A/N: A little bit more length with this one, but not by much. Still, I'm actually fairly happy here.


Do it, his mind tells him, do it now.

Draco has a hard time telling it no, but he does, even if it isn't as firm as he would have liked. He can't do it, not now, in the middle of class. In the middle of the school year. In the middle of war.

Later, he chides himself, maybe later.

-x-x-x-x-

Take your chance, orders his mind, while no one is looking.

Neville thinks that sounds like a very good idea. Still, he doesn't move. Just sits at his desk and continues to listen to Binns drawl on about the Mermaid Rebellion, back in 1374. The ghost-like teachers voice is much more calming than the one in his mind, which urges him on with fierocity and hunger.

No, he states firmly, not today.

-x-x-x-x-

Stop waiting, his mind tells him, before it's too late.

That makes sense, decides Draco, but he doesn't move. Just lets the other sixth year students mill past him, as they twitter on about mundane things, like school and lessons and their future. His forearm starts to burn. He lets Neville walk past.

It already is, he chides himself, I waited too long.

-x-x-x-x-

He's right there, says his mind, and so is everyone else.

But they aren't looking at Draco, Neville realizes, all too focused on Harry and Hermione and Ron; on the teachers; the aurors; the famous ones. Draco is just standing there, looking so very lost, and so very alone, and Neville know that this is it.

This time, he listens to his mind.

Crosses the rubble filled cleared.

Steps over a fallen witch - and he'll apologize to her family later, for not pausing then to pay his respects, and make up an extra bouquet for her grave.

Meets Draco, and the blond is so confused looking when he turns those slate-blue eyes on Neville. Like he isn't sure what to do with himself any more. So Neville gives him something to do.

This is right, he decides, when his lips finally meet Draco's in a breathless kiss, this is so very right.