A/N: Thanks for reveiwing, kitties-rule, aishteru, anonyMOUSE11, Eliria, and Cantbesilenced. Estella luna, sto guessing things before I get to that. No, I'm just kidding. I'm actually excited that you can see what's coming.
ONLY HOPE by Lina Shay
Chapter Fourteen: In the Name of Love
Ron bit his thumbnail as he stared across the room at his friend, Harry. He was different. Ron had known since the beginning of the year that Harry was different. Everyone saw that he was different. But did everyone see the glow of his skin, the way his hair slightly curled just at the nape of his neck. Did everyone see that sparkle in his eyes and notice the delicate sort of way Harry handled a quill? Had Harry always possessed these qualities or was it something Harry gained over the Summer, something that made Harry...different.
"Hey," Dean whispered to Ron and Seamus. "I've got a brill idea. Let's say Ginny should want Neville to fight Harry for her."
Ron took in a sharp breath, though he didn't know why.
"Harry's a way better fighter than Neville," Seamus informed. "Neville will get the pants beaten off him."
"Yes, and Ron shall be able to prove his opinion of Harry," Dean announced.
"What? What opinion?" Ron demanded in panic.
"The thing that Harry would never run away from a fight," Dean reminded.
"Oh," Ron sighed in relief. "But Harry wouldn't fight Neville, though. They're friends."
"We'll just have to convince them otherwise," Dean snickered.
Ron chewed his thumbnail some more. Dean went back to listening to the teacher. Ron leaned over toward Seamus.
"Seamus, I have to ask your opinion on something," Ron whispered.
"Sure, Ron," Seamus said.
"Let's say I had a friend," Ron began, twisting his fingers nervously, "and this friend's had something happen with another boy."
"Something?" Seamus asked.
Ron took in a breath, then leaned closer to Seamus so no one could overhear. "A kiss-"
"Oh!" Seamus exclaimed.
"The other boy kissed him and he IMMEDIATELY pulled away. All right?" Ron said defensively.
"OK," Seamus shrugged.
"Then let's say," Ron went on, "that my friend had a hard time thinking of anything but this..kiss."
"What about the kiss is he thinking?" Seamus posed. "I mean, is he thinking how gross or awkward it was, or is he thinking how strangely nice it was?"
"No!" Ron exclaimed too loudly. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed. The people that had, only took interest briefly then went back to their work. Ron continued, "Neither! I mean, he just keeps replaying the moment, thinking...thinking that this boy is different than he use to be. That this boy is...not like the old pal he used to have. There's something different, a different ...feeling there."
"Sorry to tell ya," Seamus began matter-of-factly, "but your friend is gay."
"Yes, I know," Ron shook his head. "If he wasn't than he wouldn't have kissed me-my friend."
"No, mate," Seamus chuckled. "I'm saying that your friend that was kissed, that keeps thinking about his friend who kissed him- that one's gay."
"What?" Ron shouted. "No, I'm-er-he's not!"
A few more heads turned toward them. Ron just smiled until they returned their attention to the teacher.
"This different feeling your friend has for his friend is attraction," Seamus explained. "Your friend's attracted to a boy, mate."
"What?" Ron asked, more himself than Seamus. "But how could I-my friend be gay and not have already known it? I mean, he doesn't like cooking or soap operas or nothing gay-like. He's a regular guy- at least, he thought he was."
"Don't know what to tell ya, chap," Seamus shrugged.
Ron resolved that if he just ignored this feeling, it would go away.
"Dearest love,
It has been awful dealing with the way which I treated you that day. After all, you only were doing as I bade. Dear love, I am just so in fear of revealing my heart to such a throng. Twas sweet that you would do my will, when I would only embarrass you still. Please, my love, forgive this fool, but soon enough you would me rule. This day I promise with all my soul, that I would shew thee my love ever more. Just take on the man to whom my attention I give, and my lips will thine be as long as I live.
Thy ever devoted slave and lover,
Ginny Weasley."
"There's a ball next weekend," Ginny told Hope sweetly.
"Yes, I know," Hope muttered as the two walked down by the lake.
"I don't have a date," Ginny announced.
"I'm sorry no one has asked you," Hope half-smiled nervously.
"I was hoping that you would," Ginny told her.
"I would like to, Ginny, but-" Hope began before Dean came up to her.
"You are summoned to a wizard's duel, Harry," Dean informed.
"A what?" Hope asked. "Who would want to duel with me?"
"Neville Longbottom," Dean said with a smirk.
"Neville?" Hope repeated. "You must be joking. I've done nothing to him. Why would he want to fight me?"
"I cannot say," Dean shrugged. "All I know is that he is fiercely livid with you. He desires to maim you until you must be fed through a straw."
"Neville?" Ginny gasped. "But he's normally so sweet. What have you done to him, Harry?"
"Nothing, I swear!" Hope insisted. "I didn't do a single thing to him."
"He begs to differ," Dean said, taking Hope's arm. "You must fight him."
Neville paced back and forth nervously, Seamus keeping guard over him.
"Why does she want me to fight Harry?" Neville worried. "Harry hasn't done anything to either of us."
"That's not entirely true," Seamus said matter-of-factly. "He was the one that told us all that you had finked on our little prank."
"He did?" Neville gasped. "Why would he do that? I thought we were on the same side in the matter."
Seamus shrugged.
"I'm sorry about it, though, Seamus," Neville added. "You do believe that I'm sorry I told on you."
"Sure, I believe you," Seamus said. "We didn't mind it. Of course, Harry only wished us to think ill of you. He wanted us to hate you."
"Why?" Neville demanded. "I haven't done anything to Harry."
Just then, Dean walked over and signaled to Seamus. Seamus started down toward where Dean had left Harry and Ginny.
"Boy, is Harry vexed with you," Dean shook his head.
"Why?" Neville asked.
"Ginny, of course," Dean insisted. "Harry demands that you leave her alone or he'll mutilate you until you have to breath through your armpits."
"Why don't you just tell him to ask Ginny who she wants?" Neville posed as if it was some great idea.
"Oh, she wouldn't have that," Dean told him. "She wants to see you beat Harry."
"But I can't beat Harry!" Neville cried. "Harry's a much better wizard than I am. I'll only look the fool in front of her."
"She believes in you, Neville," Dean informed, placing a hand on Neville's shoulder. "Don't let her down."
Neville let out a long sigh, then nodded.
Dean and Seamus led Neville and Hope to each other. Hope bit her lip nervously, while Neville stood there sweating. Ginny stood back and watched worriedly.
"Ready?" Dean asked, moving off a bit with Seamus at his side. "Get set? Now!"
Hope and Neville stood frozen with wards raised. Neither would move. Finally, Neville casted a laughing spell at Hope. She busted up, then rolled on the ground laughing. Neville was beginning to feel quite pleased with himself, when Hope chuckled out "Furnuncalus." Neville seared in pain as boils broke out over his skin. Hope got to her feet, trying to quiet her giggles. Neville was still squirming, trying to rubbing all the boils.
"Are you all right, Neville?" Hope asked. "I-I'm sorry."
"Waddiwasi!" Neville said through clenched teeth.
The blast knocked Hope a few yards back. Hope regained her breath, got up, and charged back over to Neville, her wand raised.
"That's it!" Hope exclaimed. "Not more Miss Nice Guy!"
"Expelliarmus!"
Hope and Neville were both knocked off their feet and their wands flew into the air. Dean, Seamus, Hope and Neville looked at Ginny as she came up.
"You guys are idiots!" Ginny shouted. "What in all that's magic is wrong with you two?"
"But, Ginny," Neville began, "you wanted us to fight."
"I what?" Ginny asked in confusion.
"You sent me that letter," Neville insisted.
Dean and Seamus shifted their weight nervously.
"I sent you no letter," Ginny told him.
Neville fumbled through his robes and handed the parchment to her. She looked over it quickly.
"Oh dear," Ginny muttered. "This is not mine. This was written by Ron."
Hope, Neville, and Ginny looked to Dean and Seamus.
"Yup, Ron was behind it all," Dean insisted. "Can you believe him?"
"No," Seamus argued. "Ron was working with us."
Dean smacked himself in the forehead.
"We wrote the letter," Seamus began, "because we heard you two talking and knew he fancied you. We thought it would be a great laugh if we convinced him to do all these foolish things, then stood him up at the ball. I'm sorry, Neville. It was a really dirty thing to do."
"Oh," Neville said sadly. "So it was a joke, and Ginny never loved me?"
Ginny looked down at him in surprise. "You did all these crazy things because you thought I wanted you to?"
Neville nodded.
"That is the most-" Ginny began. "It's the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me. I didn't even know you felt that way."
Ginny smiled down on Neville, which made him blush.
"I know I'm a great blundering fool," Neville muttered, "and I'm covered in boils, but would you go to the ball with me?"
"I would love to," Ginny insisted. "I'll walk you to the hospital wing."
Ginny helped Neville to his feet, then the two walked toward Hogwarts together. That was one silly female off Hope's shoulders.
A/N: Another long chapter.
