From Orphan to a Dragon's Child

The Letter

Immediately spotting Harry's wave, Neville sped up his casual pace, and sat down in front of his smiling friend.

"Good morning Neville, feeling good?" Harry's light line of care made Neville smile at his friend

"Slept like the dead so I'm most definitely feeling good today!" Neville jubilantly responded

"Excellent news! My Yule Ball robes arrived this morning and I'm afraid I will be late to our morning Herbology lesson today, for I'll be explaining the nature of Tybalt to the heads."

At the mention of his name Tybalt, slithered off of Harry's shoulders and made a greeting lick at Neville's resting hand, receiving a head scratch in return, before slithering back to his position. Nodding his head at the news, Neville perked up at the mention of Harry receiving his Yule Ball robes. 

"Your robes? Have you got a partner for the ball yet?" Sighing and closing his eyes at the lucky girl Harry had asked he was surprised when Harry let out an ominous cackle, looking up from his full English breakfast, he was rewarded with the sight of Harry smirking in glee.

"You see...I have managed to secure the one and only Minerva McGonagall as my partner!"

At hearing his whisper, Neville choked on his eggs, summoning man pairs of eyes over to the pair sat at the end of the table. Gulping from his goblet of orange juice, he pated his chest and resumed his stare of shock at his grinning friend.

"Ah, I would have wanted to take you as my partner Neville,  but the opportunity of one-upping McGonagall was too great...Have you found a partner yet?"

Hearing Harry confess his first choice of a partner, Neville felt considerably better about himself, shaking his head, he bit into a slice of toast, sighing in shame.

"Ah, there is no need to bring a partner! After all, you can come and join me whenever I finish dancing with Minerva, heck even Albus might let you dance with him too! It'll be a fun time to hang out!" The enthusiasm of his friend, brought a smile to Neville's face. Shaking his head in exasperation he finished his breakfast.

"Only you would have the balls to be Professor McGonagall's partner and maintain a first name basis with both her and Professor Dumbledore" He continued to shake his head even when Harry's guffaws broke out across the Great Hall.

~

After breakfast was devoured and many students began to leave for their first period, Harry waved off Neville, promising to bring Professor Sprout with him to the Herbology lesson in one piece.

Slipping past all of the students in the corridors, he expertly avoided the awaiting confrontation of Draco Malfoy, sharply turning a corner and stalking up to the intimidating Gargoyle defending the front of Professor Dumbledore's office. 

"Lemon drops?" Repeating yesterday's password was a good try, but to Albus, who changes his password at least five times a week depending on his current sweet addiction, the password was incorrect.  About to rattle off numerous sweet names he was halted by the ominous presence of the Potions Master behind him.

"Toffee Nut" The smooth curt voice of his Professor, made Harry fully turn around to face him.

"Professor Snape, thank you for giving the password, I was just about to rattle off a thousand ridiculous sweet names" Bowing his head he stepped to the side and allowed his Professor to pass first.

"It is not a trivial matter Mr Potter, but your gratitude is accepted none of the less, however refrain from using your overly sweet pretence of manner in front of me again or I shall begin seeing cotton candy golems floating around you." His snide voice was considerably dimmer than usual, and so in return Harry refused to allow himself a smirk in reply. Bowing his head once more, he avoided confrontative eye contact and followed behind his Professor who was already climbing the staircase.