This is my response to mew-tsubaki's "Because of LOVE" challenge. Credit to Mew for the pairing.
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"Because she was scared that he didn't return her feelings,
So she pretended that she didn't have them..."
Whenever they met, always under the cover of darkness, Victoire was always excited. There was nothing more thrilling to her than sneaking out of her dormitory (she was a Weasley, after all) and into the arms of her lover (she was also a Delacour), Neville Longbottom.
He covered every inch of her skin with kisses, worshipping Victoire with every caress.
He always held her afterwards, telling her how lovely that she really was.
He would pause then, and wait for her to say something...
Anything...
But Victoire never could. Seeing a flicker of hurt behind his eyes left her feeling guilty in a way that what was between them never could, but it Victoire was too frightened. In that sprawling silence was hidden rejection, hurt and ridicule, lying in wait. She wanted to roll over on her side and stroke the sides of Neville's face, to tell him that he was every bit as beautiful as she was, and yet she didn't.
Instead Victoire would slip out of his bed – never theirs, because Victoire was too scared to claim it – and turn her back on him as she dressed, wishing that she didn't have to leave.
"Victoire?" His voice was quiet, gentle. Never accusing. She hated herself all the more for it.
She tensed, but did not stop wrapping the sheet around her body. Neville's arms wrapped around her waist, and she felt their warmth through the thin cotton. Victoire wanted to lie back down and close her eyes.
"Yes?" Her voice was as aloof and cool as her mother's could be.
"I love you."
The words hung in the air. I love you. Victoire bit her lip, suddenly uncertain.
"I- I know..." She turned slowly, sure that Neville deserved more than her. He could have gone back to steady, easy-going Hannah and her open smile at any time. He hadn't. Instead, Neville had stayed with her, no matter how capricious she could be. "And Neville? I love you too."
Victoire heard him sigh in relief, his breath tickling the top of her head. She didn't resist as Neville pulled her back underneath the covers.
"That's good to know." He kissed her shoulder, patient even after all that had passed.
"I'm sorry – so sorry that couldn't be as brave as you." Victoire snuggled into his side, hoping that he understood what it was that she couldn't find the words to say.
He laughed softly, running a hand across her back.
"That can't be true, because it was you that taught me how to be brave, to be myself, in the first place."
As Victoire fell asleep, she promised herself that she would make Neville's words become true.
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Thanks for reading. Please review.