A/N: Another chapter up. We'll pretend it's the same chapter. Because I didn't get any reviews on the last chapter, so I'm feeling kind of dejected. Sniff. Pity me.

Disclaimer: Not mine!

Chapter 5: Twist

Rose backed off of me like I was on fire. "Neville," she said, looking surprised and slightly irritated.

"Rosie. Good to see you. Malfoy, get away from her." Longbottom glared at me from across the room, using all his new-found confidence to intimidate me. It didn't really work too well.

"Yeah. Because you're in charge of me, Longbottom." Fuck. I almost had it. At least now I had established sexual tension. But I shot her a glance and knew that I wanted more.

"No, but she's-" he cut off, looking at her. "Can you give us a second, Rosie?" he asked. She rolled her eyes, and then stormed out, slamming the door behind her. "She is twenty-four years old," he hissed, as soon as Rose was clear of the room.

"What exactly is your point, Longbottom?"

"She's twenty-four! Twenty-four, Malfoy!"

"Please keep shouting, because you are really making your point."

His round face was turning bright red. "How old are you?" he said, his voice suddenly soft.

"Longbottom," I started.

"You are almost fifty years old, Malfoy! That's more than twice her age! What in the world do you think that you're doing?"

"I was talking to my assistant, Longbottom," I snapped. How dare he bring up my age? He was just as old, and it wasn't really necessary to say out loud. "I'm not sure exactly what you think I'm up to, but-"

"Oh, please. I went to school with you for seven years. I've worked with you here for five years. I think I know when you're up to something."

"Well, that's hardly most of my life, as you just pointed out, Longbottom. I can't believe you would think that I would do anything inappropriate with that young lady."

"Yeah, I'm crazy," Longbottom said, rolling his eyes. "Do you even know who she is?"

"You think I don't know my assistant's name? It's Weasley. We were introduced a few weeks ago, when she started working here."

Longbottom nodded, still glaring like he was thinking about performing unforgivable curses. Even though I denied it a few seconds ago, I did recognize that Longbottom knew me pretty well. After twelve years of being the butt of my jokes, he got it. And he probably knew what I was up to.

I leaned forward, pulling out a conspiratorial whisper. "Okay, so I know that it's Weasley. But which one is she related to?"

His shoulders dropped, and I knew that he was now a little less suspicious of me. "She's Ron's daughter," he said. "You didn't ask her?"

"That Weasley?" I shuddered. "I hope she gets out of here soon, then. I don't like having anything to do with that weasel."

He shook his head. "I live here too, Malfoy. And if you try something, well, I don't really need an excuse." He then turned, his robes billowing out dramatically behind him, and slammed the door closed behind him.

*********

The door slammed behind me, but I immediately put my ear to it to try to hear what Neville and Malfoy were saying about me.

Why would he show up now? I was furious. I was just about to kiss Malfoy. I was just about to get him where I wanted him. I could have had him, right there on the desk, if I wanted. He was totally eating up that whole crying, innocent school girl thing, and then Professor Neville Weasley had to burst in.

Damn. Damn, damn, damn. Fuck. Neville was shouting "Twenty-four!" at the top of his lungs. I didn't need him to remind Malfoy about that. Not when I had made so much progress. Now he was shouting Malfoy's age.

I shuddered. Didn't like to think about it. He was old. Way too old for me, and I knew that. But some things were more important than age.

Like revenge.

And what this was about. And she'd probably leave this poor professor, who thought he was sexy enough to ensnare a young, impressionable woman, a piled heap on the floor. And it was just something that had to happen.

They were speaking in softer voices now. I heard some hissed words from Neville that sounded like a threat. And then the door burst open.

I backed up, meeting Neville's eyes. He had no right. No right at all. He slammed the door behind him. "Rosie," he sighed.

"Neville, you have no idea."

"Did they really drive you to this? Your parents still-" He was coming towards me like he was going to embrace me. But I was not in the mood.

"No!" I hissed, hoping Malfoy wasn't listening. "You don't know everything. Maybe this has nothing to do with them! You don't know."

"Rosie, you're young."

"Yeah, I heard," I snapped. I just wanted to slap him. This was none of his business. "But I'm of age, too. So, this is none of your business."

He shook his head. "Fine. But you know where I am, if you need me."

I rolled my eyes. "I know, Neville. There has been a reason I haven't been down to visit you yet."

"I was wondering when you would get around to that. I missed you, Rosie."

"I missed you too. But you still don't need to be here right now."

He put his hands on my shoulders, much like Malfoy had just been doing. But this didn't have that feeling of forced sexual tension. He looked concerned, fatherly. And I knew that I really did miss him too. "Rosie, you know what you're doing?"

I nodded. "I do. And I'll be done with it pretty soon."

"And there's nothing I can do?" he asked.

"Knock next time," I muttered.

He gave a little snicker, and shook his head again. "Alright, Rosie." He turned, and walked down the hallway.

I watched him walk away. This wasn't fair to him. Neville really was more than I could ask for. He most likely knew what I was doing. And he knew how wrong it could go. But he was letting me do it alone. And live with the consequences.

Which I was prepared to do. I straightened my robes and fixed my hair. Hoping I looked accidentally suggestive, which is what I had been going for.

And then I walked back into the classroom to try to seduce Draco Malfoy.

A/N: Okay, remember that time I was sad that I didn't get any reviews? Stop making me sad! I miss my reviews. This will probably be the last chapter until like Tuesday, just to let you know.