"What on earth?" A voice announced from the doorway. Neville looked up before looking back to Pansy. She smirked as she tried to cover her self more with the towel. He pulled her behind him as he turned back to the door.
"Erm, Hi," Neville said awkwardly as he smiled at Terry.
"Nev?" Terry questioned as he slowly stepped in, the surprise and confusion screwing up his features. "What's with- What?" he asked, seemingly unable to get his questions out.
"Someone tampered with my shampoo." He replied honestly. Pansy had told him not to elaborate on anything else unless he had to. The idea was to start the rumour mill in his favour.
"Shampoo, then why-?" Terry's dark eyes widened in understanding as he peered around Neville to look at Pansy.
"Terry, any chance you could give us a minute?" Neville cocked his head to where Pansy hid behind him.
"Oh, OH! Sorry, yeah, of course. Sorry." He stuttered as he backed out of the room and shut it behind him.
Pansy started to giggle as Neville sighed and turned around to her. Neville found it hard not to grin at her as she stood in her skirt and bralette, biting her lip as she gazed up at him. He groaned as and thanked the gods that he had relieved himself in the shower.
"You might want to get dressed, I'm not sure what will happen if anyone else comes in and sees you like this,"
"Ooh, I think I like this jealous, possessive Neville." She chuckled as she stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his, before turning to grab her jumper from his bed. "Now come on, I'm famished!" She pulled her jumper over her head and straightened her clothes and hair before approaching him again. "Now if they've all just come back from dinner we walk through and avoid eye contact, understand? We need to make it look like we've been caught red-handed." Neville nodded and held her hand as she turned the door handle and pulled him out into the next room.
Neville kept his eyes down at knee level as they passed through the dorm. There were a few more guys around now than there had been, Theo was back as had Roger and Wayne he could feel their eyes on them as they left through the portrait hole. Pansy looked at him and smiled tightly, and he replied with an answering smile.
He squeezed her hand affectionately as they began their descent towards the common room. Pansy stopped and grinned.
"You go first, I think Stephen and Hannah are down there, I can hear him laughing. I have another idea."
Neville frowned, but she squeezed his hand before letting him go. "Trust me,"
He nodded as he slowly descended. Now that she mentioned it, he could hear Stephen Cornfoots laugh too.
He stepped off the bottom step and waited for Pansy to follow, his eyes looking away from where Stephen's voice had come from. He prayed that they didn't notice him as he waited but knew the moment he'd been spotted.
"Hey Shortcock, Love the hair!" Stephen shouted as others in the common room turned.
"He's like a unicorn without the horn." Oliver Rivers piped in. He heard Hannah giggle, and he turned around to look at them.
"New clothes? What happened to your old ones?" Hannah asked before they erupted with laughter. "You really ought to be more careful with your things!" Neville hated seeing the twisted grin on her face. She looked so cruel. He opened his mouth to say something when Pansy descended.
"Hey, Longbottom! I should never have listened to you. When do you think this will wear off? My parents will go berserk if I return looking like this?"
Pansy was trying to do up her skirt as she stepped next to him, seemingly unaware of the three bullies. Neville glanced at the threesome and noticed that they watched in shock, not a smile between them.
"Nev? What happened to her hair?" Hannah asked acidly.
"Someone tampered with his shampoo. I assume they weren't betting on Neville sharing it, I'm just hoping it'll fade by Christmas!" Pansy said in innocent frustration.
"Nev?" Hannah asked as she half rose from her chair. "Why did she use your shampoo?"
"You expect us to believe Shortcock here got you to join him in the shower?" Stephan asked, ignoring Hannah's worried tone. Pansy shrugged nonchalantly.
"Believe what you want, Cornfoot. A true lady doesn't kiss and tell!" she smirked as Neville stood nervously glancing between the three bullies and Pansy. She placed a hand on his neck, drawing his eye.
"Are you ready?" She asked. Neville swallowed and nodded his eyes still on hers. She tiptoed and kissed him softly placing her hand to his face. The feel of her lips on his threw him mentally off-balance. He ran his hand around her waist, pushing his thumb under the fabric of her jumper to brush her warm skin. Pulling her against him just enough that he knew he wanted more. She smiled against the kiss, and he pulled away.
She stepped back slightly and smiled warmly.
"Come on, Love," he muttered with a smile as he guided her gently away. She beamed at him and off they went without glancing back.
"Nev?" They heard Hannah call, but they ignored her as they pushed through the door leading down. As the door shut, they stopped and looked at each other.
"Did you see the look on their faces?" Pansy asked. "Did you hear Hannah?" Neville nodded, but his mind was already on her and her hot skin and cosmic purple hair. She looked as free and wild as he always thought she was. "I think Hannah was about to have kittens."
"Let's not talk about them any more. If this is supposed to be a date, let's do it properly." Neville smiled. Pansy grinned and nodded.
"No talking about exes on dates. Rule number one."
"There are rules?" Neville asked with a chuckle as she pulled him off balance.
"Of course, there are rules. Merlin Neville! Are you a pureblood or not?" She asked as she draped his arm around her shoulder.
"Gran never really followed the old ways." He said with a smile as he pulled her head towards him to kiss.
"You're lucky then. I remember growing up, I spent almost all day, every day, training how to be a good, pureblood wife. Table etiquette, how to hold a polite conversation, how to dress, you name it there was some ritual or reason. to it."
"Good to know."
"Don't count on it. I've spent most of my teenage years thus far, trying to forget it all."
He laughed at that, and she smiled.
"I wonder whether they house-elves still have leftovers? I hate the idea of getting them to cook again."
"Did you have house-elves at home?" She asked. He shook his head
"Gran didn't like them. She always said that they always looked too much like mice for her liking. And she was petrified of the things!"
"I'd love to meet your gran, she sounds funny. I dislike mice too," Neville shook her head.
"I'm not sure whether I would want you to meet." Pansy stopped causing Neville to stop. "What's wrong?"
"You wouldn't want me to meet your grandmother?" Pansy asked sharply. "And why is that?"
"Because I wouldn't know who I'd need to protect when the fight broke out." She smirked and tapped him on the shoulder before they continued to walk.
Before long they were at the portrait of the bowl of fruit. Neville reached out and tickled the pear causing the painting to swing open.
Delicious smells emanated from the entrance as Neville waited for Pansy to go through first. Neville thought he could smell beef and hoped there would be enough for a sandwich at least.
The room was warm, and despite dinner service being finished, there was still lots of activity. Small figures wandered between the miniature worktops and the ovens.
Pansy stilled as she looked at one of the nearest elves.
"Are you alright?" He asked as he placed a hand on the small of her back. She nodded with a grimace.
"I really wish you hadn't told me about them resembling mice. I've not liked rodents since Weasley's rat got into my school bag and bit me."
"Scabbers bit you?" Neville asked, surprised. Pansy nodded. "Well they're not rodents, and they won't bite." He pulled her to his side and smiled as she nodded nervously.
"You'll protect me?" She asked with a smirk.
"Of course, I will." He whispered before stepping passed her and kneeling down to the nearest elf.
"Hi Dooney," He smiled as he recognised the elf. He had to admit that if his gran had seen Dooney, she'd have fainted on the spot. The elf's long grey nose drooped forwards with small nostrils at the end. Her long pointed ears stuck up into the air as her large glassy eyes regarded him warmly.
"Master Neville, it is good to be seeing you. How can Dooney help?"
"We missed dinner and were wondering whether you had any leftovers we could eat?" He asked. The elf jumped with a squeak.
"Hungry students? No, that's not allowed. Dooney will feed you! Master and mistress will be seated." Her shrill voice squeaked.
"Are you sure? We wouldn't want to be bothersome." He replied, but Dooney had already started to push his off.
"Master and Mistress with sit here!" Neville pushed himself up in one swift motion until he was towering over the small elf again. She took his hand and pulled him towards one of the long tables and sat him down.
"Mistress may sit here." She offered without taking Pansy's hand. Nevill could see the look of relief on her face when the elf didn't try to touch her.
"Thank you." She said as she sat down, tucking her shirt underneath her. Neville watched as the firelight glinted and glittered off her hair. She turned and looked at him before blushing and looking away.
"I really do love your hair, I mean it was brilliant before, but now it's magical. And I love that you did it for me," He blushed as he looked away too. He didn't think anyone had done something so reckless for him before and knowing how her parents could react made it even more special.
"I love yours too, did I mention how much I love the colour purple?"
"You did." He smiled as he felt her foot stroke his shin under the table.
"So, what lessons do you have tomorrow?" She asked as she leant her chin on her hand, watching him.
"I just have Potions and Transfiguration with you. Otherwise, I'm free tomorrow."
"So you have a free period first thing?" She asked with a smile. He nodded
"I could always skip Alchemy, and we could do something together."
"We could, but you're not going to be able to cure dragon pox if you don't go to the lessons." He winked and smiled.
"Come on, That chance of me curing dragon pox is slim."
"It'll be even slimmer if you don't go. Come on, we'll have two lessons together, and we'll have lunch too."
"I can tell you spend too much time with Granger." She smirked as she rolled her eyes.
Neville was about to respond when drinks and food appeared on the table in front of them. His eyes bulged as his stomach growled.
Roast beef and Yorkshire puddings were scattered around the table with vegetables and potatoes. What looked like a tomato soup sat in a bowl with a ladle waiting to be used.
Closer to Pansy salad was piled high in a bowl as was a plate full of brightly coloured cooked vegetables. They looked at each other a smiled as goblets of liquid appeared.
"So, what's your favourite colour?" She asked with a smile as she picked up some of the vegetables and put them onto her plate.
"Green," He smirked before pushing some beef into his mouth. The gravy was the best.
"Well that's convenient" she smirked. "And what's your favourite book?"
He took a swig of his elderflower cordial and grinned as he placed the cup back down.
"War of the flowers, it's by a muggle writer, I think you would enjoy it. What about you?"
"This goes no further." She warned with a point as she looked around them conspiratorially "I don't have a favourite, but I adore Jane Austen. If my parents ever found out, they would burn my bookcase."
"Jane Austen? Why? Because she was a muggle?" She rolled her eyes and nodded before eating some more.
"Mother and Father are still very much of the mindset that Muggles are inferior and dangerous." She shook her head.
"At least I'm a pureblood," Neville smirked.
"You're a Longbottom, though. Longbottoms and Weasley's are blood traitors," she tilted her head as she thought for a moment. "I'm not actually sure what they would do if they found out about you."
"I never, for one moment thought I would be the boyfriend you were afraid to take home." He laughed at the thought, ignoring the twinge of unease niggling at the back of his mind.
"So, You're never meeting my parents, and I'll never meet your Gran, sounds fair."
Neville nodded, it did indeed sound fair. He wasn't sure what his Gran would make of the grey-eyed girl in front of him.
"So, favourite food and most hated?" Neville asked as he wiped up some gravy with some Yorkshire pudding and ushed it into his mouth.
"Favourite food, sweet or savoury?" She asked.
"Does it matter?"
"I am not picking just one type of food!" she warned as she pointed her fork at him.
He rolled his eyes and smirked.
"Alright, alright, favourite sweet and favourite savoury, and then least favourite."
"Ok, Savoury would be Ratatouille," She pointed at the food she was eating before she continued "and sweet would be cherries and dark chocolate. Least favourite would be anything with meat and peanut butter." She pulled a face.
"Meat?"
"I'm a vegetarian," she shrugged. He paused for a moment and looked at his own food.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"I'm alright with other people eating it, I just can't stomach it." She smiled. "What about you?"
He thought for a moment as he took another swig of his drink. He laughed and looked down at his plate.
"Probably what I'm eating now, or toad in the hole, anything with gravy." He laughed. She smiled and shook her head before putting her own glass to her lips. "Sweet would probably be carrot cake. I can't stand Liver and onions, and I'm not a big fan of banana flavoured things."
She nodded in agreement
"I'm not a big fan of banana either." They both smiled as they continued to eat.
Before long, they were both finished, and their plates were empty. The elves around them continued to scurry around them. Sometimes he caught her eyes following them around if they passed too close.
"Come on, if you're finished." He smiled as he offered his hand.
"Are you finished?" She asked as she wiped at her mouth with her napkin. He nodded and held out his hand to her, she smiled and took it.
"Have master and mistress eaten enough?" Asked Dooney as she stepped closer. Neville turned and smiled down to the little elf.
"Thank you, Dooney. It was wonderful, as usual."
"Thank you," Pansy said with a weak smile as he led her to the portrait hole again.
"You're so brave." He muttered with a smirk as they passed out into the hallway.
"Oh, Shut up!" She smirked. "So, what now?"
"I guess we head back."
"Actually, I have a plan." She said as she looked down coyly.
"Yeah?" Neville asked. He was just about to ask for more details when they both heard a cat's meow behind them.
"Students out of bed, my sweet?" Came filches chuntering growl from around the corner.
"Shit, Come on! Quick!" Pansy swore as she pulled him with her in the opposite direction of Mrs Norris.
