Chapter 10

Clothes or No Clothes?

Neville stared into the fireplace. It crackled as the fire burned the wood in its maw. His body was sprawled out comfortably over the couch. The house elves had cleaned up the soot and all of the furniture was back to normal. It was as if nothing had ever happened. Neville heard someone coming and looked up. It was Harry. His pants were covered in mud.

"What happened Harry?" Neville asked jumping up.

"I'll tell you later, right now I just want to sleep."

"Sure...but are you ok?" Neville asked.

"Yeah...fine..." Harry responded in a tone that said otherwise.

Neville could tell that Harry wasn't doing so well. As Harry started walking up the stairs Neville spoke.

"I'm here for you Harry, I mean if you want to talk or anything."

Harry stopped in his tracks. He was tired and emotionally drained. He felt like breaking down right there but held it in as best he could. He turned to Neville who was standing next to the couch now.

"Could you sleep with me tonight...I'm kinda scared." Harry admitted. He not only was scared, but he was feeling so emotionally upset that he didn't want to be by himself tonight.

"Of course, Harry." Neville said following Harry up stairs.

When they reached Harry's bed Neville was unsure how they were going to sleep together, did Harry mean he would be in his bed and Neville would be on the floor or they were actually going to sleep together in the same bed?

"So I'll just be down here then." Neville gestured to the floor.

Harry slipped off his pants and crawled into bed pulling the blanket over him.

"No, sleep with me Neville." Harry said raising up the comforter.

"Oh right." Neville said almost blushing.

"You sleep in your clothes Neville?" Harry asked as Neville got under the covers.

"Uhh no." Neville wasn't sure this was a good idea. Ron was asleep across from them and now Harry implied that he should be taking his clothes off. What would Ron say when he saw the two of them in the same bed half naked?

"What about Ron?"Neville asked.

"I don't care at this point Neville, but if it makes you feel better, sleep with your clothes on." Harry rolled over and pulled up some over hanging comforter and pushed it between his knees.

This might well be the only time he ever gets to sleep with Harry, and half naked at that, but if Ron saw them, it could be trouble, at least if he still had his clothes on his story of 'protecting Harry' would be more believable. Neville thought about it for a few seconds.

What the hell, you only live once. Neville thought to himself and got up out of bed. He stripped down to his green boxers and then carefully slid back underneath the covers, trying not to make direct bare flesh to bare flesh contact with Harry, but as small as Harry's bed was it was impossible for his knees not to be touching the back of Harry's legs or his arms not to be resting against his warm back. Neville scooted to the very edge of the bed, almost falling off. He had no idea how he was going to get any sleep.

"Neville, I won't bite you. It's ok if we're touching. Actually I was rather hoping you would cuddle me." Harry stated as he turned over facing Neville.

"Sorry, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable." Neville explained.

Harry turned back over and Neville scooted back into Harry's warm body putting his arm over him. Harry took Neville's arm and snuggled it.

"You've never made feel uncomfortable, Neville." Harry said closing his eyes.

Neville smiled.

"Good night Harry." Neville whispered.

"Night Neville." Harry whispered back.

In less than thirty minutes both of them were sound asleep.