* ~ The Eighth Year Universe Series ~ *

PART THREE

The Eighth Year

Chapter 51: The Time Bomb Explodes

It was Monday morning, it was 11.10 am, and despite their best efforts to beat the system, the gang were gathered together in a compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Thanks to Theo and Hermione's privileges as Head Boy and Girl, they had a first-class compartment all to themselves.

This made the journey a bit more bearable because the compartment was twice the size with heating, air conditioning and very comfortable seats. It comfortably fitted the entire gang plus Blaise and Ginny. They had all received a floo call from McGonagall the previous night warning them that they would suffer if they did not return to school on the Hogwarts Express. They were all so worried about detention cutting into their study time for their finals that they obliged and grumbled all the way onto the Hogwarts Express. However, it was a good opportunity to catch up, and Ginny couldn't apparate in her current condition anyway.

"So, how was your holiday?" Hermione asked the others cheerfully.

"Good," Harry replied with a smile, "Teddy and Daphne bonded."

"He threw chocolate cake in my face. I don't know if you would call that bonding," Daphne said in amusement.

Draco laughed, "Well, Hermione's Father gave me a very intimidating and scary speech before giving me his blessing. But apart from that, our holiday was pretty uneventful."

"We just skied and introduced Narcissa to Muggle board games," Hermione added with a smile.

"Who knew she would be so good at Monopoly?" Draco grinned.

Harry sniggered at that, "Well, it sounds like you had a good time. How was your trip around Europe, Suse?"

"Exciting," Susan laughed.

"So, are you and Percy officially official yet?" Daphne asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Not officially," Susan said in amusement, "Don't worry, you'll know when we are if we ever are, but that's enough about me. How was your holiday Sadie?"

"Our holiday was great," Sadie said brightly as Theo shook his head behind her back, "We got so many wedding ideas down on paper. Right, Theo?"

He turned his head shaking to nodding as Sadie turned to him, much to the amusement of his friends, "Oh yeah, love. We got loads done; it was great fun."

Harry grinned in amusement as Sadie smiled, unknowing of Theo's antics, "So what about your guys? Did you get the house finished?" he asked as he looked to Neville and Lilly.

"Yep," Lilly said with a smile, "It wasn't as big a job as Neville thought. The garden still needs some work, but the house is finished."

"We had to replace everything, though," Neville said with a shake of his head, "All of the furniture and paintings were wrecked. There was flood damage everywhere. Lilly managed to save the tapestry room, though."

"Which is like the coolest room in the house," Lilly added.

"Apart from the basement," Neville grinned. He glanced at Harry, "It's the one room I've not finished yet, but I'm modelling it on your basement. It's kind of a room of requirement, isn't it?"

"Yeah, not anywhere near as powerful, but I can make small modifications to it by thinking about them," Harry replied.

"There's no way you know to do that though, Neville," Draco said in disbelief, "It took Hermione and me a month!"

"It will take me a month as well," Lilly said in amusement, "Which is why it's not finished yet."

Daphne smirked at the dark-haired Ravenclaw, "So how long have you two been together then?"

"What?" Lilly and Neville asked with false surprise.

"Were you honestly going to try and keep it from us?" Sadie chuckled, "It's obvious."

"It's not that obvious," Theo retorted, "They were already acting like a couple before they even were a couple, so..."

"Oh shut up, Theo," Neville said offhandedly.

Daphne's smirk was still on her face as she said, "Well, look at it this way. You've got a half-hidden love bite on your neck, you two are eye-fucking like mad, and you're both way too happy."

Lilly glanced at Neville in amusement, and the Gryffindor rolled his eyes, "Well, we were trying to keep it secret."

Draco snorted, "You better become a better liar than that if you want to become an Auror then."

Hermione beamed, "So how did you get together then? Who made the first move?"

"Well, it was Lilly, actually," Neville said sheepishly.

Theo barked out a laugh, "Why am I not surprised? For a Gryffindor, you are such a pussy, Neville."

"Hey, who killed a snake with the sword of Gryffindor?" Neville retorted, "Cause I'm pretty sure it wasn't you."

Theo scoffed, "Yes, you beheaded a snake, but that does not mean you get to dine out on it for the rest of your life!"

"It kind of does," Neville grinned, "And unless you want Voldemort to come back, you're never going to get the chance to best me Theo, so I think this is jealousy."

"Jealousy," Theo scoffed with a shake of his head, "At least I asked Sadie out."

"Yeah, after about seven years of creeping around after her and not saying anything," Draco grinned.

"Oi, who's side are you on here, Draco?" Theo asked in amusement, "And for the record, I was not creeping around after her. I was just friends with her. It wasn't like Harry in sixth year watching Draco piss in bathrooms."

"I wasn't watching him piss!" Harry exclaimed, "I thought he was a Death Eater! He could have been communicating with Voldemort or using secret passages!"

"While pissing in a bathroom?" Daphne asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't watch him piss! I only followed him into a bathroom once, and it was because he was crying, and I... was kind of worried about him," Harry admitted sheepishly.

Draco snorted in amusement, "I'm touched by your concern Harry, even if that encounter did end in me being mauled by that spell of yours."

"Yeah, well, that was an accident," Harry said offhandedly, "And it's totally off-topic. Aren't you arguing about who's better out of Nev and Theo?"

Lilly rolled her eyes, "Look, boys, let's settle this simply. I think Neville is awesome, snake slayer or not. And Sadie thinks Theo is awesome, regardless of how long it took him to get the guts to ask her out. Settled?"

"Settled," Neville and Theo said grudgingly but to the amusement of their friends.

Sadie shook her head in disbelief, "Sorry about my fiancé's ridiculous conduct. How was your Easter holiday, guys?" she asked Ginny and Blaise.

"Well, it was eventful," Ginny said as she bit her lip and glanced at Blaise.

The Slytherin boy nodded, "We have an announcement to make."

"You're engaged?" Sadie asked right away.

Lilly rolled her eyes, "Do you see a ring?"

"Good point, sorry," Sadie said sheepishly.

Ginny laughed weakly, "It's alright. It's...well, there's not really an easy way to say this, so…I'm pregnant."

There was a resounding echo of "what?" or "pregnant?" from most of the compartment's occupants.

"Woah," Theo said, "How did that happen?"

Draco looked at his best friend in disbelief and amusement, "Well, Theo, when a man loves a woman very much-"

"- oh fuck off, Drakey," Theo remarked, "You knew what I meant."

"So what are you guys going to do?" Lilly asked.

"Uh, have a baby, I guess," Ginny said with a hint of amusement, "I'm going to have to square it all with McGonagall, but I'm sure she'll let me finish my exams."

"Of course she will," Hermione agreed, "And if she doesn't, I'll have a word with her."

"Harry said the same thing," Ginny chuckled.

"But I mean after that, what will you do?" Susan asked with a frown, "You'll have to turn down the offer for your healing programme."

"I know," Ginny sighed, "But I can always reapply in a couple of years. We won't struggle for money, not with Blaise's job in the DMLE all lined up."

"Wow," Sadie said with a smile, "You've got it all worked out."

"Yeah, well, don't mistake it for calmness," Ginny said with a wry smile, "I'm terrified."

"We both are," Blaise said as his hand slipped silently into hers, "It's a big shock."

"Well, we're all here," Draco said, "You both know that I hope?"

"We know that," Blaise said with a nod.

"And we appreciate it," Ginny added as she smiled at Draco and Hermione, "It's not exactly going to be easy, the next few months, that is."

"We'll do anything we can to help Gin," Harry agreed, "You guys aren't alone in this."

Ginny tightened her hand in Blaise's and smiled a little tearfully at them all, "Thanks, guys; it means a lot."

"So, how together are you exactly?"

Neville rolled his eyes, "We're together. How much more do you need to know?"

"Well," Theo smirked, "Are you together?"

Draco snorted, "For Salazar's sake Nev, he means have you slept with her yet?"

"Well, we only got together last night," Neville pointed out, "Not everyone jumps into bed with someone the day they ask them out, Theo."

"We'd been friends for years!" Theo defended himself.

"Yeah, well, some of us have decorum," Harry said in amusement.

"And some people have enough decorum to not do it in broom closets or secret passageways, Harry," Draco added with a smirk.

Neville snorted in amusement.

Harry glared at Draco, "Okay, firstly, fuck you ferret and secondly, Neville wouldn't just jump into bed with Lilly right away."

A sheepish sort of look passed across Neville's face, "Well, I didn't say that. I didn't sleep with her the night we got together...it was after midnight, so it was really this morning."

Theo grinned, "So you did sleep with her!"

"Yes, but well...she was kind of eager," Neville said with slight amusement.

Harry snorted, "What?"

"I was trying to be a gentleman about it, but she told me I was being an arse," Neville said, "We've been friends for years. It was the natural progression of things."

"Nev," Lilly murmured in the early hours of the morning.

"Uh-huh," Neville said, they were lying in bed together, but nothing had happened.

"I think it's cute that you like to spoon and all, but I prefer forking."

"Forking?"

Lilly slapped herself in the forehead and rolled over to look at him, "Sex, Neville. It means sex."

Neville's eyes widened, "But-"

"We've been friends for years," Lilly cut in, "And we're going back to Hogwarts in a few hours where we will get no privacy. Don't get me wrong, I like a sneaky broom closet shag as much as the next girl unless the next girl is Daphne Greengrass, but I'd quite like to shag you in a bed first."

"Uh…" Neville floundered, "But Lil, we just-"

Lilly cut him off by kissing him, and his protests began to die on his lips, "But-" he murmured against her lips.

"No, buts, Neville," Lilly remarked. She pulled away, and for a split second, he wondered what she was doing, then she disappeared under the duvet, and he gasped in surprise when he felt her lips against his cock.

"Lilly!" He exclaimed.

He decided to stop objecting at that point. He couldn't when he could barely get a word out or think straight. The feeling of her soft, wet lips against him was just too much. She enjoyed what she was doing to him; she was a tease.

So Neville turned the tables on her. He pulled her up to him, and she smirked as she straddled him.

"I should have known I'd have to take control," Lilly said. She raised an eyebrow at him.

Neville laughed and flipped them, pinning her to the bed easily, "No chance," He murmured.

Theo smirked at his friend and tutted, "And to think you insulted me for sleeping with Sadie so quickly. Neville Longbottom, you gigantic hypocrite."

Neville rolled his eyes and fell back onto his bed, "Yeah, yeah, I know!"

Harry laughed, "On another note, how is the house? Do you like it?"

"I love it," Neville said thoughtfully, "It really feels like home already. Even if Lilly did insult my interior decorating."

Draco laughed at that, "Why?"

"I wanted to decorate it in gold and red, but she convinced me to decorate the library in blue and bronze," Neville said with a chuckle.

Theo grinned, "Whipped!"

"Ha!" Draco exclaimed, "Says the guy who spent the week looking at flowers and wedding cake designs with Sadie's Mother!"

"Oh, fuck off!"

"So..."

"So what?" Lilly asked matter of factly, "So how are your potions projects going? Or so, how were your holidays?"

"No," Daphne grinned, "So, how did you and Neville get together?"

Lilly rolled her eyes and fell back onto her bed, "Well, it was last night...we had the house finished, and we danced."

Hermione snorted in amusement, "That sounds weirdly familiar. Did you kiss after this dance, by any chance?"

"Yes," Lilly said with a pointed look at her friend, "And it wasn't in a tent. It was in the drawing-room of Longbottom House before you ask."

Daphne laughed at the expression on Hermione's face, and Sadie cut in, "And you made the first move, right?"

"Well, I tried to talk to him so many times over the week," Lilly said as she lay on her stomach to look at them all, "But every time I got close, he changed the subject, so in the end, I just kissed him."

"And?"

"And what? It was a good kiss," Lilly smirked, "What more do you want me to say?"

"Well, what more is there to say?" Daphne asked eagerly.

"Do you really think I'm the kind of person who would just jump into bed with someone?" Lilly asked as she surveyed them.

"No, we didn't mean it like that, Lil," Hermione said, "It's just that this thing between you and Neville is pretty intense."

"There's a lot of sexual tension," Sadie agreed, "That's all we meant."

"How were we to know you hadn't slept with him, after all?" Daphne shrugged.

"I didn't say that I didn't sleep with him," Lilly admitted as she cringed.

Daphne grinned at the Ravenclaw, "When?"

"Late last night, or early this morning," Lilly said with a grin, "He was going to be a gentleman about it, but I kind of didn't let him."

Daphne's grin widened, "Go on."

"I sort of challenged him," Lilly admitted, "And he….took it on board."

"Fuck, Neville," Lilly gasped, arching her back against him.

Neville laughed against her neck, the vibrations sending shivers down her spine.

They were silent for a moment as they caught their breath; Lilly shuffled to get comfortable, then sighed, "Well…shit."

Neville snorted, "I thought it was pretty fucking good-"

"Shut up," She laughed, "It was really fucking good, okay? I take back every comment I ever made about you still being awkward toad boy. You are hot, sex god, snake slayer Neville now."

Neville barked out a laugh, "You're still you, and I love that. What was the oh shit for?"

"Hermione was right," Lilly said with a shake of her head, "She was all, Lilly, you'll end up shagging him because you're friends, and there is a tent involved-"

"Harry said the same thing! What is with the tent thing?"

"I don't know, right?" Lilly exclaimed.

They both laughed.

"Walking cliché, Nev," Lilly said with a grin, "We're a walking cliché."

"Oh fuck it, I don't care," Neville said. He rolled onto his stomach and grinned at her, "Do you?"

"No…" Lilly said slowly, "But we should probably keep this to ourselves for a little while-"

"Til someone walks in on us in a broom closet, you mean? Cause it's Hogwarts, and that's how every couple gets outed," Neville pointed out.

"But none more so than Harry and Daphne. Has anyone not walked in on those two?"

"Ironically enough, I think Hermione is the only one who hasn't," Neville chortled.

Sadie grinned, "Well, you were friends for a long time before you got together. It's the natural progression of things."

Daphne snorted, "You're only saying that because you were shagging Theo the night that he asked you out!"

Sadie's cheeks flushed.

"In the dorm room he shared with Draco and Blaise," Daphne added.

"Well, it was only fair!" Sadie exclaimed, "Draco spent the whole war shagging Pansy in the bunkbed right underneath Theo's!"

"Is that why Theo 'forgot' the silencing charm?" Daphne asked with an amused grin, "For revenge?"

Sadie rolled her eyes, "Shut up, Daph," she said while the other girls laughed.

At that point, the door opened, and the conversation entirely froze. Susan rolled her eyes as she walked into the room and sat down on the end of her bed, "You guys are invading our dorm pretty often these days," she said to Hermione and Daphne, "And I'm guessing you were talking about Neville. I did tell you that I didn't mind."

"We were talking about Sadie being a total ho and jumping into bed with Theo the day he asked her out actually," Daphne remarked.

"Oh, fuck off!" Sadie said, chucking a pillow at Daphne's head.

"They were friends for ages before they got together," Hermione agreed with a smile, "It's understandable."

"And you've been making up for the lost time," Susan smirked, "You two are always at it."

Sadie scoffed, "Oh come on, we're not as bad as Daphne and Harry."

"That is true," Susan agreed.

Daphne shrugged, "What can I say? He is a really good shag with a massive-"

"Ego?" Lilly cut in.

"Not what I was going to say," Daphne said with a sly grin.

"You're very quiet, Hermione," Susan said. She grinned at her friend.

"Well, not all of us talk about such vulgar things," Hermione said. She raised an eyebrow at them.

"Oh, come off it, she's the worst," Daphne snorted, "Some of the things I've heard Draco tell Theo about her in the showers at Quidditch-"

"Woah," Lilly said, "You guys all shower together?"

"No," Daphne scoffed, "There's a wall, but I hear those two anyway and let me tell you, Hermione is a right little vixen-"

Hermione's cheeks flushed, "He tells Theo?"

"They compare notes all of the time," Sadie said with a roll of her eyes, "I caught them talking about techniques in the bath just before we left for the holidays."

"In the bath?" Lilly snorted.

"Is there anything those two don't do together?" Susan sniggered.

"Apart from shag, probably not," Daphne said with a grin, "You do all know about the snog during the war, right?"

Hermione's eyes widened, "Uh no."

Daphne smirked, "Yes, shall we just say that Draco and Theo were each other's experimental phase?"

Sadie rolled her eyes, "No, that's not what happened. You are such a gossip, Daph. They were talking about the war, and if they had been caught doing that, the Carrows would have punished them. So when Alecto came to check what they were doing, they kissed to throw her off the scent."

Hermione shook her head in amusement and looked at Sadie, "Do you think we actually need to be worried about this?"

"I don't think so at the moment," Sadie laughed, "But if they end up building secret passageways into each other's houses like their Grandfathers did, then maybe we should intervene."

Susan snorted, "Wasn't Abraxas Malfoy a bit suspect?"

"Oh yeah," Daphne said with a shake of her head, "He was so gay, and he spent a lot of time with Theo's grandfather."

Lilly sniggered, and Susan said, "Anyway, back to you and Neville."

Lilly shrugged, "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."

"Hey, I've been there and done that," Susan said in amusement, "I'm cool to talk about it."

"But it's kind of awkward, Suse."

"Come on, Lil," Susan yawned as she leant back on her bed, "Hermione and Daphne are practically best friends, and they've both been involved with each other's boyfriends."

Lilly frowned, "Good point. You've never compared notes, have you?"

Hermione's cheeks flushed, and Daphne smirked, "Of course we have, by all accounts, Harry is like a fine wine."

The others all burst out laughing as Daphne delivered the punch line, "He gets better with time."

"So you spoke to McGonagall today?"

"Uh-huh," Ginny said as she and Harry walked through the grounds towards Hogsmeade one warm, sunny morning.

"And she's alright with everything?" Harry asked curiously.

Ginny laughed, "Fine, actually. She said she wasn't surprised and told me she was proud that I was finishing my N.E.W.T's, unlike my Mum."

"Is she speaking to you yet?" Harry asked with a frown.

"Nope," Ginny sighed, "I haven't heard a peep."

"She'll calm down," Harry said as he put his arm around her shoulder.

"So everyone says," Ginny mumbled, "I'm just glad that McGonagall gave me permission to finish my N.E.W.T's, and Pomfrey gave me permission to cover it up with glamour. Once school is over, it can all come out, but until then, I'd rather keep it between close friends."

"Which is understandable," Harry yawned, "How are your brothers taking it?"

"Apart from wanting to kill Blaise, they're fine," Ginny said honestly, "Ron was probably the hardest to bring around, but he's always been more protective."

"It's because he's closest to you in age," Harry said, "What are you doing in town today anyway?"

"Oh, I'm just getting ingredients for a calming potion. It works wonders for morning sickness," Ginny said with tired amusement, "And hopefully, I'll be able to sleep too. What about you?"

"Visiting your brother, actually," Harry replied, "He's got the day off, so we're going for coffee."

"Bro-date," Ginny laughed as they reached the gates and slipped out onto the path towards Hogsmeade.

"Exactly," Harry chuckled, "We've not talked in a while. We could use a catch-up."

"I'm glad you're still friends," Ginny said with a slight frown, "Ron needs a friend like you."

"I know he does," Harry said calmly, "And he'll always be one of my best friends Gin. Nothing can change that."

Ginny nodded and paused as they reached the start of the village. She reached up and hugged him, "Thanks for walking me down, Harry."

"No problem," Harry said. He kissed her on the cheek, "Take care of yourself, Gin," he said as they went their separate ways.

"How's Gin?"

"She's okay," Harry yawned, "I'm sorry about all this yawning. School is crazy at the moment. As for Gin, I think she's stressed and sleep-deprived, I mean, she doesn't felt great, and she still has this huge workload."

"She'll still finish her N.E.W.T's though, won't she?" Ron asked with a frown.

"Come on, mate, this is Gin," Harry said in amusement, "She's not going to give up now. Course she'll still get her N.E.W.T's."

"You're kind of acting like her boyfriend, you know," Ron pointed out, "Getting her things, walking her into town."

"Well, I feel like her big brother," Harry said with a raised eyebrow, "I feel protective. That's why I'm looking after her. Gin and me are nothing romantically, Ron, not anymore."

"You're too head over heels for Daphne," Ron smiled, "I mean, you're practically Teddy's parents."

"Tell me about it," Harry said as he rubbed his eyes, "Andromeda was talking to us about adoption. Not now but in the short-term future...she's his grandmother, and she thinks he would do well to grow up with parents closer to the age parents should be."

"Are you thinking about it?" Ron asked as their coffees arrived.

"Yeah," Harry said honestly, "But it is just thinking at the moment. I mean, I've got three years of Auror training to get through, and Daph has her yearlong course at Gringotts."

"And you can't exactly raise a kid when you're both involved with intensive training programs," Ron said.

Harry sipped his coffee and nodded absentmindedly, "I just want to do what's best for Teddy, and I think a stable family is what he needs. We're going to have to reassess the situation after Daphne and I are qualified."

Ron hummed thoughtfully, "How's Hermione?"

"Great, yeah," Harry replied, "I mean, she's stressed, of course. Everybody up at Hogwarts is at the moment...we're not only trying to get the grades we need for our courses, but we're also trying to make sure we pass our fitness tests, those of us who want to work in the DMLE that is. You should see Lilly, though; Neville's got her running around the lake like a roadrunner."

Ron frowned, he didn't understand the reference, but that wasn't what concerned him, "Neville has?"

"Yeah," Harry said somewhat warily as he realised that he might have just landed Neville in trouble, "He's been training her for the fitness test so she can get into this elite healing programme in Europe."

"Are they together?" Ron asked in disbelief.

"Uh," Harry faltered, "Well, that's not really my place to say."

"So they are then," Ron remarked irritably.

"Like I said, not my place to say," Harry reiterated.

Ron snorted. Whether it was in anger or disbelief, Harry didn't know. But he was grateful when the redhead swiftly changed the subject to something neutral for them both; Quidditch.

By the time Harry returned to Hogwarts that Saturday, it was quite late. Although he had met Ron for coffee fairly early in the day, he'd had other things to attend to. He had been to the bank and finalised the signing over of the Black title and fortune to Draco, he had been to Potter Manor to check on the state of the new Animagus potion, and he had been sneaking around in Greenhouse three harvesting mandrake leaves. By the time he returned to the common room, it was well into the afternoon, and he couldn't believe the scene he walked into.

The common room was relatively full and in the centre of it stood Neville and Ron arguing.

"Ron, if you want to talk about this, that's fine," Neville was saying, "But we'll do it in private. Not here."

"Why?" Ron asked irritably, "Don't you want everyone to know that you stole my girlfriend?"

The girlfriend in question was nowhere to be seen, which meant she was probably in the library. Thankfully Hannah was also absent from the common room.

"I didn't steal your girlfriend," Neville said calmly, "And I'm not going to have a shouting match with you in the common room. So come on."

Ron glared at Neville as he walked to the door and passed Harry with an exasperated sort of look. Despite himself, Ron followed Neville and slammed the common room door shut as hard as he could behind him. Harry did want to follow them, but he decided that it would probably only worsen the situation, so he slipped into the common room instead and let Ron and Neville fight it out.

It didn't take long. After about 10 minutes, Neville returned to the common room with a black eye and a slightly bloody nose.

"Bloody hell," Harry muttered when he saw his friend, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Neville said calmly, "You should go check on Ron. He's the one in need of help."

"What did you do to him?" Harry asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I just gave as good as I got," Neville said, "He accused me of stealing his girlfriend even though he cheated on her, and she made it clear she wanted nothing more to do with him. He then called her a whore, so I hit him, and he hit me."

"And you hit him back harder?" Harry guessed.

"Exactly," Neville said darkly, "He's my friend, but he's sexist, and he's arrogant. Nobody talks about my girlfriend like that."

Harry grimaced, "I'm sorry, Neville, it's my fault. I accidentally said something about you training Lilly up for her programme, and Ron worked it out."

"It's not your fault," Neville pointed out, "But if you feel guilty, go take Ron to the hospital wing. He was unconscious when I left him."

Before Harry could question Neville any further on this, the Gryffindor slipped up the stairs towards the boys' dormitories.

Harry rolled his eyes and left the common room, searching for his unconscious friend. Why did he keep getting himself into such awkward situations anyway? He found Ron easily enough, and he was unconscious in an empty classroom at the bottom of the Eastern Tower.

Harry sighed and muttered, "Enervate."

Ron spluttered and coughed as he sat up. Harry tried his best to remain calm as he said, "It's the blood from your broken nose; spit it out before you choke on it."

Ron did so and hissed in pain, "I'm going to fucking kill Neville.'"

"No, you aren't," Harry said simply, "Episkey!"

"ARGH! What the fuck was that, Harry?"

"That was me resetting your nose," Harry said with a slight glare, "Without a numbing charm because I'm sick of your temper."

"You sound like Hermione," Ron muttered.

"Yeah, well, if you will act like a giant prick," Harry said in disbelief, "I mean, I get that you would feel jealous, but there was no need to attack Neville. He's training to be an Auror, you idiot, of course, he'd win in a fight!"

"Well, I didn't know that," Ron mumbled as Harry cleaned his face up with a charm that stung his cuts, "And since when are you a healer?"

"Since Lil started helping me out with healing charms," Harry said as he ran his wand over Ron, "It's part of the Auror selection process. I need to prove I have basic healing skills before they even accept me."

"Yeah, well, I feel fine," Ron said irritably.

"Really?" Harry asked in surprise, "Because you have two broken ribs which I can't fix, by the way, so come on, we're going to Pomfrey."

Ron grumbled but let Harry pull him to his feet. He winced, but he could walk on his own. They left the classroom and began the long walk down to the first floor, where the hospital wing was.

"I was jealous," Ron said after a moment or two, "I mean, she didn't exactly take long to get over me!"

"Ron, you and Lilly only dated for a couple of months," Harry said in disbelief, "And it has been over three months. You two broke up in January, for Merlin's sake!"

"Neville's my mate, and he's dating my ex," Ron grumbled, "That's just not okay."

"I'm dating Draco's ex," Harry pointed out, "And he's my friend. There's nothing weird about it. We're just such a small circle of friends, and beyond that, there were only about 40 people in our year. Of course, some people will date the same person as someone they know. You didn't need to go off on one at Neville. You did throw the first punch, didn't you?"

Ron nodded glumly, and Harry said, "Well, I guess you learned your lesson since he only has a slightly sore nose and a black eye. You, on the other hand, had a black eye and a broken nose, and you still have two broken ribs."

"I didn't know he was that powerful," Ron admitted, "Physically or magically. I suppose I always underestimated Neville."

"Big mistake," Harry said. He was unable to hide his amusement.

"Yeah, I worked that one out, funnily enough," Ron said as he glared half-heartedly at his friend, "Somewhere between the broken nose and the broken ribs. You can stop gloating now."

"It's part of your punishment for being a fucking prat," Harry grinned as they turned the corner towards the hospital wing.

"Oh fuck off, Harry," Ron said, but his heart wasn't even in the insult, and Harry could tell.

"He punched you in the face?" Lilly asked irritably as she dabbed a cloth on Neville's bloody nose.

"Well, I didn't exactly get this walking into a wall," Neville joked.

Lilly shot him a glare, "Don't joke, Nev. Did he really punch you?"

"Yes, but I punched him back," Neville said, "And he was a lot worse off than me. I'm just glad you and Hannah were in the library."

"Hannah will find out soon enough," Lilly pointed out, "If Ron had a go at you in the common room, it will spread like wildfire. But don't worry, I can handle myself against Hannah Abbott."

"Using full names," Neville said with a slight smile, "The competition really is heating up."

Lilly shot him an amused look, "Hey, watch it, or I'll finish the job Ron started and break that nose for you."

"So it's not broken then?" Neville asked calmly.

"Nope, slightly bruised but not broken," Lilly replied, "I've reduced the swelling around your nose and your eye, but apart from that, there isn't much I can do unless you want it glamoured up?"

"What's the point?" Neville yawned, "It will heal itself in a day or two anyway. Are you sure you can handle Hannah on your own, by the way? She's a little-"

"- psychotic?" Lilly cut in, "Yeah, I do share a dorm with her. I saw her burning all of her photographs of you two. I know."

"And you're not at all worried?" Neville asked in disbelief.

"Neville, I want to become a Trauma Healer. That means fixing up Aurors in the field. Do you think I'm afraid of a petty little girl with a grudge?" Lilly asked with a smirk as she pushed herself to her feet in his dorm room.

"You're sexy when you're confident, you know," Neville grinned.

Lilly laughed, "I'll be fine. Now quit worrying about me and go to sleep. The swelling will take all night to go down properly."

"Alright," Neville said as he got up to kiss her, "Thanks for fixing me up."

"You're welcome," Lilly said. She kissed him gently so she wouldn't hurt his already bashed-up nose.

When Lilly walked into the great hall the following morning, it was to laughter from her friends. She didn't cringe or run from the room crying with embarrassment; however, instead, she sat down next to Neville, who was looking at her in bemusement.

"Trying a new style?" Harry asked.

"Well," Lilly said matter of factly as she began to pour some coffee into a cup, "Hannah asked me last night if I was dating Neville. I told her that I was, and as is Hannah's go-to insult, she called me a slut. She also accused me of being a slimy, sneaky little snake, so I woke up like this today."

"It's an interesting fashion statement," Harry chuckled as he looked at her hair which wasn't hair anymore, it was more like hundreds of snakes.

"They aren't even poisonous," Lilly said with a wave of her hand, "And nobody has turned to stone yet. It's a standard revenge hex. I'll be back to normal by the end of the day."

"I'd be mortified if I were you," Hermione admitted, "Aren't you bothered?"

Lilly scoffed, "No. She gave me snakes for hair. Is that the best she can do?"

"You weren't kidding when you said you could handle her," Neville said in amusement.

"Are you going to do anything back to her?" Draco asked as Hannah and her new cronies (Sally and Annie) giggled at the far end of the table.

"Nope," Lilly said as she sipped her coffee, and one of the snakes hissed, "I'm going to be the better person."

"Yeah, right," Sadie said with an amused smile, "You're planning something, Lillian Moon."

"Please tell me that you know how that hex works," Ginny grinned from where she was sitting next to Blaise.

"The snakes fall out when the hex cancels itself," Lilly replied with a devious smile.

"And what are you going to do with them when they do?" Blaise asked with a raised eyebrow.

Lilly grinned, "Let's just say Hannah's going to get a little surprise tonight when she gets into bed."

"I don't know whether to admire you or be terrified of you," Neville said honestly as he stared at Lilly.

"Admire and be scared," Draco said with an amused smile at Hermione, "It's the best way to maintain a healthy, active relationship."

"Oh shut up," Hermione laughed as she slapped him playfully on the arm to laughter from the others.

Despite the ups and downs of the last few weeks, they were as close as ever, and it was only beginning to dawn on Harry that in a few months, it would all be over.

* ~ TBC ~ *