Title: Only Time

Author: frkwerewolf

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairing: Draco/Neville

Rating: R

Summary: Arranged marriage. Contracts. Ruined Life. Possible Romance.

Chapter Summary: Draco finds out. Neville finds out.

Spoilers: OotP did not happen

Notes: This idea came from a dream and is meant to be taken as humor, there really isn't much else to it.

.Chapter One.

"You can't be serious!" Draco exclaimed.

"I assure you, I am very serious." Lucius replied coldly. Draco stared at him, eyes wide. Sighing, Lucius patted Draco on the shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. "Now, son, this isn't the end of the world. You brought this on yourself, you know. If you had just married that Parkinson girl then this wouldn't of happened."

"Father, you know I'm-"

"Gay." Lucius interrupted, rolling his eyes in a way that still remained fashionable. "Yes, I know. With your little revelations, I was left to find someone else for you to marry. It was a bit difficult, at such a late age."

"But, why him?" Draco whined.

"Everyone else of worth was taken." Lucius mourned. "The boy is of good stock, Draco. Sure, he's not much of a wizard... Much of anything, actually. And a Gryffindor at that! Still, his family is one of the pure lines."

"How is it he agreed to this?" Draco asked.

"He doesn't know." Lucius replied. "I believe his Grandmother is informing him by owl post today."

"I'm not marrying him." Draco suddenly announced. Lucius growled and stomped gracefully to his son.

"You will marry him." Lucius ordered. "I will not have you destroying the Malfoy name by the simple act of breaking another marriage agreement! Do you realize how hard it is to marry you off?"

"Oh, and that's my fault?" Draco countered. Lucius grabbed him by his collar, dragging him forward.

"Do not speak to me in a such a tone." Lucius hissed.

"Sorry, Father." Draco replied immediately. Once Lucius had released him, he staggered back and adjusted his robes. "So... When will this horrid day take place?"

"The end of the up coming summer. Your going to accept it, then." Lucius stated calmly. Draco looked down at the ground, refusing to look at his father.

"I don't have much of a choice in this matter, now do I?" Draco whispered.

"Don't sound so disappointed." Lucius told him, walking past a few desks in the empty classroom to stare out the window. "I was furious when I found out I was to marry Narcissa. Not that she isn't beautiful and a good wife, but she is such a cold person."

Draco fought down the snort at this comment. His mother was cold, yes, but nothing beat his father when it came being an ice statue. Draco released the smallest of sighs and looked over at his father. Lucius continued to stare out the window, as though lost in thought. Finally, the elder Malfoy turned back to him.

"I want the best for you, Draco." Lucius told him with actual feeling. Draco almost fell over from shock. "And while the boy is not the best option in the world, his family is. Yes, I do realize they are Gryffindors, all of them, but sometimes you must look past that. Hogwarts is not how life works, you must understand this. Here you are separated from those different than you, and strengthened by those with similar values. In the real world you are forced to work along side the others. As disgusting as this sounds, you marrying the boy will do you some good."

"There isn't a chance your joking, is there?" Draco asked.

"Me? Joke?" Lucius raised an eyebrow. Draco allowed the snort this time.

"I can not believe I'm actually going along with this." Draco whined.

"Because you know it's no use to argue." Lucius replied. "Listen, it won't be so bad. You must claim your dominance early. Once you do that, you'll have complete control of everything. You don't even have to see him half the time if you do not wish it."

"Really?" Draco perked up. "Can I have affairs?"

"Draco Lucian Malfoy!" Lucius narrowed his eyes. "Malfoys do not lower themselves to taking in side quests. You will not bring down our name just for sex."

"So, you force me to live in celibacy?" Draco asked.

"Of course not." Lucius chuckled. "You will, of course, need to produce an heir."

"Father..." Draco collected his courage before continuing. "Father... Two males can't have children."

"I assure you, son, they can." Lucius told him, his eyes glinting with barely restrained amusement.

"Since when?" Draco literally screeched.

"You don't honestly think that what they teach you in Hogwarts are the only spells and charms in existence." Lucius calmly replied. "Don't worry about that, Draco. The contract gives you ten years to produce an heir. I'm sure in that amount of time you can gather enough resolve to bed the boy."

"I will never have sex with him!" Draco replied venomously.

"Ah, youth." Lucius mused. "Always so vigorous in their denial."

"I wont!" Draco yelled.

"Yes, of course." Lucius said in a patronizing tone. Draco glared at his father, who ignored it. "Now, Draco. You will be spending half of Christmas break with his family, then he will join you at the Manor for the second half. Please try to get on his good side by then. You have a month, and with your Malfoy charms I'm sure you'll manage."

Draco watched as Lucius shook his hand and sauntered out of the room, probably leaving Hogwarts all together. Draco didn't bother to tell his father that there was no way he could get on his future husband's side in one month. Draco groaned in defeat, letting his head drop to his hands. He, Draco Malfoy, was set to marry Neville Longbottom. The world was such a cruel place.

xXx

Neville didn't usually get mail. Sure, his Gran sent him things on occasion, but seeing how he usually lost them? Well, she learned early on that it was best to keep things far between. So, it was quite the shock to see his Gran's owl drop down next to his dinner plate that evening.

The large barn owl was not something a person would want. It was reliable, as far as owls go, but it had a mean streak. And due to the fact that Neville spent so long a time staring at the bird in shock, before grabbing the letter, the owl was not in a good mood. Neville took the letter and watched as the owl ate his entire dinner without any apology.

Sighing, Neville opened the envelope. He skimmed through it, paused, then read it carefully. After a moment of deliberation, he repeated this process about five times. Then, he dropped the letter on his now empty plate, watched the owl fly off, and attempted to catch flies with his open mouth.

"Neville?" A voice broke through his inner terror.

"Gugh?" Neville asked, turning to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione looking at him with concerned faces.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked.

"Er." Neville squeaked. He looked down at the letter, then back up at Hermione. Hermione reached toward the letter. "Umm."

"May I?" She asked politely. Neville nodded mutely. The Head Girl picked up the letter and began reading. Neville watched as her face grew with an expression akin to horror. Slowly, his own non-emotional state collapsed and he felt himself fighting back tears. Hermione laid down the letter and looked sadly at Neville. "Oh, Neville... I'm so sorry."

"What's going on?" Ron asked. Neville couldn't bring himself to talk, so he just gestured toward the letter. Ron snatched it up and read, with Harry looking over his shoulder.

"That's horrible!" Harry exclaimed.

"Bloody hell." Ron muttered, staring at the parchment like it was going to explode at any minute.

"What am I going to do?" Neville whispered.

"Tell them no, of course." Harry replied.

"Harry, he... can't." Hermione said softly.

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"Because... Oh, Harry, it's an unbreakable contract between two wizarding families. The Wizarding World has been doing it for centuries. The only way you can break the contract is if both families agree to it." Hermione explained. "And... According to the letter all safety features have been added. I don't think Neville can get out of this."

With that news, Neville finally broke down into tears. Standing, he grabbed the letter and ran from the Great Hall. At the Slytherin table, Draco watched with a scowl. He couldn't understand why Neville was so upset, it was Draco getting the short end of the stick after all.