Neville's POV:
They had slowly began rebuilding Hogwarts, but not very quickly. Due to the trauma they all experienced, Headmistress McGonagall insisted they take times to themselves and finish the castle later.
He had went to see his grandmother and spend time with her. For the first time ever, she had grabbed onto him and hugged him tight. She cried and cried into his shoulder and told him how worried she was.
He didn't tell her about his relationship with Blaise for many reasons, one of them being he just didn't think it was the time. The other being that he was terrified to tell her. What would he even say if he was asked if he was gay? He doesn't even know the answer to that question. To be perfectly honest, the only person he ever had feelings for was Blaise. Not even once did he think of anyone else or even consider dating anyone else. So, what was he exactly? He didn't think he was gay, but he for sure wasn't straight either. It's not like he wouldn't be open to dating anyone, but the thing is, he hasn't seen anyone that he's liked ever. Only Blaise. That's what confused him the most. But all of those thoughts seemed to dissappear when he was with Blaise. Everything seemed to go away with Blaise. Everything except him and Blaise.
He was back at Hogwarts, eating lunch with all the seventh years that came back along with Ginny and Luna. Blaise sat beside him and chatted with Ginny about Quidditch. Blaise cleaned his plate and laid it beside him. He nodded along with what Ginny was saying and leaned towards Neville with his arm out, laying it right across his shoulders. Neville blushed and continued to eat, even as his heart beat like mad and he could barely focus on anything let alone his food.
He then noticed, due to his inability to calm his nerves, that he had left his bracelet at home. How many more times would he do this? However, this type of nervousness was much nicer than what he usually felt.
The talking between Ginny and Blaise had stopped when Harry came towards their group and sat down.
"Where the bloody hell is Draco?" Blaise asks angrily.
"He didn't want to come. I'm going to take him some food though and make sure he eats it." Harry says, grabbing a tray and walking over to the table of food.
"He's really worrying me." Blaise says.
"M-ma-maybe... Maybe we c-can co-convince him to come t-tomorrow." Neville stutters, his face turning warmer with each word he says.
Blaise gives him a warm smile and squeezes his arm, he guesses as a way to comfort him. What Blaise doesn't understand is that it only makes it worse. But, again, a part of him doesn't mind it.
"Maybe... I definitely could try." Blaise says, "Oh, uh, Neville I need to ask you something." Blaise mutters to him.
"Y-yeah. What is i-it?" Neville asks softly.
"Maybe we should, uh, talk somewhere else." Blaise mutters. Neville nods at him and stands up. Blaise grabs hold of his hand, which makes his heart flutter in delight, and takes him away from their peers.
"So... Uh, now that we're officially dating... I uh..." Blaise rubs the back of his neck and glances at the floor, "I thought we could go out together somewhere. I haven't really planned anything yet but uh... would you want to?" He winces slightly and waits for Neville's response.
"A... Is t-this a d-date?" Neville asks, feeling his face heat up once more.
"Yes! It's a date... I am asking you on a date." Blaise chuckles nervously and Neville can't help but smile. Seeing Blaise act as nervous as he does made him melt inside. He always thought of Blaise as this cool guy who never felt anxious and always walked around in elegance and poise. The more he's around him, the more he realizes that isn't the case, which only makes Blaise much more appealing. He let his guard down with Neville, and that meant much more to Neville than he'd ever be willing to admit.
"I w-would love to go wi-with you." Neville responds with his heart doing persistent jumping jacks inside his chest.
Blaise's lips curve into a smile, "Perfect. We'll go tomorrow! I won't let you down." He leans in and pecks Neville on the lips and that crazy feeling in his stomach jolts inside of him. Will he ever be able to be casual about Blaise kissing him? He couldn't imagine being able to. Blaise was just so great at it, even if it only lasted a second.
"I'll see you later, my darling. I have business to attend to." Blaise smirks and pulls Neville into a hug that makes Neville want to melt. "I love you. Be safe, alright?" Blaise says into his shoulder.
"I will. T-talk to y-you later, yeah?" Neville says.
Blaise pulls away with a smile on his face, "Of course." He walks away without failing to look back at Neville and wave. Neville waves back awkwardly and notices Luna and Blaise walk out of the Great Hall together.
Blaise's words ring in his ears. 'I love you' he hears. It felt amazing to hear those words. Every time he thought of them, it made him smile until his cheeks hurt.
His happiest memory had now changed, but he was hoping he wouldn't ever have to use it for a dementor again.
Harry's POV:
He kept feeling worried about Draco. Every thought was 'is Draco ok?', 'Has Draco eaten?', 'I hope Draco is safe.' Was he really this obsessed? He had bigger things to worry about than Draco, but his brain couldn't seem to process that truth.
He grabbed the Marauder's Map, said aloud, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." And tapped his wand to the page.
He opened it, feelings embarrassed that he's doing the same thing he did in 6th year. He looked around for Draco's name and there he was... in the second floor lavatory.
Without a second thought, Harry grabs his invisibility cloak and makes his way to the second floor.
Much to his dismay, he has to dodge stink bombs being thrown by Peeves at students going to their dorms. Once he got past that, he stood in the doorway of the bathroom. He could hear soft noises coming from inside. He steps closer as quietly as possible.
He gets closer and can now see that it's Draco sitting on the floor, wiping his face with his hands and sobbing. Moaning Myrtle is floating above him with her hand on his back. His hair was messy and he was grabbing it in chunks angrily.
"I'm a terrible person!" He sobs, "I called you a mudblood, I bullied everyone for years, and now everyone's acting like I deserve forgiveness?! Even bloody Ron Weasley is being nice to me... me! Blaise should hate me! I mean, I basically helped people try to kill the love of his life! Yet, he forgives me! They all forgive me... But why? Even you do! Why?!" Draco shouts.
"I understand. I, too, dislike myself very much." Moaning Myrtle says, her voice echoing off the walls.
Harry feels like he shouldn't be hearing this all, but he can't seem to move.
"Now I have to look at this STUPID mark for the rest of my life!" Draco shouts, banging on his leg. Harry wonders how hard he was hitting his leg, but it looked like it was hard enough to leave a bit of a mark. "I just want to get rid of it." He sobs, "It makes me even more disgusting than before."
"No, darling, it doesn't. Don't think of yourself that way. You weren't disgusting to begin with!" Moaning Myrtle tells him.
"Yes I was! I was arrogant and mean to everyone. But why? It's not like I'm special or perfect enough to act like that. Father was right, I am girly and whiney. I am weak! Why can't I just look and act like a normal, perfect person?!"
"Because it's impossible to be perfect," Myrtle says, "And that's what makes everything so beautiful. Besides, beauty is subjective and so is normal. Normal doesn't even exist in all reality. But, look on the bright side, at least you aren't me!"
"No one can harm you, Myrtle. You can hide away easily and not have to worry about your own father killing you for not being perfect in front of company. Or maybe worse, beating you brutally! You have an easy life if we're being logical here." Draco replies with a scowl.
Myrtle sighs, "I suppose you're right... But I'm still sad. I was made fun of a lot when I was alive, you know. People hit me a lot in school... And laughed and laughed at me."
"That's the issue! That's what I did to many, many people! I'm just like your bullies! I deserve no sympathy."
"But you do! It's hard to be nice when you get no respect at home! If anything, I'd say you were simply afraid of being disrespected at school as well." Myrtle says, "At least that's my guess."
"It's not even that! Father didn't start hitting me until I was fourteen. I was mean to Harry and his friends because he didn't want to be my friend. I even bullied Weasley on his money status!" Draco says, running his hands through his hair in stress. Harry noted how soft his hair looked, even if it was incredibly messy at the moment.
"Isn't that something your father taught you? I've met the man before, and he is no picnic. I may have been mad at you before, but in all reality, you only did all of that because you were taught to hate!" Myrtle says, rubbing his back.
"Stop it! Just stop it, stop it, stop it!" Draco shouts, clenching his hands in fists, "I hate this stupid pity party everyone is giving me! I'm no charity and I for sure don't need charity! So what? My father was an arse, that doesn't mean I want people talking to me like I'm some hopeless little child who needs to be saved! I hate it! It might sound bad, but I want people to hate me! Or at least treat me like a normal person and not some weak boy who can't take care of himself. I didn't get charity before and I don't need it now!"
Myrtle takes her hand off his back and slowly floats off into the ceiling. Draco pulls his knees to his chest and starts sobbing again. He reaches for his left sleeve and pulls it up. He looks at his wrist for a while and Harry decides it would be a good time to come out.
He takes the cloak off of him and clears his throat. Draco jerks his attention towards him with wide eyes and draws his wand.
Harry holds his hands up, "No need. I'm not here to fight."
"How long have you been here?" Draco asks defensively.
Crud, he didn't think this through. "Uh, not long."
"Don't lie to me, Potter. What did you hear?!" He shouts, his wand still pointed at Harry.
Harry looks down at his other arm, the dark mark clear as day. But, what else was that? There was something else. Draco follows his gaze and gasps. He pulls his sleeve down quickly and holds his arm close to him.
"What?" Harry asks him.
"Nothing... Now answer me!" Draco shouts.
"I didn't hear anything. I just hear someone crying and there you were." Harry lies.
Draco rolls his eyes, "Fine, I'll believe you. But really, go away."
"Why? Isn't this bathroom free for everyone?" Harry asks.
"It's the girl's bathroom."
"Yet here we both are." Harry retorts. "Draco, drop the wand. I'm not going to attack you. Not again." He promises calmly.
Draco gives him a suspicious look but still lowers the wand slowly and puts it in his pocket.
"Why are you here?" Draco asks.
He didn't think that through either... "I already told you! I heard crying so."
"You couldn't have heard it unless you entered the bathroom, idiot." Draco insults. "Why are you here?"
"I uh... I was looking for... for you." Harry says awkwardly. "Well... not me looking for you. Blaise was looking for you... And Ginny... And Ron... And everyone else..." He says quickly.
Draco looked at him as if he was crazy and said, "Ok... Why?"
"Nothing! What? No I meant uh... They wanted you to come hang out with us." Harry says and shouts at himself silently. Even if it was true, Draco wouldn't want to considering everything he said to Myrtle!
"No thanks." Draco says and sits back down in his spot. Harry sighs and walks towards him. Draco puts his hand up, signalling for him to stop, and he does. "No. I want to be by myself."
"But Draco-"
"Leave!" Draco shouts at him.
Harry stands his guard. "I don't think I will."
"Really?" Draco says, standing up and grabbing his wand, "Leave or I'll hex you."
"No. Not leaving." Harry says, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What the hell is your problem, Potter?" Draco growls. "Don't you understand that I don't want you here?! I don't want anyone here! Leave!"
"What was on your arm?" Harry asks him.
"What are you on? Have you dranken any alcohol today?" Draco smirks.
"No, I haven't. In fact, I haven't dranken any alcohol in ten months, thank you very much." Harry retorts.
"So that's why you are the way that you are?" Draco retorts back.
"What's on your arm?" Harry asks again.
"The bloody mark! What else would there be?" Draco scowls at him.
"There was something else... I'm curious!" Harry says genuinely. Maybe if Draco shows him his arm he can compliment Draco and make him feel more confident? Even if the picture is traumatic for him. Then again, he didn't want to be treated like charity. Not that Harry was doing it for 'charity'.
"Get out!" Draco shouts, putting his free hand onto Harry's chest and pushing him out. Harry grabs his hand to stop him and his back hits the wall.
They both stop for a while and stare at each other. Harry is looking at him with wide eyes. Draco, on the other hand, is going back and forth from an angry expression to a confused one.
"Let go of my hand." Draco demands threateningly.
Harry's awareness is turned to their hands. He notices that Draco's hand was soft and delicate. He is so amazed by it that he forgets that Draco is incredibly angry at him right now and getting angrier. His grip loosens and Draco jerks away from him.
"Now-"
"Your hand is so soft." He blurts out, instantly embarrassed by his words. He could feel his face warm up and tries to keep a confident demeanor.
Draco simply looks at him, his wand slightly lowering and his hand softly shaking. But then his grip tightens again and he puts his wand in his pocket. "Fine, I'll leave." He says, pushing past Harry and out of the room.
Harry stands there, shocked at himself. Why would he ever say that? Sure, it was true, but seriously?! He groans and silently shouts at himself for it. This is just like the time when he tried to talk to Cho Chang. Not that Draco is anything like that. They're just friends. That's all.