The Right by Parks and Fiction, chapter 37.
Pansy had no idea what the fuck she was doing aside from ripping
her chest wide open again, because Neville hadn't just
wanted to talk. No, he had asked her to go with
him to Hogwarts, where he had something he needed to show her.
And like the fool she was, she followed him.
He hadn't said a word since she'd operated after him to the
gates of Hogwarts. She trailed him silently across
the soft grass. The bond between them ached as
much as it had when she'd seen him at Saint Mungo's, but it was
nothing compared to how much she wanted to beg him to hold her
just one last time. Where are we going?
She asked finally. Greenhouse 8, Right?
The man who went two weeks without speaking to her after
telling her in front of Theo, Harry fucking Potter and Katie
Bell. That he wanted nothing from her,
now suddenly wanted to drag her to his experimental greenhouse.
I've been working on a project, he said.
Wanted to assure you. Was that really what this was
all about? Taking her to see a bunch of
plants? Neville, I can safely say that I
care as much about herbology as you do about fashion.
He stopped, meeting her gaze with a desperate look.
Please, Pansy. If there was any doubt that she
was a complete masochist, it was gone now.
She nodded and followed after him towards the glass
structures. He slid his hands into his
pockets. He glanced over at her, gaze
flicking down and back to her face.
She arched an eyebrow. Yes, you're still wearing your
ring. He said quietly.
Fucking hell. Dread coiled through her
stomach. She stopped in her tracks and
tried to work it off her finger. Bands it.
No, I didn't, of course, of course it would be stuck.
Only adding to the humiliation of this moment, At least she was
spared the indignity of having it all enfold in front of the
chosen scarhead who lived and died and lived again.
Muttering a quick charm, the ring finally slid off her
finger. She held it out to him.
He made no move to take it. Bansi.
It felt like a metaphor of their marriage, her holding out an
offering and him leaving her standing.
What was it you wanted to show me?
She asked. Surely you didn't need to drag
me all the way across Hogwarts grounds just to ask for this
back. He dragged a hand over his face.
No, I, that wasn't what I meant. I just.
He huffed. Just let me show you.
Masochist that she was, she trailed after him, clutching her
marriage band in her hand. She had half the mind to fling
it across the grounds, but that would be petty and childish and
give away that this cost her something, and she couldn't let
him know that. He held the door open for her.
As soon as she got close, the familiar smell stopped her in
her tracks. For a moment she forgot herself
and met his gaze with a questioning look.
There was a desperate sort of hope in his eyes.
Please. She stepped past him into a
veritable explosion of green and red.
While smaller than the teaching greenhouses, the setup was the
same. Shelves were stacked on each
wall, and a large U-shaped table in the middle granted easy
access to the plants that covered the surface.
A messy desk covered in various books and parchment was pushed
up against one wall, but that wasn't what held her attention.
Every single available surface was covered in the exact plant
pansies. Unlike ordinary garden ones,
they were as big as her hand. Each one was a brilliant shade
of scarlet, darkening towards the centre that housed a white
sunburst. The leaves and stems were a deep
emerald green. Wafting from them was the soft
floral scent that had been clinging to Neville for weeks.
The flowers looked soft and delicate, but as she ran her
hand over the silky petals, it was strong under her fingertips,
pliant but unbreakable. The Press of her fingertips
released a fresh wave of that beautiful scent into the room.
Stepping back, she turned to Neville, who hadn't left the
door. He watched her, hope and
vulnerability flicking across his face.
She swallowed. What?
Is this, I've told you before that I'm not good at expression
how I feel, he said. But I, I made, I made these for
you. She looked between the endless
row of scarlet flowers and him. Pansies.
Yes, which I know you hate. He rubbed the back of his neck,
finally moving away from the greenhouse door.
He pulled a familiar book off his desk.
Magical plants of Eastern Argentina.
Bloody book needed to be stabbed straight through the middle with
a basilisk Fang. Do you know that there's a
magical strawberry plant in East Argentina that has a scent
almost 110th as powerful as Amortensia?
Was he serious? No.
He grinned. It's actually super dangerous
because the strawberries themselves are poisonous and the
plant is incredibly invasive, he said.
The Argentinian ministry has entire teams trying to control
the plants or children or. Unsuspecting muggles don't come
across it. Apparently.
She could have used a Herbology guide for her mythical trip to
Argentina after all. She crossed her arms as she
stared at him. Waiting for him to make whatever
convoluted point he was attempting.
After a bit of trial and error, I managed to cross it with an
English garden Pansy hybrid I made to produce this variety, he
said. The scent is a lot fainter than
the strawberry and a bit different, but obviously that's
a good thing since it's not luring unsuspecting maggles and
children to their deaths. She deadpanned.
He blinked. Deaths.
You said it was poisonous. He grinned.
Oh, technically, I guess, but not usually deadly.
It just causes uncontrollable weeping for anywhere from 14 to
48 hours on average. You know, whoever eats the
Berry, He said. Kids are at higher risk, but as
long as you. Stay hydrated, most people are
just fine. Was he fucking serious?
Some people eat the berries on purpose for catharsis, but the
Argentinian ministry is trying to discourage it.
He continued. Record is 74 hours and 28
minutes of straight crying, but there's some debate amongst
biologists. He trailed off and his mouth
twitched in the hint of a smirk as he caught the look on her
face. I thought you might have found
that a bit more amusing. Could this get any worse?
Is this supposed to be a joke? Did he actually hate her that
much? Merlin, no.
He dug his hand through his hair and let out a sharp hoof.
I've been working on this voyeur since Christmas.
He dropped the book on the desk and turned to face her.
I'm not good at expressing myself, he said.
Not well, but I wanted to do something special for you.
And I remembered that you said about hating pansies and I
wanted to help you, not hate them.
If this is about your mother, I already told you that had
nothing to do with you. It's not about that, he said.
I mean, it is because it's about you and.
Caring for people, it's just who you are.
But I didn't do it because of that.
She looked away from his desperate, earnest look towards
the sea of red flowers. Instead, he stepped closer,
fingering one of the petals before he glanced back at her.
I was going to give you these for our anniversary.
He'd hardly spoken to her that day.
Now she knew he was gone for all of it because he was busy
working with Belle to find a way to free her from Ivan and
Lawrence. But at the same time, she just.
Figured he'd forgotten I was going to ask.
I wanted to. I do.
I am asking you, he huffed again.
I want to. Take a go at this.
How the fuck was she supposed to follow his ramblings was beyond
her. Take a go at what?
His expression was open, earnest Oz, he said.
I want a real relationship between Oz.
The fucking Crusiatus curse hurt less than this.
Somehow managing to pull herself together after that blow, she
straightened and met him dead in the eye.
No. He inhaled sharply through his
nose, but didn't look too surprised.
Can I ask why not? Because I'm not interested.
She needed to get away from him now.
Theo was about to get his wish and finally have another
alcoholic in the family. If that's all, he moved to block
the only exit. No it's not, he said.
Why aren't you interested? Something in her chest finally
snapped. Because I'm a fucking person.
With feelings and I don't give a fuck that I'm your favorite way
to get off. I'm not going to let another man
use me as a convenient cock sleeve until the woman he truly
loves is available. He looked at her.
Like he was the one who just had his heart ripped from his chest
and devoured by a manticore in front of his eyes.
I am not Drake or mouthfully. A fucking 'cause he would bring
that up. I'm not blind.
I saw the way you looked at her at the photo shoot, Hannah.
When he demanded, when she was telling me how you always put a
galleon in the tip jar, even when you and Teresa.
Griffiths are doing nothing more than walking through the Leaky
When Ron said all that stuff about how your first love
doesn't always have to be your true love, and Hannah and I both
realised we'd wasted years trying to hold on to something
that had run its course a long time ago.
She froze, heart pounding. Hannah and I have been through
so much together. He said.
She will always be a friend, but I don't love her, not like that.
Neville dug his hand through his hair, messing up the blonde
strands. I know Draco treated you like
shit in school. A bubble of laughter burst from
her lips. Was he fucking serious?
He glanced over at her, trepidation creeping across his
features. When exactly was I supposed to
think that I meant anything different to you than someone to
just play around with until you could be with who you wanted?
She demanded. Was it when?
You explicitly told me that. His face tightened.
I didn't say anything about using you until I could be with
someone else. I never would have done that.
And that was at the beginning. Oh.
Did it change all those times you gave me the benefit of the
doubt? Like when you learned I was
still on probation 6 1/2 years after some stupid comment I made
right before the fucking battle? Pansy.
She wasn't done, Not even close. Oh, when Dennis Creevy nearly
got arrested for bringing Tori home and I made sure her father
didn't find out she was sleeping with him and cut her off before
she could be cured of an ancient family blood curse that was
slowly draining the life from her.
I asked you. Words poured out of her as the
dam that had held back everything she'd been
suppressing for months finally burst.
What about Christmas when you found out I'd been.
Trying to do something nice for your mother and only said I
could continue after the healer said it would be worse for her.
Well. Being if I stopped, his face
fell. How about Valentine's Day when
you made sure to tell me that you only made dinner
reservations for us because Draco reminded you that you
needed to? She demanded.
When you gave me an heirloom gift but made sure I knew it was
because your Gran wanted to know why I never wore any of the long
bottom jewellery. Tears were starting to stink her
eyes. She shook her head, trying to
clear them. I'd expect this from Hermione,
but you're a fucking pure blood. She snapped.
Do you honestly not know what it means to give someone heirloom
jewellery? His throat bobbed.
Apparently that was her answer. His ignorance didn't excuse him
though, only made the insult burn all the more.
Heirloom jewellery doesn't leave the family, Longbottom.
She said. Giving it to someone is a
declaration of intent to marry them.
If the courtship ends, it has to be returned.
He rubbed his forehead. I didn't pointing out that you
only gave me that necklace because your Gran asked why I
never wore any of the jewellery but should have rightfully been
mine the moment we got married. Made it all about maintaining
the charade between us. She said it was more insulting
than not getting any gift at. All made all the more worse by
being forced to return it in front of Bell, Potter, Theo and
his solicitor. I didn't know that, he said, his
voice soft. You hardly touched me.
After the write was completed, spent all of the DA photo shoot
looking all moon eyed over your ex.
His face tightened again. I don't know why you?
And then what were your exact words to me when you found out
that I bought you a house so that you weren't giving money to
the literal Death Eaters that sheltered the men who tortured
your parents? She demanded that you didn't
want anything from me and that you never wanted anything from
me. The cruel words hung in the
humid air. His expression was crestfallen.
So thank you Longbottom, for trying with the flowers.
She said. I'm glad to know that you see me
as an invasive species that makes grown men weep to the
point of life threatening dehydration.
His lips twitched and she nearly hexed him.
There cannot possibly be anything left for you to say to
me. She stormed towards the door.
His hands caught her around the waist.
She shoved. Him don't touch me, He let go.
But didn't move. Just listen.
He said then you can storm off just please.
Listen to me. She crossed her arms and looked
away from him. I am sorry.
His voice cracked. I am so fucking sorry that you
ever believed, even for a moment.
That I was anything like Draco or any one of those assholes
you've dated since him. She glared off at the rows and
rows of Pansies rather than look at him.
I still can't believe you're friends with him after the way
he treated you and used you. Draco wasn't exactly blameless
in it. I was using him too, even
knowing he was only thinking of Hermione when they were
together. No, you needed his fucking help
and he should have offered it freely without making you feel
you needed to use your body to get it.
She was as responsible for that as Draco was.
We were teenagers stuck in a war we wanted nothing to do with.
He was your friend and he shouldn't have acted like that,
he said. He knew he had.
Feelings for Hermione, and he never should have touched you
knowing that. She wrapped her arms around her
chest, hugging herself. I've forgiven him for it.
The war had fucked them all up in so many ways.
I haven't. Neville said.
She didn't look up from the worn dirt path.
A moment later, Neville lowered himself to one knee.
So that she was the one looking down at him.
I never would have touched you if I still had feelings for
Hannah, he said. I have too much respect for both
of you for that. But you said?
He hadn't said a word about Hannah to her since the 6th
anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts.
Before we were married, Yes, it had been my intention to try to
make things work with Hannah, he said.
But things changed for me. Rather quickly.
I didn't pursue you physically because you were around and
convenient and into the same things I am.
I did it because I liked chimpanzee that first night.
You said you still wanted a divorce back in August and
wasn't ready to commit to anything more than casual, he
said. But that doesn't mean I didn't
like you then, and it doesn't mean things didn't change.
She swallowed, but the earnest look in his bright blue eyes
remained steady. She looked away, but there was
nowhere to look except for Neville or the pansies he made
for her. Will you get up?
She demanded. You're going to ruin your
trousers. He sighed but rose, although
being ruined might not be a bad thing.
She muttered, taking them in. Neville smirked for a few
moments before his face fell. I'm sorry, Pansy, he said.
So fucking sorry that you ever thought I would treat you that
way too. I should have said something
months ago, but we didn't have a solution to the right jet, and I
knew you would do anything to save your magic, and I'd feel
the same. But I He drew in a deep, slow
breath. I was selfish, he said.
Because I wanted you to pick me when you were finally free and
there was nothing between us but us.
But Ivan and Lawrence kept coming back again and again.
Every time you reminded me that our relationship was temporary,
it was like a gut punch because I never wanted it to end, he
said. The more I got to know you, the
more I felt for you. But I thought you didn't want
me. You were only with me because I
was literally your only option. Beneath the bravado and the
teasing, she saw a glimpse of the boys she'd known for years
at school, insecure, desperate to belong.
But. Always a step on the outside.
I asked Draco what restaurant to take you to because I didn't
want to fuck it up, he said. I picked that necklace because I
wanted you to have something of mine, of my families for you to
keep forever. But as soon as I gave it to you,
it didn't feel like it was enough.
So I I tried to give you an out if you hated it.
Moment after moment of interactions flooded her memory.
For the first time, she saw them in a new light.
Neville's clumsy attempts to test the water to find out how
she felt. Each time she either dismissed
it or shot back a callous, sarcastic reply.
Once he took to heart. But tried to play off.
All she saw now was the unnecessary hurt, the wasted
time. Tears welled in her eyes.
Neville, she whispered. I didn't only agree to your
taking care of my mum because of what Mary said.
I'm sorry it seemed that way. I was just speechless because.
No one's ever taken the time to see her before.
And all I could think was how I was ever supposed to let you go
when all I wanted was to keep you.
She swiped at her cheeks, trying to swallow back the tears, but
they kept coming anyway. And not because of what you were
doing for her, but because you started to let me see you.
He said who you are and how you love the few people you let
close so fiercely and I wanted. He dug a hand through his hair.
I'm sorry about what happened at the Ministry.
She wrapped her arms around her stomach at the reminder of that
awful day. Theor was treating me like I was
the one using you the way Ivan and Lawrence had tried to do.
And from the beginning I said I didn't want anything in return
for helping you, he said. You buying the?
House made it look like I had asked for repayment when I
never, never wanted anything from me, she whispered.
Because I want everything from you.
Tory's conversation with her about Gryffindors came back with
a swift rush. They're brave and self
sacrificing, but make sure you tell him how you feel before he
is brave enough to give you up. But she hadn't said a word.
She'd be more focused on her own self preservation than anything
else. Time after time, she'd pushed
Neville away instead of being honest about what she felt or
what she wanted. The moment Theo had adopted her,
she clung to him, sobbed into his arms.
Not Neville's. Do you promise?
Do you promise It's over. She meant it, about the blood
oath, about the risk of losing her magic, not about wanting to
be free of Neville. But if that's all he'd heard,
She blinked past the tears flooding her vision and looked
up at Neville. I want everything with you.
Do you promise? Yes, His voice cracked.
Little more than a desperate plea, he started to reach for
her, but hesitated. Without thinking twice, she
stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her
face into his chest. The tension in his body
collapsed forward as he wrapped her in his embrace, exhaling in
a shudder. Between them, the bond finally
settled. As if the way she'd been
yearning to be back in his arms had only increased the pull
between them. You have no idea how desperately
I've always wanted to hold you like this.
Neville whispered. I thought you only wanted to
touch me if it involved sex, She said into his jumper.
He exhaled in a hoof. Same here, he said.
I'm so sorry. I always want you in every way.
She nestled in closer, slipping into his warm, familiar comfort.
Do you have any idea how terrifying you are?
Despite his words, his tone was filled with a warm affection.
She pulled back enough to look at him, but didn't move her arms
from where they were still wrapped around him.
Excuse me? He smirked.
It was easier to face Voldemort with nothing but the Sorting
Hat, knowing when I was going to die, than it is to try to tell
you that I love you. For several long seconds, all
she could do was stare at him. Did you just compare me to
Voldemort? Seriously, no.
He dragged a hand down his face. Fuck, I had this bland out so
much better in my head. She pressed her lips together to
hold back her laugh. He drew in a deep breath.
My love you Pansy, I am in love with you.
I. Have been in love with you for
months, he said. Now I've known since Christmas,
but it's been at least since the Gryffindor Slytherin Quidditch
match. I know I'm good at sucking you
off, but no one is actually that good, he groaned.
It wasn't that, he said, although that didn't hurt.
He muttered as an afterthought. Her shoulders shook in
suppressed laughter. He ignored it and pressed on.
I was watching you all day, how you were with the Griffiths and
being with you at the match and then at dinner with all our
friends together. It was one of the few times in
the past year that they'd actually all gotten along.
Walking home with you that night just felt right, he said.
And I wanted that life for real, not just the vague sense I
always have, but specifically with you.
She wanted to believe him more than she'd ever wanted anything
in her life. You don't feel anything for
Hannah. Not more than friendship, he
said. Aside from just catching up, the
only time I remember looking at her during the photo shoot was
when Ron was talking about Hermione.
Thinking back, she heard Weasel's little speech about
first love and true love in an entirely new light.
Ernest blue eyes stared down into hers.
Hannah and I were each other's firsts for so many things,
Neville said. I helped her through her mum's
death and everything that happened 7th year that will
always tie us together. But it wasn't enough, it was
never enough, and we both knew it but didn't want to say it or
know how to say it. All that loyalty and nobility
sounded fucking exhausting. Then Ron said all that and it
was like I realised what I'd been trying to force for years.
He said it. Didn't take away from what we'd
had, but it wasn't what we needed or wanted going forward.
He drew in a deep breath. Because what I wanted, what I
need, is you, Pansy. Reaching into his pocket, he
pulled out a folded piece of parchment.
If you still need proof, you should.
Read this. The creases were so sharp it was
almost ripping in a few places. The Malfoy, right?
He tapped one of the listed conditions.
Her head snapped up. The right wouldn't have worked.
Unless I was unconditionally in love with you.
Tears welled and spilled. Neville, I'm sorry I didn't tell
you, he said. I didn't think you felt the same
and didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable.
I wanted the decision about which right to use be completely
yours. Of course he had.
I was going to tell you that I loved you and that I wanted
forever with you after the write was done, he said.
But you were so busy with the photo shoot and then the Hogwart
shoplists and I thought that you were withdrawing and I didn't
know how to touch you without bursting out that I loved you.
And then you got attacked and we were trying to figure out a way
to save you yet again. And then Theo swept in and saved
the day and made it so fucking easy and all I could think was
if he'd known about any of this, we never would have gotten
together. And that killed me, he said.
And he jumped straight into what I thought was a divorce.
And you didn't stop him and he's one of your best friends, so I
assumed it was what you wanted. You didn't stop him either.
I'm sorry, Pansy. He pressed a kiss to the top of
her head. I should have.
I love you. The way he held her, cradled
her, made her feel cherished in a way she'd only ever dreamed of
before. You are clever and cunning and
brilliant and beautiful and have your own fashion empire, and I'm
a socially awkward professor who likes digging in dirt with my
bare hands as long as the plant won't kill me.
And sometimes even if it might, she said.
He smirked, but the shadow of doubt and insecurity remained in
his gaze. I know us together.
He is laughable because of who you are and who I am.
And I know I'm not what you wanted or imagined as a husband,
but. Neville, she said softly.
You are a war hero with a fucking Order of Merlin.
Yeah, but that was mostly an accident.
She snorted. You are kind and sweet and funny
and devoted and loyal and fucking fit underneath those
monstrosities you wear. The corner of his mouth rose.
I know I'm a bitch. You're not a bitch, you're a
brat. Not everything is about that,
she drawled. His smirk spread.
You are sarcastic and irreverent and like to cause chaos and push
buttons, but you aren't ever intentionally hurtful just for
the sake of being hurtful, he said.
You're just Pansy and I happen to like you exactly as you are.
His words sent. Warmth spreading through her
chest. It was everything she'd ever
wanted to be, someone's first choice, loved, cherished.
And the fact that it was Neville.
She swallowed, looking for her courage.
You are everything I've ever wanted, she said.
And if the two of us stop pretending, we don't care about
each other. His head ducked down.
He pressed his lips against hers.
The kiss was soft. Sweet, gentle, all too short.
But he didn't go far, just pressed his forehead against
hers. That doesn't mean I don't want
you to tie me up or spank me any more.
Pansy began. Because I very much do.
But he flicked her nose. With a laugh, brat.
His voice was warm, full of affection.
You like it? My love it, he said.
My love you. Reaching into the pockets of his
robes, he pulled out a small square jewelry box.
Her eyes flicked up. My necklace.
No, he said. That's back at the house.
This was my mum's. I want you to have it.
Nestled inside was a small but quality rectangular diamond,
flanked on either side of a triangular Ruby.
Alice's wedding ring. Her head snapped up.
Neville reached into her pocket and pulled out her original
wedding band. We didn't actually get divorced
to that day. She frowned.
But all that. Paperwork.
Since Theor had legally been your guardian all along, he
could have rescinded approval for the marriage and dissolved
it, automatically reverting the entire Parkinson's estate and
everything funded by it back to you with one document.
His dramatics that day made less sense than ever.
The corner of his lip rose. That's why Katie was so pissed
off, he said. She thought he was trying to
humiliate me by making me sign document after document when one
simple signature would have settled everything.
Cleanly, but he didn't dissolve. The marriage?
Nope, he said, popping the P with extra emphasis.
Everything that I signed that day except the paperwork legally
giving Dennison Astoria the Manor house doesn't actually go
into effect unless one of us does apply for a divorce.
So what was the point of all of? That prenuptial agreement, he
said, designed entirely to protect your interests in case
of a divorce. Katie's still pretty pissed at
everything I gave up, but I wouldn't have done it any
differently. Of course not.
Nobility is idiocy by a different name.
He smirked. Any assets acquired during our
marriage are split 5050, which means I'm now entitled to half
of the not estate upon Theo's death, he said Katie's finished
all the paperwork but I told her not to file anything until I'd
spoke with you. Laughter bubbled up.
Sweet Salazar, you have. To she said.
It's exactly what he deserves. He shrugged.
He probably let it happen as a fuck you to his ancestors.
Still. She said.
Neville drew in a deep breath and squeezed her hands.
My love you, he said. You and only you and I want to
spend the rest of our lives together.
Pulling out his mother's ring, he knelt down a second time in
the dirt onto 1 knee saw Pansy Parkinson Longbottom knot.
Will you please never divorce me?
Something between a laugh and a SOB burst from her lips.
Bending down, she wrapped her hands around his neck and
brushed her lips against his. Yes.
A brilliant smile spread across his face, but then he paused.
Wait, yes. You won't divorce me.
You're yes. For the love of Morgana, just
give me my rings back. Beaming, he stood and slid the
wedding band and his mother's ring onto her finger.
He ran his thumb over her knuckles and then raised her
hand for a kiss. I love you, Pansy.
She stared down at the two rings, the promise they meant.
Lifting her head, she met his gaze.
I love you too. Sweeping down, he captured her
lips with his in a swift but deep kiss.
He pressed his forehead to hers. You have no idea how long I've
wanted to hear you say that. I have Rather a good idea,
actually. Merlin, we're idiots, aren't we?
This is my first time, but I don't think declarations of love
and proposals of marriage typically include this many
insults. He laughed.
My really did think you'd like the flowers, he said.
I'm sorry. You made a Pansy, that is an
invasive species developed from a plant that causes
uncontrollable weeping, she demanded.
How is that supposed to help me? Like pansies?
Not all invasive species are a bad thing, he said.
Sometimes they end up improving an ecosystem.
Some are even introduced intentionally.
Her eyes narrowed. Don't you dare.
His eyes danced. Kind of are.
You invaded my life, Neville Longbottom, Do not compare me to
an invasive species. He laughed.
I meant it as a compliment. They're red, red and green, he
said. A combination I'm getting rather
fond of. She rolled her eyes.
Any other metaphors to impart? They are beautiful, he said.
And smell nice. I have a couple of perfume
companies trying to buy exclusivity contracts with me.
Ironic that what she'd been so worried was perfume would become
it you. Realise that this is the first
time you've given me flowers before, she said.
You've set the standard awfully high for yourself.
As her words sunk in, his expression turned crestfallen.
For a herbologist. I've been a really sorry excuse
for a husband, haven't I? You did invent a brand new
species of pansies just because you knew I hated them.
His lips lifted. Hated past tense.
So you do like these? She sighed.
I suppose this specific breed lives up to its name.
He beamed. I'll plant them around the
cottage. He said.
I have to set up magical barriers first, though they're
somehow more invasive than the original plant.
I had a couple of projects growing in here, and as you can
see, there is now nothing left but pansies.
That felt something to be proud of.
Speaking of the cottage, will you come home now?
Home. The word sent a coil of warmth
through her. I have conditions, He smirked.
Of course you do. First, I'm not sleeping on that
tacky red bedspread anymore, she said.
I'm redoing both bedrooms entirely.
He paused for a moment. All the pictures stay.
As if she would ever put away anything that meant so much to
him. I will move them around or
replace the frames, but they can all remain throughout the house.
There was no need for them all to be clustered on the dresser
when they should be in every room.
He nodded. Fair.
He said. What else?
You can keep your jumpers, but I'm burning every other item of
clothing that I didn't buy for you.
He frowned. I need work clothes.
And I will get you new ones. But these?
She nodded towards his hideous trousers.
Have to go, He sighed. All right, fine, he said.
My other deal for you, too. Reaching into said
monstrosities, he pulled out a small vial.
What's that? A familiar gleam came to his
eyes. Contraceptive tonic.
Some of her happiness abated the tiniest bit.
Bansi. He asked.
What is it? She had to bite back the
derisive snap that first came to her mind, but that had only led
to the mess they were in. It was time to take a page from
his book and be brave and honest.
Neville was watching her with concern.
We don't have to. Do you not want kids?
He'd once said A baby would be a blessing.
Of course I want kids, he said. I mean, if you don't, it'll be
OK. We'll get to be honorary aunt
and uncle to more kids than we can count.
His face was so open and eager and honest.
It was time for her to try the same, to make sure they actually
understood one another. That day after the right, when I
wanted to, when I kissed you on the couch.
Shame burned through her. I remember he said.
I thought you said on Valentine's Day that if I got
pregnant during the right that you would want to stay together.
So I thought that if. Fuck Pansy.
He breathed. Tears burned in her eyes, this
time of shame, but she had to start everything with honesty
and the fact that she'd even had the thought to try to trap him
with a child. I know it's awful, she said.
I'm sorry, His hand wrapped around her hips.
I want kids with you so fucking badly, he said.
Like, think I might have accidentally developed a
breeding kink? Badly.
She packed that away for later. But you said you'd still leave
me even if I got pregnant. His eyes widened.
I didn't mean that, he said. Fuck Pansy.
I'm so. Sorry, I wanted you to stay with
me no matter what, especially if we had a kid, but I'd never
force you to stay with me. I knew it would shatter me to
lose not just you, but our baby if you decided to leave.
Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around him and pressed
her face into his chest. Pansy.
He asked, arms tightening around her.
Do you want? Kids with me.
She lifted her chin to look at him.
There was a bright, tentative hope in his eyes that almost
made her melt. She thought of the pictures of
his parents with him as a baby, the pride and love and joy in
their eyes, seeing that look on his face for something they made
together. Yes, she said.
Not immediately, but yes. His face lit up and he bent down
to kiss her, hard and fierce. I love you so fucking much, he
said. We'll wait as long as you're
ready. She glanced at the vial of
contraceptive tonic, and in the meantime he grinned.
We couldn't practice. Oh yeah?
She asked. What would that entail?
There was a bright, burning intensity in his gaze.
Taking you back home, making love to you like I've wanted for
months. She made a face.
Never call it that again. Then beg you until you're
begging and I'm fully recovered, and maybe then draw it out a bit
more before I fuck you like you've deserved.
She bit her cheek to hold back the moan.
Fuck, yes, That was exactly what she wanted.
No to the first, yes to the latter.
Doesn't work like that. He said my terms, or not at all.
The glint in his eyes was unmistakable.
Fine, he could call it what he wanted, if she got what she.
Needed in the end. His face broke into a triumphant
smirk. Popping the cork with her thumb,
she drained the minty brew. The walk to the Hogwarts gates
nearly killed her. However, no matter that it was
probably a wet dream of her husband's, she was not going to
let him shag her in the dirt. Of all things he wanted to do,
that was where she was going to draw the line.
As soon as they stepped over the apparition line, Neville
squeezed her hand and spun them, landing straight in his bedroom.
There, bedroom. His mouth met hers, hot, warm,
insistent. She pulled at his clothes,
trying to get the hideous things off him as quickly as possible.
Neville's lips trailed across her jaw and down her neck, his
deft fingers flicking open the buttons on the back of her
dress. That walk took too fucking long.
Each word was punctuated by kisses.
She groaned her agreement as his lips found the spot behind her
ear that drove her wild. Now you know the real reason I
operated home from Hogwarts each day.
His words broke through the haze of lust.
Neville yanked the dress over her head and pushed her down
onto the bed. Placing her hands on his chest,
she rolled him so that he was beneath her.
His eyes sparked. This is new.
What do you mean about apparating home?
She demanded. His lips twitched.
He didn't stop touching her, running his hands over her back
and sliding down to cut her arse.
There were only two people who knew about that, and both were
more meddlesome than the last. Who?
Was it she? Demanded Grainger or the
Wieselette his merk spread. I have no idea what you answer
the question, Longbottom. Gripping her, he flipped them so
that he was back on top. Apparently you were wrong a year
ago when you said that Hermione appreciated my friendship more
than yours. His lips found her neck, nipping
and suckling. She has not spoken to me since
you were discharged from Saint Mungo's.
If he wasn't doing such amazing things to her neck, she'd be
able to appreciate her friend's loyalty much more.
Your mother, on the other hand. She smacked him on the arm and
he laughed. Stop calling her that.
You've been doing it for months, he said.
Can't blame us for joining in. Now we're all in on the joke.
You all just want to ruin the. Fun for me.
His eyes danced. You'll be happy to know that
she's spent the better part of 10 minutes berating me for
leading you on and being delusional about Hannah until we
both figured out what each other was on about.
It took her all of three seconds to decide she didn't actually
need to launch a maternity line. She's going to look like a fat
sickly cow for the next 6 months.
She then spent 15 minutes berating me about how I acted at
the Ministry that day, he said. I understood Hermione choosing
you over me, but Ginny abandoning me was not a twist.
I saw her coming. For all that Potter complaints
about people being in his business, he really has no
respect for other people's. And telling your wife something
doesn't count as gossip. It does when your wife has a big
of a mouth as Ginny Weasley Potter.
He said. And she's the reason I decided
to come try to talk to you. Her eyes drifted over his face.
You really wouldn't have said anything to me.
He exhaled slowly. You looked so relieved when Theo
broke the blood oath. He said.
I hardly ever see you cry, and the way you broke down with
relief, I just. A broken, haunted look filled
his eyes. She cupped his cheek.
I thought you wanted to be free, he said.
I thought I was doing the right thing by letting you go.
Nobility is another name for idiocy, she said.
For the second time that day, he laughed.
I don't think I would have made it much longer without crawling
back to you, he said. I just got to do it with a bit
more dignity. Well, if doing it with dignity
is comparing me to both the Dark Lord and an invasive species
that makes men weep uncontrollably to the point of
life threatening dehydration, then I shudder to think what the
way with no. Dignity would have been.
He rolled his eyes. I did not compare you to
Voldemort. I said that telling you I love
you was more terrifying than facing death.
She arched an eyebrow. No explanation for the plant, He
grinned. I know you find it funny, he
said. And anyway, you're the one who's
half naked beneath me. Foreplay has taken a
disappointing turn since you confessed.
Your love for me. His eyes.
Sparked. You know how much I love a
challenge. He certainly rose to it, in
every sense of the word. Banter turned to kisses and
touches and gasping breaths. It was something between the
Right and their usual encounters.
The tenderness of the Right was there in the soft way he touched
her, as if she was something precious.
But this time she met him, stroke for stroke, in a subtle
battle for dominance. Without the ruins and magic and
blood oath. It was just the two of them, the
passion that sparked and grew until Neville edged her twice
and pinned her beneath him. I thought you said edging was
going to come after? He smirked at the whining
petulance in her tone. I decided I wanted you to come
on my cock the first time you came today.
Bold words from the man who couldn't last.
He bit her neck right as he pressed the tip of his cock
inside her and she groaned. Fuck, how did he manage to make
everything feel so fucking incredible?
He smirked down at her as he continued to ease his way in
with gentle thrusts. The pace was slowly driving her
mad. She clawed at his shoulders with
her fingers. Neville, I need more, don't want
to hurt you. He mumbled, voice tense.
You're so fucking tight. She also had never been so
turned on in her entire life. There was no way he couldn't
feel how much she was dripping all over his cock, so he was
just torturing them both. She could break him.
Yeah, I've only had sex once before and he had a really tiny.
With a snap of his hips, Neville thrust fully inside and she
gasped, fisting the sheets beneath her.
Oh yeah? He asked with a smug look on his
face. He pulled out and slid back in
completely, almost stealing her breath with the fullness.
Tell me more about this really tiny Dick.
I hardly felt anything. She managed to choke out.
He said, continuing to work himself in and out with steady
but gentle thrusts. Mark and tell Merlin you're so
fucking fuck. She gasped as the head of his
cock hit a spot inside her that almost made her see stars.
Neville leaned down, capturing her lips in his.
My love you, Pansy. His eyes didn't leave her face
as he worked up a rhythm, finding the best angle and pace
to drive her wild. She could feel it building but
knew it wasn't enough to send her over.
He propped himself up with one hand next to her head while the
other hand slipped between them to tease her clit.
Last time, every sensation had bordered on the painful side of
just too much. This time it sparked and built
until she felt herself erupting, crying out his name when she
came. Neville followed after a moment
later, his movements jerking as he tried to help her ride out
each last spasm. Finally, he collapsed next to
her, panting heavily. I love you, Pansy.
She curled into his arms, the warmth of his embrace all the
more comforting now that she knew it wasn't temporary.
Well, that was certainly an improvement, she said.
When she finally caught her breath.
He hoofed out a laugh and slapped her arse.
You try to maintain control of an ancient soul bond ritual
while trying not to yell out that you love someone after 10
months of foreplay and see how long you last.
Excuses, excuses. I think how hard you just came
around my cock proves it. There was a.
Smug arrogance to his tone that she found unexplainably hot.
And I'd be careful if I were you.
I'm not going easy on you for the rest of the night.
Neville, you've fucked me twice already, she said.
If you're trying to. Scare me off.
He flipped her onto her back, arms pinned over her head with a
patronizing smirk on his face. Oh, my sweet, innocent little
virgin wife, He said. You have no idea what you're
talking about. She glared at him.
I am not a virgin any more. He said with a smirk.
I know I was there. Writhing, she tried to pull
herself from his embrace, but he refused to budget.
Stretching her further, he pressed her palms to the wood of
the headboard. Keep your hands there.
She immediately pulled them down.
His smirk spread. Walk here, brat, he said.
Now the fun begins.