An Unexpected Predicament

Chapter 21 - New Beginnings

When Harry was finally let out of St. Mungo's after being kept in overnight again he was told he had to be supervised by an adult for the following 24 hours in case the wound got worse. Neville volunteered, which was how he ended up in Harry's flat drinking beer while Harry watched longingly but couldn't mix alcohol with his pain potions.

'How did you do it?' Neville asked out of the blue, 'how did you pretend for so long?'

'I was okay with being with Ginny,' Harry admitted, 'she and I got on well, and we both wanted the same things in life. That would have been a bearable life, a good life.'

'A good life,' Neville mused, 'so you were happy enough with her but she didn't make you feel particularly exhilarated.'

Harry shrugged, 'The sex was okay.'

Neville smirked, and Harry was instantly suspicious, 'What?' he asked cautiously.

Neville just grinned as he said, 'Oh nothing, it's just that I bet I can supersede all the sex you had with Ginny in one kiss.'

Harry scoffed, 'I know you're a Leo Neville, but you really need to tone down that cockiness of yours.'

Neville ignored Harry's sarcastic comment as he swiftly crossed the room to sit next to Harry on the couch. Before Harry knew what had hit him Neville grabbed his face and kissed him roughly, but gently at the same time. He was careful to avoid touching, or jostling Harry's arm but he gripped Harry's face with both of his hands as he deepened the kiss and slipped his tongue into Harry's mouth. As they did while duelling, they battled for control over the kiss, but Neville won because Harry was still in a lot of pain. He didn't think about that then though, the pain was barely noticeable as he was overwhelmed with the smell of Neville's after-shave, the feel of lips, and the taste that Harry couldn't place, apart from knowing that it was Neville's. His stomach began to flip, and his eyes fluttered shut without his permission as his free hand went into Neville's hair, it had gotten longer over the summer. Harry had wanted to grow his, but Ginny had thought it looked stupid so it had been left short instead.

When Neville broke the kiss Harry's head still felt cloudy, but he seemed to have entirely forgotten his pain. Neville had been right, Harry had felt more during that kiss than he ever had during sex with Ginny. It had been good physically, there was no doubt about that, but he had never felt what he had just there with Neville.

Neville was smirking, and Harry wanted to roll his eyes, 'Why are you smirking?'

'Oh, I was just wondering about something,' Neville said, his grin widening, 'did you get that turned on just by kissing Ginny?'

Harry didn't even have the heart to feel embarrassed as he pulled Neville to him, kissing him as hard and fast as he had just been kissed. Neville didn't object, despite Harry's apparent invalid state. He also didn't object as Harry's hand slipped lower down, and effortlessly undid his button and zip in one fluid movement.

Neville chuckled against Harry's lips, 'Some things never change.'

'I'm sure this will keep your adrenaline levels up,' Harry whispered against Neville's lips and he felt Neville grin at his words.

'Definitely.'

It was the middle of the night, it was lightly raining outside and the window in Harry's bedroom was pushed open. The light rain was coming in sideways due to the warm breeze, but it was a nice summer night.

Harry and Neville were lying in Harry's incredibly large and comfortable bed entirely naked. They were both still covered in a thin layer of sweat from the night's exertions and the covers lay abandoned on the floor. They just lay there, unabashed by the others state of undress as they each smoked a cigarette.

Harry sighed, 'I'm going to have to stop this.'

Neville nodded, turning his head to the side to look at the smaller man, 'The Healer fixed the damage it did to your lungs, and mine after the whole wedding argument.'

'But the damage will come back if I don't stop,' Harry admitted, 'and I was out of breath and struggling much earlier than I should have been in that duel.'

'Never mind that, you were panting 5 minutes into our hot make-up sex,' Neville teased.

Harry rolled his eyes, 'I'm injured look,' he said, pointing to his arm, 'and you were puffing too.'

'I'm stopping,' Neville chuckled, 'this is my last, that's why I'm savouring it.'

'Not that we need them anymore,' Harry admitted with a grin, 'I'll be going back to Auror training soon, and we've established how to deal with your adrenaline needs.'

Neville laughed a loud, hearty laugh and nodded, 'That is incredibly true. Hermione thinks stopping will be impossible, and that we'll be wrecks.'

'Well she doesn't know that we removed the addictive part, does she?' Harry smirked, and the minute he glanced at Neville they both burst out laughing.

The following morning a surprising visitor appeared on Harry's doorstep. Neville was drinking coffee and Harry had been thinking about making breakfast when he answered the door in his boxers to find Luna there.

'Luna!'

'Good morning Harry,' Luna smiled, walking into the flat and seeing Neville sitting on the sofa, also only in his boxers, 'oh hello Neville. I'm glad you two are back together again.'

'How did you even know we were together let alone that we're back together?' Harry asked his friend.

'Well apart from the obvious fact that you are both pretty much naked together at the moment?' Luna asked, cocking her head at Harry in amusement.

Harry actually blushed, and Luna chuckled, 'Well I already knew Neville was gay but Harry, you were so far in the closet I think you were looking for Narnia. But then you realised you had feelings for Neville, but didn't want to be with him because you were Auror partners. Then you decided you couldn't do that, so after your first year of training you got together but then you got found out and you had to pick Neville or your place in training, and you picked training. So Neville punched you, and you got back together with Ginny and ran away to Africa because you thought it would make you happy. But it didn't, and at a wedding last week you broke each other's noses, and then realised you still had feelings for each other and wanted to be together.'

'Luna, how the hell did you know all of that?' Harry asked in disbelief.

With a sly sort of smile Luna said, 'Well everyone thought I was quiet because I was insane. But really I'm very skilled in Legilimency and I was reading everyone's thoughts.'

Harry laughed and said, 'Well that explains a lot.'

Neville shook his head, 'I can't believe you didn't tell me that. How long have you been reading my thoughts for?'

Luna shrugged, 'Oh, I remember you thinking about vivid dreams you had about Harry in 5th year-'

'Alright, I think that's enough,' Neville said, the colour rising in his cheeks.

Harry raised an eyebrow at him, '5th year?'

Neville's cheeks got brighter, 'Shut up Harry.'

Luna smiled coyly, 'I don't think you're one to tease Harry. I remember your dreams about Draco Malfoy, in 6th year.'

'What? I wasn't even gay then!' Harry said defensively.

'Oh so you definitely are now then?' Neville asked in amusement, 'you didn't seem to know the last time I asked you.'

Harry stumbled over his words for a moment, and then Luna said, 'It is possible to like both men and women, Neville. You really ought to be more open-minded.'

Harry smirked, 'See Neville, you're so small-minded.'

Luna chuckled, she had wandered into Harrys kitchen and was helping herself to coffee, 'I do have an ulterior motive for being here though.'

'And that is?' Harry asked.

Luna smiled, 'I thought you should give me an interview, for the Quibbler. I can write in in the correct way, from your own words. Not speculative like the Prophet would be. But I need to know everything so that I know what to look out for.'

'What do you have in mind?' Harry asked warily.

'If you let me in, I can use Legilimency,' Luna said, 'that way I'll know everything without you having to tell me.'

'You want to poke around inside my head?' Harry asked.

'Come on Harry,' Neville said, 'you know it's for the best.'

'And I won't tell anybody anything,' Luna promised, 'I just want you to be happy.'

Harry sighed, 'Alright,' he said, because he knew Luna was telling the truth.

Luna nodded and smiled, a little mischievously, 'Close your eyes and let your defences down so I can get in.'

Harry shut his eyes and did as she said, and then he felt her, prodding around inside his head. He frowned, it didn't feel very comfortable. He had knowledge of the thoughts she was perusing, she glanced over his childhood memories, which was bloody uncomfortable and she made the odd passing comment like, 'hmm, I don't like sausages much either.'

Her quick scan didn't seem to be that quick though, and as she got into Hogwarts years Harry's memories and thoughts got increasingly embarrassing.

'Oh, that's interesting,' Luna said, pausing on a memory of Harry and Cedric talking. The specific memory was when Cedric gave Harry a hint about the second task in the Triwizard tournament.

'What's that, Luna?' Neville asked in amusement, 'what's interesting in Harry's head?'

'I never knew Harry had a crush on Cedric,' Luna said matter of factly.

Harry couldn't open his eyes now Luna was in his head, so he could only protest verbally, 'No I didn't! I liked Cho, his girlfriend.'

'No Harry,' Luna said, 'from the person inside your head right now I can verify that you actually liked Cedric but since you seemed so against believing you could possibly have feelings for a man you convinced yourself you liked Cho and that that was why you were jealous.'

'That does actually make a lot of sense,' Neville's voice said from somewhere in the room.

Harry sighed, remembering the nightmares and the comradeship he had felt towards Cedric, it was similar to what he had felt towards Neville at first. What he had misperceived as friendship, and that had turned out to be more. Luna's voice cut through his thoughts, but it didn't make a difference since she could see and hear them anyway, 'He liked you too Harry. I used to observe him a lot, he found you intriguing and a little tragic.'

Neville barked out a laugh, 'Things that attract people to Harry, he's intriguing and tragic.'

'Shut up Nev,' Harry said, although a smile played on his lips because he enjoyed their banter, 'and that is so perverted! I was 14, and Cedric was 17!'

'Love has no limits Harry,' Luna said mysteriously.

'And don't let the age gap take away from your tragic romance Harry,' Neville teased.

'Oh shut up Neville, you had a crush on me since 5th year. That's more tragic,' Harry said, there was no way he was going to let Neville live that one down.

Neville snorted, 'I think you just insulted yourself there.'

Harry would have rolled his eyes if he could have, 'I meant the fact it was for that long and you didn't tell me.'

'Well I was very confused, and you were dating girls,' Neville said in amusement, 'sorry I didn't realise you were gay before you did.'

'Oh it was very obvious,' Luna said as she casually flicked through Harry's thoughts and paused on some very uncomfortable ones concerning Draco Malfoy in 6th year, 'especially in 6th year when Harry stalked Draco Malfoy.'

Neville laughed loudly, 'You did what?'

'I wasn't stalking him!' Harry said as the colour rose in his cheeks, 'I knew he was a Death Eater and I was spying on him!'

'These dreams would suggest otherwise Harry,' Luna said in amusement.

'Are you quite done Luna?' Harry asked, a little irritated now and very embarrassed.

'Almost,' Luna said, flicking through the more recent memories. The memories of Auror training, and Neville. Harry felt his face flush.

'Luna! Don't look at them!' Harry exclaimed.

'Too late,' Luna said mischievously, 'wow, I never knew you were that flexible Neville.'

Neville laughed as Harry felt like melting into the ground. Sniggering Luna stopped poking about and Harry could finally open his eyes. When he did he saw two amused faces staring at him and he rolled his eyes, 'Note to self, never let Luna inside your head again.'

Neville snorted, 'I found it pretty interesting.'

'Well you would have,' Harry said, shaking his head and glaring at Neville.

'Sorry,' Luna said sheepishly, 'but I got what I need. If you decide you want to open up about all of this I'll make sure I write the article so it isn't negative.'

'Thank you Luna,' Neville said with a genuine smile, 'I really mean that.'

Luna just smiled broadly as she put her coffee down and walked towards the door, 'you're my friends, and friends have each other's backs,' she said simply, 'congratulations on being together again!' she added as she left the flat.

'So Herbology College?'

'I got accepted,' Neville said, lying on Harry's bed reading his letter.

'Of course you did, you're brilliant,' Harry said simply.

'It's only a two year course, so I'll finish at the same time as you,' Neville said.

'What do you do there?' Harry asked.

'Oh loads, it's more like a working apprenticeship than college. It's basically a huge greenhouse and you learn as you go, with field trips and weekend trips to different countries of course,' Neville said excitably, 'if you're alright with that?'

'I'm fine with that if you're honestly okay with it,' Harry said, 'you aren't going to miss Auror training?'

'I'll miss being as fit as you,' Neville joked, 'I'll get podgy doing this job.'

'Not with our sex life the way it is,' Harry grinned.

Neville laughed, 'Honestly though Harry, I'm really excited about this.'

'What will you do afterwards?' Harry asked curiously.

'Hopefully get a job as a Research Herbologist, I'd have to travel a lot but then so would you as an Auror so…'

'So it would work fine,' Harry finished, smiling at Neville.

'Alright.'

'Alright?'

'I'm convinced,' Harry said, 'I thought you were lying at first, about being happy doing this, and quitting training. But you were serious, your happy doing this.'

'I really am,' Neville smiled, 'and more to the point I'm happy being with the person that I love.'

'How did Justin take that?' Harry asked conversationally.

'Not very well, I doubt he'll talk to either of us anytime soon,' Neville admitted, 'is Ron talking to you yet?'

'Nope,' Harry replied, 'and I doubt he will anytime soon. But things will get better, I'm sure.'

A week before Harry was due to start back at Auror training, and before Neville started Herbology College, all hell broke loose. It started when Harry picked up the Monday morning edition of the Prophet, hoping to scan the Quidditch results. He never got that far though, because of what was emblazoned on the front page of the prophet.

Photographs. Private moments, that Harry had no idea could possibly be captured. These photographs were of he and Neville, kissing in Harry's flat. How the press had a.) worked out where he lived, and b.) broken through his wards he had no idea. But there they were, photographs taken through a window. And although they were only kissing it was clear from the fact they were topless that there was more than that going on between them.

The headline boldly shouted, 'HARRY POTTER: OUR HOMOSEXUAL HERO?'

Harry swallowed hard as he went on to read the scathing article, written in the hand of Rita, fucking, Skeeter.

'The biggest scandal the wizarding world has ever seen? Harry Potter, the saviour of our country is gay! And his boyfriend? None other than childhood friend, and fellow war hero Neville Longbottom. The pair were Auror partners, throughout their first year of training but we have it on good authority from a friend of the couple that Mr. Longbottom quit Auror training a few weeks ago! This authors heart goes out to the poor Miss. Weasley who Mr. Potter seems intent on hurting, the pair spent a large portion of the summer in Africa and now it seems Mr. Potter isn't so golden after all! Will the world still love a cheating homosexual hero like him? We'll have to wait and see! See page 4 and 5 for further details on this scandalous affair!'

Harry felt sick, he threw the paper away and kicked a cupboard door so ferociously that it dented. He felt physically sick, as his magic bubbled up inside of him. He really didn't think the situation could get any worse, there was no taking this back now. It was in the open, it was exactly what he feared and Harry knew that it had been Ginny who had given them a tip, or a lead. She was revengeful and spiteful, and this was all her, her and Rita Skeeter. He seriously contemplated flooing to the Prophet offices and giving them hell, but before he could decide whether this was a very good or a very stupid idea he was stopped. His owl flew through the window and dropped a letter in front of him. A red letter. A Howler.

Harry ripped it open before it could explode, and the voice that emerged was Sumners.

'Potter! This is the last time I cover up for you! I am calling you to a meeting with the council about this, I want you at the centre in 10 minutes. If you do not show up, you can consider yourself out of Auror training for good!'

The letter ripped itself up, and Harry slid helplessly down onto the floor. His anger had already ebbed into nothingness, only to be replaced with despair because if he lost his place at Auror training what the hell would he do with himself for the rest of his miserable bloody life?

The floo roared, and Neville walked in. He sat down next to Harry on the floor, silently.

'Sumner called me to a meeting,' Harry said as he got to his feet, 'I need to be there in 10 minutes.'

'He's going to kick you out, isn't he?' Neville asked, unable to look Harry in the eye.

'No,' Harry said firmly, and Neville's eyes snapped up. Harry had a fire burning in his eyes, a passion, he looked like the person he had been before. He looked like the Harry Potter who had fought to set up the DA, to make sure they could defend themselves. He looked like he was going to fight for this.

'He's going to try and kick me out, but he can't,' Harry said, 'I've done nothing wrong, and I'll prove that. If I have to use extreme measures I will, I'm not going to lie here and roll over for them anymore!'

Neville smiled, 'Now, that is the Harry Potter I used to know. That's the Harry Potter that I miss.'

Harry nodded firmly, 'I'm going to deal with this.'

When Draco picked up the newspaper and took a sip of coffee, as he did every morning in his lovely new house, with his lovely new wife, he found himself spitting his coffee out in a very un-elegant fashion onto the paper.

Daphne snorted from the kitchen, 'What was that for?'

'Have you seen this?' Draco asked in disbelief, thrusting the coffee splattered paper in her face.

Daphne frowned as she looked at the front page of the Prophet, 'What?' she barked.

They were not long back from their honeymoon, she hadn't expected much to change in that amount of time. But clearly she had been wrong because emblazoned on the front of the paper was;

'HARRY POTTER: OUR HOMOSEXUAL HERO?''

'Well, I did not expect that,' Daphne said simply.

'I thought he was engaged to the Weasley girl,' Draco remarked.

'He was, at our wedding,' Daphne said with a frown, 'do you think maybe the two of them…reconciled…that night?'

'Honestly, I don't want to think about our wedding giving Potter and Longbottom an excuse to fuck,' Draco remarked.

Daphne rolled her eyes, 'Oh behave, let's just try and be there for them. This article is pretty scathing!'

'Yes, well Skeeter is a scheming bitch,' Draco said, 'but I bet other publications will be just as cruel, Witch Weekly for example.'

Daphne scoffed, 'Nobody whose opinion matters reads Witch Weekly. Do you think we should pop around and say something to them?'

'Probably not,' Draco sighed, 'if they need our help they will ask for it.'

'And if they do, will you give it?' Daphne asked.

'Of course I will,' Draco replied.

On those words the floo flashed green and Harry stepped out of it, looking incredibly pissed off, 'Sorry to charge in on you so early. But Draco, I need your help.'

Daphne smirked, 'Guess that means we're helping then,' she said as Draco's face fell.

The Auror training centre was practically dead as Harry walked through it towards the large meeting room where his 'meeting' with Sumner, and the council was to be held. Training did not officially start again until next week, so even the staff were still on holiday. After several empty corridors he entered the room and faced the council of 5. They consisted of the Assisant Minister for Magic, the Head, and Assistant Head of the DMLE, the Head Auror, and Sumner as Senior Auror Trainer. Harry knew who they all were, but he only personally knew Sumner and one other, the Assisant Minister for Magic, Percy Weasley.

'Potter,' Sumner said curtly, 'I am sure you aware of who the other members of the council are. Mr. Weasley, as Assistant Minister for Magic. The Head of the DMLE Mr. Smithson, and his Assistant Miss. Williams. Myself, and of course, Mr. Robinson, the Head Auror.'

'Yes,' Harry said simply, 'I know who you all are.'

'And I am sure you understand why you are here, Mr. Potter,' James Robinson, the frankly inept Head Auror, said.

'No,' Harry said matter of factly, 'I actually have no idea why I'm here. I assume it has something to do with the story in the Prophet this morning.'

'The last incident, which Sumner informed us of,' Percy began, 'could be taken with a pinch of salt. However, the pictures in this article are very real. There is no denying that you are in a relationship with Neville Longbottom.'

'I don't recall denying it,' Harry said curtly, his sass back with a vengeance.

'Potter,' Sumner hissed, 'you are in serious trouble, this is not a joke.'

'I'm not treating it as a joke, but I don't see how I'm in any trouble. Yes, I am in a relationship with Neville, but as you know Sumner, he came to you and quit training two weeks ago,' Harry said.

'We are aware,' Johnathon Smithson, head of the DMLE said smoothly, 'however, we cannot be certain if the relationship began while you were training together. In which case you broke the rules and can be-'

'It didn't,' Harry cut in, 'I'll swear on that, I'll even allow a Legilimency test. It began in the summer.'

'That may be the case Mr. Potter, but you were still under the jurisdiction of this training programme, and as Longbottom did not quit earlier-'

'We are not under the jurisdiction of this programme in the summer, and he did not quit earlier because the only person we can report to in summer is Sumner, who was on holiday up until the week Neville quit,' Harry bit back.

'Senior Auror Sumner brought up an incident at a karaoke bar very early on in the summer. He told us that he gave you a choice and a chance-'

'Yes, he gave me a choice and Neville was the one who chose to quit, not me. But after this visit, Sumner himself was on holiday,' Harry said calmly, he had still not sat down in the empty chair they had reserved for him, 'so I think we should stop with the lies and the political bullshit. You don't want me out of here because of my relationship with a fellow recruit. You don't care about that, you care about who the relationship was with. You care that he's a man.'

'That is complete nonsense!' Smithson blathered, 'we take a very strong line of equality.'

'No, you don't,' Harry said smoothly, 'how many people in our world are openly gay? If you ask any witch or wizard that they will not be able to answer you! That is not equality, it's oppression! It's the same as not allowing Muggle-borns to do certain jobs, or not allowing Half-breeds to work. You class us in the same sub-section of society as werewolves!'

'Rubbish,' Sumner snapped.

'Really?' Harry asked coolly, 'then why do you want rid of me so much? I'm one of the best recruits this place has seen in years, all of the trainers tell me so! You have had no problems with me and now all of a sudden you want me out because of my sexuality. And you can't do it, you can't find a way to kick me out. I have passed 1st year now, it requires three written warnings. What do you intend to do, give me a written warning for being gay?'

They were silent, and clearly in shock.

'I'm not from this backwards, frankly sickening world where everything is frowned upon!' Harry said, 'I'm from a world where people fight to be equal, a world where people don't hide who they are! I won't hide this, I won't hide it from you and I won't hide it from the press. And if you do find a way to get rid of me, I'll tell them exactly what you did. I'll tell them exactly why you wanted me out.'

'Mr. Potter, your sexuality does give us reason to-'

Harry shook his head, 'No, I'm not going to stand here and take this bullshit. I happen to have a good friend, a good lawyer friend,' his eyes flashed angrily as he opened the door and said, 'Come in.'

The council watched in surprise as Draco Malfoy walked through the door, a perpetual smirk on his lips as he placed his briefcase on the table and took the vacant seat reserved for Harry.

'Does it state in the contract my client signed that he was not allowed to apply for this training programe if he was a homosexual?'

'Well, no,' a very flustered Smithson replied.

'Then how do you intend to imply that he was in breach of contract? He is a wizard, he is not a half-breed, he is in good health mentally and physically. He has not broken the rule you speak of. It states here in the contract that my client signed, that two recruits cannot be involved sexually during the time period in which they are training together. It does not mention summer being part of that time, it only states that they cannot be involved while training together. My client has proof that he and Mr. Longbottom were not involved sexually until training broke off for summer. He has even sworn to take a Legilimency test as proof of this. You have no proof, no evidence whatsoever. You are simply looking for a breach in contract in order to remove him from training because you do not feel that he is suited to this job because of his sexuality,' Draco said.

'His sexuality will only bring him grief in this job,' Sumner said briskly.

'That may be so, but that is not your choice to make,' Draco said, 'it is my clients.'

'There will be chaos amongst the other recruits,' Smithson said.

'Let there be chaos,' Percy said, causing everyone to turn to him in surprise. Harry was included in that, and he was even more surprised when he saw that Percy was smiling, 'Harry Potter does not 'take shit' from anyone, as my younger brother says. If anyone can cope with the amount of bullying, and scorn that comes his way for this, it is him.'

'Mr. Weasley-'

'Let him stay,' Percy said, 'I have it on authority from the Minister that he approves of this course of action. You are right, Harry. We are backwards, and that does need to change. Perhaps your stand today will be the catalyst for that change.'

Harry smiled slightly, and Sumner got to his feet. He didn't look unhappy with the decision, but he didnt look thrilled about it either as he said ambiguously, 'See you next week, Potter.'

The rest of the council left silently, until at last Harry and Draco were alone in the meeting room. Harry let out a heavy sigh, 'Thank you Draco.'

'You're welcome,' Draco said as he got to his feet and they left together, 'they were right you know? About the chaos this will cause. Nobody comes out openly in the wizarding world and is successful. Look at Dumbledore, he hid it for years and then it all tumbled out after his death. There was a reason for that.'

'Yes the reason being that if people found out he was gay they would find out about his relationship with Grindelwald,' Harry pointed out, 'I'm dating Neville bloody Longbottom, the guy who wore a cardigan and cut off a snakes head without even realising that he was killing a part of Voldemort. It's not like I'm dating a future dark lord or something.'

Draco smiled in amusement, 'Well you never know. Longbottom could go off the rails.'

'And do what, raise an army of giant Venomous Tentacula?' Harry grinned.

Draco shuddered, 'Don't say things like that. Haven't you seen 'The Day of the Triffids'?'

Harry raised an eyebrow at the blonde, 'No, I haven't. How exactly have you seen it?'

'Daphne,' Draco said with a shake of his head, 'one of her worst date night ideas ever. She called it a science fiction double feature. It was in a musty old car park with a lot of nerdy teenagers.'

Harry laughed, despite himself, and despite it all, 'In seriousness though Draco, I'm grateful for your help. At the very least you've saved my job. I just need your help sueing the Prophet now.'

'Really?' Draco asked in surprise.

Harry nodded, 'They must have broken through my wards to take those pictures.'

'Which is illegal,' Draco said slyly.

'Precisely,' Harry smirked.

Draco smirked back, 'I think we're going to work very well together, Potter.'

When Harry walked back into his flat, Neville was pacing the living room nervously.

'How'd it go?'

'I still have a job,' Harry said in amusement, 'thanks to Draco. I had to use legal jargon.'

'Did they try and kick you out?' Neville asked in disbelief.

Harry nodded, 'Yes, they did. They tried to forgo the three written warnings rule by implying I had breached the contract.'

'Bullshit! You didn't do anything wrong! It was summer when you and I-'

'I know,' Harry said calmly, 'and Draco and I called them out on it. They practicaly admitted that they wanted to kick me out because I'm gay.'

'What?' Neville hissed.

'But they can't,' Harry said triumphantly, 'and I've been informed that I'm going to be treated scornfully because of my sexuality, apparently they're going to give me shit for it. Well, I'd like to see them try.'

'Fuck,' Neville said quietly, 'you did have so much more to lose Harry. And I didn't even realise until it all kicked off. I'm so sorry.'

Harry shrugged, 'Look, I'd rather deal with this now than have lived a lie for my entire bloody life Neville. As far as I can see there's only one way forward now that this is all out. We go public properly, give interviews to the Prophet, to Witch Weekly, the Quibbler, everything.'

'You want to go to the press now?' Neville asked in surprise.

Harry sighed, 'I'm not going to lie and say I'm okay with having my life in the papers and in the public eye, I'm not. But I don't want to hide either, I want to be able to go out together and not have to pretend.'

Neville's smile widened, 'Well then I guess that means the Harry I knew from Hogwarts, the brave, selfless one, is still in there somewhere. Underneath all of that war drama.'

Harry smiled slightly, 'Yeah, I guess so. But the war drama will disappear, as the years go on.'

'Is that commitment I hear?' Neville joked.

Harry actually laughed, 'I don't know, maybe it is. But for now, let's arrange interviews. I've got to fit this in around my lawsuit.'

Neville narrowed his eyes at Harry, 'Lawsuit?'

'Against the Prophet,' Harry grinned, 'Draco and I are sueing them. They broke the law, by breaking through my wards to get those pictures of us. I know we don't need the money, but we can start a charity with it, for people like us.'

'Gay people?'

'Gay people in the wizarding world which fucking hates them,' Harry remarked bitterly, 'you don't get things unless you fight for them, the war taught me that. People don't just hand you something for nothing. I want equality, I want to be able to do the same jobs, and have the same opportunities. Every human deserves that, whether they're straight, gay, a werewolf, a house-elf...'

Harry trailed off and noticed that Neville's eyes were a little watery. He frowned, about to ask Neville what was wrong when the taller man threw himself into Harry's arms and mumbled through his tears, 'I really have missed this Harry so much. You've been such a bloody coward lately.'

Harry and Neville gave two interviews that day, one via floo and one in person. When dinner time arrived they were both exhausted so they ordered take out. When the floo whirred they were halfway through listening to the Puddlemere Match on the radio, while drinking beer and eating pizza. Hermione walked into the living room cautiously.

'Why do you look so scared?' Harry asked in amusement.

'You have a tendency to break things when you're upset,' Hermione said simply as she grabbed a slice of pizza and sat down in the armchair.

Neville snorted, 'He was remarkably calm today, actually.'

'I wasn't,' Hermione said angrily, 'I went to the DMLE today. I gave evidence and did a Legilimency test.'

Harry narrowed his eyes at his friend, 'Did they arrest her?'

Hermione smiled wickedly, 'Yes, they did. They prove, in front of me, that she was an illegal animagus, and they gave her 5 years in Azkaban.'

Neville was looking between them in confusion, 'I'm lost?'

'Hermione found out in 4th year that Rita Skeeter is an illegal animagus. She threatened her, said if she didn't stop writing shit about me she'd expose her,' Harry explained.

'And she clearly thought it was an idle threat,' Hermione said with a smirk.

'I'm impressed,' Neville said slowly, 'and a little terrified of you, but that's nothing new...not after 1st year.'

Hermione made a face at him, 'Oh hush. At the very least the Prophet shouldnt be so scornful about your relationship now. Did the Auror training office ask you about it?'

'They did more than that,' Harry scoffed, and he explained the entire story, including how Percy had been the lenient one.

'Wow,' Hermione said when he finished, 'they really regard gay people in the same lowly way as Muggle-borns and Half-breeds. You're right, it's ridiculous, and you should fight for it, we should fight for it.'

'How did I know that you would be behind this idea?' Harry asked with a smile.

Hermione smiled back, 'I'm all for equality of every sort, you know that. So what's our action plan?'

'Grab a beer and I'll fill you in,' Harry grinned.

'Nev,' Harry said a little breathlessly as they lay in bed late that night.

Neville was breathing heavily as he turned on his side and threw his arm over Harry, 'Mmhm.'

'I'm really glad you quit Auror training,' Harry said quietly.

'I know,' Neville said, still breathless, 'because we can have this.'

'That's not the only reason why,' Harry admitted, turning his head to look at the man who was sweaty and looked entirely spent but also incredibly attractive at the same time.

'Here we go,' Neville said with a fond sort of smile, 'you always get sentimental after sex.'

Harry didn't laugh like he normally would at a comment like this. Instead he sighed, 'At the start of Auror training there were 10 of us, and Sumner gave us that speech. He said one of us would transfer to the DMLE and Entwhistle did. Then he said two would crack under pressure, and Seamus did. He said two would be forced to leave, and MacDougal did, then Lee when he failed his 1st year exams. Which would have meant out of Olivia, Regina, Daphne, Susan, you and I four would survive, one would be kicked out and one would die.'

Neville was silent, he knew where Harry was going with this.

'And I had this horrible feeling that what Oliver told me about might happen to us. That one of us would die, and…I couldn't face it Neville. I think I might have made a really big mistake trying to save your life,' Harry's voice was a little shaky as he tried to explain the way he felt, 'I was just so terrified that you would die, and…well, I couldn't face life without you.'

Neville smiled weakly, 'I appreciate that Harry. But look at the situation as it stands now, I basically cracked under the pressure because I had to choose Auror training or you, and I chose you. Which means of you, Susan, Daphne, Regina and Olivia one will die, and the rest will become Aurors. How do I know that you aren't that person? How do I go and study plants all day and write essays when I know you are out there risking your life everyday? How do I leave the house in the morning with the thought in my mind everyday that I might never see you again?'

'I don't know,' Harry admitted, 'how are you going to cope with that?'

'Well, it's a pretty simple answer,' Neville admitted, propping himself up on his elbow so he could look at Harry properly, 'because as much as you are a clueless pain in the fucking arse I love you. Yes, when I say goodbye in the morning that might be goodbye forever, but every day you survive is another day we have together, and I want as many days as possible.'

Harry couldn't believe himself as he felt tears welling up in his eyes, 'Fucking hell Nev, you should be a poet.'

Neville laughed weakly, 'I mean it Harry. I know you need to do this job, and as much as I can cope with it, I'll still worry about you every day.'

Harry nodded, grabbing Neville's hand, 'I promise I'll never do anything stupid. Every morning when I leave, I'll want to come back to you. I'm not that stupid reckless idiot I was at Hogwarts, I have a lot to live for these days.'

Neville couldn't help the grin that spread across his face as he pulled Harry in for another kiss. This time it was slow, and deep, and passionate. It was full of meaning, the kind of kiss that got the stomach doing flips and the head going cloudy as all thoughts were pushed out of it. Harry smiled against Neville's lips and said, 'I know I haven't said it yet, not properly at least.'

'I wasn't pushing,' Neville murmured.

'And I appreciate that,' Harry whispered, looking into Neville's endless brown eyes and saying, 'but I love you Neville, more than I've ever loved anyone in my life.'

He felt Neville smile against his lips as he murmured, 'I know Harry, I've known for a while. I just wanted to make you say it.'

Harry laughed against the taller man, and kissed him once more, deepening the kiss this time, and taking him by surprise as he flipped them so that he was now pinning Neville down to the bed. Neville just laughed, and in a moment as small and insignificant as that, Harry realised for the first time in a long time how lucky he really was to be as happy as he was with Neville.

TBC :)

A/N: Ahh, only an epilogue to go now! I'm so sad to be parting with this story, but it has ran its natural cycle I think. Warning, there will be intense feels in the last chapter, I sobbed while writing the bloody thing!