Title:The Story of The Youth Who Went Forth to Learn How to Shudder
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: G
Char/Pair: Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter
Disclaimer: All characters and the Library belong to J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., and others. I am in no way earning money or other profit from this fanifc.
Prompt: Straight in the eye from hpficathon at livejournaldotcom. Join!
Spoilers: Only if you've never read/seen Goblet of Fire
W/C: 398
Warnings: Crazy.
A/N: I got bit in the ass, what can I say? R&R is love :D

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"S'wrong, Neville?"

The boy looked worse for wear as Harry came upon him in the library, head in his hands. Harry hoped to hell he wasn't crying, he didn't do well with crying. Neville jumped at the sound of Harry's voice, and Harry unconsciously reached for his wand. He's skiddish these days, you know.

"Harry! It's awful, Harry. Professor Moody's homework is impossible! Did you do it?"

"Well, yeah. Of course."

Which, by the way, translates to "Well, no. Hermione did."

"Will you help me, Harry? I can't understand a word. It's like reading gibberish. Or Muggle."

"I don't know, Neville, wouldn't my helping you constitute cheating? I am Harry Potter, afterall."

Disappointment flashed through Neville's eyes then, and Harry had to admit he felt a little bad. He reached out, (with his left hand, his right was still clutching his wand beneath his robes. He has his reasons!) and patted Neville on the shoulder.

"There, there, Nev. Why don't you just go ask Moody for help? He seems crazy enough. I mean, nice enough."

"Oh, I couldn't Harry!" Neville's voice dropped to a whisper, and he looked around shifty eyed, as if anybody actually cared what he said. "He scares me."

"It's the cane, isn't it?"

"What?"

"What?"

"Come on, Harry, please?"

Harry was growing frustrated, and honestly was spending far too much time in the library (he had a reputation to uphold). He narrowed his eyes at the other boy, as menacingly as he could (which really didn't take much, because hello, hi. He was talking to Neville).

"Listen, you need to get over this, Neville. You're fourteen. You're almost a man. It's high time you stopped being afraid of everything. Well, except Snape of course. But he's evil." He paused to shudder, then went back to his rant. Because if Harry Potter is good at anything, it's giving motivational speeches. "Get up, don't cry, and march into his office like you mean it!"

"B-but --"

"No buts! C'mon, up."

Neville stood, took a deep breath. And that was it.

"Well?"

"I don't know, Harry."

"Go on, Neville! Don't make me get Hermione!"

Neville squeaked, he still wasn't over that whole petrifying thing. He threw a pleading look at Harry and started on his way out of the library.

"Look him straight in the eye, Nev! Unless of course, he's got it turned sideways or something."