Chapter 4

The Ride to Hogwarts was filled with stories of Neville's mother in Slytherin and her adventures with Narcissa. The beautiful Malfoy had captured the attention of Neville and her son with the tales she weaved. She smiled at the pure look of affection on Neville's face when his mother was mentioned. Her eyes glanced towards her son, who was secretly shooting looks at the Gryffindor Klutz. Oh yha, her son had a crush. She chuckled behind her hand as she finished telling a story about how Frank and Alice Longbottom literally fell into there first kiss. The fact that at first they hated each other was just icing on the cake. How Alice and Frank got together was due to the DADA Professor at the time, who was a hopelessly romantic woman who thought it would be fun to pair the two students who hated each others guts.

"It was one of the most hilarious set-ups in all of Hogwarts, that woman knew how to pick them!" she said smiling fondly at the memory. "It wasn't long after that, that your mother confided in me that she had always secretly admired Frank."

Narcissa leaned back and glanced out the window, her eyes widening, she could see Hogwarts looming in the distance. She smiled and turned towards the too boys where lost in there thoughts, probably about different things. She smiled at them and clapped her hands loudly.

"Well boys, Hogwarts looms on the horizon, I suggest you go change into your school robes." she chirped. Draco nodded and reached to grab his trunk which held his trunk, only to have his hand brush against Neville's, he quickly drew his hand back and mutter a quick sorry. He tried to ignore the heat he could feel rising in his cheeks. He glanced back at his mother who had this odd twinkle in her eye he had never seen before. He looked away, great his mother saw. He wanted to groan, there were embarrassing questions in the near future he could feel it. He didn't reach for his things till Neville had left the compartment to go to the restrooms.

"So he's a handsome lad" started Mrs Malfoy. Draco turned away from his mother reaching for his trunk again. "Very nice choice"

"Mother!" he whined like a child as he grabbed his robes and hastily throw them over his green turtleneck and dark trousers, folding his cloak and placing it in his trunk, while tugging on his school cloak. He could feel his cheeks heating as his mother chuckled.

"Don't be so embarrassed Draco" she said, looking at her fingernails before sending a mischievous grin in her sons direction. "it is absolutely normal to have feelings for such a handsome man" Draco groaned, he just wanted his mother to shut up.

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Neville couldn't believe his mother was in Slytherin, had been harbouring secret affections for his father and that they were set up by there DADA professor, only to actually fall in love! It was so fairytale like, it was almost unreal. But the honest in her eyes was true, so it must have happened. He chuckled. He hadn't heard anything about his mother in a long while, his grandmother just prattled on and on about his father, maybe it was because his mother was a Slytherin that his grandmother wasn't very fond of her? And Mrs Malfoy was a very nice woman, she didn't seem like the stern woman one would suspect Malfoy Sr. of marrying. She didn't seem to be defined by the old pureblood ways, as Lucius and Draco often portrayed. But Draco was different this year, he wasn't as rude? And Neville couldn't help that maybe Draco wasn't so bad and that he was quite handsome. Neville felt a blush dusting his cheeks.

Shaking his head he hastily button up his white shirt before throwing on his robes. It still didn't help the slight feeling of possession he felt every time he looked at Draco.

It wasn't normal that his mind screamed 'mine'. Was this some kind of weird transition into adulthood? Was it the beast that lay beneath the surface whispering its attraction towards the young pureblood. Shaking his head Neville stepped from the stall and looked at himself in the restroom mirrors. He really did change from that gangly boy from last year. He gave a shy grin and left the rest room. It was weird but he never ran into his friends as he made his way back towards his compartment. As he threw open the door he was greeted by a smiling Narcissa and a blushing Draco. What was going on in her before he came?

"Ah, Neville" said Mrs Malfoy getting up and grabbing his hand and pushing him into the seat beside her. "You must let me put war braids in your hair" she said hurriedly. "your mother loved it when your father had war braids in his hair. They looked quite the pair when he did" she chuckled at the memory before locking twinkling eyes with the young Longbottom. Neville smiled nervously before, looking away. Did he want war braids in his hair after he told his grandmother no? But his father wore them all the time it would seem for his mother. He shot a glance at Draco who looked away to gaze out the window. Maybe he would like them? He nodded nervously towards Mrs Malfoy.

"okay" he said quietly.

"Splendid" she said "Turn towards me and let me have my way with you" her grin was wicked.

"Mother!" said Draco who was flushing at the words. Did she know how inappropriate she just sounded.

"hush Draco" she said "Mother's busy" she said weaving her hands into Neville's hair and tugging at it. Glancing nervously at Draco, Neville thought that maybe this wasn't such a good idea. When Mrs Malfoy was finished with Neville's hair she conjured a mirror and showed the twitching Gryffindor.

Neville grasped the mirror and stared at himself, he looked older, a little wild. He glanced at Draco, should he ask him how he looked? Would it be a negative response? Positive? Just because he had this great change, just because he grew into his inheritance at an age that usually happened at eighteen and not sixteen, it didn't mean he grew anymore confidence then he had. So no, Neville didn't ask Draco how he looked. But then again with a very observant Narcissa Malfoy, who needed confidence. She asked her son herself.

"Draco doesn't he just look handsome!" she burst out. Neville blushed ducking his head and he shyly glanced up at the young Malfoy who was trying not to let his jaw drop. Handsome didn't even describe it to Draco. The Gryffindor Klutz was bloody gorgeous, he looked feral and wild, usually that would have made Draco some what intimidated but with Neville's blue eyes staring at him shyly, yet with something in his gaze, Draco only felt safe was his best guess. It was in this moment of silence, that maybe he did have a slight crush on the Gryffindor klutz…

"Well Draco say something!" she said Draco snapped towards his mother and then glanced down crossing his arms. He muttered a brief reply that a blush to his cheeks.

"yha" it was short, simple and to the point. And it made Neville blush. Narcissa chuckled lowly in her throat. Just then the train stopped and the bell sounded. They had a Hogwarts. As the Slytherin's and Gryffindor separated to go into separate carriages, Neville forgot to ask why Mrs Malfoy was at the school, he was sure he would find out soon. He hoped into a carriage with the golden trio and Ginny.

"Hey guys" he said waving. Hermione turned to look at him and froze.

"Neville Longbottom!" came the shrill surprised voice of Hermione Granger as she gazed at the taller man. He smiled nervously down at her.

"Hermione" he said nodding.

"blimey mate, you changed" sprouted Ron. Neville blushed embarrassed.

"What have you been eating!" exclaimed Harry.

"Er.." he said shifting uncomfortably in his seat.

"Oh leave him alone guys" said Ginny, she smiled up at Neville, he certainly had groan handsome. She batted her eye lashes a little. Neville shifted uncomfortable with the attention Ginny seemed to show him. "I'm sure he will tell us everything, won't you Neville" she leaned towards him a little. And well he leaned back, trying to escape the close proximity. Why couldn't he just grab a carriage with the Malfoy's instead of saying goodbye and a see you later.

A/N: Draco has some competition in the future. Anyway I've updated hopefully its good. Please leave a review, See yha.

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