DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author Notes: This story contains both SLASH and blatant drug use. If these themes offend you, please do not read this story!

The characters in this story may seem a little out of character, but give it a chance. Consider this story a "coming of age" tale about the characters developing into adults. I anticipate many flames telling me off for my OOC-ness. So be it.

This story is COMPLETE. I will post new chapters weekly.

On a personal note... Thanks to the TRS gang for your unflagging support.

Chapter Four: The Tie That Binds

It would take a wide net to drag that deep, through all the years,

The years I believed you

And you'd be hard pressed to face the fact of all the lies and the fears that deceived you

You say it doesn't matter now, there's nothing standing in your way

But you forgot to mention how you were done with me,

It's not your problem anymore...

To be true, to be kind, to never walk away

And it's true you were blind, no matter what I would say

To you, is there nothing sacred, to you

"Nothing Sacred" by Jonatha Brooke

Ron's head snapped up at the sound of banging on the portrait hole. He cocked his head, waiting for it to stop. When it did, it was only replaced by muffled shouts before the knocking commenced once again. He slowly got to his feet and looked around the Common Room. Harry, Ginny and Hermione were all looking at the entranceway in curiosity, but making no moves to investigate. It had been an emotionally draining day for them all and no one was ready to take on another confrontation.

Ron shrugged his shoulders in resignation and went to the door. He pushed it open and stepped into the corridor, coming face to face with Neville.

"Oh, it's you," Ron crossed his arms defensively. "Did you forget something?"

"No," Neville said wearily and held out his clinched fist, as if it were a peace offering. "I have something of Ginny's. I need to talk to her."

"From what I understand," Ron glared accusingly at his old friend. "You two already had a talk that ended somewhat sourly. Don't you think you've done enough?"

"No, Ron, I need to talk to her," Neville implored, his fist trembling, feeling the wire in his palm cutting into his skin. "She wants me here. She sent me a message. Please. Just get her."

Ron stood in stony silence, measuring the sincerity of his words. He wanted to not believe Neville. He wanted to distrust this boy. But ultimately, he could not. He had known Neville too long to suspect that he meant any harm to his sister.

"All right, fine," Ron pointed a warning finger in Neville's face. "But you've only got five minutes. And if you hurt her again- I'll kill you where you stand."

"Agreed," Neville nodded his head once and stood back, letting Ron re-enter Gryffindor Tower. Less than a minute later, the portrait hole opened and out stepped Ginny Weasley, a vision in gold robes. "Ginny, are you okay?"

"Yes, of course I am," Ginny's eyebrows were knitted in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Neville relaxed his fingers and held his hand out, palm up for Ginny to see. She looked down at the curled wire in his hand and flinched. She took a step back, her eyes glued on the wire.

"You sent me the wire, Ginny," Neville said softly, closing his fingers around the cool metal once again. "And so here I am."

Ginny was stunned into silence. When she had removed the wire from her wand and put it in the box with the other items Neville had given her over the years, she had not considered that Neville would come to her.

On the night of the Triwizard Tournament's Yule Ball, several years ago, Neville and Ginny had escaped the ruckus of the evening and retreated to the Greenhouse. They had whiled the hours away be sharing secrets each held dear. For Ginny, it was her unrequited love for Harry, which was not so much a secret, but it was certainly the first time she spoke of it to anyone at Hogwarts. Neville had revealed to her that he thought he was gay and unsure how to tell his Gran and friends. They had both cried that night, over their shared misery. But they had also laughed at the fact that they had known each other for years and were only just making a strong connection.

All the while, Neville played with a strip of bronze wire used to tether some of the weaker plants to their posts to encourage their growth. When they eventually got to their feet to go to bed, the sun was creeping over the horizon. Neville put the wire on a nearby table, touching it gingerly one last time.

On impulse, Ginny snatched up the wire and a pair of shears, cutting the wire into two equal pieces. She wrapped one of the lengths around the base of her wand, securing it with a melding spell. She held the other piece out to Neville, indicating he should do the same.

"This wire," Ginny told him seriously. "Will never come off my wand. We are friends for life, Neville."

"For life," Neville wrapped the wire around his wand, smiling. "No matter what."

Over the years, the circular wires became something of an emergency signal. If the wire was delivered to the other, there was something terribly wrong and assistance was needed immediately. Only once had Neville received Ginny's wire. Just once when...

Neville was talking to Ginny, bringing her out of her memories. "What did you say?"

"Has Harry done something to you again?" Neville spoke in a low, secretive voice. "I will kill him if he—"

"No, Neville," Ginny interrupted him quickly. "Harry has not done anything."

"Then, what happened?"

"I was just returning the wire," Ginny whispered miserably, her arms falling limply at her side. "You said to leave you alone. Our friendship is over. I was returning our wire."

"No," Neville shook his head vigorously, shoving the wire at Ginny. "Take it. Take it back."

"I can't," Ginny recoiled, as if Neville intended to hit her.

"Why are you flinching from me?" Neville asked in a strained voice. "I have never—I would never hit you. That is Harry's job."

"Stop," Ginny begged, her face still turned from Neville. "You can't come here and say these things. You are not my friend."

Neville was speechless. What had he done? Had he truly made Ginny believe that he was not her friend? It was true that he had gotten caught up in the day, letting his mouth be controlled by his anger. But not be friends with Ginny? That was not what he wanted, Slytherin or not.

"I'm going in," Ginny told him softly.

"Ginny," Neville reached out and grabbed her by the arms. "We are friends. For life. No matter what."

Ginny's face registered confusion. "But you said..."

"I was angry, Ginny," Neville explained, his eyes searching hers for understanding. "I never meant that I was not your friend. How is it that even possible? I love you Ginny."

Neville pulled Ginny forward into a tight hug, burying his face in her soft red hair. He felt her small arms go around his waist and squeeze him with all her might. They stood there, in each other's arms until Ron pushed open the portrait hole to check on them.

"Come on, Gin," Ron called. "Time to come in."

Ginny pulled away and smiled up at Neville, who wiped the tears gently off her cheek. He pressed the small wire into her hand and kissed her forehead. "For life."

"No matter what," Ginny responded.

Neville took his time in returning to the Slytherin Dungeons. The day was beginning to take its toll on him. He was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. He wanted nothing more than to fall into bed and stay there for several days.

Within the space of one day, he had broken house, been in Dumbledore's office (for the first and hopefully last time), hexed Harry Potter, had ended his friendship with Ginny, had an actual conversation with Goyle (just wow), made over a dozen drug related transactions, ate Lemon Meringue (his favorite), had truly remarkable sex and had rekindled his friendship with Ginny. He was absolutely convinced that a stiff drink was in order.

He muttered the Slytherin password ("Better than you") and stumbled into the Common Room. Pansy shot out of her chair and hurried to Neville's side, a concerned look on her face.

"You look terrible," she told him, her hand under his elbow to stop him from falling on his face. "What happened? Did the Gryffindors do something to you?"

"No," Neville ran his fingers through his hair. "Ginny and I made up."

Pansy pulled a face. "Lovely."

"She's not so bad, Pansy," Neville said as he stifled a face-splitting yawn. "You should give her a chance."

"You're clearly exhausted," Pansy latched onto the obvious, not wanting to deal with Neville's Weasley Issues. "Draco is in the bath, but I know the password to his room. Come on."

Neville followed Pansy further into the bowels of the dungeon until they go to Draco's room. She opened the door and escorted him inside.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he dove onto the chaise lounge.

"I can't just take his bed," Neville yawned again. "I can't imagine he'd like sleeping on the chaise, as comfy as it may be."

"I can't imagine Draco ever sleeping on that thing," Pansy laughed softly. "Get into the bed."

"Okay," Neville fell unceremoniously onto the bed. "But when he gets mad, I am so blaming you."

"Deal," Pansy pulled off Neville's shoes and placed his wand on the bedside table. "If Draco is angry, you can blame me."

Neville nodded and the rolled onto his side, falling instantly to sleep. Pansy drew the heavy curtains over the enchanted wall window and made sure the fire was stoked. Casting one last look at her new friend, she left the room. Draco angry, indeed.

When Draco entered his room, refreshed from his bath, he was pleasantly surprised to see Neville sprawled out on his bed. He had secretly feared that Neville would not be returning that night, if at all. Gryffindor loyalty was a hard habit to break.

It looked as though Neville had been too knackered to do anything more than fall onto the mattress. His robes—actually, Draco's robes—were twisted and bunched under his body in such a way that Draco figured must be disturbing the flow of blood to his extremities. Draco shucked his bathrobe, leaving him in just a pair of black silk pajama bottoms, before padding over to the bed. He bent down and unhooked the snake brooch holding Neville's robes shut. Working quickly, he managed to remove the robe from one of Neville's arms, but he had to shake him gently awake to assist with freeing the other.

"Malfoy?" Neville sat up sleepily, allowing Draco to remove his robes and shirt.

"Draco," Draco corrected him softly, pushing him back on the pillows as he began to unbutton the other boy's trousers. "My name is Draco."

"Draco," Neville twisted his hips to help in the removal of his trousers. "Dra-co. Draco. Draaaaaa-co."

Draco smiled as Neville continued to experiment with the feel of the name.

"It sounds a bit formal," Neville commented, rolling on his side to face Draco. "Didn't your parents ever call you anything else?"

"Not my father," Draco sat down on the bed, his hand resting on Neville's hip. "My mother had a nickname for me."

"Was it 'Honey Bunny'?" Neville asked with a sleepy chuckle.

"No," Draco trailed his hand down Neville's body, stopping in the crook of his bent knee. He was so taken with the dark beauty. "Why, was that yours?"

"Yes," Neville reached out to touch Draco's thigh. "My mother. She called my father 'Other Honey Bunny'. Or at least, that is what Gran says."

Draco's brow creased at the mention of Neville's absent parents.

"What did your Mom call you?" Neville prodded.

"Dragon," Draco told him, leaning forward to kiss his closed eyes. "Now, go to sleep."

"Are you coming to bed?"

"Yes," Draco stood and drew the covers over Neville before walking to the other side of the bed. He lowered himself delicately into the bed and reached out to pull Neville against his chest.

"Good night," Neville snuggled closer to Draco. "Dragon."

Draco closed his eyes, a general sense of happiness flooding his entire self. "Good night... Honey Bunny."

The next morning, a stately brown owl made a great show of circling the Great Hall once before swooping down to the Slytherin table. Neville was not surprised when a red Howler bearing his name landed in his plate.

"Well," Draco put down his fork and grimaced, knowing without a doubt that Neville's formidable Gran had sent the missive. "Let's see what the ol' battleaxe has to say."

"No, I don't think so," Neville slipped his wand from his robes and pointed it at the Howler. "Incendio!"

The Howler gave an almighty wail before being reduced to a small pile of ashes on the table. Neville serenely leaned forward and blew the ashes across the table.

"Ye gods," Draco gaped at Neville in astonishment. "I had no idea you could do that!"

Neville picked up his coffee and sipped it thoughtfully. "Neither did I."

The pale Slytherin threw back his head and laughed loudly. Several heads in the Great Hall turned to watch Hogwarts' Most Nefarious howl with laughter as Neville stonily drank his morning beverage.

A month passed without notable incident. It was true that there were Gryffindor/Slytherin squabbles. It was even true that some of those squabbles were a direct result of the House Break. More remarkable than the squabbles, however, was the subtle shift in power that was taking place in Slytherin House.

It was an accepted fact that Neville was Draco's right hand man and lover. The boys had never even bothered to move Neville out of Draco's private room. If any of the Slytherins felt that the situation was inappropriate, no one ever said—after all, who was going to question the Slytherin leader?

Neville had adjusted to his new house quickly. He was in an instant favorite and mentor to the junior students due to his quick smile and kind words. At first, the Sixth and Seventh years respected him based on his now infamous House Break and his alliance with Draco. Over time, they came to view him as an equal and even as a friend.

Neville, as it turned out, was a natural leader. He was always a little to the side of the attention when Draco was in the room, but when Draco was absent, he effortlessly commanded center stage. It was not uncommon for him to sit in one of the tall back chairs in the Common Room, answering questions, resolving in-house disagreements or simply chatting with his new housemates. He was the assumed Second-In-Command to Draco's Rule.

Draco observed the ever-blurring lines between the power he held and the power Neville held with a keen eye. He saw that they were becoming a joint entity. Whereas he and Neville were both strong on their own, together they were invincible. Draco saw the arrangement as utterly agreeable. There was never a moment, in Slytherin House, that control was not held by at least one of the boys. He knew it was only a matter of time before the whole of Hogwarts viewed them as a force to be reckoned with. All he had to do was wait.

"Here," Neville handed an envelope sealed with the Longbottom family seal in black wax to a small Slytherin boy who was passing through the Common Room. "Take this to Ginny Weasley. Wait for a response."

The boy looked thrilled to be chosen for the errand and scampered off, clutching the missive tightly to his chest.

"You know," Draco looked at Neville from over the book he was reading. "You could have used our owl for that."

"Yes, but then I'd have to go all the way up to the Owlery," Neville pointed out with a mischievous raise of his eyebrows. "And really, what is the point when dear Gareth was more than happy to deliver it for me?"

"Is that his name?"

Neville rolled his eyes. He had given up on Draco ever knowing the names of the underclassmen.

"Really, HB," Draco continued, his voice full of playful censure. "You are quite drunk with power."

"Oh, really?" Neville stretched out on the couch and laid his head in Draco's lap, grinning up at him. "You're one to talk, Dragon."

"And you are lucky that you are so adorable," Draco dropped his book in order to run his slender fingers through Neville's dark locks. "I'll let that comment slide. You know, I've killed men for less."

"Whatever," Neville closed his eyes, relaxing under Draco's caress. Lying in Draco's lap was one of Neville's new favorite past times. No matter how bad his day had been, everything just slipped away when Draco's fingers touched his hair.

Draco leaned his head back and closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of silk between his digits. He knew that it relaxed Neville, but he wondered if Neville knew how much it relaxed him as well. He let his mind drift into thoughtlessness when he heard Neville's breathing deepen, which was a sure sign that he was sleeping.

Just as Draco was joining Neville in peaceful slumber, Gareth returned, stumbling and out of breath. Draco's head craned around to shush him, but he was stopped by the look of fear on the small boy's face. "What is it?"

"Weasley," Gareth gasped, his hand pressing into his chest. "Weasley—"

Neville's eyes had snapped open at the mention of 'Weasley'. He jerked up right to question his messenger. "What about her?"

"She's in the hospital wing," Gareth managed to croak between breaths. "She—"

Neville and Draco were on their feet, running for the exit before Gareth could continue.

"Find Pansy," Draco barked over his shoulder. "Tell her where we've gone."

Neville's heart was pounding as he threw open the door to the infirmary. He instantly spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione hovering over a bed in the far corner. He paused long enough to let Draco reach his side. Clasping Draco's hand tightly for support, he strode across the room.

"What happened?" he demanded the moment he was within earshot of the bed where Ginny lay motionless on her back, her right arm propped up on several pillows. "Ginny?"

"Bugger off," Harry growled, moving to block Neville's path to the bed. "You don't belong here."

"I'm not leaving until I see Ginny," Neville told him firmly.

When Harry did not budge, Neville stepped closer to Harry, their chests nearly touching. "Did you do this, Potter? Did you put her here?"

Harry's green eyes flashed angrily. He closed the centimeter separating them, his chest pushing against Neville's in challenge. "Watch your mouth, Longbottom."

"Mark my words, Potter," Neville's voice was low and threatening. "If I find out that you hurt her, you will be dead before you get the chance to hit the floor."

"You don't have the strength to take me down," Harry hissed. "You worthless Squib."

"But I do," Draco spoke for the first time from behind Neville. "And do not doubt our sincerity, Potter. We will hurt you."

"Isn't that precious?" Harry spat, his face flushing in anger. "You've got your Malfoy trained."

"Watch it, Potter," Neville grit out between clenched teeth.

"Hey, Malfoy," Harry shifted his glare to Draco's scowling face. "Since when do you give a fuck about Ginny?"

"Hey, Potter," Draco mimicked without skipping a beat. "Since when do you not give a fuck about Weasley?"

Harry lunged at Draco, but Neville caught him by the waist and shoved him back towards Ron and Hermione, who yelped in surprise. Harry leapt at Neville with a primal cry, knocking the slightly smaller boy to the ground with a thud.

"Harry!" Hermione dashed into the fray, latching on to her friend's arm as it rose to smash into Neville's face. "Stop! Stop!"

"Do it," Draco calmly drew his wand, stepped forward and jabbed the tip of the wood into the pulse point in Harry's neck. "I dare you."

Ron grabbed Harry's other arm and helped Hermione pull him off of Neville. Draco kept his wand ready and his eyes trained on Harry as he stooped to offer Neville a hand.

"What is the meaning of all this?" Madam Pomfrey burst into the room with a tub of salve in her hands. "Mr. Malfoy, explain yourself!"

"Potter attacked me," Neville explained from his spot on the floor. "Draco stopped him before he could hex me."

Madam Pomfrey surveyed the scene before her with an experienced eye. Harry was being restrained by his two friends while Neville was being helped up by his comrade. As loathe as she was to admit it, it did seem as though Harry was in the wrong.

"Mr. Potter, out," Madam Pomfrey snapped her fingers and pointed to the door. "You too, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley."

"Why do they get to stay?" Harry asked petulantly. "She's my girlfriend. And Ron's sister!"

"Because Miss Weasley asked for them," Madam Pomfrey said in exasperation. "During her exam, she requested that I send a note to Mr. Longbottom."

Neville looked very smug. Straightening his robes, he approached the bed. Draco remained in place, watching the Gryffindor trio being bustled from the room by the no nonsense mediwitch.

"Ginny," Neville stroked the sleeping girl's face gently, scanning her features for injury. Her hand seemed to be the only thing damaged.

"She won't wake," Madam Pomfrey told him, coming to the other side of the bed. "I gave her a sleeping draft to soothe her nerves."

"What happened?" Draco asked as he slid his wand back into the pocket of his robes.

"To my understanding," Madam Pomfrey folded her hands in front of her, gazing down at the fragile girl on the bed. "Miss Weasley caught her hand in the potions room door. She broke several metacarpal bones and phalanges."

"How in the world did that happen?" Draco was incredulous. You would have to be a right dolt to close your hand in that heavy door, and Ginny was no dolt, of that he was certain. "Did anyone see it?"

"Professor Snape was in his office at the time," the nurse told him. "He heard her scream and brought her to me."

"And Potter?" Neville asked, his shoulders tense, voice strained. "Where was he?"

"As it happens," Madam Pomfrey continued sadly. "He accompanied Miss Weasley and Professor Snape. He had been passing by the corridor to the dungeons when the accident occurred."

Neville kissed Ginny's forehead gently and turned to Draco. His dark eyes were glittering, black as coal.

Danger. Draco thought with a shiver. Neville is dangerous. Merlin help anyone who thinks otherwise.

"Come on," Neville said to Draco as he passed by his pale boyfriend. He paused to press his Slytherin brooch into Madam Pomfrey's hand. "Will you give this to Ginny when she wakes up?"

"Yes, of course," Madam Pomfrey was perplexed. She had anticipated Neville demanding to stay by Ginny's bedside throughout the night. She could not figure why he was leaving so abruptly, but was pleased that she would not have to fight with the boy to leave.

Draco and Neville encountered Pansy in the corridor.

"What's going on?" she questioned, her face pink from her hurried pace to reach them. "Gareth said Weasley was injured."

"She's banged up, a few broken bones," Draco told her, gripping her arm and urging her to walk with them. "It was Potter."

"Potter?" Pansy exclaimed, looking from Draco to Neville. "Wait, what are you two planning on doing?"

"Hurt him," Draco told her quickly. "Maim him. Kill him. We'll figure out the particulars when we get to that bloody tower."

"You can't just stroll up there and kill him," Pansy stopped in her tracks, forcing Draco to stop with her. "We are talking about Saint Potter. You just can't do it."

"We bloody well can," Draco fumed, affronted that his capability to kill was being questioned.

"Okay, fine," Pansy placated. "You are fully capable of doing it. You just shouldn't do it."

"Why not?" Draco whined with a quirk of his lips. He knew that realistically, they could not storm the Gryffindors and expect them to give up Harry Potter.

Pansy rolled her eyes and plunked her hands on her hips. "Is this really helping Weasley?"

"Fine," Draco jogged to catch up with Neville, who had continued walking when the others had stopped. "HB, wait."

"Don't try to stop me, Draco," Neville turned but continued to take backward steps. "I have to go up there."

"We will get him," Draco soothed, reaching out to grasp his boyfriend's hand. "We have to bide our time. Strike when he least expects it."

"Where he least expects it," Pansy added. "We could—"

"Burn his broom," Neville said suddenly, bringing a deafening silence over the group. "Let's burn the Firebolt."

"What?" Draco thought he could no longer be surprised by Neville. He was clearly wrong. "But HB—that's—that's..."

Pansy's mouth formed a small O as she watched her old friend circle his hand in the air, searching for an appropriate word. It was a rare and historic event: Draco Malfoy was at a loss of words.

"Diabolical?" Pansy suggested helpfully.

"Yes," Draco snapped his fingers and pointed at Pansy as if she had just invented a way to rope the moon. "Diabolical. And wrong. You would actually burn a man's broom?"

"Absolutely."

"And by 'wrong'," Pansy fished, hoping that Draco was just suffering from a temporary insanity thereby rendering him momentarily un-evil. "You mean...?"

"Oh, I only meant that it was wrong that I did not come up with that years ago!" Draco assured her. "It will kill him! Yes, burning Potter's broom is definitely a Malfoy Approved Plan."

"Thank the stars," Pansy pressed the flat of her hand to her chest, looked relieved. "For a moment there I thought you had developed a conscience."

Draco gasped loudly.

"Oooooh," Neville pulled a comically horrified face. "Pansy said the 'c' word."

"You will so pay for that one, Parkinson," Draco pulled out his wand and waved it threateningly at his housemate. "Take it back this instant. Or I shall turn your lovely blonde hair teal."

"You wouldn't!" Pansy's hand flew up to her long golden locks.

"Want to bet?"

Pansy's eyes widened at the confident smirk on Draco's face. She began taking slow steps away from Draco. When she was out of arms reach, she turned and in a swirl of robes, took off running. "You'll have to catch me first, you Goody Two Shoes!"

"How dare you!" Draco howled at the insult. He ducked his head down and chased after Pansy. "Come back here, you scalawag!"

Neville sighed. He was getting used to Draco and Pansy's impulsive play fights. They were wildly entertaining. He scurried down the hall after them, momentarily forgetting his rage. "You two are such children!"

A/N: Feed the starving writer with reviews! Thanks to everyone who is reading and most espeically thanks to everyone who is reviewing!