the love of the rose

-

Neville Longbottom was many things, clumsy, nervous, a human disaster… but one thing he was not, was a traitor.

So he stood tall, and denied with uneasy stutters ever seeing anyone named Harry Potter. Harry Potter who?

Boy-Who-Lived? Never heard of him. Maybe the opposite direction?

As the horde ran off, Neville slumped. That was terrifying.

“Merlin's beard!” Neville jumped, spinning wide eyed. A small figure appeared out of seemingly no where, a cloak clutched in his hand. “Thanks Nev! Means a lot, mate. I thought they were really going to sniff me out for a minute there!”

Harry Potter grinned at him, peering up at him through the round lenses of his glasses. Some thought they made the boy rather dorky looking, but Neville found them endearing.

Then again, Neville found everything about Harry endearing. Like the way his hair was falling in his face, and when his nose scrunched up on a particularly difficult problem, or or when he did that thing with the blood pops Merlin those killed him.

He had bought Harry a whole set of lollipops, just to die over and over and over again, in the beautiful agony called teenage hormones.

Hell, Neville liked Harry's voice. The way it pitched low, and almost raspy, but it was normally soft and soothing. Like now, when Harry was trying to get his attention-

“-ville!”

Neville blinked and snapped his body up straight “Uh- um-... What?” He said quite intelligently.

Harry smiled, and shook his head in amusement. “Nothing, nothing. Where do you go, when you zone off like that? “ The shorter asked, pulling Neville with him as they walked down the halls.

Just get lost in your eyes, that's all.

“Ah, I dunno” he muttered sheepishly, running hand through his hair.

Harry giggled and slung an arm around Neville's shoulders. “Well, no matter! Let's get to the Hall before Ron eats all the food.”

Neville glanced down at Harry, smiling slightly. “All of the food? From all the tables and the kitchens?”

Harry looked at him seriously. “It's Ron”

Neville conceded his point, laughing. He was incredibly mindful of the warm, slim arm. Oh, yes. But it was easier to not freak out because it was so hard to not laugh.

Harry was struggling to walk and keep the arm there, their heights a bit too much. He was even walking slightly on his tiptoes.

Neville purposely slumped, and tried to not think at how adorable his housemate was.

They chatted all the way to the Great Hall, mostly Neville blathering about his plants, which he would stop and apologise once he saw how little Harry was talking.

Harry, in turn, grinned and urged him to continue. Neville knew Harry didn't care for Herbology, but he was happy he had someone to listen anyway.

When they sat down, it was Neville who Harry sat next to, Seamus to his left, Hermione and Ron across. It made Neville a bit giddy, Harry had been sitting with him fairly often these days.

He wasn't alone in this. Since Harry had tentatively started branching out, the Gryffindor house had been overjoyed. Normally it was The Trio, and they were the faceless background characters who Harry occasionally spoke to.

It was difficult to explain to people outside the house, how disconnected they really were. Hermione and Ron unintentionally acted as this wall. Both were so protective, they had this feeling of, don't come near. It was a bit like seeing a baby dragon being protected by their mother.

And no one wants to take on a Nesting Dragon.

Neville basked in Harry's attention a bit longer, until Ron steered him into a conversation about the Cannons (which, frankly, were a shite team).

He let himself drift off, instead just enjoying the warmth of another body next to his.

He focused hard on his plate, trying to not stare at the side profile of the Boy-He-Liked.

It was almost unfair how he found everything about Harry attractive. The way his nose turned up, the long eyelashes, the mole right under his ear, on his jawline. Not to mention, the earrings. A new addition, barely noticed by the student populace. Harry's hair really was rather long, and most spent so much time looking at his scar, they missed everything else.

Two metal studs, one for both ears. Neville liked them a bit too much. He had nearly choked on his tongue when Harry had shyly admitted to wanting more. Not much, maybe a second earring. Though...tongue piercings look pretty...Wicked.

He had flushed quite brightly after that and fiddled with his left earring.

Somehow, Neville thought that a...What's the muggle term? Punk! Yes, a punk Harry was extremely adorable. He had spent his summer looking through some gay wizard mags, and found more than a few such that had made him drool.

Of course, the faces of the models had been replaced with Harry.

Which Neville had hated himself for every time.

He still did.

They had become close friends recently, and Neville wouldn't ruin that. He refused to.

He liked being close to Harry, he liked that the shorter would come with him to the Greenhouses. How he would give many of the Magical plants a large berth, but doted on the no magical flowers.

He liked that Harry would tell him things, like how scared he was when Dementors showed up. When Harry told him a stray comment about his relatives (and did that ever get his blood pumping!). The late night escapades to the kitchens, giggling over chocolate cake and Lavender’s newest conquest.

The pair sharing a couch, Harry's cold feet shoved firmly under Neville's legs.

It wasn't just him, he knew. All the Gryffindors had similar experiences, these days.

But, Neville cherished it anyway.

Neville Longbottom was many things. Harry Potter's friend was one of them.

(This is a one shot, I probably won't continue. If you are interested in starting this, feel free. (Ask me first  please, just so I know.) Also, I'm sure you're like, this had nothing to do with roses what the fuck. Well, in the language of flowers (which Neville totally knows fight me) a red rose is love, a yellow of friendship. I'm not great with the language of flowers but I am pretty sure that's right. Basically, if you read this, you should get the point.

Neville is all red rose for Harry but he decides to be a yellow rose because the poor kid is shy. If you wanted an idea of how it continues, basically Neville hangs out with Harry alot, Harry does in fact get new piercings (because I love a smol Harry but punk! Harry at the same time. It's great. You can't tell me he wouldn't get a piercing just to piss off his uncle) and Neville starts giving Harry flowers randomly. Harry however is the one to ask Neville out. He didn't realize Neville liked him, but gave it a try anyway. Cute cute squeal swual I'm tired night. Hope you enjoyed.)