A/N Yay. Last real chapter, still one more thing to write and then it's done with. I'm going to say that I'll have the last bit up by the 1st of October. I'll be leaving the country then and won't have much time to write while I'm gone. Thanks to all those who have been reading faithfully.

Stroppy-Teenager- A chapter full of Neville goodness. I hope this answers a few questions about Draco as well. He may never get over killing his own father, but he certainly got satisfaction from going through with it. As for his mother... you'll see at the end of this chapter. He's a clever boy, Draco is. Meshach is little. And he dreams clearer than we do because of his sight. Night terrors don't even begin to describe it. Thanks for reading. One more chapter to go.

Riley Alicia- Thanks for reviewing again. Harry and Ginny have a long way to go before they forgive each other completely. Draco... is Draco. I hope this makes you smile.

luka-black- Thanks so much for your kind words. I really love reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed it, but there is one more chapter to come.

guy-incognito- Very glad you have enjoyed the story. Hopefully you will find yourself less nervous after this chapter. While I agree that Neville went to far, I also believe that the ties of family are very strong. Harry knows that, maybe better than anyone. Had it been an on going affair I would say that forgiveness was out of the question, but it wasn't. Harry knows this. I hope this chapter answers your questions. I promise there will be no fluffy reconciliation for anyone involved. I value your opinion greatly. I hope you continue to read the last few chapters even if the ending isn't what you expected. Thanks very much. I will tell you that your review inspired several lines in this chapter.

Lolua- goodness. Thanks.

Myself- Thank you so much. I love reviews and yours made my day. Keep reading. Tell me what you think.

We stood side by side each one fightin' for the other
We said until we died we'd always be blood brothers
-Bruce Springsteen from Blood Brothers

(Neville)

The scent of strawberries followed me to work. Each breath was a reminder that I was not alone. Luna was with me always, waiting just beyond the visible world. As I went about caring for my neglected merchandise there was an overwhelming feeling of contentment. Loneliness lingered somewhere in the back of my mind, but I let it be. There would be plenty of time to be sad later.

Ivy and Lotus played near the front desk. Their voices carried into the back room where I worked on order forms to replace my dwindling stock. Mind refusing to stay on the papers, I instead found myself listing to my girls' chatter. At first their words were unclear, but with a slight shift in position I found I could hear them very well.

"Did you notice?" Lotus asked quietly.

"What" Ivy replied.

"He seems happy."

There was a moment of silence and then, "We're home."

"I know, it's just, he's not always happy."

There was a giggle from Ivy, as though she thought her sister were very silly, "Mum's not always so close."

I smiled a little and waited to hear more.

"Mum's..." She was cut off by the bell over the door.

"Uncle Harry!" Their voices cried and there was a small scuffle.

Peering around the door frame I found Harry standing with my daughters firmly attached to his legs.

"Ivy. Lotus. Why don't you go in the back room." Slightly confused they released their captive and went reluctantly through the door behind me.

"Neville..." Harry started.

Cutting him off with the wave of my hand, I shut the door to the back room. Somehow I knew that the conversation was not one that my children needed to hear.

"You know," I said quietly, "keeping away from you would be much easier if you didn't follow me to work."

"I just came to talk." He replied

"What is there to talk about?" It seemed a fair question.

He appeared to be at a loss for words.

"I believe that I've said everything I need to, and I'm really not in the mood to be reminded of my failings. So, unless you have something else to discuss with me, please leave." I said calmly.

There was no doubt that Harry had the right to be angry, but I did not see a reason to rehash it all. What was done was done and it was best left at that.

"Maybe I didn't say everything that I needed to." His manner changed suddenly and he stood up a little straighter.

"Could we do this later? I'm trying to run a business."

"I think you can make time for this."

All the contentment of earlier had fled and I was left shaking slightly with frustration.

"Fine. What is it that you have to say?"

After a few moments he snapped, "Why did you have sex with my wife?"

"You've already asked me that and I answered you then."

"For the sake of my sanity, Neville, tell me again."

My jaw clenched tightly and I barely got the words out, "I don't know."

"How can you not know?"

"We were hurting. She thought you hated her and ... I ... I thought I was in love with her."

"You thought you were in love with my wife?"

For a long moment we stared at each other. His green eyes narrowed in anger, one hand laid across this abdomen as though his stomach hurt.

"I loved her for years, Harry." I blurted out suddenly.

"What?" He seemed slightly taken aback.

"Since I saw her at the sorting ceremony in school. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I loved her immediately. All through school... until you two got married and I had to... put it aside."

"You were with Luna."

I chuckled without meaning to, "Yes. I was. Though not like you think."

"What do you mean?" The hand across his stomach tightened.

"Luna was in love with you. Totally. Head over heels. But you were with Ginny. Our relationship was... comfort... companionship. She was my friend."

He blinked at me, "I don't think I understand."

"You never have."

"Luna was in love with me?" He said the words as though they were a language he had never heard.

"Yes."

"But she married you."

"It was self-preservation. Turning a potentially painful situation into something... good. It wasn't until later that it became more."

He considered my words for a moment, eyes searching his surroundings as if for answers. Patiently I waited, taking one deep breath after another, each smelling vaguely of strawberries.

"Whatever was between Ginny and me is over. She never felt anything for me and I don't love her. I'm sorry we hurt you and I'm sorry... I'm just sorry." I finally said.

"I don't think that an apology is going to make this better." He whispered.

"I don't know what you want me to say." I stated honestly.

"I want you to say... I want you to say that it never happened. That I imagined it. That it was part of my wound-inflicted haze. That when I go home my wife will still be mine and you will still be my brother."

My blood froze at the word brother. Through all of the trials and suffering that the past week had brought, never did I doubt my kinship to Harry. He was my brother, by blood shed in battle and by choice, it was a bond I had thought could not be broken.

"Am I no longer your brother?" I asked quietly.

"I don't know," He replied, looking down at the hand across his abdomen.

"You would be right to... to end it."

"You went too far. Despite the craziness of who was in love with whom, she married me. Ginny is my wife. You had no right to act on your feelings." His green eyes met mine.

"I..."

"I don't know if I can ever trust you again."

"I understand." I managed, trying to find the anger I had felt so acutely only moments before.

"However, we shed blood together. As much as I would like to say that you are no longer my brother, I can't."

A moment of silence passed. "Where does that leave us?" I asked.

"Here."

I nodded.

"Forgiveness isn't going to come easily." He went on.

"Yes."

"But I suppose it's something to work toward."

"Harry..." I started, unsure of what I wanted to say.

"We'll talk later." His voice seemed slightly strained and his fingers gripped the folds of his shirt tightly.

"Are you alright?"

"I'll be fine."

"Why don't you sit for a moment." I suggested and reached for his arm to guide him to the chair behind the desk.

He jerked away as if burned and took a few panting breaths.

"I said I'm fine."

"Of course."

"We'll talk later."

Before I could say another word he raised his wand and disapparated.

A week passed. I received a short letter from Hermione explaining that she wouldn't be working for a few more days, Angelina was tending to Fred and wasn't able to take the children. Not that it mattered if she came into work, the once slow trickle of customers had diminished to practically nothing.

I jumped when the bell over the door rang. Several papers flew out of my hands and fell to the floor.

"Hold on just a moment." I called and bent to retrieve my lost order forms.

"Daddy." Lotus whispered peering around the side of the desk at me.

"What?"

She gave me a wide eyed look and scurried forward on her hands and knees to grab hold of my leg.

"What's wrong?" I asked standing up straight and looking towards the door.

Draco Malfoy stood calmly next to a display of spitting snapdragons, a brown briefcase held in one hand gently bumping against his thigh. His attention was directed to a dark spot forming on his grey suit.

"Didn't you read the sign?" I asked quietly.

"What sign?"

"The one that says, please keep your distance."

"Oh."

"Just be glad it didn't hit you in the eye."

"Why?" He looked up curiously.

"Would have burnt for an hour and left you with a nasty red ring around your eye."

"I see."

I noticed Ivy standing defiantly off to my right, back rigid and eyes trained on the blond man.

"Girls, why don't you go in the back." I suggested.

"No." Lotus mumbled against my pant leg.

"It'll be fine." I promised bending down to pat her head.

"Come on, Lotus." Ivy said without looking away from Draco.

"Fine." Reluctantly she released me and followed her sister into the back room, shutting the door behind them.

"What brings you?" I asked politely.

Giving the spot on his suit a final frown he stepped up to the counter and looked at me thoughtfully.

"Business." He said at last.

"What?"

"Well," He began, placing the briefcase on the counter, "I find myself in need of an occupation. I recently inherited what was once the Malfoy fortune and found that my mother had wasted most of it on various things, many of them unsavory and not often discussed in polite company."

"Wait." I held up a hand to stop him, "I can barely afford to keep the shop running, I don't even pay Hermione. There is no way I can hire you."

"Which is exactly why I'm here."

"I don't understand."

"Your business isn't faring well."

"Yes."

"My father had many connections, most of them objectionable, but a few were decent. I have looked into them and found that with a bit of work, you and I might be able to make this shop profitable."

"You want to buy my business?" I frowned.

"No. I'd like to become partners."

"There are many other people who would be grateful for your contribution, why would you pick me?"

He paused and gave me a searching look.

"To be quite honest, you are the only person willing to give me a second glance."

"But you are a Malfoy, surely that holds some power." I stated, not fully understanding.

"Power, yes. Respect, no. No one has forgotten my father's crimes or my mother's cruelty. I believe I am doomed to live in the shadow of their misdeeds for the rest of my life."

"I'm sorry, but..." I began.

"I see you are still hesitant."

"You the last week trying to kill my family and I, you'll excuse me if I am a bit reluctant to sign over half of my business."

"I was not myself..." He trailed off staring out the window at the passersby.

"Yes."

"If you would like a few days to discuss this with your family, I'll understand. Potter may find it offensive for you to work so closely with me."

I blinked at him.

"Harry may be my brother, but he doesn't tell me how to run my business."

"So you will consider my offer, then?"

"Yes." I sighed heavily and tried to read his emotions, his practiced passivity gave nothing away.

"Are... are the girls doing well?" He glanced at the door to the backroom.

This was a very different Draco Malfoy than I remembered. Never once had I seen him show concern for another human being, until then.

"Well enough. You frightened them a little."

"I didn't mean to."

"They'll be fine."

"And... and your arms?"

"Healing. Still sore, but Ginny didn't think they would scar."

We stood in silence for a moment. I cleared my throat and looked at my feet.

"Sorry about your mother." I offered in return for his inquiries after my family.

"What?" He was genuinely confused.

"You inherited... I assumed she had died."

"No. No." He chuckled a bit, "She was admitted to St. Mungo's last night."

"What's wrong?"

"Seems she turned her wand on herself, there was nothing they could do. She is a resident of the Janus Thickey ward, permanent spell damage."

"My God, I'm so sorry." I blurted out and touched his shoulder before I could stop myself.

"No, don't be sorry. She did me a favor. Did us a favor. You think it over. I'll owl you in a few days."

He gave me a weak smile and turned to leave.

"Get the paperwork ready." I called after him.

Somehow, as he walked out the door, I knew my life was changing. Perhaps for the better.