Disclaimer: Harry Potter is from the creative genius that is J.K. Rowling. We are not her. This is merely a fanfiction to tide us over until book 6.

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Morning rays of light danced merrily across Neville's eyelids as he struggled to open them. He felt so very warm, comfortable and just well right. Shifting a little on the couch, his arm grazed someone else's. Opening one eye, he saw some dark-blonde hair and a soft figure snuggled next to him. Alaire's arm was wrapped around his middle, while his arm was draped over her shoulder. Still not quite awake, Neville smiled and bent down to kiss her forehead. He closed his eyes again only to have them shoot straight open the next second.

"I hope I'm not disturbing anything," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling brightly.

Like a fox caught in a henhouse, Neville's eyes nearly popped out of his head. His mind raced with many difference scenarios – from Alaire and him having detention and never being allowed to look at each other again to how his Gran would react if he got expelled from Hogwarts for spending a night with a girl on school premises even though nothing happened.

"It's not what it looks like, sir," Neville said quickly, but quietly as to not wake up Alaire. Instinctively, he pulled Alaire closer without realizing it. The girl in Neville's arms smiled peacefully in her sleep and snuggled closer to him, bringing her right leg up so her knee and part of her leg were in his lap.

The headmaster smiled as Neville turned tomato red and sat perfectly still. In fact, Dumbledore had to look closely to make sure the seventh-year boy was still breathing. "All it looks like to me is that a couple of friends fell asleep talking. Am I correct?"

"Yes, that's all I swear," Neville whispered as sweat began to build on his forehead as Alaire still snuggled closer and pulled the blanket over both of them.

Dumbledore tried to suppress his smile at the young couple. "Professor McGonagall informed me that Alaire was not in transfiguration this morning. Upon talking to Mr. Potter I became aware that he and she must have had a disagreement," he said as he began to walk around the study looking at the various plants. "I thought that perhaps she was upset and needed someplace calm to collect her thoughts. I must admit this place is very tranquil. This is where you took her following that incident at the dance?"

Neville nodded.

"Ah, and what is this?" the headmaster asked as he reached the Longbottom roses by the window. "What remarkable coloring and unique aroma!"

"Th-that's my rose!" Neville couldn't help the surprise that escaped from his lips. There was his actual rose and it was blooming! It had some of the largest and most colorful blooms he had ever seen.

"Indeed? Is this the one that tells if an individual is in love? I read some of your notes to Professor Sprout regarding this project," Dumbledore said as he touched one of the petals. "It seems the owners of these two plants are very much in love."

Neville couldn't even blink. He watched as the headmaster walked around the rest of the room before settling down in a chair across from Neville and Alaire.

"Anyway, I think it would be prudent if Miss Goodnight does not miss any more classes this morning. You have a charms class in an hour. I would advise you both not to be late," he said. "I had originally intended to speak with Miss Goodnight. Pity that she's not awake. Her parents sent a message this morning alerting me that they will be coming to spend part of the winter holidays here at Hogwarts with her. I'm sure you will pass the message along to her."

"I will sir," Neville said gulping. "We won't be late for class either."

"Oh, And Neville, thank you for making this room available to Miss Goodnight. I believe the atmosphere here calms her. It's important in a time of war that someone with her abilities keep a clear mind and a happy heart. I believe that this room provides both."

With that, the headmaster headed for the door.

"Oh, one thing, I believe that in my day, it was customary to hang a tie on the door when in deep conversation with a friend. Perhaps, a wreath may be in order." He waved his wand and a small wreath appeared on the door. "Yes, that should do the trick." He winked at Neville as he closed the door behind him.

Neville's mind was clouded as a million thoughts jumped through it. Did the headmaster really just say that he wanted Alaire to spend as much time in here as she wanted? What did he mean about her abilities? Hanging a wreath on the door? He wished he could just melt into the floor and never come back except he would miss Alaire.

He took a moment to relive the previous night. He had seen Alaire's rose bloom and had assumed that it had bloomed for Harry. Much to his shock, Alaire had shown up on his doorstep sobbing. It seemed that Harry had made the first move but Alaire had put him off in hopes of Neville.

He smiled to himself as he remembered kissing her for the first time. She had gasped and stared at him with those startling blue eyes. He smiled even more as he recalled the kisses that followed. His kisses with Ginny seemed almost platonic, sisterly compared to Alaire's. Once he had finally confessed how he truly felt about her, the last of Alaire's defenses had come down as well. In between kisses and caresses, they had shared memories of the past few months. Alaire confessed to jumping on him in Madame Malkin's 'almost on purpose' while he admitted that he had wanted to kiss her the night of their confrontation over the Passion Pill. When asked why he hadn't followed his impulse, he could only smile and admit that the Gryffindor courage didn't extend to matters of the heart.

It had been almost four in the morning before the conversation died down and sleep had taken over. They had intended to wake up at dawn then sneak back to the common room before anyone else had awakened. Unfortunately, emotional exhaustion had taken them over and now here they were. Late for classes, admonished by the Headmaster, and still wrapped as tightly around each other as ever.

Neville didn't mind. Alaire was wearing a soft fleece top and some kind of thermal tights with socks. The only thing softer that he had ever touched was the blanket his mother had wrapped him in at the hospital and which he still kept under his pillow at home. He took a deep breath. The smell of magnolias and roses that was such an integral part of Alaire wafted around him. She was soft, she smelled like flowers, and she loved him. What more could he ask for?

Merlin, she just threw her leg completely across my lap! Oh no, not now...think unappealing thoughts. It wouldn't do for her to wake up and accidentally brush that with her leg. She would think he was some sort of pervert! Unappealing thoughts – Snape! Yes Snape! Snape in Gran's clothes, Snape in a tutu, Snape with one of those damned cauldrons shoved up his –

"Good Morning," came a groggy noise as a soft breath tickled his ear, blowing all thoughts of Snape out the other side.

"Morning, Alaire."

"I'm so comfortable. Can we just spend the rest of the day like this?" she asked as she snuggled even closer much to Neville's torture and delight.

"I'm afraid not. We-we've already had some company this morning."

Alaire shot up, wrapping the blanket around her. "What, who?'

"Well, you missed Transfiguration –"

"Oh God! Please tell me McGonagall didn't bust in here!"

"No! Actually it was Professor Dumbledore."

Alaire turned red and ran shaking fingers through her hair. "Are we expelled?"

"No, actually I got the weird feeling that he sort of liked the idea of the two of us together," Neville said blushing. "He actually sort of encouraged you to spend more time in the study."

Alaire raised an eyebrow at him.

"He said it was very calming and would help you. He also said something about your parents coming up for part of the hols."

"What?"

"He said that your parents are coming up for part of the holidays and –"

Neville was cut off as Alaire shrieked happily and pounced onto Neville's lap, throwing her arms around him.

"My parents are coming! I'll really get to see them! Thank you!"

Neville was going to explain he had nothing to do with it but Alaire started kissing him instead, placing chaste kisses all over his face before he claimed her lips with his own. He was lost in a sensation of bliss for who knows how long until he felt Alaire shift in his lap.

It was then he realized that first off if they didn't stop they would be late for class, and he had promised Dumbledore they wouldn't and two, his pants were becoming way too small and that was something he didn't particularly want Alaire to notice.

Struggling to pull his lips away from Alaire's sweet ones, he picked her up and placed her beside him on the couch.

Taking a deep breath, he turned and looked at her. "As much as I was enjoying that, and believe me I was," he said turning a shade of pink. "I promised Dumbledore that we'd both make it to Charms which starts in a few minutes. So I think it may be best if we ran up to the dormitories, changed, and got to class unless you want rumors flying about both of us wearing the same clothes as yesterday and looking quite thoroughly snogged."

"I haven't been completely, 100, thoroughly snogged," Alaire teased.

Neville cleared his throat, "Well, later then."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

He gave Alaire a quick peck on the cheek and led her out of the room. Merlin help him, she was going to be the death of him yet.