Title: Attraction To A Hufflepuff

By: Smurf

Pairing: Nedric (ahh… the Nedric goodness!)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter but if I did then you had best bet that Nedricness would have worked its way in there somehow!

Summary: Nedric. Neville's POV as he ponders Cedric. Companion piece to Attraction To A Wallflower.

Note: I've decided to not rework it and simply hope that this chapter makes up for the previous one and its high level of suck. Enjoy the Nedric goodness!

Attraction To A Hufflepuff
Part III

The summer between second and third year began as all summers did. Neville stayed with his grandmother, and every so often they would venture out into the wizarding world in order to run errands, or to catch up with old friends. Not that they were his friends mind you, but rather his grandmothers, and more often than not, they came to the house, so Neville rarely got to leave the grounds. He couldn't say that he minded really, being confined to the estate only meant that he had a whole summer to dig around in the garden, and fiddle with the plants in the green house his Grandfather- may he rest in peace- had magiced on to the grounds years before Neville's birth.

When Neville did get the chance to leave the house, it was often to visit St. Mungo's Hospital psychiatric ward, which housed both of his parents. Each visit consisted of Neville's grandmother complaining at the nursing staff over the state of the room her beloved son, and daughter-in-law resided in, and asking the doctors question after question about their progress. All of this of course was after she had sat and had a nice little chat with the two addled adults, not that it mattered really; Neville was almost certain that they weren't paying attention to her ramble about old Mrs. Cho's fabulous Chinese medicinal tea.

Neville was often glad when his Grandmother left him alone with his parents so that he could get a word in edgewise, and let them know what was going on in his life.

Talking to his parents was always far safer than talking to his grandmother. They didn't talk back for one thing, they just let him say what he needed to say, and they didn't judge him for it at all… though that could have been because they didn't have the mental capacity to comprehend his habitual confessions.

"… You see Mum," Neville smiled as he brushed some of her sandy hair out of her eyes, making sure to move slowly so as not to startle her, "school isn't all that bad," he continued. "I do wish Gran would give in and let me have my own wand though. I really am rubbish with Dad's. Mr. Olivander- you remember him from when you got your own wand, right? … Well, he said that it was important for the wand and wizard to fit each other, and I just don't seem to fit Dad's."

From down the hall Neville could hear his Grandmother returning to the room, and paused a moment in his one sided conversation. Alice (his Mum) took advantage of the break, and rummaged through the side table near her bed to produce a toffee wrapper, which glittered metallic yellow and black, before holding it out proudly to Neville.

"Thanks Mum," Neville said as he took the small gift. "You know, this reminds me of someone," a small blush settled on Neville's round face. "I go to school with him Mum," Neville continued. He might as well tell someone, and this wasn't exactly the type of thing he could tell his uptight Grandmother, or his dorm mates; a small smile appeared on the boys face as he continued to talk about the boy who had managed to worm his way into his thoughts ever since the middle of second year when Lavender Brown had pointed him out during a Quidditch match. Neville had noticed the boy after that during meals in the Great Hall, and on the train ride home from school some weeks before when he had caught the older boy staring in his direction for just a fraction too long. It hadn't been the first time either.

Neville could quite clearly recall several instances during his time at the school when he had turned around, or looked up, only to find the handsome Hufflepuff glancing in his direction. It made him feel… safe, for lack of a better word, because when Cedric watched him, it wasn't in that nerve wracking I-know-you'll-mess-this-up-somehow-Longbottom-what-a-dissapointment-you-are sort of way that Professor Snape watched him, nor was it in the predatory manner of his own personal tormentor, Draco Malfoy. When Cedric watched him, it was in a curious, and almost protective way.

Yes, that was it, when Cedric watched him, he felt protected. That was how he had known that his admiration for his schoolmate had gone beyond the realm of respecting the elder boy and had turned into somewhat of a schoolboy crush.

Of course, that particular summer had some rather unusual events occur as well; for example, Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban Prison- something that was unprecedented. The story was all over the Daily Prophet, The Wizarding Times, and even The Quibbler, though their take on it was much different than the other papers.

Neville would be glad to get to Hogwarts where he wouldn't have to worry about escaped murderers. Because contrary to popular belief, Hermione Granger wasn't the only one who had read Hogwarts: A History, and he knew that the school was among the most secure in the world.

Neville made sure that Trevor was still safe in his pocket as he boarded the Hogwarts express and said farewell to his Gran before finding himself a compartment where he could possibly take a nap.

His grandmother was a habitual early riser, however she usually allowed him to sleep in later, but not this day. She had wanted him up bright and early- though it could hardly have been called bright as the sun hadn't even risen at the time- to make sure that he had packed everything he would need for the school year, and a few things he was fairly certain he wouldn't need at all. Still, she had insisted saying that it was better safe than sorry.

Being safe was definitely something young Neville would have preferred, however, fate seemed to have different ideas; the annual train ride to Hogwarts had been anything but, what with Dementors not only delaying, but actually boarding the train in search of something… though what it was he couldn't rightly guess at the time.

School was more or less the same with a few changes. Hagrid had taken over the Care of Magical Creatures class, and though that could be a bit frightening at times, Neville couldn't thing of a better being for the job. Hagrid and animals, were like Professor Sprout and plants; they just went together. They had anew Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher… Again. His name was Remus Lupin, and Neville rather liked him as a professor. There were other changes as well. Security was tighter, very much so. That was definitely something different.

Dementors, vile creatures that made Neville cringe, were let loose to guard the grounds, and Hogsmead. Neville understood the reasoning behind the Dementors presence. But that didn't mean he had to like it; he wasn't the only one unnerved by their presence either. It seemed that his friend and roommate Harry Potter was adverse to them as well. Though, he had never seen Harry so disturbed by anything before. Not even the night that Sirius Black managed to find a way into the school, where he attacked the Fat Lady. Harry had shown concern then, true, but it was nothing like the fear he showed when facing a Dementor.

That night the student body stayed in the Great Hall, sleeping in bedrolls that the staff had provided. Neville had chose one after some shuffling about the room, making certain that he was a suitable distance from Draco and his goons, for though Neville doubted that they would attempt anything at that moment, there was always the possibility, and he wasn't about to make himself an even easier target for the icy-eyed, platinum blond.

In the back of his mind, as he settled down to sleep, Neville wondered about Cedric, and his whereabouts. It wasn't until the following morning that he realized just how close to his crush he had been. When Neville awoke he had sat up, rubbed the sleep from his eyes, stretched- much like a cat would- and finally opened his eyes. Cedric was right in front of him, with a rather obvious case of bed-head, and a pleasant smile gracing his face.

Then the older boy had spoke, "Good morning, Neville." The greeting was simple but it was enough to cause the young Gryffindor's heartbeat to racing.

It was as if Neville's brain- though he was used to it being somewhat addled during classes- had completely deserted him. He smiled more out of nervousness than anything, as he was uncertain of what to do, or say. Luckily the good manners that his Gran had instilled in him didn't require that he used thought, so thoroughly were they ingrained into his behavioral patterns.

"Oh, good morning Cedric," the words were out of his mouth before he knew it, and a strange sort of relief washed over him before he turned away to hide the blush that he was certain was creeping across his features.

That one moment had been the highlight of Neville's year. He had actually managed to speak to the object of his affections with out making too much of a fool of himself. All in all he was mightily impressed with himself; he hadn't even stuttered! Even with everything else that went on that year, Harry's Quidditch injury, the capture and the subsequent escape of Sirius Black, and the disappearance of Buckbeak before his scheduled execution, it was that one moment that stuck in the sandy haired youth's memory as he headed home for the summer holidays.

Who knew, perhaps Neville would even gather enough courage to tell the older boy about his fledgling crush on him… or at least drop a small hint or two.

Okay, so this is really, really late… but its long-ish, and its Nedric-ish, and what else could you ask for? I apologize for my procrastination. Oh, and as SasukeBlade pointed out in a review, the first two parts were pretty much just exposition.

(Hits head repeatedly against keyboard while repeating the phrase "Bad, Smurf, bad!" over and over again)

Hope you all ejoyed this installment!

See you in the concluding chapter, and then later on in Nedric!

Hugs and Oreos!
Smurf.