Neville thought he might die from fright.
The Deputy Head of Gryffindor was probably the scariest man on the planet. His only competition might be Professor Snape, who Neville loathed and feared in equal parts (though he often let his fears control his actions). But that didn't matter as much; after four years of facing Snape, he at least knew what to fear. He had no idea what to do now.
Grey faced him across the Gryffindor table, his eyes taking in Neville's terrified features. As always, he wore no expression. The table had cleared, the meal already five minutes past. Grey had waved for him to stay, knowing Neville had a free period now. The younger man had seen the auror eyeing him at various times since the beginning of school and, though it scared him, he had never bothered to wonder why.
"You don't remember me, do you?" Grey asked. His voice was softer than Neville thought possible.
"N-n-no, sir." Realizing the boy was frozen in fear, Grey let his mask drop and smiled in a friendly way.
"Not sir. Just Grey. I used to babysit you." Curiosity overcame fear, and Neville gave him a puzzled look. "My father is Sir Robert Grey."
"The auror?"
"Yeah. My parents were … good friends of your parents. When you were real little, they would have me watch you while they went to dinner." Neville nodded, not remembering, but sure Grey was speaking the truth. "I'm sorry I scared you. I didn't mean to."
"It's alright," Neville said. "I get scared pretty easily." Grey canted his head, confused.
"Why?" Neville shrugged.
"Don't know. I guess … I just do." Grey nodded.
"I wanted to tell you a couple things, Neville." He had gotten past the fear; the boy was interested now. "The first is, I was and am really sorry about your parents. I felt like I should tell you." Tears filled both their eyes. "My parents visit them every year, did you know?" He shook his head. Grey waited for him to collect himself.
"W-what's the other?" Neville asked a minute later.
"I just wanted you to know that, if there's anything I can do for you, ever, all you have to do is ask. You don't have to be afraid of me." He rose to leave, slipping in one more sentence with a whisper. "Your parents saved my mother's life once." And he walked off.
The trouble started in the hall ten minutes later. Neville detoured immediately to the bathroom, where he cried himself out and then cleaned up. He hadn't noticed Draco Malfoy or his cronies Crabbe and Goyle watching him and snickering. They were waiting in the empty hallway when he came out, his face still red and puffy.
"Feeling better after your cry, Longbottom? What happened this time, mess your diaper?" On any other day, Neville would have run away to his room, dealing with Malfoy's teasing in silence. But talking about his parents always emboldened him. He knew they wouldn't have run. He was also plenty upset as it was, and didn't even think before clubbing Malfoy with his fist. The blonde went down with a solid shot to his nose.
Crabbe and Goyle took the opportunity to start pounding on Neville. Thirty seconds later, two black-robed arms pulled them apart.
"Mr. Longbottom," Snape said, dragging each syllable out. "What exactly do you think you are doing?"
Neville's nose was bleeding; he didn't know it yet, but he would also have a seriously black eye in the morning. At the moment all he could feel was pain in every part of his face. Fear of Snape gripped his chest. He didn't respond.
"I see. It seems you believe that fighting is an appropriate way to resolve disputes, then. Fifty points from Gryffindor and detention for two weeks. With me." Snape's detentions were legendary for their unpleasantness. Neville hung his head in defeat. He wanted to cry, but refused to give Malfoy the satisfaction. The three Slytherins were standing by, grinning at the predicament. "Now get yourself to Madame Pomfrey, all of you."
Willow stormed into the library with Grey in tow. The four seated people looked up in alarm.
"Giles, you have to fix this," Willow shouted before Grey could explain. "That-that bastard … grrr…"
"Willow, please. Calm down and tell me what is going on and who you are referring to."
"She's talking about Neville," Hermione said. She, Ron, and Harry were doing their best to cover up the titles of the books they had on the table. Fortunately, Willow was in no mood to notice.
"What seems to be the trouble with Mr. Longbottom?"
"It's my fault," Grey said. He looked at the students. "Do you guys know about his parents?" They nodded. He explained to Giles about Neville's parents and then said, "I talked with him after lunch. His parents and mine … knew each other. They were friends. We talked about them a little."
"Neville doesn't talk about them," Ron broke in. "It gets him really upset."
"I didn't mean to," Grey said, mortified that he had done so much damage trying to be nice. "I just wanted to offer to help him. Anyway, I guess he was crying or something, and that idiot Malfoy and his goons saw him." A sour look crossed Giles' face. In a little more than a month of classes, he had grown none too fond of the Slytherins, and of Malfoy in particular. "They teased him about it, and he dropped Malfoy with one punch."
"Go Neville!" Ron shouted. Grey glared at him.
"Not exactly."
"Snape caught them," Hermione finished. "Fifty from Gryffindor and two weeks detention. For Neville only. Plus Crabbe and Goyle beat him up a bit."
"I would like to help," Giles responded after a moment of consideration. "It seems unfair, but I just don't have the authority to overrule Professor Snape. Not when I wasn't there and a member of his own house took a punch."
"But Giles …" Willow whined.
"I'm sorry, Willow. There's nothing I can do."
"You could leave the room," Grey said. Giles raised an eyebrow. Then he understood, and took his leave. "Willow, can you do me a favor and go find Spike?"