DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Harry Potter series or any of the characters. But the new characters are MINE, so don't steal them, ask and I'll probably let you use them with permission. Also, I'm not makin' any money off this so don't sue me!

Special Thanks to: My big sis, for helpin' out. I Love Ya' Sis!!



A walking cliché walked up to Neville during his next class. He was, literally, tall, dark, and handsome.

Scratch handsome, replace with sexy.

He was tall, an inch or so more than most 5th years, slightly muscular. short spiked black hair the bangs the bangs, long and covered one red-wine eye.

That was where the cliché ended.

Tall, dark, and handsome were only general ideas. His skin was a dusky color that spoke of days spent outdoors. Muscles unfolded a story of work, but so much as to become disgusting and grotesque.

"Hello." His voice was a strange thing, it wasn't sharp, but it wasn't musical. It was just, pleasant. A tad deeper than most perhaps, but all in all. Pleasant.

"Hi." While Neville's voice came out in a choked whisper, partially from grief about Aidan and partially because of the strange feelings this stranger was already arousing in him.

He was arousing a few other things too but Neville tried hard to not think about that, he felt guilty. His love was lying in a bed unconscious and being tormented by nightmares and here he was thinking about how he'd like to share his trousers with this guy he didn't even know.

"I heard about your boyfriend, and I wanted you to know I'm, uh, here I guess. If you want a friend. By the way, my name is Damien."

Being with Aidan had helped Neville develop a kind of sixth sense about other guys, and he quite clearly read this guy as 'one of us.'

"Thanks," He choked out. "I appreciate it." He quickly turned back to the lesson at hand before the teacher noticed their whispered conversation. Damien just smiled kindly and turned back to the lesson as well. Neville paid the utmost attention in his classes for the rest of the day, so as to distract him from his jumbled up knot of confusion that Damien had stirred up inside. It was rather like a potion gone very, very wrong.

***********

Stupid, stupid, and again I say, again, stupid! Damien was mentally berating himself for his approach. He thought he'd sounded like a total dork. Coming up to Neville out of the blue, a total stranger, and right after Neville's boyfriend had just collapsed and lapsed into some sort of coma or something.

Can you say "total dork." Damien? He ran the conversation through his head again and was even more critical.

"Why are you muttering to yourself?" asked the girl sitting next to him.

"Oh," he hadn't realized he'd been muttering. "I'm, uh, trying to memorize something."

"Ok, just do in your head, please? I'm trying to learn and you're distracting me." She abruptly faced front again and Damien didn't bother to reply, but he did make sure he didn't mutter.

***************

Neville walked to Aidan's bedside laden with a paraphernalia of odd things. He'd read that people in comas, he thought Aidan was in a coma, could often hear what was being said they just couldn't talk back, and that they'd often wake up faster because of this outside stimulation. So he'd packed up all of Aidan's favorite books, including one of odd poems, and his brush, among other odd things he thought might be nice for Aidan, if he woke up.

No, when he wakes up. He mentally reminded himself. Because he will wake up.

When he arrived the nurse gave him an odd look.

"Need any help?" she asked inquiringly.

"Uh, no. Thanks anyhow." He continued on to Aidan's bed which was surrounded by a pale curtain that had the magical ability of shutting out most outside noise, Neville suspected it was bespelled instead of it just being heavy cloth like the professors claimed. After juggling the books and other items so that he could get past the curtain and settling into the chair waiting next to Aidan's bed.

He started with the book of strange poems, the first one was called "The Jabberwocky" and was by some Lewis guy who apparently wrote a story about a girl named Alice and her adventures in Wonderland.

After the first stanza he really got into it and he liked all the nonsense words, he had just gotten to "the vorpal blade went-" when someone else asked tentatively.

"May I come in?"

"Who is it?" asked Neville turning in the chair to see who was coming had come to visit.

"It's Ron and Harry." Came Ron's reply as the stepped past the curtain. They had a tray with food from dinner on it. Neville had been in the dormitory for hours trying to think of something to do, and he'd missed dinner before coming here.

He hadn't realized how much his stomach had been demanding food and it woke with a vengeance. Ron had barely set it down before he started to scarf it down. Harry watched him eat while Ron looked into some of the books Neville had brought to read to Aidan. After Neville finished they talked to each other, and Aidan. While they talked Neville brushed Aidan's hair which pooled around his head on the pillow. After the knots were out of it he braided Aidan's hair so as to keep it out of the way. Then Harry and Ron had to practically haul him back to the dormitory so he wouldn't waste away waiting by Aidan's bedside waiting for him to wake up.



Author's Commentations: So, whatcha think of my newest blip? I can't seem to write for sustained periods of time…anyhow! Now, I am making yet another demand, yes I know I'm terrible, those who have reviewed so far must get at least one friend to review this fic. Sorry! I crave feedback, it helps me write better!! (plus, what other doesn't love getting reviews. I mean c'mon!) So, yes me being a vewy vewy bad boy. Now, get out there and "recruit" some peoples! ^_^;;; I sorta feel rather evil about this demand, but I need to know! I want a second opinion!! *sigh* so get out there! Tell a friend! Get me a second, third, and even a fourth and fifth and sixth opinion!!! Sorry for being so evil btw! ^_^;;;;;;;;;;;;