"Harry, mate, we need to talk," The whispered words took the black haired boy by surprise, due both to their urgency and to the source. He looked at his dorm-mate questioningly, with a small trace of bitterness. The previous evening had been far more successful for Neville than it had been for himself. Seeing that something was troubling his friend, he swallowed his irritation, swiped his hand through his hair, shut his emerald eyes, and took a deep breath. After a moment, he looked up from his seat and gestured for Neville to join him.
With a sigh and a shy smile, the boy took the chair facing Harry, and then did something completely unexpected...he cast a silencing charm over the two of them, in their corner of the Gryffindor common room. To Harry's continued surprise, he just shrugged and said "I don't want to be overheard. What I have to say may just embarrass you, and I really don't think you want the twins to know what we're talking about."
Harry guiltily started at that, thinking about how poorly he'd treated Parvati at the Ball. He resolved to make it up to her, somehow. Correctly interpreting the guilty look, Neville chuckled and said, "Those are not the twins I meant."
"What do you mean? What do Fred and George have to do with anything? Unless...Ginny? Did you do something...and why would that embarrass me?"
"Ginny is involved, yes. We didn't do anything, and not only because my Gran has drummed into me how to treat a lady. She is quite the winsome witch, though..." Neville trailed off, his eyes glazing slightly as he thought about the small kiss Ginny had planted on his cheek after he escorted her back to the dorm. With a shudder, he pulled himself back to the present, not noticing the slight flash of jealousy in his companion's eyes. "At any rate, no matter what I feel for her, she does not feel the same for me. There's only one wizard whose face dances through her mind. She's head over heels in love with you, mate."
Harry just looked at his friend after this bombshell, his face flushing bright red as he thought about the disappointment in Ginny's face when she'd told him she'd already agreed to go to the ball with Neville. It could have been perfect, and he'd missed his chance. Then Neville's words sank in. "Wait, what? She's in love with me? We hardly even talk!"
"She listens, though. She talks to Hermione all the time, peppering her with questions about you. She would have asked you to dance last night if she hadn't thought it would hurt my feelings. I spent most of the night dancing with a lovely young witch who only had eyes for you—but, and this is important, Harry, she's interested in you, not The-Boy-Who-Lived. She wants the boy who saved her from the Chamber, the boy who is more concerned for his friends than his own safety. She wants the boy who drove off 100 dementors to save a wrongly convicted murderer." At Harry's gasp, Neville looked at him in surprise. "What, you think Hermione could keep that from her closest female friend? The way Gin tells it, Hermione practically glowed with how proud she was of you when she told her the story. She may have grown up in love with a myth, but since hearing about you from her brother, and then Hermione, and then actually being around you, she has fallen hard. I only wish I could find someone to give me half of what she feels for you." The last was barely above a whisper.
Wincing at the pain in Neville's voice, Harry looked sharply at his friend, studying his eyes and finding nothing but truth behind them. "Thank you for opening my eyes, Nev. I'm glad you've told me this; now I just need to figure out what to do about it. And don't beat yourself up...most guys would not have the courage to tell their friend that the girl they fancy is in love with him. Never doubt that you are truly a Gryffindor, Neville. You've shown more courage today than Ron has all year. If it weren't for you and Hermione, I may still be in the dark here." Harry reached his hand out to Neville to shake, who surprised him by gripping his forearm and pulling him into a brotherly embrace.
"Harry Potter, know that I, Neville Longbottom, as the heir to my family, hereby swear an oath of loyalty to the House of Potter. You will always have my protection and trust; all that my family has is yours to command." Looking into his eyes, Neville says: "Dark days are coming—I will follow you into the light."
Without knowing how, Harry realized that something significant was happening here, and instinctively knew the proper response: "I, Harry James Potter, last of the line of the Ancient House of Potter, hereby accept the loyalty of the Longbottoms. Though darkness will try to consume us, the light will burn brightly. Our enemies will fall before our flame."
With these words, a silver cord appeared, and bound itself around the two boys' clasped arms. In front of their astonished eyes, it seemed to melt into their clothes. Both boys stood straighter, a new mantle of confidence coming over them, the magical oath they had just sworn imbuing them with an as yet untapped power. Stepping apart, they shared a look, shock still evident. No one else was in the common room, everyone still sleeping in after the previous night's festivities.
Suddenly, with a small flash of flame two letters appeared on the table before them, one addressed to each, and bearing the unmistakable seal of Gringotts on the back.
Wide-eyed, Harry opened his letter, unprepared for the contents.
Lord Potter,
It has come to our attention that an ancient pact was renewed on this day, which will be remembered as a glorious day for the entire magical world. Our shamans have been awaiting this time for ages, and preparing for the moment to arrive.
Please make arrangements to come to Gringotts at your earliest convenience. Tell no one save your bond brother and the Lady Potter. All will be explained upon your arrival.
Respectfully,
Ragnok, Lord of the Goblins.
"Lady Potter?" Neville asked incredulously, looking up at Harry. A quick glance indicated that both letters were identical, save the name at the top. "Who is the Lady Potter?"
They stared at each other for a moment, before being startled by someone rushing into the room, running unerringly to Harry's arms. With shock, he suddenly found himself being kissed by an excited Ginny Weasley, who was clutching a similar letter. Harry looked at it in surprise, then shock as he saw the name written on the outside: Lady Ginevra Potter.
A/N: Ok, how did Ginny end up Lady Potter without so much as a by-your-leave to Harry? I have my reasons, but I'd like to see what everyone thinks. This is my first attempt at fanfic, so I guarantee most characters will be out of...character. I own nothing, probably not even the story, as I've been reading so many that they all seem to run together in my mind.