Neville held him for a long time. Blaise slowly relaxed and couldn't help but smell Neville's sweet skin. Eucalyptus and spring flowers. Professor Neville smelled amazing and Blaise had to fight the urge to taste him. They leaned back far enough to be eye to eye and still feel each other's breath. Neville's eyes were blue, unwaveringly loyal and true. Pure kindness.
                              
Blaise was almost pulled right into his lips, but backed away quickly. He shook out the almost compulsory desire and said, "That was close. But thank you for...."
                              
"Yeah, sorry. Are you okay?"
                              
"Yes... I'm...." But he didn't finish. He didn't know.
                              
"I guess you weren't lying when you said you didn't want to get worked up by it. I'm sorry I pushed you."
                              
"What? Oh... that. It's not your fault. I'm just... off."
                              
"I'm sorry anyway," Neville said, hanging his head, guiltily. 
                              
Blaise was about to comfort him when Madam Pomfrey came out with another potion. "Looks like you're doing better. This will help your nerves heal. It shouldn't make you too sleepy, but you might be a little disorientated for about thirty minutes. You may pass out for a little bit, too"
                              
"Can I wait until...."
                              
"No. You don't know when your friends will wake up and come down. This needs to be taken every eight hours. It's necessary for your back... unless you want to stay here longer?" she huffed.
                              
Blaise made a disgruntled face and Neville said, "If you fall asleep, I promise I'll wake you up, if they come."
                              
Blaise looked at him and nodded. Madam Pomfrey handed him the potion and didn't leave until he drank the chalky-tasting mixture. He swished his mouth in annoyance to get the taste out and handed her the goblet back. She checked it was empty, because she didn't trust him, at least where his health was concerned. She had pulled him out of class several times back in his "wild" days to take his potions or bring him to his checkups.
                              
"Good," she said and checked his eye, but as soon as she did, he got a headrush and he slumped backward, his eye slowly shutting. "Don't fight it. The potion will take a half-hour to work its way out."
                              
Blaise's head drooped and he knew he wouldn't be able to stay awake. His breathing became deeper and his muscles relaxed. He only dimly heard Madam Pomfrey say that he was unconscious. It felt like he was.
                              
"It'll only be for a little bit, though, right?" Neville asked quietly.
                              
"Yes, he should come right out of it, soon. I've learned to always tell him the truth. He doesn't trust easy and never tells how much pain he really is in. But if he comes to me, it must be bad. He's learned to half-heal his wounds and injuries fairly well over the years, but it's not one of his specialties. Thank, Merlin. Otherwise, he'd never willingly come here."
                              
Blaise didn't, or couldn't, respond to that. She was right, of course.
                              
"He didn't deserve any of this," Neville said, sadly.
                              
Madam Pomfrey humphed in agreement and then said, "You know... he's never let his friends stay here. Or even know he came here."
                              
"What?"
                              
"He must trust you a lot to let you stay and listen."
                              
"We're... getting close. As close as we are able, anyway," Neville said, a little frustrated. 
                              
"I want you to know that he hides how hurt he is and who hurt him. Just... be careful with him. He's been hurt by too many people."
                              
"I will," Neville's firm voice said, as Blaise slowly faded into unconsciousness.