A/N: Shame, shame, Neville's his name lol. Okay, I'm not sure if that's right, but oh well. Here's another chapter for you all. I won't leave you hanging too long today. Enjoy!
The next few weeks went by easily enough. Evan only glared at Draco and appeared to not care as much about making his life hell. Harry's statement and coming out so to speak was still top news amongst the Prophet and the students of Hogwarts. After the twentieth person pestered Hermione and Ron for information about Harry, it was soon spread around that asking them anything about him would get them hexed. They had enjoyed a blissful two weeks without a word about Harry.
Draco and Harry had been unable to find time to be alone again, even on the weekends. Homework was very daunting and in the moments that they had time to themselves, they were too wiped to do anything. They continued to sleep in the same bed each night and whisper 'I love yous' and spend time just being together, but other physical things were pushed to the side.
It was on one particular night, nearly four weeks since the astronomy tower that Harry was beginning to wonder if Draco had been right about something. Draco and Hermione were working on a large project together for Ancient Runes and were working up in the library. Harry was lounging in the dorm with Ron, reading Quidditch magazines and playing Exploding Snap. Neville had made a nightly appearance to their dorm to hang out which was fine, but Harry and even Ron started to notice some things that were a bit strange.
"I cannot wait until the Quidditch game next weekend. It seems like forever since we've seen one. Too bad we can't play on the teams," Ron mused as he closed his Quidditch Magazine and tossed it on the coffee table.
Harry grinned. "Yeah, but I'm sure playing Quidditch wouldn't be the same without me," he teased.
Ron threw a pillow at him and laughed. A knock interrupted them. Harry reached for his cloak and readied it to cover himself while Ron got up to see who was at the door. Ron greeted the person and then stepped aside as Neville came in carrying some bags from Honeydukes. The first Hogsmeade weekend had been the weekend before and Harry had been unable to go of course. Neville grinned at Harry in a way that made Harry a bit uncomfortable.
"Hey, mate, what did you get?" Harry asked as he sat up, making space for Neville at the end of the couch. Neville chose to sit closer to him, leaving the end seat open. Harry frowned slightly and glanced over at Ron who lifted one eyebrow.
"Well, I knew that you wouldn't be able to go to Honeydukes so I picked up some extra stuff for you and thought I'd bring them by," he replied. He took out several things that Harry loved. Draco hadn't gone that day either so Harry knew that he'd appreciate this anyway.
Harry took them from him. "Wow, thank you. This is great," Harry said as he opened one of the boxes and took out a chocolate. He bit into it, savoring the flavor. He licked his lips and then another knock sounded at their door. Harry handed the chocolates to Neville and got under his cloak. Ron went over and opened the door. Seamus stepped in.
"Ron, we need your opinion on some Quidditch related stuff. Come down to our room for a minute," Seamus said as he gestured in the general direction of his and Blaise's room.
"Nah, mate, I'm hanging out with Neville. I'll come by later," Ron insisted.
"It won't take long. We're taking bets," Seamus said.
Ron frowned and glanced back to where Harry was sitting. He sighed and nodded. "I'll be back Nev," he said as he followed Seamus out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Harry felt is stomach flutter. He didn't want to be alone with Neville right now. He took a deep breath and came out from underneath. He laughed uncomfortably.
"Seamus has a gambling problem," Harry said as he took the chocolate back from Neville and bit into another piece. Neville had turned and was facing him a bit more.
"Where's Malfoy tonight?" he asked.
"Um, he and Hermione are working on their Ancient Runes project. It's sucking up a lot of his time," Harry said with a shrug. The truth was, he missed spending uninterrupted time with Draco, but he knew that his schooling was important to him, not to mention him doing well was part of his probation.
Neville nodded. He laughed and reached out, brushing his finger across Harry's lips. Harry's eyes widened and he jerked back. Neville blushed and brought his hand back. "Sorry, you just had chocolate on your lip," he said quietly.
"Right, of course," Harry said uncomfortably.
Neville sighed and looked away from him for a moment. "Harry, I need to ask you something," he said after awhile.
Harry felt his heart start pounding. "What's that?" he asked quietly.
"Did you always know that you were gay?" he asked.
Harry's eyes widened. "Um…. to be honest, um…. I'm thinking I'm only gay for Draco," he said with an uncomfortable laugh.
Neville looked over at him with a lifted brow. "You can't just be gay for one person," he replied.
Harry shrugged. "I don't look at anyone else in the way I look at Draco so…." he trailed off.
"But why him? I mean, you're Harry 'freaking' Potter. You could have anyone in the world and yet you chose him?" Neville asked.
Harry crossed his arms and glared at him. "I don't need to explain my choices to anyone. I chose Draco because that's who I fell for. My soul reached out to him. I can't imagine that same feeling for anyone else," he replied.
"Can't or won't?" he asked as he stood up off the couch and looked down at him.
Harry's eyebrows lifted considerably. He stood up as well, realizing how much shorter he was than Neville. "Nev, you're a great friend, but I promise you, I'm not ever going to see you as anything else than my friend," Harry told him.
Neville blushed deeply and then snorted. "I don't think that way about you. What gave you that idea?" he questioned before he turned and left Harry standing there looking dumbfounded.
Ron came in as soon as Neville left. He looked at Harry in confusion. "What got him so upset?"
"I told him that I'd never think of him as more than a friend and he told me that he didn't think that way about me…." Harry shook his head and sat back down.
"Um, okay start from the beginning," Ron asked in confusion.
"After you left, he wiped chocolate off of my lips and then he asked me if I'd always known that I was gay. I told him that I think I was only that way for Draco since I didn't look at anyone else the way I look at Draco. Then he asked why I chose him when I could have anyone," he replied.
"Based on that and the way he acts towards you, I can see why you'd assume that he had a thing for you," Ron pointed out.
"I know. I just, it's weird, you know? I thought I liked girls and then things just fell into place with Draco and I realized that I liked him and then it was like anyone else, girl or guy, couldn't compare. I honestly think that I'm only this way for Draco," Harry explained with a laugh.
Ron chuckled. "Well, I'm learning that I kind of like the bloke. He's pretty decent and he obviously adores you," Ron replied. He made a face at using a word that his mother or Hermione would use.
Harry laughed. They sat in companionable silence, eating chocolates and continuing what they had been doing before Neville came by. It was nearing curfew and bedtime and Harry was starting to worry about where Draco was.
"He should be back by now," Harry commented as he slipped into his pajamas.
"You know Hermione, she'll wait 'til the last minute to study before she'll head back. I imagine that Malfoy is the same way," Ron pointed out.
Harry nodded, but felt his stomach turning. Something wasn't right. Draco should have been back by now. It was then that there was a knock on the door. Harry threw his cloak on and waited as Ron gave him a questioning look before opening the door. It was Hermione and she looked a bit disheveled.
Ron closed the door. "What is the matter?" he asked in concern, gripping her shoulders. Harry threw his cloak off of him and walked over to her.
"Sorry," she said between breaths, "I just ran all the way from the hospital wing. Draco's there," she said looking apologetically at Harry.
Harry's eyes widened and his stomach dropped. "Is he alright?" he asked his voice cracking.
She nodded. "He'll be fine, but he's unconscious and I knew I had to tell you," she said.
Harry rushed over to his and Ron's wardrobe and dug through it grabbing his shoes. He slipped them on and grabbed his cloak. He didn't even wait for Ron or Hermione to lead him out. He started down the hallway with one thing on his mind.