Disclaimer: All recognizable characters, settings, and other elements belong to JK Rowling. Only the plot and original characters are mine.
I've decided to make the chapters much longer, so I may be updating every few days.
Please let me know what you think about the potential pairings, how the characters are shown, and the plot line in general! All feedback is welcome!
Walking into Witch Weekly Studios, Harry glanced at Draco with a smirk. The blonde was practically vibrating with excitement, not only because of the photoshoot (his vanity hadn't lessened a bit), but because of the meeting with Neville as well.
Draco had been in a panic when his inheritance had been revoked due to his siding with the dark at the beginning of the war, despite his change of heart. However, because of Harry's interference, a condition had been set in place. If the next in line for the Malfoy name would relinquish the title upon him, Draco may gain his possessions back.
Unfortunately, by the time Draco's trial had taken place, Neville had become nigh unreachable. This meeting could very possibly be their only chance to talk to him if Neville decided to duck back into 'hiding' for the foreseeable future.
Harry had been interested in finding out how inheritance worked exactly. It wasn't always dependant on blood relation, but rather who in the family had enough power to control the family magicks. In their case, while Neville was not close enough to be considered the male heir of the House of Malfoy, or even family for that matter, he was the only one within the generation that was powerful enough to take over the lordship.
As for the Black lordship, when Sirius had died he had still been considered a fugitive, and had been unable to officially submit his will to Gringotts. Because of this, the will could not be deemed official unless the current head of the Black family agreed. This, again, fell upon Neville. No one seemed to have any idea where the Gryffindor lordship had come from.
The relief of getting their title's sorted wasn't the only cause of excitement in seeing Neville. Harry had received a very in depth letter from Ron about the most recent Weasley dinner the night before (he and Draco had been stuck at a damn consultants meeting at the Ministry).
Apparently Fred and George had effectively kidnapped the former Gryffindor after he had withdrawn his acceptance to attend dinner, after he had disappeared for the past two months. The most interesting part of the letter wasn't the felony committed however. Instead it was the way everyone had reacted to seeing the man, and even how Ron had described him.
It became abundantly clear why Neville had been named second on Witch Weekly's most eligible wizard list. Ron and Seamus had both taken a definite interest in him, though Ron seemed to think the twins had the best chance with him, as they'd been after Neville since before they had left in their seventh year. Neville saving Fred's life had only served to bring the three closer, and before his disappearance, all three were often seen together. In fact, some rumors might have started going around just before Neville dropped off the face of the Earth…
Despite all of this though, Neville seemed utterly oblivious to the whole situation. Ron said he had been delighted by the new law, but hadn't even considered that others would want to include him in a triad. It either spoke to his lack of observance (which was impossible, he had lead a whole side of the war effort on his own, Neville couldn't afford to be unobservant), or to his incredible insecurities (which was upsetting to think about). Harry only hoped he hadn't been that obtuse about love when he was in school (though he suspected he had been).
When he had informed Draco of the situation, a smirk Harry hadn't seen since their fifth year graced the blonde's lips. Though both of them agreed not to rush into anything, they had been looking for a third for quite some time, and, with the new law passed, they couldn't wait to complete their triad. Both had decided they needed a third person to balance them out, and who could be better but Neville?
Harry and Draco hurriedly signed in at the front desk, eager to see the man everyone seemed to be talking about. They were informed by the witch who had come out to greet them that the shoot would start in about half an hour and that they should head to the dressing room to mingle with the other top ten eligible wizards. The others on the list would be coming in the following day. Harry rolled his eyes, but the two hurried back to greet everyone.
Ron, Seamus and Blaise were all talking quietly in the corner while Dean, Charlie and the twins were lounging on the two sofas laughing. Draco groaned as he realized the one person he was desperate to see, was the only one who had yet to arrive. It seemed he wasn't the only one however, as Ron, Seamus and the twins would glance to the doorway every few minutes.
"Hey mate! Looks like it's just us today, so it shouldn't be too bad! We missed ya at dinner last night!" Seamus' heavy brogue cut through the room like a knife, greeting Harry and Draco with boisterous laughter. Harry grinned and pulled Draco along, all the while trying to crush his giddy feeling of anticipation
It was nearly ten, and Neville had yet to show his face. Harry would have chalked it up to his nerves if it hadn't been for their lunch scheduled right after. He knew Neville wouldn't blow him off like that. Harry was just about to suggest someone go check on the man when he heard familiar voices down the fall.
"-Honestly Neville, you should have set an alarm or something! Dear Merlin, if I hadn't shown up, you'd still be digging in the dirt!" All eyes turned toward the door as Ginny Weasley's voice filtered into the room,
"Gin, I promise I didn't mean to get caught up, my screaming dandelions were wilting! And we're here just on time, see? No harm done."
"You're a lucky one Longbottom. I would have skinned you if you missed this! You should really invest in a boyfriend or two Nev. Someone to pull you out of the greenhouse and remind you to eat. Or at least and alarm clock. You have eaten, haven't you?" Neville entered the room, practically having to duck under the doorframe, followed closely by Ginny.
The last bachelor had a rosy blush staining his cheeks, and he was carefully avoiding Ginny's pointed look. Ron hadn't done him justice. Neville was gorgeous. Harry bit his lip and glanced around the room, noting that he wasn't the only one affected by the adorable pink tint. Neville shifted uneasily under everyone's' gaze before giving a hesitant grin and beginning to greet everyone.
"Now, now Mr. Longbottom. How am I expected to make you look your best when you keep running your hand through your hair? Honestly!" The hairstylist exclaimed exasperatedly, sounding a bit like Hermione in the process. Neville could only grin back sheepishly as he heard Seamus chuckle in the stylist's chair behind him.
"Good luck gettin' 'im to stop. He's been doin' it since first year, and it only got worse during the war. He is likely to quit now!" The woman blushed, as she seemed to be quite taken with Seamus.
"I-yes. Well do try to resist Mr. Longbottom." Neville gave her a nod as he saw Seamus wink at him in the mirror. A blush rose to his cheeks. He couldn't help it! It seemed like everyone had been staring at him since he had gotten there, though it was probably all in his head. Afterall, who would look at him when the likes of Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were around?
Neville still couldn't believe he had beaten Ron out for second in the issue. Were they blind?! Ron was tall, well-built, not to mention all those freckles...and his hair… Neville was man enough to admit that Ginny hadn't been the Weasley he wanted to take to the Yule Ball. But Ron was with Seamus, and though Neville had positively ached for Fred and George since his third year, he had long accepted that they were way out of his league.
No matter how many dreams he had about being cradled between the twins...having them whisper in his ear...four identical hands caressing…
What was wrong with him today?! It was that damn law. It seemed Neville's mind had decided to create incredibly false feelings of attainability.
Usually he'd feel awful thinking about all the guys like this, but he knew it was impossible for any of it to come true. Had there been any slim possibility of him joining any of them in a triad, there was no way he could think of all of them without guilt. Seeing as it was about as likely as Hermione giving up on S.P.E.W., he didn't see anything wrong with a few stray thoughts.
If Neville was being honest with himself, he'd been overwhelmed since the moment he arrived. Fred and George were always in the back of his mind, and Seamus and Ron seemed to take it upon themselves to be as tactile as possible. What put him over the edge was seeing Harry and Malfoy together, however. Malfoy may be a slimy git, but he was a good looking slimy git. Harry had always caught Neville's eye. It wasn't until after the war had ended that he considered it may have been more than hero worship. Draco and Harry contrasted beautifully.
But really, who wanted to be with bumbling Neville Longbottom? Seeing his dejected look, Seamus frowned.
"Oi, Nev. Drop the long face. You're gunna have birds and blokes all across the world looking at your picture in a few weeks. What's there to be down about?" Neville groaned and sunk further down in his seat, but Seamus' tactic had worked, as a small grin crept onto his lips.
"It's damn embarrassing! My Gran is gunns see this. Not to mention everyone at the ministry! I'll be teased for months!" It was at this moment that Ron, Dean, and Harry came into the room.
"Try years, mate." Dean said, before all five of them devolved into conversation, the volume getting progressively louder and the laughter increasing. It had been about six months since the former Gryffindors had managed to all get together, but their familiarity with each other hadn't dissipated. Every time they they got together, Neville thanked Merlin that they had all survived the war.
It wasn't until the photographer called them all into the studio that Dean asked the fateful question.
"So Nev, you got your eye on anyone?"