Author's Notes: All right, I'm going to attempt to get back to my original weekly update of this fic. I'm a couple chapters ahead in the re-editing process, so hopefully this will work barring anything else happening to my computer or files or life in general.

Chapter 46

Striding down the corridor, Harry was on a mission. Neville had arrived, but neither he nor Ron had seen him. So far Dumbledore was the only person to actually speak with him. It was irritating that he'd wander off like he had. Ginny had also arrived that morning, Natalie told him when they'd had lunch together. Apparently she was visiting in order to give Natalie a small baby shower. They and Hermione were supposed to be going to Hogsmead that evening for a small lady's only dinner. The actual baby shower wasn't until later that week. Molly Weasley was reportedly coming, along with an old friend of Natalie's, Emilia Peabody-Langston. Ron had told Harry he wished they were having it someplace other than Hogsmead, but Emilia's daughter owned a new shop in town and they were holding it there.

Slowing his pace, he noticed the door to the Teacher's lounge ajar and decided to take a look inside. The inhabitants may have seen Neville.

"Why aren't you teaching class?" Harry asked in a surprised tone, spying Draco, Hermione and Cassie. Hermione looked frazzled and was holding a cup of steaming tea as if she were strangling on it.

"Because I gave my students a one day research project due tomorrow. They're all in the library," his lover replied.

Harry glanced at Hermione as if to ask why she wasn't there. She met his eyes for a brief moment before dropping them back to her mug. The look she'd given him reminded him of a disgruntled hippogriff.

"Papa! Papa! I saw these people in the library and they were making like you and Daddy." Cassie exclaimed grinning broadly. "Guess who it was!" Biting his lip Harry tried to keep his voice even.

"What sweetie?"

"She saw two people kissing in the herbology section," Draco clarified. He nodded remembering that spot.

"Guess who it was!" Cassie yipped bouncing a bit in her chair.

"Who?" Harry asked, now more than a little curious as what had caused Draco to forego teaching today and Hermione to vacate her sanctuary.

"Here's a hint. One had red hair and is related to Weasley." Draco was trying hard to hide the smile that was threatening to spread. He found the situation humorous now that he wasn't in the direct line of fire. "And the other is an Auror."

Slowly Harry's facial features slackened as he figured out who it was.

"Ginny and Neville," he stated, pausing in his disbelief. "Kissing in the herbology section."

"Like a couple of teenagers." Draco couldn't hide his amusement. Hermione nearly smacked him.

"It's not funny. I can't believe how irresponsible they were! They should've known better. It's a public place. Malfoy, stop laughing! You didn't see what they were doing!" She snapped.

"Heavy petting?"

"MALFOY."

Harry pulled out a chair and sat down next to Cassie who was watching the exchange with a perplexed look on her face. He shook his head and quietly asked his daughter what she'd seen. Apparently nothing more than the two kissing, with Neville's hand on Ginny's chest. That was a relief in his mind. Children occasionally saw things that grownups thought they shouldn't. If she had questions he and Draco were prepared to answer them, hopefully.

"I can't say I'm surprised," he cut in after several minutes. Hermione paused mid rant about what young eyes shouldn't see and how Neville and Ginny had been completely inappropriate. "They did go to the Yule Ball together, more than once."

"I only remember the time when we were in fourth year," she admitted before taking a sip of her tea. She made a face and reached for the cream. Pouring more in, she tested it before taking a large gulp.

"Well they did. The one in our seventh year, Ron took Natalie and you and I went together because we didn't have anyone," Harry said watching as the memory came back to her.

"Ah, right. Now I remember. We were sneaking around trying to keep an eye on Pansey Parkinson because she was going to put that hex on Natalie, or at least try to."

"She was really mad at Natalie for embarrassing her in front of most of the school like that." Harry recalled.

Draco sighed wishing that they hadn't reminded him of her. They'd dated briefly, but he honestly couldn't stand her clingy behavior.

"This does explain why Neville asked after Mr. and Mrs. Weasley a few weeks ago. I thought it a bit odd at the time. I wonder how long they've been dating?" The Auror pondered.

"Long enough for her to follow him to Hogwarts," Draco told him remembering Percy's letter. "Mrs. Weasley sent Percy a letter about her arrival today. Visiting her brothers and sister-in-law was simply an excuse to be with Longbottom."

"Except Ginny is organizing Natalie's baby shower," Hermione pointed out, taking another sip of tea. She wasn't sure why she was so worked up about finding the two lovers like that. Maybe it was the fact Cassie had found them, or maybe it was just she thought that sort of thing should be done in private. Then again it could be the twelve fourth year students running around unsupervised in her library right now. At least her hexes would hold off any would be thieves.

"Conveniently scheduled around Longbottom's arrival," Draco muttered.

"No, the baby shower has been planned for nearly a month. Neville was only summoned here two days ago, am I right Harry?" Hermione inquired, wondering if Ginny had actually planned her arrival to coincide with Neville's rather than coming later in the week.

"That's correct. Neville had to finish up some paperwork at the London office before coming here."

"Something tells me, we'll be explaining things to Ginny as well," Draco muttered, not as happy with this thought as he was of Neville's reaction when Harry told him about the situation.

"I don't know," Harry admitted.

The adults mulled over this bit of information while Cassie began playing with the end of her ponytail. A soft knock on the door caused them to turn. A moment later Neville Longbottom stuck his head into the lounge.

"Ah…Harry, Professor McGonagall told me you'd headed in this direction." Noticing the others, he paused. When he spoke again, his voice held a tinge of regret. "I take it you know I'm here." He flushed, the red creeping up to his ears.

"I heard. You made quite an impression on my daughter," Harry said figuring since Neville had met Cassie, he might as well start with a shell shocker of his own.

"D-Daughter?" Neville's eyes shot towards the blond remembering Cassie's reaction to him. As he studied him, it dawned on Neville that it was Draco Malfoy. They all saw the confused look on his face.

"Come in Neville. Let me explain why you're here," Harry said shoving out a chair for him to sit. The other Auror nodded numbly.

"Papa, he's the one kissing Uncle Ron's sister." Cassie pointed out, eagerly scooting to the edge of her seat.

"I know that Cassie."

"He's really red like before!"

Neville's blush deepened. Draco got up and walked over to her.

"Cassie."

"Yes, Daddy?" She asked blinking large gray eyes at him.

"Papa's about to tell Mr. Longbottom a story and you know what you need to do when someone tells a story."

"Stay quiet until the story's done," she informed him. Draco nodded and picked her up.

"Why don't you come sit with me?" She latched her arms around his neck as he walked back to his seat. Harry shot him a thankful look. He needed to begin this tale before Neville became more confused than he already was.

Draco added things here and there as they gave the Auror an abridged version of the tale. Hermione remained mute, sipping her tea from time to time. By the conclusion, Neville looked white. His eyes kept darting to Draco as if to make sure he was real.

"Now you understand why you're here." Harry hoped it was true. For a few minutes Neville was quiet. When he did speak it was to Draco.

"So you're the reason the guards at the London Portkey were attacked back in June."

"I was not the reason. Death Eaters attacked them, not me," Draco spat inflamed that Neville would accuse him of it.

"I-I didn't mean it that way," Neville stumbled over his words. "I meant…"

"Neville, just stop," Harry warned gently. The brunet nodded fearing a confrontation with both Harry and Draco. They were both more powerful than him and getting on Draco Malfoy's bad side at least was a scary thing.

"Well, now that it's out," Hermione began, having finally regained her normal composure. "I suppose I should get back to the library. Malfoy's students could be tearing it apart for all I know."

"The worst they could do would be get into the restricted section." Draco commented. Hermione shot him a dirty look.

As the grownups exchanged farewell's Cassie wiggled free of Draco and slid off his lap. She wandered over to the window peered out. Madame Hooch was finishing her last class of the day and putting away the brooms. She wanted to go outside and fly on a broom too. The first years looked like they were having fun. Maybe her parents would take her out later. They hadn't taken her flying in a while and she missed it. Turning back she noticed Hermione, Harry and Neville leaving.

"Where you going Papa?" She asked.

"To see Uncle Ron. Mr. Longbottom and I have something important to discuss with him. It's Auror stuff, you wouldn't understand," he replied.

"You're coming with me Snapdragon," Draco said coming over and scooping her up. "We're going to check on my students."

"Yay! We're going to the library. Gregory and Vincent ducked into the history section earlier. I think they were laughing at Mr. Longbottom and Uncle Ron's sister." Neville blushed again as she spoke. Draco didn't try to hide his smile.

"I'm sure they were." He grinned, carrying her to the door.