Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Thank you so much for the feedback on the last chapter! Wow. It means a lot to me. Half of this chapter was already written, but the rest of it flowed right outta me as soon as the Dumbledore/Neville scene was done. That scene gave me writer's block for over a month! I'm so happy that's over with. Anyway, here's chapter 7!

Chapter name is from the song Brave by Zayde Wolf

"Why are you here, Longbottom? Waiting for your lover boy?"

Neville didn't answer. He felt the tug of veritaserum, but his tolerance to it and the heavy weight of depression were helping him keep his mouth shut.

"He's only using you, you know. There's no way in Hell that Nott would actually have feelings for you. Get out of here, go back to your common room."

That one was easy to avoid answering; he didn't have an answer.

"Oy, Longbottom! Look at me when I'm speaking to you!"

Neville had been standing next to the entrance of the corridor to Slytherin for all of ten minutes before this fourth year started on him. Other Slytherins walked right on by and either ignored him, nodded, or said hello. His hands were still in his pockets, his shoulders still pulled up to his ears, his mind still reeling. His face held a seemingly vacant expression that, to a trained eye, was filled with pain.

Draco Malfoy saw this pain as he approached and instantly knew that something more than low-level bullying caused it; Longbottom had never looked this serious, before. The Slytherin who was in Longbottom's space was a dick who didn't know the reality of the war, or who Voldemort and Dumbledore really were. He was from a family who thought that Voldemort was everything Dumbledore said he was, what the world thought he was. A family who was near the bottom of the purebloods in rank but acted like they were at the top. They were the worst of the worst, and lied about having members in the Death Eaters. Which infuriated any and all of those who did have Death Eaters in their families. Including Voldemort, himself.

Draco was particularly annoyed because all he wanted to do after the long day he had was get a good night's sleep. He and Blaise stayed in the Great Hall after dinner to get some homework done, but Blaise gave up because he couldn't concentrate and went to their dorm. Draco was quite happy with how much work he got done that night, but now he had to deal with Elliott Macnair, who he knew would cause problems once Draco reprimanded him; the Macnairs always did have a flair for dramatics.

"Macnair!" Neville recognized Malfoy's voice but kept his gaze on the floor. "Thirty points from Slytherin!" This did make Neville look up.

The boy named Macnair was livid. "I heard you were docking points recently, even from Slytherin. Was it all because of this idiot?"

"This 'idiot' is Theodore Nott's boyfriend and you will respect him as such. On that note, bullying is a punishable offense and I will dock points for it whenever I see it occurring." He hated taking points away from his house, but he had to as a prefect and especially in this case.

Neville raised both eyebrows. Malfoy seemed cool and collected, but having seen him in private many times in the past two weeks, Neville could already tell the differences between his moods and his facades. The blonde was angry.

"I only give respect when respect is deserved," Macnair sneered. "Not when it is demanded of me. And if you find bullying so offensive, then shouldn't you be paying for all the years of it that you inflicted on Longbottom, Potter, Weasley, Granger, and any and all others?"

Draco closed the space between them, forcing Macnair to turn. It would have shown weakness if the younger boy refused to face him. "I am paying for it by having to defend Longbottom. Do not question a prefect, Macnair. Especially a Slytherin one." He leaned forward and bent to the other boy's level. "Here's a piece of advice. You know our house's rules. Follow them. If you don't, you risk turning your entire house against you. Do you really want to do that?"

Neville's heart fell further to his feet, if that was even possible. He shouldn't have gotten his hopes up about Draco defending him. Dumbledore's words rang like a gong in his head. 'Do not make the mistake of believing you are equal to or more than Mr. Malfoy to Mr. Nott.' He never did, but he did wish for Draco to like him. At first, it was simply because he's Theo's best friend, but it felt different now. Neville grew to like him and was even protective of him, in a weird way. He knew there was something there that Malfoy wasn't showing the world, and he wanted to be one of the few to see it. But that wouldn't happen. Malfoy hated him, for reasons he could not understand.

Macnair was losing his nerve and becoming defensive. "This is different! He's Longbottom! No one but a few stupid Gryffindors like him!"

Neville felt himself involuntarily go to nod his agreement to that statement, but he fought it off.

Draco's mouth curled into a sneer. He refused to acknowledge that a portion of his anger was because he had become protective of the git dating his best friend. "It isn't about liking someone. It's about sticking together. It's about loyalty to your fellow housemates. If you go against Theo, you go against the rules of our house, and therefore, everyone in it."

"He's a blood traitor, Malfoy. Do you really want this," he gestured between all three of them, "getting back to the wrong ears?" he threatened, thinking it might scare Draco for some reason.

Draco leaned further forward so that his nose was almost touching Macnair's, forcing the boy to take a step back. A slip up for a Slytherin. "I am the wrong ears."

Neville's heart skipped a beat. Did that mean… Was Dumbledore right?

The fourth year looked both scared and skeptical at Malfoy's venomous words. "Prove it," he taunted.

Draco tilted his head and stared at the kid for a few moments. Then he stood up straight. "You are either brave or stupid. I don't need to prove anything to you, and I have no desire to. Come on, Longbottom. You can wait for Theo in my room."

Neville moved to follow Draco without questioning him, or questioning himself. He was surprised that the very real possibility of Draco already being a Death Eater, or at least that his father was one again, didn't bother him all that much. What bothered him was the reality the headmaster showed him tonight. The side of Albus Dumbledore that was maniacal, manipulative, and his willingness to drug a student. If that wasn't evil, then Neville needed to educate himself. He needed to find out the truth.

"You can't seriously be taking him into our house!"

Draco stopped and turned to glare at the kid. Neville paused behind him, his back still to Macnair. "Oh, I am very serious." His eyes challenged the idiot.

"If you can't prove that you are the wrong ears, it just means you're a weak-willed nobody. But everyone knows the Malfoys are weak, so that's no surprise. I don't take orders from people who can't or won't prove their loyalties. And since you're clearly not loyal to the Dark Lord, I have no reason to believe anything you say."

Draco shook his head incredulously and did not rise to the bait. He knew the truth and that's what mattered. "Whatever, kid. Believe what you want, but stay away from Longbottom or you will see exactly how wrong you are about everything."

Macnair glanced up and down the corridor. Before any of them could blink, he had a body bind curse on Draco. Neville jumped, startled at the sudden change in their interaction. He whipped out his wand and began to shout expelliarmus, but Macnair stunned him. He fell over and as he was getting up, he saw the fourth year shove Draco's sleeve up. Both Neville and Macnair gasped, neither one of them expecting to see the Dark Mark on Draco's skin.

Draco felt exposed, vulnerable, humiliated, and panicked; the inability to move always threw him into panic mode. He should have been able to stop the curse, or at least see it coming. Potter already knew about his mark. He had not wanted Longbottom to find out. But what was done was done, and he brought his heart rate down with thoughts of instilling fear in the idiot in front of him. He reveled in the terror that was rolling off Macnair and tried to ignore the knot of anxiety that formed in his chest.

"S-sorry, I, I'll respect Longbottom from now on. Please don't, don't let it get back to our lord." He canceled his curse.

As soon as he could move again, Draco grabbed the front of Macnair's robes, whirled him around, and slammed him against the wall. "Our lord? You don't even know who he is, where he is, what he actually stands for, or what he believes in. He doesn't want your family as followers; you are the lowest of low. Unworthy of his attention or time. Tell your idiot father to stop claiming he's a Death Eater, or there will be consequences. Now get out of my sight." He let go and stood back.

The terrified kid burst through the door and disappeared down the corridor. Draco pulled his sleeve down and tentatively glanced at Longbottom. Again, he looked collected and unaffected, but Neville saw the nervousness in his eyes. Neville was so shocked, he didn't know what to do. Or say. Or think. This whole time, Draco Malfoy had been a Death Eater. The last two weeks, Neville has been spending time with a Death Eater. But, Malfoy had been almost kind to him. He had been protecting him. He had even talked to him, albeit in very short and clipped conversations. And, he was Theo's best friend. How could Draco be a bad person after all of that?

"Cat got your tongue, Longbottom?" When Neville didn't say anything, Draco continued. "Follow me. And be quiet until we get to my room." He descended into the tunnel and Neville followed, still stunned and unable to form sentences even if he tried. That was saying something, for the veritaserum effects had only grown stronger since he left Dumbledore's office. They walked into Slytherin's common room after Malfoy said the password without caring that Neville heard it. The Gryffindor knew it, anyway, thanks to Theo. There weren't a lot of students in the common room but those who were there either raised eyebrows or ignored Neville. Draco led him to his room. Blaise Zabini was there. "Blaise, privacy please."

The other sixth year rolled his eyes, grabbed his bag, and left, muttering something about Draco owing him and being kicked out of his own room. Draco shot him an apologetic look just before Blaise left. "Sorry. It's important. Thank you." The blonde turned to Neville when the door closed behind his friend. "Potter knows, so have fun telling him as I know you will."

That was enough to shock the Gryffindor's brain back into working order. "What? Harry knows about this? How?"

"Now that is none of your business. Theo knows, too, so keep your mouth shut or you could put him in danger. His family is neutral and they are strict about it. He isn't allowed to cavort with Death Eaters or their children. They don't know he and I are friends. There are forces at play that you don't understand and information you have wrong."

"What… am I… supposed to believe?" Neville asked softly. "If what I know is wrong, then, what's right? Why doesn't Harry know the truth, if the truth he knows is wrong?"

Draco eyed him warily. He had said too much, already. However… something in the back of his mind told him to plant seeds. That maybe, one day, Tom would realize that he'd gain more followers if he decided to not kill Potter. To get Potter on his side, instead. For a brief moment, Draco felt like it was the right thing to do. Plant the seeds and disobey what his parents told him years ago. "Even Voldemort would protect you and your family because of your relationship with Theo. Slytherins take our rules very seriously. Most of us, anyway."

Neville could not comprehend that. It wasn't an answer to any of his questions, but in a way, it was more jarring. More unbelievable. And stunning, that Draco Malfoy was telling him these things. He was stuck between shock and disbelief. His boyfriend knew all along that Malfoy was a Death Eater. He let Neville, friends with Harry Potter, be in the same space as a Death Eater. He didn't tell Neville anything about Voldemort, or that he knew other Death Eaters. And how did Harry know that Malfoy had the Dark Mark? Why didn't Harry do anything about it? If Harry didn't take action, that must mean that there was much more to Malfoy and all of this than Neville knew, just as Malfoy explained. There had to be good reasons for all of his questions.

He shook his head and sat heavily on Theo's bed. "Really? He would really protect me, son of the couple Bellatrix Lestrange tortured, friend of Harry Potter, the boy he's been trying to kill since Harry was a baby?"

Draco internally winced at the mention of Neville's parents. That was another lie Dumbledore told the world. Or, rather, it was information he did not tell the world. Neville obviously didn't know what his parents were truly like, or what they did to Bellatrix all those years ago. "Yes. Even though Theo's family is neutral in the war. Like I said, there is a lot you don't know."

Neville was quiet for a moment. "Would he protect Harry if Harry started dating a Slytherin?"

Draco paused. That was a good question. "I don't know the answer to that. There are reasons why he wants to kill Potter, reasons I don't know. Things might change, they might not. There is more at stake than one boy's life. I can't say anymore, except…" He wanted to spill it all. Even to Longbottom. It was so unlike him to even have said as much as he did, and he could see his own surprise in himself mirrored on Longbottom's face.

"Except what, Malfoy?" Neville urged. "Please tell me. Please trust me. I want to know the truth." 'I want to tell him about that goddamn prophecy so badly.'

Draco flashed a glare his way, making Neville flinch. "Do not make the mistake of thinking that we are becoming friends." He cleared his face of any animosity when he saw the look of pain on the Gryffindor's face.

Neville winced and looked down at his knees. That hurt. He thought that maybe they could be civil with each other one day, but he realized that all he really was to Malfoy was a best friend's boyfriend. And that's all he'd ever be. Dumbledore's words rang in his head, again. 'You will never measure up to Draco Malfoy in Theodore Nott's eyes.' Why was it so hard for Draco to like him? What was he hiding? Why was it so painful when he said that? Neville's chest hurt, and he struggled to find words. As soon as they came to him, they spilled out as if he had no control over them.

"I'm not. I know how unworthy I am and how much most people hate me, believe me. Though I don't know why. I'm not stupid, no matter what others think; I'd never dream of becoming your friend. I know how impossible that is, even though I have no idea why so many people, including yourself, say things about me and think I don't have feelings. Or, you all know I have them and you just don't care." It was Draco's turn to wince, though Neville didn't see it. "I haven't told anyone anything about you, by the way," he said quieter. "About how much you care for the people you love. And I won't."

Draco hated the guilt that stabbed him in the gut at the pain in Neville's voice and the look on his face, from what Draco could see of his profile. He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, pushing back the bit that fell over his eyes. "But?"

"But nothing. I just… it would be nice to… I dunno. Not hear from you what I hear all day every day from everyone else… Never mind. It's stupid." 'Like me.' "Forget it."

Draco swallowed his guilt and leaned against the foot of his bed. Was he really that bad? First Potter asked him to tone it down, now Longbottom. Was his mask so much a part of him that it became more than a mask right under his own nose? He was not used to feeling badly for the way he treated people. He hated this. But he also hated realizing just how much his words have hurt someone over the years. "You're not stupid."

Neville blinked. Did Malfoy really just say that? He scrunched his face in confusion and looked up to his left, braving Malfoy's eyes. "What?"

The grey eyes rolled. "I am not repeating that."

Neville's pain ebbed and he smiled. It was small, but it was a smile. Draco's few words sparked hope in Neville's heart and proved once again that there was more to the Slytherin than what met the eye. "Thanks, Malfoy."

"Bah. Forget it ever happened." The bloody Gryffindor's smile widened. Bloody hell. "No, really. Forget it happened," he grumbled. He didn't want to say more but he felt the words coming, anyway. He felt the urge to protect this stupid git. 'He's not stupid.' "Listen to me. Don't trust Dumbledore. And forget you ever heard that come from me. I know you will probably go against my advice because you know I'm a Death Eater. If you weren't my best friend's boyfriend, and if he wasn't serious about you, I wouldn't waste any time on you or let you see any deeper than what I show to the world. But being with Theo, and how serious he is about you, trumps you being Potter's friend. It trumps a lot of things. That said, I felt the need to warn you about the headmaster. He is not what he seems." 'Nothing about this war is what it seems,' was what he wanted to say.

This struck Neville hard. If this conversation happened before his meeting with Dumbledore, he'd have gotten furious and would have righteously gone to Harry. But everything seemed to be falling apart, and falling into place at the same time. His vision of what Albus Dumbledore was and what he stood for shattered in his mind that night. The Dumbledore he thought he knew would not have tried to drug him with veritaserum, confronted him about his relationship, or told him to break up with Nott.

It left him wondering yet again if the side Dumbledore and the Order were on really was the good side… or the bad.

"I'm… not sure I do trust him. In fact, no. No I don't. Not anymore." He didn't mean to say that, but he had very little control over the veritaserum in his system, now.

Draco's eyebrows flew into his hairline. That was shocking. "Why is that?"

"He summoned me to his office, tonight. Towards the end of dinner."

Well, shit. Draco studied him for a few long moments before responding to that. He had not thought that Dumbledore would act this quickly. "That's why you looked so upset back there." It wasn't a question. Neville nodded, looking at his knees again. "I thought you worshiped him."

"I did. But a lot was made clear to me, tonight."

"What did he say?"

Neville couldn't believe that Malfoy was actually asking him to speak, to tell him about his talk with the headmaster. It was odd, and he'd have to tread carefully. But this was exciting in a way, even though he couldn't stop himself from answering. He kept expecting Malfoy to snap back to the asshole he always showed outside of this room, but he wanted to have this talk and most likely would explain even without the serum. Albeit, not as verbosely or intelligently.

"He told me that he's all about inter-house unity but that there are times when Gryffindors need to think with their heads instead of their hearts. That he doesn't judge or blame children of Death Eaters but that we need to be wary of them all the same." Draco made a disgusted noise and Neville continued. "That it isn't safe to be with Theo. That it's dangerous not only for me but for Harry and everyone on the 'light' side. He acted as if I'm risking everything the 'light' has been fighting for since before I was born just by being with Theo. He was talking about romance and brotherhood, how they were different… He said…" Neville's voice hitched. Draco realized the Gryffindor was trying very hard to not cry. "That… I would never measure up to…" Neville paused and swallowed. "You."

Draco did not miss the way Neville sarcastically emphasized the word 'light'. He felt for the guy. He wasn't sure why he was allowing these emotions but they were alone, and Neville hadn't told anyone about the softer side of Draco that he's seen in this room. Draco felt his walls slip a little at Longbottom's show of pain, even though he wasn't willingly letting it happen. "Me?" he asked. The other boy nodded. Draco was floored. "He really said that?"

Neville nodded again, his movements jerky this time. He sniffed and looked embarrassed. He composed himself with a few deep breaths and soldiered on. "He said that brotherhood is stronger than romance and that even though Theo's family is neutral, if it came down to it, he'd choose you over me and I would have to fight him because you'll most likely go dark. He told me to break up with him."

"Is that what you came here to do?" Draco's words were sharp and full of warning. He would not take kindly to Neville hurting his friend.

"No."

This surprised Draco. "You really love him," the Slytherin mused. He hadn't meant to say those words, but they came out anyway.

Neville looked up in surprise and furrowed his brows. There it was, again. That word. "Yes." His eyes widened. What? Yes? He was under veritaserum, so that had to be true. But… "Why do you and Ginny insist that it's love? Theo and I have barely been together two weeks."

Draco rolled his eyes. "I don't know, Longbottom. It's just what flew out of my mouth. Don't think anything of it."

But Neville did. And he wondered if it really was love. Veritaserum doesn't let you lie, but it makes you speak your truth, not the truth. He might think he's in love with Theo, but it might not actually be love. However, whether it was love or not, the truth was the truth. "He means too much to me to let him go."

That startled Draco. His parents often told him the story of their whirlwind romance and that they knew they loved each other within the first month of dating. He never understood how something as strong, deep, and complicated as love could be formed so quickly. "Even though your god of a headmaster told you to stay away from him?" Neville nodded. "Even though his suspicions about me were true? I'm a Death Eater. You can't trust us. We are evil pureblood supremacists with no hearts who torture and murder and blahblahblah." Draco's tone turned sarcastic.

Neville didn't even pause to think. "He isn't right about you." This shocked the blonde. His mask disappeared for a few moments, allowing Neville to see surprise and hope in Malfoy's eyes.

"I have the Dark Mark. I am a Death Eater."

"Did you take it willingly?"

Draco's jaw tightened. "I did."

"Then, I can't believe everything Dumbledore says."

Draco blinked. That was not what he was expecting. "What?"

"If you willingly became a Death Eater and weren't forced into it, then they, you, can't be bad people. You're a good person."

"What do you know about me?" And the mask was back.

"I know that you love Theo and your other friends. I know that you've allowed me in your room, into your private space, when you could have easily kicked me out as I know you've wanted to. I know that you've been protecting me, even though you hide behind the fact that it's a rule of your house. I've seen a softer side of you and I know that someone like that could never kill anyone, or hurt anyone without good reason. I don't understand the deal with Bellatrix and my parents, but you did say there's a lot I don't know and I know you can't tell me, so I won't ask." His gaze traveled back to his knees. "I assume there are many reasons, good reasons, why you have to act the way you do. I can't even begin to describe my confusion as to why Harry has to die, why Voldemort can't just… I dunno. Talk to him? Is that so crazy of me to think? I mean, if you're not bad, and the Death Eaters aren't bad, then how can you follow someone who's bad? So if Voldemort isn't bad, why does he have to kill Harry?"

Draco's eyes were blown wide the next time Neville looked up at him. He had no answer. He had no idea that Neville was even this perceptive. He couldn't answer. He didn't know how to react. But the Gryffindor seemed to understand what his silence meant.

"It's okay. I didn't ask those for you to answer. It just came out as questions. Don't mind me; I ramble a lot. Dumbledore's talk with me tonight really messed with my head and I don't know what to think, anymore. But you don't need to hear any of it, so. I'm gonna shut up, now."

Draco took a few moments to really think about what was happening between them. Longbottom was talking a lot. More than Draco had ever heard him speak in all the years he's known him. And it was pure, blunt truth. He narrowed his eyes. Wait a minute. He pushed off his bed, walked over to the Gryffindor, and took Neville's chin in his hand.

"Malfoy? Malfoy, what –"

Draco tilted Neville's chin up and stared directly into his eyes. His pupils were dilated and there were thin, almost unnoticeable silvery veins in the green of his irises. He briefly, for one fraction of a moment, mused that Longbottom's eyes weren't as pretty as Potter's. "Veritaserum," Draco muttered, fury rising. "He drugged you. Did you know?"

To say that Neville was shocked would have been the understatement of the century. One, Draco willingly closed the distance between them. Two, Draco was willingly touching him. Three, Draco sounded like he was angry for him. Neville blinked a few times before gathering his thoughts enough to answer. "Um, yeah. But he didn't know I knew. How'd you know?"

Draco's eyes flitted back and forth between Neville's, comparing his pupils and looking for other signs on the Gryffindor's face. He furrowed his brows in confusion. "Your pupils are dilated and there are veins – why am I explaining. I can just tell, alright? It looks as if it hasn't been in your system long. It should be peaking now. It's why you've been rambling so much." He let his hand drop and took a step back to put space between them.

"Yeah… how…" How did he know this?

"Why is it peaking now rather than back in Dumbledore's office? Did you not drink it until recently? It should already be past its peak strength if you drank it at the beginning of the meeting. Veritaserum doesn't last very long."

Neville launched into an explanation. He hated the way he rambled, normally. With veritaserum, it was multiplied significantly. His cheeks turned pink from embarrassment. He could fight the effects for only so long, but he didn't truly want to right now. Draco Malfoy was showing concern. Though it wasn't for him directly, it was still concern for him in some way and it felt good. So he let his control fully slip. Not that he had a choice, anyway. "I knew it was in the tea before I drank it because of how pushy he was for me to have some. I declined a few times, but then he poured me a cup knowing how my grandmother raised me. It'd be really rude to refuse it. Being a pureblood, you know that etiquette. I faked drinking it for as long as I could, but I had to drain it somehow, so I drank some later on to keep him talking and believing it was in my system. I have a high tolerance to it; Gran made me build one up by force-feeding it to me on a regular basis during her training when I was a kid."

Draco was horrified. This was why he hated the type of purebloods who Dumbledore wanted to control the world with. The very same type the headmaster made the world believe was on Voldemort's side. Supremacists, abusers, bigots. Apparently Longbottom's grandmother was one of them. "Merlin," he breathed. Then he cocked his head and stared at Neville strangely, his mind trying to work something out. "That was very Slytherin of you. I didn't know you had that in you."

Neville blushed. Now Malfoy was complimenting him. He didn't know how to react, but the serum kept him talking so he didn't have to worry about that. "When I realized there was veritaserum in the tea, I asked myself what Theo would do and then I imagined him talking me through this in my head, as stupid as that sounds. That's how I got through the meeting without mucking it all up. How backwards is that? A Slytherin taught a Gryffindor how to be brave." He shook his head. "Anyway. He – Dumbledore – after going around in circles about how my grades have improved, finally got to what he brought me in for after a ton of talking. He wanted to tell me how dangerous it is to be with Theo, that I'll never measure up to you, which I already knew because you're his best friend and I'm just his boyfriend. Dumbledore made it clear that romance isn't as important as brotherhood, like I told you before. Which I get; friends are, usually, forever. Romance isn't, and it only gains importance when you get really serious. Like, being together forever serious. Dumbledore minimized our relationship and played into my insecurities like a professional. I think he did it on purpose. He wanted me to break up with Theo before Hogsmeade and I said I will, but that was because I almost said, 'I will not.' I was able to hold in the word 'not' because the serum hadn't peaked, yet. So he thinks I'm going to break up with Theo but I can't and I won't. I love him. Merlin, I don't know why; I barely know him and we've only been together for a couple of weeks. But I can't tell him because it's way too early, and the reason why I refuse to break up with him isn't just because I'm in love with him, though that's a huge reason. I've never felt like this before, and I haven't been treated all that well throughout my life except by a few people and he accepts me for who I am. But it's also because I saw Dumbledore's true nature, and I'm deeply unsettled by it. I know I can't tell anyone and I don't understand why. Maybe it's just not the right time? I mean, if Dumbledore's really the bad guy in all this, then that makes Voldemort the good one, right? And, if that's the case, why are we letting Harry and the rest of them believe the opposite is true? Is it just not the right time, yet? Please tell me you won't let my friends fight to their deaths over a lie. I certainly won't, and I will tell them if I have to. Please tell me you have a plan."

Draco heard the door open behind him toward the beginning of Neville's latest ramble but said nothing. He wanted Theo to hear this, and he hoped it was Theo behind him. But Neville just kept going, so Draco had to interrupt him. "Longbottom! Stop." Neville took a big breath and let it out shakily, but he stopped talking. "Merlin's balls, you don't shut up on veritaserum."

Theo took this moment to make his presence known. "Nev? Draco? What the bloody hell is going on?"

Draco moved aside and nodded his greeting at Theo. Neville froze. He sucked in a breath and couldn't let it out. He was terrified of the possibility that Theo heard him profess his love and that would not be good.

"How much did you hear?" Draco asked calmly.

"Enough," Theo responded heavily. He crossed the room to his bed, dropped his bag to the floor, and pulled Neville off the bed into a strong hug. He buried his face in Neville's neck, a favorite of his both for when he needed soothing and when his boyfriend did. He felt how tense the Gryffindor was, and didn't want to ever let go of him. "You know, Draco's parents fell in love within the first few weeks of dating."

"You just had to bring my parents into this, didn't you?" Draco grumbled. Theo didn't answer. He was too focused on calming down the vibrating man in his arms.

Neville usually melted into Theo's hugs, but this one took a bit more coaxing because of how scared he was. He relaxed at those words, but was confused by what Theo meant by them. "Really?"

"Yes. It happens. I know you haven't been treated well in your life so far and that it's hard for you to trust, but I'm not going anywhere. Even if I didn't feel the same way about you yet, I'd grow to. But I do, Nev. And I'm not letting go of you, even if you did try to break it off with me."

He loved him. Theo loved him. Neville didn't know what to say, so he let the serum do the talking. "I dunno what love even is. I dunno why I said that. I dunno how you could feel that for me."

"Because it's what you feel, or at least your subconscious. I don't know much about romantic love, either, but I know what I feel and from what I've gathered, that's love."

Then everything really hit Neville. The whole night, what Dumbledore did to him, what his gran had done to him, spilling his guts to Malfoy, and Theo hearing him confess his feelings. He stepped back and Theo's arms slackened. He searched those beautiful blue eyes and found nothing but truth. He was safe. He could break down, now. His legs gave way and he lowered himself back to the bed. Theo sat beside him on his right and threw an arm around his waist. "You okay?"

Neville was not okay. His emotions were overloading and overwhelming him. Tears fell and wouldn't stop. His chest tightened. He was hyperventilating. He put a hand over his mouth; he was insecure about people seeing him cry. Draco was suddenly in front of him, offering him a vial.

"Calming draught. Drink, then I'll get something to cancel the serum's effects."

He drank, and instantly felt warmth spread throughout his body. His breathing became easier, his tears slowed, and his mind began to clear.

"What's happening?" Theo asked his friend.

Draco walked back over to his bed and rummaged through his trunk. "Panic attack. He's overloaded. It happens sometimes with veritaserum. It makes you say things you wouldn't normally say, as you know, and can feel like a violation." He glanced at the Gryffindor with questioning eyes. "Can I tell him about your grandmother?" He received a nod so he looked back at Theo. "Longbottom's grandmother traumatized him. He told me earlier that when he was a kid, she forced him to drink it so much that he developed a tolerance. It helped him tonight with Dumbledore, but I'm pretty sure her 'training' gave him PTSD. Couple that with veritaserum violation and voila." He motioned toward Neville. "He knew Dumbledore was trying to drug him tonight and he handled it well, but now that he's in a safe space with his safe person, it's all hitting him."

Theo's eyes widened as Draco talked. He gritted his teeth in fury and the hand on Neville's waist tightened. Yet, he had nothing to say. Anything he wanted to say held the potential to upset Neville more, so he remained silent.

Draco found what he was looking for and moved to stand in front of Neville again. "Take this."

Neville didn't know why he was okay with Malfoy telling Theo one of his most closely guarded secrets. Maybe it was because the cat was already out of the bag, and it might be nice for his boyfriend to know. Malfoy did, so Theo should. He never thought of what his gran did to him as traumatic, nor did he ever consider the possibility that he had PTSD from it. But now that Draco said it, it made sense. He was grateful for Theo's silence. He felt how angry the Slytherin was and he wasn't sure he could handle that right now. Theo seemed to recognize that. He was handed another vial and remembered what Draco said just a little bit ago, while he was drinking the calming draught. "This… cancels veritaserum?"

"Yes."

"How? There's no known antidote."

"There's no antidote because no one ever had a need for it, before. Before my…" He paused. He nearly revealed an enormous secret. "Before someone I know was abused with it, I never thought twice about it. No one ever thought it warranted an antidote because it's supposedly harmless. But I've seen the aftereffects, similar to yours. So I talked to Sev - Snape, and we created this. The only other person who knows about it is Slughorn, and that's because the jackass stole a vial from Snape."

"What's in it?"

"Something that'll stop you from spilling your guts out. And it will probably make you tired. Drink." He stood and gave Neville space.

Neville didn't question it. He trusted Malfoy and he trusted Theo. Theo wouldn't let anything bad happen to him. So he drank the unknown substance. He felt the buzzing in his head subside, but otherwise felt not much different. "Ask me something."

Draco thought for a moment. "What is Gryffindor's password?"

Neville felt the corners of his mouth tug into a smile. "Of course you'd ask that." He felt that Malfoy was trying to make him feel better, which was preposterous, but he was going to let himself believe that. The Slytherin could've asked so many more personal questions, but he didn't. "But I'm not telling."

Draco nodded. "And there you have it."

Theo pulled Neville into a side hug and kept him there. Neville melted into it. Then yawned. He was suddenly exhausted. Theo helped him fully onto the bed and told him to lie down. "Don't you have questions?" Neville asked after another yawn.

"Thousands. But Draco can tell me everything if you don't mind; you need to sleep. Or he could show me; he has a pensieve."

"I don't mind."

"Alright." Theo kissed him sweetly. "I love you."

Neville's heart filled with happiness and a huge smile bloomed on his face through his sleepy eyes. "I love you, too."

Theo smiled back at him and helped him under the covers. "Go to sleep."

Neville closed his eyes, but they popped open as he remembered something from much earlier in the evening. "Wait! Ginny!"

"Ginny?"

"She said she was gonna wait up for me. She's probably worried sick by now."

"I'll send her a memo for you, don't worry."

Neville visibly relaxed. "Thank you."

Theo caressed his cheek. "You're welcome."

"G'night."

"Good night, love." Theo stood, closed the curtains, and shrugged off his robe.

"Thank you, Malfoy," they heard.

"You're welcome." Draco felt odd. About answering Longbottom, but also about everything. Most of all, about the fact that he'd come to care for the Gryffindor. He couldn't think about that, right now. He shook his head again and grabbed his pensieve.

Theo scribbled a quick note and charmed it to fly to Ginny Weasley in Gryffindor Tower. When he turned toward his best friend, his shoulders drooped as he finally let his emotions show on his face. He was devastated and angry by what he heard about what happened to Neville that night, and from his past with his grandmother. Theo was not ready to see Draco's memories, explaining the rest of the story. He walked over and sat on Draco's bed.

Draco climbed up with him. He pulled the memories of the night from his head and dropped them into the bowl. "Ready?" he asked his friend.

Theo took a deep breath. "No."

Draco smiled grimly. "It's bad, I won't lie."

"But I have to see it. Let's do this."

Thank you for reading!