As can be observed by my meager writing talent, I have absolutely no part in the creation or ownership of the Harry Potter books, and by extension anything within them. The only profit I get from this fic is the lightening of guilt because I am finally writing a fic instead of just reading, and, when the reviews are so kind as to toss me a crumb (yes, a desperate bid for reviews – shameless, aren't I?) a feeling of total ecstasy, all of which leave me with no monetary profit.

And finally, if you are still reading this, this is SLASH. If you don't like it, why the hell did you read past chapter one?

Oh, and sorry it took me so long to update. sheepish grin.

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Neville didn't even realize he was running until complete exhaustion forced him to stop. Minute tremors shaking his body, Neville slowly lowered himself to the ground in the middle of the unfamiliar, dark, hallway and buried his face in his knees. Why did things like that always have to happen to him? He wondered desperately. If his Gran was to be believed, it was because he deserved it. Neville was a disgusting, worthless squib of a wizard. Of course Snape would never hold any respect for Neville: the simple fact was, was that Neville didn't deserve Snape's respect, his love… he wondered that the man had even tolerated him in his class this long! But, Neville had thought that Snape was different from everyone else. He was kind, compassionate, and he saw so much more. Mentally banishing the tears that had been threatening his eyes, Neville forced himself to grin at the probable reactions of the student body if they ever heard him think that of the Dreaded, Snarky Professor Snape.

But to Neville, each word was true. Serverus Snape was the most wonderful thing in Neville's life. Attempting to shake off his sudden depression, Neville got up and continued to wander down the hallway, no longer frantically running but dreamily focusing his thoughts on his beloved. Neville knew from painful experience that tears and depression would bring nothing but a horrid stomach ache and a stuffy nose. Besides that, Neville liked to think that his ability to recover from depression and stay constantly optimistic was something that made him the perfect match for Serverus. After all, as much as he adored him, Neville was aware that Serverus was indeed, a snarky bastard. He needed somebody bright and happy to drag him out of his pessimistic snarkiness, and Neville wouldn't be dragged down – for long at least – by Serverus's biting insults. So Neville thought about Snape, his brilliance, his strength, the caressing movements of his hands as he demonstrated the proper procedure for chopping lizards tails… his smile.

Neville had only seen Snape's smile once, but the image was enough to change his entire life.

Flashback

For once in his life Neville wasn't afraid. Usually he was so self conscience and terrified that he would make a fool of himself that he ended up making even worse a mess than he had feared. But today things were different. Neville had been accepted into Hogwarts! What was more, his Gran has smiled at him, and his Uncle Alfred had clapped him on the back and told Neville that he always knew he could do it. Neville barely repressed his snort at this. Not a single member of his family had ever thought he could do 'it'. It, of course, being anything remotely acceptable. Last night he had even heard his Aunt Gocky suggesting to his Gran that she put him up for adoption in the Muggle world. Clearly he was not suited to wizarding life. However, that didn't matter: today he had been accepted to Hogwarts and for the first time his family approved of him.

"Come boy!" Uncle Alfred roared excitedly. "We're off to Diagon Alley! I'm going to buy you a toad!"

Neville blinked. A toad?

"Don't just sit there and blink boy!" his Gran said sharply. "Thank your Uncle for his generosity – although you do deserve it this time, Hogwarts is one of the best wizarding schools – and let's go! We to get you your school supplies and your precious cousin Bentley needs new robes."

Neville's beautiful day came crashing to a halt. Cousin Bentley. Lovely. That spoiled brat always ruined everything. Whatever precious Bentley wanted, he got. Weather it be Neville's piece of cake at Neville's own birthday or a brand new broom, Bentley was a spoiled, manipulative little brat dotted on by the entire family. Oh well, Bentley hadn't gotten into Hogwarts, Neville had. And even if no one else seemed to notice this fact, it was something for Neville to cling.

"Come on, Neville!" Uncle Alfred shouted, scooping Neville into the air and tossing him out the door with one ham hand. "We've got shopping to do!" Neville had to grin at his Uncle's boisterousness. No, he wouldn't let Bentley ruin this day.

Three hours later Neville had just about tossed that notion into the garbage. Bentley had, yet again, managed to screw up Neville's life in a fascinatingly boring, yet totally usual way. Bentley had demanded ice cream. Bentley had gotten his ice cream. Bentley had then decided he wanted Neville's ice cream. Unfortunately, while reaching to grasp Neville's single scoop of lime flavored honey ice cream, Bentley had startled a cat sleeping under the table, who had clawed his ways up Neville's robe, causing Neville to shriek and his magic to turned the table in front of them into a huge potted cactus, causing both Bentley and Neville to go flying in opposite directions. Neville's family had rushed toward the airborne Bentley, attempting to break his fall, knocking a pot of floo powder into the fire at the exact same moment that Neville went crashing into it. And thus Neville found himself being spewed out of a fireplace into the middle of "Lizards Breath and Serpents Stare". A famously dark potions shop. In Knockturn Alley. Holding a single scoop of lime-flavored honey ice cream. Sometimes, Neville hated his life.

"And just what do we have hear?" A slimy voice intruded upon Neville's daze. Neville looked up to see a spidery old man half glaring, half sneering into his face.

"Ummm, there was an accident," Neville murmured, looking around frantically for an escape. He wished his Gran was here. She was tough, she could take on anything. Neville was just scared.

"An accident, hmmmmmm?" The evil old man gave a gruesome smile in Neville's direction. "Well, this turns out to be my lucky day. Here am I, running low on little boys fingernails, and what but happens, but a little boy drops right into my shop!" Neville gulped in terror. He needed his fingernails! Slowly he began to back away from the creepy old man. There had to be a way out! And then he heard it. The most wonderful, sexy – although he wouldn't realize that fact until years later – voice Neville had ever known.

"Oh, stop teasing him Mr. Hearse, you have more important things to do. Like filling my order for herring livers." The newcomer's sweet voice caused the creepy man to startle and don and entirely new attitude.

"Yes, of course Professor Snape. Right away. It will just take me a moment, I got some in fresh this morning! There are in the back! I'll get them out right away!"

"Then refrain from blathering and get them!" Professor Snape bit out irritably. Then he turned to Neville. "Now boy, where do you come from?" Neville just stared at him. The man had stood up for Neville! Anyone else would have laughed at his distress. Obviously this wasn't a man. He was an angel in disguise.

"Well?" Snape snapped. Neville blushed.

"S-Sorry Sir. I was at Flutties Ice Cream Shop when Bentley scared the cat and …"

"Yes, yes," Snape said impatiently. Then he grabbed some floo powder and through it into the fire stating "Flutties!" and shoving Neville quickly toward the fire. Neville had just enough time to yelp his thanks and shove his ice cream into Snape's hand in gratitude before going into the flames. As he was pulled into the floo network he caught a glimpse of Snape. He was staring at the ice cream in his hand and … smiling. It was a sight Neville would never forget.

End Flashback

Neville sighed. Unbeknownst to him at the time, he had lost his heart to Professor Snape that day. Brushing his hand against a moss-covered wall, Neville suddenly frowned. Speaking of lost, where was he? He tried to peer down the hallway to find some sort of identifying stature, but it was so dark he couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him. Fighting a feeling of fright Neville determinedly turned around and began to walk the way he had come. He couldn't remember taking any turns… maybe he had gone down some stairs. Neville couldn't remember, he had been too wrapped up in memories to pay attention to where he was going. Oh well, ' you couldn't have wandered too far,' he determinedly told himself. And this is Hogwarts, one of the safest places in the wizarding world. Off to the corner of his eye Neville saw something move. Hoping it was some sort of portrait which could give him directions he moved toward it. And then realized that this was no portrait, but a deadly plant, "Devils Snare."

"HELP!" he screamed as the plants tendrils grasped at his body, causing his wand to fly uselessly to the floor.