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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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St. Mungos

"Good morning, Mr. Zabini," said Professor Dumbledore as Blaise walked up behind him in the corridor leading to the Great Hall.

Damn. How does he do that? It's bloody unnerving, Blaise thought.

"Goodningning, Headmaster," Blaise replied politely. "I was hoping that you would be able to grant an urgent request," said the young Slytherin.

"Indeed," Dumbledore said raising both his snowy eyebrows in an almost comical expression.

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. Blaise shuddered. Malfoy was right about one thing; that twinkling was incredibly annoying.

Blaise frowned slightly. Why did Dumbledore insist on playing the role of the mad simpleton? Every Slytherin ever born was aware that Dumbledore played the deepest game of all.

For a moment, those azure blue eyes of Dumbledore's, behind the half-moon spectacles, turned their focus completely onto Blaise.

"Would this have something to do with young Mr. Longbottom?" he said in a genial tone.

Blaise schooled his expression to blankness. Word must have spread pretty quickly.

"Yes, or rather, to do with his scheduled trip today," Blaise said.

"Trip? What trip are you referring to, Mr. Zabini?" the Headmaster said, enjoying the sight of Blaise's discomfiture.

No point in beating around the bush. He suspected the Headmaster was having a little fun at his expense.

"The trip to St. Mungo's to visit his parents," he said.

Dumbledore remained silent.

"I want to accompany him," he further explained.

"It was my understanding that Rubeus would be taking him as his Grandmother was unavailable," Dumbledore said unperturbed.

"But he needs me," said Blaise. His ears were beginning to heat up and he could imagine the pinkness was becoming obvious. Dumbledore was having a go at him and it was damn annoying.

"Why?" the Headmaster asked.

"Because I care about him," he ground out.

"Hagrid cares about him as well. Do you doubt Hagrid's ability to take care of him?" Dumbledore asked mildly.

Throwing all subtlety to the wind, Blaise's shoulders slumped and his chin rose.

"He's my boyfriend, and I think I know more about what Neville wants and needs than a groundskeeper does, however kind he may be," Blaise said, unable to keep an edge from creeping into his voice.

The Headmaster turned a genuine smile on him.

"But of course you must go, my boy. You have my permission. Hagrid and Neville will be using a Portkey directly after breakfast while the rest of the sixth years go to Hogsmeade. Ah, is that sausages I smell? I adore sausages," he said as he strolled away into the Great Hall.

Blaise blinked. Had there been a point to all that run around? Obviously, Dumbledore knew what was going on in the school, so why the games? He shook his head baffled. There was no understanding that man. If Voldemort couldn't get a handle on him, Blaise wouldn't be ashamed of his own confusion.

Blaise came up quietly behind Neville who was sitting at the Gryffindor table.

"Morning, Neville," he said, running his hand through Neville's chestnut brown locks in an affectionate gesture.

Dean Thomas scowled and picked up his breakfast, moving down towards the end of the bench while muttering about house loyalties being undermined.

Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil looked on with great interest as, apparently, Zabini's actions verified the gossip that had been circulating. The wealthy, purebred wizard was, in fact, courting Neville.

Neville jumped a little, startled by the open public affectionate display, but still managed to let a genuine smile shine through.

"Good morning, Blaise," he replied happily.

"May I sit down? I need to speak with you for a minute," he said.

Neville's heart dropped like a stone. Ah. Blaise had reconsidered his offer to accompany Neville to the upcoming Ball. He should have expected it. Blaise had probably found some lovely girl to go with and had already regretted his impulsive if generous act.

Neville's throat tightened at the thought that he'd lose his new friend before he'd even had a chance to get to know him.

Lavender and Parvati scooted down the bench, making room for the charming Slytherin. They leaned forward with ill concealed glee, hoping to acquire more juicy gossip to spread around to their housemates.

"Thank you," Blaise said politely, and then proceeded to infuriate the girls by taking his wand out and casting a silencing spell around Neville and himself.

Neville shrank even further down on the hard bench. At least Blaise wasn't going to humiliate him in public.

Blaise glanced at the nervous boy in front on him. He looked miserable and sad. Blaise's heart contracted in sympathy. It must be incredibly painful to face this type of visit without family support. Well, Blaise would make sure Neville had all the support and comfort he needed today.

"I asked the Headmaster if I could go with you today," he began casually.

"Ah um, Blaise, I'm not going to Hogsmeade today," he said playing with his teacup, refusing to look up.

After a short silence, Neville looked up.

"I'm going to visit my parents at St. Mungo's," he said in a small voice.

"I know, Neville," he said gently.

Neville looked at little confused.

"I thought you might like a little company on your visit. I know your granny wasn't able to go with you," Blaise continued.

"You, you want to go?" Neville said, relief beginning to wash over him. He wouldn't have to go alone.

"Yes, Neville, I want to go. I wouldn't leave you to do this kind of thing alone," Blaise said with a small smile.

Neville's heart started to speed up. Blaise hadn't come over to break up with him, he'd come over to offer his support.

"Thank you," Neville said in a whisper and then reached out to take his friend's hand in his.

"It means a lot to me," he said.

"I know," Blaise said.

"How did you know about my visit?" Neville said, finally realizing he hadn't mentioned it to anyone but the Headmaster.

"Neville, you should know better than anyone we Slytherins have our ways," Blaise said with a grin.

"I guess you do," Neville said, not at all disturbed by the fact that his boyfriend had been apparently monitoring him. His boyfriend. He actually had a boyfriend. Neville's mood lifted and, for the first time that morning, he started to feel cheerful.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Dungeon Corridors and Fate

It was early evening when the boys returned to Hogwarts. Hagrid had walked them both to the front door and, with his kind manner, had wished them a pleasant evening.

Neville was very quiet and had scarcely said two words since leaving the hospital.

It had been a sobering experience as well for Blaise. The hospital was an older building set on several acres of wooded grounds. On the inside it had whitewashed walls and high ceilings with old-fashioned, slightly tatty furniture in the waiting rooms. There were few visitors and somber medi-witches moving quickly and quietly about their tasks. The building smelled strongly of potions and illness.

Occasionally, Blaise had heard someone mog org or calling out for assistance as they walked toward the locked ward where Neville's parents were sequestered.

The enormity of the damage to Neville's parents was frightening and depressing. He had no idea where Neville found the courage to visit people who had no recollection of who he was or even where they were.

Neville and Blaise had sat down with them and Neville cha chatted away to them for all intents and purposes as if they could comprehend what he was saying. Not once did either acknowledge Neville or indicate they were anything but in a catatonic state.

After approximately an hour, they quietly left after Neville left some candy and flowers behind at the nurse's station for his mum. That action more than anything tore at Blaise's heart.

He would make sure that Neville wasn't alone for Christmas. He needed family and friends around him and suspected that his granny probably wasn't a barrel of laughs. He would owl his parents and ask permission to invite Neville and his granny to their ancestral home for the holidays.

"I've got to go and see Professor Snape about my detention," Neville said, breaking the silence for the first time. Neville had, in fact, caused a minor disaster the other day in potions when he managed to melt his cauldron and the adjacent one belonging to Seamus and Dean.

"Why, that happens to be just on my way," Blaise said lightly and wrapped his arm around Neville's waist.

They continued on in a companionable silence until they reached the door to the Slytherin Common Room.

"Why don't I come along," Blaise said, offering support.

"It's alright, Blaise," Neville said ruefully. "If I'm good at anything it's accepting detentions from Snape; I'll be fine," he said.

"Alright, Neville, we'll meet upstairs in the kitchens in about fifteen minutes or so, yes?" Blaise said. "I'm sure we can get the house elves to whip us up something for tea."

Neville nodded his agreement and moved off down the corridor while Blaise watched him go. Blaise didn't like Neville being by himself in the Slytherin dungeons, after all, he might run into Draco or any of his mindless minions. Blaise hesitated and then took off after his boyfriend.

Neville was just turning a sharp corner when he heard shouting. He trotted forward to see what the problem was. He saw a tall man with longish dark hair and a goatee grab Professor Snape and throw him against the wall.

"Son of a bitch! Bastard!" he roared. "You'll never touch Harry again!"

He saw Professor Snape doing his best to throw off his attacker but staggering from both the numerous body blows and the blood streaming from his head wound.

Neville grabbed his wand out of his robe pocket and, with a shaking hand, aimed it at the attacker.

"Stupefy!" shouted Neville.

Both the unknown attacker and Professor Snape collapsed to the ground.

Neville rushed over to Professor Snape. Blood, there was so much blood.

"Neville!" he heard a shout. He turned his head and saw Blaise pounding around the corner with his wand drawn and at the ready to attack.

"Blaise! Over here, it's Professor Snape; he's been attacked, I think he's badly hurt," said Neville, his voice shaking.

Blaise knelt by the attacker first, using magical ropes to further bind him, and then turned him over.

He recognized Sirius Black from the photos of him that had been featured in the wizarding press when he'd first escaped from Azkaban. He said nothing to Neville, however, about his discovery. This problem was Harry's to deal with. Their immediate problem was Snape.

"We've got to get him to the infirmary right now," Blaise said as he pulled a shaking Neville up from his kneeling position.

"Neville, you run ahead and tell Poppy we're coming," Blaise commanded.

"What are you going to do?" Neville asked with a worried look.

Pointing his wand at Snape, Blaise said "Mobilicorpus".

Snape's battered body rose and Blaise started to gently push it forward.

"What about him?" Neville said, looking over his shoulder at their trussed- up, prisoner.

"Don't worry, he's not going anywhere," Blaise said with contempt. "We'll send someone to pick him up. Now go and tell Poppy to get ready," he said, giving Neville a sharp push.

Neville didn't hesitate any longer but took off at a loping run.

"It will be alright, you'll see Professor. We'll make sure of that," Blaise whispered to the unconscious Snape as he gently maneuvered him towards the infirmary.

TBC
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A Single White Rose