A/N: This takes place in my "Songs of Yesterday"-verse and contains spoilers for the first 3 chapters of that fic. I recommend reading the first 3 chapters of that first. This is an alternate side story of SoY.

If you don't want to read that, here are the basics. Harry is a girl (Haley) who has a crush on Michael Corner and she asked him out to the Yule Ball but got rejected, because he likes Cho. This is what happens after she talked to Ron in the common room about it and Hermione stormed out because she and Ron had a fight (again).

1 - As Friends

Neville didn't know what he was supposed to do. And there was no one around that he could ask. Or was there? Ron? Bad idea. Seamus? Dean? Probably not. Hermione…? Maybe he could go to her. But right now didn't seem like the best time. The way she had stormed out of the room…
He sighed. It wasn't like this didn't happen often. Especially with Ron and Hermione. But it wasn't his business, right? What did bother him, though was the dejection that Haley so desperately tried to hide behind a mostly fake smile. He wanted to do something to cheer her up. But what could he do? It didn't seem like anyone else noticed what he'd seen since he had followed her out of the library. And now here she was playing chess with Ron. Or to put it more correctly – being defeated by Ron. Did the boy have no empathy at all? Didn't he see that Haley was upset? But what was he supposed to do? He was just Neville. Neville, who everyone made fun of. Neville, who was afraid of their Potions professor. Neville, who could barely remember his own name. Neville, who stuttered when he only opened his mouth. Neville, who was… just Neville. Nothing special.

"Neville?"

He startled, when someone called his name.

"Neville, are you okay?" There was a pair of eyes floating in front of him. Green eyes, framed by round glasses.

"S-Sure," Neville stammered.

"You seem… distracted. Is something on your mind?" Haley asked earnestly.

"N-No," he answered, clearing his throat. Why couldn't he form a simple sentence without stuttering?

"Aren't you gonna go to bed? Ron went upstairs just a moment ago and I'm going to call it a night, too," the green-eyed girl yawned. Neville blinked around confusedly. Beside the two second years at the opposite side of the room there was no one left.

"Come on," Haley sent him a tired smile, "You must be tired as well."

She stood up, yawning again. Automatically, Neville yawned right back. Haley turned around, starting to walk toward the dormitories. She had almost reached the staircase… It was now or never! Are you a Gryffindor or are you not?, Neville thought determined.

"Wait!" Haley stopped, surprised at his almost-shout. Neville was surprised about that, too. He hadn't meant to shout.

The raven-haired girl turned around, watching him curiously with raised eyebrows.

You're stupid, stupid, stupid. What are you even going to say?, he thought. But he had to do something.

His fists clenching, his lips trembling, Neville stammered, "I'm s-s-sorry."

Haley said nothing, she only stared at him, not understanding.

Neville took a deep breath. Then he closed his eyes and told his brain to stop overthinking. It didn't listen. Or maybe it listened a tiny bit.

"I'm sorry you got rej-jected. I heard you're still looking for a p-p-partner. For the… Y-Yule Ball." Neville swallowed audibly. He opened his eyes but closed them again a second later. What was he even saying? Where were his words leading him without his knowledge?

"I just wanted you to know… that maybe… if– if you wanted… y-you could… go… with… me."

That last part was barely a whisper and Neville was almost sure that Haley hadn't even heard him because she didn't say anything.

"I-I understand… if… y-you d-don't want to…" The stutter was getting so bad, that Neville had to be careful not to bite his tongue off! "I just thought i-if you don't find anyone else… w-we could g-go as… friends?"

Haley still didn't say anything. All she did was stare at him like he'd just told her a particularly weird story. Of course, she would. Why would she take him seriously? Why would anyone take him seriously?

"I-I'm s-sorry. I shouldn't – shouldn't have said anything. I-I j-just wanted to – to cheer y-you up. Just f-forget -"

"Neville," Haley interrupted his stuttering. There was a soft, slightly amused smile on her face now.

"Do you want," she bit her lip, trying not to grin even wider, "Do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?"

She couldn't be serious, could she? She wouldn't be the first to make fun of him, but then again, this was Haley Potter. She had helped him countless times before. Defended him. And also got him in trouble once or twice. But all in all… she wasn't that kind of person. She wasn't mean. At least she'd never been mean to him.

"Sure," Neville found himself saying without stuttering.

"As friends?" Haley asked with one eyebrow raised.

"As friends," Neville agreed, because what else was there to say? Friends was good. And even if he wanted, how could he ask for more? Friends was enough.
"Good," she whispered, turning to go before adding, "Good night, Neville."

"Good night," he whispered back, feeling more like a Gryffindor than ever. He had done this, cheered Haley Potter up, when no one else had even noticed, she needed it. Maybe the hat hadn't put him in the wrong house after all. And just maybe… he had a reason to look forward to the Yule Ball now.

...

A/N: Yay, Neville! I dedicate this to all the Neville fans out there and particularly to those who inspired me to write this :) Hope you enjoyed this! Let me know what you think?

Till next time,

Feather