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 my best friend Aleah for reading it over and offering advice.

Special thanks to Relentless Revolver, Superscarface83, bageltiger, Lil Miss Sunshine14, infinateconstellations, Cree (haha no Cree he's definitely not courting her that is way more serious and has a lot of steps. It's really different than dating.), Blue Luver5000, Pinksparkles, randomtastic7( so glad you are enjoying the fic! Welcome!), Char170217, Guest, omgitsfranklin, Guest and QueenLothirielOfRohan .

To the person that offered to translate this whole fic into French. That's very generous of you, but it would seriously be an insane amount of work. If you really would like to do that we can discuss it once this fic is complete. I would feel awful if we started uploading the fic in French and then for whatever reason you became to busy to complete it. I think it best to wait until it is done, then after see if you would still be willing. It is very very long and I don't want anyone taking on a task that would be so difficult and time consuming without seeing exactly how much work they would be doing. If you want feel free to private message me on here and we can discuss that further. Thank you soo much for that offer. It's incredibly kind.

Chapter 61

Neville watched the last few ticks of his watch's hand as it turned the hour to midnight. That was it. He had made the deal with himself that he would wait until midnight then leave. It made little sense to stay in a freezing barn waiting for someone who just wasn't coming. He sat up from the soft bed of hay he had chosen to lie down in for the past hour and picked up the gift he had brought to give Graces.

He was numb to feelings. He had felt way too much throughout the day to feel anything now at this time of night. He had believed that when midnight came and Graces wasn't there he would have been devastated, hating himself for breaking that bottle, but the time came and he wasn't. He just wanted to go to his dorm and sleep.

He had almost reached the door to leave when the wood burst open and Graces came staggering in still dressed in what he had seen her in earlier only now she was clutching her heels in her numb fingers and was soaking wet from the snow she must have stumbled in.

"Bloody hell!" Neville exclaimed, taking off his coat and wrapping it around her. "You're freezing. Why are you not wearing your shoes? Where's your coat?"

"Did you do it on p-purpose?" Graces asked desperately, her teeth chattering against one another. "Did you break the bottle on purpose?"

Neville wasn't even caring to answer that at the moment, he picked up the blonde in one swift movement, making sure to keep her bundled in his coat. He jumped a little as he felt her icy skin come into contact with his neck, but he just pulled her in closer, hoping his body heat could do something, before sitting her down on an old work table.

Her legs and feet were red and raw from the snow outside and Neville bent down and tried to warm the skin with his hands, hoping he could rub the cold off before she became ill.

"A-answer me!" Graces exclaimed, trying to move her feel away but to numb from the cold to succeed. "D-did you d-do it on p-purpose?"

Neville gripped her feet sternly letting them thaw in his hands and looked up at the hysterical girl above him.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Why would I break the professor's gift on purpose?"

"Don't play dumb with me," Graces snapped. "Why did you do it? Why?"

"Graces, calm down."

"I am calm!" Graces roared. "I'm calm! Draco however is having a panic attack! Why would you do this to us? You know what we face! We needed that bottle to—"

Neville stood up and covered Graces mouth to keep her silent. Both students were as motionless as statues, aside from Neville's labored breath. He didn't move his hand away, though it wasn't necessary seeing as Graces was too shocked to speak.

"You and your brother had nothing to do with that bottle," Neville snarled. "Absolutely nothing! I was just looking at the photos on the table and I accidently knocked a bottle of mead down. That's it. Draco never put down a bottle of mead and he certainly didn't crash a party just to slip that bottle there."

Neville removed his hand and looked away as Graces began sobbing openly in her palms.

"H-how did you know?" she moaned, her hands still buried.

"I don't know anything," Neville murmured. "Because if I knew something I would have to tell someone. I would have to. I don't know anything. Do you understand?"

Graces didn't answer him, but judging by the growing amount of tears Neville knew she understood. He jumped up on the table with her and held her close as he tried to warm her up. Eventually he realized she needed more than just his coat and he went over to her gift and ripped it open taking out a down comforter that was sheeted with a dark purple duvet. Graces hiccuped her sobs as he wrapped it around her and tucked the bottom in a way that warmed her feet. She looked around at her makeshift wrap and stared up and Neville questioningly.

"You got me bed linen?"

Neville blushed and murmured that he had an idea for how to get her to sleep well. Graces waited for him to continue and Neville sighed before giving her his thoughts.

"You sleep well when we...are together, but I remembered you also slept well when you used my coat and slept in the barn. You sleep well when you spend the night with Draco too, so I thought maybe you just need to feel safe at night. I don't think it's the sex that makes you sleep well, I think it's my scent that lingers on your skin. Just like when you slept in my coat you could smell me. I wasn't there, but subconsciously you may have thought I was."

"So, I, uh, I've been sleeping in those sheets the past month," he said nervously, now realizing how odd that sounded. "So it smells like me." Graces frowned and seemed to be trying to decide if that was odd. She leaned low into the covers to smell them and Neville cringed as he realized how stupid it all was. "Hopefully it's not a bad smell…"

"It's not," Graces whispered. "I like how you smell. Thank you, this is… sweet. Thank you."

Graces seemed to understand that they couldn't talk about the bottle of mead, but it didn't stop silent tears from rolling down her cheeks. Neville knew when he broke the bottle that he was sabotaging Draco, he didn't see the blonde put it down, but he noticed the bottle appeared after Draco went over. And he knew that Draco wasn't at that party because of Graces. He could always tell when Graces lied, and he realized now that he also could tell when Draco was lying. They both were so much a like.

"Graces," Neville murmured gently, going to his knees in front of her and laying his hands on her arms. "I-I can't allow bad things to happen. I can't just stand there and let someone be killed or hurt. I'm sorry, but I have to do what's right. And I swear to you that I will always always remember to keep you and Draco safe, but at the same time I can't just stand by and do nothing. It would be the same as doing it myself. Do you understand?"

Graces' face scrunched up in anguish, but she nodded. Neville could tell she was holding her breath. She tended to do that when she didn't want to cry and he stood up and held her close to his chest. The touch alone seemed to break the dam and she was back to sobbing in his arms, moving her hands out of the sheets to hold him tight.

"You and Draco are safe," Neville murmured. "You can be at that safe house in two minutes if you have to. You are both safe." Neville paused for a moment debating if he should continue. "In fact," he began slowly. "You could go now. Draco doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to. You all could go right now, Graces. I've taken care of everything. It's all ready for you."

"I can't. My f-father. I just can't. Draco would never," Graces just let the explanation drop, seeing no need to go into details. Neville found himself wishing Lucius Malfoy wasn't in Azkaban as Graces sobbed over her situation. He wanted to hold her close, but he was so confused. He was confused about everything.

"Graces, is Draco in danger right now?"

"No, not now," Graces shook tightly. A relief that Neville didn't know he needed swept over him at Graces words.

"Do you need to leave to be with him?"

"He doesn't want me around right now. Besides, I don't even know where he is," she added dejectedly.

A pregnant silence infolded them. Neville felt as though they were at an impasse. This could very well be the end. It seemed that way for certain. He didn't know how to get back on the road they were on, he felt like they had both lost their way somewhere. He had broken that bottle and he knew that that act alone could cost him Graces. He hadn't thought it out when he pushed the bottle over the edge, he hadn't considered that he could in that act be breaking what he had with Graces, but now he realized he may have.

An eery cold gripped Neville from the insides and he felt as though a dementor had entered the barn and was directly behind him. His heart sank to his shoes and he was sure that his last moments of happiness had long passed.

"Do you want to leave?" he asked quietly, the chill of his new isolation seeping into his bones.

Graces looked up at him from her shell of sheets and he saw a brief glimpse of something flash across her face before it was gone.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No, no I don't, but I'm not foolish enough to think that my actions had no consequences."

Graces seemed to be chewing on his words. Clearly she understood the validity of his statement and yet she didn't seem willing to take it.

"I want to be with you," she whispered. "I don't plan on returning to the dungeons tonight. I'm staying here with you."

"Even after—"

"Even after," Graces confirmed, offering him a small smile.

"You don't hate me?"

"No, I don't." Graces sat still for a moment before asking Neville if he was still mad at her.

"I don't know," Neville answered, being honest. "First you want space and refuse to tell me why. Then you very rudely ignore my questions in Herbology—"

"You were asking rather rudely," Graces pointed out, apparently not feeling at all bad for her quick exit.

"Can you blame me?" Neville asked, searching her face for understanding. "You do this a lot Graces. All the time. We get close and you move back. You act as though I'm going to change the arrangement and I'm not. I understand perfectly what we are able to have and I have not asked for more than you can give."

"No, you haven't," Graces contended, holding the sheets closer to her. "You're right, but I did need that time. It couldn't be helped. It won't happen again."

"You said that last time."

"Trust me, Longbottom. It's over. I'm not going to ask again."

"I wish I could believe that," Neville snipped, unable to bring himself to take Graces words.

"I'll prove it to you with time."

Time. She had said time. Neville let that thought roll around in his mind. Apparently Graces had no intent on never seeing him again. She clearly was in the mindset that they would continue seeing one another.

"What were you doing with Blaise?" he asked finally.

Graces sighed, but looked up at him to answer.

"You wanted me there," she shrugged. "And I thought of a way to be there. I hadn't even decided on going until an hour before and-and Blaise hadn't asked me. I just told him I wanted to go and to break off whatever plans he had and take me instead of this week's squeeze. I came for you," Graces stressed desperately. "Nothing is going on between me and Blaise. Nothing. I swear."

She came for him. Neville immediately felt like a fool. He should have realized. He should have at least let her explain when she cornered him in that classroom. If he would have let her explain he wouldn't have spent the party with a broken heart.

"Graces," Neville began slowly, his voice steady but thick. "I-I'm so confused. I don't understand what's going on. You don't talk to me for a week and then you go and donate a whole ward to my parents. I don't know how to even thank you for that, it makes me feel like I'm indebted to you or something and—"

"That is precisely the reason you were never supposed to find out," Graces said bitterly.

"But I do know," Neville pointed out softly. "I know and I don't know how to feel about it. I'm exceptionally grateful, don't get me wrong," Neville inserted quickly, not wanting Graces to feel that what she had done wasn't appreciated. "But it's too much. I mean people don't do that kind of stuff for other people and—"

"You're giving my family a safe house!" Graces broke in, not allowing him to finish thinking out loud. "Do you have any idea the risk you are taking doing that? If anyone finds out that you did that you will be killed. You're saving our lives."

"Yes, but—"

"Longbottom, that is a far greater price than what I paid for that wing. I didn't even have to use much from my own vault" Graces waved, as though the price was nothing "The settlement covered most of it. It's money I won't be missing. What I would be missing is my brother," Graces said willfully. "You have no idea how it would kill me if he was gone from this world. I would die from heartache alone. You've saved us. What I did was hardly anything in comparison."

Neville didn't really agree with Graces' thoughts on the matter, but he also didn't see how he could make someone like her understand how spending that sort of money made him uncomfortable. At the same time he felt like he couldn't say anything. That money was helping his parents and others as well. He thought about what he was going to see on Christmas and for the first time in he didn't know how long he wanted to go see them. The thought created a well of emotions in him that made it difficult not to get teary eyed.

He looked up to say something, a word of gratitude, but nothing seemed to be enough.

"You're welcome," Graces smiled gently, sensing what he wanted to say better than he could have hoped to say it.

Neville nodded and watched as Graces continued to shiver despite the sheets wrapped around her.

"We didn't dry your dress," Neville murmured, thinking of how uncomfortable Graces must be.

"It has to air dry," Graces smiled wryly. "So I couldn't spell it without ruining the dress."

"Oh," Neville mouthed silently, looking down and pushing some straw with his shoes. "You can undress, if you need," Neville pointed out keeping his eyes down, as though to show Graces he wouldn't look.

"I'm so cold, I don't really want to move," Graces laughed, tightening her grip on the sheets.

Neville forced himself to smile at her jest, but it didn't meet his eyes.

"Have you come to a decision about us?" Graces frowned at his question, but didn't answer, just waited for him to continue. "You always want distance when you are thinking of us and I thought you had wanted space because—" Neville shrugged and then realized he didn't quite know."Well, was it about us?" Graces nodded slowly and turned away. "Have you reached a conclusion?"

"I have," Graces admitted cautiously. "But I-I don't want to talk about it now. It-it doesn't feel… right."

"Right," Neville deadpanned.

"I just was thinking that—" Graces stopped and let out a sigh. "Now isn't the time. It's nothing you need to trouble yourself over, honest."

Neville highly doubted that, but he also was in no mood to fight with Graces the night before he left for break, not when she was bearing the freezing cold and offering him a small reassuring smile like that. He nodded and moved closer to her, fighting the urge to hold her close so she didn't freeze to death.

"I, uh, have something else for you," he started awkwardly. "It's in the castle."

"I have something for you too," Graces blushed. "It's in the castle as well, I never went back to my common room, so it's in my nightstand."

"Ah, so that's why you're dressed so."

"Yeah, I just ran over here as soon as I could. I was afraid you would leave. I was so late, so I just ran and then I feel in some snow and... it's all so foolish now."

"It's not, I was about to leave."

"Yes, but I could have owled you to come back," Graces whispered.

"I wouldn't have, though."

Neville didn't say it to be malicious he just said it as the truth, Graces glanced up at him for a moment and quickly looked down trying to hide her hurt.

"I would have cooled down eventually," Neville offered, seeing how sad she had become. "And I probably would have regretted not coming back over the break when I was missing you, but," Neville shrugged. "this hasn't been our best of weeks." Graces nodded and brushed away a small tear. Neville hating how sad she looked took her hand and waited for her to say something, but she didn't. She just held his hand and this small act seemed to stop the tears.

"So, can I take you to the castle?" Neville asked calmly, prepared for Graces to say no.

"Yes, I suppose I'll have to make it back eventually."

"Good," Neville huffed, not allowing Graces to jump off the table. "I'll carry you."

"Oh, you don't have to, I—"

"You're in no state to walk in the snow," Neville cut in firmly gathering her in his arms, making sure to keep her bundled in the sheets. "I'll carry you. It's a bit far."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," Neville informed, a real smile tugging on his lips. "You ready?"

"My shoes," Graces pointed out, nodding her chin in the direction her heels were placed. Neville carried her over and she reached out and took them, tucking them in the blankets with her.

"Okay, well, I guess we should go," Neville declared, looking down at her in his arms. Surprised at how much he wanted to kiss her, despite everything. Graces nodded and looked away, clearly uncomfortable with him carrying her like this. Neville ignored her discomfort and pulled her closer, though, bracing himself for the icy winds they were about to experience.

ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

The cold air slammed against Graces' face as the barn door opened, causing her to turn and nuzzle closer to Neville's warm chest as he carried her through the snow. She couldn't see him, as they had disillusioned themselves, but the scent of him was heavy all around her causing her to feel a bit intoxicated and warm despite the fact her clothes were still damp and cold.

"Where are we going?" she whispered, not recognizing the area of the castle Neville was walking her in.

"You'll see soon enough."

If anyone else had been carrying her an abandoned end of a castle she would have demanded to know right away where they were going, but since it was Neville she just closed her eyes and rested, trusting him completely.

"Do you remember our second time together?" Neville asked quietly, turning down a hall that had no light.

"Yes, you were a bit rough."

Graces couldn't see Neville, but she knew that his ears must have been burning red from her words. She giggled as he stammered an apology, but quickly informed him it was fine. That she most certainly didn't mind.

"Anyways," Neville continued, clearly wanting to get off the subject. "You being the prat that you are ran away after and as you recall I ran after you. Well, my running after you led to an encounter with Peeves which, unfortunately for me, ended with an encounter with Snape who gave me a Saturday detention with Filch."

"He didn't," Graces groaned, now feeling even more awful for how she had treated Neville at the beginning.

"He sure did."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I wanted to focus more on how your running away was inconsiderate to my feelings. Besides, me running after you and then believing Peeves to be taking me to your common room was pretty foolish on my part. I was pretty embarrassed."

"I'm sorry," Graces whispered, nuzzling closer to his neck.

"You are long forgiven, Miss Malfoy," Neville chuckled, his lips finding the top of her head. It was the first time that night he had kissed her and Graces felt her heart soar from it. She had been wondering if she had truly damaged them beyond repair up until his lips tenderly caressed her. She was going to reach up and kiss him herself, but Neville continued to talk, unable to see. "It was during my detention that I found this place," Neville explained, standing in front an old picture of a garden with a couple sitting against an old tree. The man in the picture looked up at Neville lazily before straightening up and coming forward. He clearly had not seen another person in quite sometime, because he was more enthused than most pictures to get a password.

"Water Iris," Neville said calmly, causing a door to appear and open welcomely to them.

Graces eyes widened as they stepped into what she suspected was a long gone professor's living quarters. Neville placed her down slowly and she moved away without even thinking. There was a small dining area, kitchen, living area and bedroom. It must have been for a professor that was married. She knew that bachelor professors didn't get such accommodations. The rooms were all clean and she smiled as she saw some small decorations were added to make it appear more like a home.

"I thought that, well, maybe a place of your own could help with the night terrors as well. Not to mention I, uh, was sort of hoping you would allow me to stay tonight," Neville added nervously. Graces turned to look at him at the suggestion, the charm had been taken off and she could see Neville's shy nature shining through. "We won't do anything and I plan on sleeping in there," Neville gestured to the living room where a couch was set up so he could sleep. "But I want to see if the sheets work and I don't want you sleeping with your curtains drawn and silencing charms up so you don't disturb people. I want to be here in case they don't work." Graces' mind was so preoccupied with the thought of spending the night in the same place as Neville she didn't say anything. "Is that okay?"

Was it?

"Yes, yes it's… fine," Graces finished quietly, turning away so Neville didn't notice how unsettled she had become.

"Good."

Graces was trying to regain her thoughts, grasping at something to say, but before she could put herself together Neville was behind her gently taking the sheets that were acting as her shield.

"I'm going to dry these and set up your bed for the night," Neville informed gently. "There is a loo just over there. Go ahead and draw yourself a hot bath, maybe we can save you yet from a cold. Everything you should need will be in there."

Graces held her elbows close and nodded before hurrying towards the loo without a glance behind. She closed the door—more aggressively than she planned—and leaned against the wood trying to gain some semblance of thought. She never expected this. Not at all. She could hear Neville moving in the bedroom which was attached to the loo and felt a surge of panic. He said nothing was going to happen and she believed him, but it didn't take away the fact that she felt a certain pressure. Like something should happen. And that left her with the question of if she wanted something to happen.

That thought alone sent another wave of panic through her. She had wanted to be sure and she thought she was sure, but now faced with the ultimate test she was back to wondering. A soft knock at the door she was leaning on had her jump about a foot in the air.

"Graces?" Neville murmured against the door. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, of-of course," Graces squeaked. "Why do you ask?"

There was a long pause before Neville answered her.

"I just... well the water isn't running."

"Right," Graces said lamely. "Right, yes, well… everything is fine."

"Okay… well, take your time."

Graces didn't respond back after that and instead began to peel her dress off. Her skin was so cold underneath that she couldn't even feel it. She crossed herself with her arms and looked over to the door to make sure Neville couldn't see. It was silly and ridiculous, but she was so aware of herself in that moment. She tried to shake her self-consciousness and remind herself that it was just her in the loo alone, but she wrapped a towel around her anyways as she made her way over to the large basin.

She stopped as she saw a small gift sitting in the middle of the tub. Hesitantly she plucked it up. Now even more embarrassed, she turned on the taps and sat down on the edge of the bath. Neville was not made for wrapping, she thought affectionately, staring at the parcel. It was easy to see where he became frustrated in the wrapping process and though he tried to cover his mistakes with a ribboned bow, it showed plainly.

She began opening her gift trying to guess as to what it could be considering Neville had left it at the bottom of a tub. She knew it was going to be some sort of bath essential, but it didn't deter her from being mildly excited. She doubted she would use it, her skin was too sensitive for most things, but the thought counted.

She tore off the last remnants of paper and smiled as she saw a lovely bottle of bath oil. She was about to place it down away from the tub when she noticed the label. It was her name printed on the glass. She moved the bottle closer and realised that this wasn't just a generic bottle of bath oil. It was made for her.

Graces

White lilies, white cotton and lavender

Made especially for you.

Hypoallergenic

"Is this for me?" she called, opening the bottle and closing her eyes as the sweet smell overtook her senses.

"Hmmm? Oh… no, that's for another Graces I know. Sorry, for the confusion."

Graces smiled at Neville's humor and poured some of the oil in the tub, allowing the scent take over the room with the rising steam.

"It's lovely," she said, her voice louder so Neville could hear her through the door. "Is it from that perfume company?"

"It is"

"Your flowers?"

"All except the cotton."

"It's lovely."

"So you've said."

Graces could hear Neville's smirk through the door and giggled at the image, before stepping into the tub. She had forgotten how much it hurt when your skin began thawing quickly from the cold. It felt as though her legs were burning from the water and she hissed as she lowered herself the rest of the way in. After a few minutes though the warmth became welcome and she leaned back so that she could lie down.

The bath was much smaller than what she was used to and she had to keep her knees up rather than lay them down to fit, but she still felt completely relaxed. She watched as her hair floated out around her like moonbeams reflecting off a lake.

The realization had not escaped her that she was alone with Neville and naked. Invasive thoughts of him walking in had begun running wild in her mind. His dark eyes, his hungry lips… She submerged her whole head in the water when images of his hand disappearing in bubbles came into play. She didn't even have bubbles in the bath and here she was fantasizing about him touching her beneath them.

She held her breath and clenched her eyes tightly under the water, not caring that her lungs had begun to burn. She didn't want to think about Neville on top of her. She wanted to think clearly. Rational. And being intoxicated by her hormones was not going to help her. She had sworn that she was going to be sure. Not a single strain of doubt. She had to be sure.

He broke the bottle. She understood it and a small part of her admired that Neville was such a righteous man, but another part of her screamed she couldn't be with him. Not after that. This war had placed a canyon between them, a canyon that was too dangerous to cross. And that was without mentioning Draco. Draco who she loved more than anything in this world hated Neville. He had been practically screaming for the Gryffindor's blood after the party. He had been so angry he was punching a stone wall until his knuckles were crimson with his own blood. He wanted to kill Neville. He meant to kill Neville, the only reason Neville was still breathing was because she begged Draco not to harm him.

She bolted up from the water and gasped for precious air, coughing and sputtering as the heavy scent of oil made the air near her too heavy. Neville knocked on the door to check on her and she quickly turned him away too embarrassed for words.

Her feelings were long past those of just innocent friendship and she knew it. She could never think of him as just her friend. She realized it in the classroom with Draco.

If you kill him I'll never be able to look at you the same.

Her harsh words had silenced Draco's blood thirst, but it had also made her realize how far out of hand everything had gotten. She had quickly covered for herself saying that killing because he had to was one thing, but out of anger was another. She had played the doe-eyed girl well. She had cried and said it would be the final loss of his innocence and Draco had bought it.

She hurt her brother. She hurt him tonight and she hurt him for Neville. She should have been a better sister. Draco probably wasn't even going to kill Neville, he was just letting off steam. He had threatened to kill Potter countless times and still the boy lived. There was no reasons for her words all they did was cut. Draco had left her looking as though he were about to cry. She had truly wounded him.

Unable to bear the thought of Draco she finished washing. It was as she was wrapping the soft towel around her though that she realized she didn't have any dry clothes. She couldn't wear her dress, for one it was still damp and two she had no desire to sleep in it for the night. Her underwear was fine, thank the gods, but she really did need something to put over her body. Awkwardly she knocked on the bathroom door. There was a ringing silence as she waited for a response, but after a moment or two she heard Neville just outside the wood.

"Uh, yes?"

Graces blushed realizing how odd it was for her to knock and not just call out, but quickly got over it when she realized how much more awkward it would be for both her and Neville if she went out in a towel.

"I have no dry clothes," she said quietly, closing her eyes and willing herself to disappear. "Do you—"

"I'll put my shirt on the door. I was planning on just wearing an undershirt to bed anyways. When you finish dressing let me know."

Graces waited until she heard the sounds of the bedroom door shutting before opening the bathroom door and buttoning Neville's shirt up to cover her. It covered everything important. Her legs were completely exposed, but nothing else was. She shivered as a cold draft swept the room and moved over to the fireplace that Neville must have prepared while she was bathing. She still was thinking about everything that had occurred when a tentative voiced called to her from outside.

"Oh, sorry," Graces apologized, feeling very badly for making Neville wait so long. "Come in."

Neville opened the door and took maybe two steps in before he froze. She watched his eyes drop to her bare legs and a thirsty look passed over his face before he shook it away and and moved to the bed.

"You should get some sleep," he began, the back of his neck a fierce red from their encounter. "I'm going to be just in the next room, so don't hesitate to call me."

Graces nodded and slipped between the sheets staring up at Neville's diverted eyes. He fiddled with the sheets around her, tucking her in as though she were a child needing to be taken care of, but she didn't mind. If anything she prayed he would continue, she felt better with him so near. She fought the urge to wrap her arms around him and tell him about what she said to Draco and ask him if he thought they could make it work.

"So… oil instead of perfume," Graces thought aloud, reaching for about anything to say.

"You're too sensitive to perfume," Neville pointed out looking up at her and smiling. "Besides I very much like how you smell. I don't want any artificial smell covering you up. Bath oil is perfect for you."

"But then don't I smell like the bath oil?"

"No," Neville breathed, a small laugh escaping his lips. "No, not at all. I-I asked them to make that bath oil because that's how you smell to me. Like white cotton, lilies, lavender and-and then there is something just so uniquely you. So you see it's made to smell like you, so there is no issue of it masking you."

"I must smell very good," Graces said sheepishly.

"Intoxicating," Neville whispered, more to himself than her. Neville flushed when he realized he had thought out loud and cleared his throat to regain himself.

"Well, I better leave you to sleep," Neville murmured, removing his hands that were placed on both sides of her and sitting up. "Good night."

"Good night," Graces whispered hollowly, laying down as Neville shut the door behind him. She didn't know what she expected. She had hurt him all week, it wasn't surprising that he was so guarded around her now, not after all that had happened. She was in the middle of scolding herself further when Neville bolted through the door, strode up to the bed, kissed her soundly, bid her a good night (again) and disappeared back to the living room.

It was so fast she would have believed it didn't happen if it weren't for her swollen lips and the door now being open a crack. She smiled to herself as she rolled over and nestled into the sheets. Breathing in Neville's musty scent that clung all around her caused her to become pleasantly drowsy. Her last thought as she slipped into sleep was of how warm Neville's arms were when he carried her to the room.

ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Neville woke to a soft voice whispering his name. He rolled over thinking it a dream, but at the third "Neville" he turned around and saw Graces was seated beside him on the couch. He jolted up from where he was laying and looked around and the dark room trying to remember where he was.

"Shit," Neville cursed, pressing his hands into his face and groaning lowly in frustration. "I really thought it would work." He let out one more sound of frustration before removing his hands and turning towards Graces. "We'll figure something out, I promise, Graces. We'll figure something out."

"Oh, no," Graces pinked, wrapping her arms around herself awkwardly. "I, uh, I didn't have bad dreams. It worked."

"It worked," Neville repeated. Graces bit her lip and nodded. "Then-then why are you awake? Why aren't you in bed?"

Neville watched as Graces swallowed some sort of emotion building inside of her and he sat up straighter his skin prickling with anticipation. Graces took a deep breath before her silver eyes looked up at him and she gathered up some essence of courage.

"Neville, I—"

"You're saying my name," Neville realized, frowning at the blonde in confusion and waiting for an answer.

"Yes, I am," Graces affirmed slowly, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ears.

"Why?"

Neville watched as the simple word seemed to make Graces more nervous and she bit her lip again and looked down at her feet before taking in another deep breath.

"This couch can't be comfy," she went on, pretending he had not asked any question.

"It's fine."

"Right, but it's not as comfy as a bed is it?" Graces asked, looking over at him again nervously. "I mean a bed would be better."

"It would," Neville nodded slowly. "But it's fine."

"Well, umm," Graces took another deep breath and looked over at him with a determined look. "Well, if you would like you could come to bed with me." Neville couldn't even breathe let alone answer Graces question. He stared up at her as though he was terrified and tried to decipher if this was a dream.

"Neville," Graces whispered, moving closer to his chest and gaining his attention as she leaned in and gently brought her lips to his, leaving little doubt as to what was happening. "I would like it very much if you came to bed with me."

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I know it's another cliffhanger BUT this was not my idea. Blame my friend Aleah, she insisted it had to end here. Haha ( I know I'm throwing her under the bus.) Also, don't forget to review!

I want to give everyone a heads up. My next chapters may all be very very late. My fiancé just got accepted into med school and we are moving across the country to Virginia. It's a huge task aside from moving I now have to find a new job, a place to live etc. I will do my best to upload as much as possibly, but the move won't be done until the end of July. I just have so much to do. Feel free to PM me etc and I will keep you posted as to where I am with the next chapters etc. Thanks for your patience and support I promise I will upload as soon as I can. This next chapter shouldn't be too late though so yay for that.