When Draco woke up the next morning, he felt inexplicably warm and comfortable. Much more warm and comfortable than his bed had ever felt. Besides the mattress seemed too hard to be his bed, and the pillow was not the silk fabric he was used to but then, in who's bed was he laying?
Slowly remembering the day before, he winced and quickly looked around, worried that he was still in the alley and the strange wizards might attack again.

Instead, when he opened his eyes he saw green. Too much green and even though he was used to the Slytherin color this was something different, he was surrounded by vines and the air was thick with the sense of flowers and dirt.

And then it came to him. Neville Longbottom. He had appeared last night at the greenhouse so suddenly that Draco had no time to hide and even though he had tried to avoid any questions, and just sneak out, back to his dorm, he was too badly hurt, by the curses and the beating to even walk.
Longbottom had given him a potion that he claimed Granger had brewed for him. He was relieved, at least he knew he had a chance to survive. A potion from Longbottom's hands would certainly not be a healing potion. Probably he would end up with elf ears and a tail.

''Merlin's beard..'' Draco mumbled. It was then that he realized, he was still there, where he had laid last night, sobbing in Longbottom's arms about his horrible faith, he must have fallen asleep by the effects of the potion. The arms were still around him. Longbottom had stayed with him? Held him until they fell asleep?
Draco slowly moved, looking up at the man laying beside him. He seemed peaceful and comfortable, sleeping deeply, having pleasant dreams. Draco never had pleasant dreams.

But this was Neville Longbottom, and even though they were both purebloods, Draco had learned to not care about this anymore.
What he cared about was that he was Draco Malfoy, and even though his name was not respected anymore, even though it was humiliated and dishonored, he still was the Draco Malfoy, and Malfoys don't lay on the ground, they don't sob in anyone's arms, they do not show their emotions, they dont let a man hold them in such way, look after them. Draco Malfoy, was strong, independent and cruel enough, as his father brought him up to be, to take care of himself.
He was humiliated enough, he would not let anyone point the finger at him, and laugh behind his back for being so miserable to end up crying, bleeding and broken, in Neville Longbottom's arms, of all people.

Panicking, as he realized that Longbottom might wake up any moment, and certainly not prepared to deal with the conversation that he would be forced to have with him, he slowly and carefully moved away from him, he grabbed the leaves he was missing for his Polyjuice potion and he ran out of the greenhouse.

It was, thankfully, still early, the sun had just come out, he would have time to sneak back to his dorm without being seeing and he could think about Longbottom and how he would deal with him later.

Neville would wake up only a few minutes later, and even though he was disorientated for a few seconds, he soon enough remembered the previous night and was about to wake Draco up, ask him how he felt, if the potion had worked.
''Draco?'' He whispered, only to find, Draco was long gone, and he was curled up to himself, in his red and gold blanket.
''So he ran away the second he woke up.'' Neville whispered to himself. But why was he surprised? He should not have expect he would have stayed. He had only hoped that after last night, they might have a chance to come closer, get to know each other. After all the years of their rivalry, after all they both had been through, he had hoped that maybe they could talk things out and make a step forward. Be there for each other at a time that it was so obvious they both needed it.
But that was Neville, that was his Gryffindor heart who wanted to help everyone in need. But Draco was not his damsel in distress. He was a young man, who went through Hell and back, and there was nothing Neville could do for him, if he was not ready to accept any help.

After spending several moments, thinking of no other but the infamous Malfoy, Neville decided to finally stand up, dust off his clothes, grab his messenger bag and return to the castle.
He barely had time to have a shower and put on clean clothes, and he still arrived at the Great Hall late. His hair was a mess and his shirt was not buttoned right. He probably looked like a lunatic.

''Bloody Hell, Neville, what happened to you?'' Neville heard Ron mumble, as he chewed a piece of toast. He simply shook his head, and waved his hand at him, hoping that he would not bother him about it.
He could not care, he would eat something quickly, and keep himself busy, so his mind would stay away of distracting thoughts about a very rude blond wizard, who not only had not thank him, but also seemed to have made a bet with himself to keep looking at anyone but Neville, during the whole breakfast time.

And that's how the day went on. Neville came in and out of classes, hiding in the library at his free time, reading and reading, making sure to stay away from Draco, just as Draco had made sure to stay away from him.

It was at night, when he returned to his dorm, that it became impossible to ignore his thoughts.
Staring out of the window, he watched the stars and wondered, had Draco been thinking of him as well? And even though he was not sure yet, why he should care, he could not help but simply wonder.

Hours went by and Neville found it impossible to fall asleep. Why could he not stop thinking of Malfoy? He could not avoid him any longer, he had to talk to him, he had to know what Malfoy thought of all this, and why he had ran away like that, away from him, and avoiding him the whole day, not even looking at him, when they passed by each other at the corridor.
He would wait for him tomorrow out of the Great Hall and ask him a few questions. In fact, why wait? He would go looking for him right now.
Malfoy was always one to sneak out of his dorm at night. If Neville was lucky, he did so today as well.

Neville was lucky enough to have seen Harry use the Marauders map not long ago and put it back in place. He quietly sneaked out of bed and approached Harry's. He slowly opened the drawer of his nightstand, freezing in place as Harry mumbled something in his sleep. Probably another nightmare. Neville tapped lightly at the bottom of the drawer, and undid the disillusionment charm, Harry had put on the map.

He took it away quickly, and it only took him a minute to find Malfoy at the Astronomy tower courtyard. What was he doing up there so late?
''Well i am about to find that out, am i not?'' he mumbled to himself and returned the map to Harry's drawer, forgetting all about the charm. Even forgetting that he was wearing his red and gold pajamas.

He quietly found his way to the tower, and approached the courtyard, making sure to not make any noise that would startle Malfoy. If he panicked he would probably push him and ran away. And Neville would not get his answers.

He slowly walked closer, to find Draco standing at the courtyard and staring at the sky.
So they indeed were in a similar situation. That is what Neville was doing the whole night as well.
''Draco..'' Neville whispered, loud enough for him to hear, but keeping quiet to make sure he did not surprise him, or even worse have someone hear him.

''Longbottom?'' Draco was staring at him in surprise and what seemed like amusement in his eyes ''So are you following me, or what?'' Draco smirked and turned away from him again, not wasting more of his time to look at Neville of all people.

''No.. No i have not been following you Malfoy but you are avoiding me all day. And i am trying to understand..''

''So back to Malfoy, are we?'' Draco interrupted him, not taking his eyes off the stars, sparkling in the night sky.

''I thought since you can not even look at me, i would not make you even more uncomfortable by calling you by your first name.''

''Uncomfortable? I am certainly not uncomfortable Longbottom. There are only a few things that could make me uncomfortable and you are not one of them. Do not praise yourself so much. You barely catch my attention, making me uncomfortable would be impossible.''
Draco had that Malfoy mask on, that Neville had seen on Lucius and it did suit him, but not Draco.
It was unsettling, after witnessing so much emotion, last night, from the usually stone cold boy, it was now awkward seeing him so distant.

''Aren't you cold?'' Neville said suddenly, and ignoring Draco's attempts to offended him, he stepped closer staring at the sky with him. The night breeze was cold, and Neville felt himself shiver. He could not help but think of last night, of Draco curled up in his arms, he had felt so warm close to him. For some reason he did not understand, he felt protective over the boy. Draco seemed so fragile. He always pretended to be strong and not needing anyone, but Neville could see behind the mask. Especially after last night. He could see that even though Draco would not admit it even to himself, he needed someone to take care of him.

''You are asking me if i am cold? What is next? We will make a conversation about the weather? And why are you dressed in sleepwear anyway?'' Draco glared at the ridiculous outfit as if it repelled him, which it probably did.

''I did not realize.. i forgot i was wearing it. I was looking for you..''
Draco seemed startled ''Why would you possibly be looking for me, in the middle of the night at that, Longbottom?''

''Well i.. was wondering how you feel. You know.. the potion last night, i was wondering if it worked or had any weird effects on you. It happens some times.. with potions.. to have effects.. you know.. it's potions..''
Neville mumbled, wondering if it was possible to humiliate himself even more than he already had. Probably. Why was he babbling again as if he was the shy insecure boy he was years ago?

Draco was staring at him for several minutes before he spoke again. Neville could see for just a second, surprise in his eyes, but the cold blunt look came back too fast for him to understand what he was thinking about.

''I do not know what you are speaking of, Longbottom. It is you it seems that is in need of a potion. Has someone throw a jinx at you and i missed it?''

''What? No.. no don't you pretend to not remember now, Malfoy. I saved your bloody life last night. Don't you try to tell me you don't remember..''

''Last night, i was in my dorm, as every night, sleeping. It is very possible that you consumed a potion you brewed and went of course completely wrong. It must have made you hallucinate. Or.. you were dreaming of me. Were you dreaming of me Longbottom?''

Draco smirked that smirk that even if you had come up with the most remarkable offence, made you simply stand and stare. And as it seemed he knew that bloody well too. As he turned and walked away not waiting for an answer, leaving Neville staring after him and wondering. Had it all being a bloody dream. No, it could not be. Definitely not.

''Maybe..'' Neville whispered, but he knew Draco had heard him, as he paused for a moment before he disappears in the shadows. ''Maybe i was dreaming of you..''

Draco and Neville both found their ways back to their dorms, they quietly sneaked back in bed, and stared at cold, stone ceilings.

Neville was wondering, had he gone mad? He knew Draco was lying. He knew, but why had Draco's rejection of the events break his heart? Why had he hoped so much to have a chance to get to know the boy better? And why were his grey eyes haunting his dreams every time he managed to fall asleep for a few minutes?

Draco was furious. How dare he follow him like that and speak of the previous night as if it was something he was proud of and pleased by, instead of being ashamed?
Draco was making him a favor, pretending it never happened was the best thing to do. Not that anything had happened. They simply fell asleep, did they not? So what was Draco so upset about? And Neville had a point. He had saved his life and Draco was terribly rude to him. Just like he always was, when he thought he was the most important, rich, powerful and charming wizard in the world. Not anymore. He was not Lucius Malfoy's son and only anymore. He was much more. He was Draco and Draco was not rude, was not heartless. He suddenly felt cold. Cold and lonely and lost in his own overwhelming emotions.
When he finally fell asleep, nightmares haunted him again, as every night.