DISCLAIMER: The following story is set during the book "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", by Joanne Rowling. The setting, characters and background plot are all properties of J.K. Rowling and as such I cannot claim that any of the following story is truly my own, except the plot, some of the beasties and Penny Riven. I do not intend to profit from this story and am writing it purely for recreational purposes. I thank yow.



Chapter One: Harry the Hero.

Neville clumsily sat down next to Harry Potter at dinner in the great hall at Hogwarts in a foul mood. Winter was finally here and the long evenings meant many of the pupils relished the chance to be inside by the warm fires of the banqueting hall. The Three Tests were in full swing, and Harry was busy eyeing Victor Krum at the top table.

Harry turned to notice Neville, as if for the first time. Hermione was late and Ron was seeing Ginny this lunchtime. Apparently, Ginny had been through a lot recently and had fallen really ill last month. Harry felt bad about it as Ginny had exhausted herself emotionally over him and had slipped briefly into some sort of coma. Hermione knew all of the details. Although Harry had been reassured since, something about the event still plagued him whenever he saw her.

Harry stared at Neville thoughtfully. "Ok, I give in. What's wrong now Nev?" he asked.

Neville had been doing a lot of thinking too. He really liked Ginny. And Ginny did not mind Neville, and had even agreed to go to the Winter Ball as his partner. It was just that Ginny kept going on about Harry.

He wanted beat up Harry. To say that he despised the man. To admit defeat, and that he was really jealous of Harry. Anything. Neville knew he would not say anything though. Harry had that kind of effect on people; the man was a hero.

"Oh, well. Snape's given me detention again. Everytime I mess up the potions, he makes me scrub the room clean, dust all of the vials, re-letter faded labels and so on! I know what more potions look like than any other student. I understand how Wolfsbane has the hidden property that negates the fungal effect of Stitchleaf Stone potion, and can recite all 85 uses of Garlic! I've had to write them down so many times that I sometimes wake up at night reciting them! I hate him Harry!"

Harry was a little stunned by the force of the outburst from the normally placid Neville. "Hey! Neville, relax. He's like that with every..."

"No Harry. He persistently keeps punishing me! I cannot stand it. What's more, despite all of this detention, I still can't mix a damn thing up!" Neville fumed in the awkward silence. Eventually he calmed down a bit.

"Well, that and there's this girl I fancy." Neville admitted.

Harry beamed. "Neville! You sly thing you!"

"SShh! Keep it quiet Harry!"

"Oh, okay Nev." Then silence resumed. Neville looked a little subdued.

"So...?" asked Harry at long last.

"So what?"

"So, who is it?"

"Oh, that. Well, there's the problem. you see, she loves someone else, so it..."

"Ah, I see. Well, more fish in the sea eh?"

"Oh no. Not for me Harry."

"Oh, well. Good for you. Who is it then?"

"Well..."

"Well?"

"Oh Harry, it's Ginny." admitted Neville painfully.

A thousand conflicting thoughts exploded through Harry's mind. A lot of them told him to laugh out loud. Luckily, a lot more told him he had better not or there would be trouble! Surprisingly for Harry, one or two thoughts even signalled a profound sadness somewhere and somehow. Slightly flustered, Harry rallied by saying "Oh, I see."

Then Harry realised what Neville had been saying. Harry asked anyway. "So, who... who is this other guy then?"

Neville gave Harry a long, hard look. Harry replied "Oh. Sorry."

"Harry, she is great! Why did you have to screw her up?"

"Hey! I never asked to! It's no bed of roses being the 'famous' Harry Potter..."

"And it's no bed of roses being in his shadow either!" countered Neville angrily. Around them, the chatter of their fellow diners died away. The two became aware of how much attention they had attracted.

"Outside Harry?" whispered Neville.

"Oh, ok Nev." sighed Harry, hoping to sort this out soon in case he missed Hermione.


Outside the pair shivered in the doorway, out of the wind but alone. They both felt awkward.

"Harry, I like you as a friend, but can you please tell Ginny that you are definitely not in love with her or something? This is screwing up my chances with her something rotten!" begged Neville.

Harry nodded. Neville was kind, honest and reliable. Harry wondered if he had been taking him for granted lately. "Ok mate. I promise."

The two smiled and they returned to the Great Hall. Harry was surprised to see Hermione had gone and joined Victor Krum, but at least he and Neville used the time alone together to talk nonsense. By the time they left for their afternoon classes, they were good friends again.


That evening in the common room, the pair sat in the common room. Hermione had stopped only briefly and was last seen humming happily to herself as she retired early to her bedroom. Ron, Fred and George were in the far corner, arguing about the rules of Quidditch when Ginny entered.

Ginny saw Colin Creevey coming over to say hello, so redirected herself towards Neville and Harry. "Hi guys" she cooed.

"Hi Ginny." beamed Neville. Harry looked at the affection he so obviously showed for her that he suddenly felt rotten and somehow sad. Harry looked at Ginny. She stood before the seated pair, quite cute and Ginny-like. Harry sat there staring at her as Neville leapt out of his armchair and offered his seat to Ginny, knocking over a nearby lit candle in his rush to please her.

As Neville extinguished the small fire on the table, Ginny slid into Neville's warm chair, her eyes lost in Harry's as their eyes remained locked. Colin Creevey bounded up. "Hiya Ginny" he called, and the spell was broken.

"Ah Colin!" sighed Neville. "I've got those potion papers you asked for. Follow me and I'll give them to you." said Neville somewhat loudly. Harry winced, but understood that Neville was upset at Harry for leaving this so long that he could not fault him really. Colin said he was happy to get them another time, but Neville insisted so much that Colin was almost dragged away.

Eventually, Ginny and Harry sat alone together.

"Erm, Ginny?" asked Harry.

"Yes, my big brave hero?" smiled Ginny sweetly. Ginny had often called him that ever since she had been rescued by him almost two years ago now.

Harry grimaced. "Can I have a word? In private?"

Ginny stopped smiling and looked terrified. "What... what is it Harry?"

"Oh, well... Can we go somewhere?" Harry whispered.

Ginny nodded, and Harry followed Ginny out of the common room and onto the balcony at the end of their corridor. It was cold, but the clear night sky was a most beautiful backdrop. Ginny's heart raced. Harry had asked her to be with him alone, and now the pair of them were together at last, alone under a canopy of stars. Ginny felt light-headed as romantic notion pulsed through her.

Meanwhile, in the common room, Neville had returned and finding the pair gone asked the others where Harry and Ginny were.

"They've just left." piped up Dean Thomas, who was losing heavily to Seamus in a game of chess.

Neville felt a little confused and bounded out of the door. Once outside, he noticed that the balcony
window was ajar and crept slowly towards it. From behind the thick red curtains, Neville spied on Harry and Ginny. Harry stared into the stars reflecting from the depths of Ginny's wonderful eyes. Ginny pulled herself into his warm unresisting arms. "Damn you Ginny - you have grown!" thought Harry as he felt the curves of her body against him.

"What was it you had to say Harry?" purred Ginny.

And suddenly, Harry forgot everything that he and Neville and discussed and kissed Ginny.



TO BE CONTINUED...