Chapter 3
XXX
Ron starred wide-eyed at the door of Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Someone was knocking rather harshly and quickly onto it. The red-head quickly ran to it and looked out the window beside the door. He felt his eyes grow larger yet and he flew backwards trying to figure out he had just seen.
"Mr. Weasley open the door! I do not know how much longer your friend can last!" The voice was urgent…panicked…and coming from the ex-professor Snape. He was holding up a battered Neville. The tone of his voice made Ron throw open the door and let them in and closing the door quickly after them.
He felt a sudden dread that he had invited the man into Number 12…he was going to get into trouble.
"Weasley!" The voice boomed causing Ron to run after him. He finally noticed the state that Neville was in as Snape placed him on the kitchen table. He had a large gash going from one side of his head then across his forehead to the other side right above his ear. His nose was bleeding and there were bruises all over him. It was bothering Ron, how motionless the other teen was.
"How do I know its really him and you're not sneaking your friends in here." Ron asked angrily.
"Then you're doomed Weasley because you already let us in with no way to defend yourself." Snape stated quickly and coolly.
Ron stared at him eyes-wide and then Snape pointed his wand to the defenseless red-head and said something he wasn't expecting.
"If you want Neville alive as much as I do then I suggest you start getting me what I tell you." Ron nodded dumbly.
"I won't be able to touch him though." Ron started placing items that Snape told him to get on the table as far from Neville as possible. "So if any of this requires touching him you're going to have to do it."
Ron noted that Snape didn't even argue or ask why…he got the sudden impression that the man might have been there the night was tortured and given the Mark but he helped as much as he could nonetheless. For Neville's sake.
Snape had finished mixing whatever he had been making and then lifted the unconscious teen up more gently than Ron would have thought possible for the older man and started forcing the strange blue-ish purple liquid down his mouth. Ron watched worriedly but nothing was happening and then suddenly the kitchen door burst open.
Ron stared wide-eyed at Harry before looking at Snape and then back at Harry noticing that the other teen was doing the same. Moody and Mr. Weasley were suddenly on Snape pulling him back and throwing him back. "He needs to drink all of it!" Snape shouted not struggling against the other larger men.
That's when they noticed Neville lying on the table motionless.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted and the girl along with Luna both ran into the kitchen quick surprised glances at the still frozen Ron but went straight to Neville and Luna went to grab bandages and ointments as Hermione lifted the unconscious head up and started giving him the rest of the potion.
Ron watched everyone else leave, his father and Moody dragging Snape out of the kitchen. He wasn't going to follow.
"What bloody happened Ron?" Hermione had there tears in her eyes making sure that Neville drank up the last of it.
"I don't know." He answered honestly. "He was suddenly at the door banging and yelling and when I saw Neville…" he didn't keep going and noticed Luna wiping her eyes. "What happened?"
"We thought they had taken him away." Luna said quietly wiping the blood off of Neville. "Dean is injured pretty badly too and…" The tears started again. "Oh Neville…"
Hermione looked worriedly at Luna. "I can finish that Luna you need to go sit down or something." But the blonde just shook her head and bandaged up the boy's head.
"We were taken by surprise." Hermione looked over at Ron, "We had just figured everything out that we were going to do and then a lot of them just showed up. It was scary but there were more of us than them. I guess they thought there weren't going to be that many of us…"
A giant sigh of relief and she put the empty bowl down and then collapsed in a chair covering her eyes with her hands. "You should have seen the look on Harry's face when he thought they had taken Neville, Ron. You should have seen it. And Shacklebolt's been injured as well…" She stopped suddenly and looked at Ron.
"What about last night? How was Draco?" She had confused Ron for a second and it took him a bit to catch up to her thought process.
"He's okay." He said grimly. "The room's torn to pieces but he's sleeping it all off right now." He hoped he was still sleeping because he honestly hadn't checked on him since Snape had arrived.
"Good." She nodded before deciding to help Luna with bandaging Neville. "Ron…could you get him some new cloths? And maybe your father…" She added as an after thought. "He's going to need to be changed and I don't think Luna and I are in the condition to be lifting him up."
Ron nodded before quickly walking out of the kitchen and noticing how fresh the air seemed as soon as he walked through the door. Suddenly Seamus was there and his Mum along with the twins and Ginny; all of them looking at him to explain the situation.
"Ron what is going on, where's your father?" Mrs. Weasley looked around urgently when she noticed how pale her son's face was.
"Its alright he's upstairs with Snape." He answer quieted everyone. "Fred and George", Ron looked at them, "Neville's in the kitchen in pretty bad shape…could you grab something to change him into and help Hermione and Luna?" He asked and instantly they vanished before his eyes, apparating.
Ron suddenly felt very sick as all the excitement caught up to him. "Mum." Mrs. Weasley looked torn between running upstairs and checking on the men with Snape or going into the kitchen to help out with Neville. "I think they got it upstairs," he said choosing for her. "They could probably use help with Neville he's pretty bad."
She quickly went into the kitchen and Ginny followed but not before giving Ron a worried glance.
Seamus looked at Ron uncomfortably. "Hermione probably needs you right now mate." Ron looked at him seriously before heading toward the stairs to a quieter room.
But before he slid into Draco's room he noted that his dad and Moody seemed to be whispering harshly at each other…that meant Harry was in the room alone.
"What's going on?" Draco asked as soon as Ron opened the door and then shut himself in.
"I see you're awake then." Ron sighed, he had really been hoping that the blonde would be sleeping.
"What is it?" Draco hissed quietly. "There's a lot of noise and I thought I heard…"
"Snape's being interrogated right now." Ron interrupted him collapsing into his usual chair. That was when he realized that he would have been able to touch Snape…hit him or something. The older wizard had the Dark Mark too! He groaned loudly and put his hand over his face then noticing that Draco had been talking to him.
"Is he going to be okay?" That was the only part Ron caught. He opened one eye and saw the worried expression the blonde was giving him and something tugged at his chest.
"I…don't know." Ron admitted honestly. "Though from the looks of it he might have saved Neville…" Hopefully he added as a thought.
Draco opened his mouth to say something but then decided against it. He eyed the red-head cautiously and then looked at the shut door. It seemed that Ron really didn't know or comprehend what was going on at the moment.
"Then how about you tell me about this morning instead, I haven't forgotten it just so you know." Draco looked at Ron watching as the teen froze instantly at his words. Ron peaked at Draco through one eye.
"I…" He started but then closed his mouth. "I honestly don't know about that either." His face flushed and his ears burned red. What was he going to say? He really liked the way Draco had touched his face and he acted on it? That just seemed too weird!
"Come sit right here." Draco ordered catching the ginger off-guard yet again. Ron slowly and cautiously moved from his chair to sit in front of the blonde on the bed. "It's because I can touch you isn't it?" And as if to prove his point Draco suddenly put his arms on Ron's shoulders, but his expression still remained rather blank.
Ron flushed and sputtered before closing his eyes.
"You're the first person to cry for me you know…" Draco suddenly whispered in Ron's ear; "Other than my mother." The air coming from Draco's mouth was hot and moist and it made Ron's mouth feel dry. He tried to swallow.
Blue eyes opened and looked over the blonde's beaten body. "Doesn't it hurt you to move?" he asked quietly trying to ignore the hands on his shoulders.
"Very much;" said Draco, coolly as if he wasn't in any pain at all. "So you shouldn't fight back."
And before Ron could respond there were surprising soft lips against his and he felt himself getting pushed backwards so that his back was on the bed. It was warm and his body welcomed it before his mind had time to process anything. He put one of his hands in the blonde's hair and returned the kiss rather roughly enjoying the feeling of it. But his other hand had stopped midway to Draco's side…what they hell were they doing? Ron stopped and pulled back, what the bloody hell was going on? And he tried to ignore the fact that was body was telling him; 'if not now then there better be a later!'.
Draco noticing the red-heads sudden reluctance opened his cool grey eyes, that he had closed in the midst of it, and stared at blue ones questioningly. Ron hoped that it was confusion that flashed through the blonde's eyes and that maybe neither of them really knew what they were doing.
Draco sat up, obviously disliking Ron's reaction. He flopped back down onto his torn pillows and sighed causing another tug at Ron's chest.
"I'm sorry." Ron sat up and noticed that the blonde was facing away from him. He didn't like that.
Suddenly there was a loud crashing noise above them that had Ron on his feet and out the door ignoring the fact that Draco had turned to look at him now.
XXX
"What's going on?" Ron couldn't go far up the stairs because the stairwell was too small and would make him too close to the other people.
"I don't know." Ron realized his Dad seemed to really want to jump into the room right now. But now that he was in the hallway he could hear Harry and Moody shouting at either Snape or, Ron raised an eyebrow, at each other.
"Where is everyone else then?" Ron asked quickly, he had noticed for the capture of Snape and probably soon, an emergency meeting there were still quiet a few people missing.
"McGonaggal went to Hogwarts to talk to Neville's Gran." Mr. Weasley looked at his son and Ron could tell he was running on adrenaline. "All of the injured people are there too but Bill and Lupin, if their up to it, should be on their way here."
"Who…" but before Ron could finish asking about who had gotten injured Hermione was up the stairs, not getting too close when she noticed Ron but her expression looked like she needed to be held up or she was going to fall over soon.
"He's not breathing."
Ron didn't asked anything and doesn't remember why but he pushed himself as thinly as he could go against the wall and moved past his father that was asking Hermione questions, ignoring the sharp pain in his wrist when he had gotten a little close. He ran up the rest of the way and threw the door open surprising Harry and Moody…and Ron noted with a little satisfaction that he had even surprised Snape.
"Something's wrong with Neville." Ron gasped out.
"Did you poison him?" Harry hissed at Snape who was bound to a strange sort of chair. Moody walked up to the man and pointed his wand at him.
"No…" Snape had new cuts and bruises on him but Ron noted mentally, seemed to be more worried about Neville. "It was for internal bleeding."
Harry cursed loudly and for one of the first times in a long time he looked like he didn't know what to do. Ron wondered idly if the last time had been when he himself had been captured.
"Let me look at the boy…" Snape started but stopped when he was interrupted by Moody.
"Like hell we will! You've done enough to him." But his words only seemed to make the old potions master angry.
"Fine." Harry stopped both of them and they looked at him surprised. "But if you can't save him then same goes for you."
At first it looked like Moody was going to argue but when he heard the threat he kept his mouth shut. But Ron noted how Snape didn't look worried about his own life at all. He quickly ran out of the door and down the stairs, he was going to make room for them in the kitchen.
"Get away from him, their bringing Snape down." Ron staying in the doorway of the kitchen shouted quickly. Everyone was talking, crowded around the fallen teen and they had all looked up to him surprised.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had quickly gotten everyone to the other side of the kitchen when Ron walked in to let the other's through but as soon as Snape was in the kitchen he left his spot beside Moody and went straight to Neville on the table.
He bent down over the boy putting his head against his chest. Ron watched him stand there with his head on Neville's chest sliding his hand towards the teen's throat. His facial expression hadn't changed since he had walked into the room.
Ron's throat tightened when he thought about how intimate they looked there…if it had been under any other sort of circumstance…of course.
Everyone's eyes widened when Snape had brought his hands up and slammed them down on Neville's chest with a loud smack. And suddenly Arthur was pulling him back again with Moody.
"What are you getting at?" Mr. Weasley growled.
Ron could feel shock in every once of his body and from every body else's faces…they felt the same.
Suddenly there was a coughing noise and everyone's eyes went to Neville's now shaking form as he kept coughing and then a large gasp of air. The light brown haired boy started to stir but Harry, Hermione and Luna were beside him in a second, Luna had gotten on top of the table to inspect him.
"Don't sit up Neville, you're injured." Harry was looking over him relieved.
Ron seemed to be the only one that noticed that Neville had been staring past them at Snape the entire time and worded silently with his mouth. "Thanks".
XXX
Ron couldn't leave the kitchen, he sighed. After the excitement of this evening they had moved Neville into the bedroom across from Draco's but then it seemed one by one everyone was running out of the adrenaline they had been running on and falling asleep in random places.
The living room was full of people and even people on the floor. Ron sighed as he peaked out the door, he wasn't chancing walking over that mess.
"They'll all wake up when they get uncomfortable." Bill laughed as his brother sighed again. Lupin didn't make it because Tonks was almost due and they had decided to stay together for the time being. Ron had filled Bill, McGonaggal, Fluer and Hagrid in on all the news. Dean had been there, not in very good shape but McGonaggal had sent him back right away to tell Neville's Gran.
"It's alright." Ron mumbled, he didn't really feel like going back up stairs as soon as he remembered someone that might be waiting for him and hoped idly that Draco wasn't expecting him.
Bill had already spoken with the blonde but thankfully the conversation seemed to stay on werewolves because his older brother hadn't asked him anything. He flushed just thinking about it and could feel his ears and neck start to burn when he thought about how much he had enjoyed it. He quickly hid his face in his hands hoping it just made him look like he was tired too.
"But e'll be alright?" Hagrid was talking to Mr. Weasley who looked more tired and beaten than Ron had ever seen his father.
"He's got a few rather deep cuts and a few broken ribs." At the last part his voice had changed and Ron figured Snape had hit the other teen a lot harder than he thought, "But all of the bleeding has stopped, I don't know when he'll wake up for visitors though."
"An' this Snape… saved 'im?" It was Fluer now…her English had gotten a lot easier to understand but her accent still seemed as thick as ever.
"Yes, though I can't figure out why." Mr. Weasley nodded and looked over to McGonaggal who looked like she would like to know the reason as well.
Bill gave Ron a quick look as if to ask if Ron would tell them about what Neville had told him, Harry and Hermione a few nights ago but Ron shook his head. It wasn't his place to explain any of that.
XXX
It had been three days Ron sat quietly on a chair beside Neville's bed. Three days and he still hadn't woken up again since the day he had come in.
It had also been three days since he had spoken to Draco but every time Ron had finally mustered up the courage someone was in the room talking to the blonde. It had been quiet annoying the last few times.
He watched as Alastair Moody walked loudly down the stairs. Snape was still locked into his room, probably still tied up in that chair…Ron tried not to think about it. Number 12 was busy again; it seemed to be happening a lot.
Harry seemed to have accepted Snape after Neville had woken up the first time but no one else in the Order seemed to be as quick as Harry. Ron figured that if Harry trusted him, everyone else should bloody well trust him too.
Dumbledore certainly had.
Ron tried not to think about how the old professor ended up with that trust.
"Ron, you can take a break." He looked up to see Luna smiling softly like she usually did. She seemed to watch Neville the most, which made Ron want to ask her a few questions.
He got up and moved away from the chair so she could sit down. Her eyes went to Neville but they still had their happy gleam.
"Um…Luna?" He waited for her to look at him. "What…is Neville to you?" He had been wondering since he had seen her sobbing over Neville's body when she was bandaging him up.
"Oh, Hermione asked me the same the yesterday." She smirked a little in her Luna way and spoke as if it was such a silly topic. "I guess people must think that I'm in love with him or something."
"Are you?" Ron asked a little surprised.
"Of course." She laughed a little airily at his reaction of shock. "But not in the way you and Hermione think. I love him…" She looked at Neville and grabbed his hand. "He's like the brother I've always wanted, he is."
"Oh." Ron smiled a little.
"Now if you asked me about that Dean Thomas character…" Luna laughed a little blushing causing Ron's eyes to widen.
He decided that no…he didn't want to ask about Dean and darted out of the room ignoring her light heated giggle.
He looked across the hall and saw Harry speaking with Draco. The blonde suddenly looked at him which caused to ginger to freeze. Ron looked at Harry who was still talking to the blonde not noticing that the blonde was looking out into the hall. 'Tonight' Ron read the blondes lips but before he could respond Draco looked back at Harry and started responding to what he said.
Ron stood there for a second…did that mean he was supposed to visit the blonde tonight? Was that after dinner or after everyone went to bed? Probably meant that people were planning on leaving…
"You lost Ron?" he looked down the stairs to see Fred and George smirking at him.
"Hey, when did you guys get back?" He asked smiling.
"We've come to get everyone to leave you alone." Fred grinned.
"We think that their forgetting to do their duties and been hanging out too long." George grinned at the exact same time. He could tell from there voice that they were joking.
"Well about time." Ron tried to sound serious, "How can I be lonely if all of you keep showing up out of the blue with injured people? You couldn't bring me someone decent AND conscious could you?"
"We wouldn't be able to get them to agree to hang out with you if they were both DECENT and CONCIOUS, Ron." George said sarcastically causing Ron to laugh.
"Oi. Don't forget me now." Ron looked down behind the twins surprised. His older brother Charlie was standing there looking playfully annoyed.
"Charlie!" Ron saw Ginny come and hug him from behind. It tugged at his chest.
"Well we really did come to get people." Fred said suddenly whispering to Ron but keeping his distance. "Charlie's brought his friends and they have an idea…but they're all staying at Hogwarts right now."
Ron nodded glad that Fred was letting him in on it before it happened. He moved back into the room with Luna and Neville as they all passed to get Harry. Charlie winked at him as he passed.
By dinner time it was only Ron, Draco, unconscious Neville and somehow Snape still locked upstairs with no one guarding him. It had bothered Ron at first but he knew that they needed everyone they could use for the raids and if Harry trusted the potions master then he had decided to do so as well.
But he still felt extremely unguarded even if Moody had taken away Snape's wand.
He finished the food and started carrying it upstairs. He looked into Neville's room to see the teen still lying down rather still but breathing evenly. He put a plate down in front of Draco's room and kept going up the stairs…he had a feeling once he started talking to the blonde it might be a while before he's able to get out. He stopped in front of the room holding Snape.
He really didn't know what to expect…would the man still be tied to the chair? Or would there be a bed there now and he was just under house arrest…but being good and not leaving the room even though he could easily?
He opened the door to see Snape sitting on a chair that looked a lot more comfortable than the one he had been in before. But that was all that was in the room.
"Mr. Weasley." The older man nodded toward the red-head.
"Here's dinner." Ron slowly and carefully handed him the plate.
"Thank you." Now what had caught Ron by surprise. He eyed the man warily. "How is Mr. Longbottom?"
"You could go check yourself…you don't look tied up." Ron stated rather flatly still eyeing the man.
"I would have but I didn't know if you would feel more comfortable if I stayed here." The black haired man drawled out smoothly and still a rather sarcastic hint to his voice.
"Harry trusts you." Ron decided to leave it at that and left the room to go give Draco his food. He left the door open behind him.
Picking up the plate he knocked once and entered the room closing the door behind him.
"About time." Draco said in such a way Ron knew he didn't mean anything by it.
"You hungry?" He showed him the plate with a sandwich on it. But the blonde just shook his head. Ron walked closer and put the plate on his usual chair and sat on the bed a little out of reach for the blonde.
"How's Pro….Snape?" Draco looked at Ron a little uncomfortably. The red-head would have smirked at the slip if he hadn't kept doing it himself with all the other professors.
"Do you want to visit him?" Ron motioned his head for upstairs. "There's a lot going on so it's just us, him and ole' unconscious Neville."
"That's okay." The blonde's tone made the red-head think that visiting Snape was the last thing he wanted to do, which had stuck him odd…considering how much it seemed Snape had risked his own neck to help the blonde.
There were was an awkward silence.
"How are things going then?" Ron figured the blonde would know exactly what he was talking about. Bill had been keeping Ron from being able to visit the blonde for the past few days.
Draco had gone pale again and had a sickly green tint to him. Ron decided not to bring it up again but his mind went straight to the morning after Draco's transformation…and…
Suddenly he was on his back on the bed again. He looked up at Draco who seemed rather tense and angry.
"Don't say anything…" He hissed quietly ignoring the look Ron gave him. He sighed heavily suddenly lying against the ginger. "Don't…"
Draco sighed frowning at himself as he lay on top of the other teen. This seemed to be the only thing he could keep constant. He did his best to ignore the eldest Weasley's words and Lupin's. He didn't want to think about what had happened to him…he tried to swallow the lump in his throat.
Ron had been the first person in so long that had seemed to want his company. Hiding with Snape had been awful and quiet. They never spoke and he lived in fear every time the professor had left him alone.
He had gotten caught again and…He closed his eyes tightly. Lupin had been a better travel partner since they both couldn't do much but the entire time he would never look the blonde in the eye and… This thing that was with Ron…he almost felt guilty how the ginger was only able to touch him and not his family.
The blonde tried not to think about his own and ignored how his eyes stung when he thought about his mother. Draco tensed when two arms wrapped around him. He didn't look at Ron.
Then there were warm hands on his face pulling him to look at the red-head's bright blue eyes. And they were kissing again but it was too gentle and Draco tried to deepen it and move to get a more comfortable position. He moved his hands over the other teen's arms and the ginger seemed to not mind how much they were touching. In fact he seemed to be enjoying it.
Draco liked the power he had over the other boy. He pushed back the thoughts that he might be taken advantage of the red-head.
He put his pale hand against the other teens face and slid a finger up his jaw line causing the red-head to make a noise that he decided he enjoyed. He moved his hands down the taller boy's chest feeling his heart beating wildly. The pounding made Draco's hands tingle and he continued down and slipped his hands under the bottom of Ron's shirt.
This had caught the other boy off guard and he opened his eyes, which had been closed, and stared at Draco. The blonde smirked and bent over pushing his hands up the now bare chest. Ron's heart seemed to want to break out.
He kept his eyes on the bright blue one's watching him. Ron swallowed nervously and pulled one of arms around Draco once again pulling the blonde closer to him. The blonde instantly went into the kiss enjoying how breathless they were becoming.
But then suddenly their door opened and they both froze.
"Ah." Neither of them moved to look at who had opened the door. They could recognize the voice very easily and they heard Snape close the door.
XXX
Neville opened his eyes and it took them a moment to adjust. He tried to stay as quiet as possible when he saw Snape sitting in the chair beside his bed and…sleeping; or at least his eyes were closed. Neville noted the new bruises and scrapes across the older man's face.
He felt himself flush at the strangely peaceful view he had even with the bruises Snape did look rather peaceful. The sudden rush of blood must have disagreed with his body because a sharp pain to his side caused him to hiss. He looked up again and Snape had one eye open looking at him. His mouth in a thin line.
"You shouldn't move very much, your body won't appreciate it." The smooth coarse voice spoke.
"I didn't ask you." Neville groaned before trying to lift himself up. "Help me will you or do you enjoy this little show?"
Suddenly there where cool hands on him helping him sit up and arranging the pillows behind him. "Thanks…" As soon as he finished mumbling there was a cold hand on his forehead causing hazel eyes to look up at the dark coal ones. "Uh…"
"Figured you must have a fever." He went to move his hand but before Neville had realized he had done it he grabbed the older man's hand and kept it pressed against his forehead. He turned bright red immediately when Snape had risen his eyebrow.
"Felt nice…" Neville mumbled again when he let go of the older man's hand and it moved away slowly. There was a pause of strangely non-awkward silence.
Snape stayed standing next to the bed, he had gotten up to help Neville sit up. They sat in the silence and Neville's eyes looked around the room. "How long have I been out? And how'd you manage to stay alive?" With the last question he smirked up at the older man.
"I believe almost four days…" The smooth cold voice made something lurch in Neville's chest. "And I believe it must have been saving you…"
A short pause but they were looking straight at each other.
"Might have saved me…" Neville could feel his heart quicken in his chest. He didn't know all the details but being there, he realized that he didn't care.
"I'm glad that I could be of some use to you eventually then, sir." He spoke sarcastically trying to mimic a much younger version of himself. And in amazement as well as shock Neville heard Snape snort.
"Now Mr. Longbottom, I believe you are rubbing off on me." His expression was flat again instantly but there was a certain amount of amusement in his voice.
"That's no good." Neville started very seriously. "Soon you'll be no good at potions too!"
And for the first time ever, Neville was not terrified when the old potions master smiled.
XXX
Neville sighed longingly staring at the kitchen table. It had been a few days and he was finally able to move around but they strangely hadn't heard from anyone. He couldn't ignore the strange feeling he got from the lack of news. But things seemed to be happening and he tried to work them out in his mind.
His large hazel eyes watched as Ron Weasley walked into the kitchen and started rummaging for food. Normally Neville would have like to start a conversation, maybe remind the ginger that he wasn't the only one stuck in Number 12 Grimmauld Place anymore…because he didn't feel like he should leave without any news from any body.
But there were also other things on his mind.
Well a specific other person to be honest.
For the past few days, while he had been healing, he had always woken up to Snape in his room and would fall asleep with him still in the chair beside the bed. He wondered idly if maybe the older man felt like he owed Neville something. Ron had visited him too and they would talk but the ginger would always act uncomfortable and flustered whenever he looked at Snape.
That had bothered Neville but not as much as his own thoughts. He flushed when he thought about Snape again. Why was the man invading his thoughts so much?
"You alright mate?" Neville looked up to see Ron staring at him a little worried. The guy must have been trying to talk to him for a while.
"Sorry." He smiled causing the other teen to sigh with relief. "I've got a lot on my mind apparently." Not that he didn't have a lot to think about…it was just a new topic had been added to it.
"Want to share? Get a load off?' Ron gingerly sipped his coffee as he sat at the other end of the table away from Neville. But Neville noted that there seemed to be a lot on the red head's mind as well.
Did he really want to share? What if Ron laughed at him? Neville thought letting out a long sigh which caused the red-head to eye him suspiciously. Could he even put it in words? How much he had been thinking of the potions master that saved his life, how much he got flustered whenever the man would speak to him. How much his chest hurt just being around him?
Ron was going to think that he was mental…or Snape took control over his mind or something.
"Well?" Blue eyes watched Neville from across the table and Ron took a large sip of his coffee.
"I think I'm in love with Snape." Neville jumped back as hot coffee was spewed on the table.
"Bloody hell Neville!" There were tears in his eyes as Ron wiped his mouth. He must have burnt himself. He was staring wide-eyed and warily at Neville.
"Sorry!" The brunette went and sat back in his seat watching Ron cautiously. "You asked" he mumbled as an after thought.
"Well…I didn't realize…" Ron paused and watched the other boy slump over and start hitting his head against the table. Obviously Neville hadn't needed that kind of reaction.
"I'm going crazy!" He looked up pathetically at Ron. "This man ruined my time at Hogwarts for me and he's done tons and tons of horrible things but…"
Ron almost asked if maybe this crush had started when Neville had started hiding the man in Hogwarts but as the brunette began hitting his head against the table again he realized that Neville probably had no idea when it started. And then something made him think of Draco…was this kind of like the same thing?
He hated the other boy in school but all these things kept happening and…he hated to admit it but…it was kind of similar in a strange circumstantial kind of way.
"I kissed Draco." He suddenly blurted out and covered his mouth watching for the other teen's expression.
Hazel eye's widened and Neville had stopped hitting his head against the table. "You…and…Ma..Draco?"
Ron nodded slowly wondering if he should have added 'a lot' to the end of that sentence.
"Did you like it?" Neville was staring at him curiously; it seemed that the idea of Ron and Draco snogging wasn't that far fetched to the other teen.
Ron blushed, stuttered and then groaned putting his face in his hands. He peeked through his fingers. "I kind of started it." Ron mumbled knowing he had to be bright red. "So…I figure…I've got no right to judge…your predicament." He finished slowly and Neville flushed.
There was an awkward silence.
"So…have you?" Ron couldn't help himself; he made a small gesture with his hand. "You...know…"
Neville flushed brightly and opened his mouth to say something but closed it and just shook his head before slumping over again. But Ron got the impression that the other teen had been thinking about…it…
Ron really didn't want to think about Snape doing anything…like that…with anyone…
Suddenly the door to the kitchen opened again and there was Draco at the door. He at first looked at Neville with similarly bored eyes and then glanced toward Ron. His lips smirked slightly and Neville watched as Ron blushed before suddenly finding his cup of coffee very interesting.
"Morning Draco." Neville offered the blonde, it was actually the first time he had seen the blonde out of the room…well he had been bed-ridden himself for a bit as well…
But it was an odd feeling to see the blonde standing in the kitchen going through all the cabinets looking for something. He suddenly felt very awkward, maybe it was because he had found out that Draco and Ron had some strange something going on or maybe it was the fact that Ron seemed to be watching the blonde very closely and cautiously but something in the atmosphere made Neville stand up and leave the kitchen and he was pretty sure that neither of them noticed.
Looking up the stairs seemed to remind the brunette that he had, in fact, not seen Snape yet this morning which was the first time since he had been taken to Number 12. He opened his door slowly but there was no one in there he ignored how deflated his chest seemed to feel at the site of Snape's empty chair.
Instead of going into his room he decided to explore the place and find Snape. He looked into Draco's room and his eyes widened at the ripped apart mattress and pillows. The room was a mess and Neville wondered how the bed could be comfortable. He skipped the Drawing Room door and moved on up the stairs and opened the next door. This room had to be Ron's but…Neville flushed at how the room looked like it hadn't been used in a while.
He moved past a few empty rooms and stopped in front of a partially opened door. He slowly pushed it open and peeked his head through. His heart seemed to stop even though blood had rushed to his cheeks. Snape looked like he was sleeping in a chair that was in the middle of the room…and Neville noted rather surprised that it was the only piece of furniture in the room.
He slowly made his way into the room as quietly as he could. He stopped right in front of his old professor. He looked very peaceful even with the bags under his eyes and healing yellowish bruises on his face. His hair had to be the longest Neville had ever seen it, his robes were tattered and the brunette tried not to focus on any of the sickly colored stains on them.
His eyes stopped on the older man's hand and his cheeks flushed as he remembered how nice they had felt against his head when he had first woken up. His eyes went back to Snape's face…he had gotten paler too…then he looked at the older man's lips.
He didn't know why but he could feel his heart hammering into his chest and he got on his knees so that he wasn't standing over the older man. He lifted one of his hands slowly and touched his cheek.
He stopped. Neville stared at Snape and Snape stared at Neville. The second he had touched the man his eyes had flung open. But Neville' not knowing where the bravery came as his heart started pounding heavily in his throat' quickly moved forward grabbing Snape's face with his hands and brought his lips to his in a quick chaste kiss.
He pulled away but only slightly leaving his hands where they were and watched for a reaction.
Snape looked very surprised which made Neville look at him surprised…he hadn't seen so much expression on the other man's face in so long that he really didn't know what to do.
But then Snape's eyes went strangely and eerily soft. Neville didn't want to take his hands off of him because he felt he would regret it if he did. He could feel his hands start to shake more the more nervous he became. He didn't want to take his eyes off of Snape and he didn't know what to do. Neville could feel his throat grow tight and he could feel himself about to cry but he fought against it.
Snape opened his mouth to say something and Neville decided that he didn't want to hear it, he didn't want to know so he quickly moved back forward before any noise could come out of the other man's mouth and kissed Snape again. He kept his lips against Snape's and kept his eyes closed.
He knew he might have been being ridiculous but it was all he could do, he didn't want to know what Snape was thinking or what he was going to say. He stayed very still in this position and wondered momentarily how fast he could make it out of the room.
That seemed to be a better idea than keeping his mouth on Snape's for the rest of his life so he finally let go still not looking at the older man and jumped up on his feet turning around so he could run out of the door but he was too slow. Snape's hand had caught his shaking arm.
Neville decided to stare at the floor now. Snape still hadn't spoken which surprised him. And then suddenly the older man was standing in front of him and Nevilled back away from him still looking at the floor. Then there was a hand on his chest pushing him backwards and before Neville could stop he tripped backwards onto the still warm chair Snape had been sitting on.
He looked up a little scared and Snape had put his hands on the chair's arms leaning above him. Neville's throat tightened again as he wondered if maybe he had ruined any chance of friendship they had, had.
He watched as a pale hand lifted off of the chair's arm and Neville closed his eyes tightly shut preparing to get hit…well really he deserved it for kissing without permission. What he wasn't expecting was to feel a cold hand against his cheek, he gasped looking up wide-eyed at the black-haired man.
"Where did your bravery go Mr. Longbottom?" The cool voice sent shivers down his spine. He did his best to ignore the fact that Snape had used his last name. "Or do I really seem like the type of person who would enjoy something like that?"
Neville didn't respond, his cheeks burning and his heart pounding. Snape's hand was still on his cheek but his voice and face were expressionless.
"Kiss and run?" There was a twist at the ends of Snape's lips that surprised Neville. Then suddenly Snape leaned forward so close to Neville that he could feel his warm breath. "That doesn't seem very like you…" The cool smooth voice spoke seeming to vibrate Neville's bones.
"I honestly haven't tried before…" Neville flushed.
"O-b-v-i-o-u-s-l-y" Snape said in such a way that only he could pull off, "How about a proper one?"
Neville's eyes widened and before he could react Snape had placed his lips on his. He felt his face flush redder than it had ever been before and he lifted a hand to grab hold of the collar of the older man's robes. He felt a tongue run across his lips and opened his mouth letting the old potions master in. He tightened his grip on the collar and didn't even try to stifle a moan.
He could smell the man's hair which strangely reminded him of all the plants he had been growing for the potions master. He could taste him and it was becoming harder for him to even think.
And then Snape pulled away leaving the younger boy gasping for air; panting he stared up at the other man his hand still tight on his collar. "And that Neville, is how you properly kiss someone."
Neville nodded flustered and smiled slightly still trying to figure out if he was going to be in trouble. Snape had used his first name again.
"Should I take you out to dinner then?" He felt himself grinning up at the man.
Snape sighed as if trying to figure out a really hard problem. This made the brunettes heart jump but not in a good way. There was silence as Snape closed his eyes and seemed to be mumbling angrily but…at himself.
Neville didn't like that.
He jumped out of the chair and grabbed the taller man's collar again. Snape grabbed his hands and stopped Neville from pulling him forward.
"Neville…I think…" He started his voice with a different air, Neville decided he didn't want to hear this either…
"I don't care what you think professor." The brunette started nervously interrupting the black-haired man. "I don't care what you're going to say because I think I might like you a lot…and I want you to know that." He swallowed a little shakily, "So unless you're secretly married, dying very soon or…" He paused, 'you really don't like me' he thought bitterly. "I'm not changing my view…on…this…"
"You wouldn't like me if I was dying?" Snape asked raising his eyebrow in interest.
Neville blushed, "I would probably still like you if you were married too…"
They stood there in silence like they had so many times before but Neville thought he was going to go crazy if Snape didn't respond soon.
"Longbottom…" There was a sigh, "Just…I might not be able to stop them from taking you away." But Snape had pressed his lips gently onto Neville's still bandaged forehead. The teen could feel his heart leap as he grabbed the older man and brought their lips together and he figured that he could get used to this…
XXX
Sorry for taking so long to update! I had to recover my computer and I honestly thought I had lost all of the chapters for this…but then it turns out my sister had a copy of it on her computer! Lol yaaaaaaaaaay~
To be continued…
Read and Review please!