Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Graces Malfoy & Thomas Higgs, who are my own. I do not claim any ownership of the characters or settings contained within. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official story line

Author's notes: Huge thank you to my beta Denarii for getting this ready for me!

Special thanks to noone297, A Crey, galyardt, BlueRose22, spannieren, Phoenix, and eloquent dreams for their reviews! It seriously makes the hours spent writing worth it

Phoenix: I forgive you :P Though I was starting to think you were abandoning me. Glad to know that is not the case ;)

Chapter 24

Neville could not stop smiling into his porridge the next day at breakfast. Ever since he had snuck back into the dorms the previous night he had been reliving his time with Graces in the classroom. There was just something so erotic about seeing her on top of him like that. Rising and falling around him, biting her lower lip as her breathing became more and more uneven, her fingers digging into his shoulders and soft moans eliciting from her as she continued moving herself so that she was enjoying him. Neville never thought he would see a beautiful woman enjoying him the way Graces did last night. It wasn't that Neville thought she didn't enjoy him the previous times, she most definitely had, but it was watching her enjoy him with no real actions on his part. Graces had had complete control and all he really had to do was sit back and enjoy the lovely view before him.

It hadn't started off so well. Graces seemed to be a bit bashful about having complete control, and the first few minutes was just kissing, with absolutely no movement on Graces' part. It wasn't until Neville decided to place his hands on her hips and guide her motions that it seemed she began to understand the new dynamics. But after that, and a few awkward movements here and there, the blonde quickly got the hang of it. And Neville definitely didn't take too long that time. Graces didn't seem to mind, though. In fact, much to Neville's annoyance, she seemed disturbingly proud over the situation, causing him to feel this need to prove himself and them going at it again.

"You seem awfully happy this morning," Hermione commented over her morning pumpkin juice.

"I guess I am," Neville said, realizing how odd he must have looked smiling into his porridge.

"So what's the news?"

"News?"

"Why are you so happy?"

"Oh yes, that… uh… I…" Neville racked his mind trying to think of an actual reason for him to be behaving in such a manner and, unfortunately for him, was drawing a blank.

"Is it a girl?" Lavender teased, holding onto Ron's arm tightly and placing her head on his shoulder. Hermione made an indignant noise, but Lavender just continued on smiling. "You're smiling like it's a girl."

"What?" Neville squeaked, now desperately trying to think of something. "No, no. Of course not. I just … well… I was happy -am- happy because… because…becauseProfessorSproutofferedmeanapprenticeship."

"You're kidding!" Hermione cheered. "Neville, that's wonderful!"

Neville blushed at Hermione's excitement for him.

"Thanks, I'm really excited for it. She said I just needed to continue doing well and it was mine."

"That's really great, Nev," Harry smiled.

"Yeah, that's really wicked, but is that what you want to do?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, I really like plants. I think I would rather enjoy being a herbologist. Gran won't be thrilled, but I'm excited."

"We should have a little celebration tonight," Seamus declared nudging Neville's arm with his shoulder.

"I have a bottle of firewhiskey in my trunk," Dean offered, sending a sideways glance at the staff table to make sure Professor McGonagall was still seated.

"Yeah, I think I have another tutoring session with Malfoy, but after would be great."

"Merlin, doesn't that girl have a life?" Ron exclaimed. "I swear she works you like a dog."

"I ask her for the sessions," Neville shrugged. "I just have a hard time without her help."

Ron muttered something impolite about Malfoys, and then his dorm mates proceeded in discussing how the celebration would unravel in their dorm room that night until Lavender started pouting because she wanted to be apart of it, and then it was moved to the common room. Which lead to the conversation of Neville's celebration becoming a house party.

Neville blushed as his roommates discussed the epic party that would be thrown that night in his honor. He knew that they were mostly doing this to make up for their hurtful comments, but he appreciated that they were making an effort all the same.

"Neville, your teeth!" Hermione shrieked excitedly, noticing the perfectly aligned smile Neville was wearing.

"Hermione," Ron whispered disapprovingly. "Leave the poor bloke alone about his teeth."

"They're fixed," Hermione pointed out irritatedly.

Neville blushed as all the eyes around the table were now staring at his mouth.

"Come on, Nev, give us a smile," Parvati giggled as Neville had closed his mouth at the attention.

Tentatively Neville gave a small smile, all the while noticing that his dorm mates all had an extremely guilt-ridden look about them.

"They're even whitened," Hermione pointed out, inching closer to get a better look. "I wonder what spell you use for that."

Neville, who had no idea that Graces had whitened his teeth, blushed and looked over towards the Slytherin table. Unsure of how he should feel about Graces doing that for him.

"They look really great!" Lavender exclaimed, leaning up to get a better look. "Definitely an improvement."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron scowled, moving away from Lavender.

Lavender seemed completely perplexed as to why Ron was upset and was about to splutter through an explanation when Neville intervened.

"Thank you, Lavender," he said, pointedly looking at Ron who blushed and dropped the subject.

"What made you get them done?" Hermione asked, now leaning over the table while bending low to get a better look at his molars..

"Hermione," Harry chuckled, pulling the girl down in her seat. "I'm sure Nev here doesn't appreciate you practically crawling into his mouth."

Hermione blushed and muttered something about her parents and interesting.

"I just wanted them done," Neville said quietly, looking back down at his porridge.

"Did Pomfrey do them?" Parvati asked, frowning. "Because she told me that she under no circumstances would do any kind of cosmetic repair."

"Hermione had her teeth fixed by her," Ron reminded.

"Yes, well, she had been hexed, remember?" Lavender said, an edge of amusement in her voice. "Pomfrey asked Hermione to tell her when her teeth were back to their normal length, and Hermione just let her shrink them to where she wanted them. Guess she got sick of being called chipmunk."

Hermione's cheeks pinked a little, and she finally stopped examining Neville's teeth and became very interested in the book by her side.

"That's right," Neville nodded. "I seem to remember Krum very much enjoying your teeth, Hermione."

Hermione looked up clearly shocked that Neville would make such a blatant statement, but smiled as she saw Lavender shut her mouth irritatedly, and Ron seeming to become very interested in her.

"What do you mean enjoying her teeth?" Ron asked, moving away from Lavender and staring at Hermione.

"I mean he was giving them quite a thorough examination after the ball if I recall," Neville laughed, a bit surprised with how he was holding such a conversation with his friends.

Ron looked like he was about to ask Hermione about her affairs with Krum, but Hermione quickly changed the subject placing it back on Neville.

"So, did you ask Pomfrey to fix them?"

"Uh… no," Neville blushed. "I sort of messed them up on my own, and yeah."

"How did you mess them up on your own?" Hermione asked, looking suspicious.

Neville nervously started playing with the back of his neck, before confessing that he had tried to fix them on his own. Hermione looked as though she were about to scold Neville for his actions when Seamus quickly intervened.

"Well, looks like we have two things to celebrate today then, huh Nev? You're apprenticeship and your new look," he winked. "I think that calls for a grander celebration, don't you all think?"

"On it," Ron proclaimed, taking out his inkwell and parchment and starting a letter listing supplies to his brothers to send. Everyone around the table was now giddy with the excitement of a party, while Neville's roommates all were putting their heads together plotting on how to ensure that that nights celebration would be the grandest the Gryffindor house had ever seen.

"You guys don't have to do this," Neville whispered awkwardly to the four boys currently bent over the parchment. "Really, it's not necessary. I know you all are sorry and-"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Seamus mused, pulling out a few coins from his pocket and handing them over to Ron. "We're just throwing you a party cause we're happy for you."

"It's not like you haven't ever done things for us," Harry pointed out, handing Ron his own pouch of coins. "We're just being good friends, nothing else to it."

Neville was about to argue, but Seamus threw a friendly arm over him. "Just let us do this for ya, mate. Trust me, we're going to be enjoying the celebration too, so don't be thinking we're all just being saintly."

Neville didn't exactly feel right about his friends making such a big fuss over him, and fiddled with his robes awkwardly.

"Let me at least pitch in then," he requested, going through his satchel to grab a few coins.

"Neville, if you take out a single knut I will hex you into the hospital wing," Seamus warned, brandishing his wand. Neville hesitantly complied, and was relieved when Seamus pocketed his wand and continued on with the planning.

"I'll tell you what you can do, Nev. Ask Malfoy if you can get out of working tonight," Dean ordered, after Ron and Harry had made a run for the owlery to owl Fred and George.

Neville rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He really didn't have a set plan to be with Graces that night, he had only been hoping to see her, but his friends were really making an effort and now he didn't feel like it would be appropriate to make plans with her for the evening.

"Yeah, okay. I'm sure she won't mind having her Friday night back," Neville deadpanned, already regretting that he wouldn't see Graces that night.

"Great!" Dean proclaimed enthusiastically, getting up to head to class. "This is going to be fun, Nev, you wait and see. Also, don't think you are going to be a wallflower this time, you are drinking, Mr. Longbottom, maybe we'll even find you a nice witch to snog in a corner."

Neville blushed scarlet at the suggestion. "Uh… I should go, umm, I'll see you all later," Neville said, clumsily grabbing his things and hurrying towards the main doors of the Great Hall. He got half way there though, before he turned around to find Ginny at the table.

"Ginny," he called over, getting the red heads attention. "You have classes with Luna. Could you invite her tonight?" he asked, ignoring the catcalls that were now sounding from his housemates.

"Yeah, sure, Nev," Ginny said, an amused smile on her face.

"It's not like that"

"Right, of course not."

"It's not," Neville continued, a bit flustered. "Just invite her, okay?"

Ginny nodded, an amused smile still on her lips. Neville rolled his eyes and muttered a thanks, a little miffed at the way Ginny didn't seem to believe him and hurried to herbology, excited to see the person he was interested already at their desk in the front of the room.

"Good morning," Neville said quietly, taking his things out of his bag.

"Good morning."

"You caused quite a commotion today at breakfast today," Neville commented offhandedly. Graces gave Neville a wary look and waited for him to continue. "Everyone was very impressed with my teeth."

"Oh, I was wondering what Granger was doing leaning over the table like that."

"I didn't think you were paying attention,"

"Unlike you Gryffindors, Slytherins have ways to pay attention without drawing attention."

Neville raised a curious eyebrow, which Graces ignored. She did, however, take out her small compact, the same one she had allowed Neville to use the night before, and began examining her eye lashes. Neville was about to ask her what she meant, when Graces began whispering to the mirror.

"Front entrance of the room, focus on the next person entering."

Neville watched as the mirror inside the compact showed the front entrance of the room, where Ernie had just entered. The mirror automatically began focusing on Ernie, it followed him as he went to his desk and began talking animately with Smith.

"Show me behind his back," Graces muttered, now pretending to check her lipstick. "And now show me Longbottom."

The mirror without any hesitancy quickly changed so that Graces was now looking at Neville's face, which was turning a violent shade of red the more she stared at it. Deciding to be merciful, she shut the compact and placed it back in her robes.

"Do you do that often?" Neville asked, unable to hide how uncomfortable he was.

"No," Graces scoffed, "can you imagine how ridiculous I would be if I was always staring into my compact."

"What about when you are alone?"

"It only works in the room it is in," Graces explained. "I can't ask it to look outside the room I am in."

"Were you spying on me this morning?" Neville asked playfully.

"Maybe," Graces replied quietly. "You seemed very happy this morning."

"I had a very good night," Neville reminded, his voice dropping suggestively.

Graces blushed at the reminder, and fidgeted with her hair eventually placing a lock behind her ear. It was then that Neville noticed something different about the girl standing next to him. Graces was always beautiful, she had a naturally elegant beauty to her, but today she looked different.

"You look… different today," Neville commented, still examining her. Graces seemed to blush even harder under Neville's observation and shrugged noncommittally as she began shuffling through her notes.

"Good different?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant about the situation, but not succeeding.

"You could never look bad different," Neville said warmly, reminding himself not to be too obvious in class and turning to fidget with his notes as well. "You always look beautiful, Graces."

"I put some lipstick on, I usually don't wear any, and I curled my hair and pinned parts of it back. So it's down, but isn't in my face." Graces seemed to be blushing as she told Neville all this, and he had a slight suspicion she had put the effort in for him.

"You look lovely," he complimented again. "I really like it."

Graces gave him a thankful smile, before pointedly looking away. Trying not to show how happy she was he noticed.

"Should we meet after dinner tonight? It's Friday so we can be out late," she pointed out, giving another look around the room to ensure no one was listening.

"I, uh, can't tonight," Neville mumbled awkwardly, as Graces head shot to him and she stared at him incredulously.

"You can't? Why not?"

"I-uh- sort of have a -well- a party to go to tonight…"

A flash of disappointment came across Graces face, before it hardened into something else. Neville at once recognized the signs that the girl was now miffed with him.

"Right," she clipped, taking a step away to distance herself from him.

"You're mad," Neville sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Please don't be angry, if I could be with you I would, but-"

"That's a load of rubbish," Graces hissed, folding her arms in front of her. "It's a party, you could very well be with me if you wished."

"It's a party being held for me," Neville explained, hoping that Graces would be a little more understanding now that she knew he was obligated to go.

"For you?" Graces frowned.

"Yeah, for me," Neville confirmed, glad that Graces' voice was not nearly as harsh and her frown was more questioning than angry.

"Why are they throwing a party for you?"

"Professor Sprout offered me an apprenticeship the other day," Neville grinned, unable to hide how proud he was of his accomplishment. His news however did not win him any kind of reward from Graces. The blonde stood there for a moment her face taking on a saddened look.

"You didn't tell me about that," Graces whispered, hurt evident in her voice.

Neville was about to explain how he really didn't have the chance/ he forgot about it in lieu of other things when Professor Sprout called the class to stood listening for a few moments as Professor Sprout explained their assignment with the snargaluff. Neville wasn't really listening though. He was too busy sneaking glances at the girl next to him to care about the pod in the stump. Graces no longer was wearing any kind of expression to give him any hint as to what she was thinking, and Neville inwardly groaned as he realized he had now crossed over into the danger zone with her.

"Please find another group to join for the assignment, and remember to be careful," Professor Sprout finished, as the room began buzzing with excitement.

Neville immediately turned to talk to Graces, but he was soon interrupted by Hermione and Hannah.

"Do you two have other partners yet?" Hermione asked, though she knew they didn't.

"Uh, no," Neville replied, looking over at Graces wondering if she was going to be okay with working with the two other girls.

"Great!" Hermione exclaimed. "We can all work together today."

Neville smiled and tried to seem enthusiastic, but Hannah and Graces both didn't even attempt to hide their displeasure with the situation.

Awkwardly the four of them began walking over to the stump. Neville made sure to stay near Graces though, not wanting her to be left out of the group, but knowing she would make no attempt to try and be included.

"Congratulations on the apprenticeship, Nev," Hannah said quietly, as they made their way over to the stump. "I'm really happy for you. You must be so excited."

"Thanks, I am," Neville admitted.

"Do you know what you would like to do?" Hannah asked, trying to make conversation, but clearly having a hard time talking with Neville.

"Teach, I suppose… though someone did suggest that I start my own business," Neville added, a quick glance over at Graces.

"I didn't know you were interested in business," Hermione commented, sitting down near the stump.

"I've been thinking of it a lot actually," Neville admitted. "I think I would be good at it, I do have a great interest in most of those sorts of plants. I could grow plants and sell them for medical potions."

"That sounds like a hard business to get into," Hermione pointed out.

"There isn't a lot of herbologist that have the skill to grow the plants, not to mention that most are unable to gain the land required for it," Graces said coldly. Hermione and Hannah stared at her, both awestruck that the blonde was engaging in a civil conversation with them. "If Longbottom here wasn't foolish to divide the Longbottom estate, he should have a good few acre of land in several different climates. Making it easy for him to grow different kinds of medicinal plants."

"How do you know so much about Neville's land?" Hermione asked suspiciously.

Graces stared at Hermione, her eyes calculating the girl before her. "Worried for your friend there, Granger?"

"Just seems like an odd thing for you to know," Hermione maintained, not faltering her position.

"Maybe all purebloods like to keep tabs on where blood traitors like Longbottom live," Graces said darkly.

"Yeah, good luck with that," Neville scoffed, not looking frightened in the least as opposed to Hermione and Hannah who both looked a little pale. "All that land is under the Fidelius Charm."

"Your gran's home isn't," Graces reminded, enjoying the frightened looks from the other two girls near her.

"It's her home, I don't own it. My grandfather bought it for her as a wedding gift," Neville said, now starting to examine the stump. "It's a tradition in our family for the husband to give his new bride a home. Everything is to be in her name, usually when the wife passes away it is willed to her children or in the case of none to the heir."

"So not all the Longbottom land is yours then? Just most of it," Hannah asked, now curious herself.

"No, it's all his, minus his Gran's house apparently," Graces said her eyes fixed on Neville. "Most of Neville's parent's generation was killed in the first war. Children and adults alike. Leaving their estates to Neville, as the only heir."

Neville was now no longer looking at the stump, but up at Graces.

"Tell me, Longbottom," Graces mused innocently. "What is it like to have your land grow and grow, with no fruit to grow from the soil?"

Neville understood what Graces was saying. His family wasn't prospering, they were dying off. He had plenty of land and estates, empty from the lack of Longbottoms to fill it. He supposed it was common knowledge among the purebloods that his family lineage fell heavily upon his shoulders, but he was surprised that Graces was bringing it up in such a manner.

Why are you surprised? She wants to appear as enemies. What better way to make people think she hates you than to be this cruel.

"You offering to help me sow the land, Malfoy?" Neville challenged, amused with how shocked Graces looked at his response.

"No way in hell, Longbottom," Graces quipped. "I would rather die than bear a blood traitor's children."

Neville just shrugged and chuckled to himself, though it was clear Hermione, Hannah, and even Graces didn't find his sense of humor at all funny. Deciding they had wasted enough time as it was, Hermione insisted they get the pod from the stump. It proved to be surprisingly easy for the group, seeing as how Neville seemed to have no trouble at all holding most of the vines back. Hannah and Graces both were able to manage the rest of the thorn covered loins, while Hermione reached in and extracted the pod with ease. Despite their late start, they were the first to finish.

"You still upset with me?" Neville asked, when he and Graces returned to their desk alone.

"No," Graces admitted, not looking up from her hands as she healed a few cuts the snargaluff had managed to give her. "I believe you forgot."

Neville nodded, glad that Graces was no longer upset.

"Kind of a low blow bringing up my family like that," Neville continued.

"I was educating your friends," Graces shrugged. "If they are going to live in our world, they should understand it."

"I don't think they need to understand my personal business," Neville muttered, slightly embarrassed.

"Abbott should. She fancies you, after all. I would think that given her interest in you, she would have learned the expectations your family and you would have of any girl you chose to court seriously."

"Expectations..." Neville repeated.

"Yes, expectations. Should Abbott get what she wants I imagine she will have to bear you quite an absurd amount of children."

"Hannah is not going to be bearing any of my children," Neville said rolling his eyes.

"I don't think she is going to just give up." Neville sent a sideways glance over to Graces, who was now packing her things. "She was looking at you the whole time you were holding those vines down, she still fancies you." There was a tense silence as Graces allowed Neville to soak in that information before she hurriedly admitted to using Legilimency to read the girl's mind.

"You did what?" Neville hissed, offended on behalf of Hannah for having her mind invaded so.

"I didn't even need to do it to know what she was thinking," Graces whispered angrily. "It was so obvious! Her eyes were glued to you the whole time, and you should have seen her face when you made that rather stupid comeback of me helping you sow the land."

"Graces," Neville groaned. "You can't just invade people's minds like that."

"Why not?"

Before Neville could respond to Graces, Hannah was at over at the desk with them.

"Hi, Hannah," Neville greeted awkwardly, clearly unsure of why she was there.

Hannah nodded to the greeting and stood worrying her lip for a moment before speaking.

"You never responded to my note," Hannah said quietly.

Neville seemed a bit flabbergasted at the statement.

"I didn't think there was anything to respond to."

Hannah blushed, and looked away. Clearly inwardly frustrated with herself.

"You said you wanted to be friends," Neville reminded slowly.

"I do," Hannah insisted.

"Then—"

"I just want to talk about things," she revealed, her voice breaking slightly. "We used to talk more, and now… now we hardly speak. I thought you would at least try to talk to me after the note, but you… you didn't."

"Okay, Hannah," Neville said gently. "Don't be upset, we'll talk."

"Tomorrow?" Hannah begged. " At the three broomsticks? Alone?"

"I was going to be meeting my friends there tomorrow..." Neville said hesitantly but, at seeing how fast Hannah's face fell, quickly added. "We can meet beforehand though."

Hannah put on a relieved smile and reached out her hand to clasp Neville's, an act that had Graces' undivided attention as she waited for Neville to move his hand away. He didn't.

"This means a lot to me, Neville. I've really missed you," Hannah smiled angelically, "I'll see you tomorrow."

When Hannah was far away Neville started packing his own things, in the back of his mind wishing he was going to be having a drink with Graces at the three broomsticks. Finally he turned to Graces.

"Can I see you this weekend?" he asked, no longer caring that she had invaded his friend's mind.

"I don't know," Graces clipped coldly, bitterness clear in every syllable of her words. "Do you think you have time for me?"

"You're upset again," Neville sighed, not sure why she was upset. Graces didn't make any comment, but continued to ignore him."You know I'm not able to read minds like you. If you are upset you have to talk to me."

Graces didn't say anything, she just continued to stare forward hellbent to pretend that she didn't give a toss about anything with Neville, that she wasn't upset he was seeing Hannah after she had told him that she wasn't planning to give up on him, that she wasn't hurt that he allowed her to hold his hand. No, Graces Malfoy was set in her decision to not care.

But despite her decision to not care, she couldn't help thinking of Nott. Although Neville was different from the Slytherin boy in practically every way, she couldn't help but feel that she was in a similar situation with Neville as she was in her relationship with Nott. It seemed silly, but the more she thought about it the more discouraged she became. She had been with Nott because it was a respectable match. They both exhibited the qualities their parents had wanted in their spouse. But while both their families were happy with the relationship, Graces couldn't help but be distant and prudish towards the boy. She was willing to marry him and give him an heir, but she was not willing to give him anything physically until she was required to.

It was the opposite with Neville, she could give him what he wanted physically, but not all that he would need. Hannah, on the other hand, being a light witch from a respectable light family could give him all of that. What was left of his family would, undoubtedly, approve and Neville would be free to court Hannah and eventually marry her and try to salvage what was left of his line.

A big part of her wondered if Neville would eventually come to this realization and decide to do what was best for his family as a whole and pursue Hannah after all. Their relationship was doomed to end, and Graces wondered how much longer the physical aspect of it would matter to him. He could have that with Hannah if he chose, and she would give him much more in the future than herself.

And you reminded him of his family obligation just today, a snide voice in her head reminded.

"Did you want to meet tomorrow? I can still see you aft—"

"No. I'm not mad because I had wanted to see you tomorrow," Graces hissed, glaring at him. "I'm not so pathetic that I don't have my own life. I have other things to occupy my time other than you."

"Okay, I'm sorry," Neville said defensively, realizing he hit some nerve.

"Have a good time with Abbott," Graces spat venomously as Sprout dismissed the class.

Neville at once rushed to catch up with Graces, realizing now what it was that she was upset over.

"Nothing is going to happen between me and Hannah," Neville whispered, trying to keep up with Graces fast pace. "Honestly, you have nothing to worry about."

"I'm not worried," Graces clipped, making a sharp turn down another corridor.

"Surely, you realize I would never be unfaithful to—"

"You are not my boyfriend," Graces whispered angrily, stopping abruptly in the empty hall. "This is just a fling. You are allowed to see other girls and it not be considered unfaithful. You are free to do as you wish. Just as I am."

Neville huffed out a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose with his hand. Clearly beyond frustrated with the blonde standing with him.

"Fine," he clipped, deciding that this was just another one of Graces' ridiculous moods and he should just walk away. "Let me know when you decide to put away your crazy."

ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Neville had had a very, very long and exhausting day. A very long day that he was happy to drown in firewhiskey. He stood in the common room surrounded by his friends, continually drinking down as much of the amber liquid he could manage. Despite his resolution to not allow Graces' craziness to get to him, he had all day pondered what could have possibly made her so upset. Neville poured himself another glass of firewhiskey as he ran over the reasons that Graces Malfoy drove him insane.

"Having a good time here, Nev?" Ron asked, watching his friend pour himself a generous helping of firewhiskey.

"Grand," Neville muttered, taking a swig and turning to face Ron. "You?"

"Grand," Ron repeated, pouring himself a healthy portion of whiskey as well and raising his glass to Neville.

The two Gryffindors clinked glasses and emptied them in a matter of two swift movements.

"You want to talk about it?" Ron asked, filling his and Neville's glass again.

"Nope. You?"

"Nope." Neville looked over at his friend and saw Ron's eyes trailing over to Hermione.

"How's it going to with Lavender?" Neville asked, though he knew the answer.

"Great," Ron lied, tearing his eyes away from Hermione. "She's great, and you know what I like the most about her? She always says what she's thinking and what she wants. If she is mad at me, she lets me know. If she wants to go snog me in a corner she lets me know. Why can't all women be like that?"

Neville frowned into his glass and nodded along with what Ron was saying.

"Yeah," he said quietly, before nodding his head faster and proclaiming, very loudly, again. "Yeah! Why is it that we are just supposed to know what they are feeling?"

"We can't know!" Ron exclaimed, moving his hand grandly and spilling a bit of his drink. "And then when we can't figure it out, they get even more upset!"

Neville bobbed his head in agreement, and began pointing his finger towards his friend appraisingly indicating that he had just made a great point.

"That's true," he muttered, still brandishing his finger. "Why the bloody hell do they do that?"

"Hell if I know! They just love talking and pointing out your flaws, but heaven forbid they actually talk to you when they are the ones angry."

"Oh! And then when you make an effort to try and make things better they ignore you! It's like they already have an idea of how they want you to atone for your sins against them, but they refuse to tell you how!"

"They just want to kill us," Ron declared, turning to the table and making two strong shots for him and Neville. "Here's to life, mate."

"To life," Neville toasted, his head already swimming from his earlier drinks. The two of them tossed back the shots and let out a low hiss as the alcohol burned down their throats. After a few moments of silence, each boy hazily contemplating the girls in their life Ron turned to Neville.

"Did Hermione really kiss Krum?"

Neville eyed Ron for a moment, he had never heard him sound so tortured. How Ron was behaving earlier was more or less normal, but this vulnerability he was showing now was a little unsettling.

"Yeah, she did," he said quietly.

"Do you think he was a good kisser?" Ron continued, now back to looking over at where Hermione was.

"Looked like it."

Ron pursed his lips and turned, nostrils flaring, back to the table for another drink.

"If you want to kiss Hermione go kiss Hermione," Neville said exasperatedly, not caring that he was speaking out of place. Or that everyone was supposed to be ignoring the fact that Ron was head over heels for Hermione. "Stop snogging Lavender just because she is the easy one to snog."

"Did you just call my girlfriend easy?" Ron asked, getting up close to Neville's face.

"Didn't mean it like that," Neville protested. "I just mean that if you want Hermione you should go for it, no matter how hard or trying she can be. Better to snog a girl that drives you mad and you can't stop thinking of, than snog a girl who just makes you miss another."

"I never said I wanted to snog Hermione," Ron said stubbornly.

"Yeah, okay," Neville scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Ron scowled, and began to redden around his ears. "Yeah, well, who is it you're talking about?" he demanded.

"Just some crazy blonde," Neville muttered, taking the last swig left in his glass. "Some crazy hot blonde, that I would kill to be snogging right now." Neville then tilted his swimming head up and continued muttering aloud to the ceiling. "Hell, who am I kidding, I'd do a lot more than snog her right now, but she's much too ridiculous at the moment for such pleasantries."

Ron eyed Neville, and looked over to where Luna was talking to Harry. She was putting some kind of homemade necklace with butterbeer corks around his neck, but before he could ask if Luna was the crazy blonde Lavender was at his side giggling into his ear and leading him over to a darkened corner. He had at first tried to protest, saying he was speaking with the man of the hour, but Neville lazily waved him off saying he should go enjoy himself.

When Ron had disappeared behind some curtains, Neville's thoughts once again turned to Graces. Graces who threw fits and pouted like a child. Graces who insisted they were not together, despite their level of intimacy. Graces who told him earlier today that they were free to do as they wish with other people. With that thought in mind Neville turned and poured himself another glass.

"Why do people drink when they are upset?" Luna asked, as Neville slammed down his drink.

"Why are women crazy?" Neville retorted, about to pour himself another only to be stopped by Luna.

"How about a butterbeer instead," she offered, a sympathetic smile on her face as she handed Neville the bottle. Neville sighed and agreed, taking the drink Luna offered in hand.

"Is it Graces?" Luna asked, causing Neville to choke on his butterbeer and double over coughing.

"Why would you ask that?" he rasped, panic spreading through his veins as the light headed feeling of intoxication left him.

"You like her don't you? It seems like you like her. You're always looking at her, and you are exceptionally happy after tutoring with her."

"I don't like Gra—Malfoy," Neville lied, making sure to not look at all suspicious.

"Oh," Luna breathed, an air of disappointment in her tone. "That's too bad, I think she likes you."

"You do?" Neville asked, moving Luna to a corner where they could speak more privately.

"Yeah," Luna continued sadly, sitting down. Neville sat beside her leaning in as she continued. "I always see her in the girls bathroom on days she has herbology with you. She goes in and fusses with her hair in the mirror and sometimes she uses her wand and curls her lashes. She never used to do that sort of stuff before."

"That doesn't mean she likes me," Neville argued, though secretly he knew Graces was in fact doing that for him.

"Well there are other things," Luna mused. "Sometimes when you pass her in the hall, after she scowls at you, she looks as though wrackspurts got in her head."

"How so?" Neville, although he was still furious with the blonde, couldn't help but be secretly happy about what Luna was saying.

"Well, she usually has to ask whoever they were with to repeat what they had been saying, that's a big sign of wrackspurts, but it only happens after she passes you. I think it's pretty safe to conclude, that you distract her."

"Maybe she just enjoys scowling at me," Neville joked, a warm feeling of affection spreading through his chest as Luna continued saying reasons why she thought Graces liked him.

"That would explain the smile she has after," Luna grinned, before taking on a somber expression and holding Neville's free hand. "I won't tell, Nev. Sisters are supposed to keep their brother's secrets. I won't tell."

"There's nothing going on," Neville insisted, growing a little frustrated as Luna just smiled knowingly.

"There isn't," Neville repeated hastily, tearing his hand away from her. "We're not even friends. You should have heard what she said to me in Herbology today."

Luna stared thoughtfully at Neville, her big eyes seeming to look beyond him. Neville, wanting to get away from Luna's knowing stare, stood to get away from the girl, but ended up stumbling against a table of pastries instead. Neville felt his face flush with humiliation as the people around him began roaring with laughter, as he pulled his left arm out of the green frosted cake, punch soaking his clothes. He vaguely heard, among the laughter, Dean proclaiming loudly that the party was a success, and wondered if Dean's definition of a successful party was making him so pissed that he couldn't even walk.

"It's okay, Nev," Luna said gently, wrapping her arm around him and keeping him steady. "Let me help you to bed, hmm?"

Neville, not wanting to humiliate himself anymore than necessary, nodded his head and let Luna guide him up the stairs. Too embarrassed to even look up at his house mates around him. Though it did make him feel better when his dorm mates called out that they had all been there at least once, and it was high time he partook in the tradition of becoming utterly pissed at a party.

"I think I may be sick," Neville gagged, as they finally made it into the room.

"I think that would be best," Luna mused as Neville ran to the bathroom.

Luna, hummed to herself softly as Neville emptied the contents of his stomach. Realizing she was probably going to be there a while she hopped onto his bed to wait for his return. Absently, she fiddled with the objects on his nightstand, making sure to keep away from his mimbulus mimbletonia. She imagined the last thing Neville would need after getting sick was to have the plant's stinksap covering his bed. When she heard the sound of running water she decided it may be best for her to pull out some night clothes for her friend to wear.

Jumping off the bed, she went to Neville's trunk to search for some more comfortable attire. She had just pulled out a maroon Gryffindor shirt, and was looking contemplating some striped green pajama bottoms when she noticed a pair of black panties tucked into a corner.

"I am never drinking again," Neville moaned, flopping himself down on his bed, his dirty clothes clinging to his damp body.

"Why are you wearing your dirty clothes after you showered?" Luna asked curiously, taking out her wand and taking off the last remains of frosting from Neville's shirt.

"Didn't want you to see me in just a towel," Neville muttered, not moving his face from his bed.

"You could have just not worn your shirt," Luna pointed out, allowing Neville's answers to reveal more about himself.

"Guess I'm shy," Neville chuckled, his eyes still closed.

"Has anyone seen you naked?" Luna asked, shutting Neville's trunk and placing his fresh clothes by his head.

"Have you not seen the other four beds in the room?" he asked, with a snarky smile.

"Has a woman ever seen you naked?" Luna specified, now sitting on the bed next him flattening his wet hair down.

Neville's eyes immediately shot open, and he moved to out of reach from Luna on the bed. "You are not seeing me naked, Luna."

"I should think not," Luna frowned, "As your sister I shouldn't. But has the girl whose panties are in your trunk seen you naked?" Neville's eyes widened at the question, and he once again felt that feeling in his stomach that he was going to be sick. "Have you seen her naked?"

"Luna," Neville rasped, his heart now thudding in his throat. "How—"

"Are they Graces'? Did you make love to her?" she asked, as though this was something that wasn't a big deal in the slightest.

Neville turned to the side of his bed, and held his breath to stop himself from throwing up. This was a disaster. Once again his forgetfulness had caught up with him. He began shaking as he thought of the repercussions of this.

"No, of course not," he choked out, his voice vibrating like the rest of him. "They're… they're, well… they're mine. Yeah, they're mine."

"They look awfully small to be yours," Luna pointed out, her voice serene as ever as Neville's world just continued crashing down.

"That doesn't mean they are Malfoy's," Neville sputtered, closing his eyes as his world was now spinning out of control.

"It's okay if they are," Luna said gently, moving back over to Neville and taking both his hands in hers. "You don't have to lie to me."

"I'm not lying," Neville lied, trying to pull his hands away.

"I know you are," Luna said sadly. "I wish you didn't feel a need to lie to me."

"Luna, I'm not—"

Luna placed her finger on Neville's lips, so she wouldn't have to hear any more of his falsehood.

"You're all I have," she said quietly. "Just you and my dad. Please, don't lie to me. I'll keep your secret. I'll keep hers too, but don't lie to me. I know we don't share the same blood to bond us together, but we could share a strong trust that would do that all the same. Like Harry and Ron."

Neville said nothing as Luna removed her finger from his lips, but continued to stare at her. He didn't want to tell anyone about Graces. He felt like that was in some way breaking her trust, but at the same time Luna knew. He didn't understand how she knew, but she knew. If she already knew was it a betrayal to talk to her about Graces and his relationship? He had no inkling of a clue, and he was honestly too drunk to really even think about it.

"I'm falling in love with her," he admitted quietly, the silence of the room bearing down on him with Luna's stares.

"That's wonderful," Luna smiled, moving closer to him on the bed so they were sitting hip to hip.

"No, it's not," Neville sighed, putting his face in his hands. "It's bloody awful. Out of all the girls I could have fallen for I chose—"

"Smart, fiery, beautiful Graces Malfoy," Luna finished, a sweet smile on her face.

Neville groped for Luna's hand, completely overcome with emotion from the support he was being offered. He had expected to be told he was being foolish, stupid, suicidal, and acting as a traitor, he had never expected support. Somewhere in his mind he was reminded that this was Luna, and she had a tendency to see things differently, but he didn't care. All he cared about was that Luna was there for him, and she supported him. In that moment, she truly did become a sister to him.

"Thanks, Luna."

"Neville, you sound funny. Are you coming down with a head cold?" Luna asked concerned, putting her hand on his forehead.

"No, I'm great," Neville declared, taking Luna's hand away from his head.

"Why are you so upset about falling in love with Graces?"

Neville let out a heavy sigh and collapsed on the bed putting his hands over his face. He felt the bed dip beside him and peaked through his hands to see Luna doing the same.

"Does this help?" Luna asked, her voice muffled against her hand.

Neville reached over and put Luna's hands down. He stared at the ceiling for a few moments trying to figure out what to say. He had no idea how to put what bothered him about falling in love with Graces into words.

"It's not her family," Neville started, glad that Luna was so open minded when it came to people. "I could care less who she is related to. And it's not even that she is insane and refuses to admit that we are anything more than two people that … well she refuses to admit we are in any kind of relationship. I can even look past the fact that she always has to have everything her way. That she has a temper, and throws tantrums like a spoiled child. I can even get past that she for some reason has never learned to communicate when she is actually upset, and instead pouts silently making me be the one to try to decipher her ever changing moods. But I can't stand how she pushes me away. I just can't. What am I going to do when I love her? How am I supposed to cope with her pushing me away when I am in love with her? Right now it hurts, and I only am falling for her. I feel like she isn't going to stop pushing herself away from me, until she can admit to herself that we are something and… and she's so bloody stubborn I don't know if that will ever happen."

Neville waited for Luna to say something, anything really, but she didn't. Instead she leaned up and awkwardly hugged Neville, as he laid on the bed. Luna didn't seem to find anything awkward about it, and just kept hugging him.

"Luna?"

"Does this make you feel better?" Luna asked, putting her head on his chest as she wrapped her arms more around him. "It's supposed to make people feel better."

"Uh, sure," Neville answered, patting Luna awkwardly on the back while praying none of his roommates walked in. There was a pregnant silence for a long period of time, with Luna continuing to hug him. "Are you going to offer me any advice?"

"No," Luna hummed simply. "People don't take advice they are offered, they usually do what they are going to do anyways, but I'll hug you any time you need one."

"Thanks," Neville said quietly, allowing himself to relax.

It was all short lived though, because as soon as he stopped worrying about someone walking in he heard the door open and Harry, Dean, and Seamus came stumbling in. Neville bolted up from his bed immediately, and groaned aloud as the three of them all started trying to pack themselves through the room's narrow doorway. Each muttering an apology to Neville and trying to avoid looking at him and the bed entirely.

"Nononononono, guys," Neville protested, not wanting anyone to leave the room thinking that he was doing something with Luna. "Seriously, it's not what—"

"Seriously, it's okay."

"Yeah, we'll sleep in the common room tonight."

"Have fun; don't forget the charm."

With a final slam of the door the boys were gone, and a brand new rumor was born to spread through the halls.

So who's ready for more Higgs? Next chapter definitely has more Higgs, and if you all are keeping up with the timeline you should know something else that happens ;) Don't forget to follow and review!