I Can't Make You Love Me

by Zadia Grey

Detention With Neville

"You've been awful quiet lately, Ron. Is something wrong? Something to do with. . . Harry?" Hermione hissed over her book.

"You could say that," Ron grumbled, keeping his eyes downcast. "I found out I'm not the only one who loves Harry. . ."

"What?" her eyes grew wide.

"Don't act so surprised. Have you seen him lately?"

"Who?"

"Neville." Ron growled and his eyes seamed to darken at the sound of Neville's name on his lips.

Hermione gave a laugh. "I hardly think he's competition. He's a sweet guy and all, but hardly Harry's type."

"Oh? You know Harry's type now?"

"That's easy: you."

Ron's ears went pink.

"Hey guys. . ." Harry sighed as he suddenly appeared at Ron's side carrying a detention slip.

Ron's ears became even redder at the thought that Harry could have heard the conversation. . . "What's smatter?"

"I got a detention from Snape . . . Sounds like I'll be sharing it with Neville, too."

Ron felt his blood pressure go up.

The boys were told to meet Snape at his potions cupboard for their detention. Snape waited at the door with two turkey-feather dusters in his hand.

"Here. For your detention you will have to dust out my potions closet. No magic. If you break anything you'll have to suffer through yet another detention after this one," he aimed this comment at Neville in particular, "Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal," Harry confirmed. I'm amazed he didn't make us wear French maid uniforms. . .

"I'll be in my office grading papers. I should be back in an hour to check your progress."

"At least we don't have to go into the Forbidden Forest like first year," Neville gave a weak smile.

Harry smiled back and passed his friend one of the two dusters the Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher had handed him. "We had better get to work."

Harry climbed the ladder to begin at the top while Neville staid on the bottom shelves to keep from breaking anything. They would meet in the middle eventually.

"Damn at the dust!" shouted Harry as he wiped off a jar of gillyweed.

"I heard that about ninety percent of dust is human skin."

"You're kidding. That just made this chore a whole lot grosser. . . We're cleaning up bits of Severus Snape. Lovely."

Neville cracked up at Harry's remark and almost dropped the glass he was holding.

Harry began down the ladder and slipped without warming. His arm was scratched from elbow to palm after getting caught on one of the steps. Harry sat on the floor with a sore butt and examined the damage. Neville looked concerned as he rushed to Harry's side.

"It's nothing. I've been through worse. A troll, dragons, the Whomping Willow, giant spiders. . ."

"The merpeople, a basilisk, You-Know-Who. . .Here, let me." Neville took Harry's arm. "I have something that could help that. It's not exactly phoenix tears but it does the job." To Harry's surprise, he pulled out a few stalks of aloe.

"They use that in the muggle world a lot," commented Harry.

"I know. I started carrying some in my pocket because I'm so accident prone," he said as he cracked open a stalk and squeezed the inside onto the bleeding wound on his friend's arm. "And here's a bandana to stop the bleeding." Neville took out a piece of fabric and began winding it around Harry's arm. "Good as new," he said and knotted the bandage.

"Thanks Neville." Harry smiled gently and looked down at his arm. It didn't take long for him to realize that Neville had yet to let go of his hand. He began to gently stroke Harry's bandage in an absent-minded sort of way. It was almost as if Neville Longbottom had let go of reality for a little while. . . Not that it was a rare occurrence, but all the same. . .

"Neville?" whispered Harry gently.

"Hm?" Neville snapped back to reality. His eyes moved up from their hands and met two bright green eyes. Harry had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. . .

"You have something to tell me, don't you?"

"Um. . . I-I guess you could say that, H-Harry. . ." Neville stammered. He really hadn't planned on Harry finding out . . . ever . . . about his feelings for him. But that seamed to be out of his control now. Why hadn't he used more restraint? He supposed the buildup of sexual tension from six years had to come out someway. . .

Harry leaned in close to his friend. "Go ahead then. There's no time like the present."

Neville's eyes grew wide. "Well, H-Harry. . . Y-you've been nothing but kind to me over the last six years here at Hogwarts. I may have a very bad memory, but I can somehow remember every moment I've been with you. Silly, huh?"

Harry smiled. "Maybe it has something to do with me saving your remembrall in first year?"

"I hadn't thought of that," Neville said with a soft laugh. "But, I guess what I'm tryin to sat is. . . I care about you, Harry. Okay, maybe I. . . . I love you." He said the last words very softly so Harry could scarcely hear.

"Neville. . ." Harry whispered back softly.

"You don't have to say anything," Neville said, keeping his eyes averted. "I'm not all that smart either, but I still know I don't deserve you."

Harry placed his free hand on his friend's cheek. "Does that really matter?"

Neville's eyes widened. His heart began to race. What was Harry saying?

"I care about you, Neville. Not as much as you care about me really, nor in the same way. I love someone else, but if I didn't. . ." he leaned in a little more.

"That's still a no, huh?"

"I'm afraid so. Sorry."

Neville closed his eyes. He could feel his already fragile heart begin to shatter. . . "Can I still love you anyway?"

"If you want . . . even though nothing may ever happen between us."

"I don't mind. But. . ."

Harry looked up expectantly.

"Can I . . . Just this once . . . Kiss you? Maybe?" Neville flushed at the audacity of his question.

Harry arched an eyebrow. "I don't see why not."

His face became a little brighter by his friend's answer. Neville leaned forward, trembling slightly. He touched Harry's cheek gently, marveling at how soft and smooth his friend's skin was. Neville then pressed his lips softly against Harry's. After a few blissful moments, he let go very reluctantly. Both boys looked away from each other out of embarrassment.

"We'd better get the dusting done. Snape will have our heads if he sees we've done so little."

Neither boy noticed that someone was stalking the halls that night, nor did they know he had seen everything that had happened in Professor Snape's potion cupboard between the two that night. He gave a sneer and rubbed his hands together. This could definitely be used to his advantage. . .

AN: Okay, I had to let Neville have a happy moment. I always feel a bit sorry for him, what with his parents and all. . . Have you seen how he's changed in the movies? OO He's not as pudgy as he used to be. . .

I have yet to write the next chapter so it may take longer to get it posted. Be patient please! Thanx to all who reviewed! You're 2 kind! TT