AUTHOR NOTE: Sorry about the sex scene in the last chapter. As you know, the full frontal version is available on Archive of Our Own under the same name. I copy and paste from the same google doc to both and forgot to edit our the smut last time. My bad. It is fixed now. Also, sorry I forget to update here some weeks. AO3 is so much easier to upload to that sometimes after editing I upload there and take a break before remembering to fiddle my way through the upload process here. Anyway, more romance to come in this chapter, but I did edit it out this time. Unfortunately, that makes this chapter a little short, but you got two more coming tonight to make up for the delay.

One last thing, I mentioned to someone in a reply to a review that the version on AO3 receives constant updates to paste chapters. This one does not because again it's fiddly. If you notice plot holes or inconsistencies please point them out. I may have edited something major over there, not addressed it here, and moved on as if you had the revised edition.

Thank you for your patience, support, and loyalty. I hope you all continue enjoying the book. Please, please, please feel free to comment. It makes my day every time and sometimes especially if they are critical in nature.

Enjoy.

Neville found Draco in the library of all places.

"Are you studying?"

"Daphne's idea. To give me a sense of normalcy."

Daphne. How could he forget Draco had a girlfriend? Well, a fiancee actually.

"What about you studying is normal?" He tried to keep the sudden uncertainty from his voice.

"I've been decent this year."

"Only because Hermione has been riding your ass."

Draco looked up with a heated grin. "Definitely not the person I would have chosen for that job."

Neville groaned. "Don't let your mouth write checks that cute ass can't cash Malfoy."

"I've got a decent trust fund Longbottom. I think I'll be alright."

He sunk into the chair next to the blond. Their knees touched. After a moment of silence, Neville spoke.

"Look I want to take this further. Much further."

Draco met his gaze. Unwavering.

"But I don't want to sneak around behind Daphne' back."

"You don't even know her, "Draco said.

"That doesn't mean I want to hurt her. The girl has been through a lot and she has a legitimate claim to you where I.. "

Draco laughed and lay a hand on Neville's chest. "Oh my sweet noble Gryffindork. Daphne," he called, earning a magically amplified shush from Madam Pince.

As Daphne appeared around a shelf, Draco took his hand back and shuffled his chair a few inches away from Neville.

"Have you found that book on voiding contracts?" Draco asked.

"Yep. Give me a minute."

Draco smirked at Neville's bewildered expression while Daphne rifled through the book she'd returned with.

"Here we go. It says that all parties named in the contract must agree to void the arrangement, the head of at least one house must break the seal and-" She cut herself off eyes wide as she stared at the page.

"What? "Draco asked.

"And compensation is owed to whichever house had more to gain in fulfilling the letter of the contract." She wouldn't meet Draco's wide eyes.

He regained his frosty disposition quickly. "Well Daphne, what would you like?"

"You assume my house had more to gain?"

"Clearly."

"Leave it to a Malfoy to think themselves above the rest of us. Good to see sluming it with the Gryffindores hasn't changed you too much."

Neville clenched his fists but Draco merely raised one manicured eyebrow.

"So then you would prefer to give me compensation?"

"What would you have in mind?"

"A favour," Draco said. "One without an expiration date."

Draco watched her pride and wariness war on her face. Daphne would have made the perfect wife for Lucius Malfoy's loyal son. Her cold beauty and quick mind for manipulation and self preservation would have fit seamlessly into the Malfoy household. Only, Draco had begun to question everything his family had ever stood for. Plus, despite her objective beauty, Draco would've had to use magic every time they wanted to try for a child. Witches simply did not do it for him. At one point that wouldn't have mattered. He would have married Daphne and reproduced no matter the cost to either of their personal happinesses.

Now, with Neville sitting barely two feet away, happiness seemed too high a price. Maybe he'd adopt. Maybe the Malfoy line deserved to die out with him.

"I suppose," Daphne said, "that it wouldn't hurt to hear why you believe your house is superior."

"If anyone knows the relative power of our houses it would be our fathers, correct?"

She nodded, gaze narrowed.

"What reason would your father have to follow a man stripped of his magic and give up his two daughters for sacrifice?"

Daphne paled, but kept her Ice Queen mask in place to glare at Neville.

"He's fine Daphne," Draco said, a gentle note in his voice. "There isn't a scheming or manipulative bone in his body."

"That's what your little band of freaks needs you for?"

"Yes," he answered and clenched Neville's knee under the table to keep the protective git from causing a scene.

She humphed, but dismissed the Gryffindor.

"Fine," she said. "I want in."

"In where?"

"In with you and the rest of Potter's merry men."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not an idiot. I can see the way the tide is turning. Potter will land on top and, as usual, you've cozied up to the man in charge. So take me with you and you can move onto banging whichever dudes you like with a clear conscience."

Surprise and anger were quickly replaced with haughty disdain.

"I don't know what- "

"Save it," she waved and crossed her heels atop the table. "We were together for years Malfoy. Ever wonder why I stopped trying to get in your pants? Sure at first I bought the old fashioned ideals but come on," she gestured to herself. "You're good, but I'm clever and observant."

Draco grit his teeth.

"Don't worry," she said. "Daddy dearest taught me to stay loyal to power. Your ringleader wields enough to get Dumbledore locked up. That's not the sort I want directed at me for something as small as your secret."

He gave her a long considered look.

"Fine." She threw her hands up, planted her feet back on the floor and leaned in. The boys caught themselves leaning forward as well. "Tracy and I have been lovers for two years."

Draco's eyes widened a fraction while Neville threatened to spill from his chair he laughed so hard. Another amplified shush rang out.

"Mutual destruction. I give away your secret, you give away mine."

"I like her," Neville said.

"You would." The blond pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't guarantee Harry and the girls will warm to you so easily."

"Don't worry about me. Just invite me to one of your secret powwows as thanks for my help last night and to make sure my experience in the forest didn't do any lasting damage." She stood. "I'll take care of the rest."

As she turned to leave, Neville offered a piece of advice. "Harry doesn't suffer fools or sycophants".

Daphne only waved over her shoulder in thanks.

"Well at least we know she isn't as clever as she thinks she is," Draco said.

Neville traced swirling designs with his fingertips into the back of Draco's hand, which he hadn't moved from his thigh for the rest of the conversation.

Why's that?"

"She doesn't know our relationship with Harry means we'll tell him everything she said."

"Watching you in your element is hot," Neville said as he brushed his knuckles up Draco's inner arm.

Draco snorted, but didn't shove him off.

"I'm serious. I get flustered and useless in anything political like that. Dealing with noble houses is beyond me."

"Good thing you took on your title then."

"Now I have you to teach me," Neville whispered before nipping at his earlobe.

"I don't take on hopeless cases," Draco said and inched back.

"Guess I'll just have to take you with me to any functions where those skills might be necessary." He kissed Draco's neck and followed suit when he stood with a jolt.

"We're in the library," Draco hissed.

"I suppose you should be a bit quieter then." Neville stalked after the retreating blond until he had him pinned against a bookshelf. He cast a wandless silent Notice-me-Not spell that he'd practiced with Harry's help.

"We can't do this here, "Draco whispered.

Neville rested one hand on the shelf above Draco's left shoulder, cutting off his exit, and brought the other up to brush a stray blond lock behind his ear. "But you do want to do this?"

Glacial blue eyes met forest green flecked with gold for a heartbeat.

"Is now really the time? With that thing on the loose."

"If we wait for the world to be safe we'll be waiting forever around Harry. We need to take a leaf out of his book and make our own time." He spoke a mere inch from Draco's lips and as he finished he closed the gap.

Hands that had come up to push him away pulled at the front of his robe till he pressed the other boy to the shelf with his body. Draco parted his lips and Neville accepted the invitation. The hesitant tongue that greeted him tasted like fading peppermint. He lifted him by his pert ass and groaned when Draco wrapped his legs around his hips. His fingers tangled in Neville's shaggy hair and pulled him closer to deepen the kiss.

Neville rocked his hips forward. Draco gasped and tightened his grip, earning a harder thrust, which pressed the evidence of both their growing excitement against each other.

"Not here," Draco said, his voice cracking. "Somewhere safe. somewhere private."

With a groan, Neville set him down, took his hand, and dragged him from the library.

Neville locked the door more for their peace of mind than necessity. The Room of Requirement knew they needed privacy and would hide them.

Draco fidgeted in the centre of the room and looked ' anywhere but at him. Through the magic of the room, they appeared to be in a clearing bathed in moonlight. Ash, beech, and spruce trees ringed the clearing, wildflowers peppered the verdant grass, and a stream gurgled in its rock bed to the right.

"What is this?"

"The Room of Requirement."

"Har har. I mean the details... Is this a real place somewhere?"

Neville looked around and nodded. "This stream marks the boundary line of Gran's estate. My estate. I used to come here when the world became too much. Gran could have fetched me I guess, but she never did."

Draco took in the clearing with new eyes. He'd been expecting a room with a bed and little else. Instead, Neville had shared something personal and private.

This was real to him. Or could be. There would be nothing casual or breezy. It would be a relationship from the word go. He waited for his fight or flight response to kick in, but when Neville looked at him nothing but safety and acceptance rose to the fore.

"It's beautiful, "Draco managed. "I can see why you chose this place as a retreat."

Neville smiled and pointed up behind Draco's head. There, nestled in the sturdy branches of the only oak tree on the property, sat a tree house.

The pair made quick work climbing the gnarled trunk. Only half of the treehouse was roofed, the other half open to the stars.

Neville lit candles with a wave of his wand. A crooked table and three mismatched stools sat in one corner. Another held a bean bag chair and scattered books. Under the open air lay a mattress on the floor covered in a worm quilt.

"You built this?"

"My father. This meadow means so much to me because it meant a lot to him first. Gran said he never finished any projects, which is why it only has half a roof. He enchanted it though, or got her to, to keep the rain out. I think he wanted to see the sky." Neville gazed up at the stars. Draco took his hand, jolting him back to the present.

"I'd like to see the real version one day."

Neville's free hand came up to cup Draco's cheek. "I'll take you home for the holidays."

Before he could reply they were kissing again. His robe crumpled to the floor followed by Neville's and his shirt. Then Neville paused to run his hands over his lean frame. Tingles shot through him as whisper soft caresses travelled up his sides, over his shoulders, across his chest, down his lightly ridged stomach and traced his hem. Just as Draco thought he'd lose his pants. Neville crushed him to his chest.

"You're beautiful," he murmured against his neck. Heat rose to Draco's cheeks.

"Not a very masculine description."

"Haven't we already established that you're the girl?"

As Draco readied a cutting retort, Neville tugged his hair free. Blond tresses fell past his shoulders to obscure most of his chest. He felt more exposed than if his dick were hanging out.

"Beautiful," Neville said again before he tucked a lock of hair behind his ear and hugged his head to his chest.

Draco regained his composure and confidence while he listened to Neville's rhythmic breath and steady heartbeat. He'd been vulnerable sharing this place. Time to return the trust.

"My father said it made me look like a girl. Harped on me to cut it. I haven't cut it since he put my mother in the hospital, but I never wear it down."

"Doesn't that prick have hair halfway to his arse?"

Draco choked out a laugh. "He's never been one to follow rules. Not even his own."

"Fuck him. Probably knows you pull it off better." Neville ran his fingers through the silky strands and massaged his scalp. He moaned.

After a moment, he tugged Neville's shirt over his head to be rewarded with deliciously sculpted muscles. He ran his hand over firm pecs and traced the contours of his abs. Neville shuddered.

"You keep that up and this will go much quicker than I want it to," Neville growled.

Draco's hands stilled. Then, slowly, shifted down to undo his belt. A slight tug sent jeans and boxers to pool around his worried his lower lip. Neville's size didn't intimidate him, though it looked to have some weight behind it even drooped at half mast. More the reality of the situation struck him. If he did this he would enjoy it and he wouldn't be able to grit his teeth and make it through sex with another woman.

Neville's large hands on his shoulders jolted him out of his thoughts. "We don't have to go any further than you're comfortable with. This is new to me too." Pause. "That's presumptuous. Have you ever...?"

"Not with a man."

"I thought Daphne-"

"Not Daphne. A professional. On my fifteenth my father arranged it. At least it was private."

"The idea of a public ritual freaks me out." A few seconds of silence as Neville rubbed his shoulders. Draco's hands stayed safely locked to his hips, but he longed to dip lower and feel him. "Was it good?"

"No. She did her job well, it felt wrong though."

"Mine too. Nice lady but knowing Gran set it up-" Neville shivered. "Ya know in the muggle world we'd be considered rape victims. I hope it's something Harry means to change."

"Let's leave him out of this," Draco said with a smile.

Neville nodded and let his hands slide down his arms to rest on his hips. He raised an eyebrow. A question. Draco nodded and lost his pants.

"Relax," Neville said. "I'm nervous too." He kissed him. "You'll tell me right? If you want me to stop?"

Draco nodded and bit his lip.

"You," Neville said. "are adorable. You're making it difficult not to stick my dick in you."

Which, of course, proved a temptation he did not have to resist for long.

Afterwards, spread out on his back, Neville caught his breath while gazing at the stars. Draco nuzzled up to his side, lay his head on his chest and fell asleep in moments. Neville stroked his hair and nodded off as well.