Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling, except Graces Malfoy and Thomas Higgs who are my own. I do not claim ownership of the characters or the settings within. This story is for entertainment only and is not part of the official story.
Author's notes: Huge thank you to my beta Denarii for editing and making sure I didn't go to crazy with one scene haha He's a real life saver guys. And thank you to my best friend Aleah for reading over this chapter and helping me out when I got stuck!
Special thanks to pleasereadmything, JBadgr, Blue Luver5000, bekkivobekki, char170217, 000janedoe000, Snakepur, pokegirl1005, GTH, Guest, Guest, Guest, HT188, Manoirmalfoys, q and Guest!
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! This one is a long one! Also, there is a timeline at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 54
"Neville, are you okay?" Dean asked, growing more and more concerned for his friend as the morning ticked by.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Neville nodded, retying his tie for what had to be the seventh time. "This still isn't straight, is it?" Neville asked, undoing the maroon and gold cloth again.
"Neville, it's fine. What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing," Neville blushed. "Nothing."
Dean looked over at Seamus who seemed to be just as perplexed as him about their friend's behavior.
"Dean, could—would you mind if I used some of that cologne you have?"
"No, uh, go ahead."
"Thanks," Neville smiled, reaching over to his nightstand and taking a few squirts. Dean was about to ask what was going on, if this had to do with a girl, but before he could Neville was hurrying out the door, calling back that he will see them at breakfast.
"Ya don't reckon it's a girl, do ya?" Seamus asked, as they made their way to the Great Hall.
"Seems like it's a girl," Dean agreed. "You think he is reconsidering his feelings for Hannah?"
"Nah, I think it's Luna," Seamus nodded. "I think there was something going on between them and then us bursting into the room at his party stopped it and he's been too embarrassed since to approach her."
"What are you two gossiping about?" Ginny teased, joining them as they entered the Great Hall.
"Nothing!" the two exclaimed in unison.
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"Graces."
"Hmmm?"
"Are you aware that Neville Longbottom has barely taken his eyes off you since he sat down for breakfast?" Blaise drawled, buttering his toast, but looking at the blonde beside him from the corner of his eye.
"I'm aware," Graces muttered, thumbing through a few more pages of Witch Weekly as though such news wasn't at all interesting.
"I wasn't aware," Pansy squeaked, now looking up from her own magazine to see Neville quickly looking down.
Blaise watched as Graces' cheeks turned a subtle shade of pink and she angrily flipped to the next page demanding everyone to please just ignore it.
"What's his deal with you," Blaise wondered aloud. "I just don't understand why he's so infatuated with you."
"Thanks," Graces deadpanned.
"Oh, you know I didn't mean it like that," Blaise scoffed. "It's just odd, the extent of his infatuation. Now this, this seems more normal. I understand some poor sap like Longbottom staring at you longingly and getting all flustered as people notice, but coming into our common room, being determined to stay by your side…"
"What's your point, Blaise?" Graces snapped obviously becoming more angrier by the second.
"I don't have one," Blaise admitted. "I'm just saying. Longbottom is an interesting bloke." Graces scowled at his statement, before turning back to her magazine and repeating for everyone to ignore him.
"What are you like alone with him?" Blaise asked casually after a few moments.
"What do you think I'm like alone with him?" Graces asked offensively.
"I'm just asking," Blaise pointed out raising his hands up in defense. "He's clearly mad for you so—"
"I shag his brains out when we're alone," Graces snapped. "I shag his brains out and we listen to muggle music and discuss muggle books. There, happy?"
Blaise sent a look over to Pansy who seemed just as at a loss as he was for Graces amount of anger, but the other Slytherin girl didn't appear to know what to do either.
"Graces," Blaise began patiently. "I'm just asking. No need to be so upset."
"Well, I am upset," Graces hiccuped. "He keeps looking at me!"
"Too bad Draco isn't here at the moment," Pansy sighed. "I doubt Longbottom would keep looking over here with him around."
"You're not being helpful, Pans," Blaise droned. Pansy shrugged and went back to her magazine. "In all serious, Gray, what are you like with him?"
Graces stared down at the table and worried her lip. Blaise wondered if she was trying to find the words, or wondering if she had brought on Longbottom's attention herself.
"I'm polite," Graces admitted, clearly thinking she should be ashamed of this. "Not really that friendly, we do have moments like when we made that bet, but yeah… I'm cordal."
Pansy now was looking back up from her magazine, frowning at Graces statement.
"He saved my life," Graces murmured defensively. "It's a life debt. I try to be as tolerant as I can with him. He—I teach him like I do the younger years."
"So you're not at all unkind?" Blaise scowled.
"I wouldn't say that," Graces droned. "I can be extremely unkind some days, but he just ignores it."
"So which are you? Polite, friendly or unkind?" Pansy asked in confusion.
"Polite up until she loses her temper," Blaise clarified, knowing Graces.
Graces nodded and tucked a stray strand behind her ear.
"Well, why even bother being polite?" Pansy asked. "I mean, it's Longbottom. He's a blood traitor and—"
"I owe him this life debt," Graces stressed patiently. "And I need him for Herbology. You know I would fail without him."
Both Slytherins nodded sympathetically at Graces' words. Blaise in many ways felt sorry for his friend. On one hand he felt she brought this on herself, he distinctly remembered a day in Potions where she lead Neville on just for giggles and now she was stuck dealing with the sap.
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Hermione was determined not to look at Neville. If she looked at him she would probably hex him. She saw him looking over at Malfoy and she just couldn't stomach watching him behave similar to Lavender Brown. Out of all the girls he could be interested in it had to be Graces. She just didn't understand how anyone could be so shallow.
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Neville bit down on the inside of his cheek and asked himself once again if he wanted to do this. He loved Graces, he did, but at the same time he really wasn't looking forward to being humiliated in front of the whole school.
He took a deep breath and reminded himself that this was needed.
"Neville, where are you going?" Harry asked, scowling as Neville was about to leave the table without taking a single bite of food.
"I, uh, I'll be right back," Neville blushed, his heart now pounding in his chest. He felt his mouth go dry as he manoeuvred around the Gryffindor table and started towards the Slytherin. He knew his whole house was watching him and now the Slytherin table was starting to notice him walking over. He didn't dare look at the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, but judging by the odd whispers he gathered he had piqued their curiosity too. He tried to focus on just Graces' face. She was frowning and kept shifting her eyes around the hall, clearly at a loss as to what he was doing.
"M-Malf-Gra-Malfoy," Neville decided, for once glad that he ended up a blubbering idiot when nervous. "Could—may I have a word?"
"Now?" Graces asked looking around at everyone staring. "What's this about?"
Neville inwardly groaned that Graces hadn't started off angrily. He thought for sure she would have been more rude to him from the beginning, especially when he'd told her to be in a very Malfoy mood, but the blonde wasn't rude. Unsettled, yes. Rude, impatient or even irritated, no.
"I, uh, it's private," he blushed, praying that she would remember what he asked. "Could we speak in private?" Graces continued to just frown up at Neville in confusion. They had spoke just yesterday about not being seen any longer together and here he was asking to speak with her alone while she was at her house's table. She tried to not get upset with him. She was sure that whatever it was Neville wanted to discuss with her was important. He wouldn't have came over here if it wasn't, but still she just couldn't go and speak with him in private.
"Longbottom," Graces said patiently meeting Neville's eyes and hoping he would understand. "I'm sure whatever it is you need to ask me can wait until Herbology," she said pointedly. "I'll speak with you then."
Graces felt a sense of relief as Neville nodded awkwardly and turned away.
"That was odd," Pansy noted, sneering in the direction of Neville. "What do you think he wanted?"
"Probably just a question about something we went over yesterday," Graces sighed rolling her eyes as though she were exasperated with tutoring him.
"I somehow doubt that," Blaise breathed, his eyes trained on Neville walking back.
Graces frowned and was about to ask why he doubted that when to her horror she heard Neville shout over to her: "Wouldyouwanttogooutsometime?"
There was a ringing silence that settled around them. It was the kind of silence you would imagine if all air was sucked out of a room. Graces felt her heart populating in her chest and her mouth had become dry.
"Wh-what?"
Neville looked around nervously at everyone staring at him, before walking back over to her table and asking her if they could go out.
Everyone was staring at them. Her whole house, his house and all the other houses were staring at them. What could Neville possibly be thinking? Did he actually expect her to be able to say yes? Was this his sick idea of trying to unify them all together? Was—
Suddenly it all clicked and Graces stared at Neville and knew exactly what to do. This was his way of ensuring people didn't catch on. He was going to play the lovesick fool for her. Graces wished he would have told her. If he had told her what he planned she would have insisted on finding another way, a way that didn't involve her humiliating him in front of the whole school. A way that wouldn't cost him his friends.
It's done. You have to now. It's done. Graces felt sick and looked down at the table for a moment to gather herself, before looking back up at Neville darkly.
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"Hermione!"
"What?" Hermione snapped, looking up at Ron from her book angrily.
"Get your nose out of that book and look!"
It took Hermione a moment to realize that the whole of the hall had gone silent, but it didn't take her long at all to see the reason for why. Neville was standing between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw table shaking like a leaf and staring over at Graces Malfoy who inturn was staring completely flabbergasted at him.
"Wh-what?"
"I asked if you would like to go out with me sometime," Neville repeated, walking over to the blonde hopefully. Hermione stood from her chair as Graces continued to say nothing, just sat there looking as though she had been badly confunded. It was obvious the blonde could not believe that Neville would have to audacity to ask her out and she was slowly wrapping her mind around it.
"Oh, no," Hermione groaned, watching as Graces' face turned from utter confusion to fury.
"You can't be serious," Graces deadpanned.
"I-I just thought since we were getting along so well in Herbology and tutoring that—"
"Get along?" Graces repeated in disgust. "We don't get along. I tolerate you. My gods, Longbottom are you so pathetic that if a girl so much as stands to be in your presence you fall for her?"
Neville didn't say anything, he just blushed and looked around the room awkwardly.
"You can't honestly think that I would want to go on a date with you," Graces scoffed. "I mean look at me. Look at you!"
Hermione strained to hear what Neville was saying, but couldn't. It didn't seem as though he were saying any string of words that made sense though, judging by the way the other Slytherins had started laughing. She was sure Neville was becoming tongue tied and felt a hook snag the inside of her stomach as Graces stood up from her seat.
"Cat got your tongue?" Graces challenged, raising a finely shaped eyebrow. Neville stopped trying to say anything and looked down.
"Why on earth would I want to go on a date with you?" Graces asked in all seriousness. "I mean you're not powerful, rich, smart—"
"Because he's a good man!" Hermione shouted angrily, unable to watch this cruelty any longer. Now the eyes of the hall had fallen on her. The bushy haired girl could feel her cheeks pinking at the attention, but she forced herself to ignore her feeling of shyness and instead strode across the hall to stand at her friends side. "Because he's caring and thoughtful. And treats people with decency and respect!"
Hermione could feel her whole body vibrating as Graces sized her up. The blonde clearly wasn't expecting anyone to come over and Hermione turned her chin up proudly as Graces' cold gray eyes locked on her own.
"Well, if you think so highly of him why don't you two go at it," Graces smirked. Hermione blushed, but didn't move away from Neville's side. "Oh, that's right," Graces nodded, pretending to remember something. "You only go for famous blokes. Like Viktor Krum or Potter. What was it that Rita Skeeter said about you? Oh, yes that—"
"You're a wicked thing," Hermione spat, moving her arms so that they were tight around Neville's arm. "I have no idea why Neville would want to go out with you. You are a heartless, cruel, evil, miserable excuse for a human being and—"
Hermione yelped with pain as her tongue felt as though it had been stabbed with a red hot iron.
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Thomas stood proudly on top of the table, he hadn't even let his wand hand down after sending the hex. He glared at the mudblood as she stared up at him tearfully from the palms of her hand. If he didn't care about people knowing about his speech impediment he would have dared her to say another thing to Graces. Dared her to call her heartless again, so that he could rip her fucking tongue out from her mouth!
Neville, after making sure Hermione was okay, made a move towards him and Thomas was just about to send the same jinx at him when Graces stepped between the two of them her wand out to Neville's chest.
"Don't," she ordered firmly. Thomas scowled at Neville's reaction. He looked… betrayed. Like he didn't expect Graces to pull her wand on him. Thomas wondered if Neville thought just because he helped her when she was hurt that she would all of the sudden change her feelings towards him. Maybe that is why he did this whole endeavor. Maybe that's why he was so shocked to have her wand against his chest.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" McGonagall bellowed from the head of the Hall. The older woman silently berated herself for not stepping in sooner. She should have interrupted the moment Graces began behaving callously towards Neville. She had thought that it would end there, that this was a matter that should be left between the two of them. She didn't particularly like the idea of becoming involved in students' affairs and yet she should have known when Hermione joined in that wands would be taken out.
"Detention tonight, Higgs," she informed, snapping her fingers angrily for the younger boy to step down from the table he was standing on. The younger Slytherin lazily hopped off, not the least bit contrite for his actions. "We will discuss further punishment then for your actions against Miss Granger."
Thomas rolled his eyes and turned back to his breakfast. Mcgonagall made a note to ensure his punishment was creative enough to elicit more of a reaction, before turning to Graces, Neville and Hermione.
"Miss Granger, let me take a look."
"It's fine now, Professor," Hermione reassured. "I think it was a tongue snapping jinx, nothing more. It just stung."
Mcgonagall tightened her lips at this, but nodded before turning towards Graces.
"I can't imagine you have anything to say to me," Graces quipped, not allowing her to even get out a word. "This is private. Exceptionally so, and it's not my fault Longbottom chose to ask me out in front of the whole school."
"That may be," the older Gryffindor proceeded carefully. "but that does not excuse your complete lack of compassion. Five points will be taken from Slytherin for lack of tact. I am hoping that in the future you will remember this, Miss Malfoy. It takes a lot of courage to tell someone your feelings. The gracious thing to do is politely decline if you don't feel the same. Cruelty is easy. Every person has the ability to be cruel. It's in our nature. But grace... grace, Miss Malfoy, is an accomplishment."
Graces gritted her jaw from making a retort and reminded herself that this was all staged and she didn't need to feel bad. Neville was doing a good job of looking dejected, though. She was silently impressed by his acting skills. Then again he could actually be feeling bad, judging by the way he looking over at Hermione. He clearly did not expect her to join him.
"Mr. Longbottom," McGonagall started out, clearly at a loss for what she should do. "Why don't you come with me."
Neville shifted where he stood, his neck and cheeks turning almost purple from embarrassment, but he nodded quietly and turned towards the door of the Great Hall. He had wanted this to be public, but he had not wanted teachers involved. He thought Graces would humiliate him and he would practically run out of the hall and that would be the end. Now he was going to have to talk with his head of house about his feelings. And not just any feelings feelings he had for a girl.
Hermione had seemed to decide she should stay with him and followed him out as well. Neville could barely look at her. It was all a lie and Hermione had no clue. Here she was being an amazing friend and what was her thanks? A hex and lies. Neville moved his hand away as Hermione reached for it. He didn't want her comfort, in fact the more she looked at him with those sad sympathetic eyes the more he felt like he was going to be sick.
Professor McGonagall was now leading the two of them to her office and Neville could feel the eyes of other students leaving the hall on his neck. By the time they got into the office he was actually grateful to be away from the rest of the student body.
"Well, I can't say I was expecting any of that," Professor McGonagall sighed sitting down in her chair, gesturing for Neville and Hermione to take a seat. Neville blushed and stared at an odd contraption in the corner. The tension in the room was so high Neville could cut it with a knife. No one seemed to know what to say. Hermione kept opening her mouth just to close it last minute, and his head of house just continued to stare at him. As though the answer of what she should say to him was going to appear on his skin.
"Neville, you've grown into a fine young man." Professor McGonagall proclaimed almost viciously. "A very fine one if I do say. You're kind, hard working, righteous and if I do say, based on last year's escapade, exceptionally brave and loyal." Neville went rigid and tried to push away the impulse to bury his face in his hands. "And if Miss Malfoy can't appreciate that then she doesn't deserve your… well, your affections."
McGonagall was now the one blushing. Her lips were pinched together tightly and she seemed to be all of the sudden very interested in the way her dress was sitting on her lap.
"Thanks, professor," Neville murmured softly. McGonagall looked as though she were going to say more, but before she got a chance Neville asked to be excused to go to Herbology.
"Maybe it's best you are excused for today," Hermione broke in, looking over to McGonagall. "He-he partners with her in Herbology."
"No, it's fine," Neville sighed. "I'll have to face her eventually…"
"But eventually doesn't have to be today," Hermione pressed, standing up from her chair.
"I agree with Miss Granger," the professor broke in solemnly. "Neville, I would understand if you needed time to yourself for the beginning of the day. Time to gather yourself emotionally and—"
"I really appreciate that. And-and that's very generous of your, Professor, but I want to go to class," Neville insisted, hurrying towards the door. "Thanks, really thanks, but-but I don't need to be coddled. I mean, well, you don't usually excuse students when they are turned down, do you?" Neville pointed out offering a small smile as he tried to make light of the situation. "It's just a part of life."
"Miss Granger, why don't you head over to class. Let Professor Sprout know that Neville will be late," the older woman instructed sending a glance to Hermione who nodded and got up from her seat. She gave Neville a small squeeze on his arm as she passed him, silently giving him her support before leaving the room.
"Neville," the older woman breathed. "Sit back down. I want to talk to you." Neville did as he was told, but felt even more discomfort than before. His head of house had never been the type to sit him down like this. If anything she was much like his gran in a lot of matters… discussion of feelings being one of them.
"There is no greater pain than the ache of a heart," McGonagall started gently, her own mind seeming to be wondering though memories. "I don't want you to feel like this is something you need to ignore, just because you have no physical wounds."
Neville blushed uncomfortably and tried to figure out if he should thank his professor for her kind words or just nod. There really wasn't a book of etiquette for these things and in the end he ended up shrugging and nodding at the same time. Professor McGonagall just kept looking at him sympathetically, making Neville feel an assortment of guilt.
"What Miss Malfoy said to you was incredibly cruel," Professor McGonagall murmured after a while breaking the awkward silence. "And I hope you realize it says more about her than it does about you."
"She's not that bad," Neville defended. "She—I just caught her off guard. I don't think she would have been nearly as hostile if I asked her out alone."
Neville could tell that Professor McGonagall didn't agree with his chain of thinking, but she was kind enough not to argue.
"I just don't want you to stew in one girl's heartless words or think that you have to put up a brave front and pretend it didn't happen. If you need the morning, take it."
"Thanks," Neville nodded, "but really I'm fine. I, uh, wasn't expecting it to go so well, just thought I'd take a chance," he added softly. Hid head of house just nodded and Neville had a suspicion she was about to offer him some tea, but before she could he quickly asked if he could go.
He left McGonagall's office almost at a sprint. In the back of his mind he reminded himself that he was going to have a lot of awkward encounters today, and some rather nasty ones. He still didn't know how his roommates were going to take this. Or how Draco would take it. He had been absent from breakfast, and Neville had a feeling that when word got to the blonde he would have a rather nasty curse being sent at him.
He had just burst out of the castle doors and stopped dead in his tracks as he saw Professor Sprout outside the greenhouse.
"Seriously," Neville groaned, turning back to the castle doors and wondering if he should hightail it back to the tower and avoid Herbology after all. Hermione probably told her you would be in class, that opportunity is gone… With that thought Neville began trudging towards the greenhouse.
"Professor," Neville greeted bowing his head and gripping his satchel tightly. "Uh, isn't class about to start?"
"Oh, yes, but I just thought, after this morning that I should talk to you," Sprout explained, placing a warm hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks, Professor. I appreciate it, but my head of house and I had a talk. I feel fine, I can assure you." Neville moved towards the door, but the plump woman stopped him.
"Listen, Neville, if you need to switch partners I understand. I've already spoken to Miss Granger and Abbott and the two of them are willing to switch with you. Now, I realize things between you and Hannah still aren't right."
Neville frowned and looked up at the older witch, unsure of how she could possibly know so much about his personal affairs.
"The fat friar," the older woman explained, offering a coy smile. "He talks to the students of the house about their problems. He's a gentle soul. It's no wonder he joined the clergy. He always wants to help others. And he's so humorous, it really helps the students feel better when they are upset. After you and Hannah, well, didn't work out, he consoled her and I dare say they have quite the bond. Anyways, my point is he tells me often how my students are doing and well, based on that knowledge I think you should partner with Miss Granger."
"And leave Hannah with Malfoy?" Neville frowned thinking of her blood status.
"Hannah has tougher skin than you think," Professor Sprout said pointedly. "Unafraid of toil, remember?" Neville smiled softly and nodded. "You should talk to her," Professor Sprout sighed. "It isn't right that you two have fallen out like two were such good friends. I know she misses you."
Neville blushed awkwardly, but agreed to making an effort with Hannah before telling Sprout he didn't want another partner. The older woman tried to dissuade him from his decision, but Neville insisted he was fine. When he reentered the greenhouse, Hannah was already at his and Graces' desk. It seemed as though Hermione and her had both thought for sure that he would take the switch. With as much dignity as was possible in such situations he made his way over to his desk.
"Hannah," Neville whispered gently, "I-uh- I believe you're in my spot."
The Hufflepuff frowned for a moment, before muttering through the side of her mouth that she was fine with the switch. Neville watched as Graces hands clench and he knew she was worried. If he wasn't her partner in the class she would fail no doubt.
"Thanks, Hannah," Neville smiled sadly, "but I'll be fine. Really I will."
Hannah appraised him for a moment before nodding reluctantly and gathering her things.
"You know, I just don't get it," she whispered, her hands shaking from emotion. "Her. You wanted her."
"Hannah, I—"
"I'm nice," Hannah hissed. "I'm nice and caring. I may not look like a model, but I'm pretty enough and you-you—"
"For someone so nice and caring you are being especially inconsiderate now," Graces murmured from the corner of her mouth, still looking forward.
"Oh, so now you care about his feelings?" Hannah snapped.
"Or I am just really irritated by the sound of your blubbering," Graces shrugged.
"Do vile things ever stop coming out of your mouth?" Hannah asked, practically baring her teeth at Graces who actually seemed a bit surprised at the other girl's venom. Graces stared at her for a moment, her eyes drifting over to his for a brief second before she looked away.
"Hannah, come on," Neville groaned. "Please don't do this now."
Reluctantly Hannah stepped away from the desk. He could tell she was angry, but thankfully she didn't make a scene as she gathered her things and went to rejoin Hermione. Graces kept peeking over at him as he took his seat, a look of heavy guilt written all over her features. A few times she opened her mouth to say something only to shut it and fiddle with her quill.
"Longbottom," Graces whispered, her hands still tight on her quill as Neville took a seat next to her. "I—"
"Graces, if we are going to pull this off you need to look satisfied and I need to look heart sick."
"Right, I just—"
"Tonight," Neville nodded. "We can talk tonight."
Graces bit her lip at Neville's command, and a few times she looked like she was just going to try and talk to him anyways, but in the end she remained silent. Though, Neville wished she would have acted more cold about the situation, she behaved as though he wasn't there for the rest of class.
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Neville leaned against the outside wall of the castle. There was no way after the morning he had that he was going to go to lunch in the Great Hall. He would rather starve. The whispers were bearable. He didn't like them, but they could be easily ignored. Other things… well, other things were more painful, like the way Ernie glared scornfully at him as he left Herbology. Or Seamus avoiding him in Muggle Studies. None of his housemates seemed to want to look at him. They all hurried past him and a great amount of effort had been put into not sitting with him in class. He had passed Ron on his way out from the castle and the redhead looked like he would have murdered him if Hermione hadn't pulled him away.
Hermione was the only person who was staying beside and defending him through all this. She was by his side as soon as Herbology ended and sat with him during his next class when Seamus didn't sit with him. She walked him to his next class, not caring that it nearly made her late for hers. She was truly amazing. And she didn't bring up Graces once. It seemed as though she were trying desperately to distract him from her, which was nice. Only, the nicer Hermione was the more guilty he felt about everything that happened between the two of them, not to mention the whole lying aspect of it all.
He wasn't daft, he knew this was all going to happen. He didn't expect to do all of this and come out unscathed, but that didn't change the fact that it was hard being rejected by his friends. He knew that if they knew Graces they wouldn't feel this way. He wasn't shallow, but the unkind phrases coming from his friends stung.
"What kind of man do you think I am?" a dark voice whispered.
Neville looked up from his feet to see Draco standing in front of him, his nostrils flaring with rage.
"I just want to help. I'm not trying to help because I want anything from her. I just. Want. To. Help," Draco repeated the last phrase so venomously that Neville tried to take a step back even though he was already against the wall.
"Malfoy, I—"
"Don't you say another fucking word to me with your silver tongue!" Draco roared, grabbing him by his collar and slamming his head against the stone. "You know, I actually believed you. I really believed you could help her and not expect anything in return."
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Neville asked in disbelief. "I haven't asked her for anything!"
"Oh please," Draco snarled, throwing him from the wall into the grass. "Like you didn't think she would say yes to you asking her out just because you helped her. You manipulative son of a—"
Neville grabbed his wand from his robe and held it out in front of him threateningly as Draco whisked his own out.
"Draco," Neville said carefully, his own hand trembling as he prompted himself up on the ground. "Don't do this. You know that is far-fetched. Me asking her on a date is a far cry from trying to manipulate her into giving me something. Come on, Malfoy. Think about this. All I did was ask her to out out with me. You were well aware I fancied her, is it that surprising?"
"You know what she is going through!" Draco bellowed, moving a few steps so his wand was closer to Neville's chest. "You, unlike many others, actually know how incredibly fucked her situation is. You know she's vulnerable! You've seen her weak and frightened and you think asking her out isn't manipulative? You think asking out girl who is so… so… lost is appropriate?"
Neville didn't say anything.
"I know my sister," Draco proclaimed, his voice vibrating with emotion. "And I know that when she's upset she does stupid things. She would do anything to feel better for a moment. It's why she likes having your attention, why she eats candy like some people drink water. If you had caught her alone, in a moment of weakness, she…" Draco didn't finish his sentence, and Neville watched as the boy above him closed his eyes to gather himself. "Let me make this clear to you, Longbottom. If I catch you near my sister I will kill you. You keep away from her."
"Draco," Neville tried, sitting up more from the ground. "It's not like that, I—"
"Don't you dare 'Draco' me. Just because you helped my sister does not mean we are familiar," Draco spat contemptuously. "I'm not going to kill you, because you were a help to us. But mark my words, Longbottom. I am not going to let my sister be taken advantage of. You will keep away from her. This is your only warning."
Neville, deciding that it was best not to argue with an on-edge, sleep-deprived wizard, nodded. He had thought he was in the clear when Draco sneered and turned to walk away, but just as he lowered his wand the blonde turned around and kicked him abruptly between his legs knocking the wind clear out of him.
"I'm serious, Longbottom. Keep. Away. From. My. Sister."
Neville nodded and tried to breath through the nausea that had overtaken him as the horrific ache resonated up through his abdomen. One thought did come to him as the pain faded and he was finally able to sit up. The rest of the day should be cake in comparison to that.
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Neville sat hidden in Greenhouse One. He tucked himself away behind as much greenery as he could find and laid on a bag of soil. Curfew was coming up and he knew he would be forced to head back to the tower before he could sneak out later that night. He didn't know how he was going to handle being around Ron, Harry, Seamus and Dean though.
Or rather how they will handle being around me.
His whole day everyone just avoided him. Some of the girls offered him sympathetic nods, but his housemates all just avoided him, except Ron who had to be held back from screaming at him in the halls. He thought after lunch it all would have cooled down a bit, but the moment he sat for dinner they all had cleared away. Ginny and Hermione came over to sit with him, but he couldn't bring himself to eat anything and ended up leaving before anyone else.
He now had a glimpse of what it would be like if he and Graces were actually together. They would have no support. They would lose countless friends and family. No one would look at the pair of them and see anything whole and good. They would see something unnatural. It was a hard potion to swallow, that peoples hate could run so deep, that their world was so split that this was the reality.
Once again Graces was right.
Neville forced himself to get up and head towards the tower. He didn't have to pretend to be dejected anymore, because he was. He was so sad. For a multitude of reasons, he was sad. His friends weren't speaking to him. Everyone was talking about him. Draco thought he was trying to take advantage of his sister, and everyone thought he was shallow. No one saw any admirable quality in Graces other than her looks and money. It made him sick. No one in his house could look past her name and see how smart and talented she was.
Neville did, though. He was proud that he was in love with Graces. He would tell the world how amazing she was if he could. He would scream it from the mountains if given the opportunity. She was amazing. She was more than a pretty face. And while she had many bad qualities she had just as many good.
"Where have you been?" Seamus called out moving from his bed to stand as Neville entered the room. "We've been waiting for you for hours."
"You know where he's been," Ron muttered irritatedly. "Avoiding us like a coward."
"You lot have been avoiding me all day," Neville pointed out unapologetically as he took his coat off and hung it by his bed. "I just figured I would make it easier for you."
"Don't you try to turn this around on us! We're not the ones that—"
"Ron, calm down," Harry pleaded, putting a hand on his friends shoulder and trying to dissuade him from stepping forward.
"No!" Ron cried outraged. "How dare he act like we aren't being good friends when he… when he—"
"Liked a girl and asked her out?" Neville summarized, his face not giving any hint that Ron's accusations bothered him.
"The enemy! You liked the enemy and asked the enemy out!"
"She's not the enemy," Neville scoffed. "She's a sixteen year old girl."
"She is too!" Ron argued, ignoring everyone else's pleas for him to calm down. "She's Lucius Malfoy's daughter!"
"She is a pretty girl," Dean defended, obviously trying to get this all in a direction where they could talk.
"Stop discounting my feelings for her!" Neville cried. "It's not because she's pretty! You don't know her! None of you know her!"
"Oh, and you do?" Ron scoffed.
"I think we all just need to calm down," Harry stated, clearly becoming uneasy with the amount of hostility in the room "We can't just punish someone for their feelings. Neville didn't mean to like her, he just does and I'm sure he has his reasons, even if they are that she's pretty. Come on, Ron, be reasonable. We all talked about this."
"We have a right to be upset Harry," Dean voiced. "Yeah, we know these things happen, but he didn't tell us. He doesn't tell us anything anymore. Hell, getting an evening with him is difficult and—"
"He lied!" Ron finished. "You lied! You lied to all of us. For Gods know how long about your feelings concerning her. You never told any of us anything. Whenever we asked how tutoring was you just said it was fine. You could have told us countless times and you never did. Which makes me wonder what else do you not tell us, Neville? Because based off last years incident at St. Mungos and this it seems you are very capable of holding secrets."
"You know what? I'm done," Neville rasped over the lump in his throat, staring at Ron. "I can't believe you would even bring that up."
Neville was fighting a great battle in himself to not cry. The lump in his throat physically ached and his eyes were burning.
"Neville, listen. Ron just feels betrayed and—"
"None of you have any right to feel betrayed," Neville bit out. "Who I choose to give my affections to is my business. I don't tell you lot who you should love. Don't tell me!"
"Love?" Seamus gasped. "Oh, Jesus, Neville. You don't actually love her."
"You're just infatuated with her," Dean offered.
Neville made some sound between exasperation and frustration and began to head towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Dean called out as Neville swung the door open.
"I don't know! But I sure as hell can't sleep here!"
"Fine," Ron shouted. "Go then! Run to the dungeons and see if they want you! Go join the other snakes!"
Neville whirled around to say something about Ron's ridiculous prejudice against Slytherins, but, right as he turned the corner, the edge of a book that Ron had flung at the back of his head caught his left eye and cheek. Neville let out of very elaborate string of curses as he cradled the left side of his face. He had a feeling Ron hadn't meant to hit him in the eye, just in his back for leaving, but he couldn't seem to bury the anger he was feeling towards him at the moment. He looked up from the palms of his hands and glared at Ron, practically shaking with his own fury.
"You all say you want me to be honest," Neville whispered darkly, angry tears brimming out of his eyes. The whole room was silent, Ron's anger had seemed to diminish after he pelted Neville in the face and the other boys were all standing around as though they didn't know when things got so out of control. "Well, I was pretty honest this morning. I didn't hide that I was asking her out. I asked her out right there in front of everyone and this is how you all have reacted. Either I was ignored, yelled at or dismissed as shallow. No one has even tried asking me why I liked her or tried to understand how I was feeling." Neville turned and left. Slamming the door behind him.
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"Oh my Gods," Graces gasped, covering her mouth as she entered the barn and saw Neville. "Your eye! Longbottom! What—who?"
"Don't worry about it," Neville dismissed, standing up from the stool he was sitting on and coming over to her. "It's nothing."
"How can you say it's nothing?" Graces screeched, reaching up and examining it while Neville wrapped his arms around her. Neville hissed in pain when Graces accidently poked him in the eye. "Oh, Merlin. I'm so sorry," Graces hiccuped, moving her hands away. Losing her own eye had taken her depth perception. She folded her hands under her chin and didn't dare examine Neville's eye any further, scared now that she would do a great deal of damage.
"Don't cry," Neville shushed, pulling her closer to him so she could nestle her head against his chest.
"I scratched your eye," Graces moaned, the day all coming to a crash on her. "I scratched your eye and made it worse."
"You didn't make anything worse," Neville promised kissing the top of her head. "As a matter of fact you're making things a whole lot better right now."
Graces felt her throat tighten as Neville held her tightly.
"You didn't have to do this for me," she rasped moving away from him. "I never wanted this."
"I know I didn't have to," Neville said patiently. "I wanted to. It took care of everything you were worried about."
"No, there could have been another way," Graces stomped. "A way that didn't come at your expense. You shouldn't be losing friends for us. It isn't right!"
"If I lose friends over this, then they weren't very good friends to begin with."
"You don't mean that!"
"I do mean that," Neville stated evenly, meeting her silver eyes with his brown.
Graces held her breath and looked down, afraid of everything that was stirring in her.
"I didn't want to do that," she finally admitted, tears pouring down her face. "I didn't want to do that. How could you do that without asking me?"
"Graces," Neville frowned. "I—"
"No! I didn't want to say those things to you," Graces stomped. "I didn't want to say those things!"
"I know you didn't," Neville breathed, moving forward and taking her hands. "I know." Graces bit her lip to keep her jaw from vibrating and tried to take a deep breath after a few moments. "Graces, don't cry. Please don't cry."
"How can I not cry?" the blonde trembled. "You're too good for this, Longbottom. You are. You do deserve better. You deserve someone that can actually say yes to you when you ask them out. I know that's what you want. I know you wish you and I could—"
"Hey, hey," Neville interjected, reaffirming his hold on her hands. "I want you. I want you and that is it. I don't care about anything else. I want you."
"But you don't even really have me!" Graces argued, pulling away. "I'm not your girlfriend. I'm never going to be. This. This right here is all I will ever be able to give you. I'm never going to be able to give you what you need. I can't. I have my family and—"
"Graces, stop. I need you to stop and listen," Neville ordered, taking Graces by the hand and having her sit on a wooden bench with him. "I am never going to ask you to choose between me and your family, not now, not ever. What we have, right now in this moment, is more than enough for me."
Graces hiccuped a sob and looked away She couldn't see how this was good enough for Neville. Now they weren't even having sex. She imagined he wouldn't want to stick around long. His friends hated him, the school was talking about him and he wasn't getting anything.
"Whatever you're thinking I want you to stop thinking it right now, Graces," Neville demanded, an edge to his voice.
"I'm not thinking anything."
"You're a poor liar."
"I'm actually a very good liar," Graces said sadly looking up at him. "You just have the ability to tell when I'm lying." Neville gave a soft chuckle, but didn't deny his ability. "I don't see how this is enough for you," Graces continued. "I don't see how, today of all days, you can still say this is what you want. Didn't you hear what people were saying? Do you know what your friends think of you now?"
"I don't care what people think of me," Neville said. "I care about you. They can think whatever they want of me. They can go on calling me a shallow idiot. I know the truth. There is nothing shallow about my feelings for you. They don't know you like I do. They don't know the girl that rants about hay or who has a sugar tooth that could take on Honey Dukes. They don't know about how playful you are or that you get pouty if you don't get your way."
Neville paused for a moment. "They don't know the girl that planned a funeral or the girl that held a boy when he lost everything. They don't know the girl that was willing to sacrifice her entire education to raise a child she had no obligation to. They don't know the one that almost gave her life for someone else," Neville whispered softly, placing his warm hand on her damp cheek. "I don't care what people think of me. If anything I'm angry that they don't know how truly amazing you are, that they see you as only a pretty face with money. That's the only thing I care about. I don't feel ashamed in the slightest of my feelings for you."
"Such pretty words," Graces whispered turning away and wiping her eyes, unwilling to allow herself to hope all of that was true, that Neville could really feel that way.
"They're only pretty because they speak to you," Neville said gently, turning her chin back to him. "They're pretty because they have meaning, Graces. And they have meaning because I'm being sincere. Why is it so hard to believe that this is enough for me, that what I did today was a sacrifice worth making?"
"I don't know," Graces hiccuped. "B-because they're your friends and—"
"You're my friend," Neville interjected. "You're actually my best friend. I've never been close with anyone the way I'm close with you."
Graces wasn't sure if she should be happy or sad about Neville's announcement. There was definitely something wrong about the fact that she was the closest thing Neville ever had to a best friend, and yet at the same time she felt strangely the same way.
"You're my best friend too," she confessed, unable to not smile at how happy Neville looked at her declaration. "Merlin, aren't we a pair," Graces scoffed, looking up to the heavens. "Who would have ever thought."
"Me," Neville grinned, leaning in close and kissing her softly on the lips. "I would have thought it."
"You don't count," Graces giggled, moving her arms around Neville's neck and grinning against his lips. "You're mad."
"Just for you," Neville whispered brushing his lips against hers. Graces closed her eyes and let herself live in Neville's warm arms and kiss. She continued to keep her eyes closed as they broke apart and shivered as she felt Neville's thumb caress her cheek. She just wanted to stay here with him. She rested her forehead on his and wished things didn't have to be so hard.
"I really am sorry about your eye," Graces whispered, biting her lip.
"It's okay," Neville chuckled.
"I have some cream that will take care of it. I can go get it from my Quidditch locker," Graces offered, standing up as though she were going to go get it.
"No, honestly I'm fine. Trust me, this isn't even the worst of my injuries for the day."
"What was your worst injury?" Graces asked, her eyes reviewing Neville up and down for signs of trauma.
"Your brother kicking me in the jewels."
"He didn't," Graces gasped.
"Oh, he most certainly did."
"Well, uh, is everything okay?" Graces asked hesitantly, eyeing the area of his trousers.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Neville blushed, shifting slightly from Graces' gaze.
"How hard did he kick you?"
"Not hard."
Graces could tell Neville was lying, and moved her hands to his belt so that she could look herself.
"Oi! What do you think you're doing there?"
"I just want to make sure that—"
"Uh, you're not going to make sure of anything, thankyouverymuch," Neville proclaimed, his voice a bit higher than usual. "I don't want you inspecting my, well, my parts."
"Why not? I've seen it."
"Trust me, Graces, I'm fine," Neville insisted. "It's fine. Hurt like nothing else earlier, but I'm fine now. Do me a favor though and under no circumstances tell your brother I slept with you. I hate to think what he would do to 'him' if he knew."
"Cut it off," Graces shrugged. "He was ranting in the dungeons about you asking me out. He said if you so much as touched me he was going to petrify you and cut it off with a blunt dagger."
"Seriously?" Neville gulped, all the color draining from his face.
"He's just in a mood," Graces scoffed. "Draco likes to talk."
"Easy for you to say," Neville blurted out. "You're not the one who would be losing something."
"I most definitely would be losing something," Graces smiled. "I like him too."
Neville blushed a shade close to purple at Graces comment, but Graces could tell he was quite pleased.
"I, uh, not to be pushy or anything," Neville said hurriedly, "But I was uh wondering when you will be all healed."
"The middle of February," Graces said quietly, tucking back her hair so that it was behind her ear. "It's a weekly salve, and it takes a while for it to work. It's slow, but by the middle of February it will be as though nothing happened," she added quickly, after seeing Neville's face. "I'll be good as new."
"Swell," Neville nodded, taking pacing a few steps and burying his hands in his pockets and pursing his lips tightly.
"We could still," Graces shrugged in replacement for the word. "I just would rather keep my shirt on. A lot of times I keep it on anyway," she pointed out, becoming, if possible, more uncomfortable.
"It's not important," Neville promised, taking a seat beside her and kissing her hand. "I wish you trusted that it wouldn't bother me, but I would rather wait till you feel comfortable with yourself."
"Thanks," Graces murmured, staring at Neville's hand holding hers.
"Graces," Neville began hesitantly. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
"What?"
"It's about your situation." The blonde stiffened, but didn't look away. "If Draco fails—"
"He won't fail."
"Right, but if he does—"
"He won't."
"But—"
"Longbottom, he isn't going to fail!" Graces shrieked, moving her hand away. "Stop saying that."
Neville bit the inside of his cheek and Graces could tell that this conversation was far from over.
"I know you won't tell me what it is he has to do," Neville said patiently, folding his hands in his lap and looking down. "And I know Draco has to succeed, but if he doesn't OR if he decides he doesn't want to do any of this I want to offer you something."
Graces frowned at Neville's words, but sat still as Neville took a few papers from his pocket.
"This is one of our estates," Neville explained handing Graces the blueprints. "It's five bedrooms and I had the cellar stocked with necessities. There is already a Fidelius charm on it. I believe I mentioned to you once that the only one of the Longbottom estates without it is my gran's, and I'm the secret keeper for all of them. And now I am divulging the secret of this house to you."
Graces stared wide-eyed at the prints, unable to find her voice to speak.
"You will be safe here," Neville promised, lifting her chin so she was looking at him. "You, your mother, Draco, Thomas, his aunt and Octavian. You will all be safe here."
"I-I don't know what to say," Graces breathed, her hands trembling.
"Say you will go. Say you will go now. Get out of here, get away from this war." Neville took her hands once again and held them steady. "You will never be hurt again, Graces. You can leave and avoid this whole war. All of you."
Graces looked back down at the prints, unsure whether to believe what was on the paper. This was a safe house. Neville was giving her and her family a safe house.
"This is too much," Graces whispered. "I can't take your house."
"You're not taking my house," Neville laughed. "You're going to live in it. And it should be that way. No one lives in this house now, it's just sitting there. You and your family can use it and you should. You can all be safe here. And look this whole acre is under the charm. So there will be plenty of sunshine for Octavian. I know he's just a baby, but the outside would do you all good, wouldn't want anyone going stir crazy. There's even a small pond over here."
There was. There was a pond and an acre, but most importantly there was hope in this. They could all be safe. It wasn't possible for her and Draco to do this before. Fidelius charms required a secret keeper which they didn't have. They couldn't have used any of the Malfoy estates because it would have been easy for someone to get a listing of them and then have the information to get there. Even buying a new home would have left a paper trail.
There was no trail in this. No one knew of her and Neville's relationship. No one would think he was hiding them all. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to say yes right then and there and go into the castle and get Draco and Thomas. They could each go home get the others and leave tonight. This would all be over. But…
"What about my father?' Graces thought a loud. "They'll kill him if we left now."
"Graces," Neville frowned. "Your father is in Azkaban. There's no way that—"
"My mother wouldn't leave without my father," Graces informed, her voice tight.
"Graces, you will all be safe here. No one would find you. No one would even be able to trace you here. I know you love your father, but this is a chance for you all to—"
"No, we can't just leave my father," Graces rasped, closing her eyes and taking deep breaths. "My mother won't go without him, Draco won't go without her and I won't go without Draco. I can't take this. There's still a chance I could have my whole family. I can't be a coward and just run away."
"Run away? Graces, it's not like that. It's—"
"It would sacrifice my father."
"I think your father would gladly give his life if it meant his family was safe," Neville pointed out evenly.
"I've asked to run away before," Graces hiccuped. "I begged Draco to take our money and run away. He wouldn't. He said he has to do this. He wants to save us all. He doesn't want to live in fear for years. He believes if he accomplishes this task we will have no sacrifice, so he has to at least try. He won't go."
"And I don't want to be a coward either," Graces sniffed. "I don't want to sacrifice my father. I love him. I know… I know he may be a bad man, but he's a good father and it would break my heart if he died."
"Then this is for when Draco fails," Neville insisted desperately. "You don't have to go now, but go then. I think we can both agree that at that point you're not sacrificing anyone."
Graces tried to think of another reason not to take Neville's offer and couldn't. It really was a plan. For the first times in months she didn't have to think of dying. No matter what happened she and Draco could live. They all could live. She felt the weight lift off her and could hardly stand the feeling of solace that washed over her.
"I'll never be able to repay you for this," she choked, tears of mirth glistening out of her eyes. "You really will hide us?"
"I will."
"Draco's going to live," Graces whispered, closing her eyes. "No matter if he fails or not he's going to live."
"He will."
It probably wasn't the reaction Neville had been hoping for, but for the rest of the night Graces cried. She wept endless tears of happiness and any time she opened her mouth to try and properly thank Neville words became caught in emotion. Words were silly and meaningless anyways. A simple 'thank you' wouldn't suffice. Nothing would. Her brother was going to live. No longer was there a plan to just save her, now there was a plan to save him.
Well now people know Neville's feelings! Haha I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! Please don't forget to review!
And thank you to pokegirl1005 for encouraging me to do the multiple POV! I actually was on the fence about doing a multiple POV for this chapter (so on the fence there is another version just from Graces' perspective), but Pokegirl1005 left a comment saying she would love to see a chapter with it and it just finalized my decision ;) So thanks for the review Pokegirl! Haha see I do listen guys.
Here's a timeline for those interested
1st week of September
Chapter one
3rd week of September
Chapter two, three, and four.
Chapter three was Neville and Graces encounter in the Greenhouse.
4th week of September
Chapter five, six, seven, and eight.
5th week of September
Chapter nine and ten and eleven 12 13
1st week of October
Chapter 14, 15,16, 17, (14,15,16,and 17 are the same day) 18, 19, 20,21, 22(20, 21 and 22 are the same day), 23, 24, 25, 26 (25 and 26 Saturday), 27 (Beginning of 27 is Sunday.)
Chapter 25 is when Graces went to the three Broomsticks and helped Hannah when she injured her hand. It is also the chapter that Katie Bell is cursed in.
2nd week of October
Chapter 27(Monday), 28(Tuesday), 29(Friday and Saturday), 30 and 31(Still Saturday), 32(Sunday), 33(Sunday and Monday)
31 is the Slytherin party in the woods after the game.
3rd week of October
Chapter 33, 34 (Tuesday and Wednesday), 35 (Thursday), 36 Friday Saturday and Ending Monday)
4th Week of October
Chapter 36 and 37 (Monday), (38 Tuesday)
5th week of October/ 1st week of November
Chapter 39 (Tuesday night and wednesday day and night this was the chapter Neville put the scales on Graces.)
Chapter 40- Thursday Halloween
Chapter 41- Friday- Bathroom scene with Hermione and Higgs ministry letter.
Chapter 42- still Friday night and then moves to Saturday morning.
1st week of November
Chapter 43 and 44 are Monday through Friday, with the funeral being on Friday morning and Graces meeting the Dark Lord with Thomas Friday night.
45 is still apart of Friday night.
Chapter 46 and 47 are Saturday.
Chapter 48 and 49 is Sunday morphing into Monday
2nd week of November
End of Chapter 49 is Monday.
Chapter 50 Tuesday night
Chapter 51 Wednesday Morning
Chapter 52 Wednesday night
Chapter 53 Thursday
Chapter 54 Friday