Neville noticed that Harry looked a little lost at the long table,
surrounded by Weasleys and a few aurors and one ridiculously happy
Longbottom.
The whole group together was admittedly loud, especially since Fred and George had come by to spend dinner with their family. More than Harry was ready for, probably; from what Ron said Harry spent a lot of time shut up alone when he was with his Muggle family.
Ron sat there beside Harry, across from Neville, and tried to ward people away from Harry.
Fred asked Harry about his summer so far, and Ron had answered for him. He glared at anyone who looked as if they were going to talk to Harry. Ron was so busy talking to his family and grinning shyly across at Neville and stopping people talking to Harry at the same time that he hardly ate anything at all.
Hermione sat on Harry's other side, staying silent and carefully not looking to her side. Ginny sat beside Neville, and he could tell she spent most of the meal staring at Harry.
The Weasleys kept the conversation lively, though, with Bill and Charlie telling stories about other countries, and Fred and George telling their older brothers all about their departure from Hogwarts the year before.
"The stuff legends are made of," Fred summed up with a proud grin.
Neville had no doubt those two were already legends.
Mrs. Weasley didn't seem to be as put out by them leaving school as Neville would have thought. She actually seemed rather proud that their business was doing well.
Neville thought maybe she had decided losing one son was enough, so she kept her real thoughts to herself. He could understand that, he thought.
Harry sat silent through it all, eating slowly and looking around him now and then as if searching for someone who wasn't there.
Neville felt bad for him. He knew all about Black now, that he was Harry's godfather, that he was totally innocent. That Harry had wanted to leave the Muggles and go to live with him.
But he found it odd that Harry would grieve so hard for someone he hardly knew, especially when he had an entire table full of family right there who obviously counted him as one of them.
It just cemented Neville's belief that Harry didn't realize what was right in front of him.
***
That belief became a hardened fact in his head after dinner that night.
He had volunteered to help Mrs. Weasley clean up, and when he finished he headed upstairs to his and Ron's room to remind Ron about the trip to the hospital the next afternoon.
He heard voices when he past one of the doors on the other side of the hall, and slowed down.
Harry was speaking clearly. "-need anyone to watch out for me like I'm too stupid to do it myself!"
Neville's hands curled into fists when he heard that the voice that answered Harry was Ron's.
"That's not what I'm saying, Harry. I just didn't want you to-"
"I don't need anyone to look out for me. Anyone, Ron. I've always been fine on my own."
"I know that. I was just worried that maybe everyone would."
"Would what? Want to talk to me? Let them talk! Just because you can't think of anything to say to me lately doesn't mean I don't want to hear anyone at all."
There was a pause. Ron spoke again quietly. "Fine. I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would make you angry."
"Good. Thank you." Harry sounded far from grateful.
Neville had to stop himself from going in there. He turned and kept going down the hall angrily, getting to his and Ron's door and shutting the door behind him with more force than was probably necessary.
"Hi."
He jumped a foot in the air at the voice, and saw Ginny grinning at him from his bed.
"You're a little jumpy."
He smiled back reluctantly. "Is something wrong?"
"You and Ron are spending a lot of time together," she said calmly, studying him.
He fought to keep a blush away. "We're friends."
"Neville. I spent all my time at school last year with all of you, and you two didn't act like this."
He hesitated. "What are you asking me?"
She shrugged. "Nothing. Just making an observation. It's good that you guys are friends. Isn't it?"
"Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"
She glanced towards the door. "Harry is on his own a lot."
Neville felt his slight smile go bitter. "I think that's his own fault. I mean.his own choice. He wants it that way."
She sighed, standing. "I suppose. Still. He's Ron's best friend. I hope that anyone else who's Ron's friend is smart enough not to come between them."
Neville frowned. "Come between them? Ginny, I was there last year too, remember? What was there to come between? Harry's." He stopped himself with difficulty.
She raised her eyebrows. "Harry's what?"
It was hard to remember she was only fourteen. She had a lot of her mother in her.
He answered honestly, the way he would answer if it was Mrs. Weasley. "Harry's the one who's been a rotten friend."
"Neville. You know how much Harry has been through."
Neville almost growled. "I know, I know. He's been through so much. I don't suppose anyone else at the entire school had anything like problems last year. I don't think they're allowed to if Harry Potter has one already."
She moved to him, her eyes hard. "Harry is my friend as well, Neville. Don't talk about him as if-"
He threw his hands up, frustrated. "I'm sorry! I just can't stand how he treats Ron."
She blinked at that. "Ron? This is about Ron?"
"Who did you think it was about? Me? If you've been watching Harry so closely, you have to see what he's doing. I know he's had a lot of problems. I know life's been horribly unfair to him. But that doesn't give him the right to be so cruel."
Ginny frowned, looking as if she was seriously thinking it over. "Maybe it does," she said after a moment. "Maybe he should be allowed to be upset."
"Upset, yes. At Ron? No. Not at all. Not after Ron was there for him every step of the way last year. Not after he pushed Ron away so much. Not after the year Ron had, all the problems he had. Harry has no rights at all about Ron. Not anymore."
She stared at him, surprised. "Neville."
He sat down heavily on Ron's bed. "I'm sorry. I'm just really glad I never thought of Harry as my best friend. He's not very good at it."
She seemed bothered. "You really think he upsets Ron that much?"
Neville debated telling her what he had just overheard. But he kept it to himself. "I'm in here with him every night, Ginny. I know how he feels."
***
Ron smiled wanly and tugged at his shirt the instant the door was closed. "I'm tired."
"Me, too," Neville answered, sounding unhappy.
Ron looked to him instantly. "Is there something wrong?"
"No." Neville studied him, then stood up. "Um. I wasn't sure which." He gestured at the beds, sheepish.
Ron smiled then, and some of his unhappy thoughts were chased away. "With me. Please?"
Neville returned the smile and slid into Ron's bed quickly. "Good."
***
Mrs. Weasley handed Neville a letter across the breakfast table. "Your grandmother would like you to spend the night with her. She's asked for aurors to watch her house."
Ron spoke up before Neville could answer. "Me, too?"
She looked at her son for a moment. "We can pick you up from the Longbottom's house tonight and bring you home, if you like."
Ron glanced at Neville in question.
Neville smiled and nodded at him.
Ron grinned. "I'd rather stay there."
His mother smiled. "Very well. After breakfast you should go pack a change of clothes. And then I'll have a talk with you, okay?"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh, mum. I'm not going to behave horribly or anything."
"It's not about that, Ron." Her eyes went to Harry, who sat watching them quietly while he ate, then away again fast.
Ron caught the look and felt immediately nervous. "Okay," he said quietly.
He felt Neville's eyes on him.
From the other side of the table, he felt Harry's eyes on him, too.
***
"You're leaving then?"
Ron looked up in surprise and saw Harry in the doorway. He turned back to the jeans he was shoving into a bag. "Just for tonight."
"With Neville."
Ron nodded, stuffing in a shirt and his pajamas.
"Would you stay here if I asked you?"
He froze, socks in his hand, and turned to Harry. "What?"
Harry shrugged, looking almost defiant. "Would you?"
Ron let the socks drop into the bag. "Are you planning to ask?"
Harry swallowed. "I don't know."
Ron frowned and turned back to his bed, to the small pack that was too full to close. He shoved his arm in, pushing everything deeper.
"Ron."
He stopped, but didn't look at Harry. "What?"
"What's going on with you and Neville?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you two suddenly best friends?"
"You're my best friend, Harry. You know that." But the words felt hollow. Because Ron didn't know if either of those was true anymore.
"So why are you going with him?"
"He's my friend, too. He wants me to go. I want to."
"You want to get away from me."
Ron blew out a sigh. "Harry, this has nothing to do with you." He dropped on his bed, still half-heartedly pushing at his clothes to make them fit.
"You're running away."
"No I'm not! I'm going with Neville. It's one night!"
Harry shook his head. "That's not what I mean. The whole time I've been here, you've."
Ron wanted to scream. He had been trying! Harry was the one who was running away!
But he couldn't say that. That was selfish. He had to stop thinking of himself first. "I'm not. Really. But Neville."
"Neville's being a better friend than me right now, I suppose."
Ron's mind agreed, and he hated himself for it. "No."
"Because Neville isn't halfway to mental."
"Harry, come on."
Harry smiled bitterly. "I can still see what's going on around me, Ron."
"Harry."
This was a new voice from the hallway, and Harry turned from the doorway and looked past where Ron could see. "Neville."
Ron gave up on his pack. He stood up, wanting suddenly to get away from there. Away from Harry.
Why couldn't he stop feeling that way?
His eyes were clouding over with moisture, and he moved fast, pushing past Harry and going down the hall away from Neville and Harry and everyone else.
A door opened somewhere in front of him, and he caught a glimpse of red as he passed the room Ginny and Hermione had claimed.
If Ginny said anything to him, he didn't hear it.
***
Neville stood there, watching Ron go. He stopped himself from going after him, his eyes moving to Harry's back.
Harry turned from watching Ron and glanced at him.
Neville moved past him into the room. "Harry?"
Harry's quiet footsteps followed him in.
Neville went to Ron's bed, to the small pack spilling out clothes. He took Ron's clothes out and started folding a shirt.
Harry stood there silently.
Neville looked up only when his hands weren't shaking with quite so much anger. He met Harry's eyes. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?" Harry looked sincerely confused.
"Why did you say that to Ron?"
Harry's confusion hardened into anger. "Ron's my best friend. It doesn't have anything to do with you."
Neville had to look down at the clothes to keep form saying something he might regret later. "Every time he's talked to you since you got here he's left practically in tears."
Harry let out a breath loudly. "Neville."
Neville dropped the neatly folded shirt into the pack and stood up. "No. Ron is my.he's my friend, too. We've spent a lot of time together this summer. I know him. Maybe better than you know him, if you really believe that stuff you were saying to him."
Harry met his eyes steadily, anger all over his face.
Neville folded his arms, determined. He wasn't as strong as Harry, maybe, not as powerful with magic or as brave or any of that other stuff. But he cared about his friends at least as much as Harry did.
And Ron was too special to him to let this go on. "Harry. Listen to me, okay? If all you're going to do all summer is try and make Ron feel bad about himself, then just stay away from him."
"Neville-"
"I.I mean it, Harry. You're hurting him a lot, and I'm.I'm not going to let you."
Harry gaped at him.
Neville sat down, and his hands were shaking again as he started folding Ron's pajama shirt.
When he looked up again, Harry was gone.
***
Harry ran into Ginny in the hallway, and latched on to her in his outrage. "Did you hear what he said to me?"
She took his arm silently and led him into one of the empty rooms.
He welcomed the privacy, pacing the floor angrily. "He thinks I'm hurting Ron! He wants me to stay away from Ron! From my best friend!"
Ginny watched him pacing silently.
He whirled to face her suddenly. "It's not my fault if Ron feels bad! He won't even talk to me! How can it be my fault?"
Ginny frowned at him.
He fell silent, silently asking for some sort of agreement from her.
She sighed. "Harry. I saw him walk away from you. Neville was right. He was really upset."
"How is that my fault? Just because I figured out that he's hanging around Neville to avoid me-"
"Harry."
He shut his mouth with a snap.
Ginny stared at him, then shook her head. "Whatever's going on with Ron and Neville, it's nothing like Ron and you. Ron will probably never stop thinking of you as his best friend, even if you keep."
"I keep? I keep what?"
She sighed again heavily. "You're so blind. Honestly, Harry, you're my friend. But he's my brother. And I won't let anybody hurt him. Even you."
Harry's mouth dropped open in shock. "Ginny."
"Ron cares about you ten times more than Sirius Black ever could," she said bluntly. "And until you realize that, maybe Neville's right. Maybe you should just stay away from him."
She turned and left the room.
Harry stood there and stared at the door.
The whole group together was admittedly loud, especially since Fred and George had come by to spend dinner with their family. More than Harry was ready for, probably; from what Ron said Harry spent a lot of time shut up alone when he was with his Muggle family.
Ron sat there beside Harry, across from Neville, and tried to ward people away from Harry.
Fred asked Harry about his summer so far, and Ron had answered for him. He glared at anyone who looked as if they were going to talk to Harry. Ron was so busy talking to his family and grinning shyly across at Neville and stopping people talking to Harry at the same time that he hardly ate anything at all.
Hermione sat on Harry's other side, staying silent and carefully not looking to her side. Ginny sat beside Neville, and he could tell she spent most of the meal staring at Harry.
The Weasleys kept the conversation lively, though, with Bill and Charlie telling stories about other countries, and Fred and George telling their older brothers all about their departure from Hogwarts the year before.
"The stuff legends are made of," Fred summed up with a proud grin.
Neville had no doubt those two were already legends.
Mrs. Weasley didn't seem to be as put out by them leaving school as Neville would have thought. She actually seemed rather proud that their business was doing well.
Neville thought maybe she had decided losing one son was enough, so she kept her real thoughts to herself. He could understand that, he thought.
Harry sat silent through it all, eating slowly and looking around him now and then as if searching for someone who wasn't there.
Neville felt bad for him. He knew all about Black now, that he was Harry's godfather, that he was totally innocent. That Harry had wanted to leave the Muggles and go to live with him.
But he found it odd that Harry would grieve so hard for someone he hardly knew, especially when he had an entire table full of family right there who obviously counted him as one of them.
It just cemented Neville's belief that Harry didn't realize what was right in front of him.
***
That belief became a hardened fact in his head after dinner that night.
He had volunteered to help Mrs. Weasley clean up, and when he finished he headed upstairs to his and Ron's room to remind Ron about the trip to the hospital the next afternoon.
He heard voices when he past one of the doors on the other side of the hall, and slowed down.
Harry was speaking clearly. "-need anyone to watch out for me like I'm too stupid to do it myself!"
Neville's hands curled into fists when he heard that the voice that answered Harry was Ron's.
"That's not what I'm saying, Harry. I just didn't want you to-"
"I don't need anyone to look out for me. Anyone, Ron. I've always been fine on my own."
"I know that. I was just worried that maybe everyone would."
"Would what? Want to talk to me? Let them talk! Just because you can't think of anything to say to me lately doesn't mean I don't want to hear anyone at all."
There was a pause. Ron spoke again quietly. "Fine. I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would make you angry."
"Good. Thank you." Harry sounded far from grateful.
Neville had to stop himself from going in there. He turned and kept going down the hall angrily, getting to his and Ron's door and shutting the door behind him with more force than was probably necessary.
"Hi."
He jumped a foot in the air at the voice, and saw Ginny grinning at him from his bed.
"You're a little jumpy."
He smiled back reluctantly. "Is something wrong?"
"You and Ron are spending a lot of time together," she said calmly, studying him.
He fought to keep a blush away. "We're friends."
"Neville. I spent all my time at school last year with all of you, and you two didn't act like this."
He hesitated. "What are you asking me?"
She shrugged. "Nothing. Just making an observation. It's good that you guys are friends. Isn't it?"
"Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be?"
She glanced towards the door. "Harry is on his own a lot."
Neville felt his slight smile go bitter. "I think that's his own fault. I mean.his own choice. He wants it that way."
She sighed, standing. "I suppose. Still. He's Ron's best friend. I hope that anyone else who's Ron's friend is smart enough not to come between them."
Neville frowned. "Come between them? Ginny, I was there last year too, remember? What was there to come between? Harry's." He stopped himself with difficulty.
She raised her eyebrows. "Harry's what?"
It was hard to remember she was only fourteen. She had a lot of her mother in her.
He answered honestly, the way he would answer if it was Mrs. Weasley. "Harry's the one who's been a rotten friend."
"Neville. You know how much Harry has been through."
Neville almost growled. "I know, I know. He's been through so much. I don't suppose anyone else at the entire school had anything like problems last year. I don't think they're allowed to if Harry Potter has one already."
She moved to him, her eyes hard. "Harry is my friend as well, Neville. Don't talk about him as if-"
He threw his hands up, frustrated. "I'm sorry! I just can't stand how he treats Ron."
She blinked at that. "Ron? This is about Ron?"
"Who did you think it was about? Me? If you've been watching Harry so closely, you have to see what he's doing. I know he's had a lot of problems. I know life's been horribly unfair to him. But that doesn't give him the right to be so cruel."
Ginny frowned, looking as if she was seriously thinking it over. "Maybe it does," she said after a moment. "Maybe he should be allowed to be upset."
"Upset, yes. At Ron? No. Not at all. Not after Ron was there for him every step of the way last year. Not after he pushed Ron away so much. Not after the year Ron had, all the problems he had. Harry has no rights at all about Ron. Not anymore."
She stared at him, surprised. "Neville."
He sat down heavily on Ron's bed. "I'm sorry. I'm just really glad I never thought of Harry as my best friend. He's not very good at it."
She seemed bothered. "You really think he upsets Ron that much?"
Neville debated telling her what he had just overheard. But he kept it to himself. "I'm in here with him every night, Ginny. I know how he feels."
***
Ron smiled wanly and tugged at his shirt the instant the door was closed. "I'm tired."
"Me, too," Neville answered, sounding unhappy.
Ron looked to him instantly. "Is there something wrong?"
"No." Neville studied him, then stood up. "Um. I wasn't sure which." He gestured at the beds, sheepish.
Ron smiled then, and some of his unhappy thoughts were chased away. "With me. Please?"
Neville returned the smile and slid into Ron's bed quickly. "Good."
***
Mrs. Weasley handed Neville a letter across the breakfast table. "Your grandmother would like you to spend the night with her. She's asked for aurors to watch her house."
Ron spoke up before Neville could answer. "Me, too?"
She looked at her son for a moment. "We can pick you up from the Longbottom's house tonight and bring you home, if you like."
Ron glanced at Neville in question.
Neville smiled and nodded at him.
Ron grinned. "I'd rather stay there."
His mother smiled. "Very well. After breakfast you should go pack a change of clothes. And then I'll have a talk with you, okay?"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Oh, mum. I'm not going to behave horribly or anything."
"It's not about that, Ron." Her eyes went to Harry, who sat watching them quietly while he ate, then away again fast.
Ron caught the look and felt immediately nervous. "Okay," he said quietly.
He felt Neville's eyes on him.
From the other side of the table, he felt Harry's eyes on him, too.
***
"You're leaving then?"
Ron looked up in surprise and saw Harry in the doorway. He turned back to the jeans he was shoving into a bag. "Just for tonight."
"With Neville."
Ron nodded, stuffing in a shirt and his pajamas.
"Would you stay here if I asked you?"
He froze, socks in his hand, and turned to Harry. "What?"
Harry shrugged, looking almost defiant. "Would you?"
Ron let the socks drop into the bag. "Are you planning to ask?"
Harry swallowed. "I don't know."
Ron frowned and turned back to his bed, to the small pack that was too full to close. He shoved his arm in, pushing everything deeper.
"Ron."
He stopped, but didn't look at Harry. "What?"
"What's going on with you and Neville?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you two suddenly best friends?"
"You're my best friend, Harry. You know that." But the words felt hollow. Because Ron didn't know if either of those was true anymore.
"So why are you going with him?"
"He's my friend, too. He wants me to go. I want to."
"You want to get away from me."
Ron blew out a sigh. "Harry, this has nothing to do with you." He dropped on his bed, still half-heartedly pushing at his clothes to make them fit.
"You're running away."
"No I'm not! I'm going with Neville. It's one night!"
Harry shook his head. "That's not what I mean. The whole time I've been here, you've."
Ron wanted to scream. He had been trying! Harry was the one who was running away!
But he couldn't say that. That was selfish. He had to stop thinking of himself first. "I'm not. Really. But Neville."
"Neville's being a better friend than me right now, I suppose."
Ron's mind agreed, and he hated himself for it. "No."
"Because Neville isn't halfway to mental."
"Harry, come on."
Harry smiled bitterly. "I can still see what's going on around me, Ron."
"Harry."
This was a new voice from the hallway, and Harry turned from the doorway and looked past where Ron could see. "Neville."
Ron gave up on his pack. He stood up, wanting suddenly to get away from there. Away from Harry.
Why couldn't he stop feeling that way?
His eyes were clouding over with moisture, and he moved fast, pushing past Harry and going down the hall away from Neville and Harry and everyone else.
A door opened somewhere in front of him, and he caught a glimpse of red as he passed the room Ginny and Hermione had claimed.
If Ginny said anything to him, he didn't hear it.
***
Neville stood there, watching Ron go. He stopped himself from going after him, his eyes moving to Harry's back.
Harry turned from watching Ron and glanced at him.
Neville moved past him into the room. "Harry?"
Harry's quiet footsteps followed him in.
Neville went to Ron's bed, to the small pack spilling out clothes. He took Ron's clothes out and started folding a shirt.
Harry stood there silently.
Neville looked up only when his hands weren't shaking with quite so much anger. He met Harry's eyes. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?" Harry looked sincerely confused.
"Why did you say that to Ron?"
Harry's confusion hardened into anger. "Ron's my best friend. It doesn't have anything to do with you."
Neville had to look down at the clothes to keep form saying something he might regret later. "Every time he's talked to you since you got here he's left practically in tears."
Harry let out a breath loudly. "Neville."
Neville dropped the neatly folded shirt into the pack and stood up. "No. Ron is my.he's my friend, too. We've spent a lot of time together this summer. I know him. Maybe better than you know him, if you really believe that stuff you were saying to him."
Harry met his eyes steadily, anger all over his face.
Neville folded his arms, determined. He wasn't as strong as Harry, maybe, not as powerful with magic or as brave or any of that other stuff. But he cared about his friends at least as much as Harry did.
And Ron was too special to him to let this go on. "Harry. Listen to me, okay? If all you're going to do all summer is try and make Ron feel bad about himself, then just stay away from him."
"Neville-"
"I.I mean it, Harry. You're hurting him a lot, and I'm.I'm not going to let you."
Harry gaped at him.
Neville sat down, and his hands were shaking again as he started folding Ron's pajama shirt.
When he looked up again, Harry was gone.
***
Harry ran into Ginny in the hallway, and latched on to her in his outrage. "Did you hear what he said to me?"
She took his arm silently and led him into one of the empty rooms.
He welcomed the privacy, pacing the floor angrily. "He thinks I'm hurting Ron! He wants me to stay away from Ron! From my best friend!"
Ginny watched him pacing silently.
He whirled to face her suddenly. "It's not my fault if Ron feels bad! He won't even talk to me! How can it be my fault?"
Ginny frowned at him.
He fell silent, silently asking for some sort of agreement from her.
She sighed. "Harry. I saw him walk away from you. Neville was right. He was really upset."
"How is that my fault? Just because I figured out that he's hanging around Neville to avoid me-"
"Harry."
He shut his mouth with a snap.
Ginny stared at him, then shook her head. "Whatever's going on with Ron and Neville, it's nothing like Ron and you. Ron will probably never stop thinking of you as his best friend, even if you keep."
"I keep? I keep what?"
She sighed again heavily. "You're so blind. Honestly, Harry, you're my friend. But he's my brother. And I won't let anybody hurt him. Even you."
Harry's mouth dropped open in shock. "Ginny."
"Ron cares about you ten times more than Sirius Black ever could," she said bluntly. "And until you realize that, maybe Neville's right. Maybe you should just stay away from him."
She turned and left the room.
Harry stood there and stared at the door.