Chapter 15 - Confession
"Damn it, Nev! You idiot! I thought you had more sense that that! What the hell were you thinking, taking her out in public?! You could've gotten her killed!"
Before Harry could say anything else, Hermione stepped forward to rage at the face scowling through the emerald green flames of the floo.
"Harry Potter how DARE you speak to him like that! It was my decision to go out after Neville insisted it wasn't safe! I was the one who didn't listen! Neville has continually put his life on the line for me and I will NOT have you disrespecting him in this fashion!"
She swung her wand arm towards the fireplace. "Now get out and STAY out until you can keep a civil tongue and apologize!"
With a violent flick of her wrist she not only extinguished the flames to end the conversation but also sealed the floo shut entirely with a solid layer of bricks. She then proceeded to storm about the room casting a whole slew of additional protective wards around the house in general and the sitting room in particular.
Once finished she dropped down into one of the large chairs. "There. He can bloody well cool his heels outside until he comes to his senses and learns some manners."
"He's right," Neville said quietly.
She gave him a sharp look. "No, he's NOT."
"Yes. He is. And knowing him, he'll be here soon."
"No, he won't. You've known him as long as I have. He'll throw things around his office and sulk for at least half an hour before turning up here asking for forgiveness."
"Good. That will give you plenty of time to get packed and be ready to leave when he arrives."
Hermione leapt to her feet. "What? No!"
"Yes. You're going to a safe house with someone who is better equipped to protect you."
"Don't be ridiculous, Neville! This could've happened just as easily if Harry had been with me."
Neville turned to face the wall. "No. It wouldn't."
"Why ever not?"
His shoulders tensed but he remained silent and unmoving.
"Come on. Answer me," she said.
Neville stared at the wall with such intensity that for a brief second Hermione honestly thought he might have the ability to see through to the other side. When she still received no answer she stepped closer and insisted, "Well, don't just stand there! Say something! You once swore to tell me the truth! Was that just an empty promise?!"
Neville whipped around, eyes blazing. "Fine! You want the truth?! It wouldn't have happened with Harry because he would've been focused on his surroundings and not how it would feel to take you in his arms and kiss you."
Hermione froze, her mouth open. She blinked slowly then finally managed to speak in a soft voice. "Neville? What are you saying?"
He leaned against the mantle and focused on the nearest candlestick to avoid seeing the look on her face. "I'm saying that I'm in love with you, damn it. Probably always have been and today my feelings got the better of my judgment and it damn near got you killed."
"Don't be absurd. That's impossible," she whispered.
"It's not impossible. It's what bloody well happened."
"I mean you can't..."
Neville finally looked at her. "Can't what?"
"Can't be in love with me."
"Excuse me?"
"You can't love me. I'm - I'm a mess. I'm damaged goods. I'm scarred inside and out." She pointed towards her head. "It gets very dark in here, Neville. I have terrible nightmares. I wake up screaming. If I forget to cast a silencing charm before bed I'll wake everyone in a two mile radius. Merlin, I'm a grown woman that can't sleep without a light on."
She began pacing around the room. "The first thing I do when I enter a building is search for and catalog all the escape routes. I still carry a full kit of supplies in my handbag like I'm some kind of fugitive. I've lived in my flat two years and haven't decorated in case I suddenly have to abandon everything and go on the run again. I can't even bring myself to own a pet out of fear of what would happen to it if I died or disappeared."
"So? The war affected you deeply. Join the club."
She shook her head violently. "I'm not finished. War baggage aside, I'm a wretched person to be around. I'm bossy. I'm regimented. I'm shut off. I'm cold and..."
"Stop right there." He swiftly crossed the room to stand in front of her. "You're not bossy. Ninety nine times out of a hundred you're the cleverest person in the room. Because of that you usually know the right thing to do and you aren't afraid to say so. That's called leadership and you're brilliant at it. And of course you crave order. Look at all the bloody chaos you've endured. You aren't shut off, you're cautious because of everything you've been through. And whatever idiot said you were cold never made the slightest effort to learn the first thing about you."
"But…"
"But nothing. I've known you since we were twelve years old, Hermione. I think I know what I'm getting myself into."
Her voice grew small as tears welled in her eyes. "I'm not the same person you met on that train."
"I know that," he said, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ears. "Hell, none of us are. I may have developed a crush on a precocious little girl but I fell in love with a remarkable, confounding, head strong, complicated woman that I haven't a chance of figuring out in one lifetime. But I damn well want to try."
"Don't tease me, Nev. Please. Not about something as important as this." She moved closer and ran her hands up his chest, resting them on his shoulders before raising herself slowly on her toes.
"I'm not teasing about anything but I'd think much clearer if you didn't do that."
"Why?" Her face was now so close that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his skin.
"Because," he said in a hoarse voice, "when you're this close I find myself wanting to do far more with your body than just protecting it."
She closed her eyes and whispered, "Good. Because that's what I want as well."
Then her lips were on his and the world swirled around him, every nerve in his body bristling with a frantic energy and an untamed magic which threatened to overwhelm him. His knees quivered and he had to fight to maintain his balance as he wrapped his arms around her, savoring every sensation.
He finally regained his senses long enough to push her back in a vain attempt to catch his breath.
"Wait," he panted. "I need to say something else. Before this goes any further you have to know that I'm not interested in a one night stand. I don't want an affair. This isn't just a physical thing. I want more than sex. I want the whole package. I want Sunday afternoons watching you do the crossword in the paper and arguments over who forgot to take out the bins. I want to hear you yelling at me for tracking mud into the house and leaving my pants on the floor one too many times."
He cradled her face in his hands. "I want to hold your hair back when you get sick. I want to fuss at you about not eating properly when you work too hard and threaten guys like Cormac who make life difficult for you. I want to learn how to make that ridiculously complicated coffee you drink and send you flowers and chocolate just because it's Tuesday and be the one comforting you at three in the morning after you've had a nightmare. I love you, Hermione Granger and if those things don't interest you please tell me now while there's still a chance for me to walk away with some shred of dignity intact."
Tears shimmered in her eyes as she said, "Neville Longbottom, I - I love you so much that I find myself struggling to put words together." She ran her fingers along the back of his neck, tugging him closer. "So I suppose I'll just have to find another way to express myself."
Before he could prepare himself she was kissing him again, at first slowly and tentatively but quickly growing in force and passion. He stumbled briefly due to the power of the emotion then collected himself long enough to lift her up and brace her against the wall so he could deepen their connection. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he began trailing kisses along her jaw. He was just starting to make his way down her neck when a loud pounding noise came from the direction of the front door.
"Nev? Mione? It's me! Harry! Open up!"
The pair reluctantly broke apart just far enough to gasp for air as Neville growled, "Damn. He's quicker than he used to be."
The banging continued and Hermione tipped her head back and rolled her eyes at the ceiling. "I swear, I'm going to hex him into next year."
"Not if I do it first," said Neville, stealing another kiss before setting her gently on the ground.
"Come on, guys! I'm sorry! Please open the door!"
Hermione and Neville made a hasty attempt to pull themselves together as they made their way to the entrance hall. As Neville started to open the door Hermione pushed him out of the way and flung it wide to reveal both Harry and Draco on the porch.
"Damn, Hermione. How'd you manage to even block out my patronus..."
Before Harry could finish his sentence, Hermione had petrified him, moving aside slightly to allow him to drop flat onto the stone floor in front of a shocked Neville.
Draco paused then looked at her and deadpanned, "I hope you plan on levitating him because I have no intention of carrying his arse inside." He stepped over Harry and tipped his head to Neville as he did so. "Evening, Longbottom. Hell of a welcoming committee you have here."
Hermione levitated in Harry into the sitting room and deposited him on the divan before undoing the spell. He sat up slowly, rubbed his head and muttered, "Blimey, Hermione. Give a bloke the chance to apologize first, why don't you?"
She scowled and gestured towards Neville. Harry stood, hung his head and extended his hand. "Sorry, mate. I know you'd never knowingly put her at risk. It could've happened to any of us. I apologize for what I said earlier."
"It's okay. You were right. I was careless and..."
"Oh, Merlin. If I'd known I was going to have to witness a 'moment' I would've waited outside," snarked Draco.
"You. Hush," commanded Hermione, brandishing her wand at him.
Draco, having seen the earlier display, raised his hands as he glanced at Harry.
"You may want to think twice before petrifying him, Hermione," said Harry. "He's got news."