Title: Only Time, Chapter Three

Author: frkwerewolf

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairing: Draco/Neville

Rating: R

Chapter Summary: Neville receives a copy of the contract and Draco once again has a quest.

Notes: this story does have talk about Mpreg, but there will be no actual Mpreg.

.Chapter Three.

"I can't believe your grandmother agreed to it, Neville." Dean shook his head. Neville, sitting in his own bed with a thick stack of paper in his lap, sighed. "Doesn't she realize Malfoy's a Death Eater-in-raining?"

"Yes." Neville mumbled, flipping through the pages.

"I don't get it." Dean said as he picked up a set of clean clothes.

"I don't really want to discuss it, Dean." Neville said softly.

"Yeah, okay." Dean replied. "I'm gonna go take a shower. Talk to you later."

Neville waved him away, his eyes still on the paper in front of him. It was the contract. Well, a copy of it. Neville's Gran had sent it to him that morning, so he could see for himself the benefits of marrying into the Malfoy family. Neville had to admit that some of the conditions were interesting, but by the time he had gotten to Article B the lines were blurring together.

"This is stupid." Neville told himself. He could barely understand half of what the contract said, anyway.

It was later that Hermione found it. And, in complete know-it-all fashion, she read it three times through before asking permission. Not that Neville minded, since she was able to translate it for him. While she read, Neville chose to ignore her 'hmms' of interest and watched Ron and Harry play wizard's chess. That is, until she knocked their chessboard out of the way to sit in front of him with an excited expression.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, sending her a glare.

"Neville, have you read this?" She asked, ignoring the fuming redhead.

"Only to Article B. It's written like... Well, a contract." Neville replied.

"Neville, you really should try to read it all." Hermione told him. "But listen! We all wanted to know about the Death Eater thing, right?"

"Really, what was your grandmother thinking?" Ron asked.

"According to Article C, Section 3, Clause 10: If at the time of marriage, or any time thereafter, the Dark Mark is found upon either participants body the contract will be void and a criminal investigation will be created." Hermione quoted.

"So, Draco can't join Voldemort?" Harry asked, ignoring the usual cringe that went through the other three.

"Nope." Hermione smiled. "And, in Article C, Section 2, Clause 3 it states that both parties must respect each other and their viewpoints in order to create a loving household."

"Your kidding." Neville's eyes widened.

"Yes, but I wouldn't worry. Respecting is much different from agreeing. I'm sure Malfoy will be able to argue with you all the time none the less."

"I was talking about the loving household part." Neville replied.

"Oh. Well, I suppose it could happen." Hermione mused.

"Happen? This is Malfoy we are talking about, or did you forget that little fact?" Ron said.

"They are going to be together for quite some time, Ron." Hermione replied, frowning. "Anything could happen. Besides, they have to produce an heir within ten years, so they are going to have to get along enough to do that."

"Woah!" Neville shouted, yanking the contract out of Hermione's hands. "We have to what?"

"Produce a child." Hermione said. "Article D, Section 5, under the 'Home Life' Clause. It's in the contract, within ten years you must produce an heir."

"How?" Harry asked.

"Oh, potions I suppose. Artificial fetus is an option." Hermione said. Both Ron and Harry looked green in the face at this information.

"I am not having a child with that.... jerk." Neville insisted.

"You'll probably end up with more than one." Hermione said sadly. "If you end up having a girl you will have to keep trying until you get a boy."

Neville did the only thing that seemed appropriate at the time: He passed out.

xxx

Draco Malfoy was afraid of very little. As a person with great wealth he had found that most scary things could be paid to leave him alone. Sadly, annoying people could not. Neville Longbottom was an annoying person. But Draco was a stubborn boy and was determined to have at least one conversation with his fiancé.

Which was why he was standing in front of Gryffindor Tower, sending a death glare at the Fat Lady.

"Can't let you in without a password." She informed him with a sing-song voice. Draco fought the desire to set her on fire.

"Then could you tell someone inside that I want to talk to Neville Longbottom?" Draco asked through gritted teeth.

"Oh, Merlin, not you again."

Draco pulled his hands into tight fists and turned to look at the Irish boy. Why was he always there when he came near Neville? Narrowing his eyes, he glared at Seamus, who appeared to be completely unfazed.

"Tell Longbottom I want to talk to him." Draco ordered. Seamus raised an eyebrow. He whispered the password to the portrait, keeping Draco from hearing it, and sauntered inside.

Draco immediately took the position of indifference when Neville appeared. The Gryffindor shuffled over, with his arms crossed and head down. Draco noticed the normal lack of self-confidence had returned to him. He was thankful, for he had yet to come to terms with the version of Neville that had hit him during their last meeting.

"Longbottom." Draco greeted.

"...What do you want?" Neville asked, not looking at him.

"We need to talk." Draco said. "And I mean actually talk. As in not hitting me? That would be a very nice idea, I would think."

"I suppose I could control myself this time." Neville finally looked up, his lips twitching upwards. Draco frowned.

"Yes, I suppose you could." Draco replied.

"What did you want to talk about, Dra -- Malfoy?" Neville stumbled.

"My father has ordered me to get on good terms with you, so I can impress your family during Christmas." Draco explained. "This would go over easier if we could just pretend, don't you think?"

"Right... About the visiting us thing..." Neville shifted from foot to foot nervously. "I should warn you about my uncle."

"What about him?" Draco narrowed his eyes.

"Well... He's not really normal." Neville chuckled, his voice sounding strained. "And Gran told me in her last letter that he's, um, very excited about our... Engagement."

"Indeed."

"Oh, Merlin, it's going to be terrible!" Neville suddenly wailed. The Pink Lady cleared her throat in her picture, causing Neville to jump. He glanced at her a moment, before grabbing Draco's arm and pulling him into a nearby room. Draco yanked his arm out of Neville's grip, giving the Gryffindor a dark glare.

"What do you mean it's terrible?" Draco asked, leaning against a desk.

"Uncle Algie is a bit eccentric, for one. And for another he has this bad habit of... Embarrassing the new members of the family." Neville replied. Draco raised an eyebrow in question. "When my cousin Bertha was engaged, he made her and her fiancé sit in the living room with all of the family so they could learn how to... you know."

"How to what?" Draco asked, trying not to smirk. He, of course, knew what Neville was talking about, but he wanted to see him blush. For some reason he found it rather interesting, the way his blush started on the right side of his neck and traveled diagonally.

"Have sex." Neville whispered in a low voice, the blush now developing.

"I'm sure this was an interesting family event."

"It was terrible. Of course, I wasn't allowed to attend." Neville said. "But I had to listen to Bertha's crying afterwards. Her fiancé, Mortle, almost called off the wedding."

"In the name of Salazar, doesn't anyone in your family have a normal name?" Draco asked, disgust written on his face.

"Yes." Neville frowned. "My parent's are Alice and Frank. Those are normal names. And that's a rather rash comment coming from someone named Draco. What kind of name is Lucius, anyway?"

"I'll have you know Draco is a wonderful name." Draco replied, raising his head high. "It's very dignified. At least it doesn't sound like some servant's name."

"Gran's personal servant is named Bob." Neville stated. Draco stared at him. That comment had come out of blue, and Draco didn't really know how to reply. He felt something stir in his chest and travel to his throat. By the time it was escaping past his lips, Draco realized he was laughing. Neville stared at him with wide, shocked eyes.

"What?" Draco asked, fighting back his chuckles. "I laugh."

"That's not it." Neville said softly, the look of shock not leaving his face.

"Then why are you staring at me like that?" Draco asked.

"It's just..." Neville bit his lip, pausing. "Well, it sounds good on you."

"Huh?" Draco held a look of slight confusion.

"It sounds nice. You laughing, that is." Neville repeated. The Gryffindor looked away, picking at the arm of his robes. He took a deep breath before facing Draco once more. "In fact you look nice when you don't have that disgusted expression."

"Disgusted?" Draco raised an eyebrow, though it didn't hold the usual annoyance it normally contained.

"Like your standing in shit." Neville told him.

"I do not look like that." Draco denied.

"You do." Neville said. "You should smile more. I bet you have a nice smile."

Draco could only stare as Neville sent him his own smile and left the classroom.