Chapter 14
A heatwave was gripping Britain and it made working in the greenhouses unbearable. There were very delicate ecological charms in place, making cooling charms out of the question. The only concession Neville could make was stripping to the waist, but even that provided only minimal relief.
He had a number of orders to fulfil, including one for Blaise that had come in last-minute. Ordinarily he wouldn't have taken it on but the man had shown a lot of kindness to Draco in the last couple of weeks and so Neville felt obliged to do him a favour. Blaise and Draco had met a couple of times for coffee and Draco had returned each time buoyed and pleased that there was someone from his past he could still interact with.
"Bloody stubborn bugger," Neville growled as he wrestled with a particularly vicious plant that had taken umbrage to being re-potted. "Just co-operate, you cantankerous bastard."
He heard a chuckle from the doorway and he turned to see Draco lounging elegantly against the doorframe of the greenhouse. "I thought the idea was to say nice things to your plants, not insult them," he said with a smirk.
"Depends on the plant," Neville replied, wiping his brow and feeling the sweat trickling down his back. Despite the heat, Draco looked effortlessly cool in a loose linen shirt and linen trousers, giving off the air of an English gent on his way to watch the cricket.
He stepped into the greenhouse and raked a hand through his hair, which Neville watched with appreciative eyes. "I saw you working, couldn't resist a closer look," Draco said, letting his eyes travel the length of Neville's bare torso. "I suddenly got the urge to re-enact a scene or two from Lady Chatterley's Lover."
"Did you now?" Neville said with a raised eyebrow. "I would have thought in this heat something from Tennessee Williams would be more appropriate."
"My, aren't we cultured?" Draco said, coming closer. "I don't suppose you have any idea how ridiculously gorgeous you look, do you?"
"I'm a sticky, sweaty mess. I don't feel particularly gorgeous."
"Then you're an idiot," Draco said, slipping his arms around Neville's neck.
"You'll get filthy, love. I'm disgusting," Neville protested, horrified at getting his dirty hands all over Draco's pristine white clothing.
"That's what showers are for," Draco said, entirely unbothered by the mess Neville was making of him. He tilted up and met Neville in a kiss that swiftly made Neville forget any qualms about getting his boyfriend dirty.
He wrapped his arms around Draco's slender form and held him close as Draco's hands slid up into his hair. Everything became lost in a haze of hands and lips. Draco's were all over him, setting his skin on fire while his own had slipped beneath Draco's white shirt, dancing over his ribs and the play of muscles across his back.
He lost himself in the exquisiteness of the man in his arms, the heat in the greenhouse making him light-headed and dizzy. He was letting his instinct govern him completely, his and Draco's rhythms perfectly in-sync, their bodies responding to one another with familiarity and trust.
He was walking a fine line between being acutely aware of everything that was happening and being overtaken entirely in a blissful haze of pleasure. Draco kissed him with blistering intensity as Neville prepared him slowly then the man was sinking down onto him, engulfing him in tightness and heat.
Neville's hands gripped Draco's hips as the man rode him, his kisses still searing through Neville's fuzzy consciousness as the stifling heat and overwhelming pleasure made him giddy. He was lost in Draco completely, falling into him more and more with each passing second.
The air was stifling, their sweat-slicked skin pressing together amidst breathy sighs and whispered words of encouragement. Draco's breath was hot against his ear, murmuring softly as Neville's hand wrapped around his hard prick and began stroking rhythmically.
"Oh yes, love," Draco moaned softly as he moved faster, his muscles clenching around Neville. Neville's world narrowed to contain nothing but the man in his lap, riding him like there was no tomorrow.
He dimly noted Draco's gasp of pleasure before feeling liquid warmth on his hand. He thrust blindly upwards until he found his own release, collapsing back in the precarious chair they'd commandeered for their little tryst. It took them both a moment to get their breath back and Neville looked up to see Draco grinning wickedly down at him.
"Lady Chatterley enough for you?" Neville asked, sparing a look at Draco's ruined clothing lying on the floor.
"It did the trick."
"You're an exceptionally bad influence," Neville groaned.
"And here I was coming to warn you that we'd be late if we didn't get a move on."
"Late? Oh damn! The naming ceremony, we'd better get going!"
They made it back to the cottage and had a shower, which Draco insisted they do together for the sake of saving time. They dressed and applied cooling charms to stave off the heat then flooed to Harry and George's, where a small party of friends and family were already waiting.
"So sorry we're late, couldn't prize this one out of the greenhouse," Draco lied smoothly with a smirk at Neville.
"You're just in time," Harry said, handing Yvie over to Draco, who took the baby with a gleeful smile.
She was now nearly a month old and, while still delicate, had put on weight and wasn't looking so terrifyingly tiny. They had decided to have an informal naming ceremony, where Draco and Neville would be welcomed as her godfathers and Luna as her godmother.
"Such a shame Ron and Hermione couldn't make it over from Australia," Neville said as he placed an arm around Draco's waist and looked down at Yvie with a smile.
"I know," Harry said with a sigh, "but poor little Rose is so unwell, they're doing the right thing staying home."
"If you ask me, Ron's a little over the top," said George. "He has severe first baby syndrome."
"Says this one," Harry said, rolling his eyes. "I caught him at 3am the other night sitting in the nursery just staring at her in her cot."
George looked at everyone with a grin and said, "I never said I wasn't a pathetic sap. Besides, I defy anyone not to be captivated by my daughter."
"Was I a cute baby?" Teddy asked, appearing at Harry's side with a half-melted ice lolly.
"You were adorable," Harry assured him, "but if you drip that mess all over your nice clothes you won't live to see 10."
"Yes Dad," Teddy answered with a smile, slurping half of the offending treat into his mouth. "Is the stinkbomb behaving?"
"That's no way to talk about your sister," Harry admonished.
"She can get pretty whiffy," Teddy insisted. "And loud. She screamed the house down yesterday."
"What do you expect with all those Weasley genes?" Neville asked with a laugh.
"Oi, there's nothing wrong with those genes," said Ginny, appearing with an array of drinks floating behind her, filling people's glasses up as she went.
"Sweetheart, you were nearly suspended last week because you called the ref a clod-brained arsewipe and threatened to shove your broom up his backside," Oliver told his wife with affectionate exasperation. "If Yvie has a fraction of those genes we're all in trouble."
"Kid's lucky if you ask me," Ginny replied. "Weasley genes mixed with Slayer of Voldemort ones? Cracking combination."
"Sometimes I wonder what I married into," Harry muttered with an eyeroll.
They all assembled in Harry and George's beautiful garden and a dainty, well-dressed woman from the Ministry joined them under the arbour that Neville's colleague had obligingly provided. The ceremony itself was short and sweet, with a little protective magic thrown in, Luna, Neville and Draco swearing their dedication as godparents.
It was a beautiful day and they were also using the opportunity to celebrate Harry and Neville's birthdays, which were only a week away. Neville couldn't remember a happier birthday and he flitted from one conversation to another, migrating back to Draco constantly, although the man didn't need his presence to feel comfortable anymore. It made Neville happy to see Draco so at ease among so many people, and the man laughed and smiled his way through the whole affair.
He was closest with Harry, who he truly seemed to adore, but he didn't shy away from conversation with anyone and was beginning to appreciate Ginny's dry and mischievous humour. It seemed to help that Teddy clearly thought he could walk on water and their ever-growing bond, coupled with Draco's growing confidence, instilled in him a beautiful sense of self-worth.
"Come on, folks! We need a quidditch game," Ginny declared, looking so beautiful in a flowery summer dress that Neville couldn't believe she wanted to perch on a broom in it.
"We're supposed to play against an ex-England player and a current one?" George protested, standing with his arms around Harry's waist, his chin on the man's shoulder.
"Scared, big brother?" Ginny asked with a grin.
"I can kick your arse any day," George replied, although Neville wasn't sure he truly believed that.
"You're on, Weasley," Harry said with a glint in his eye.
"Love, are you sure you should?" George asked, turning Harry around in his arms. "I mean, you've only just – "
"Yvie was born 26 days ago, I've been signed off by the healers, not to mention that I am a bloody healer myself. I assure you, I am perfectly fine to play a game of quidditch in my own garden."
"You can't blame me for being cautious," George said unapologetically. "You're not exactly renowned for taking care of yourself."
"Just for that I'm going on the opposite team and if we win you can do the washing up for a week."
"I already do the washing up," George said with a laugh as they all headed off for the broom shed.
Draco handed Neville the baby and joined the others with a look of excitement. Neville settled Yvie into the crook of his arm and joined Luna in the gazebo as the others divided themselves into teams, George loudly declaring that Oliver and Ginny had to be on separate ones.
"Suits you," Luna said with a smile, nodding towards Yvie.
Neville smiled back and looked down at the sleeping baby. He wasn't as comfortable with her as Draco was and he still feared doing the wrong thing but he wasn't as terrified as he thought he'd be.
"One day perhaps," Neville said softly. "You've got my back if she starts crying, right?"
"I don't know how much use I'll be. Babies baffle me, I prefer nargles."
The match kicked off and Neville and Luna watched as things became heated fast. They were a competitive bunch with a lot of skilled players and Neville smiled as he was reminded of his school days. Yvie stirred a little amongst the noise but remained soundly asleep, despite the shouts and hollers from her fathers.
"Draco looks so well," Luna said as she watched him swoop through the sky. "Happy and fulfilled with his whole life ahead of him."
"I love seeing him like this. I love knowing that he'll never go back to that life."
"Not with you by his side. Your auras are connected, you know, just as strongly as George and Harry's. It's quite remarkable; those sorts of connections are very rare."
Neville couldn't subdue the grin that fought its way onto his face. "I've never felt anything like it, Luna," he confided. "I just…love him so much. I never thought I'd find that."
"You deserve it, so does he. I'm glad you could heal each other's wounds."
"So am I, Luna. So am I."
Neville awoke the day of his birthday alone in bed. The wonderful smells coming from the kitchen downstairs told him he had nothing to worry about and he stretched in the sunlight with a content smile. He let himself wallow in fuzzy-headed sleepiness for a few minutes before he slipped out of bed and shrugged himself into a clean t-shirt over his jogging bottoms.
As expected, he found Draco in the kitchen, pottering happily amid an array of food. "Oh you've spoilt it!" he said with his hands on his hips. "I was going to bring you this in bed."
"You hate eating in bed, love. You can't stand the crumbs," Neville said with a smile as he leant forward to claim a chaste peck.
"It's the thought that counts. Happy birthday, handsome," Draco said, claiming another kiss for himself. "Now sit down, this is all nearly ready."
Draco had made enough to feed the 5,000 and there were bagels and pastries as well as the enormous cooked breakfast he'd made. He'd brewed Neville's favourite coffee and squeezed fresh orange juice as well.
"You're spoiling me," Neville said as he spread cream cheese on a bagel and piled a load of scrambled eggs on top of it.
"Of course I am. What else am I supposed to do for my boyfriend on his birthday?"
"You know, I don't think I'm ever going to get tired of hearing you call me that," Neville said, knowing he looked like a dreamy schoolboy.
"Good thing too, I like calling you it."
Draco's foot slid up and down his calf, the gesture affectionate rather than sexual, and Neville revelled in the happiness of his birthday morning. He'd never done much for his birthday in the past, and indeed he'd insisted on not making too much of a fuss for this one, but it was lovely to be able to spend it with Draco.
"Another croissant?" Draco offered, shoving the plate under Neville's nose.
"If I eat another thing I'll actually explode," Neville said with a groan, leaning back in his chair. "This was all fantastic, I feel like a king."
Draco smiled and said, "You deserve to be treated like one."
He hopped out of his chair and disappeared for a moment before coming back into the kitchen bearing a beautifully wrapped box. He cleared the plates and placed the present in front of Neville with a nervous smile.
"It's not much," he said quietly. "I couldn't afford anything too fancy…but I hope you like it."
"I didn't expect anything, love," Neville said gently. "You didn't have to."
"Open it," Draco said, his cheeks flushing.
Neville did as instructed, and, beneath reams of tissue paper, he found an exquisite plant pot, teal-coloured with flecks of gold inlaid into the surface.
"Oh this is lovely," Neville said with a smile as he examined it.
"I thought maybe you could use it for that hybrid rose you're growing for your mum. I asked Greta to put all the right charms and things on it so it should be just right."
Neville reached up and tugged on Draco's shirt, pulling him down into a soft, sweet kiss. "Thank you, darling. It's perfect."
Draco beamed and said, "Right, well you go and pop your feet up for a bit while I go and run a quick birthday errand."
"What are you up to?" Neville asked, his hand resting on Draco's waist.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself with. I'll be back soon."
Draco apparated away to wherever he was going and Neville grabbed one of his herbology journals and headed for the gardens. It was a beautiful day and he stretched out on a lounger, soaking in the sunshine. He felt peaceful and content, and he couldn't remember a happier birthday.
It was only half an hour or so later he heard the pop of apparition, sounding Draco's return. He looked over the back of the sun lounger and nearly fell off it when he saw Draco strolling through the gardens arm-in-arm with Alice. He scrambled to his feet and looked at them both in surprise.
"Hi Mum," he said breathlessly, startled but pleased.
Alice smiled at him and Draco settled her in one of the comfy garden chairs. "The hospital agreed to a home visit. Don't worry, I have everything she needs, I'll make sure she's taken care of."
Neville was so stunned he didn't know what to say. Words failed him and all he could do was reach out and wrap a hand around Draco's neck and pull him in for a tender kiss. "Thank you," he whispered, his forehead pressed against the man's.
Together he and Draco showed Alice the greenhouses and the vast gardens, explaining his work and the various projects he was overseeing. He was proud of the things he'd achieved and he'd never imagined that he would ever be able to show his mother all he had accomplished.
Alice was enchanted, especially by the more exotic plants that Neville had cultivated. Her eyes lit up and she reached out to delicately run her fingers over the petals and leaves of each plant that took her fancy. Every now and again she would tug on Neville's sleeve and point to a plant or flower and, delighted, Neville would tell her all about it.
They took her on a tour of the house and she smiled happily at all the people she was introduced to. Draco was so attentive to her, so kind and gentle that Neville had no worries about her being there with them. He made sure that she wasn't tired or overwhelmed and Alice, in turn, seemed to adore him.
They eventually retired to the cottage garden and Draco served them a wonderful afternoon tea, which they enjoyed in the pleasant summer sun. Neville had never spent a birthday with his mother, nor had he ever imagined he would, and he felt giddy and overwhelmed with emotion at how wonderful it was.
"Aren't you proud of him, Alice?" Draco asked as he spread jam on a scone for her and cut it into smaller pieces that she could manage more easily. He had a way of taking care of Alice without babying her and all his interactions with her were so gentle and natural.
"Don't make me blush," Neville said. "I just hope you like the rose I'm growing for you, Mum."
"Rose," Alice whispered, and both Neville and Draco stared at her in shock. Alice was almost entirely non-verbal and in all his years Neville had only heard her speak once or twice.
He swallowed around a lump in his throat and reached for Draco's hand, squeezing tightly and smiling so he didn't worry Alice. "That's right, Mum, a rose. You can have it with you at the hospital when it's ready."
"An original Neville Longbottom," Draco said with a smile. "It'll be worth a fortune one day."
When it became clear that Alice was tiring, Draco gathered her things and prepared to take her back to the hospital. Neville wrapped her up in a hug, so full of emotion he felt he might burst. He pulled back and she reached a hand up to gently pat his cheek and murmured softly, "Birthday."
"Oh Mum," Neville whispered, and Draco gave him a firm hug before he apparated Alice back to the hospital.
Neville retreated to the cottage, feeling taken aback but happily so. It had been so surreal to see his mother outside of the environs of the hospital and to be able to show her his work had been a dream that he'd never let himself hope for.
It wasn't long before Draco returned and he called to Neville from the living room as he stepped through the floo. "Get that champagne out of the fridge, darling. Good old Harry sending it over, you can always count on him to – hmph!"
Neville grabbed the man as he entered the kitchen and pulled him into a kiss that had them both gasping for breath. "You are bloody incredible," he breathed as he released him, "and I love you so bloody much."
"It was nothing," Draco said, winding his arms around Neville's neck.
"It was everything," Neville corrected, holding him close. "I feel like you've given me my mother back and it's a gift I thought no one could give me. You're amazing."
"Nonsense. I just helped the situation."
They retreated to the living room with Harry's bottle of champagne and sat in pleasant conversation for the rest of the evening. Neville was fuzzy-headed and insanely content, gazing soppily at the man sitting next to him.
"Nev, I have something to tell you," Draco said as the night drew closer to midnight.
"Sounds ominous," Neville said with a frown, shifting up on the sofa.
"Look, don't freak out, this isn't as bad as it sounds," Draco said, his tone becoming placating and sending Neville's pulse racing. He watched as the man took a deep breath and said, "I'm moving out."
"You're what?" Neville asked, nearly knocking his champagne over in his agitation.
"I said don't freak out," Draco admonished.
"Easy for you to say. The love of your life hasn't just told you he's leaving you."
Draco smiled indulgently at him and reached out to run his fingers through Neville's hair. "I'm not leaving you, you clod, far from it. It's because I love you so much that I'm doing this.
"Ok, you're going to have to talk me through that one."
"Nev," Draco said with a sigh, "you saved me, and that's not hyperbole. You saved my life, you gave me a future but I want that future to be with us as equals. I don't want you to be my saviour for the rest of our lives and I think I need to do this to prove that I can be independent, to put us on a more even footing. I need to know that I can live without you…that I simply made a choice not to."
"Where will you go?" Neville asked, his concern deflating but still feeling unhappy at the thought of losing their domestic set-up.
"Just to the flat above Annie's shop," Draco said with a smile. "I'm not going far. She's asking buttons for it but I need to have something that's mine, that I pay for and manage all by myself."
Neville nodded. "You'll still…you'll still come over here though, right? And spend the night?"
"Just try and stop me," Draco said, cuddling a little closer. "Nothing's going to change, not really. I just need to do this, you do understand, don't you?"
"Of course I do," Neville said with a sigh, throwing an arm around Draco's shoulders and pulling him tightly against his body. "I'm just going to miss you, I like you being here."
"You're not getting rid of me that easily, I'll be here all the time. I just need to prove that I can do this."
"I know," Neville said, placing a kiss to the top of Draco's head. "I support you, it's the right thing to do. Promise me something though?"
"Mm?" Draco said as he nuzzled into Neville's chest.
"We will have that future, right?"
"Oh love, you're stuck with me. The future's you and me together, and that's all there is to it."
AN: Again, massive apologies for not doing any review responses. I've been super busy with my new job, which I'm loving, but I'm afraid it's leaving me virutally no time at all. I will endeavour to start replying again as soon as I'm able. Love to you all!