Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
(Master to Kitten, Kitten to Master)
'Thoughts'
[Kitten speech]
Comfort
(With Harry)
Harry was in the library doing homework. He was researching neko friendly potions for his potion class. He wanted to make sure he didn't miss any. As he worked he heard a whispered argument. It was Ash and his brother Oak. They seemed to be fighting. Harry tried to ignore it but the two were getting louder.
"I was asking for advice, not a lecture!" Ash hissed.
"You want to steal someone's mate!" That caught Harry's attention.
"No! What I said was that I have a crush on someone's mate and I want help in getting rid of said crush!" He yelled.
"What is going on?" The librarian asked.
"Nothing." Oak quickly said.
"I'm sorry. I have a crush on someone and recently learned she has a mate. I asked my brother for advice on getting over said crush but he believes I want to steal her away from her mate." Ash explained.
"I see." She said, "Keep it down."
"Yes ma'am." He said, wondering if she believed that he was trying to steal someone's mate.
"That's it?" Oak asked in shock.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"He wants to steal someone's mate!" He shouted.
"That isn't what he said." Harry spoke up.
"Excuse me?" Ash glared at him.
"He said he wanted help getting over his feelings for the person he was crushing on. Not once did he say he was going to steal her." He defended.
"How can you defend him?" He asked.
"Because he hasn't done anything wrong." He said. "People get feelings and that's okay. Sure he is crushing on Neville's mate but he isn't planning on acting on it."
"You know?" The two were shocked.
"Yes. I noticed it when we were introducing ourselves. I also know you overheard Neville telling one of our friends. I saw the sadness and I saw you avoid Caroline after that." He revealed.
"O-oh." Ash looked scared.
"It's okay. Like I said, people get feelings." He said.
"But-" Harry cut him off.
"No buts. I would be mad if he pursued his feelings. Instead he is asking his older brother for help in getting rid of those feelings." He said.
"Like you would understand." Oak sneered.
"I have had two people try to steal my mate." The neko said.
"I-" This time he cut himself off since he had no idea what to say.
"Well said child. Now make sure to keep it down. Ash, there are books about feelings in section R, Row F." The librarian said.
"Thank you ma'am." He bowed his head to her.
"You're welcome." She walked away.
"Harry, does Neville know?" Ash asked.
"No. He never noticed and I didn't want to worry him. He likes you and if his friend was trying to steal his mate he would be heartbroken. He would also feel guilty if he knew his friend was having a hard time." He said.
"Good." That was a relief. "I want to get over my feelings before I say anything to him."
"Okay." He nodded.
Ash went to look at those books. He hoped one would help him. Oak sneered at the neko and left. He didn't like how he was being talked to. He decided it was time to cause a little trouble in order to teach his brother a lesson. He hated that his little brother was trying to steal another person's mate. After what happened with their parents, Oak thought Ash would know better but apparently not.
"LONGBOTTOM!" He found the person he had been looking for.
"Y-yeah?" The startled fairy looked at the hybrid.
"We need to talk. Privately." He said.
"O-okay." He didn't want to be alone with him.
"Great." He pulled him into an empty classroom. "I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, especially since your friend Potter knows but my brother is after your mate."
"Brother?" He wondered if it was Ash.
"Ash. He is my baby brother. Back when our parents were going here a werewolf tried to steal our mom even though she and my dad were dating and it was common knowledge that they were mates. When that didn't work out he tired again atAsh's sixth birthday. I would have thought Ash would know better because of that but apparently not. He just asked me how to steal her away." He said.
"That's not what Harry and Asim told me." He said.
"W-what?" Oak was shocked.
"Harry messaged me on the mirror phone and let me know what happened and Asim, who had been in the library and witnessed what happened, messaged me the same thing. To be honest I already knew Ash was crushing on my mate and was avoiding her because of it." He said.
"Oh my- I can't believe he fooled you all. I will make sure you all get help!" He left after that.
"I should let the RA know." He sighed.
Neville messaged Harry and Asim before going to the RA. He let her know what was happening. She promised to talk some sense into Oak. Next Neville went to find Ash. The hybrid gave him a nervous, guilty smile.
"I am so sorry." He said.
"Do you plan on trying to steal Caroline away from me?" He asked.
"No!" He would never do that.
"Good. Then you have nothing to apologize for. Crushes aren't something you can control." He said.
"True." He said.
"I just wanted to make sure you know your brother is crazy." He said.
"I noticed." He sighed.
Neville placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Not really." His eyes teared up. "I just wanted help getting rid of my crush on Caroline and my brother blew up on me."
"So I heard. I am sorry he reacted that way. If you want to talk, I am here for you." He said.
"Thank you." Tears flowed down his cheeks.
"You're welcome." He said.
"I just feel so guilty." He said.
"Why? You can't help that you like her that way and you are respecting the fact that she is my mate." He asked.
"Did my brother tell you about someone trying to steal my mom away from my dad?" He asked.
"Yes." He nodded.
"Well my brother also reminded me and said I was just like that man." He said.
"That was uncalled for. If you were like that man then you would be trying to steal Caroline away from me. Instead you are trying to get rid of your feelings." He said.
"You are being more of a brother to me than Oak is." Ash admitted.
"He is stuck on one thing and is being obsessed." He said.
"I know. He has always been like that. I should have known better than to ask him for advice." He sighed.
"Maybe. You were just hoping for some help." He said.
"I was." He said.
"Don't stress about it too much. It will do more harm than good." Neville said.
"I won't." He said.
"Good. I am still here for you if you want to talk but I'll be in section H, row R." He told him.
"Thanks." He smiled, wiping his face.
"You're welcome." He smiled before walking away.
(Next Day)
The next day Ash was in herbology. Neville was with him. They weren't the only ones shocked when Oak burst into the greenhouse. Behind him were his parents. They looked concerned and shocked as Oak looked pissed off. He pointed at both Neville and Ash.
"That's Neville. The one Ash is trying to steal from." He said.
"Calm down son." His father said.
"But-"
"What is going on?" Professor Celeste asked.
"My brother is trying to steal Neville's mate and has everyone convinced that he isn't." Oak glared at him.
Everyone looked at Ash. His face was red with anger, embarrassment, humiliation, horror. He wished he could say this surprised him but it didn't. Just before he could speak, his father clapped his hands. All attention went to him. He gave his oldest son a disappointed look. He was very upset with him.
"You told us your brother was injured." He said.
"He is. Why else would he try to steal someone's mate?!" He was upset that he was once more looked at like the bad guy. 'Ash is the one in the wrong.'
"Ash?" His mom looked at him.
"Do you remember me writing to you about Caroline?" He asked.
"Yes. You said you had a crush on her." She said.
"Well, a few days ago I learned that she is Neville's mate. Of course I was upset about that. I felt like I was wrong for it. I started to avoid her. I couldn't stop thinking about her so I went to Oak for help. All I wanted was advice on getting over a crush and he yelled at me for attempting to steal her from his mate. Neville's friend Harry stuck up for me and then Neville told Oak what he was told. Neville then came to comfort me. I am not trying to steal Caroline. I am just getting rid of my crush on her." He explained. 'Why did he have to do this?'
"LAIR!" HIs brother yelled.
"Enough!" His father glared at him.
"But dad-"
"I said enough. Professor Celeste I apologize for my son's behavior. Oak, let's go!" He ordered.
"Yes father." He glared at his brother before leaving with his father.
"I am so sorry Ash. I thought we had overcome this issue." She said.
"It's okay mom. I had hoped my letter to you would have arrived before now." He sighed.
"We were in America for business. We were in a new state every day. The owl was probably confused." She explained.
"That makes sense." He said.
"We will talk later. I need to go help your father." She said.
"Okay." He nodded.
She left the class. Professor Celeste continued with her lesson. After class she checked in on him. He then left with Neville. The fairy had comforted him once more. HIs other classmates did the same. They all told him that he wasn't at fault. He just hoped that now his brother would leave him alone.
