Hermione by the hand.

Hermione blinked and then smiled widely at Ron.

"I wasn't asking Ms. Granger, as lovely as she is, you git," Blaise ground out. "I was asking Neville."

Neville looked startled, but then smiled at Blaise. "I'd love to go with you," he said timidly.

Severus had reached his limit.

"All of you, out! Out before I hex you and your teenage hormones," threatened Severus with a glare.

Harry gave the group an apologetic look but gently herded them all towards the door.

tbc
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A Single White Rose