A/N: Thank you all so much for reviewing after last chapter! I really got a lot more reviews than I was expecting! Thanks to everyone who favorited and followed as well! Well, here is the final chapter of disparate youth! Thank you all so much for coming on this fluffy little ride with me. You can follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour) to keep up with other stuff I am working on.
Please let me know what you thought of chapter nine!
The next morning came quicker than either Neville or Hermione expected, Neville wrapped around Hermione's tiny body holding her close. She stretched her limbs, pointing her toes to ease any stiffness from her calves. Her body had really been out through a lot of activity the day before, first being attacked by a plant and then having the best sex of her life.
She didn't know what to expect this morning. Last night hadn't been awkward at all; in fact, it felt so right. She was worried that things would be weird between them, and she hoped that she hadn't ruined their friendship. Would Neville want to stay friends and she would be unable to forget the amazing chemistry that they had together?
To her surprise, Neville just snuggled closer to her, his breath tickling her neck. Steeling herself for the conversation to come, Hermione savored the closeness for a minute longer. "Good morning, Neville." She said softly, turning to face him, still wrapped in his arms. She felt her cheeks turn pink.
"Good morning, Hermione." He returned with a smile, determined to let her steer the conversation in whatever direction she wanted. It would hurt if she wasn't interested in him, but he would understand, and she was too important of a friend to him to let it ruin their relationship.
She found herself rather entranced by the bit of hair on his chest. It gave her something to focus on while she talked. She didn't think that she could stand to see the look in his eyes if he rejected her. "So about last night...I really, really enjoyed it, but...I don't want to push you into something you don't want. I understand if you'd rather just forgot it happened."
Neville felt his breath catch. "Is that what you want?"
Hermione shook her head. "No...I'd quite like it if it happened again, to be honest."
Catching her chin between his thumb and forefinger, Neville pulled her face up to look at him. He was excited to see hints of hope beneath the fear and concern in her brown eyes. Dipping his head down, he caught her mouth with his, pressing a sweet kiss to her, just savoring the moment. When he pulled away, he let a smile cross his face. "Good, because, that's what I'd like too."
Hermione blushed prettily, obviously not used to such intense scrutiny. While he was this close, Neville thought he could see each and every freckle that dusted her nose. Then, her expression turned a bit dark. "I'm not sure yet...if I want a relationship right now, Neville." She remembered how much she hated seeing happy couples before she came to Fiji, and she was a bit concerned that this was just a symptom of proximity.
He looked contemplative, before pushing a bit of hair out of her face. "Well, we're here for one more week. Let's just see how it goes, and then...make those kind of decisions later." It wasn't ideal, but Neville knew then that he had a few more days to get Hermione to see reason and agree to be his girlfriend.
She beamed up at him brightly, clearly happy with that option. "Yes, I think that would be a smart choice." She agreed, before being pulled up onto Neville's chest, squealing. "What are you doing?"
"Well, I seem to remember you saying something about wanting to do that again." He said, a confident look on his face. "No time like the present?"
Dissolving into a fit of giggles, Hermione happily agreed, rolling her hips against his morning erection. "I concur."
The next week on their little slice of paradise was spent entirely together, even when Neville had so be pulled away from Hermione's lips to do a bit of work. They'd gone back to the rainforest to retrieved the orchid that he'd left behind. The cutting that he took was doing quite nicely in the little pot, and whenever Neville took notes, he took them on the couch so that Hermione could drape her legs over his and read a book, in constant contact.
They still had plenty of time to spend with one another. Hermione had actually gotten a sailboat rental, and they'd spent the day out on the water together, enjoying the sun and the large waves. To Hermione's amusement, Neville wasn't much of a sailor, and with his height, he had a bit of trouble with the boom, once even knocked over into the water by the sail when he forgot to duck. Hermione had been worried, only to see him pop back up out of the water. Then she couldn't help but laugh when she turned the boat around to save him for a change.
They'd done a bit more swimming too, Hermione having revealed to Neville that she'd spied on him while he went skinny-dipping that first day. Neville, naturally, insisted that she returned the favor, enjoying the sight of her lush bare skin gleaming the sunlight while floated on her back in the ocean, not an inch of her covered.
Dinners at the resort had become commonplace and with their lovey-dovey attitudes, the staff were even more convinced that the pair were newlyweds on their honeymoon, though Neville for the life of him could not figure out what had given them that idea. Still, as Hermione said, he wasn't about to turn away free champagne.
And of course, they spent a lot of their time between the sheets. Or in the shower. Or on the kitchen table. Or on the deck. Or in the ocean (which was a much trickier endeavor than either one had considered). While their relationship was so new, the pair of them just couldn't seem to keep their hands off one another. Their mouths either.
It was all incredibly romantic, and Hermione frequently found herself realizing that this is what she'd been missing with all those other guys. He wasn't courting her just to get into her knickers. Neville did things for her because he wanted to make her happy. Sex was just a happy side effect of that.
This was real romance.
The week that they had remaining in Fiji came to an end much faster than either of them wanted to admit. It had Hermione dragging her feet in packing up her luggage, preferring to do it the muggle way, as though missing the portkey would prevent them from going home.
She'd had such a wonderful time with Neville, and she didn't want anything to change, but she knew that she had to get back to reality. Mountains of paperwork were likely waiting for her at the Ministry, and she knew Neville was going to busy working on his mastery when he returned to Hogwarts.
They hadn't spoken again about the state of their relationship since that first morning, and she thought that Neville was avoiding bringing it up. She was a bit worried that he had changed his mind, and decided that a fun week filled with steamy sex was all that he wanted.
By the time they found themselves waiting in the international portkey office with some time to kill, Hermione found herself fighting tears in her eyes from the thought of them going their separate ways. Neville kept looking at her with what she assumed was pity over getting so attached to him so fast.
Finally, he spoke. "Listen, Hermione, I think we should talk about our relationship before we leave for London." He watched as she subconsciously stiffened, obviously prepared to get hurt. "These last two weeks have been the most fun I've had in years, and well...I don't want to stop."
Hermione looked up at him confused. "I don't understand." As phenomenal as the sex was, she didn't know if she could continue being friends with benefits with Neville. She'd already become too attached in only two weeks.
"Well," Neville started, gathering all of his Gryffindor courage. "I was wondering if you'd like to be my girlfriend? You know, officially." He waited with baited breath for her response.
Ron had needed to call in quite a few favors to get this reservation, because he'd waited way too long to make it, but after cajoling and autographing multiple brooms, the owner had relented and put another table on the floor for just him and Lavender.
He hoped the flashy restaurant was enough to distract his Valentine's date to end in a very enjoyable round of "dessert" at his flat. He knew that Lavender was pushing really hard for an engagement ring, but as much as he led her along, he certainly wasn't ready to get married just yet. Maybe in a year or two. His mum was pushing him too, but, he had other plans.
Walking into the swanky restaurant, he expected every guy's attention to be on Lavender, her hips swaying while wearing sky high heels. But, to his dismay, it seemed like other people were focused on a different couple, seated not far from where they would be.
Ron craned his neck, wanting to see who it was. To his surprise, he located Hermione, her hair resting around her shoulders in neat waves, her skin sun kissed. That was when he remembered that she'd just gotten back from Fiji, a trip she'd gone on with Neville. She was wearing an incredibly sexy dress, with no back, and it gleamed like shimmering gold against her skin. It helped her stand out from the sea of red.
He walked towards their table, Lavender a bit annoyed on his arm, like a mouth to flame. He wondered who would possibly have taken Hermione to a restaurant like this. It was well known that Hermione didn't put out on first dates, he'd heard it from enough disappointed guys in their year. Also, Hermione didn't really go for romance, and Valentine's Day was pretty much the pinnacle of that.
Feeling a sigh of relief leave him, he saw that it was just Neville Longbottom, looking just as spiffy as Hermione did. Ron was surprising that his tall former roommate cleaned up quite so well. "Hermione, Neville!" He greeted warming. "A bit of a surprise to run into you two here."
Hermione smiled. "Hello Ronald. Lavender, you look lovely tonight." She complimented, demurely, no longer annoyed with the girl's romantic ambitions. She had her own after all.
"So what are you doing here? Are you guys out as like...single friends or something?" Ron asked, clearly unaware that there could be any other reason for the two of them to be out. Hermione really dressed herself up though. "Though, Mione, I think usually you do something with a single girlfriend." He thought it was important to educate her on this.
"Or maybe, Hermione is thanking Neville for taking her to an island paradise." Lavender whined, clearly upset that she wasn't whisked halfway across the globe for a vacation.
"Actually, Ron, Hermione and I are on a date." Neville said, a smile focused solely on Hermione's face, and his hand resting on her's.
"Mate, just a warning, I heard that she doesn't really put out." Ron said quietly, though the four of them could hear it. He heard Hermione's shocked gasp. "And our Mione isn't really the dating type."
Hermione cleared her throat. "If you must know, Ronald, I actually am the dating type. Neville and I are actually celebrating our one month anniversary." She bit her lip, looking at Neville, knowing that she planned on putting out that very night if her sexy lace knickers were anything to go by. "And...I'd say Neville is quite pleased with our level of intimacy."
"Extremely." Neville smirked, looking up at Ron who was gaping like a fish. His girlfriend could be quite devious when she wanted.
Lavender, sensing that this conversation was over, tugged on Ron's arm. "Come on, Ron. Let's go to our table now and leave these two to their date." Ron nodded glumly, following his own annoyed girlfriend.
Neville and Hermione erupted in laughter when the pair left. Hermione had never been more happy that she'd pushed herself and taken a chance on Neville, on romance. It was a decision that she'd never regret.
