Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, Enough said.

Later that evening found Neville in the library pouring over books, hoping to ease his troubled mind. Nothing would release him from the Pandora's Box he had seemed to open and place himself in. Thoughts of his afternoon tea with the other Slytherins ran itself over and over in his mind, along with conversations from the past few days. Nothing was making any sense, and it did not settle well with the ex-Gryffindor.

For his entire life Neville Longbottom had been seen as a clumsy, unintelligent boy, and it was no different now. Neville could see it in the eyes of the other Slytherins. They thought he was useless, they didn't want to associate with him, and Neville didn't blame them. Neville was used to being the odd man out and feeling unwanted, and the only person who hadn't made him feel that was Draco Malfoy.

Sure the Slytherin hated him and always made his life unbearable with his digs and jibs but Draco had always made sure to single Neville out make him feel like a person and not just a tag along. And for that Neville would always be grateful. The young man was going to change the way the world viewed him; there was no doubt in his mind of that fact.

Neville sighed and closed the book he had been reading. It was no use; he was to wound up for reading right now. He sat back in his chair, ignoring the whispered rumors that floated to him from the others in the library. The resorting was going to be the hottest gossip at Hogwarts until Quiditch season started. Most of the things he was hearing were untrue; some were so outrageous he was amazed that anyone even believed them. No one would believe the truth, especially from him. He had trouble believing it all himself. You see Neville had always been seen as helpless and dimwitted.

When his parents had been cursed to insanity, his relatives had babied him. 'Oh poor little Neville, no parents to take care of him, he'll never be the same. The poor little thing, however will he survive? Who's going to take care of him? He needs a firm and so he doesn't turn out soft.' It had annoyed the young boy to always have people telling him who to be and how to act and still did to this day. Everyone seemed to think Neville was not capable of taking care of himself. Everyone thought Neville was soft and a bit touched in the head. He couldn't count the amount of times he had been told he was never going to amount to anything.

The shy boy had sure shown them this summer. They had been eating dinner; the whole family had gotten together, everyone even those cousins no one wanted to talk about have shown up. Neville's uncle Elwood, had been annoying Neville, on his case about something like he always was. Without even thinking Neville had taken his wand out and pointed at his poor Uncle Elwood, hexing the man into a wall. Oddly enough the family wasn't a bit surprised, they had been waiting for the young wizard to hex someone. And Neville was shocked when his Gran started shouting in excitement.

Neville was confused, why would someone be excited to watch a family member hex another family member? To understand why they wanted Neville to Hex someone, one must go back to the first dark wizard, perhaps not even that far. Neville Long bottom's great grandparents, Charles and Rose Longbottom were dark wizards of the darkest kind. They had raised Neville's gram to be the same way. It was Neville's parents who rebelled against the family way. Frank and Alice Longbottom had gone to Dumbledore behind their parents back and become members of the light side.

Neville's grandmother knew that Neville himself would also become part of the light side. But when his parents had been sent to St. Mungo's hope was renewed within her heart. The boy's grams pushed him, always comparing him to the light's golden boy. 'Neville you should be more like Harry Potter.' For years that was all the young man had heard. And finally he had snapped, and hexed poor Uncle Elwood. That was when Neville learned the truth of his past. He was as dark as the Malfoy's and just as much of a pureblood as they were.

Neville sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly. He opened them and groaned when he saw Crabbe and Goyle heading straight for him. Neville groaned. "Neville, you weren't supposed to leave without us. Draco's been fuming since we learned you had left. He's not happy at all." Crabbe said as Goyle began to pack the boys belongings up.

"Of course he isn't happy; I went against Lord Malfoy's wishes. I wonder if he plans to punish me. Come on boys can't let his majesty wait for little old me." Neville said standing up and leading the two boys out of the library.

Draco was waiting for them when they returned to the common room. "I thought I made it perfectly clear that you were not to leave alone. Something could have happened to you. How are the other Slytherins supposed to look up to you and follow your lead, if you cannot even follow an order?" Draco asked in a huff.

Neville glared at the boy in front of him. "I am not one of your little minions out to do your bidding. You have no say in what I can and cannot do. I will not follow you Draco Malfoy even if my life depended on it. I don't want anything to do with you or your bloody high court. Why don't you bugger off and leave me alone for once."

Without another word Neville stormed off to the dorms. Draco was fuming; he dismissed Crabbe and Goyle, and sat down near the fire. This little temper tantrum from Neville was not what he needed right now it wasn't something anyone needed. And Draco had no idea what he was going to do about it.

Harry, who had come into the common room during Neville's little speech, approached the blonde Slytherin. "Really Draco did you have to anger him? Neville's been going through a lot. He hasn't told me why he's gone and gotten himself resorted into Slytherin, and if you annoy him like this all the time, he will never tell us. He's right you know he won't follow you, especially not now. He doesn't trust you Draco, and he's got good right not to. After all you've tormented him for years. Just be careful around him. I don't want him to hate us or anything." Harry said.

"I'm sorry Harry, really I am. It's just when we couldn't find him, I panicked. I was worried about him. He means a lot to me Harry, more then you will ever know. If he isn't too angry with me when he gets back, I'll be sure to apologize. It's the least I could do." Draco said with a sigh.

Harry patted his shoulder awkwardly and sat next to him. "He will appreciate that Draco."

The boys sat in silence each lost in their own thoughts. While Neville was in the library, Harry had been in an unused potions classroom. Unable to get a heritage potion from a seller he had been making one. He had finished it this afternoon, but had not followed through and actually used it.

Harry wasn't sure if he wanted to know the truth, sure it would help him learn the things he needed to know. But did he really want to betray James and Lily in that manner? And Neville had a point about it not only affecting himself, but others as well. Harry was torn. If his parents were someone other than the Potters, it could change his world. Everything he ever believed to be true would become a lie. And Harry wasn't sure if he was ready to face that.

It was bad enough that his friends had turned their back on him, but to have the rest of the school and possibly the wizarding world turn on him. To see things differently and to be seen differently were things he wasn't sure he would ever be ready for. He didn't think he would be able to survive that. The thought of learning the truth was pulling him to using the potion but thoughts of changing his world were keeping him from moving forward.. Harry rubbed his eyes tiredly, and sat back in his chair. This was getting him nowhere.

Draco had watched Harry for a few moments before, turning back to the fire and getting lost in his own thoughts. He had hurt Neville, and he wasn't sure how to fix it. The last thing he wanted was the brown-haired Slytherin to be mad at him. He couldn't afford to lose Neville because of some silly little fight. Harry had been no help in offering the blonde a way to get back into Neville's good graces. It looked like he was on his own for now.

Draco's thoughts strayed from Neville and focused on Harry. The ex-Gryffindor was slowly driving him mad. Harry had plenty of opportunities to find out the truth, but Draco knew something was stopping him. And knowing Harry it was his Gryffindor pride, Draco only wished he were able to come right out and tell the boy the truth.

Sadly he couldn't, you see Draco was under a Wizard's Oath to keep Harry's family lineage a secret. Something he wished he wasn't sworn to do now. All these secrets and lies were wearing on the blonde, and he'd be damned if he left anyone know that. Draco Malfoy was not one to show emotion on that level for it only showed weakness, and allowed your enemies to wiggle in deeper under your skin.

Both boys were drawn out of their thoughts by the slamming of a dorm door. A few minutes later, a very irritated Neville Longbottom stormed back into the common room. He made his way straight for Draco and Harry.

"Malfoy if you don't call off your goons I'm going to cause them physical harm, and it won't be pretty." Neville practically growled out his request, causing the other boys to look at him strangely.

"What are you talking about? What goons?"

"Crabbe and Goyle have been sitting in front of the bloody dorm door glaring at me whenever I come near them. I punched Goyle before they moved away from the door to let me out. Now call them off!" Neville shouted at the blonde.

Harry was trying his best to stifle his laughter so as not to anger the brown-haired boy any further. Draco was clearly amused as well, though he hid it much better. "I'm sorry Neville, I wasn't aware they were still guarding you. I will call them off for now, but when you leave the dorm they will follow you again. I'm sorry but I can't risk anything not right now."

The boy nodded, and sat next to Harry. The raven-haired boy leaned over and whispered to him, "I've got that Heritage potion, we can use it whenever we are ready, thought we should do that sooner rather than later."

Neville nodded, and once again the 3 boys were lost in their own thoughts.