I am soooo sorry that this chapter took so long but there was school, and the holidays, and all this other crap, but it did get done so here it is… not to metion my longest chapter. I hope you like it .
Neville's POV
Through that day I was feeling restless and a bit bummed. I had just started the day out wonderfully by embarrassing myself with my clumsiness—again. Seeing that I had time before my first class, Transfiguration, I went to my dorm, to filter out my depression. There at the window was a jet black owl, with perfectly sleek feathers, a golden collar, and piercing white claws that were……rapping at the window! Realizing that it had a letter I hastily open the window to receive the message. I looked at the seal, and there it was again—the green and silver D, entwined with snakes. I remember the last letter….
flash back
Neville,
You bloody better make sure nobody is reading this! Neville, about what happened in the greenhouse you can't tell anyone about that, or you will wish you weren't even born especially not Potter or Weasley! I need to talk to you. Meet in the owelry at midnight. Don't Delay.
Draco
P.S. burn this
end flash back
I remember rushing to the owlery at 2 minutes to 4:00 and meeting Draco, but doing anything but talking—before we were interrupted of course. I felt myself blush but then shook those thoughts from my head. Now as I open the familiar seam, my heart started to pounding, and I grew eager. Pulling the small piece of parchment with trembling fingers, I unfolded it. First, I scanned its length, and then read the note, with darting eyes.
Neville,
I need to see you. Astronomy Tower, so we won't be interrupted by the ventriloquist and his dummy.
Draco
P.S. destroy this
He needs to see me. He needs to see me. He needs to see me! I read the scripted calligraphy over and over again. When I placed my figures softly against the letters of the sinister name they glittered with a ghostly sheen. BANG! Panicky, I swiftly tucked the forbidden letter under my pillow. I breathed a sigh of relief when I looked toward the doorway and found nobody there other than Seamus walking inside.
"Hiya, Neville" he said cheerily, in the manner he always did, then he eyes narrowed,
"What are you doing here, everyone's at breakfast?"
"Oh…..I…..yeah……you see……..Potions!" I managed to squeak out.
"Oh yeah" Seamus said with recognition, then grimaced,
"Bloody essay to do……only halfway done…..stupid teacher…..chuck him in the
loo……" and walked of muttering likewise to himself. But instead of pondering Seamus's sanity, I retrieved the letter and instead contemplated the reality of its existence. I managed to tear my glaze away from the parchment, and glanced at the clock.
I only had 5 minutes to race across the castle to my first class! My day is really being screwed. Not only would I be thought of as uncontrollable clumsy butt my diminishing stance of punctuality will be destroyed. I quickly dropped to the floor and touched my wand to the floorboard 17th away from the burgundy wall. I whispered,
"Secretisma" and the floor board lifted to reveal a silver box with a heavy black
lock on it. I pulled out the key that from my locket that I consistently carry around my neck and released the box. Laid inside were my prized possessions. My mother's wedding ring, my father's watch, my blue ribbon herbology paper, glass fragments of Harry's lost prophecy, my baby rings, my first wand (before it broke), my journal and……Draco's first letter. Using the utter most of care, I placed the second letter over the first and locked my possessions, and then I rushed to Transfiguration.
I knew I should have destroyed it but…..I would keep it—no matter what he says.
Draco's POV
"Mister Longbottom!" Snape drawled
"If I may asked…." And glared into Neville's cauldron
"What is that suppose to be?" Snape said with dry humor. Neville's eyes darted frantically around.
"Well….sir…..er…….y-you….see I—"
"Did you add the Stinkweed and steer the potion at 6 minutes intervals?" his hooded figure towering over Neville
"I…..well……I musta"
"Forgot, Mr. Longbottom? Could that possibly be what you did?" Snape said with exaggerated emotion. This provoked the table of Slytherins to snicker loudly at Neville's predicament. Snape let them carry on for a moment but the turned to them with a disapproving look on his face and the snickering resided almost immediately. Just as quickly as he turned toward us he turned back to Neville, but this time there faces were only inches apart.
"Mr. Longbottom….." he said, his voice dripping with loathe and menace
"You will fix this potion and you will test if yourself….maybe then you can learn from your mistakes….."
Neville turned white, his eyes filled with shock. Still smirking, Snape glided off, leaving Neville to his fate.
I knew that if it wasn't possible to revive Neville's murky grey, bubbling potion then Snape would have just deposed it, and failed him for the day—like he always does. Neville must have been working hard on this potion because Snape actually gave him another chance. The potion was called the Vanishing Potion, which makes the user unseen to human eyes. Concentrating hard, I devised a method to correct the potion.
"Hey Longbottom!" I leered and the frustrated boy turned in surprise.
"I kinda wish your potion didn't look like a pot of shit because then you can finally disappear!" I said loudly. The Slytherins laughed loudly behind me. Neville's face turned a bright red, and his bottom lip trembled violently as his suddenly shiny eyes turned away from us. I felt a twang of guilt, but relentlessly I nudged Crabbe and Goyle and they obediently went to hassle Nevielle, like I silently requested. While Neville was distracted I pushed his cauldron mixer in a full rotation, therefore starting the mixing process. But before I could get a handful of Stinkweed and start chopping rigorously I saw Potter's eyes dart up to Crabbe and Goyle……….damn. I really didn't want to make this issue bigger that it was suppose to be so I snapped my fingers and they retreated while I continued my original intentions. In my haste, I cut myself and a small dropped of blood landed on the branch. I considered starting over but……I didn't have time. I quickly tried to transfigure a chair to something to distract the class, but all it did was to sprout ears, a tail and log hairy feet.
I just transfigured a chair to a bloody kangaroo!
And just when I thought I had done bad enough, the damn thing started to hop and not to mention, draw attention.
"Blimey!" Ron said in awe
"Eeeek!" some stupid Gryffindor girl screamed. Just as my horrendous transfiguration had taken the eyes and ears of the whole class I lifted the Stinkweed and dropped it in to the cauldron after exactly 6 minutes. I sighed at my fortune when the spoon finished its rotation, the bubbles started popping violently and the potion turned very, very pale—almost white. Neville's face fell again.
The Slytherins started snickering. I glanced at the time, 2:55! I only had 5 minutes to finish the last 6 minute interval. Time turned slowly as I waited for six minutes to pass……when the 3rd overbearing minute past, I saw Neville turn back to his cauldron. He looked at his sickly, pale potion and started walking towards it.
"Don't touch it!" I thought suddenly
He picked up his scribbled instructions and Snape quickly issued out that we copy while glancing feverishly at the cauldron
"Don't touch it!" I begged silently
While putting the brown, rusty book down, he placed his hands around the mixture.
"Don't touch it!"
The whole class turned to look at me and I realized that I had scream out the warning,…..oh shit. I glared at those gawking eyes and they glanced away quickly. Just as I regained my cool and collected self I found that the 3 minutes that I had been impatiently waiting for had pasted. I impatiently waited for the stupid cauldron to change color and sparkle after, I turned the potion…..but, nothing happened.
"Since you have a effectively muddled your potion Mr. Longbottom….I suggest we try it now" Snape drawled
"Students, class is dismissed with a 2 page essay about how to counter the potion's effects" and emitted a groan from the class "I will be evaluating your potion for effectiveness and presence. If anyone would like to see a live demonstration of this potion at work……..stay after class."
Nobody moved
Snape glided behind his desk and pulled out an old emerald goblet . He dipped it into the now deep blue, but still bubbling potion and shoved it at poor Neville. Neville looked at the goblet hesitantly with a permanently shocked look on his face.
"Drink it!" Snape drawled, silkly but Neville stood stock still.
"DRINK IT!" Snape exploded……and that when I started to worry……
It's not purple yet! Oh, what if I did something wrong! What if I made it worst! Neville don't drink it! What if something bad happens! Neville!
….and down it went……that's when I close my eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have because I missed the sudden brightness of the potion and the tiny glints that twinkled when they touched the brunette's lips. The class erupted in murmurs and when I opened my eyes, Neville was gone, vaporized, vanished, disappeared.
Snape scowled and picked up a large glass of water and dumped its contents on the…….floor? But it surprisingly washed over a dome—in the form of a person. And there in that split second was Neville, dripping wet, but smiling from ear to ear.
Oh Neville….
The Griffindors exploded with cheers and claps, while the Slytherins scowled at the surprising turn of events. I smiled in spite of myself as I watched Neville turn pink at all the attention he was getting. It started from the lobes of his ears—his blush—then on his smooth cheeks, and ended its trail just above his collar bone. I knew it all too well, as I thought it was…..uh…..Fine! As if I thought it was adorable, okey! For a moment, our eyes met. Don't know how his eyes found mine but they did and they locked. Time didn't exist then, neither did the students, nor the dungeons themselves. All that mattered was those baby blue eyes that made me feel ever so odd. A feeling I've never had before…..a feeling I didn't even know. Being a Malfoy and all, I have certain limitations, certain boundaries that cannot be crossed and still have me bearing my family name in the end. But through all this, my pride wasn't scarred, when I was the first to look away.
I looked out onto the Quidditch field that was covered with leaves and pressed my head against the cool glass of the tower.
Can my life get any worst?
This whole tangle that I had gotten myself into wouldn't let me loose, and the worst part about it is that I didn't want to reach for that blade and cut it all way. This has never happen to me before. I've always That's what I live for. Anything I owned, I controlled completely—I had to. My hair, my scores, my friends, my acquaintances, my affairs, my family, even my conscience. I had to be in control. But one thing managed to slip free from the chokehold I had on it and now could run free, wild, crazy, alive. And I think they're taking my thoughts with them. I wasn't careful enough—cautious enough and now I had lost them—but yet I still have them—all over…………my feelings. But I would get them back. I would stop this rubbish and set my priorities straight. I mean….how hard could it be? I turned when I heard footsteps and there he was, my blue-eyed angel. The dim glint of the sun hit his hair perfectly and I was at a loss of words—again. He didn't look too happy, instead he looked suspicious—very suspicious.
"Draco…..why did you fix my potion?" he demanded
Oh shit.
(a/n duh duh duh what will happen next……..hmmmmm……..anyway read and review….afterall that's what keeps me going hint, hint wink, wink nudge, nudge)
