Chapter 120 - 120- the battle plan commence

Harry's POV

Finishing the welcome back dinner, where he heard all about Luna's trip around Scotland with her father, Harry was about to get up and go to the room of requirements for more research as he couldn't get his new found knowledge about the third magical stage out of his head, when he noticed Longbottom was approaching him.

"What do you need?" He said, unbothered with the way the boy in front of him flinched.

"H, Hey Harry, how was Christmas?"

"Could have been better, what do you need?"

"W well, I came to tell you something." Longbottom took his wand out, making Harry notice he got a new one.

"I guess you took my advice."

"Yeah, thank you, but what I wanted to say wasn't that, it was..."

Neville then did a quick twirl with his wand murmuring a spell so low Harry couldn't hear it, yet music started being heard around the grand hall and the boy started to sing.

"I'm sorry, so sorry

That I was such a fool

I didn't know

Love could be so cruel..."

The shock from hearing squeaky, little Longbottom singing in a baritone voice made not just Harry, but the entire school look in shock, as the boy not only sang, but sang a muggle song.

"I'm sorry, so sorry

Please accept my apology

But love was blind

And I was too blind to see (sorry)"

As Longbottom finished singing the last verb, Harry couldn't help but say "what the bloody hell Longbottom? What was that for?"

"It was the Longbottom way to apologize, something my grandfather started in the 60', when he sang this song to my grandmother in the middle of a Wizengamot meeting after a fight, it is said no one can hear this song and not forgive the singer."

The boy's eyes were so full of hope Harry almost felt bad with what he was about to say next, almost.

"Yes, I'm sure your grandmother was very touched. But, Longbottom, this song is someone you sing to someone who you care as more then a friend, someone you care about as a lover, and even if we used to be the former, like two years ago, we would never be the latter, you can't handle this." He ran a hand on his body to make a point.

It suddenly felt like he was in a sitcom, he barley even said his punchline and the entire grand hall was filled with laughter, with the exemption of the teachers' table and a small part of the Gryffindor table, where the friends of were red and storming in his way.

"You slimy git! Who do you think you are?" Granger screeched "Neville came to apologize to you for the little misunderstanding you and him had two years ago and that's how you thank him? Humiliate him? You should be thankful someone want to be your friend!"

"I think you are mistaken Granger, I don't have any need to be 'thankful', nor must I need to forgive him, I have no need for him as a friend, true friends aren't those that care about stuff like houses, as for humiliating him? He did it himself, just like you did right now."

As he said his piece he rose from his chair and walked away, barely even noticing Luna walking near him.

One week later

For the week, Longbottom managed to corner him every meal, from just good morning in the morning, and questioning him about his day in the evening, to the singing in the end of every launch.

And every day the song was different, sometimes a famous song from the magical world like:

"Listen what I say

Nothings getting in our way

There's no fear that can stop us

And no reason to delay"

Or muggle songs like:

"You've got a friend in me

You've got a friend in me

When the road looks rough ahead

And you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed"

He sang and sang, not caring about the detentions he got from Professor Snape nor about the laughter of other people, and although it annoyed him, he just didn't have the urge to make it stop, but other students were different.

"Hey, Squib! We would like a quiet lunch." The push flint did caused Longbottom fall back.

Harry honestly didn't care much, but, unfortunately, he had near him a blonde blob of righteous joy.

"Hey, don't be mean! He not only pushed away the Nargles, but he sings lovely."

A sigh escaped his mouth as he joined her.

"Don't worry, he won't bother you." He then looked at the fallen boy. "Neville," hearing Harry saying his name the boy raised his head toward him filled with joy. "I'm story, but you have to stop, while I admire your perseverance and I'm willing to forgive you, I'm unwilling to be friends with you, especially as you are still friends with three people who I consider less then trash.

If, right now, you are willing to throw their friendship with you away, I'm willing to start our friendship anew."

"You want me to throw away my friendship with them? No way!"

"Good, while I'm unwilling to be friends with you, I respect you, if you would have thrown away your friendship like you did with me, I would have considered you like them, less then trash."

A handshake was the thing that classed the singing week as it will be known as in school, and while the forgiveness battle plan failed for the first time since it was made by Neville's grandfather in the 60', it was the first time a Slytherin and a Gryffindor had an handshake with respect for one another in the grand hall since 1972, and for the professors? That was a win.