The Extras

by fancifulflamingo

Neville is deep in love with a Slytherin girl, who actually does not scare him. Dean has a gut-wrenching crush on her sister, a Gryffindor who does scare him. Seamus is just along for the ride. Follow the daring Henry sisters as they navigate through the awkward and wild times at Hogwarts.

37. Chapter 37: Hot, Heavy and Shattered

This is a long ass chapter, that's why it took so long lmao. Lenore and Neville being cute and smutty and Dean and Margaux reveal their emotions in bed! (That's called clickbait.) Leave a review, thanks love you all you're beautiful never forget it. Thanks to ReavenclawReader, LooseFur, XxXBeautifulXxXDreamerXxX, and the guests for reviews!

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Lenore's POV

"Are you nervous?"

Odette smoothed down her green Slytherin-colored dress that she wore to games. "Lenore!" she whimpered. "Don't make me nervous!"

"I'm not! I'm just asking!"

Odette shook out her curls as the pair walked to the Gryffindor Tower for the annual Gryffindor-Slytherin pregame party. It was a time for friendly rivals to talk a little smack and get a little drunk before the rivalry game. Fist fights would not be tolerated, nor would harsh verbal abuse. This was a time for friendly banter among the more moderate Gryffindors and Slytherins.

"I'm a little nervous," she admitted. "I've never been on a blind date. All my dates have asked me out. I've never asked a boy out. But that's kind of what we did."

"He's excited to talk with you!" Lenore assured her. "Honestly, Odette, he was flabbergasted when I even suggested you were interested. He's a super nice guy. You date some tossers. He's not one of them."

Odette nodded. "Okay. I trust you. Help me not be awkward. I feel like I'm going to be awkward. God, when I get nervous I talk so fast. Slow me down."

"You also start speaking Spanish, so I'll stop that, too."

She finally let out a smile. "Thank you."

A Gryffindor boy stood outside, letting partygoers in with the password. The two Slytherin girls stepped through the portrait hole and Lenore immediately caught sight of Neville and Terry standing exactly where she told them to. She beamed and grabbed Odette's hand as they wafted through the crowd.

"Neville!" she called.

Neville gave her a bright smile and a wave and Lenore noticed how terrified Terry looked the moment he caught sight of Odette. She glanced back at Odette, who looked equally scared.

Lenore gave Neville a quick hug, then she pushed Terry to Odette.

"Hi," he smiled nervously. "I'm Terry Boot."

"Odette Trujillo," she returned the grin and gave him a small hug.

The hug seemed to calm Terry's nerves, because his shoulders relaxed. "You… you're… You look really beautiful."

Odette glanced down at herself and blushed. "Really? Thanks! You do, too!"

Lenore examined Terry. He really did look nice today. Navy trousers, a light blue button down, his usual thick-rimmed brown glasses and bright smile.

"Thanks!"

Silence fell over the group and Lenore clapped her hands together. "So! Who's drinking?"

"I need one!" Odette said. "Just to get the nerves out."

Terry smiled. "That's a good idea."

The four headed over to the drink table. Odette sloshed some fruit juice in rum, Terry took a glass of firewhisky, and Neville stuck with his usual bottle of crap beer. Lenore, however, filled her cup with water.

Neville pointed to her cup. "You're not drinking?"

She shook her head. "I will later. I'm just not in the mood right now. I have to be in a specific mood."

"Unlike Seamus," cut in Terry.

Lenore grinned. "Where is he anyway?"

"With Dean, I'd guess," said Terry. "You told him he wasn't invited."

Odette giggled. "Did you?"

"Yeah! He's an attention hog. I love him, but he is."

Even Neville nodded. "He's fine with Dean."

Lenore smiled and sat down on the couch. Neville sat next to her and she leaned up against his arm as Terry and Odette sat on the coffee table in front of them.

"So," Lenore smiled. "I've never been on a double date before. So far it's more awkward than a normal date."

Odette giggled as Terry grinned and asked, "Even a date with Longbottom?"

Neville feigned offense while Lenore laughed. "It's weird because it's like noon," Lenore continued. "That's all. We just need to get chatting."

"Alright," Terry smiled to Odette. "So, tell me about yourself."

Odette looked surprised. "What about me?"

"Anything."

"Well… Lenore and I are roommates, obviously. I'm mostly friends with Ravenclaws, I'd say. My best friend is Padma Patil, the one in Ravenclaw. But Lenore is one of my best friends, too. Iiiiiii'm Cuban. My dad fled with his parents to the United States then here. My mum was extradited to the U.K. So they were both born there, but I was born here. Ummm… I can speak, write, and read Spanish. I'm halfblood, because I have a great grandfather, on both sides actually, who wasn't magical. But my parents are both magical. I have a younger brother, Mateo. He's a fourth year Hufflepuff. I also have an older sister, Nieves. She's twenty and she was a Hufflepuff, too."

"You're the only Slytherin?"

She nodded. "Yep. My parents went to Hogwarts, too. My dad was Hufflepuff and my mum was Ravenclaw."

"Wow," he said. "How did your parents take the news?"

"They were still proud," she smiled. "Really, we're not all evil."

"I know," he grinned. "What makes you different from your brother and sister?"

"I think I'm more clever, honestly. That sounds bad, but… I'm just a quick thinker. I'm not hardworking or patient. Also, I'm willing to bend the rules. They have to do things by the book, by the specific instructions. What about you? Tell me about you."

"Well… I'm a Ravenclaw. I have three older brothers."

"Three?" she exclaimed.

"Yeah," he smiled. "All T names, too, it's terrible. Thomas, Tyson, Trevon, Terence."

"Oh my god, doesn't your mother get tongue-tied?"

"Yeah," he laughed. "She combines our names a lot. I'm 'Trerence.' Then there's 'Thomson.' Then our favorite, 'Tyvon.'"

The three students laughed as Terry looked pleased with himself for amusing Odette.

"How old are they?"

"Trevon just graduated last year, he's 18. Tyson is 20 and Thomas is 22."

"Wow," Odette said. "So you grew up close together."

"I was always getting punched on, yes," he grinned.

She giggled. "Were you the baby?"

"Oh, yeah!" he nodded. "I still am. I bet you and your sister babied Mateo."

"He was our little baby doll, yes."

Terry smiled. "I was the little punching bag."

"Really?"

"I was the human shield," he grinned. "They were a little more reluctant to hit me because Mum would come after them for mistreating her baby, so if two of them got into a fight, they're toss me in the middle."

Odette laughed. "What do your brothers do now?"

"Thomas is a scientist in Romania. He actually works with Ron Weasley's brother, studying dragons. Tyson works in the Goblin Liaison office in the Ministry and Trevon just started as a salesman at a Quality Quidditch Supplies. What does your sister do?"

"She's a bartender at… I'm not entirely sure. Some nightclub in Diagon Alley. That cool one that just opened up last year. She's the head bartender, so she manages all the hires and purchases."

"That's cool!" Terry said. "Merlin, a lot more interesting than the Goblin Liaison office."

"Nah, that's cool, too. What about your parents?"

"Mum writes books from home. She's the author of—"

Odette grabbed his arm, which made him gulp. "Is your mum Anya Boot?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh my god! I love her! I read Swimming in Emeralds."

"Did you?" he beamed. "Aww, she loves that one. That's her favorite one she's written. I haven't read it."

"You should!" she said. "I loved it. It's very feminist."

"Well, Mum is very feminist. Dad, too. They're very into politics. My dad was the campaign chairman to get Hasan Ibrahim elected Minister for Magic, but he obviously didn't win. He works with muggles a lot, actually, doing political PR."

"Are you into politics?"

He shrugged. "I mean, I'm not as into it as they are, but I love hearing about it. I'm politically engaged, but I don't get as riled up as them. I can generally see both sides of an issue, but they tend to only see one. What about you?"

"Exactly the same," she grinned.

Lenore watched them prattle on and on for a while, her and Neville only speaking when they felt their input would be highly valued. Lenore curled under Neville's arm and watched as Terry and Odette really hit it off. They laughed and joked together and Lenore enjoyed watching them. Odette and Terry were both shy, quiet people, but they seemed to be pretty comfortable around each other. After nearly an hour of the pregame party whirling around them, Lenore stood up off the couch to refill her water. Neville excused himself and left Odette and Terry alone, but they didn't seem to mind too much. Terry looked a bit nervous, but he quickly got over his fear as he laughed at Odette's story.

Lenore poured more water into her cup as Neville grinned. "I think they actually like each other."

"I know!" she practically swooned. "God, aren't they cute?"

"I really like them together. Terry's very chatty with her, I thought he'd be nervous."

"He's a little nervous," Lenore grinned. "But he's doing really well. We better not leave them alone too long, he could get nervous."

She started back to the couch, but Neville plucked her hand in his. "Wait."

She turned around. "What?"

His eyes scanned her a moment, then he kissed her, smack in the middle of the common room, around all these loud partygoers. He leaned back and she laughed. "What was that for?"

"Because," he grinned.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, careful not to spill her drink down his back. "You want my attention?"

He laughed. "No!"

She leaned in and kissed his lips sweetly, then he moved to her jaw, near her ear, where he whispered, "But actually, I have something to show you in my room."

She smiled as he kissed her neck. She didn't even care that he was doing it in front of all these people. It was a party, who cares.

"Is it you trying to snog me?"

"No!" He laughed as he leaned back. "I honestly want to show you something."

She squinted. "What?"

"Come see."

"You're a prat," she grinned. "Fine."

She took his hand and snuck them through the crowd and up to his dormitory. As he unlocked his bedroom door, she placed her hands on his hips. They slipped inside and he relocked the door, then cupped her face and kissed her roughly.

"You arse!" she giggled as she leaned back. "You do just want a snog!"

"No!" he smiled, before kissing her again. "Honestly."

He let go of her and opened up the trunk at the end of his bed. He rooted around, then came back with a textbook. Upon closer inspection, Lenore noticed it was his Herbology textbook. He yanked a piece of loose parchment out and handed it to Lenore. She studied the heading on the paper. It was his latest herbology test. Next to it was a huge "O," the highest grade possible. She glanced up at Neville.

"Your test?"

He nodded.

She examined it again. "What am I missing? Don't you always get Os?"

"No, flip it over. See what she wrote."

Lenore obeyed and turned the page. Down at the bottom, Professor Sprout had written about a paragraph in red ink. Lenore squinted as she read, Brilliant job, Longbottom. You didn't miss a single question. If you want, I'd like to let you have an open lab in the greenhouses. Talk to me.

She glanced back up at him. "What does that mean?"

"I talked to her and she gave me the password to the greenhouses. I can go in there any night I want between seven to ten and she even offered to teach me how to write and present a research paper."

"Neville!" Lenore gasped. "Oh my god! Look at you!"

He smiled shyly and her heart panged. He was proud of himself. He was actually proud of himself. And he wanted her to be proud of him. Lenore practically jumped into his arms and he held her tight against his body.

"Nev!" she beamed. "I'm so proud of you!"

He was holding her so securely and her forearms ran the length of his back. "Thanks!"

"You're so smart," she said as her fingers dug into his back. "Merlin, what else did she say?"

"S-she said I was one of the b-brightest students she ever taught. T-that was my third 100 percent on a test in a row."

"Neville!"

She stood on her tiptoes and moved her hand up to the back of his head, then pulled his head down and kissed him urgently. He returned her kisses, but could not stop himself from smiling so Lenore eventually laughed and leaned back to look into his eyes. She fell back on her flat feet. "You're brilliant."

"Thanks," he smiled again. "I'm excited. Do… do you want to come in there with me next week?"

"Yes! Of course. Aww, you can tell me everything you're doing."

Neville grinned and squeezed her. "She's going to help me figure out something to study and write about."

"For what?"

"Well, if it's good, it can be published in herbology magazines. Or submitted to journals or proper scientists."

She gasped. "Oh my god! Do that!"

"I'll try," he smiled.

"I'll even edit for you if you want."

He planted a kiss on her lips. "Thank you! Because you know I can't spell."

She giggled and kissed him again. As she leaned back, she watched his face. She had never seen him this blatantly proud of himself. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Neville, you're going to do great things, you know that?"

He pulled her firmly against his body. "Y-you think so?"

"You already have, hun."

He grinned and she flattened her hands on the sides of his neck. "Have you told your grandma?"

His smile fell and he shrugged. "No, not yet."

She blinked in shock. Surely he should have told Augusta. "Are you not going to?"

"I don't know. Probably. I'm not sure she'll… care."

"Tell her! She cares."

Neville nodded and whispered, "Okay."

Lenore was quiet, until she said, "Well… I care."

His frown transformed back into a grin. "I know you do. That's why I was so excited to tell you."

"Nev," she beamed as she cupped his face. "I'm so proud of you! How are you doing in other subjects?"

"A-about the same in all of them. Still rubbish in Potions, except when I cheat off you."

She giggled.

He kissed her forehead and smiled. "But I'm better at Defense. It has to be my new wand. I can't think of anything else."

"More confidence, maybe?"

"Mmm, I don't know about that."

Her hands lightly massaged his neck. "Maybe Snape scares the pants off you and you instinctively get defensive around him?"

Neville laughed. "Yeah, that's it."

A loud croaking noise sounded off Neville's dresser and interrupted their laughs. Lenore turned around and saw his toad, Trevor, hopping so high he slammed himself against his ceiling while he ribbit-ed. Neville let go of her. "Hang on."

He opened the lid of the glass container and pulled the toad out of his cage. "Shhh," he whispered as he stroked Trevor's back. "What do you want?"

Trevor squawked his complaints as Neville sat down on his bed and placed the toad on his lap between his stomach and his hands. Lenore sat down next to him. "What does he want?"

"Attention."

"Oh, well, like father like son."

Neville beamed up at her. "Hey!"

She giggled as the toad croaked over and over. Neville held him up. "That's him saying 'hey!'"

"Uh huh, I'm sure."

"He says, 'Why is sister Len so grossed out by me?'"

"Sister?" she shouted between laughs. "You're an idiot, that makes you my dad!"

"Dad or daddy?"

Lenore punched him as he blushed red. "Stop!" She fell over laughing while the toad croaked along with her, then hid her face in his sheets and giggled.

"I didn't mean 'sister,'" Neville laughed. "You can be his… mum."

Lenore flipped over. "No thanks."

Neville pouted and held the toad up near his cheek in an attempt to get her sympathy. "You don't want to be his mum?"

"Absolutely not."

He smiled, but forced his fake pout again. "Come on, Len, every toad needs two parents."

"I think you're doing just fine as a single dad."

"Not when he's croaking like this," he sighed. "He's lonely."

"Get him a wife. Then he can be a daddy."

"No!" he laughed. "I'm not subjecting a female toad to his ugliness."

"He is ugly," Lenore said as she looked at him. "Like, one of the worst looking toads I've ever seen."

Neville covered Trevor's imaginary ears. "Don't talk to our son like that."

"He's not my son!" she laughed.

Neville held him out to Lenore and she sat up immediately. "Don't put him near me."

She tried scooting back, but she wasn't fast enough. Neville placed the toad directly on her left shoulder and he squawked in her ear.

"Neville!" she shouted. "Neville, please!"

She felt the slimy creature touch her bare skin and she was immediately transported back to her childhood. She wanted to burst into tears as she screamed.

"Neville! Neville, stop!"

He removed Trevor from her shoulder and she whimpered. "I swear to god, if you put him anywhere near me again, I will never speak to you again."

"Lenore!" he laughed. "I'm sorry!"

She held out her hands. "He can go in my hands but don't put him anywhere else. I will cry."

He placed the toad in her hands and she gagged. "He's so slimy."

"Don't be mean, he has feelings."

Trevor sat in her hands calmly, not moving, but she still occasionally gagged. "I'm sorry, little buddy," she whispered to the toad. "You're just so weird."

"There's nothing wrong with weird," Neville said. "He's just being himself."

"He's gigantic," Lenore said. "That's what throws me. He's like a chihuahua puppy. Oh my god, Neville, he's looking at me. Neville, take him, please!"

He did not move and Lenore squealed and closed her eyes. "Neville!" she begged. "Neville, please, I don't like him looking at me!"

Neville took Trevor out of her hands and laughed. "You're such a wimp."

Lenore wiped her hands on his sheets. "No, I don't like it! Sorry. I am a wimp. But he scares me."

Neville stroked Trevor's back and held the toad steady. "He's not going to hurt you."

"I know," she whined. "My grandparents live out in the countryside and my sister used to pick up random bugs or animals and thrust them near my face. She picked up frogs and crawdads and butterflies and ladybugs. God, I hate them all. It was scarring."

"You're emotionally scarred?"

"Yes!" she said. "She put a frog down my shirt one time and I cried. I literally bawled for ten minutes."

Neville laughed, but she kneed the edge of his thigh.

"When you put him on my shoulder, it reminded me of that. I don't even let my owl on my shoulder most of the time."

"Sorry," he smiled. "I won't do it again, I promise."

Lenore hopped off the bed and washed her hands in his sink with a huge dollop of soap. "Nev," she called from the bathroom, "why do you like him?"

Neville stroked the toad. "Because…" he said as she plopped down next to him. "Because… I don't know. I've had him since I was seven. My grandpa gave him to me before he died. I-I just… like knowing my grandpa gave me something."

She placed her hand on his cheek and pouted. "That's sweet."

Neville leaned in to kiss her, but she back away. "No," she shook her head. "Please not with him between us. He looks mad."

Neville started to stand to put Trevor back in his cage, but Lenore halted him. "Wait! Let me try something! Put him on the bed."

He placed the quieted-down Trevor on his sheets, then Lenore unclasped her bracelet. She joined the two ends together, then slipped it over Trevor's head. It fit perfectly around his neck. "Okay, he's cuter now."

Neville glanced up at her and laughed as she giggled. Trevor hopped once, seemingly content with his new necklace, which made Lenore laugh even harder.

"You're so goofy!" he laughed wildly.

"Tell me he doesn't look better!"

"He does look more stylish."

She squealed. "Yeah he does! You need to make him little outfits."

"Why would I ever do that?"

Lenore stroked Trevor's back once. "Because he likes this. He feels confident and good. Look at him, he's standing proud with his little necklace."

"Sure," Neville beamed. "You make him a little outfit and I'll put it on him."

"I don't know how, but I'll figure it out."

He smiled up at her and her heart warmed. He was being so sweet, even though he was clearly a little disappointed she was uncomfortable with Trevor.

"Okay," she grinned. "I need my bracelet back."

He slipped the jewelry off the toad and handed it to her. He stood up and gently placed Trevor back in his glass enclosure and slid the lid shut

He reached his hands out for Lenore and he never saw her recoil so quickly. "No!" she squealed. "Wash your hands!"

He rolled his eyes, which made her laugh, then he washed his hands in the sink. "More soap!" she called to him.

She joined him in the bathroom, jamming her hands against his under the sink to steal some of his excess soap. "I touched him, too, after I washed my hands."

"He's not dirty," Neville said.

Lenore raised her brow and he smiled. "Okay, well, he is an animal."

Neville flicked his wrists dry, then wiped his hands on Lenore's jumper.

"Stop!" she yelled between laughs. "Neville!"

She ran her wet hands down the front of his jumper, then he reached out and cupped her face in his wet hands. He kissed her, wet and frantic, as she let go of him and turned off the faucet. She smiled on his lips. "Can't waste water."

He chuckled and she pulled him down closer to her, still kissing him sweetly. After a while of french-kissing in the bathroom, she murmured, "We should be getting back to our double date."

Still, Neville kissed her. He smiled briefly, then whispered, "Sit on the counter."

She laughed but soon obeyed and rested her bum on the counter as Neville stepped between her legs, holding her head steady. She slid her arms around his neck, her fingers weaving through his hair as she returned his sweet kisses.

"Merlin," he exhaled. "I can't wait for tonight."

"Why, what's tonight?"

She was clearly joking, so he beamed. "You know."

"You want a good snog?" she giggled.

"I want you."

She gasped, which only made him kiss her harder. She returned his quickened pace and wrapped her legs around his back, her thighs on his hips and her calves on his bum. He groaned against her lips and she gripped his hair tighter. Her forearms rested against the back of his head as they fell into each other's movements. Give and take, that's what this was, just a playful game of flirting before tonight's big event. Merlin, she was so excited. Part of her wanted to skip the game right now and just stay here and snog Neville. A huge part of her actually. If she were given an ultimatum, kiss Neville or watch quidditch, she would pick Neville every time, even during rivalry games like today. But she knew she had to return to Odette and Terry and make sure they were getting along.

"Okay, Nev," she whimpered, "really. Let's go back downstairs. I don't want Odette to leave without me."

Neville nodded and leaned away. She grabbed his face for one last kiss, then let go of him.

"Merlin," she sighed. "I'll be thinking about that all during the game, though."

He blushed. "M-me, too."

She giggled and slid off the counter. "Okay, let's go downstairs. Neville, that was really nice."

"W-what was?"

She ran her hands down his cheeks. "How sweet you are to me. How you told me to sit down. Is it bad I kind of hope Gryffindor wins?"

He looked shocked. "S-so I can dominate you?"

She laughed. "Yeah."

The door to the bedroom burst open and Lenore thanked the heavens she was not still straddling Neville on the sink. Dean stood in the dormitory, his hands in his hair and his eyes wild.

"Do you have tape?" Dean said franticly. "No, wait, okay, god, do you know a spell to fix broken glass?"

"What happened?" Lenore asked as she entered the bedroom.

"Ginny," Dean said frantically. "She threw Margaux's globe across the room."

Lenore's mouth fell open.

"The one you made for her?" Neville gasped.

Dean nodded and ran his hands through his hair. "Oh fuck, I'm actually about to cry."

"Dean!" Lenore said as she hopped closer to him. She laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'll fix it, don't worry. Is she in her room?"

Dean nodded. "I can't get up there. She came downstairs in tears and asked me if I knew how to fix it. Now she's back up there and I can't get to her and I have to leave soon, oh god. Reparo won't work. The globe is too intricate. It's got layers, reparo won't fix the layers. Oh fuck, do either of you know what to use?"

"Emanturo," Neville said quickly. "Emanturo is stronger."

Dean glanced at Lenore. "Is that right?"

"I have no idea," she said. "I'll try it. Or get Margaux to try it."

Dean groaned into his hands.

Lenore grabbed her coat. "I'm going over there. It'll all be okay, Dean. Don't be nervous about the game either, you're going to do great. You've got yourself all worked up. I've got it handled, mate."

After patting Dean on the back, Neville followed Lenore down the stairs and to the edge of the girls staircase. "I'll be right back," she said, before kissing his cheek. "Go check on Odette and Terry."

Neville nodded and watched Lenore pace up the staircase until she was out of sight.

.

Margaux's POV, thirty minutes earlier

Margaux swiped on her prettiest red lipstick to prepare for the Gryffindor game. She pulled on a gold pair of wide-legged, high-waisted trousers and tucked her maroon blouse into her waist. Her short blonde hair was straight and curved nicely at her shoulders. She felt very pretty today, actually. She knew she's be wearing a giant coat outside in the freezing cold, but for now, she was confident.

"Mar, are you coming?" asked her roommate Verona Antar.

"I'll meet you downstairs!" Margaux called from the bathroom.

"Alright, see you!" shouted Kadence Liu. "Helaine is already downstairs with Dagwood."

"Hey, Kade!" Margaux said, still primping herself in the mirror. "Are you going to the game with Andi or with us?"

"Andi's sitting with us. Ed, too!"

"Okay! See you downstairs!"

Margaux sighed. Everyone was going to be with their dates. Verona with Ed, Kade with Andi, and Helaine with Dagwood. At least she would have Derek with her. Luna elected to sit with Neville, but they might join Margaux. Whatever, it was fine. As long as Ginny didn't try to sit by her and talk to her. Ginny had been mysteriously quiet lately. She had not been paying much attention to Margaux, Derek or Luna lately. Instead, she focused her attention on her roommates. Helaine, however, saw through her act and refused to talk to Ginny. Verona and Kadence attempted to be impartial, but Margaux knew they didn't want Ginny around either. They had been using their partners as an excuse to get away from Ginny. But that also meant Margaux didn't get to spend much time with them either.

Margaux emerged from the bathroom to see Ginny standing at the edge of Margaux's bed, staring at a piece of parchment on her trunk. She pointed to the paper. "What's that?"

"Oh," Margaux blinked. "It's my Transfiguration test."

Ginny grabbed the paper off Margaux's trunk. "You made an O!"

"Yeah," she nodded nervously. Where was Ginny going with this? And why the hell was she suddenly deciding to talk to Margaux?

"You bitch! I made D!"

Margaux watched Ginny. "Why am I a bitch for your failing grade?"

Ginny clutched the parchment tighter in her hands. She glared up at Margaux. "How are things going with Dean?"

Margaux was so startled she stepped back toward her dresser. "Things aren't going with Dean. What?"

Ginny laughed. "Ha! Please! I see you with him."

"I'm not with him."

Her heart beat a million times a minute. Ginny was about to scream at her, she knew it.

"Yeah right!" she rolled her eyes. "What have you done with him so far?"

"Nothing!" she shouted. "Ginny! We're friends!"

"You've snogged him," she said. She squinted her eyes. "You've snogged him recently, I can tell. Look at you Mar, you little whore. I know you snog everybody."

"Shut the fuck up, Ginny, I haven't snogged Dean. And what's it your business if I have?"

This situation was escalating so far. Margaux barely had time to think before she spoke.

"It is my business if you were with him while I was dating him!"

"I wasn't! Stop being paranoid!"

"Oh, I'm paranoid now? What about you?"

"How am I paranoid?"

Ginny laughed loudly and stepped closed to Margaux. "You always get everything you want, don't you, Mar? Hmm?"

Ginny picked up the astronomy globe from Margaux's dresser. The globe Dean had made for Margaux's birthday cradled in her palms.

"What are you doing?" Margaux screamed.

Ginny held the globe over her head. "Well, you don't get this!"

Margaux lunged for her, but it was too late.

"GINNY!"

The globe hit to the ground with a thunderous shatter and Margaux watched as her beautiful present, which had been so useful in her astronomy class, spread out over the stone tiles into a sea of shards.

Margaux flew the the floor and gathered up the broken fragments of glass until she realized they were cutting her palms.

"Oh!" Ginny said. "God, sorry!"

But she wasn't sorry and Margaux knew it. Tears blooded Margaux's eyes which made her even angrier. She wanted to punch Ginny, but she couldn't. All she could focus on was this globe, shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.

The door slammed and Ginny was gone.

Margaux stared down at the glass. Her forearms were bleeding from trying to scrape up the glass, so she turned her attention to herself. She examined her arms for any glass, found none, and healed her cuts. Then she turned her eyes back to the floor and grabbed her wand.

"Reparo."

Nothing happened. She tried again.

"Reparo."

The spell wasn't strong enough. She searched her brain.

"Restituere."

Again, nothing moved. She tried again and again, then even tried medicus but the globe wouldn't budge. It had been destroyed forever. All of Dean's hard work, gone forever. Months and months of painting and research and construction smashed by a jealous, abusive ex girlfriend. Her heart pounded against her throat and tears flooded her eyes.

It couldn't be irreparable. Something had to be able to fix it. Maybe Dean would know, since he was a year older. She had to tell him about this. She needed him to get Ginny under control, because she couldn't do it herself. She needed to find someone to help her and she decided on Lenore. She trusted her sister the most. Margaux bounded down the steps, not even bothering to lock the dormitory door, in search of her sister. She scanned the common room and noticed Odette and Terry, who Lenore was supposed to be on a double date with.

"Odette!" Margaux called.

The girl looked up from her cup and smiled warmly. "Hi, Margaux! How are you?"

"Hi! Do you know where Lenore is?"

Odette looked around, as did Terry. "No," she replied. "She's supposed to be with us, but…"

"Neville's missing, too," Terry pointed out.

Margaux groaned. She needed her sister and she was off snogging some boy.

"What do you need?" Odette asked. "Are you okay?"

She bit her lip and decided to ask, "Have you seen Dean?"

Odette shook her head and glanced at Terry, who pointed to the fireplace across the room. "Over there, mate."

Margaux thanked them and scurried over to Dean. He was busy talking to Anthony Goldstein and Michael Corner. She grabbed his arm with two hands and clearly startled him. His eyes widened as he said, "Hey, Mar!"

He scanned her face as she attempted to find her words. "Are you okay?"

"Dean, can I talk to you?"

Dean glanced at Anthony and Michael, said goodbye, then followed Margaux to an emptier part of the common room.

"What's wrong?" he asked frantically, his eyes pouring over her face. "Have you been crying?"

"Ginny smashed the globe."

He froze. "The globe? The globe I gave you?"

She pouted. "It's in a thousand pieces on our dorm floor."

Dean began audibly gasping for air. He ran his hands through his hair. "She didn't. Mar, please tell me you're joking."

She bit her cheeks and tried to control her tears as she whispered, "I'm not."

Dean buried his face in his hands and groaned. "Why! Why did she do that?"

"S-she saw my grade on a test a-and we got into a fight a-and she said, 'You always get everything you want, don't you?' Th-then she picked the globe up and s-smashed it."

"Mar," he whimpered. He took her into his arms as she cried. His body heat surrounded her as tears poured down her cheeks. "Mar, we'll fix it. It can be fixed. I'm so sorry. She's evil."

"I can't fix it," she said. "I've tried everything. I've tried three spells, all the ones I know. I need help."

"Which ones have you tried?"

"Reparo, restituere and medicus."

Dean's eyes flickered wildly as he searched his brain. "I have no idea. None at all. M-mar, let me help you. I'll go and check my spell book. You keep trying to fix it. Please Mar, keep trying. I-I'll find a girl to g-go up there and help you. W-where's Lenore?"

"Off with Neville."

Dean let go of Margaux. "She's in our dorm. Almost guaranteed. I'll go get her. You go make sure none of your roommates step in the glass and try to sweep it together. Try nonperdere. Fuck, I don't think that'll work, but try. I'll get Lenore."

Margaux nodded. "Okay."

He scurried up the boys staircase and Margaux ran to her room. She gathered the glass into a pile, then collapsed on the ground. She tried Dean's suggestion of nonperdere, but it also did not work. She realized she should have followed Dean to his dorm, because what if Lenore wasn't in there? She would have to learn the spell really fast and run back up here. She stared to stand up to go to his dormitory, but she heard heard the bedroom door crack open and her sister appeared in the doorway, her eyes angry and her jaw clenched.

Margauc relaxed back on the ground. "Hi, Lenny."

Lenore sat down on the floor with Margaux, carefully avoiding broken glass. "What happened?"

Margaux shook her head, her voice cracking. "Ginny said I got a good grade on my test, we got into a fight, she grabbed the globe he made me and threw it on the ground. Then she ran out and here I am."

Lenore bit her cheek and examined the situation. "Reparo doesn't work?"

Margaux shook her head. "I've tried reparo, restituere and medicus. None of them can get the inner globe inside the outer globe."

"Neville said to try emanturo."

Margaux nodded sadly. "Okay."

"And try to just do the inner portion first. I don't know if that's possible. Rebuild it one piece at a time."

Margaux nodded as light tears stung her eyes. She aimed her wand at the globe and thought carefully about the inner globe.

"Emanturo," she said with force.

The pieces did not budge. Then, they began wiggling. Glass slid across the floor as Margaux watched carefully. She gasped as the pieces took a vague shape of a sphere. At once, the inner globe mended together perfectly. Tears poured from her eyes as Lenore asked, "Did that work? Is it right?"

Margaux nodded.

"Try the outside part," Lenore urged her.

Margaux said the spell again and as glass wiggled on the floor, she began crying a little harder.

"Mar, where is Ginny? I will murder her."

"She's gone to the game," Margaux said. "Don't murder her."

"I will punch her, if that's what you want. Seriously, Mar."

Lenore fell quiet for a moment and Margaux glanced up at her sister. Lenore had tears in her eyes. Lenore was crying. Margaux set the globe down carefully and scooted into her sister's arms.

"Don't let her get away with this," Lenore said. "I'm serious, she needs to pay. This is the most disgusting, bitchy, jealous thing I've ever seen someone do. Nobody deserves this, much less you. Punch her next time."

"I wanted to," Margaux said, "but I was so scared about the globe. I got distracted."

Lenore glanced at Ginny's side of the room. "What does she have that we can destroy?"

"No, it's—"

Lenore stood up and headed to Ginny's bed. She began rummaging through Ginny's dresser. "I'll cut a hole in every goddamn one of these blouses," she said. "I'll vanish her mattress. I'll write a letter to her mother. God, Mar, you need to punch her. Beat her snarky little fuckface in."

Margaux shook her head. "It's not worth it. She'll get over it eventually."

"You need to tell Dean to tell her to stop. Or you need to make out with Dean in front of Ginny. Make that bitch jealous."

Margaux's face warmed. "I-I'll ask him if he can do anything."

"It's not your fault, Mar," Lenore said as she slammed Ginny's dresser drawer closed. "None of this is your fault. This is Ginny and Dean's problem, not yours."

"I know," she whispered. "I just… It's hard. Knowing she hates me."

"Do your roommates stick up for you?"

Margaux nodded. "Yeah. They're on my side, especially Helaine. They weren't here when this happened though. It's when Ginny and I are alone that she goes after me."

Lenore shook her head. "Coward."

Margaux sighed as Lenore sat down next to her and pulled her into a hug. The sisters were silent for a long time, Margaux's mind spinning, until she blurted out, "I fancy Dean."

Lenore shifted her gaze to her sister. "Do you really?"

She nodded. "And I know he fancies me."

"He does," Lenore said. "How do you know?"

Margaux's heart pounded against her chest. "How do you know?"

"He… he told me," she admitted. "A while ago. And I found out before. Remember when we went speed dating last Valentine's Day?"

"You knew back then?"

Lenore nodded. "Neville let it slip."

Margaux felt genuine hurt. "And you didn't tell me?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Mar, I'm really sorry. He asked me not to tell and I didn't want to make things weirder between you two. I thought he needed to tell you himself. How do you know he fancies you?"

"Neville told me, too."

Surprise swept over Lenore's face, but she laughed. "He really can't keep secrets. When did you and Neville talk about this?"

"We had a lovely little talk after my birthday," she said. "I intimidated him and he gave me information."

"Mar!" Lenore giggled. "What did he tell you?"

"You know Dean worked on the globe for months? Literally, months. Since March.

"What did you do to him to get him to tell you all this?"

She grinned. "I just talked loud and fast. And offered him information on you in return."

"Margaux!" she gasped. "What did you say?"

"I told him about how we used to sword fight in the garage—"

Lenore giggled.

"—about how you braved the attic to fetch his birthday present—"

"No!" she butted in. "Oh god, embarrass me."

"I didn't tell him anything embarrassing! Well, except I did tell the story of when you were five and you peed all over Santa's lap."

"Margaux!"

"I'm kidding!" she giggled wildly. "I'm kidding, Len. Although, that's not the most embarrassing thing you've done."

Lenore squeezed her sister's neck between her elbow and Margaux squealed between laughs. "Want to hear what Neville said about you?"

"Yes!" she said.

"Well then, what did Dean tell you about me?"

Lenore grinned. "Okay. He said he never wanted to date Ginny in the first place, he was just trying to get over you. But he couldn't. He never fancied Ginny, not really. He was attracted to her, but never fancied her. He's fancied you this whole time. Is any of this helpful? I feel like Neville would know more than I do."

"I didn't know he never fancied Ginny," she exhaled. "Never? Not even a little bit?"

Lenore shook her head. "Not the way he fancies you."

"Neville said Dean loves me."

"Oh, I don't know about that," Lenore said. "But… he probably does. I don't know. Can he love you? You've never dated."

"You can love someone and not be dating them."

"Can you, though?"

Margaux rolled her eyes. "Just bloody tell Neville you love him."

Lenore gasped. "No! I don't love him like that. No, Mar, did you tell him I do?"

She lied and shook her head. "Of course not. But you do love him."

"No. Shhh."

"Can you see yourself marrying Neville in the far future?"

Lenore hesitated for a long time. "I mean… in the distant future, after we've matured and if that's what we want… Yeah. I'd marry him."

"Then you love him."

Lenore looked like she had been punched. She blinked a few times, then shook her head. "Okay. Whatever. Maybe. I'm not telling him, though."

Margaux nodded. "That's okay. But this guy really cares about you."

"I know," she whispered. "He told me he's in love with me."

Margaux gasped. "What did you say?"

"I said…" She buried her face in her hands. "I basically said a long version of, 'Thanks, I hope I do, too sometime.'"

"Len," Margaux giggled, before falling back to seriousness. "You are so cold. You need to figure out how you feel."

"It took you a while to figure out how you felt about Dean, didn't it!" she argued.

She blushed. "Yes, but—"

"Don't rag on me, then! I tell Neville everything but love. I say 'adore,' 'admire,' 'really like'—"

"All the best synonyms for love, without actually saying it."

Lenore squinted. "I've never said it before, okay? I don't know if what I'm feeling is love."

"I've said it three times," Margaux said. "It really is not a big deal."

"So if tomorrow Dean said he loves you, what would you say back?"

"'I love you, too.'"

Lenore gasped. "Do you love him?"

"I really fancy him," she said. "I liked him enough to use all those synonyms for love. So, yes, I would say 'I love you' if he said it first."

Lenore frowned. "I wouldn't."

"Well, you have issues."

Lenore glared at her, then, after a beat, began giggling. "You're a butthole."

"You're the whole butt," Margaux smiled.

Lenore giggled and hugged her sister's head against her chest. "Love you, Mar."

"I love you, Len."

"I love you, too."

Lenore ran her fingers through her sister's hair and held her tight. Margaux cuddled up to her and sighed. She laid in her sister's arms in silence, not thinking, not moving, simply relaxing from her previous worried fit. After a while, Lenore whispered, "You better go tell Dean you fixed the globe before he leaves."

Margaux pulled back to look at Lenore. "Why?"

She frowned. "He looked about ready to cry. You can't have him starting his first quidditch game on the verge of tears."

Margaux loosened her hold and stood up off the ground. "Where is he?"

Lenore checked the clock on the wall. "Either in his room or the common room, unless he's left already."

"Come on!" Margaux said. She hurried her sister out the dorm. "I need to lock the door."

Margaux bolted down the steps, hugged Lenore goodbye, then craned her neck in search of Dean. She spotted Lenore heading to Neville and Terry, so she ran and cut Lenore off. "Hey! Do any of you know where Dean is?"

Terry pointed to the door. "We just wished him luck not ten seconds ago."

Margaux thanked him and scurried to the entrance. She spotted him and shouted his name. "Dean!"

Margaux gave him a huge wave as he opened the front exit to the Gryffindor tower. He closed the door and turned to her with a worried expression as she ran to him. "Did you fix it?"

Margaux nodded and beamed. "I got it. Don't worry. It looks brand new."

Dean stepped closer to her and her heart raced. "Mar, I'm so sorry she did that. Honestly, I-I… I'm so sorry."

She nodded. "It's okay, Dean. It's not your fault."

He grabbed her hands, which surprised her. "I know I'm just… She's so awful. Consistently awful to you. And it's my fault."

"No," she argued. "It's okay. Just… please help me figure out how to handle her."

"I will," he said desperately. "Mar, I promise I will. I'm so sorry."

His hazel eyes stared into her green ones, filling her with affection and admiration. Dean fancied her, she knew it for some time, and she fancied him. Still, it was not the right time to make a move. She couldn't, however, allow him to begin the quidditch game as a ball of nerves and regret. He deserved a little warmth to start his first ever match. She let go of his hands, pulled him into a hug and buried her face in his chest. "Dean, kick some Slytherin ass."

He laughed and squeezed her tight. "I will."

He laid his head on top of hers as she held him for another moment. As she leaned back, Dean smiled beautifully at her. Her fingers trailed his arms and she grabbed both of his hands. She was obviously flirting with him and she hoped it would encourage him to feel better. She swung his arms back and forth, almost dancing to the music with him.

"Why are we swaying?" he smiled.

She raised their arms in the air, stepped closer, then stepped back. "To cheer you up, you little Debbie Downer."

"I'm fine, Mar!" he laughed. "Honestly. Thank you."

He began swaying with her until they were full-out dancing to this song in the background, his soft hands intertwined with hers and a huge smile on his face. Margaux vaguely recognized the as something her roommate Verona would play, an 80s song, but she had no idea the name. Either way, it really wasn't a bad song. It had a smooth beat and Dean could dance quite well. After a moment, his smile faded. He spun her around and then pulled her in for a quick, but deep hug.

"I've really got to go," he said. "Thank you. You've cheered me up."

Margaux squeezed him back. "Go win us this game."

"I'll try."

Dean beamed as he let go of her. He exited the Gryffindor common room and Margaux went to go find her roommates. Minus Ginny.

.

Dean's POV, after the game

It was a hero's welcome in the common room when the Gryffindor quidditch team finally arrived to the afterparty, freshly worn out from the game. Harry received the most hollers, but Dean got his fair share of the spotlight. He talked with people he'd never met before, trying to be charming and appreciative, but he was a little embarrassed from all the attention. It was just quidditch, it's not like he did anything important. The crowd only grew more frenzied as the celebrations continued and soon other houses began showing up. There were quite a number of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs in the common room, and even a handful of disheartened Slytherins. The common room was filed to the brim with people and Dean could barely turn around without bumping into somebody or being deafened by music. All he wanted to do was go lay down. It had been a long day.

"Dean!"

Dean turned around and open his arms wide as Margaux flew into him. A huge smile appeared on his face. "Hi! Hi, Mar!"

"Hi!" she beamed as she jammed her face into his neck. "Dean! You were bloody brilliant!"

He held her tight and swayed her body side to side, then exhaled a laugh. "Thanks!"

She leaned back and smiled at him. "You can do anything! Merlin, you can draw, you can cook, you can play quidditch! What can't you do?"

"Plenty," he grinned. "Mar, you're so sweet."

She hugged him again. Merlin, she was getting cozy recently. Her hugs became familiar, although no less special. He wondered why she was hugging him so much these past few weeks. Sure, they had hugged before as friends, but these hugs felt different and he had no idea how. Possibly because he was deprived of her while he was with Ginny. During the three months he was with Ginny, he had hugged Margaux exactly once and laughed and joked with her zero times. The laughing made him feel closer to her than even the hugging, but he loved both.

Her arms loosened their hold and her green eyes twinkled. "Let me get you a drink. What do you want?"

"Honestly, just more water."

She smiled and led him to the drink table. "You're not in the mood to drink?"

He watched as she poured him a goblet of water. "No, I'm worn out. I'm not really in the mood to party. I just kind of want to relax. Thank you."

She handed him the water cup and he took a sip. "I'm not either," she said. "I drank a little before the game, but now I just want to sit somewhere and talk to people."

"Want to talk to me?"

"Of course," she smiled. "Dean! I've missed you! Where do you want to sit?"

His stomach flipped as she stated that she missed him. He had missed her too, desperately. The words tumbled out as he thought of them. "Okay, I know this is odd, but do you want to just go sit in my room?"

She nodded. "Are you tired of the noise, too?"

"Yeah. I'm just ready to lay in bed."

"Then I'll sit in Seamus' bed."

Dean grinned, grabbed both of them a full goblet of water, then led her up the boys staircase. Hopefully no one would be in their room. He guessed they were all downstairs at the afterparty. Sure enough, the door was locked and when he hesitantly opened it, no one was inside. He widened the door and held it open for Margaux. She took a seat on Seamus' bed, across from Dean's bed.

"Come here, Mar," he said as he pointed to Harry's bed next to him. "You can be closer."

"Ooo, that's menacing, isn't it?" She twisted her face into a demonic smile and made her voice raspy. "'Come here, Mar! Come closer!'"

Dean's cheeks burned as he laughed. "No! Okay, fine. Wherever you are comfortable."

Dean climbed onto his bed and Margaux gave him an odd look. "You're just going to sit in bed without showering? After playing quidditch?"

"I showered!" he laughed. "Ew, Mar. I showered in the locker rooms. I'm not completely disgusting."

She grinned and took a seat on Dean's bed, which surprised him. Margaux was in his bed. She leaned up against the baseboard as he sat back on the headboard. Margaux had slept next to him before, last year after a party. He had woken up with her in Neville's bed and panicked until he remembered they didn't do anything. He had imagined it would be awkward when she woke up, but it wasn't. It was quite lovely, actually. She blinked a few times, yawned and smiled at him. They laid there talking for quite a while, about quidditch, about homework, about life, then she gathered herself and returned to her room across the tower. It wasn't weird at all. It was the most natural thing on Earth, to be near her.

"Well, you don't look sweaty and gross," she smiled. "But you never know."

He pulled his covers over his legs and laid down.

"You're actually laying down?"

"Yes," he grinned.

She shook her head and smiled. "Dean, Dean, Dean… not much of a party animal are you?"

He nuzzled his head against his pillow. "No. You don't have to stay, don't think I'm keeping you. If you want to party—"

"I want to sit here with you."

His heart pounded faster than it had when a bludger flew past his ear, narrowly missing his face. "You're such a liar," he smiled. "You're not hurting my feelings if you leave."

"You'll hurt my feelings if you keep trying to kick me out."

He looked up at her. She genuinely appeared to want to stay. Her eyes were wide and even a little upset.

"Sorry," he said. "I want you to stay."

She grinned. "Are you going to fall asleep?"

"No," he shook his head. "I'm not sleepy, just tired."

"So, am I just supposed to sit here and stare down at you?"

He thought a moment. "Grab Harry's pillow and lay down next to me, I'll scoot over."

She laughed and stole the pillow from the bed next to them. She placed it next to Dean's on the narrow twin bed, then he opened up the covers for her as she climbed in. "Thanks," she said. "I don't think you guys have the heater on in here."

"It's on, it just doesn't work well. It has a mind of its own."

Margaux smiled brightly at Dean. He desperately wanted to reach out for her and hold her, but that was absurd, this was meant to be an innocent exchange. Still, he stared into her eyes. They had been through so much together. She was eight months younger than him, both 1980 babies, but they had always felt like the same age. In fact, she almost felt older than him. She was so wise, so mature and they had known each other for so long that he felt like they had grown up together. They even went to the same muggle primary school before Hogwarts for a year, although they did not know each other.

"Hey," he whispered. "Do you remember the first time we talked to each other?"

She grinned. "Of course. In the common room when I was a first year. You were trying to stop Seamus from throwing things into the fire and I was encouraging him."

Dean smiled. "You know we actually talked at primary school once?"

"No we didn't!"

"Yes we did. We were playing outside for recess and you and your little friends kicked a ball into my friend. My friend shouted 'Hey!' and you came over, snatched the ball and said 'Boo hoo!' Then walked away."

She giggled and hid her face in the pillow. "That doesn't count! I wasn't talking to you!"

"Okay, we interacted."

"Okay, fine. More precise language. You know, that's so weird. We would've known each other even if we didn't go to Hogwarts. Did you ever interact with Lenore?"

"Hmmm," Dean thought out loud. "She was in a different classroom. I was in Ms. O'Rourke's, she was in Ms. Ranganathan's. Our classes did some activities together and I remember her being the new kid, but I don't think we ever talked. I remember her friend, Raquel. You know I went to school with her my entire life? She was in the same class as me for three years. We'd switch classes, you know, like mix up the groups."

"I went there for two years, remember," Margaux grinned.

"Yeah! That's right. So you got mixed up. Yeah, Raquel was sweet."

Margaux nodded. "I know. I played out with her and Lenore sometimes. We'd ride bikes around the neighborhood or go down to the pond. It hurt me when she died, too."

"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. "I had no idea she had passed away until Neville told me, after Lenore told him. We were out on the lake and he said Lenore came over to his house to cry."

"Did she?" Margaux gapped.

"I guess so. How are you? Was this summer hard for you?"

Margaux shrugged. "Yeah, kind of. But honestly these past few months have been harder."

"Why, luv?"

Her lips parted. He had just called her 'luv.' His heart pounded against his chest, beating into his brain. He needed to apologize, to normalize this, but his mouth wouldn't operate along with his brain.

At once, she giggled. "Luv, huh?"

He forced himself to speak. "Sorry, I… I was just trying to be comforting. My mum says that when I'm upset. I-I thought you'd… like it. Like, be comforted by it."

Margaux reached out for his hand and squeezed his fingers. Her hands lingered on his just a little longer, which made his stomach dance until she pulled away. "Thanks, weirdo," she grinned. "Anyway, it's just been hard. Dating. All this schoolwork. Losing friends. You know Derek and Luna are my only close friends right now? I lost Ginny."

Dean was quiet for a moment, then he took her hand again. "You're one of my close friends."

She smiled softly up at him. "Really?"

He nodded. "You're one of my best friends, Mar. And Seamus considers you his friend, too. I bet Neville thinks so, too. And your roommates do. And plenty of other people."

"Thanks," she smiled.

Dean hesitated as he watched her eyes. "What makes someone a close friend to you?"

She seemed to be thinking. "They're kind, loyal, we mutually care about each other, we love and learn from each other. That's about it. Also, you're right. You are one of my close friends. I misspoke. I was being dramatic. I was just thinking about how Derek and Luna are the only ones I tell everything to. I don't tell you everything."

"You could start."

She hid her grin as she rubbed her cheek against Harry's pillow and stretched her back, before turning her eyes directly to Dean's soul. "You tell me something, Dean."

"What do you want to know, Mar?"

"Hmmm," she played. "Tell me a secret. Then I'll tell you one."

"Okay…" he said slowly. He thought a moment. "Do you want a secret about me?"

"A secret, not gossip."

He bit his lip. "Well… Oh gosh, this is hard. I feel like you know most things about me."

"Take your time and think."

He turned his gaze on her eyes and he instantly thought of a secret. That he loved her. But he couldn't very well say that, so he came up with something else. "This is a bad secret. By that, I mean it's obvious. But… I wish… I wish my mum didn't treat me differently than my sisters."

Margaux's thumb stroked his hand and his stomach tingled when he realized she was still holding him. "How does she treat you?"

Dean shrugged. "It's hard to explain. I just… I think she's still in love with my dad, you know? Like… Mar, you can't tell your mum this. Or bring it up ever."

"I promise," she said gently. "I never tell my mum anything."

He grinned briefly. "Okay. Well… I honestly think my dad was the love of her life. I see old photos of them and I've read letters they wrote to each other and just the way she talks about him. She loves my stepdad. I love the man, too. He's honestly such a great guy and I consider him my father. I even call him 'Dad.' But… I think my real dad was her soulmate. And when she looks at me, she sees him."

"How does she treat you different than your sisters?"

Dean bit his cheek. "She just has a different look in her eye. You know she called me 'David' this summer?"

Margaux gasped. "Your dad's name?"

"Yeah. Mark nearly had a heart attack. I did, too. She said I was acting like him, being argumentative. She cried right after she said it. I hugged her as she sobbed and then Mark talked to her. But we never spoke about it again."

"Do you look like him?"

Dean nodded. "Quite a bit, actually. I mean, I look like my mum, too, but you can clearly tell I'm this bloke's son if you look at photos of him."

Margaux nodded softly. "Does it hurt you? That you've never met him?"

"Yeah," he said slowly. "Not consciously. I don't think about it, but when I do I get sad. And I shouldn't. Margaux, I have a wonderful life. I could not ask for a better stepdad. Mark is my father, I love him. I tell him I love him. He loves me and treats me like his own child. He's never made me feel like the outsider, but it's there. It's always there. Have I told you about the old woman in Tesco who thought I was the nanny?"

"No!" she gasped.

"Because…" He laughed to himself. "Because honestly I don't think white people can tell how old I am. Remember I told you this at the wedding, when the bartender didn't even ask me my age? I genuinely think they can't tell. So I was alone with three of my sisters in Tesco this summer. My mum was annoyed with us so she told me to take my sisters to the book section while she shopped. The little two were acting up and I was telling them to settle down. Some woman walking past got all mad and said, 'Girls! Listen to your nanny! He works hard.'"

Margaux's mouth was wide open. "What did your sisters say?"

"They were stunned. None of them said anything. I didn't say anything, I just… I thanked her, ha. I don't know why. I just didn't want a fight."

"Oh my god," Margaux gasped. "That's awful. Okay, this is off topic, but it reminded me. Have you seen the op-eds in The Daily Prophet?"

"Which ones?"

"The letters to the editor. Recently there's been a ton of them writing in talking about muggleborns. Lenore showed me, she cuts the articles out and keeps them. Dean, they've printed five anti-muggleborn letters since we've been back at Hogwarts. Five. They only print the letters to the editor on Sundays. There've been fifteen Sundays. That's a one-third of the time, they are literally printing purist propaganda. And do you see what these people write?"

"I've only read one anti-muggleborn letter. Something about how muggleborns 'steal' magic."

"Yes!" she hissed. She squeezed his hand. "Dean, they say things like muggleborns steal magic from the rightful owner, they're impure, they're health hazards, they even list crimes committed by muggleborns as if they're worse than purebloods. I mean, they're clearing using pre-Holocaust rhetoric."

"Merlin, you're right."

"And I'm just worried about you," she continued. "Really. You have no documentation that your dad is a wizard?"

"None," he whispered. "We don't even know if he was a wizard. I could be a muggleborn."

She nodded and scooted closer to him. "Dean, you need to be careful, alright?"

"I will," he assured her. "I know, trust me."

She nodded and placed her soft hand on his cheek, which made his stomach flip. "Really, Dean. Don't go anywhere alone, don't advertise your blood status, nothing."

"I promise, I'll be careful."

She slid her hand down his cheek and grabbed his hand in both her palms. "I'm scared, too. Scared for my mom. What if they start going after muggles who have married purebloods?"

"It's okay, Mar," he whispered. "Don't worry about that right now. Just relax. I'll be fine."

She settled back into bed. "Okay. But really, if you ever feel endangered, tell me. I'll help."

"Alright," he said gently. He placed his hand on top of hers, so that now all four of their hands were touching. "I will. Don't worry. Do you want to hear another secret?"

She nodded and he gulped. He decided to just spill everything. He had been thinking about this for a while, especially this week after a wave of attacks on muggles were featured in The Daily Prophet.

"I… I've… I've never really felt like I've fit in anywhere. Not in my family, because I'm not like, the same DNA as all them. Not in society, because… Because I'm that stereotype, Mar. You hear it all the time. Racist stuff like, 'Black men are absent fathers,' 'Black men get white women pregnant and leave.' But it wasn't like that. It's not like that for anyone, it's more complex than that, but in my case, it's just plain not true. He didn't leave because he wanted to. I know that for a fact. That's the only thing I'm sure of. I mean, they were married, for fucks sake, he didn't just up and leave because he was having a kid."

"Did… did he die before or after you were born?"

Dean met her eye. "He left when my mum was eight months pregnant. He was missing for two months. They found him when I was a month old. They said he died of knife wounds, but Mar, you know there's a spell that replicates knife wounds."

She nodded and squeezed his hands.

"But they never found who killed him. They assumed it was gang violence, just because he's black. My parents lived in a rough neighborhood and the police were shit. Nobody cared that a black man died. His case is still open. But it wasn't gang violence. My dad was not in a gang, that's ridiculous. He had a good job, he was an accountant. But I don't have to defend him. It doesn't matter what his job was, he wasn't treated fairly by detectives. But anyway, something else that's annoying me. When people see I have a white stepdad, they act like he's a hero. And he is my hero, in a way. But they act like he's like… my savior. Like I would've been starving on the street without this white man rescuing little black me. That's what people see, Mar. I mean, I was raised in an all-white family. Okay, think about it like this. Your dad is half-Jewish, right?"

"Yeah."

"He can hide it. He can choose to identify as Jewish or not. I'm not discrediting him, I'm just saying… I can't choose to not identify as black. I love being black, don't get me wrong. I love my skin and my people and my mum did a good job handling the differences. She learned how to do my hair, how to help me take care of my skin, she wasn't like one of those 'I don't see color' people. She saw my color and appreciated it. But the thing is, society sees me as black. And I am, obviously, I consider myself black. But… it's just different, you know? I'm as black as I am white, I feel like I should be able to pick."

She squeezed his hand. "Do you think that puts you in a box? Like, there's so many stereotypes against black people, are you ever self-conscious about how you present yourself?"

"Absolutely. There's not many black people at Hogwarts. I mean… there's… a fair amount. It's not like all white people. But we went to the same primary school. You know there were a lot more people of all colors there than here."

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Sometimes… I feel like I have to be a middle man all the time. Between my family and wizards, or my white friends and my black friends, or my pureblood friends and my muggleborn friends. And I just feel lost. I never feel like one complete thing. I don't feel like a muggle, but I… I don't consider myself a… a full wizard. That's bad, I know. I also don't always consider myself black, even though by looking the way I do, I've experienced the same… treatment from bad people. But I'm not immersed in black culture, you know? I'm around white people at home and at school. That's not a bad thing, but you know, the other day Terry was telling me about Christmas at his family's house. It a different dynamic than my family but he acted like I could relate to everything he said. It's just hard, feeling like you're caught in the middle. I really don't think I'm supposed to be in Gryffindor, either."

"What do you think you should be in?"

"Ravenclaw," he said. "I mean… I can draw, I can cook, isn't that creative? Am I creative? I'm not like the other Gryffindors. I'm not like you. I'm just easy-going, chill, non-confrontational…"

"I think you're meant to be here," she said gently.

"Why do you say that?"

"You punched Randall for me."

"He hit you," Dean rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm going to hit him."

"I don't think a lot of blokes would punch someone for me. Especially not Ravenclaws. They're like Slytherins. They refuse to get involved. But you stood up for me. You are a Gryffindor, Dean. I can't exactly tell you why, but I know you are. You're going to do something really, really Gryffindor one day, I know it."

He smiled and squeezed her hands. "Thanks, Mar."

She beamed. "Anything else you want to tell me?"

"Nah. You tell me a secret now."

"Alright…" She thought for a while. "You told me a really good secret, Dean. I don't have anything that deep to share with you."

"No, I want to hear anything and everything you want to tell me."

"Okay," she sighed. "Well… you'll find this out soon enough. I get stressed out really easily. Like to the point I just shut down. I have really bad anxiety and I think it's because I was bullied as a kid."

His eyes widened. "You were bullied?"

She nodded. "None of the girls in my class liked me. I'm still really paranoid people don't like me. I need to be liked. It's… it's awful really." She exhaled a laugh. "I get stressed out when I think people don't like me. All this stuff with Ginny really upset me. It brought me back to elementary school, when girls would take my things and break them. They'd break my pens or rip up my art or make fun of my headbands. I know… I know people call Luna weird. People ask me why I'm friends with her, because on the surface we're nothing alike. But on the inside, I'm Luna. I was just… I was forced to dial it back. I understand her. Her and Derek are my best friends. You know Luna and Ginny were the first close female friends I ever had? I was only ever friends with boys."

"Really?"

"Yeah. They were the only ones who weren't mean to me. It's not all girls. The girls at primary school here were quite nice. I liked them. But after four years with the girls in the U.S… I was just scared. I've always been scared to make friends, even though I'm friendly. I don't know. I don't even know myself. It messed with my brain, being bullied."

"Is that hard?" Dean asked. "Like, is it hard for you to open up to people?"

She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I… I go through periods of self doubt. A lot, actually. And nobody understands that. My family is very like, 'just suck it up.' But I can't. It hurts."

He tightened his grip on her hands. "I understand. Even Lenore?"

Margaux nodded. "I mean, she's better than my parents. She cares, she just doesn't understand. I just don't think you could understand unless you've felt the same way and I'm not sure she's ever felt the same way."

"Because she wasn't bullied?"

Another small nod and Dean did not take his eyes off her. "Lenore's always had friends and I don't know how. She's introverted, but people come up to her and they just start talking so easily. It's harder for me. I don't think I'm as approachable. I also start to doubt myself mid-conversation and I think I start acting weird. I don't know, that could just be the self-doubt."

"Yeah," Dean nodded. "I bet it is. I really think you sound a bit like Neville."

"I might," she sighed. "But I think I'm more like Luna. She has the same fears, she's just learned how to get over it. I haven't learned yet."

"I can help you, if you ever need anything," he murmured. "I don't know what I could offer, just… a pair of ears."

She beamed. "Thanks. You are a great listener."

Dean stared at her, never taking his eyes off of her. She remained silent and pulled his hands closer to her body. She placed her cheek on the back of his palm and smiled. "Anyway, let's talk about something happy. You just won a game!"

His torso rattled with nerves. Margaux was in his bed, curled close to him, holding him and sharing her most intimate secrets. He managed to smile and play it cool, but inside he was practically shaking. He knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to confess his feelings, right here and now. He could not take much more of this flirting. At least, it seemed like she was flirting with him. But she couldn't be. She just missed him, one of her best friends. That was okay. At least she was close to him again. Still, he wanted to kiss her. Her lips looked so enticing. He had kissed her twice, the first time he did not remember and the second time he was too shocked to take it all in. The next time they kissed, however— if they ever did kiss— it would be soft, sweet, slow. He wanted her to know he cared about her, as more than just a snog. He was so obviously in love with this girl in his bed, the problem is, she didn't seem to feel the same way.

He gripped her hands. "Alright! What should we talk about?"

"Tell me the happiest moment of your life," she smiled.

"Of my entire life?" he said. "Mmm… gosh, this is hard."

"Okay, of this past year."

He smiled. "I don't know. Can I tell you the artsiest moment?"

"The what?" she laughed.

"The most bittersweet. A scene that would be in a movie."

"Yes."

"This summer. After we went bowling with your ex and Charlie and their friends. The song from the prom scene of Pretty in Pink was playing over the car radio. It was dark, only the sound of the tires over the broken pavement. Kunal was holding Heather's hand as he drove. You and your ex were whispering in each other's ear. Charlie was nearly asleep on the floor. Everyone was in their own little world, except for me. I saw everything. I like moments like that. It's almost like you get to be God. You see everything, you say nothing, and the world keeps turning, moving over the cracked streets of that shitty little town."

Margaux's lips were parted. "Were you happy then?"

"I felt nothing," he whispered. "Nothing at all. I was just content to be alone."

Her eyes scanned his, then she said. "I don't really have a moment like that. Let me think… something that would be a scene in a movie… Honestly, all of today. Your ex destroying my stuff, but guess who's in bed with you right now? Me, not her. That's very soap opera."

He laughed and she joined him. "You're right."

"You really don't have one super happy moment that sticks out to you?"

He thought a moment. "The day my oldest sister was born."

"Really?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I had always wanted a sibling. It was just me and my mum for a while, then came Mark when I was four, then Camila when I was nearly six. I don't remember a time before Camila and Mark, but I remember the feeling when she was born. How happy I was to have a little family. I sat in the hospital bed with my mum and this little baby. Mark held my hand and rested his head on my shoulder as I looked down at Camila. That was a happy moment. Then when I found out I was a wizard."

"Tell me how you found out!"

"Well, I'd always been able to do little things, but I never told my parents. I thought it was my own secret. I could refill my cup if I ran out of juice. That was my main trick and it took a lot of focusing. When I got mad when I saw little, I would smash my fists on the table and send things flying. My mum thought I was just really strong, but now she thinks I was losing control over my magic. When I was ten, a representative from both the muggle and wizarding Ministry came to talk to my parents. Dumbledore came, as well. It took hours of convincing. My parents didn't believe it. They thought it was a ploy to kidnap their child. Then Dumbledore had me do some tricks. I finally showed them my trick that I could refill a glass and my mum nearly fainted. They explained that my dad could've have a wizard and then Mark nearly fainted."

Margaux giggled. "And they were okay with sending you away?"

He nodded. "Dumbledore had these special goggles, I guess, that lets muggles see Hogwarts. So, they took a tour, they had a year to think about it, and then finally decided it would be best for me. I'm so glad they did, honestly. What about your mum, was she okay with sending you away?"

"She doesn't like it," Margaux said. "I can tell. But she had eleven years to come to terms with it. She knew we would go there eventually. She just didn't expect an empty nest when her kids were eleven. Did your mom ever suspect your dad was a wizard?"

Dean shook his head. "No, but one summer, Neville's grandmother brought him over to my house for a playdate. My mum was outside watering the plants and she heard a pop. She said me her heart stopped, because they appeared right in front of her, on her front stoop. She stared at them for a while and his grandmother had to explain apparation to her. Then she told me my dad didn't own a car. He claimed to use public transport, but he was always, always exactly on time. Not a minute late, not a minute early. And sometimes she would hear that pop. So she figured out, like thirteen years later, that he could have been apparating."

"Wow!" she gasped. "Damn. Anything else?"

"She said he was brilliant at fixing things. Then I told her they have spells to fix things and she suspects he used those."

Margaux giggled. "My mom thought my dad was a genius with fixing things until Lenore pointed out that my dad was using spells to fix everything. I'm going to try that on my muggle family. My dad already does. He'll move their cups a few inches to the side or makes their cooking boil over. Like annoying things like that."

"I can't wait to do that with my family," he said. "We haven't told my sisters I'm magical. They wouldn't understand. Mum wants to wait until Bella is an older teenager, but that's like ten years away."

"They just think you go to a private school? How's your mom going to explain that to them when they go to a normal secondary school?"

He shrugged. "No idea. That'll be interesting. I'm really excited to mess with their husbands and boyfriends. That's a long way away, too, but I look forward to it."

She laughed. "You're a prat. What do you want to do after Hogwarts? Like go to uni or what?"

"I've thought about it. I think I've told you I want to paint the moving portraits or become a chef. The Ministry has training programs for both of those. I might do both, then decide. They're just a couple years each. You still want to be an astronomer?"

"Right now, yeah," she grinned. "I change my mind all the time, but I've always loved astronomy. The Ministry trains you for that, too. Or I could go to a muggle university. I haven't decided."

"Have you told Slughorn that's what you want to do?"

"Why so I can suck up to him?"

"Yeah," he grinned. "I heard you got into his little conceited wankers club."

"I did," she giggled. "And yeah, I've told him. He was impressed. I think that's how I got in. He loves my dad, though, so it's probably because of that."

"Nah."

"Nah?"

"Nah," he smiled, "it's because you're charming."

"I'm charming, huh?"

"Mmhm. You're very personable and friendly."

"Unlike Belby."

Dean laughed. "I knew that kid wasn't going to get in."

"The last meeting before decisions, he slung an arm around Slughorn and asked, 'So, if I get in, do you think I can convince this fit bird to come with me to the Christmas party?'"

"He said that?" Dean gasped. "'Fit bird?'"

Margaux giggled and nodded. "He's a moron. Slughorn was not impressed. We got a lecture about how, if we are invited to the Christmas party, we have to bring a date with the upmost class because there's going to be all sorts of famous witches and wizards there."

"Who are you bringing?"

"Well…" she said slowly. "Do you want to go to the party with me?"

He blinked and his stomach churned with nerves. She could not be asking him out. He had to clarify before he made a fool of himself. "As… your date?"

She shook her head and smiled warmly. "As my 'Please Save Me From the Preps' mate."

He exhaled a chuckle, but he was just the tiniest bit sad this was not a date. "Yeah!" he said. "Yeah for sure. When is it?"

"The seventeenth. Tuesday night, before we leave for break."

"Yes," he nodded. "Absolutely."

"Thanks. Slughorn's going to think you're in the Slug Club at this point."

"Well, two events and I'm not even a member? I'm catching the elite bug."

"Lord Thomas," she grinned. "It's like being an MP of Hogwarts. Quite a honor, but a stupid one."

He smiled. "Wow, I have a week and a half to get pretentious."

"Mmm, I don't think it'll take much work for you."

"Nah, I could fall into the rich person lifestyle quite easily."

"I couldn't," Margaux shook her head. "Nope. I'm very stingy with money."

"I know," he smiled. "You'd get used to it."

She shook her head. "I don't think I would. I could be a football mum though."

"Going to the park to watch your little ones play football?"

"Wearing the Nike hat, buying everyone carrots and juice boxes, naming my kids 'Kyle' and 'Evan,' oh I could absolutely do that."

"Please tell me you don't actually like those names."

"Absolutely hate them," she giggled.

"You know what I'd name my kids?"

She gasped. "You've thought about naming your children? I didn't know blokes did that!"

Dean's cheeks burned but he still smiled. "Well, I do. I like Estlin for a boy, after e.e. cummings' real name, and Audre for a girl, after Audre Lorde."

"Dean!" she grinned. "Those are so cute! Oh my god, I can't believe you've thought about this. I genuinely didn't think blokes thought about children."

He shrugged. "Some do. Neville has. Even Seamus has, but I think he's kidding. He said he wants to name his kid "Mahoney' after his favorite professional wrestler, Balls Mahoney."

Margaux shrieked with laughter. "He's an idiot."

"But he's my idiot," Dean grinned.

"That's right. Aww! You two are perfect. I almost wish you two were dating."

He chuckled. "We're too close now! It'd be like dating my brother."

"Maybe in an alternative universe."

"Uh huh," he said slyly.

She laughed and nudged him. "Neville or Seamus, who'd you rather date?"

Dean thought carefully. "If I were me, Seamus. If I were a girl, Neville."

"Why?"

"Neville's just… I don't know. He's not as… blatantly entertaining as Seamus. But I understand Seamus isn't funny to everyone. He's actually quite an arse. Neville is sweet and I think girls like that better than a guy who actually wants to name his son 'Balls,' but he goes with 'Mahoney' instead."

"Okay," Margaux giggled. "You, Seamus, or Neville. Who do you think the average girl should date?"

"Oh, me," he said without hesitation. "I'm great."

She laughed. "Why?"

"Seriously, Mar, you'll get a taste of Date Dean at the Christmas party. I am a complete gentleman."

"Oh?" her eyes widened. "You'll be the perfect little arm candy?"

He held out his elbow and she took it, which made his heart swell. "Just practice."

"Okay, what am I practicing?"

Dean craned his neck. "Oh, hello Professor Slughorn! Yes, I'm doing well. But you know who's doing even better? Miss Henry, here. Did you hear she's thinking about becoming an astronomer? Top of her class at the subject."

Margaux laughed and let go of him. "That'll do. You can be my hype man."

"You're already my hype man," he smiled.

"Before the game?"

He nodded. "Thank you. Honestly, that helped calm my nerves."

"Yeah, no problem. I thought you'd need it. If only I'd called you 'luv' like—"

"Mar!" he laughed. "I'm never going to live that down am I?"

"Never in a blue moon, Thomas."

He smiled at her and squeezed her hands. He was going to go on a date with Margaux Henry. Well, not technically. But sort of. He would treat it like a date, try to romance her. She deserved the star treatment after tonight. After the past few months, actually. He could not apologize to her enough about the globe incident. She did not deserve to be treated that way. Nobody did. Margaux deserved the world, the only problem was, he couldn't give it to her.

"So… tell me something funny."

"Something funny?" she grinned as she stared into his eyes.

"Yeah," he returned the smile.

"Something funny, okay," she thought a moment. "Your face."

"Ha ha," he rolled his eyes and feigned offense, although the quip truly did make him gleeful. "A story. Tell me something funny that's happened to you recently."

"Mmm…" She took a while to think. "I don't know. Ooo, wait! Last week, I was hanging out with my roommates, minus Ginny. So, Helaine is dating Dagwood Bukowski, you know that right?"

Dean nodded.

"And Kadence is dating Andi Nassar, a Hufflepuff in my year."

"Never met her but got it."

Margaux giggled and he had no idea why. Maybe his over-eagerness to listen to her story.

"And then Verona is dating Ed Wu, you know Ed."

"I do," Dean smiled as she referenced the Gryffindor a year below him. "God, everyone is dating someone in your dorm?"

"Yes!" she said. "It's like, steady dating, too. Verona and Ed have been together since June, Helaine and Dagwood since September, and Kadence and Andi will probably get married, in my opinion. They've been together for a year but I can just tell."

"You can tell this early? At 16?"

Margaux nodded. "Some people you can just tell."

"How?"

"I mean, just look at them. I knew Mallory and Blair were going to get married. I knew it about Liza Ferro and Logan Parish. And Sofia Caro and Reyes Garcia. I can just tell who is going to get engaged and whether they'll stay together or not."

"Okay, let me name some couples and you guess."

Margaux grinned. "Okay."

"Helaine and Dagwood."

"Damn!" she said. "You started with a tough one. They won't stay together long enough to be engaged. But, I don't know. They're hard to read. They're shy. I feel like shy people, once they find someone, want to settle down. I don't know."

"Neville and Lenore."

She giggled. "Neville will cling to Lenore for as long as possible. I think… engaged, or nearly engaged, until Lenore throws a fit and changes her mind."

"Mar!" he gasped.

"Just think about it! I'm only guessing!"

Dean laughed and shook his head. "Ron and Lavender."

"Oh fuck no."

He chuckled. "Verona and Ed."

"Hmmm," she said. "Won't stay together after Hogwarts."

"Seamus and his right hand."

Margaux squealed and punched his shoulder. "You're disgusting!" She collapsed into giggles as he smiled with her. "God, I hate you."

"No you don't," he argued.

"Mmm, don't get too sure."

He grinned. "Get back to your story!"

"What story?"

"The funny story about these people."

She stared blankly at him. "I can't remember."

"Mar," he groaned.

She quickly fell into more giggles.

"I heard all that background information and you don't even have a foreground story," he said.

"Sorry! You tell me a story."

"Margaux!" he laughed. "I asked you!"

"And I told you, I forgot it."

"So tell another one."

"So don't tell me what to do."

He stared into her playful green eyes, her lips pursed into a smirk.

"You're difficult."

She faux-gasped. "I am not!"

"You are!" he laughed.

She pushed his chest lightly. "You're difficult!"

"Nope!"

She giggled as she yanked his pillow out from under his head and jammed it on top of his face. "Margaux!" he laughed as she pretended to suffocate him.

She giggled and placed a knee between his legs. He could feel his breath stop as he realized her knees straddled his left thigh. Merlin, she was halfway on top of him, laughing so sweetly as she teased him. He finally pushed the pillow away from his face and witnessed her smiling down on him, still in her playful mood. His stomach flipped. He wanted nothing more than for her to kiss him. Kiss him like their last kiss, when she lingered on top of him, over his legs, until their lips met and his breath collapsed his lungs. She grabbed his hands and yanked him upright, and for just a split second, he really believed she was about to kiss him. But that was ridiculous. She merely giggled, extraordinarily close to his face, and whispered, "Darn. You're alive."

He exhaled a laugh. "You didn't suffocate me long enough."

"I'll remember next time. More than seven seconds."

He chuckled as she squeezed his hands, her face still only inches from his.

At once, the door to the dormitory burst open and Neville rushed inside. Dean nearly had a heart attack to snap him out of his blissful daze. Neville's eyes widened as his gaze flew to Margaux in Dean's bed. He immediately shut his eyes. "Sorry!"

"We're decent," Margaux laughed. She let go of Dean and sat down next to him.

He gulped. "So decent nothing came off in the first place."

She laughed and Neville stared at the pair.

"Why are you looking so disheveled?" Dean asked as he settled against his headboard.

Margaux examined Neville, who was clearly in a state. His shirt wasn't tucked in properly, his hair was a mess, his eyes darted around. "I…." He glanced at Margaux, then back to Dean. "I was out with Len."

Margaux plugged her ears at once. "Ew! Don't tell me anything!"

"Tell me!" Dean urged him.

"I-I don't want to make Margaux uncomfortable. I-I'll tell you later."

"God," she sighed. "You know your shirt is tucked in horribly?"

Neville glanced down and attempted to fix his shirt.

Margaux gasped. "Your buttons aren't done right!" Dean squinted and sure enough, Neville had an extra button on the bottom right, but no hole on the left to capture the extra fabric. "God, she had your shirt off! I'm leaving, bye!"

Margaux hopped out of bed and it was Dean's turn to look frantic. "Wait, you're leaving?"

She smiled and crawled back under the sheets. "Nah, I'm kidding. As long as Neville fixes his shirt, I'll stay."

"I-I'll fix it," he said.

He grabbed a pair of pajamas, ducked into the bathroom and shut the door, then Margaux turned to Dean and giggled. "I bet he tells you everything."

"I hear quite a bit," Dean exhaled.

Margaux crinkled her nose. "That's funny. And odd. You've known Lenore since you two were ten."

He shrugged. "No skin off my bones, she—"

"'No skin off my bones?'" Margaux shrieked with laughter. "It's 'no skin off my back!'"

Dean flushed and laughed. "No it's not!"

"Yes it is! It literally is."

"No, it's 'bones.' That's the way I've heard it."

"Well you've heard wrong."

He smiled. "Nope. You're wrong."

"Dean," she said, "I'm dead serious. It's 'back.' Or 'nose.' Either one. But it's definitely not 'bones.'"

"We'll just ask Neville when he comes out."

"Ask me what?" a voice called as the bathroom door opened.

Margaux turned around. "No skin off my bones or no skin off my back?"

Neville was silent with confusion. "Isn't it 'no shirt off my back?'"

"HA!" Dean laughed loudly as Margaux shrieked, "No! You two, quit being idiots! It's 'no skin off my back!'"

"I think this is a muggle thing," Neville smiled. "I've never heard either in my life."

She groaned. "I'm going to ask Lenore."

"Speaking of," Dean grinned to Neville. "How was the snog?"

Neville immediately flushed red and Margaux grumbled. Dean checked his watch. "Just now getting back? That was a long snog."

Neville climbed into his bed, but didn't get under the covers. He sat up in bed and grabbed a book off his nightstand, but remained quiet.

"Come on, mate," Dean said. "You know you want to tell me."

"I want to tell you, yeah, but Margaux doesn't want to hear and I'm not going to make her uncomfortable."

"What do you two do?" Margaux blurted out. "I can't gauge it. Like, little sweet kisses or heavy petting or what?"

"W-what is heavy petting?"

Margaux cringed. "Like… Ew, never mind, I'm not discussing this."

"W-we… snog," he said. "Like… pretty hard."

Dean smirked. "You're snogging her hard or you're getting hard?"

Margaux squealed and covered her ears as Neville cringed. "Okay! I really think I should be going! Dean, lovely to talk to you. Neville, not so much, but it's always a pleasure."

Dean laughed, then Margaux waved goodbye and said, "Remember the seventeenth, you're with me."

He smiled. "Of course. Goodnight."

"Night," she grinned. "Nice chat."

He nodded and she exited the boys' dormitory with another wave. Dean smiled to himself like a bloody idiot, until Neville said. "You were in bed with her?"

"Just chatting!" he argued.

Neville raised his brow. "What's the seventeenth?"

Dean sat up straighter. "Guess who asked me to Slughorn's Christmas party?"

"No!" Neville gasped. "She asked you?"

Dean beamed, his heart giddy. "As mates, but I mean… I can treat it like a date and maybe she'll get the hint."

"Dean, that's great," Neville grinned. "Way to go, mate!"

"Way to go with you!" he shouted. "Coming in here with your clothes disheveled. You two just went for each other, didn't you?"

Neville shut his textbook. "Oh! By the way, thanks so much for discussing my willy in front of my girlfriend's sister!"

"Tell me everything!" Dean laughed.

Neville sighed and closed his eyes. "God. Best snog of my life."

.

Lenore's POV, 2.5 hours earlier

As Lenore stood in the Gryffindor common room refilling her drink, a pair of hands slipped around her waist and held her from behind as a voice murmured, "I won."

She laughed as Neville kissed her neck. "You won? You carried the team?"

"Yes," he chuckled.

She turned around to face Neville and he planted a kiss on her lips.

"Comforting the mourning, eh Longbottom?"

Neville pulled back with a smile at Terry's words. He had mysteriously appeared at the punch bowl next to Lenore, who laughed. "I'm distraught."

Terry tsk-ed. "Neville already told me about your wager."

Lenore's lips parted and she glared at Neville, who flushed red.

"Get out of here, you pesky kids!" Terry laughed.

"Wait!" Lenore called as Terry turned to leave. She ushered him closer and whispered, "How do you think it went with Odette?"

"Well," Terry said slowly, "you'll notice I'm holding two drinks."

"STOP!" Lenore gasped as she grabbed his arm. Red liquid spilled on his sleeve. "She's talking to you again?"

"Lenny! he laughed. "Calm down. You're getting me all messy. Yeah, she found me, she's over near the fireplace."

Lenore craned her neck and sure enough, Odette stood near the fireplace with Faye Dunbar and Michael Corner. She squealed, "Go!"

Terry laughed as she pushed him away. "Join us!"

"We'll be there in a minute," Lenore smiled as Terry left their vicinity.

Neville's eyes widened. "You want to go with them? Not… just us?"

Lenore turned to him and stepped closer. She did not want to hurt his feelings, but she was slightly more interested in the Odette and Terry relationship at the moment, no matter how much she wanted to snog Neville. She wrapped her arms around his back and kissed his collarbone. Her hand slid to the back of his head and she pulled his ear down to her lips. "Let's build some more suspense."

"More?" he exhaled.

"Yes, more," she said. "I know you're roaring to go, but please, Neville, Odette is one of my best friends. And Terry is one of yours. Don't you want to see how this turns out?"

He hesitated, his eyes shifting around the floor. "Erm… not as much as I want you."

"Nev," she giggled. She kissed his lips, which he gratefully and urgently returned. "Please? I promise, it'll all be worth it."

Neville nodded slowly. "Alright. Anything you want. I kind of want to see what happens, too. But you have to flirt with me as much as possible."

"Of course!" she laughed. "I promise. Let's go sit on the couch next to them."

She grabbed Neville's hand led him to the couch near the fireplace. A single spot was open on the sofa and Neville offered it to her, but she declined as she waved hello to everyone. Neville sat down next to Michael, then Faye was on the end as Terry and Odette stood. Lenore started to sit on the arm of the couch, until she decided to take a seat directly on Neville's lap. He was clearly shocked as she planted her bum on his thighs then bent her legs and placed her feet on couch between Neville and Michael.

"You're being quite bold," Odette laughed.

Lenore slung an arm around the still-shocked Neville, who soon did the same to her. "I guess so."

As Faye continued her conversation, Lenore leaned into Neville's ear. "Flirty enough for you?"

He nodded, his eyes wide. Lenore adjusted her weight on him to ensure they were both comfortable, then she began listening to Faye. As the conversation carried on, Neville's hand wrapped around her stomach and slowly circled her hip closest to him. Her heart warmed and she briefly kissed his forehead.

"We were just talking about professors we hate," Terry said to welcome the two new group members.

"Who have you discussed so far?" asked Lenore.

Faye laughed. "Who haven't we?"

"Let's see," said Michael. "We've talked Snape, Flitwick, Barnes…"

"Have you gotten to Babbling?" asked Lenore.

"No!" Faye gasped. "Oh my god, I can't stand her."

"Me neither!" said Odette. "One time Padma Patil and I were talking in her class. It wasn't even while she was giving a lecture, it was when she gave us an assignment. She gives so much busy work and I swear she doesn't even both to grade it correctly. But anyway, we were talking and—"

As Odette spoke, Lenore moved her arm from Neville's shoulders to her lap. She wasn't even paying attention to her friend's words anymore, she was focused on completing her discreet task. Her arm oh-so-slowly slid toward Neville's leg, then she dipped down in the space between their bodies and laid her hand on his inner thigh. He tightened his grip on her hip and she heard him inhale a tiny, sharp breath. She kept her hand there, not moving, not gripping, merely resting inside his warm upper thigh. He remained completely still as they both watched Odette speaking.

"—then she told Padma that she was going to fail her N.E.W.T.s! It was week two of the fiirst N.E.W.T.s lesson! You don't know that!"

Terry nodded. "She told me I was going to fail, too! All I did was forget to turn in one assignment."

"She took off points on my test because I wrote the wrong date," said Lenore.

"Me, too!" nodded Michael.

Lenore laid the side of her legs closer to Neville's chest. "I'm so glad I didn't keep taking Ancient Runes."

"God, me too," said Odette, to which Michael nodded.

"I have to take it," Faye sighed.

"Me, too," said Neville.

"Why?" asked Lenore.

"If I want to become an auror, I need it for some reason," answered Faye.

Neville nodded.

"I regret not taking Herbology," said Michael.

"Me too!" said Lenore. "That's my biggest regret ever."

Terry grinned. "Yeah, but if you're really interested, Longbottom will teach you."

"I know he will," she smiled at Neville. It was the first time she had made eye contact with him since she touched his inner thigh. He swallowed nervously and grinned at her. She moved her free arm across her body and laid her hand on the back of his head. "Trust me," she continued, "I hear tons about herbology."

Odette turned to her date. "What's your favorite subject, Terry?"

"I like Transfiguration. What about you?"

"I love Transfiguration, but I'm terrible at it," she said. "It's one of my favorite subjects and I understand it, but I have trouble doing it. My favorite subject that I can actually do is History of Magic."

"Really?" Terry's eyes widened. "Man, I'm rubbish at that. I didn't know anybody actually liked that subject. What career do you want?"

"I think I want to be a research librarian," she said timidly.

"Do you like to read?"

"Yeah. I like research and helping people. I want to work at the Ministry-run library."

"The one for the public?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Wow," he said. Lenore could tell he was impressed and it warmed her heart.

Odette smiled. "What about you?"

"I'd like to be a healer," said Terry.

"No way," she gasped.

He nodded. "I'd like to try. I'm good at the science subjects and rubbish at everything else."

Odette grinned at him and shook her head. "I didn't know you were ambitious."

He laughed. "I don't know about that."

"She thought you sat around all day and smoked," Michael cut in.

Terry glanced at Odette, whose eyes were wide. "No! But… this is the first time we've ever talked when you weren't high."

"We've talked before?"

Lenore practically yelled with laughter and Odette joined her, abet more muted. "Yeah," Odette said. "I thought you were just a stoner. But you're obviously not."

"I-I'm not," he said quietly. "I mean… I smoke, but I'm not… weird about it. I…"

He was tripping over his words, so Lenore decided to help him. "He's not one of those guys who's like 'pot is my life,' '420 forever,' 'dude that was dank.'"

Terry and Odette chuckled. "No, that's not me. It's just… a side hobby."

"Did you smoke with Seamus last night?" Michael asked.

Terry nodded slowly. "Yeah. Mates, you're going to make me look so bad."

"You don't look bad." Odette grinned and bit her lip as she gave him a once-over.

Terry was clearly flustered. "Thanks. You… either."

Odette laughed and Lenore moved her face to Neville's hair to contain her giggles. Lenore kissed Neville's hair, which smelled freshly-washed with his woodsy shampoo.

"Ew," Michael said. "There are too many couples around."

Faye glanced around the group. "Can I ask you all something?"

Everyone nodded, so she continued. "How do I get a bloke to snog me?"

"Which bloke?" Lenore asked.

Faye shrugged. "I mean… just in general."

"Just walk up to him," said Michael. "Most blokes, that's all it takes before they start thinking about snogging."

"Is that true?" asked Odette.

Michael nodded. "Oh yeah. We're awful. You could be talking to us and our minds will wander and before you know it, we're not listening, we're thinking about snogging you."

"No," Terry said. "Not all of us are animals."

"Well, you have to be attracted to the girl," Michael said.

Faye groaned. "You are useless. Odette, help me."

"He's kind of right," Odette said. "I normally just talk to them for a while, build a connection, then lean in real close and say 'Want to go talk in private?' But it's harder with someone you've fancied for a while. Do you fancy him?"

Another shrug from Faye. "I don't know. Probably not. Actually, I know I don't."

"Well, if you do, ignore it," Odette said. "Then you won't be nervous. Are you trying to do this tonight?"

She nodded. "Yeah, he—"

Lenore could feel Neville lean in close to her ear. His hot breath cascaded over her cheek as he whispered, "Len?"

She turned to look at him. He placed his palm over her hand on his thigh, then leaned into her ear again. "Y-you can have your hand there, b-but please don't rub."

She glanced down. "Was I rubbing?"

He nodded and bit his lip.

"Sorry!" she gasped quietly. "Oh my god, I didn't mean to."

"I-I didn't think it was a conscious thing."

Lenore could feel her face burning. "Sorry."

He kissed her neck quickly, then murmured in her ear, "You feel so bloody good."

Her stomach flipped and she massaged her fingers over his hair.

"Hey, Lenore," Michael said, interrupting her little moment of bliss. "What do you think Jack would do if Faye just walked up to him and snogged him?"

Faye jammed a hand over Michael's mouth as he laughed loudly. Lenore grinned. "Jack Sloper? Try it. I think he'd love to make out."

"What about if Michael asked Leanne for a snog?" Faye announced.

Lenore raised her eyebrows. "Leanne? I'm not sure. She's shy. I don't think she'd just snog someone."

"Do you think she'd hate me if I tried?" he asked.

"You can try it," Lenore said. "But I really do not think she'll go for it. Faye should go for Jack though, I think he's interested in her. I saw him looking over at you."

"Jack is interested in Faye," Neville said. "Dean told me."

"How does Dean know?" Faye gasped.

"Margaux told him and Jack told Margaux."

Faye patted down her hair. "No way. Interested in me? In me? Like, he fancies me or he fancies a snog?"

Neville shrugged. "I assume fancies you."

She shook her head and laughed. "You're fucking with me, Longbottom."

"No!" he said. "Really. I don't joke around about that stuff."

"He doesn't," said Lenore.

Faye nodded. "Okay. Okay, gosh. I have to work up my nerve. God, Jack Sloper. There's no way. I still don't believe you. Oh shit, if he does fancy me, maybe I shouldn't snog him."

"Why not?" asked Michael.

"I don't know," she said. "I don't want him to think I fancy him."

"Then don't," Lenore said. "If you don't fancy him, don't lead him on like that."

"But what if he doesn't fancy me?"

"I think you need to pick a new target," said Lenore.

Fay sighed. "Okay. Who's that bloke next to him?"

"Faye!" Lenore laughed. "What if he does fancy you and you're off snogging his mate?"

"He's cute!" she said.

"That's Horatio Pershore," said Terry.

"He's gross," Lenore said. "One time he flirted with me by sticking his fingers under the holes in my jeans."

"What's wrong with that?" asked Faye.

"Ew!" Lenore said. "Absolutely not. It was invasive. I didn't want him touching me."

"He's fit," Faye shrugged.

"So?"

"And he's Italian."

"So?"

Faye squinted at Lenore. "I'm still gonna try. Is he a Slytherin or something?"

Odette nodded. "A year below us. I think he's gross, too, by the way."

"Thank you," Lenore smirked.

Faye rolled her eyes. "Alright, so he'll definitely be down for just a snog."

"You don't like Jack?" Terry asked.

Faye glanced back at Jack. "Well… he lost us nearly every single quidditch game, didn't he?"

"So?" Lenore said a third time. "He's a genuinely nice guy."

"I'm just looking for a snog, god!" Faye said as she took a huge swig of her drink. "I'm going to go talk to Horatio."

Terry made a low rumbling noise as she climbed off the couch. Lenore craned her neck as she watched Faye walk over to the group of Horatio, Jack and a Hufflepuff boy. As she stepped closer to Horatio, Jack was clearly distressed. The five watched as she pulled Horatio away from the group, leaving Jack and the Hufflepuff. Jack stared at the floor, downed his drink, then disappeared with his friend into the crowd.

Lenore's fingers slid across the back of Neville's neck. "I think Neville was right."

"I think so, too," Odette agreed.

"I'm pretty sure Jack likes her," whispered Terry. "I feel like I recall someone saying that before Neville."

"Maybe Seamus?" asked Neville.

"Maybe," said Terry. "Or I heard it straight from Jack. I honestly can't remember."

"Why, were you high?" Odette smirked from behind her cup.

Terry laughed nervously. "I very well could've been."

Odette's wide brown eyes sparkled up at him and he exhaled some more laughter as he stared at her. Lenore clutched Neville's head tighter, a sign she thought Odette and Terry were being cute.

"I think I'm about to gag," Michael said.

Terry grinned and turned to Michael. "Fifth-wheeling now, mmm?"

"I'm quite comfortable with myself here, thank you," he smiled as he settled into the couch.

"Where's Anthony?" Lenore asked.

Michael shrugged. "I thought he was talking to Alicia, but I don't know."

"She said no to a date with him, right?" Odette asked.

Lenore nodded. "She's figuring some stuff out. And Katie's injury really hit her hard. I just don't think she wants to date right now."

"I think Anthony understands that," said Terry. "I think he's just trying to be nice at this point. He doesn't like to see her sad."

"Yeah," Lenore said quietly. "I don't know how to help her. I listen to her, I tell her it'll all be okay, but…" She shook her head. "I'm not as sensitive as Alicia and Leanne. Katie, Angelina and I were always the sensible ones. Angelina is graduated, Katie's in the hospital, so that just leaves me to reign in their emotions and I don't think Alicia appreciates it. I mean, she does after she's done having a fit, but during the fits… I don't think she likes me. She told me I'm not taking Katie's injury seriously."

"You are!" Odette argued. "You just handle things differently."

"Yeah," she whispered slowly. "It's… it's just better for all of us if we can offer Katie support instead of crying about it. It happened. Crying won't change that. But Alicia seems to think we all need to mourn. I don't know. Forget I said all this."

Michael nodded. "Anthony's basically said the same thing."

"He's better at comforting her than I am," Lenore sighed. "I've never been one to comfort."

Neville chimed in. "I think you're pretty good at it."

Her frown disappeared as she turned to him. "Thanks, luv."

He smiled softly and kept his eyes on her as Odette struck up a conversation about Anthony with Michael. Lenore touched her lips to his. As she kissed him, her hand slid just a few centimeters higher, much closer to his most sensitive area. He inhaled sharply on her lips.

"Is this okay?" she murmured.

"Yeah," he said as she tenderly kissed his lips.

"Quit kissing," Michael gagged. "Honestly, you two, what the hell has gotten into you today? I never even see you touch."

Lenore leaned back to laugh. "Can I not appreciate my boyfriend?"

"Not when Longbottom has that look in his eye," Odette laughed.

Neville blinked and flushed red. "What look?"

Odette took a small sip of her drink and shrugged, which made Terry laugh.

Michael grinned. "Is it the same look Terry has?"

Now it was Terry's turn to be embarrassed. He hid part of his face behind his cup and Lenore could see Odette's blush. She glanced over at Terry, who met her eye. She giggled, "Yeah, it's pretty close."

Terry exhaled a nervous laugh and Lenore clutched Neville's shoulder tighter. Watching Odette and Terry being cute somehow made her feel closer to Neville, like the room was full of love. She kissed him once, on the lips, and he smiled brightly. At that same moment, Anthony Goldstein grabbed Michael's shoulders from behind the couch. "Mate," he gleefully exclaimed, "come here!"

Michael bid goodbye and the only people left were the original four, the double daters. Terry glanced nervously to Odette, then ushered to the couch. "Want to sit down?"

"Sure."

She sat down on the end of the couch and Terry took the middle. He folded his hands awkwardly in his lap and played with his thumbs. Lenore had never seen Terry look as shy as he did right now. Odette reached over and placed her hand on top of his, then he flipped his palm over and held her hand. She smiled, then turned to Lenore, still holding his hand.

"So—" She paused and stared at them. "I wish I had a camera. You two look so cute."

Lenore glanced at Neville. "We've never had a photo taken together."

He smiled. "I-I'll bring my camera next term."

She hugged him close, then returned her attention to Odette and Terry. "You two look like you're having a good time."

Odette glanced back at Terry.

"I am," he said.

"I am, too," she smiled.

Terry looked very flustered, obviously surprised Odette was interested in him. He squeezed her hand and turned back to Neville. "I thought you two were going to go snog?"

"We will," Lenore argued. "We're flirting."

"I saw you pawing him over the trousers," Odette laughed.

Both Lenore and Neville turned beet red. "Okay, that was an accident."

"Longbottom didn't seem to think it was an accident!" Terry howled. "His eyes nearly popped out of his head."

Lenore laughed and looked at Neville's blushing cheeks. "Did they now?"

"W-well, sorry," he stammered.

She giggled and planted her face in his neck as he rubbed circles in her back. Odette and Terry were having their own muted conversation, so Lenore focused her full attention on Neville. She kissed his neck and tightened her grip on his thigh. Neville responded by placing his own hand on her legs, much lower than her but still on her inner thigh. She gasped and smiled as she kissed his jawline. "Are you ready to go snog?"

He immediately sat up straighter. "Merlin, yes. We—"

But Lenore's ears detected Odette and Terry's conversation. "Wait," she interrupted Neville. "Hang on, let me eavesdrop."

Odette touched a hand to the back of Terry's head and moved her lips to his ear. "Hey."

"Yeah?" he returned the hushed tone. He kept his arms respectfully to the side, but Lenore could tell he almost placed a hand on Odette's lower back.

She hesitated for a moment, then murmured, "You want to get out of here?"

He blinked and turned his face toward Odette's ear. "To… to do what?"

She grinned playfully and lightly scraped her nails over his short hair. "Anything you want."

Lenore's heart leaped out of her chest and she clutched Neville tighter as she blatantly watched the two. Odette and Terry had really hit it off. She could see the shock on Terry's face as he stammered out, "Y-you… want to go somewhere with me?"

Odette slipped her fingers into his palm. "If you want to, yeah."

"I-I do," he said.

Odette leaned back to view his nervous face. Lenore knew Odette loved making guys nervous. She would be going far with Terry tonight, as long as he kept being nice, funny and respectful. "Alright," she whispered as she stood up. "Come on."

She grabbed his hand and Terry met Lenore's eyes. It had been obvious she was listening. Terry glanced between Lenore and Odette and seemed to find his bearings. He returned his gaze to Odette. "Wait."

She paused and looked innocently down at him. Terry opened and closed his mouth, but no words would come out.

"What?" Odette asked.

Lenore could tell she was anxious. She actually seemed to really enjoy her date with Terry. Terry finally managed to speak. "I just… Would… would you go on a second date with me? Or is this just like… a one time thing?"

Odette bit her lip. "Which do you want?"

"I… I'd really like to go on a date with you again, if you want that."

She beamed. "Yeah. I'll go on another date with you."

Terry sighed out a single laugh to ease his nerves. "Okay. Okay. We can work out the details later. But, I'm really having a nice time with you."

Odette batted her eyelashes. "Want to make it a little better?"

He squeezed her hand. "Yeah. Definitely."

She turned to view Lenore staring at her and she laughed. "Okay, I'm going out with Terry. And I'm sure Neville is about mad for you. See you later, Len!"

Terry said a short goodbye to Neville, still looking incredibly shocked that he was about to make out with Odette Trujillo. The moment they left the couch, Neville turned to Lenore. "Come on," he said. "I know exactly where we're going."

She stood up off of him. "Alright."

He took her hand and led her out of the common room. Lenore laughed. "Eager?"

"Yes."

He paused outside the door and pulled her tight against his body. His lips were wild, he wanted her and it made her giggle from nervousness. After a moment, he took her hand again and led her down a staircase.

"Did you like flirting?" he asked.

"Yeah," she smiled. "I really like you, you know."

He seemed to pick up his pace so she laughed. "You're ready, aren't you?"

"Been ready since I woke up. Actually, I've been wanting to snog you for over a week. Merlin, Len, you're so gorgeous."

She blushed. "Thanks. You're not bad yourself."

.

Neville's POV

Neville smiled shyly, his heart racing as led her outside the Gryffindor Tower. Merlin, was he ready to snog her. Her hand had been mere centimeters from his lap for the last forty minutes and she was right, it did drive him hysterical. They weaved through hallways until Neville decided on an unused classroom on the third floor, where there was the least amount of students and professors roaming around.

"Here?" she asked.

He nodded and Lenore went to work unlocking the door. Pansy had taught her how to do this a long time ago. She pushed Neville inside, relocked the door, then placed another charm Pansy had taught her. This charm would make anyone who came near the door forget why they were trying to go inside. If someone needed inside this classroom, they would forget what they needed and turn around. If they suddenly remembered later and tried the door, the same thing would happen again. It worked perfectly on the senile professors.

Lenore sat down on a desk at the front of the classroom, her feet dangling as Neville stepped between her legs.

"You picked a good classroom, too," she said as he wrapped his arms around her. "These are the double-seated table desks, not those flimsy single desks."

"Well, I didn't want us to tip over."

She smiled. "You think we're going to get that athletic?"

"I hope so."

He looked up at her smiling face. Her sparkling playful eyes, her cute nose turned up with satisfaction, her body language receptive. She was biting her cheek and that was all he could take. He quickly leaned in and attacked her lips. Lenore kissed him deep and frantic, her tongue slipping into his mouth immediately. Neville scooted closer to her and their wild lips devoured each other. He still wasn't close enough to her. He placed a hand behind her head, then pushed her down gently onto the desktop as he leaned over her. She gasped as he made himself comfortable on top of her.

"Neville!" she smiled.

He returned her little grin, until she murmured. "Dominate me."

He shook with nerves but said, "Hang on."

Neville grabbed his wand and placed silencing charms around the room.

"What are the silencing charms for?" she asked from underneath him.

He tossed his wand onto the desk next to them. His hands cupped her jaw, then slid back into her hair as he kissed her, soft but fierce. He pulled back, not enough to look in her eye but just enough so their lips weren't touching. "Because I'm going to make you scream."

"Neville!" she laughed.

He could feel his cheeks burn, but she closed the gap between their lips and slung her arms around his neck. She attacked his lips again, which managed to peel him from his embarrassment. He sunk down closer to her, trying to read her kisses. She was playful today, that was for sure, so he decided to be playful as well.

"You nearly screamed when I touched your thigh, didn't you?"

He smiled briefly, then kissed her. "Yeah. And when you sat on my lap."

"I liked that," she grinned. "I liked flirting in public."

"You like P.D.A. now, do you?"

"No," she giggled. "It was a party, it wasn't like, the library."

"Sit on my lap in the library," he murmured. "Sit on my lap any time you ever want."

She laughed as he kissed her. "So… why do you want to bend me over a desk?"

Neville was visibly shocked and he knew it. "W-what do you mean?"

"Where'd you get the idea from?"

"I-I don't know," he said slowly. He hesitated, then decided to come clean. "I-I mean… I… had a dream that I did."

"You dreamed we were snogging?"

"Y-yeah," he said as his cheeks burned.

Lenore grinned and squeezed his hand. "Alright. So reenact the dream."

"I-I can't reenact all of it."

"Stop!" she laughed. "It was a sex dream, wasn't it?"

Neville remained silent as he stared at the desktop. He shouldn't have told her so much.

"Nev!" she giggled. She reached up and cupped his jaw gently so he would look her in the eye. "You have sex dreams about us?"

His eyes widened. "J-just that one!"

"Neville!" She laughed some more, but he was so embarrassed. "You like snogging me, don't you?"

"O-obviously," he whispered.

"Well I like snogging you," she beamed. "Oh my god, tell me about it later. Kiss me now."

He kissed her slow and steady for a while, each of them able to contain their conversations, giggles and comments as they lost themselves in each other's lips. Neville relaxed on top of her and fell into a stable pattern. His fingers massaged her scalp and she slipped her hands underneath his shirt and jumper to touch his bare back. After a while, he gradually moved down her jaw to her neck, pouring devotion into his kisses as he reached her collar bone. She wore a loose black V-neck blouse with puffed long sleeves and Neville decided to kiss all down the neckline. His lips trailed just above her breasts as she whispered, "Hey, Nev?"

"Yeah?"

She paused. "I'm going to give you a suggestion, but you're in charge, so take it as, I'm giving you permission."

He bit her breast oh so lightly. "To do what?"

"To take off my shirt."

Neville slowed his lip movement and looked up at her. "To… take off your shirt?"

She nodded. "It you want to, you can. It doesn't have to be now. Whenever you want to. You're in charge."

"D-do you want it off?"

"If you want it off, yeah. I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't okay with it."

Neville forced his voice to level-out. "Okay."

She smiled and he returned to her neck. He still could not believe what he just heard. Lenore was letting him remove her shirt. He could see her in just a bra if he wanted to. He really did want to. Merlin, he would die to see her even just a little bit naked. But he was scared. True, he had already kind of seen her without a shirt, when they were high down by the lake. He saw her in a lavender bra, but only for a couple seconds and those seconds were hazy. It wasn't really any different than seeing her in a tank top. But this. This would be big. He would get to see her completely naked from the waist up, save for her breasts. His lips faltered as he swallowed his nerves. That was the scariest part. Her breasts. But just her shirtless? He could handle that. That wasn't nearly as scary as he made it out to be. Besides, he wasn't him tonight, he was dominant Neville. He could do this.

He pulled her upright and slipped his hands under her shirt, massaging her skin lovingly. He flattened his palms on her ribs, then slid his hands up to her armpits. His hands entered her sleeves and he pulled up, moved his face away from her and watched as her body was revealed.

He clamped his lips shut tight to avoid gasping, but whoa… she was magnificent. Her waist was the first thing he noticed. The slope between her ribs and hips caught his eye and he immediately wanted to hold her there. Next, her noticed how beautiful and soft her skin looked. He knew she was soft, he had touched her before, but it all looked so smooth. Not like his own skin or the skin of any male he had seen. No, she was delicate and easy on the eyes, like a painting of a person. And her breasts. God, they looked almost as good as they felt. She was wearing a maroon bra, covered in the same color lace. This bra had to have some push-up in it, because he could see the perfectly rounded tops of her breasts peeking out from behind the cups. Merlin, not even peeking. They were there. At least a third of her breasts were visible and—

"Neville," she interrupted his thoughts.

He blinked and noticed her shirt was stuck over her head. Her face obscured by the inside of her shirt, and her arms wrapped in her shirt. He had yanked the cloth over her head at an odd angle. "Sorry!" he gasped.

She laughed as he attempted to free her. His hands worked one arm out, then he tried to swoop it over her head, with no luck.

"It's the buttons," she said. "They're caught on the back of my hair."

"Buttons?"

"Yeah, there are three or four buttons on the back, by the neck."

Neville bit his cheek. This was an oddly designed shirt, but she looked great in it. "Do I have to unbutton them to get it over your head?"

"No, they're decoration. They work, but it's just decor."

Neville flipped her other arm out of the shirt, then carefully moved the shirt over her face and flipped it to her back. As soon as he face was revealed, she smiled at him, which made him laugh. "Hi, luv."

"Hi to you, too," she grinned.

He kissed her lips. "You're so gorgeous."

She kissed him again. "Thanks! You're pulling my hair."

He stopped yanking. "Can you turn around?"

Lenore sat up straighter and turned her shoulders. Merlin, her back was pretty, too. His fingers worked the two buttons out of her hair as she turned all the way around. He discarded her shirt on the desk next to them and she started to face him once again, until her held her wait and said, "Wait!"

She paused. "Okay."

He sunk his fingers into her waist and kissed her shoulders. He flipped her hair over her shoulder and kissed all over her bare skin. "You're beautiful, Len," he murmured. "You look like a painting."

He knew she was smiling. "Thanks."

"You can turn around now."

Slowly, she faced him and sat on her bum once again.

"Lay down," Neville requested.

She obeyed and sprawled out on her back. His eyes widened as he took her in. "You're gorgeous," he whispered in awe. "Bloody hell, you're so fit."

She grinned. "Thanks. I figured you wouldn't mind seeing."

"I definitely don't mind," he said as he leaned down to kiss her lips. "Holy shit, Len, your skin. It's so soft and pretty."

His hands dug into her bare hips and she smiled. "I'm kind of nervous. You're the first boy to see me without a shirt."

"Don't be nervous," he murmured. "God, you're perfect. You're even better than I imagined."

"You imagine me?" she whispered.

Neville was quiet for a beat, then he admitted. "W-well, yeah."

"I imagine you," she smiled. "What you look like shirtless."

"Don't do that," he grinned against her ribs. "That's not a turn on."

"It is," she nudged him. "You are."

"Do-do you want my shirt off?" he nearly whispered.

"Would you be comfortable with that?"

He paused and seemed to be thinking. "I… I don't know."

"Next time, then," she said gently. "Or some other time. You just enjoy me today and I'll enjoy you later."

Neville nodded. "Th-thank you. Really."

Lenore grinned as he kissed the center of her lower ribs. His hands spread across her stomach and his fingers gripped her tummy. She moved his hands. "I don't like that."

"S-sorry," he said. "Why?"

"Mmm, no," she whispered.

He watched her a moment and realized she was self-conscious. She didn't have a flat stomach, but she was not even close to being fat. She was just shapely and he bloody loved it. However, he knew girls didn't always like shapely, they liked flat. He wanted her to know that he appreciated her body.

"I love your stomach," he murmured on her lips. "I love every bit of you."

He cringed mentally. That made it sound like he was telling her he loved her, yet again. Whatever, it was fine. She thanked him, but he could hear the nerves in her voice. His lips moved down to her neck, then her ribs, carefully avoiding her breasts… for now.

"Really, Len," he said as he kissed her stomach. "You are the most beautiful woman in the universe."

Finally, she relented just a tiny bit. "You're sweet."

"I'm telling the truth," he whispered as he moved his kisses to her hips. "You are so completely gorgeous. Every part of you. I love your body and your shape."

His lips trailed her lower stomach and she gasped sharply when he got to the center. He glanced up at her. "What?"

"Nothing," she shook her head. Her face was a deep pink. "Just, your face there. Like, really close to… between my legs."

Neville blushed and moved up higher. "S-sorry!"

"No," she shook her head. "I… I liked it. I liked seeing that. It was just scary for a minute, to see that."

He kissed just above her belly button as his mind spun. She had liked viewing him between her legs. Merlin, he couldn't take it anymore, he wanted to snog her harder than ever before. He wanted her begging for him. His voice was commanding and full of lust. "Sit up."

Lenore adjusted raised herself and he exhaled as he stared at her. Lenore grinned as electricity jolted through his stomach. She opened her arms wide. "Snog me senseless."

Neville grinned and held her tight against his body. His lips met hers, and boy, was he snogging her senseless. He had mastered french-kissing a long time ago and he was putting it to use tonight. Lenore wrapped her perfect legs around his waist, which made him falter for just a split second before he kissed her harder. His hands ran up and down her back, holding her steady and feeling her naked warmth. As Lenore began fading into his blissful kisses, he ran his forearms up her back and cupped the back of her head in his hands. Slowly, he laid her down on the desk, not breaking their lip movement. She was cradled in his arms, completely surrounded by him on all sides. She moaned quietly on his lips and his heart exploded. Her nakedness surrounded him like an aura, pounding a reminder into his brain that she was here, with him, and this was real. Her legs tightened and he groaned as she buried her hips into his. This was the closest he had ever been to her. She was half naked, her legs wide open, his center pressed against hers. He smiled on her lips, until she pressed herself firmly into the front of his trousers, right along the length of him, and he gasped as his brain went faint.

"Your legs," he moaned. "Oh fffuck."

Lenore giggled, but he could barely hear her. He was focused on the tingling sensations below his belt that made his brain go fuzzy. She picked up his slack and kissed him, then whispered, "Calm down and keep kissing me."

Neville obeyed and returned his lips to hers. His fingers massaged her scalp, then he decided to try something he had heard girls liked. Of course, he heard this from Seamus, so it could be totally wrong, but he still decided to try. He clutched a patch of her hair between his fingers and palm, then tightened his grip and pulled her hair just enough for her to feel it. She gasped and his stomach twisted.

"Good or bad?" he murmured.

"Good," she said as she kissed him harder.

He had to stop himself from smiling. So, Seamus was right. It was a miracle. But he couldn't focus on that right now. Her tongue was driving him hysterical, dancing with his tongue until his brain couldn't take it anymore. This was like sex. Sex with tongues, it was so intimate. The thought made him furrow his brow. That was so weird. Of course it wasn't like sex. But still… it made his stomach tingle until he couldn't take it anymore. He leaned back and caught his breath as he trailed down her neck and finally to her breasts. He kissed the tops of her rounded breasts and she gasped and clutched the back of his head.

"It's a push up bra," she explained. "Just so you know. They're not this big."

"I don't care," he murmured as he sunk his face between her breasts and kissed her clavicle. "You're so bloody fit."

He moaned against her skin, her warm breasts surrounding his cheeks, and she gasped. She groaned and arched her back as he kissed her skin, but she seemed to be falling off the desk. He could feel her slipping toward him, so he pushed her forward on the desk. The only problem was, he pushed her with his groin. He pressed hismself hard against her center and she gasped with pleasure as it hit him what he just did. He couldn't stop himself from groaning. She felt too good, too perfect for him to be able to ignore, but he soon caught himself.

"Sorry!" he whimpered. "Sorry! I-I didn't mean—"

"Shh," she hushed him and attacked his lips.

She didn't make it a big deal, but his nerves overflowed. He had just been way too rough with her, way too intimate. Between kisses, he whispered another apology.

"Nev," she moaned as she ground into him again, much lighter than he had her. Still, he gasped and his brain spun. "You're fine."

He took a pause to bring himself back to levelheadedness, then returned to her chest and collar. Lenore seemed to relax underneath him, calmed down from their previous motions. "I know you thought I was falling," she said.

He tried to catch his breath. "How did you know?"

"I know you," she said as her hands rubbed his scalp.

Neville smiled against her skin, feeling the relief wash over him. "Thanks."

"It felt good, though," she teased.

Neville's kissing break lasted longer than he intended. He thought out his options, but decided to go with his gut. He pulled her hair gently and as she gasped, he dug his center into hers, abet much lighter than before. Lenore reacted immediately, although not in the way he had hoped. She gasped a second time, then laughed wildly. "Neville!"

His eyebrows furrowed in worry as he stammered, "N-no to that?"

But she continued laughing and hugged his head tight against her chest. "Just how you did it! It was actually really smooth."

Neville felt himself relax, just a little. "R-really?"

"Yeah," she grinned. "It made me nervous."

He laughed, his insides soaring. She had liked it. "Sorry."

She giggled and rolled her hips up into his. He gasped and choked back a moan. Another small giggle from her as she whispered, "You're turned on, aren't you?"

That's when he realized, he was hard enough for her to feel. He cheeks burned as she tilted his face up to meet her eye. "O-okay, d-don't tease," he smiled faintly.

"Tease you with my words?" she asked. Her hips rolled into him again and he gasped and shut his eyes tight. He could feel her perfectly on him, only his zipper between them. "Or tease you like this?"

He had to be suave about this. She had set him up so perfectly. He moved up to her lips and murmured, "Words. You can tease me like that all you want."

Lenore squeezed her legs to force him to grind against her, which made him moan. Fucking hell, he loved the pressure she was putting on him. It was one of the best things he had ever felt. She slowly began to grind on him, teasing him and adjusting her hips until she found the best angle for herself. When she found it, she gasped loudly and clutched his hair.

"There?" he managed to grunt.

She nodded desperately. "Yes."

They were going slow and deep, each moving in rhythm with each other as their lips adjusted to their pace. Every so often she would release a noise he had no idea how to describe. It was almost like a purr, or maybe a whimper. Whatever it was, it was music to his ears and he lost himself in her noises. She was getting really into this, maybe even more than any other snog they had before. His entire body covered her and she seemed to realize it at once, because she moaned his name, incredibly loud, which made his heart race.

"Nev," she gasped. "In your dream, what were we doing?"

He gulped and leaned away from her lips, but kept up his thrusts.. "B-basically this, b-but faster a-and… you know… naked."

"Well I'm half-naked and you can pick up the speed."

He gasped as she arched her back into him. Neville pressed his hips into her, then again, and again, as she returned his thrusts. They fell into a rhythm fairly quickly, him giving, her gladly receiving. He was really impressed with how he was handling himself. He couldn't stop now, he couldn't disappoint her. He decided to try and ignore his own pleasure and focus on her. It was the only way he would be able to keep this up. He controlled his noises, releasing just enough sounds to let her know he was having an amazing time, but not as much as he could be. In his brain, he was yelling, begging, telling her how bloody good she felt against his body, his lips, his center. But he ignored all that, and focused his attention on her.

"Pull my hair," she requested.

Neville obeyed and grasped her hair at the same time his center collided with hers. Lenore moaned, then smiled and kissed him harder. Each time he thrust against her, a jolt of energy flew up his torso and filled him with euphoria. Lenore was clearly losing herself in the movement, focused only on feeling him against every part her body. He pressed hard against her and she couldn't stop herself from moaning, quite loudly.

"Len," he groaned.

"How are you doing?" she asked.

"Good," he exhaled. "Really good."

"Okay," she whispered. "Slow down a little."

His hips slowed their movement and she relaxed. "That's better," she smiled. "Innocent grinding."

Neville laughed against her lips and she giggled with him. "I didn't want to get too worked up," she said.

"I understand completely," he whispered.

Lenore rubbed herself on his trousers. "You feel pretty worked up."

He groaned. "Y-yeah, but it's under control."

"You're lucky you wear tight jeans," she giggled.

He laughed and gathered his thoughts. He really wanted to pull away and look into her eyes, but he didn't know if he could handle that. He had to separate her from her snogging or he would be driven over the edge. He forced himself to hold a normal conversation. "By the way, I threw out those jeans you were mocking me for at the Newlywed Game."

She gasped. "Did you really?"

"Yeah," he grinned. "You peer pressured me."

"And it worked. I'll remember that."

Neville laughed against her lips, but it quickly devolved into a sharp inhalation when she arched her back and tightened her legs. "Merlin, Len," he exhaled. He placed his cheek on hers for just a second as he caught his breath.

"Don't kiss me," she whispered. "Just grind."

He laid his head in the crook of her neck as he pressed himself against her. "G-god," his voice broke, "you feel so good."

"You, too. Slow down, you're jack-rabbiting me again."

"Sorry."

"You're good."

She gasped as he slowed his circles, which made him release the tiniest sound of pleasure near her ear. He pecked her bare shoulders and shut his eyes tight. Merlin, the things he felt right now. He could rip off her clothes and fuck her senseless if they were at that stage. His stomach churned at the thought. They were nowhere near that time, but one day, maybe…

"Fuck," he exhaled so quietly she almost could not hear him.

"What?"

"This is amazing."

"I know you like grinding," she grinned.

"I do," he moaned. "But this… this is the best thing we've ever done. I-it doesn't… bother you to… feel me?"

"What?"

"Y-you know," he stammered. "T-the first time y-you felt… it… you were… I don't know… surprised? Uncomfortable? It's not… like that anymore?"

She giggled at his nerves. "Nah. It's not a big deal."

"O-okay," he whispered.

"Besides," she smiled. "I really like it."

He grunted near her ear, which made her laugh. Fucking hell, she liked it. She liked his cock and she liked it pressed against her. "Really?"

She clutched her hair and her back arched yet against from pleasure. "Yeah! You feel really nice. I mean… not only do you do nice things with it, but it just feels really… nice. I like knowing that I can turn you on."

His brain went faint. "You can. Ohhh fuck, Lenore, you can."

She yanked him tighter against her by gripping his hips with her inner thighs. She returned his thrusts, much harder and quicker than before and his brain went faint.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."

"Nev," she gasped. He knew she wanted to tease him, to feel him driven senseless. He pressed his face hard into the crook of her neck and gripped her hair between his fingers, just anything to distract himself from the pressure below his belt. He knew if his jeans weren't so tight, he would be fully up in the air. His face was planted firmly against her shoulder, his fingers clutched her hair, and he could not stop exhaling small groans.

"Neville," she whimpered. He knew she liked allowing him to feel like he was in control, like he was the dominant one, even though he clearly was not. She was controlling him, playing him, by pretending to be a docile little lamb and it made her feel incredible, but he didn't mind one bit. He had her figured out. Snogging was the one time in his life that he could truly feel powerful, like he was doing something for someone other than himself and he saw the immediate rewards.

"Mmm," she whimpered. "Nev, don't stop yet."

"I won't."

He was fading in and out of waves of bliss, but he could do this. He could control himself. Merlin, though, when this was over… He would practically sprint to his room to take care of himself. He needed to make sure she felt the same way, so he could leave her the way she would leave him.

"H-how's it feel to you?" he asked.

"Really good," she gasped, as she clutched the back of his head with her forearms. "You're great."

He smiled. "O-okay. J-just making sure. You're sure?"

"Why would it not?"

"I-I… I'm making sure you're getting something out of it. N-not just all for me."

"Neville!" she assured him. "You're the greatest. You're making me feel so good. Every single time you thrust, I feel these tingles go up my stomach. You're making my eyes flutter, too. I can hardly keep them from blurring and rolling around."

He opened his eyes and stared at the desk next to her shoulder. "I'm doing that?"

"Yeah!"

He kissed her shoulder and was clearly grinning.

"I wouldn't just do this for you," she murmured. "I want something out of it, too."

"You deserve as much as I can give you," he groaned. "More than I can give you."

Lenore gasped and clutched his hair. "Give me as much as you can."

Neville pressed harder into her and her back spasmed. He was going faster, harder, deeper against her and she could not stop herself from moaning louder than she had ever heard herself.

"Fuck," she cried. "Oh fuck, Neville!"

His stomach flipped at the sound of her voice. Neville was determined. It was not about his pleasure anymore, he was not worried about that. His focus amplified while he tried to keep his pattern steady. He held her tight and tried to read her thoughts. He knew she wasn't faking. She couldn't be. She had to really be enjoying this, because she gasped over and over. Her hands moved to his back and she dug her nails into his jumper.

"Nev," she murmured over and over again. "God, you're powerful."

Neville was hanging on by a thread. "'P-powerful?'"

She whimpered. "Dominate me."

"Fuck, Len," he blurted out in shock. "Okay."

He moved his lips back to hers, but she cupped his jaw and moved his head up. She stared into his eyes and his mouth dropped open. He knew it, he knew this is how he would go. He needed to stop. He needed to stop now. But he couldn't. He couldn't do stop himself from thrusting against her, feeling the friction as she jumped along with him.

"Just look at me," she whispered. "Watch me enjoy you."

Lenore kept her eyes steady on his, which were full of awe and shock, until finally she could not stop her eyes from fluttering closed. "Nev, are you watching?"

"I'm watching," he breathed, his brain spinning.

"Remember me," she giggled, "for when you have another sex dream."

Neville's mood plummeted. She was joking. She wasn't really into this. She forced her eyes to open and saw Neville's red face, which made her laugh. He kissed her to make her stop and to hide his embarrassment. She had been teasing him, but it sure felt real to him.

"Here I thought you were actually turned on," he muttered as he slowed his thrusts.

Lenore paused. "What?"

"You're just kidding."

She pushed his face away from hers and looked him in the eye. "What!? I'm not kidding! What the fuck are you on about?"

Neville flushed red again. He was so upset he could feel himself shaking. "I-I actually thought y-you were… into this."

"I am!" she said. "What?"

"Y-you're laughing."

"Because I'm happy!"

Neville blinked and searched her eyes. Wait. Maybe she was telling the truth. She did laugh when she was happy. "Y-you… you were turned on?"

"Yes! A lot!"

He exhaled his breath and realized she was telling the truth. His mood leveled out once again. "Oh. Sorry!"

She lightly punched his back. "You arse, you thought I was lying to you?"

"I-I mean… I-I thought y-you were teasing."

"No! Neville, I was completely serious up until I talked about the sex dream!"

"C-completely?"

"One hundred percent. I was loving it!"

"Y-you're sure?"

"Arse, you have to trust me!" she argued. "I'm not going to lie to you. If I'm not enjoying something I'll let you know. And while we're on the subject, I'm just telling you right now that I'm never going to fake an orgasm."

His face drained of color. "W-what?"

"I'm not going to fake an orgasm," she said. "You're going to fucking do it right or I'm going to tell you to quit."

Neville's mouth hung open, then he managed to say. "O-okay. Y-yeah, don't fake. I-I want to do it right."

"Okay," she said. "Now that's out of the way… It's all related. I'm not going to pretend around you. So quit acting like I'm faking noises or reactions. I get just as much pleasure out of this as you do. You're pissing me off right now."

"I'm sorry!" he said. This was all happening so fast. He knew she was angry because she was sexually frustrated, but it still felt like real anger toward him. "R-really, Len, I-I'm so sorry. I-I trust you. I-I know you wouldn't do that. I-I'm not doubting you, I-I'm doubting… me."

"What do you have to do with it?"

"I-I'm doubting…" His eyes flickered across her face and words began spilling out of his mouth as fast as he could produce them. "I'm doubting my own abilities. To make you feel good. It had nothing to do with you. I'm so sorry. I-it's just a confidence thing. I-I don't… I'm not… I've never done this before, Len, any of it. Y-you have to understand that I'm not… I don't know how things work for girls. I-I'm still trying to learn your body. I-it's not as easy as with me. Y-you just grind on me and I'm good. Y-you like your neck kissed o-or your nipples massaged o-or pressure on your… down there. Y-you just have so many different spots that mean different things a-and have different responses. I-I want to learn them all. I-I'm trying. I'm honestly trying. A-and I'm sorry if I get nervous. You know I'm an anxious person. T-that's not going to change. Y-you're just going to have to be patient with me."

Lenore did not take her eyes off him the entire time and the moment he shut his mouth, she attacked his lips. He gasped from shock, but he returned her movement. She swirled her tongue around his mouth, then pulled back slightly to mutter, "I'm so sorry, Neville. You're right. I need to be more patient. You're such a great guy. Please don't be upset with me."

He kissed her roughly. "I'm not upset," he breathed. "Thanks for understanding."

As she devoured his lips, she whispered, "Really. I feel like a bitch."

"No," he murmured. "Not at all. Never. I misread the situation. I know you like to joke. I-I just didn't think you'd still be able to joke while… while turned on that much."

"I can joke anytime," she giggled. "You better get ready, because I can tease you no matter what body part is where."

He flushed red and nodded.

"But if it makes you uncomfortable, just tell me after I say it and I'll learn what you like and don't like."

"I like it all," he said. "I love it. You're so funny, Len. I-I just didn't expect you to be funny right then and there. It really was funny looking back. It just shocked me."

"Sorry," she whispered.

"No," he said between kisses, "absolutely do not apologize. I'm the one in the wrong. I'm sorry I stopped. I-I can tell y-you're frustrated."

Lenore giggled. "In more than one way."

His face drained of color as she thrust into him one final time. "And you are, too."

He smiled weakly and she kissed him.

"You know," he said hesitantly. "It's a damn good thing we stopped though."

"Why?"

"I was about ten seconds away from… you know."

She pulled back to look at him and he felt a blush crawl up his cheek. "Were you really?"

He exhaled and laid his head on her chest. "I was about to burst, you have no idea."

"Neville!" she giggled. "No way! Is that the closest you've ever been?"

"Yes. By far. Len, I-I couldn't have stopped myself. I was just going to keep going and pray for the best."

"And cum on me?"

He gasped at the thought, which made her laugh.

"Shhh," she giggled. "That's why we're doing this. To build up your stamina."

"I'm getting better," he grinned.

"You are!" She squeezed his biceps. "Nev, you're getting so good. You're going to be a natural."

"Y-you think so?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "You still haven't cum in your pants?"

He shook his head. "Don't jinx it."

Lenore laughed. "Alright. Eeee, Neville, this is so exciting. I love having someone to do this with. Someone to explore with."

He smiled and she ran her hands through his bangs. She weaved her hands through his hair and grinned at him so beautifully as the pair forced themselves to calm down. He held her lower back and she reached under his shirt and gripped his bare skin. He paused and looked down at her naked torso. He had to give her the same experience. Neville let go of her and began buttoning his jumper.

"Are you hot?" she asked.

He was quiet as he flung the jumper onto the desk. Then, his fingers gripped the button at the top of his collar. Lenore gasped as he undid the first two buttons. "Are you taking off your shirt?"

He nodded silently. "I-I figured I owed it to you."

"Neville!" she beamed. "Aww, thank you."

"And nothing will get me softer than the idea of being naked in front of you."

She squealed with laughter and placed her hands over his. "Can I?"

He moved his hands and let her undo the last three buttons on his shirt. She ran her hands up his chest and slid his shirt off his shoulders, then squealed again, but he was a bundle of nerves. She yanked his head down to kiss her, then she giggled. "Neville! You're so cute!"

He glanced down at his own torso. It was not nearly as pretty as Lenore's. His pale, flabby skin was nothing compared her glowing body. He gulped and furrowed his brow. "I-I guess, th-thank you."

She kissed him again, playfully, which made him feel just a tiny bit less nervous. She ran her hands across his torso, touching every nook and cranny of his body. Her hands trailed his round tummy, his lovehandles, his weird patches of hair, she even touched his slight manboobs. None of it felt as good as it should have and he knew it. On the surface, he wanted her to touch him and see him everywhere. But… he just did not have a good body, or he thought he didn't. It made him nervous that this beautiful girl was looking at… at essentially a mattress.

She pulled away and smiled, her eyes never leaving his. "Nev, you're so fit."

He blinked and his lips parted. "F-fit?"

"Yes! Oh my god, come here, put your bare skin on mine! Lay me down."

Neville held her that same way as before, his hands behind her head. He laid her down and covered her body with his. He was hesitant to allow himself to lay down on her. He just felt so… big. Lenore's hands stroked his back and she whispered, "Stop being a tease."

He gulped and pressed his naked skin to hers. She gasped at once and so did he, eventually leading him into a short moan.

"Bloody hell!" she laughed. "You feel really good."

"Y-you, too, Merlin," he exhaled.

She smiled and kissed his jaw as he soaked in the feeling of her. "Nev." She moved to his ear. "Thank you."

"F-for what?"

"For exposing yourself like this," she murmured. She kissed his ear lobe and his stomach tingled. "Really. I know you're nervous. I was nervous, too. But you're so attractive. Merlin, you're fit."

He was quiet a moment, before he whispered, "I-I don't feel fit."

She kissed his lips, then returned to his ear. "You're the most attractive man on this planet. Trust me. I wouldn't pick any other man's body over yours. Not a single one. You are my type. I can't believe you have chest hair."

He blinked. "O-oh, yeah. S-sorry, I can shave it off if—"

"No!" she gasped. "Oh my god, Neville, no! I bloody love it!"

"Y-you like it? I-it's… patchy."

She ran her hands up his chest. "It'll grow in. You're only sixteen. Neville, I bloody love chest hair. Yours is great. It's thick, dark… god, I love it. And I love your body. You're so bloody fit. God, kiss me."

He blinked from shock and kissed her. She really did seem to like his body, no matter how completely average, or even below-average, he was. She moved her tongue against his, obviously enamored with their naked closeness. He tried to let his mind relax as he fell into her movements. He forgot about his pouch and tried to focus on feeling her skin directly on his. Merlin, she felt so warm and cozy. She pressed her ribs up into him, making him gasp. She giggled and wrapped her arms tighter around him, their bare skin surrounding each other on every side.

Neville was right, his erection had gone down after being so nervous. He was definitely turned on, but not hard. His brain just couldn't focus with so much to think about. He still worried, even though at this point he knew he shouldn't be. Lenore liked his body. She was telling the truth. He knew she would never lie to him, but she was clearly stroking his ego with all the compliments.

Finally, she shrugged him away from her, kissed his jaw once, then he leaned back. She smiled up at him and his heart beat against his chest. Her giggles cradled his ears and he helped her sit up. Her hands returned to his chest and he finally grinned.

"Look at you!" she beamed. "You're so cute."

She hugged him and jammed her face against his chest, which surprised him. He gasped and she rested her cheek against his skin. "You feel so good," she said. She nuzzled her face in closer and Neville wrapped his arms around her head. She laid a single kiss on the middle of his ribs, then fell silent as she absorbed his warmth. "One day, we're just going to have to cuddle," she whispered. "Shirts off, maybe even trousers off, just in our underpants and bra. To get used to each other."

"O-okay," he gulped. "Merlin."

She giggled. "It's just a body."

"You weren't saying that when you were the first one exposed," he laughed.

"No," she smiled. "But I'm less nervous when you're naked with me. We're equals, instead of you ogling me."

"I was not ogling you!"

"Mmm, you didn't even notice my head stuck in a shirt."

"S-sorry about that."

Lenore grinned and held him tight. Neville had never seen her this flirty in his life. She had spent the evening touching and kissing him, then at night she had snogged him until he was on the edge. He rested his cheek on her hair and held her steady against his body. He loved this girl, so much that it made his heart hurt.

"Do you have a watch?"

He was snapped out of his daze. "Yeah, hang on."

He let of of her head and reached into his trousers, then snapped his pocket watch open. "It's 9:42."

"Do we want to miss curfew or no?"

"Whatever you want," he said.

"No, what do you want?"

"I… I wish we were in bed," he whispered. "Because I just want to cuddle with you."

She grinned. "Me, too. I mean, we could cuddle here if you get up on the desk."

"It's okay," he said. "I don't want us to get in trouble."

"Nev," she said as she buried her face in his chest, "tell me what you want. Be selfish, tell me if you want to stay here or leave."

He kissed the top of her head. "I want to stay here for a few more minutes."

Her lips trailed his chest. "Alright. Thank you."

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Absolutely nothing."

"Want to come over and we'll just lay in bed?"

"Sure," she grinned.

She reached a hand up and dragged his head down to her lips. She kissed him several times, softly, sweetly, then pulled back. "Alright," she said, "let me see your back."

"What?"

She pushed him slightly backwards and hopped off the desk. Neville panicked. "My back is worse than my front."

"Nev, it's not," she smiled as he dodged her. She placed her hands on his back. "It feels so nice. You feel strong and sturdy."

After a sigh, he relented and turned around.

"Thank you!" she beamed. Her hands flew to his back and her fingers slid over every area of his skin. "Aww," she said as she placed a kiss on his shoulder blade, "you do have a nice back!"

"Thanks," he whispered, slightly comforted by her compliment.

"Do you exfoliate?"

He shook his head. "No."

"You should," she said. "I do. I'll give you a pair of exfoliating gloves."

"W-what's wrong with me now?"

"Absolutely nothing," she said before kissing his spine. "You just have dry skin and I think it would make you more comfortable. It looks like you itch right here a lot."

She placed her pointer finger on the middle of his upper back and he nodded. "I-I do."

"Dry skin," she said. "Exfoliate and put lotion on it. I put lotion everywhere at least once a day." She kissed his upper arm. "I'll even rub it on your back tomorrow if you want."

"Alright," he smiled. "Thanks. So that's how your skin looks so pretty."

She grinned. "Does it?"

He nodded. "You're glowing."

"Aww," she said as she hugged him from behind. "You're sweet."

He held on to her hands, which rested on his stomach. "Alright, Len, ready to go?"

She kissed his back once. "Yeah."

She slipped her shirt over her head and Neville did the same. Lenore urged him to hurry, so he was pretty sure he missed a button hole. Oh well, it was fine. He was too hot to put his jumper on, so he carried it with him as he walked Lenore back to Slytherin and gave her a sweet goodnight kiss.

"Goodnight," he murmured.

"Goodnight, Neville," she whispered. "You're the best."

He felt his face warm as he hugged her against his shirt.

.

Lenore's POV

When Lenore returned to her dormitory, it was completely empty. However, within about five minutes, Odette entered, grinning a stupid little smirk and looking gleefully rumpled.

"Odette!" Lenore gasped. "How was your snog?"

After throwing her purse and jumper onto her mattress, Odette clutched her hands to her heart. "Lenore, he's so sweet! The whole date was so nice. I've never had a bloke treat me like that before."

Lenore pouted and took a seat on her bed. "Oh my god! You liked him?"

"He's great," she smiled as she sat on Lenore's duvet with her. "And he's a really good kisser."

"No!" Lenore gasped. "Is he?"

"Really good."

Lenore gasped again. "What did you do with him?"

Odette grinned playfully. "That's none of your business."

"Odette!" Lenore grabbed her friend's arm and shook it.

"We just snogged." She laid back on Lenore's bed and squealed with excitement. "And I let him touch my breasts."

"No! Naked?"

"Bra off, under the shirt."

"Aww. That's pretty tame for you."

She grinned. "I didn't want to give the wrong impression. Plus, I don't think he's as experienced as me."

"He's not," Lenore shook her head. "Seamus told me the other day that Terry's never even touched naked breasts."

"Yeah, he… ha, he told me."

"He told you? He didn't pretend to be all suave?"

"No," she smiled. "It was kind of cute. He's a really good conversationalist, but sometimes he gets flustered."

"Aww," Lenore pouted again. "Was he flustered when he touched you?"

"No! Not at all, that's what surprised me. As soon as I unhooked my bra, he went right at it. And he was super good, too."

"Oh wow," she sighed. "Neville was as nervous as can be. I had to give him a pep talk."

"To touch your tits?"

Lenore laughed. "Yeah."

Odette giggled. "You two are cute. Len, watching you two made me want to snog Terry even more, if that makes sense."

"Me too! Watching you and Terry was so cute. Aww, I hope you two hit it off."

"Me, too," she smiled. "So tell me about snogging Neville."

"Well… We dry humped until he nearly came in his pants."

"No!" she gasped. "Ooo, Len! He was into it?"

"He was so into it!"

"I think you sitting in his lap and touching his trousers helped."

"I think so, too," she smiled. "I hadn't like, hardcore snogged him in a while either. We both took off our shirts."

"No way! How was that?"

"He's really fit. Like, obviously not in the traditional way, but—"

"I like thicker guys, too, don't worry," she smiled. "Even though Neville's thinner than Terry."

Lenore grinned. "He's so attractive. I don't think he believes me when I tell him he is. But I could curl up and lay on his chest forever."

"Lenore!" she squealed. "Oh my god, look at you being a gushy romantic!"

She blushed. "Okay, whatever. He's just cute, alright?"

"He was close to cumming in his pants? He told you this? Or you could tell?"

"He straight-up told me," Lenore said. "But I could tell. We were going at it and I made him pull away to look me in the eyes and that's when I knew he was gone."

"You expected him to finish?"

Lenore nodded. "I honestly thought he would. But that's fine with me, I don't care if he does."

Odette crinkled her nose. "It's kind of strange sometimes. You know, when I was with Roger Malone the first time, I barely got my hand around it and he came."

Lenore's eyes widened as she squeaked, "How?"

"He… he was really into it," Odette giggled. "And I mean, I wasn't upset. Sometimes they can't help it. But I did it again a different day and I know he wasn't as worked up as the first time, but literally, Lenore, one pump." She mimicked the wanking motion. "One of these and he was done. That doesn't happen. That's not normal."

"What did you say to him after it happened?"

"He was so embarrassed. So, so embarrassed. I actually felt bad for the guy. He wouldn't let me touch him a third time. I offered. I was trying to be nice. He got me off the second time and he's a nice guy, but I think he was just so humiliated. He hasn't talked to me since."

Lenore frowned. "Aw. That's actually really sad."

"I know," Odette sighed. "I wish I could've convinced him that it was okay. Honestly, truly, when you're just doing hands and mouth, the amount of time doesn't matter. I never wanted to have sex with him, so I wasn't worried about time. But he was embarrassed. We were dating, too, it wasn't just a hook-up. I'm not sure if he's seen anyone since me."

"Aww. He got you off?"

Odette nodded. "Yeah. He was actually pretty good at it. Not like, the absolute best I could ever have, but he got the job done"

"Who was the worst?"

"Wayne."

Lenore nearly shrieked, "I thought you said you didn't do anything to him!"

"Well…" Odette blushed. "I didn't want everyone knowing I did something with him."

"Odette!" Lenore sighed. "Wayne?"

Odette bit her lip and giggled. "He was so bad at it. Like, I don't know what his problem was. I told him exactly what to do and he kept trying all these intricate things on me. It made me so mad, I didn't do anything to him. But I did see his willy if you want to hear about it."

"Oh my god, of course."

"Not good," she giggled. "I mean, it was fine. They all kind of look 'fine.' But his just wasn't proportionate to his body. If you looked at it alone, it was…I don't know, a little below average but that's not a problem. If you looked at it with his body, it looked so tiny. That is the problem with thicker guys sometimes."

"Was he the worst?"

"Nah, I have yet to see an awful one," Odette said. "I've only seen four. Hopefully five."

Lenore squealed. "Terry?"

"Yeah," she grinned. "I really, really want to see his, it felt nice through his trousers."

"No! You felt it?"

She nodded and giggled. "I sat on his lap."

"How did it feel?"

"Just like, a nice, normal size," she said. "Sturdy. Not like, enormous or anything, but I could clearly feel it. Have you felt Neville?"

Lenore blushed. "Yeah."

Odette grabbed her arm. "How does he feel?"

"Really nice," Lenore grinned. "Basically exactly what you said. Just nice, normal. It gets really, really strong. Like… okay, I wasn't trying to push it down, but I kind of was. Not to hurt him, and it didn't hurt him, but just enough to see if it would move down. It wouldn't budge. Well, it'd flop up of course, but not down."

"Oooo," Odette smiled. "He was turned on. Do you want to see him?"

Lenore nodded. "I'll tell you what I really want to do, once he's comfortable. I want him to sit in a chair, I'll sit on his lap and grind for a while, then I'd unzip his trousers, reach into his pants, and wank him off."

"Yes, Lenore! Oh my god, that's one of my favorite ways to do it. Because you can still kiss him."

"What's another favorite way?"

"I once did it to a guy from behind. He leaned against the wall, I got behind him, and started wanking him off."

"No! Have you ever used mouth?"

Odette shook her head. "No. I use hands and I only let them use hands. One guy literally begged me to use my mouth. He was at his wits end but he just couldn't get over the edge. I told him no, absolutely not, and he eventually finished. It just took some angle adjustments."

"Was he used to mouth?"

"No!" she said. "He'd never had mouth before. It pissed me off, I only did him once."

Lenore giggled. "Good for you."

"I'd use mouth on Terry though," she sighed.

"Would you?"

Odette grinned and squeezed Lenore's arm. "Len, I think I really like him."

"Do you?" she exclaimed.

She nodded. "I never expected I would. He's just so nice and charming. He's seriously the best guy I've ever gone on a date with."

"Did you tell him?"

"No," she shook her head. "I tried to play it cool. But we're going on a second date."

Lenore squealed. "I already love you two."

"He's attractive, too," she sighed. "Like, I know Pansy and everyone thinks he's ugly, but he's not. He's got a cute face and I like his body."

"Terry is obviously muscular," Lenore said. "I feel like Pansy doesn't understand that. He's… beefy."

Odette giggled. "It really is just muscle with a layer of fat. Like a rugby player."

"Yes!" Lenore said. "Like, maybe he couldn't run far or fast, but he sure could pick you up."

"He did pick me up!" she gasped.

"No!"

"Oh my god, I almost cried. We were walking through the hallway, just talking, then we slipped into a utility cupboard. We started kissing, and fuck, is he good. I wrapped one of my legs around him and he put his hands under my arse and said, 'Want me to pick you up?' And I died!" Odette squealed as Lenore hung on to her every word. "He pressed me between the wall and him, then I told him to sit down and I sat in his lap!"

"Odette!" she gasped. "Oh my god. Was he rough or gentle? Do you think he's more dominant?"

"I don't know," she sighed dreamily. "He was rough, but also really delicate. Like, he'd ask before doing risky things, or he'd wait for me to initiate. I think he's a rough sub."

"Oh my goddd!"

"Literally, the best snog of my life," she grinned. "I've never had a guy pick me up! I'm kind of thick myself, so they've always hesitated. But not Terry."

"Awww, Odette!" Lenore beamed. "I hope he really likes you!"

"I honestly think he does," she grinned. "A little before we finished snogging, he leaned back and said, 'Wait. Umm…' Then he hesitated for a long time. He told me he didn't know how far this was going to go and he just wanted to let me know that he hasn't done much with girls and then he apologized for assuming I did those things and then he asked if we could go slow."

Lenore gasped. "What did you say?"

"I told him I understand completely and that of course I'll go slow. Then we kept kissing, a little less urgently, and then he walked me back here and dropped me off at the door!"

"Odette!" Lenore squealed yet again.

"We're going out next Thursday after dinner."

"Stop! Oh my god. Oh my god. Terry Boot and Odette Trujillo. This can not be happening. I love it."

"You made it happen!"

Lenore shook her shoulders with excitement. "Today's been a really good day, you know that?"

Odette's eyes twinkled as she said, "You don't have to tell me."