Special thanks to Saffron-savage, Naruhina1519, phee, DovahTobi, Janeth16, Okami24, anand891996, RIOSHO, fishywishygirl, ashiten, Sam, trispectrum, Simmens, Guest, Molly, Guest, Freddie, loveforeverbaby and Alicegaldino100 for the reviews! I'm so glad you all enjoyed it. And of course to my beta Denarii for the editing :)
Chapter 110
Graces slung her rucksack over her shoulders at the door and adjusted her hair out from the added weight before turning to Neville. "I'll see you at dinner tonight," she promised as a way of goodbye before reaching for the door handle.
"Wait."
She paused as Neville went over to her. He still wasn't fully dressed, he seemed to have not slept well the night before so she had taken pains to dress as quietly as possible to allow him more time to slumber.
"I was thinking, maybe tonight instead of dinner with McGonagall we could have a little date."
"A date," Graces repeated, unable to keep the skepticism from her voice.
"Yeah," Neville smiled. "I mean, why not?"
Graces bobbed her head slightly and debated saying what she was thinking. "Those don't exactly go well for us."
Neville let out an exuberant laugh. "Merlin, Graces, are you planning to never go on proper dates with me?"
It really did sound silly once Neville said it aloud and she found herself laughing along with him.
"Come on," Neville coaxed. "Let me wine and dine you."
"Oh?" Graces asked, raising a brow. "There will be wine?"
Neville's smile turned a bit embarrassed. "Let me dine you," he amended.
She bit her lip. It was tempting. She wondered what it was Neville was planning, where it would even be. Things between them had felt off. She had felt caught in the middle between his anger at Draco, maybe this would help put some of that to rest.
"I'll get wine," Neville bargained, pulling her in closer.
"I'll think about it."
"Don't think about it," Neville groaned. "Just say yes."
He bent down and gently pressed a kiss to her lips, a kiss that slowly wandered down to the base of her throat as his hands moved up her side, taking in the form of her waist before entangling up in her hair. It felt good, it felt really good. And when he moved back to her mouth her heart began racing at how quick his breath was against her.
"Neville, what are you—"
"Trying to have a normal moment with you," Neville chuckled against her. "Come on, let's be normal tonight. Do me a favor and take a break from thinking of your brother and be with me."
He was kissing her before she could respond and she found herself becoming more and more undone as the heat from him made her feverish. He moved her up against the door and pressed against her, making her even more aware of need. His hand moved to the strap of her satchel which he pushed off her shoulder unceremoniously, before he picked her up in his arms.
"You're going to be late for breakfast," he declared, carrying her back to the bedroom.
She really wasn't opposed to that idea. She giggled as Neville almost fell over some of his shoes he left on the ground, too preoccupied with kissing her to watch where he was stepping.
"I can walk you know," she teased.
"I'm being romantic, Malfoy, don't start."
Graces opened her mouth to make another comment but decided against the notion as Neville began taking off his shirt. He was quite handsome. She really didn't mention that to him often, even though they were together, but she could see it. She watched as his grin accented the way his jaw was shaped, how his hair—though not exactly styled fashionably—was full and rich in color.
He kissed her down into the bed, his lips moving to her collar as he unzipped the side of her skirt and she looked at the freckles on his arms and again wondered why she never commented on all the things she liked about him.
"I like the freckles on your arms," Graces whispered, her cheeks already burning from how lame the comment was once she heard it aloud.
Neville paused and sat up a bit from her, his eyes meeting hers squarely. Apparently, he was also a bit taken aback by her declaration.
She shook her head. "Sorry. I—" she just shook her head again. She sounded stupid.
Neville looked at her a bit longer, before moving so he was lying beside her and not on top of her. "No, I—why did you sound sad when you said it?"
"Because I never say anything nice to you about what I like. You tell me all the time you think I'm pretty." She was ruining this. Again. She had ruined this, she realized. She looked the other way from Neville and stared at the door and closed her eyes when she felt Neville's lips against the sensitive area of her neck.
"You think I haven't noticed you checking out my arms, Malfoy?" he teased, his tongue dragging down to her shoulder. "You stare a good bit anytime I roll up my sleeves in Herbology."
That was very true and Graces looked up from her lashes to find Neville was very amused.
"Aren't... aren't you still mad at me?"
"Frustrated," Neville corrected, moving back to kissing her mouth heatedly while his hands wandered all about her body. "In more ways than one at the moment." He grinned.
She closed her eyes as his mouth started to follow where his hands had touched and when he pulled down her underwear she no longer cared if he was angry or 'frustrated' with her. He made some noise of approval as his tongue moved between her legs driving her mad with need. Her head continued to cloud and spin, until all thought and worry left her completely.
She pushed Neville away and climbed on top of him, her body rising and falling in sync with his hips thrusting up into her. She loved Neville, and she knew without a shadow of a doubt he loved her, but the sex they were having now, the way his mouth was desperately taking in her breasts and collar, and the way she was clinging to his body as she rode him... It was the same carnal desperation they had had when they first came together.
She was already coming undone around him, her body finding its release when Neville's was still in the throes of passion. Not that Neville seemed to mind, he flipped her over and gave her an all-too-proud little grin before continuing on. She really did love him. She loved everything about him, including how he seemed to know exactly what she needed when she herself had no idea. She didn't understand all the reasons why this made her feel better, maybe it was the euphoria of it all, that seemed to be the reasoning in the beginning, or maybe it was the reassurance that Neville, even when 'frustrated' with her, still wanted her.
"I want to get back on top," she murmured, kissing the space between his neck and shoulder.
He turned to her, his face flushed and glistening with sweat as he gave her a little half drunken grin. "I can do a much better job here."
"Take a break," Graces murmured, already pushing his chest up from her while her legs angled him to lay on the bed. She often forgot Neville was into legs, but the movement she made and the way his hands and eyes went down to them reminded her. He sat up and kissed her, Graces revelled in the taste of him, and moaned against his lips as he pressed upward into her.
"You're supposed to be taking a break," she reminded, biting her lip as Neville's teeth gently pulled at the peaks of her breasts.
"I want you to come again," Neville revealed, his hips continuing on, as his head dipped between her breasts causing the smell of his sandy hair to waft all around her. "I want to feel you pulsing all around me and then I want you to ride me like you did in that chair back when you were tutoring me."
Graces bit her lip at the memory, at Neville's low voice bringing it back to life. She felt like she should say something back, or comment on her own appreciation for that particular day, but she wasn't sure how to. She could feel Neville's fingers digging into her hips as he groaned against her neck, causing the peaks of her breasts to harden. And maybe it was this sensation that took her over enough to get her away from her head, because before she could think too much regarding it all she found herself asking what he liked so much about it.
Neville looked up at her in surprise, before his eyes darkened. "The way your breast kept brushing against my chest. The noises you made. The way you watched me the whole time, like you knew exactly how good it felt and wanted to see me enjoy it." Neville cursed and leaned his head back, clearly enjoying what she was doing now as well. "Merlin, and when you came how hard you rode me, like you couldn't get enough."
"I couldn't," Graces admitted, leaning down and kissing him. Neville returned this kiss with such fervor that their teeth knocked together and she found her hips moving faster to match. She was lost in him, in his touch and taste, but much like the aforementioned time she couldn't seem to get enough. She wanted more, more than she was able to achieve being the one on top and in control. "Neville, I'm so close, please—"
She didn't need to finish that statement, Neville seemed to know exactly what she needed. He flipped on top of her and was riding her exactly the way she wanted. And maybe it was everything they had said before, or the fact that this was so different from the way they typically made love, but to her surprise and delight, Neville raised her legs on his shoulders and rode her to a point where she doubted she could say any other name other than his.
"That was okay, right?" Neville asked after, looking over at her unsurely from his side of the bed.
Graces laughed, slightly embarrassed, but nodded. "Yes, definitely."
"Wasn't too rough?"
"No," Graces smiled, turning so he could hold her. "Not at all. You could be rougher if you wanted."
Neville kissed her forehead. "Noted."
Graces laid there for a moment before going to clean up in the bathroom. When she returned Neville pulled her back into the bed, kissing her cheek softly as he folded her back into his arms. She could feel him burying his face in her hair contentedly, allowing himself to drift off. It was nice, safe and comfortable even.
"So?"
"So what?" Graces asked, her fingers gently making circles on Neville's arm.
Neville chuckled against her. "The date. Can I take you on a date tonight?"
Graces' could feel her cheeks burn, and let out a small laugh. "Fine."
"Yeah?" Neville pulled up from where he was laying and looked down at her.
"Yes."
It was almost worth saying yes just for the smile he gave her. He kissed her soundly at her proclamation and then promised she wouldn't regret it. Graces rolled her eyes at his optimism.
"I love you," he proclaimed gently, moving some of her hair away from her face and staring down at her in that way that used to frighten her.
"I love you too."
The Gryffindor laid back down and then playfully shrugged her away. "Okay, Malfoy, off you go. I said you would be late for breakfast not miss it altogether."
Graces snorted and took a look at Neville's watch on the nightstand. "We're going to end up being there for the tail end."
"I've seen you run," Neville shrugged.
Graces scowled looking for one of her shoes. Upon finding it she looked over at Neville again.
"Where- did that come from?"
"What?"
Graces looked at the bed as an answer. Neville pinked slightly and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, it's... always there. I mean, how could it not be?"
"Oh..." She paused, searching for words. "Even when you're frustrated with me?"
Neville ran a hand through his hair and it was now his turn to be thoroughly awkward and embarrassed. "I mean, yeah, why not?"
Because things were bad. Because most nights she went to bed crying and he went to bed trying to comfort her and biting his tongue about her brother. Because half the time in the morning she couldn't meet his eyes.
"Graces, please don't overthink this," Neville begged. "You're my girlfriend. I love you. You're bloody gorgeous. And even when things are messy and complicated all those things are still true. I lay beside you every night," Neville reminded. "It's not an insane thing that I want to ravish you, even when things are messy all those things I listed are always true."
Graces nodded and gave him a brittle smile. "Okay. I think I'm going to wash up a bit. Why don't you head down first."
Neville gave her another kiss. "No missing breakfast, Malfoy. You better hurry if you insist on rinsing off. And I better see you here tonight for dinner. I'll inform McGonagall we're having a date. I'm sure she wouldn't mind the night off from us."
Graces laughed at that and hurried to the loo, reminding Neville before he left that there had better be wine. She had just turned the taps of the shower on when Neville came back in, pulling the curtain and kissed her soundly, not seeming to mind the water hitting his head.
"I want a round two tonight as well," he grinned. "And you can tell me about a time you really liked."
Graces must have been beet red at the thought, but she nodded, unable to hide her own excitement at the idea.
Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
"Where the bloody hell is he?" Draco hissed.
Graham took a long sip of his tea. They had been sitting for breakfast before the food was even finished being prepared. Draco was on edge, desperate to see how Neville reacted to the letter. The mail had all arrived earlier with Ginny Weasley getting her letter and the Ministry owl for Neville was sitting patiently waiting for the boy to arrive. The whole of the Gryffindor table was abuzz with discussion, but Draco seemed to only care for Neville's reaction.
"It's Saturday, he probably slept in."
Draco swallowed and looked again at the entryway to the Great Hall. "What if he doesn't come? What if—"
"The Ministry owl will wait there till lunch then," Graham explained patiently.
The blonde nodded and returned to staring down at his porridge. Graham secretly prayed that Neville would be coming soon; he couldn't imagine spending the Saturday with Draco this on edge.
"You can have that money back," he murmured quietly.
Draco scowled and looked up to Graham. "What?"
"The money, you can have it back."
Draco's gray eyes narrowed. "I have plenty of money to aid with the courts. You don't have to—"
"No," Graham shook. "No, she won't accept it. She won't accept anything from me, she said. She wants nothing to do with me," he added quietly. He could feel Draco's eyes on him, but he wasn't sure what else there was to say.
"It's not on you then," Draco stated, turning forward and pouring himself another cup of tea. "You tried."
Graham pressed his lips together. He had a child coming, it was more than just Wamil. He didn't want the child, but it was coming all the same. He considered what it meant that he didn't protect both the woman he loved and his child. He chanced a glance over at where Wamil was sitting. She couldn't do this alone. He didn't want her to, but at the same time he didn't see another way. And if she wouldn't—
"Keep the money and keep trying."
Graham blinked at Draco's words and looked away from the Hufflepuff table. "She won't."
"You'll figure it out." He licked his lips and shifted slightly. "We can figure something out, if need be."
"You can't do that," Graham whispered.
"Sure I can."
"I won't ask that."
"You didn't ask, I offered."
Graham opened his mouth to reply, but Draco's focus was now elsewhere. He sat alert as Neville came through the doors. The bloke didn't even make it to the table before he was surrounded by his friends. Ginny Weasley was showing him the letter she received, her brother was on his other side fuming, and Potter was trailing behind with a look of great discomfort on his face.
Graham inwardly flinched as he saw Graces enter and then slowly stop at the entranceway, unable to ignore the commotion surrounding Neville. Her brow furrowed slightly in confusion as Longbottom broke free of his friends and snatched his own letter from the owl. Graham watched as the Gryffindor read each line, his look of confusion gradually leaving. He looked up from his letter and immediately began moving away from the table.
He was angry, you could read it in every single stride he made towards the blonde. Graces held her ground, not moving from where she was standing by the doorways, her eyes glancing to the paper in his hands. Her unanswered question and when Neville got close he must have seen it. The fear and confusion in Graces eyes was so apparent. She stood there breathless, looking up at him and waiting for what was to come, but anyone watching could tell that she didn't know what was coming or why. Neville paused before her and Graham knew without a shadow of a doubt that the words "Did you know?" were dying on his tongue.
Neville's jaw turned away, a silent redirection of his outrage. Or maybe he didn't want her to see too much of what he was feeling. He left her and Graham swallowed hard as he made his way over to where he and Draco were sitting.
Graham was ready for this. He cooled his features and silently moved his hand to his wand. When Neville was before them he knew that his face didn't give away any of his emotions. Unfortunately, Draco's did. Now Graham regretted all this. He watched as his friend sat there before Neville and did his best to look and appear strong, while indescribable disappointment, hurt, and fear crept up into his eyes.
And Neville saw that too. Graham wondered if he could easily read Draco because of Graces. He had found that Draco was a difficult person to know, the twins often show one emotion to cover up another. Graham watched as Neville stood there a few moments longer chewing on all the hateful words he apparently wanted to say, but now couldn't bring himself to, before shaking his head and leaving.
"Stay here," Graham ordered, unwilling to look at his friend and see the devastation that he in a way had caused with all this. He ran after Neville, pausing to give Graces the same directions he had given her brother. He wasn't willing to let this end here, not without explaining things to Neville. No, if Neville chose not to do this, Graham was going to make certain he understood exactly what he was refusing to do.
"Longbottom!"
Neville ignored him and continued on.
"Longbottom, wait!" Graham demanded, when he caught up to him. "Just listen—" Graham had just reached for the other boy's arm when Neville turned towards him.
"He tortured me," Neville spat. "Tortured. And you want me to let him walk free?"
"You love his daughter," Graham reminded, looking around to be sure they were alone. He doubted they would be for very long. "You love her and he made her. He raised her. You two have been in this bubble of ignoring the realities of your families, but now it has to burst. That is her father, that is who can protect her and yes, he is the same man that tortured you. Maybe that was an easy thing to forgive when you had justice for what was done to you, but now I ask you to let that go. So, yes, I want you to let him walk free, so he can protect his children."
Neville shook his head as though he wished for that truth to not be so.
"Graces and Draco both need their father. They—"
"I will not talk to you about this. Not you," Neville declared venomously.
"Is it a no though?" Graham demanded. "Can you really so quickly decide—"
"It's a 'none of your damn business'," Neville replied Graham actually flinched for a moment when he believed the other boy was about to punch him. "I hope your uncle rots for this, gets the Dementor's Kiss for this, this lie. Damn you, I bet you had your hand in this."
"I did," Graham said quietly, his eyes hard on the other boy's. "You see I don't mind being a villain to save the people I care about. And I would do anything to save Draco, which means I would do anything to save Graces."
Neville's eyes narrowed. "Fuck you, Montague."
Before Neville could turn away he grabbed his arm. "You're a fool if you think for one second Graces will not choose to die with her brother. A damn fool. Believe me when I say, Longbottom, she will die either in the same manner he does or by her own hand."
Neville shook his head. "She wouldn't."
"Oh, 'cause you think she wouldn't leave you?" Graham scoffed. "Those two are so bloody dysfunctional when it comes to one another that you know it to be true. She would leave you and be with Draco. You know it and I know it. So ask yourself, Neville, how are you going to feel knowing you could have done something to help them, something of real substance to help them, and you chose not to? How will you feel when they're dead? Proud that you stuck to your moral compass?"
Neville gave him a withering stare. "He will hurt and kill other people," he said slowly. "If it was just me, yeah, he'd be out. But it's not. He is a killer and a good one."
Graham shrugged, releasing his hold on his arm. "What are those other people in comparison to Graces?"
He could see it. That needle on Neville's compass faltering. Neville knew what the right choice was, but it wasn't the right choice for his heart or for his love.
Neville swallowed. "I will not discuss this with you."
"Fine, but at least consider. A great deal of trouble on my part went to trying to get this very small chance. My Uncle wasn't exactly thrilled to do this," Graham took a step forward so he and Neville were nose to nose. "You see I'm even willing to be the villain to my own family in order to help them. And now it all rests on your shoulders. This plan only works if you love Graces as much as she loves you. And you know that she would. If I know one thing about the fucking Malfoys its that when they love it's not just words, it's everything. So what is it to you, Longbottom?"
Graham could see the other boy shaking with emotion and he knew from the tears brimming in his eyes it wasn't just rage, though there was a lot of rage. And he did feel bad. He knew what this would do to Neville, to his relationship with Graces, but at the same time he didn't care. This was the choice, and he had been forced to make difficult decisions. Draco had been forced to make impossible decisions. Graces, Thomas, the list went on. Why did Longbottom get to be different?
They stood there a moment longer, staring at each other, before Neville left, the letter still crumpled in his fist. Graham walked to the Great Hall to find Draco and Graces standing outside of the entrance. They must have spoken, Graces' face was sheet white and her eyes kept darting about in thought as she held her satchel's straps tightly. She looked up at him only once he was close enough to touch.
"Well?"
Only Draco seemed well enough to speak. Graham shook his head that he didn't know. Neville hadn't said no, but he had a feeling that is where Neville was leaning. Graces made some noise at that and Draco reached out to comfort her. She turned away from it though and covered her face.
"I think, Graces," Graham began, giving Graces a knowing look. "You two are—were—friends, maybe you could-"
Graces face twisted. "He would never," she sputtered tightly. "He won't. I—he would never."
"He might," Draco implored. "I mean, he was sweet on you for so long. Perhaps—"
"I can't ask him for this," Graces gasped, stepping away from them. "I can't, he would never agree. Never. I can't ask this of him."
Draco opened his mouth to protest, but Graces just shook her head and before either Graham or Draco could stop her she ran. He couldn't believe it. Graham moved to follow her, to demand that she ask, but Draco stopped him.
"Don't."
"She can talk him into this. I know she could. If—"
"It's going to be fine," Draco swallowed, turning and heading towards the stairs. "I have an idea, it will be fine. I don't need Graces to ask."
"Draco, you really do need her to. You—"
"I got this," Draco swore. "Just... just leave it. You've done enough."
"Draco, I—"
"Just leave it," Draco repeated, his hand waving him off before he disappeared entirely.
Ssssssssssssss
Sorry it's been a bit. I had a lot going on in my personal life and then I finished this chapter a while ago but it didn't sit right with me. So I spent a few weeks just sitting with it and making changes slowly til it was better.
Thanks for reading all :) Don't forget to review/ follow!