A/N: Okay, maybe I'm too excited to get to my favourite chapter (not this one, but soon!) I've combined a couple of chapters here because I'm celebrating Mother's Day tomorrow with my best friend who just gave birth last month! So in case I don't have time to upload, here's a big, fat, juicy chapter with substance (finally getting past some of that filler shit!) Thank you all so much for the follows and views! I can't tell you how excited you make me to wake up every morning to share this with you! I've been sitting on this story for nearly two months so it's weird to think so many other people are reading my nasty angsty word vomit.
Leave a review and let me know what you'd like to see more/less of next time 'round.
Disclaimer: Still not J.K Rowling. Still poor as shit thanks to not monetizing this nonsense.
CHAPTER FIVE
Three weeks. It had been three weeks since she last saw Malfoy. I'll owl you, she thought, mocking his now deep voice. Hermione wasn't upset at the broken promise, rather sexually frustrated. Based on Harry's letters, he wouldn't be back for a couple of months and the thought of going out, pretending to be interested in some stranger's life, shagging them a few times before it became good and making sure they stayed an arms length away was exhausting. Perhaps I'll sign up for another Muay Thai class in London. That would bring me up to three times a week. Hermione felt satisfied by the plan. Wait for Harry (chew out Malfoy if he owls her), sign up for more classes and figure out what the bloody hell Anderson was going on about in this report.
Hermione left her office to find the Inspector and give him a tongue lashing. How many sodding times did she have to tell him that if he wasn't thorough in his report, there may not be grounds to stand on to release the Elves, then the whole operation is pointless! She asked him that very question as she slammed the report on his desk.
"I-I'm sorry, Miss Granger. It won't happen again," the middle aged man snivelled.
"You have one more chance. These are creatures' lives we're dealing with here and there's no more room for your gross asininity. Get it right or get out." She bit out the last few words to emphasize her point. Leaving the report on his desk to fix, she looked around at her fifteen other employees being sure they all got the message. She walked back to her office with her shoulders back. She didn't normally drop the hammer like that, but she would be damned if her life's work went belly up because of negligent employees.
She closed her office door and turned to see a long figure lazily sprawled across her chair and desk, "That was quite the tirade you went on. I wouldn't want to work under you," Malfoy's eyes lit up, "well perhaps in another fashion. But not here."
"What are you doing here, Malfoy? Hang on, how did you find me? I didn't tell you what I do."
"It's really not that difficult to find you. I remember you prating on about SPEW in school, I don't know who could forget such a ludacris name," Malfoy scoffed.
"It's S-P-E-W.," Hermione automatically corrected. "Why are you here? I'm rather-"
"-busy, yes." Malfoy finished for her as he crossed the room to her in a few strides, "I want you to take me to the Ministry's Yule Celebration and I'll take you to Malfoy Industry's. I would have waited for you to ask me, as you obviously were going to, but it seemed to me that your courage also went out the window with your morals. What with you laughing at the plight of veterans." Malfoy stood less than half a metre away from her, his eyebrow once again cocked at the challenge.
Hermione knew full well she could have owled him to tell him off but her pride wouldn't allow it. Not after the drunk owling. "Why would I go anywhere with you? Last I checked you were repulsed by my blood status," she sneered at him.
Malfoy rolled his eyes impatiently, "Oh, really, Granger. Don't you think a literal War and the risk of being thrown into Azkaban would have changed anyone's views on status?"
"Oh right, so you're not a racist prick since your luxurious lifestyle was threatened?" She was growing more angry at his nonchalance towards the subject.
"Yes. That and racism is so outdated now. It's far more fashionable and fun to fetishise all sorts of people, don't you think?" he grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her at her.
She scoffed loudly and ignored the fire kindling just below her belly, "You're insufferable! Get out. I don't want to date you and my morals are fine, thank you."
"I don't want to date you either."
They stared at each other as the statement hung in the air. There was a fire now blazing in Hermione's knickers at the declaration. She understood what he meant. He wanted what she wanted. Allegedly, she reminded herself, though the scolding thought did nothing to smother her burning desire. She searched his eyes, looking for anything but they were blank. The silence was heavy, waiting for one of the parties to break it.
There was a timid rap on the office door, "Ms Granger? Do you have a moment? I have a question regarding a report."
The spell broke and Hermione slid past Malfoy to sit at her desk and waved the door open with her wand, "Yes, Anna, come in." Hermione turned her attention to Malfoy as her employee walked into the room, "That will be all, Mr Malfoy. Please see yourself out."
He grinned widely as he strode past Anna out the door, "Thank you, Ms Granger. I'll see you soon."
"No, you will not," she foolishly called after him. She felt as if steam could come out of her ears. That arrogant git! Even though she was beyond furious at his invasion of her space and the incessant flirtation, a flutter of excitement spread across her chest as she looked over Anna's report. He didn't seem like he would be leaving her alone anytime soon, and really, who doesn't like to be pursued by a fatally attractive person? She ignored the small voice in her head that acknowledged she hadn't felt excitement in… a while.
It was late into the evening. Neville could hear that most of Malfoy Industries was empty aside from the cleaning staff on the upper floors. He worked best on his own and tonight was a good night to stay late. Over the past few weeks, Luna had made a habit of going to Hermione's flat every couple of days. It was good to see Luna engaging with their old friend, They both could use it, he thought to himself. Luna's night terrors had reduced quite a bit since spending time with Hermione.
The thought brought him peace. Neville had been with Luna since he took up post as Professor of Herbology after the War. She stood by him as he changed career paths abruptly to work for who was a villain for most of their childhoods. Luna was wise, beautiful and steadfast and yet she chose him - bumbling, forgetful, clumsy Neville. He knew he had filled out and grown up since his early twenties but he still felt like an oafish clod standing next to her.
"What are ye still doing here?"
The voice made Neville's quill scratch across the parchment he was making notes about the Belladonna extraction he was performing. The all too familiar surge of surprised panic and adrenaline fueled Neville's response. He whipped around and saw Theo, "Oh, Theo," Neville gasped and threw his hand over his heart, "you startled me! I'm working late. Luna's at Hermione's. What're you doing here?" His heart rate slowed at the lack of danger. But not by much.
Theo swallowed hard and cleared his throat, "I, em… I was just finishing up some work and thought I'd check up on your progress with the Ministry's supplies." Theo's eyes trailed around Neville's immediate area, "No cane?"
"No, I'm okay without it now," Neville blushed.
"Why do you need it? You've been working here for years and I never noticed it before," Theo enquired.
"It's a running injury that's gotten worse over time. I used to only limp, but recently I've needed help and a cane seemed like the least conspicuous option."
"Do you still run?" Theo questioned knowing the answer.
Neville coughed and went back to scratching notes on the parchment, "Sometimes. Only when I ne - when I want to clear my head.
"Hmm." Theo crossed his arms and leaned against the desk Neville was standing at. "Right, well I'll tell ye what. Next time ye want to, er, 'clear your head' owl me and I'll come with." Theo smacked his own belly, "I'm getting a little paunchy from all this office work. I know with my height and seemingly perfect physique ye may be wondering, 'How is this possible, Theo?' But it seems something is catching up with me."
Neville's throat constricted at Theo's joke… For some reason… But happy to have the focus taken off him, he only smirked in response. Theo reached out and grasped his shoulder. "Just owl me, yeh?"
Neville felt a cold sweat break out over his face and scalp. He swallowed hard and met Theo's eyes. "Okay," Neville replied in a small voice.
Theo grinned wide and clapped Neville's shoulder, "Brilliant! Now, get home before ye run Drake's vault clean from overtime. Not that I mind ye robbing that pasty git blind, but I need my paycheque too."
Neville chortled and started cleaning up his workspace but a small thrill lingered in the back of his mind. One he dare not consider.
After her brief office encounter with Malfoy, the rest of November passed in Hermione's familiar routine.
Work. Dinner. Muay Thai three times a week. Read. Bed. Repeat.
The only thing that was gunking up the works was Luna's incessant visits. Hermione suspected Harry or Ron had asked her to keep her company. The dodgy wankers… Luna's visits weren't all bad, she never asked Hermione to come over to hers and whenever she did come, she brought some sort of Muggle style food. Recently, she'd been bringing fish soups because, as Luna had explained, her Swedish coworker had accidentally charmed his cauldron to make endless fish soup and has been giving it away to anyone who would take it. Hermione expected her most Wednesday nights and tonight was no different. She made herself comfortable with some notes from work on her sofa.
Instead of Luna's pungent smell soup coming from the Floo there was an owl tapping at Hermione's living room window. It carried a note from the blond woman:
I've misplaced all my bowls to bring over dinner.
Please come round to ours for dinner tonight.
I'll make it up to you by staying away next week.
Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed loudly. Another wrench in the routine. At least she could have next week to herself. The thought pulled her out of her intense sour mood. She resolved to take a quick pull from the bottle of cheap gin she had above her refrigerator. Might as well make the evening a little more tolerable, she thought as she shuddered from the piney aftertaste.
Hermione placed the bottle back above the refrigerator and still wearing her business trousers and blue blouse from work, she stepped into the Floo.
The Floo in front of Draco unexpectedly roared to life. Neville hadn't mentioned expecting anyone over, but perhaps it was for Luna since she was at the cottage tonight. A wild grin broke out over his face when he saw who stepped out from the hearth. "Well, well Granger. I thought you weren't going to be seeing me."
"Oh, what in the fuck?" Granger angrily pinched the bridge of her nose at the sight of him. She called past him, "Luna!"
Within moments Luna appeared at the study door, "Hello Hermione. Thank you for coming over tonight. I know you prefer having dinner at your flat, but I believe there are Nargles stealing my things again. We just brought in some mistletoe for the holidays but I suspect I didn't clean them well enough."
"Why is he here, Luna? I thought it would just be us for dinner!" Granger pointed back at him.
"Well as you know, Isak is still dealing with the overabundance of fish soup and since Neville had invited Draco over to work tonight, I thought it would be nice for us all to dine together. I'm going to set the table," and with that she skipped back down the hall.
"That fish soup was good at first but has become rather foul," Draco grunted from behind her.
Despite her anger, she laughed and agreed, "It was a nice change from the vegan food, but I have to agree. Too much of a good thing and all."
"I don't think there's such a thing. Take me for instance, you obviously couldn't stay away and find yourself having dinner with me, yet again." He moved to stand close behind her. His chest just barely brushing her hair.
She turned and violently pushed him back, "Piss off, Malfoy. I'm here for Luna, you're an unfortunate side effect."
He stumbled back two steps, surprised at her strength. Granger really was fit. He wanted to grab her hands as they pressed against his chest but thought better of it. He didn't want to be the bloke who made the mistake of trying to fight such a tiny powerhouse. "Alright, I'll be completely pleasant tonight. In fact, I'll make you a deal. If I sneer or make a pissy comment tonight I'll leave you alone and but if I make you laugh, then you'll agree to come to Malfoy Industries' celebration and you'll take me to the Ministry's."
Draco knew she couldn't back down from a challenge, somethings are just too ingrained in people to grow out of.
"Fine. But you have your work cut out for you, Malfoy. I really want you to bugger off," she smirked and left the study for the dining room.
I can swallow my pride for one night if it means I can get into Granger's steel knickers, Draco reassured himself. Leaving his suit coat on the chair he was studying in, he left to join the others in the quaint dining room.
If Luna had been lying about not having any bowls, she was sticking to it. There were four places set at the table. Instead of bowls there was a muggle pot, a rusty cauldron, a large wine goblet and an old pickle jar all filled with the famous fish soup.
"Er, Luna, why don't you just transfigure some bowls?" Granger asked eying the odd table.
"Yeah, I have to agree with Granger. If you are worried about sodding it up, why don't you just ask the brightest witch of our age?" Draco teased from his seat at the table.
Granger glared back in response. She chose the seat diagonal from him.
"Luna says it's bad luck to transfigure what you eat on, or something like that. Right?" Neville asked Luna from his seat next to Granger.
Luna just smiled, not correcting him if his memory was incorrect.
The four of them ate in silence while Draco wracked his brain trying to think of things to ask Granger. He hadn't seen her in nearly five years and even before that, he hardly knew her. His train of thought was interrupted by Neville.
"How's work going, Hermione? Luna said you've opened an Elvish welfare branch at the Ministry."
"It's fine, the mountain of residences to inspect never seems to end. Some people still believe there's nothing wrong with having slaves," Granger stared pointedly at Draco.
Before Draco could defend himself, Neville jumped in, "Actually, as far as I know, Draco's never had a house Elf at his flat other than hiring Freelancers. You also got your mother to start paying her Elves, didn't you?"
Draco smuggly sipped the soup from his spoon and maintained eye contact with Granger, "Mhmm."
"Why?" Granger's suspicion was written all over her face.
"Like I said before, I quite like my fancy things. And it doesn't hurt to make nice with a race of beings whose magic clearly supersedes wizard magic."
She scoffed, "Don't want to be on the wrong side of history again?"
"Shockingly no. I've had my fill of arse kickings for a lifetime. No matter how many Episkey charms I endured, my nose still isn't straight thanks to you," Draco pantomimed adjusting the bridge of his nose which rosed small laughs from Neville and Luna.
Granger smirked and looked down at her pickle jar, biting her bottom lip.
Draco cursed internally. I'm not funny, that's Theo's sodding gig. If it wasn't at his expense, he wasn't sure how he'd win his clearly half-baked bet.
Once they all finished their soup, Neville and Luna cleared the table and went to bring in some tea and brandy.
"You're running out of time, Malfoy. Better step up your game, or else you'll be attending your own Christmas party alone," Granger teased once they were alone.
"Have you met a person who is less likely to have issues getting a date?" He leaned his elbows on the table top.
"That's odd because I didn't realise albinism was a very popular fetish."
"That's because you don't know where to look, Granger. I'm most popular with hags who want to harvest my blood for their cooking and man-snake hybrid lunatics," Draco jabbed at himself, for the second time that night.
That did it. A scoffed giggle slipped past her teeth and his smile couldn't be wider.
She immediately jumped to defend the sound, "That wasn't a laugh, that was a scoff!"
Still smiling, he tsked her, "Lying isn't very becoming on a lion. I'll see you on December 17th."
"Are you coming to the Yule celebration, Hermione?" Luna asked as she directed eight hovering cups to the table.
Draco answered before Granger could, "Why yes she is, she just agreed to attend with me."
Luna smiled at Granger and Neville gaped at her.
Granger sighed angrily, "Yeah, I suppose so." She turned her attention back to Draco and glared, "That was a shite joke."
Draco scoffed as he took a brandy from Luna, "I'm handsome, intelligent and an arse, Granger. Funny isn't in my wheelhouse which means you have a shite sense of humour." He grinned widely into his tumbler at her fuming face.
Granger grabbed both of her cups and downed the amber liquids before turning on Luna and Neville, "You two will be there as well, right?"
"Of course," Luna warmly assured her.
Draco followed suit and finished the brandy, "Ah, don't be such a poor loser. What is it the Muggles say? 'All Is Fair in Love and War'? He winked at the still furious looking Granger and stood from his seat. "Well should we get back at it?" He asked Neville as he walked away from the table.
Neville nodded and followed him out. After the study door was shut Neville finally spoke, "How the bloody hell did you manage that!?"
Draco placed a hand over his heart in mock offense as he took his usual seat, "Do you have so little faith in my techniques?"
"With Hermione? Absolutely!"
Draco chuckled, "I bet her if I could make her laugh she'd come with me and I'd go with her to the Ministry's event. I made fun of myself some more and that seemed to do the trick."
Neville dropped into his chair, "Huh. Why Hermione?"
"Why not? She's right fit now, isn't she? The biggest challenge was getting her agree to come out with me, I can handle the rest." Draco sat in his chair.
"Right. Well, careful, yeah? She's my mate too and I don't want to see her get hurt," Neville warned.
Draco waved away the threat, "She's an adult, Neville, the brightest witch of our age. I won't throw anything at her I don't think she can handle."
Weeks later, Hermione sat in her office, still feeling like a sore loser. How such a pisspoor joke got her to laugh was beyond her. At least Luna and Neville would be there. And she and Malfoy had been very clear that neither of them were interested in dating. The reminder sent heat down between her legs. She had considered countless times ducking out of the deal she had made with Malfoy. But her Gryffindor pride kept her to uphold her word, which regardless of everything that happened during her life, was still an iron clad bond, as it was with most Gryffindors.
She hadn't heard from Malfoy since their dinner at Luna and Neville's but that did nothing to lessen her inner brawl. She still certainly didn't trust Malfoy, but the more time she had interacted with him, the more she felt she could ignore that for a good shag. Even admitting it to herself made her teeth grind but he was a lush prick. Luna was right, Malfoy had definitely grown into his looks and body. Not only was he physically desirable but Hermione hadn't had the pleasure of a quick witted companion in what felt like ages. Even while she wanted to throttle him into a wall, she got a thrill from their banter.
Hermione shook her head to refocus. Malfoy Industries' Yule celebration was tomorrow and it would be a nice to get a new dress with Luna. Hermione didn't have much in the way of an upscale wardrobe and she felt the Malfoy event may require more than her typical woolen dresses.
Hermione sent an owl to Luna asking her to meet at King's Road in Chelsea for some dress shopping. As the owl flew off, Hermione felt an uncomfortable twinge in her chest. Aside from her usual visits with Ron and Harry, she couldn't recall the last time she had invited a friend out of her own free will. The thought made her grind her back teeth as she recalled her last fight with Hannah, the single serving lovers in Greece who begged her to call, and her parents' happy faces enjoying the sun on a beach in Melbourne. Hermione felt her mind slip from those thoughts to her painful memories
She remembered the smell of her childhood home. The photos of the three of them that covered every wall. The sound of the news station that her parents were watching on the telly.
"Obliviate."
She watched stills of herself fade from all the pictures. She watched her parents awkwardly shift on their old beige sofa as the spell dissolved Hermione from their memories and she planted the plan of moving to Australia.
She held back her sobs until she was outside the front door. She heard her father happily address his wife, "What do you think of Australia? We've always wanted to go, so why not now?"
Her mother's happy agreement was followed by Hermione silently sobbing into her palms as she walked away from her childhood home.
With all her might, Hermione pulled out of the painful memory away she instinctively started to reconsider going shopping at all. But she knew that if she didn't show up, she would have to answer to Luna. Hermione would rather snog Ron again rather than have to face those distantly inquisitive blue eyes. Damn Luna and her sodding caring and intuitive nature.
Feeling disgruntled and suddenly suffocated in her office, she lunged for the door to make a quick escape to London. As she pulled it open she was affronted by a broad chest right in her face. It smelled like earth, peppermint and sandalwood.
"In a rush, are we?" drawled her untimely intruder.
Hermione cranked her head up, "Yes actually, Malfoy. I thought I wasn't seeing you until tomorrow."
Malfoy gently pushed her shoulders back into her office and closed the door behind him with a wandless Muffliato charm. "I brought you a gift."
Hermione furrowed her brows as she took the slim black box from Malfoy's hands. On a bed of silk inside the box was a pair of black lacy knickers with tie up sides and what looked like an oversized Muggle pill.
"You're going to wear them to the ball," Malfoy stated simply, as if he just pointed out the sky was blue.
"Really?" Hermione asked incredulously, "This is the best the illustrious Draco Malfoy can do to woo a woman? A pair of knickers? And what is this?" She asked picking up the odd oval object to inspect it.
"Not the best I can do, but that little thing, will be the star of your evening on tomorrow." With a silent gesture of his fingers the object started vibrating in Hermione's hand, gently then violently enough she felt the pulses up to her wrists.
Hermione put it down in the box and smirked, excited by the new game they were playing, "Alright, I'll bite. And what of you? I don't have a special gift, for you."
Malfoy leaned into Hermione's ear and brushed her hair over her shoulder, causing her to shudder. "Don't worry, you can make it up to me." He gently nipped her earlobe and whispered, "Come to my flat at eight and we'll go together." With that, he turned and stalked out of the office leaving Hermione flushed and out of breath at the intimate contact. She looked down at the vibrating bullet to see if he had left it on. He hadn't. It was her knees shaking.
"Thank you for inviting me, Hermione. I haven't been shopping in Chelsea before, it seems quite nice," Luna dreamily remarked as the two women walked down King's Road.
"Yes, I thought you wouldn't mind the change of scenery from London and Diagon Alley," Hermione replied as they stepped into a Claudie Pierlot shop.
After collecting a couple evening gowns from the racks Hermione moved to the dressing rooms to try them on while Luna sat on the small sofa waiting to see the show.
"Are you excited for your first date with Draco?" Luna called through the door.
"Oh, Luna! No! I'm not dating Malfoy, no," she hastily replied as she stepped out to briefly scrutinize the dress before disappearing back into the room to try another.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to offend. Do you prefer women? I heard about you and Hannah after the War. I like this dress better than the last," commented Luna.
Hermione wrinkled her nose at the dress and stepped back into the room to try on the last one, "No offense taken, Luna. I, ah, sorry, do you mind getting a size bigger in this dress?" She passed Luna the last dress over the door, hoping to dodge the invasive questions.
"No problem," Luna skipped away and promptly returned with the bigger dress.
Hermione stepped out with a floor length silk black gown on.
"You look wonderful! I think that might be the one," Luna exclaimed.
Hermione smiled at her reflection. The dress had thread fine straps that criss crossed over her exposed back. It dipped low enough to expose the dimples just above her rump. The front was form fitting and a boatneck neckline, just exposing her collar bones. Luna was right, it looked stunning on her.
"Did you avoid my question because it made you uncomfortable?" Luna bluntly asked.
Pulling her eyes from her reflection, Hermione answer, "No… Somewhat. I just don't talk to anyone about this sort of thing. But, em, no not just women, I like both. I'm not dating Malfoy because I have no interest in dating. Especially not that prat." She returned to the room to redress in her street clothes.
"Bisexuality is a curiously splendid thing, I think. I imagine it's lovely to have a wider pool of lovers to choose from," Luna wondered enthusiastically.
Hermione awkwardly choked out a laugh, "You're not wrong." Fully redressed, but safely hidden away from those endless blue eyes in her dressing room, she felt herself crumble a bit, "Thank you, Luna."
"What for? Come on, let's stop at a café, I'm ravenous," Luna replied as she started towards the counter.
Feeling grateful for her friends sage perceptiveness, Hermione stepped out of the dressing room to an empty sofa. She swallowed her brief vulnerability and pride as she was about to drop near three hundred pounds on a bloody dress.
Neville was lost in a book about psychedelic drug Muggle studies in his living room when the Floo in the study started to rumble. He looked up at the grandfather clock, he wasn't expecting Luna back from Chelsea for several more hours. He grasped his wand, adrenaline and fear made his vision swim slightly and he cautiously walked to the study.
"Neville?"
Neville was taken aback and thoroughly confused. He called back to the disembodied voice, "Theo? Is that you?"
The other tall brunette popped out from around the corner causing Neville to fumble his wand, "'Tis indeed! I haven't heard from ye in a while, so get changed. Let's get runnin'. Ye promised to keep me fit."
Neville regained his composure and glanced at Theo's ensemble, he was wearing tight black running leggings, a thick black zip up and orange trainers. It made him swallow hard.
"Well go on," Theo urged him seemingly unaware of the other man's nerves, "get changed and we'll take a trail nearby. I'm sure ye've been down it already."
Neville cleared his throat, "Okay, I'll be a moment. Help yourself to some tea if you'd like." He shuffled to his bedroom and stripped off his thick winter clothing. He opted out of wearing his own running leggings because he couldn't think down his raging prick. Merlin, he looks fit in athletic wear, Neville shook the thoughts out of his head and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and his own grey hoodie. He felt dread at having to keep his head about him with Theo nearby. Neville's heart was already racing.
The perpetual British drizzle of rain was unrelenting, even during December. Theo led the way to the trail just down the road from the cottage. He was right, Neville had been here before, but he typically preferred to run further away from his house, to keep his guilty thoughts away from Luna. With that, Neville ground his teeth, squeezed his eyes in gut wrenching guilt and took off into a full on run.
"Oi, bollocks, Neville! I've only just started to run, I can't keep up with ye at that pace!"
Neville slowed his pace just enough to have Theo behind his shoulder. He didn't want to think about Theo's legs, wide shoulders, his heaving chest, messy dark hair or his stubbled cheeks. Neville fought the urge to sprint desperately and instead focused on the uneven ground beneath their feet.
After about two kilometres, Theo's pace started to waver significantly. Neville took advantage of it and sprinted forward, hoping to leave his lingering arousal behind with Theo.
"'Ey! Stop!" He could hear Theo yelling from behind him. Suddenly he was face down on the muddy path and Theo's arms were wrapped around his waist from behind. "I may be out of shape, but that doesn't mean I'll let ye run away. Where were ye going?"
"Get off!" Neville snarled as he pulled himself up and away from the equally muddy Theo.
"What's your problem? I won't let ye run yourself into the ground anymore!"
"Why not? Since when did you start to care or even notice? Just leave me be, I need to run more and you're clearly done." Neville turned to run but Theo's hand grasped his bicep and kept him firmly in place.
"I've cared for a long time, so watch it," Theo snapped, then composed himself, "I don't want to see ye hobbled and needing a cane everyday by the time you're thirty. Why do ye do this? What's eating at ye?"
Neville stared at the man with blazing green eyes, his hand still gripped on his arm. He was furious at Theo for… Whatever was happening to him. Neville thought he was perfectly capable of making hash of his own life without someone else butting in. He took several deep breaths to ease his needless anger, he knew it wasn't Theo's fault. But if he didn't have someone else to blame, all he had was himself. And that was a far more frightening thought than any battle he'd been in.
"It's just everything, you know? Ever since the War… Everything's just harder. I thought time heals all wounds." Neville answered dejectedly.
Theo moved his hand around Neville's shoulders and casually started walking, "I know what ye mean, mate. The prospect of dying literally scared me out of the closet. Doesn't mean things are any easier though."
Neville was uncomfortable with this much physical contact with Theo. He awkwardly continued to walk next to him but resigned to put his hands in his jumper's pocket. "I run to deal with these things. How do you? Is that why you disappear?"
He felt Theo stiffen next to him, "I'm not quite ready to talk about that. But yeh, that's how I deal."
The two men walked down the dreary forest path, covered in mud, one's arm slung over the shoulders of the other, both completely unaware of how much they needed each other.