Neville was…pacing. After the demon thing had disappeared so had Harry and Draco…and Dean and Seamus. And it wasn’t as if he didn’t know what they were doing. At least Emily and Hermione had stuck around a minute to explain what they could to Dumbledore before running off too. He curled up in a corner of one of the couches in the common room. At least it was a Sunday. At least there were no classes. But everyone else was of doing something, or somebody. And he was lonely.

 He let his mind wander back to that morning. Finally instead of focusing on the demon he focused on, well, Ron. How Ron had looked, when his eyes blinked open and he tore down the stairs after Harry and Draco. The determined look on his strong face. The way he had just stepped in without even thinking of the consequences. How handsome he had looked, standing there, fighting, face set in a determined grimace, his red hair falling over his face, and…god his bare chest heaving because he had never bothered to put on a shirt. God, Ron was so hot. And nice and well, just…Ron. Neville sighed.

 “Why don’t I ever have the guts to do anything?” Emily had even told him to go for it. She wouldn’t lie! He…he…He collapsed back on to the couch after almost getting up. Ron was up in the dorm, he knew that. Dean and Seamus had found somewhere else to…play around. He sighed, that wasn’t fair. For all that Seamus acted like a total slut he was devoted to and crazy about Dean. And the boy was certainly brave…to be that openly gay. Though he supposed having a boyfriend whom would beat the crap out of anyone who damaged you could help in that. Ron…

 Neville stood up. He was going to talk to Ron if it killed him! After all, Emily had talked to him and something had been said. He hurried off towards their dorm, already starting to loose his just gained nerve.
 

 Ron was sitting on his bed, desperately trying to figure out what to write for a potions essay that had been assigned. He could barely remember the topic, much less think of a starting line. He was beginning to get so tense and frustrated that he jumped a bit when the door creaked open.

 “Ummm, Ron?” Neville hesitated, rocking nervously in the doorway. “About the other day…”

 “Yeah?” Ron looked up from the paper he was attempting to be engrossed in, thankful for the distraction.

 “I was wondering…well…uhhh…Ron do you…do you like guys? Like, like like?”

 Ron blushed brightly. It was one thing to have Emily ask that but Neville who he… “Yeah, I think I might,” he said quietly. He couldn’t even look at the blond boy.

 “Would you…Would…damnit I can’t say this!” Neville threw himself down on to his bed, trembling.

 “Can’t say what?” Ron asked, putting down his quill. So curious…

 “Never mind,” Neville groaned. “It’s stupid.”

 “It can’t possibly be stupider than the first years swooning over Harry,” Ron chuckled in an attempt at levity, Neville wouldn’t be cheered.

 “Trust me Ron, it can be.”

 “Now you’ve got me all curious, Nev. Tell me?”

 Neville choked. “I…I was going to ask you to be my boyfriend.” When Ron said nothing he let out a little halfhearted sob. “I told you it was stupid.”

 “Why is that so stupid?” Ron was stunned. Neville was going to…for him Neville had gotten up that much courage. Fuck it, the boy was brave already, and this, and didn’t Neville like Harry?

 Bleary blue eyes blinked up through a soft mass of golden hair. “You mean it’s not?” Sweet voice, so full of hope.

 “No. Why would it be?” Yeah, ‘cause I acted so stupidly straight. Someone should strangle me. I did think he liked Harry though.

 “Because I’m me. Someone like you could have any guy in the school given he was gay…I’m just a clumsy fool.”

 “Who needs some self esteem apparently.” Ron smiled. YES! He…well, he supposed he was still somewhat confused about…yeah, that. But he did like Neville. A lot. Like that. Neville was…so everything. Sweet, and beautiful and just so…likeable! Loveable.

 “I have nothing to have good self esteem about.”

 “You have lots to have self esteem about.” Ron had moved and was now sitting on the edge of Neville’s bed. “And…well…you’re…cute. Why ever would I say no?”

 “You mean…?” A smile was beginning to light Neville’s tearstained face. “You’d be my boyfriend then?”

 “Of course.” YES!

 With a bright grin Neville sat up and scooted his way into Ron’s arms. Relaxing against the taller boy, his head resting against Ron’s chest, his arms around Ron’s waist, relaxing into the larger boy’s warmth. Ron hugged him close happily. HIS Neville…just perhaps.

 “Thank you,” Neville murmured, so softly Ron barely heard him.

 “Now we just need to work on your self esteem issues.” Ron laughed; the boy’s mistrust for himself was becoming more and more obvious.

 “I have every right to have self esteem issues.”

 “Right, yes. Reason, no. You’re wonderful, Nev.”

 “Really?” Neville smiled unsteadily.

 “Yes, really.”

 “I’m not sure…”

 “Not sure what?”

 “Well…why you said yes for one.”

 “I like you.” A lot.

 “Yes, but…why?”

 Ron stood up, causing Neville to look inquiringly at him. “We’re going to see Emily,” he explained, helping his new boyfriend off the bed and drawing him into his
arms. “Look, I think you’re wonderful, and nice, and cute. But I’m not Herm or Emmy. I think if we want to deal with you’re problems we go to Emmy. She’s smart like that.”

 “Do we have to?”

 “Yes.” Neville looked so unsure, so sweet. I’m going to do this. I’ve got to do this. Gods…I WANT to do this…With that Ron bent slightly and kissed Neville on the lips, lightly, but so sweetly that the shorter boy very nearly swooned. Ron smiled at the look on Neville’s face. “We should go see Emily, Nev.”

 “Don’ wanna,” Neville whispered, nosing further into Ron’s arms and nuzzling his face into the crook of the red head’s neck, making Ron squirm slightly. “Wanna
stay here.” It loved it here; warm, safe…secure.

 Ron laughed. “If you’re trying to distract me it’s working.”

 “Good.”

 “But I’m still stubborner that you are.”

 “More stubborn,” Neville corrected automatically.

 “Huh?” Confused hazel eyes met wide blue.

 “You’re more stubborn, not stubborner. It’s not a word, love.” I…I…I called him…wow.

 Ron chuckled, “Crikey, he’s bossing me around already.”

 “I’m just fixing your English,” Neville protested. Ron smiled at him.

 “Yeah, and I wanna fix your self esteem problems. C’mon.” He squirmed away from Neville’s embrace and the reached back to take the blond boy’s hand in his.
“I don’t think I can quite hold your hand in the halls, you know.”

 Neville sighed. “I don’t like it. I mean…Dean and Seamus…Harry and Draco…”

 “Are both a lot more secure in liking guys than I am. ‘Sides, that little shit could do anything and get away with it, even if they haven’t really started yet.”

 “That’s your best friend’s boyfriend you’re talking about, Ron,” Neville muttered.

 “Actually,” Ron looked smug. “I was referring to Harry.” Neville started to giggle so Ron continued. “I mean, I love him dearly and all. He is my best friend. But,
admit it, Nev, he can get away with anything. He could fuck Fluffy and have everyone going ‘oh, it’s Harry Potter, how sweet’.”

 Neville was into full-blown laughter now. Clutching his sides and falling back on his bed. “Oh!” he gasped. “Oh! Oh, god! Ron, that was great! Classic!” He rolled to the side, pressing his face into the mattress while tears began to streak from his eyes from laughing too hard. He only looked up when he felt the bed dip as Ron
sat down beside him. He blinked in confusion at the intense look in his boyfriend’s…his boyfriend’s! eyes. “Ron?”

 “You are so cute, Nev.”

 Neville could feel the blush spreading across his face. “T-thanks.”

 Ron groaned. “See? Ya don’t believe me! This is why we have to go see Emmy.”

 “I’d rather stay here.”

 Ron smiled and reached out to brush a hand against Neville’s cheek. “I know you would.” Then he grinned. “What can I bribe you with? Chocolate frogs? Doing
your homework for you? Comic books? What?” He slid closer to the other boy on the bed, nuzzeling gently into the blonde’s soft hair. “Kisses maybe?” God, I can’t believe I’m doing this.

 “Ron…”

 “Look, this really is for your own good. But if you’re worried about it I’m willing to spoil you abit,” Ron blushed. “I wouldn’t mind spoiling you a lot actually. But I don’t quite have the resources now, do I? C’mon, Nev, anything. Well, anything within reason that a sixteen year old wizard can manage. Any ideas?”

 Neville could feel himself blushing again. “One,” he murmured. “but it’s sort of stupid.”

 “That’s what you said about asking me out, and that wasn’t stupid was it?”

 “Yeah, but this is…well…it’s managable, but I don’t really think you’ll want to.”

 Ron sighed. “Just tell me.”

 Neville blushed harder and turned away from Ron’s intent gaze. “…..”

 “I didn’t quite hear you.”

 “I said, you could hold my hand in the hallways.”

 Ron looked somewhat mortified. “Neville…”

 “I know, I told you it was stupid. If you’re not comfortable with it then I shouldn’t be bugging you about it.”

 “No, Nev…” Ron turned Neville back to face him. “I’m the one who should say sorry. I didn’t know it meant that much to you.”

 “It doesn’t…really…I’d just…I’d just…”

 “Just what?”

 “Well, like to know that you weren’t ashamed for being with me is one.”

 “Neville!” Ron gathered his smaller boyfriend tightly into his arms. “I’m not ashamed of you! A bit ashamed, alright, I have to admit it. But not of you. And I’m more scared than ashamed. Ashamed’s just kind of risidual. And never because of you.”

 “Because you like guys, right?” Neville guessed, Ron nodded. “I am a guy, Ron. I’m sorry, it’s just part of me.”

 “And it’s part of the reason I like you,” Ron blurted. “But…I’m kinda sick of getting teased.”

 “The Slytherins won’t,” Neville pointed out softly. “Their own Draco Malfoy is practically flaming. They can’t possibily have something against a more…well…butch gay guy.”

 “It’s not the Slytherins I’m worried about. Well, I am, but not just them.”

 “You mean, like…your brothers?” Neville giggled slightly. “And people say I’m naïve.”

 “Huh?”

 “Fred and George love you Ron, they’re just kind of funny about showing it. They would never tease you about something that they know would really wound.”

 “What about Seamus?”

 Neville laughed. “You do realize, Ron love, that Seamus has been bi since our second year. He’s with Dean. He’s practically obsessed with Dean.”

 “I’m aware of that.”

 “Then why would he tease you?”

 “Because that’s what Seamus does.”

 Neville looked skeptical. “Hmmm?”

 “If I promise to hold your hand in the halls will you let Emily help you?”

 “Ron…I dunno…I mean, if the only reason you’re doing it is to get me to go see Emily…”

 “It’s not!” Ron snapped, staring directly into Neville’s skittish blue eyes. “It’s not! It couldn’t be! I’m just scared. If I wasn’t…If I wasn’t I would never let you out of my sight. I’d be touching you constantly, making sure nothing bad ever happened to you. But I can’t bloody well do that can I?”

 “I wouldn’t mind if you did some though.”

 “I’ll try, Nev. Really I will. Can we go see Emily now?”

 Neville nodded and stood up. He was at the door by the time Ron was

 “Ron?”

 “Yeah?” Ron walked to where he was standing directly in front of Neville and the blond boy smiled, tilting his head up slightly. Ron grinned, and bent to set his lips
against his boyfriend’s.
 

 Hermione was curled in Emily’s arms on Emily’s bed in their dorm. They had fallen back asleep like that after the surprise of the demon that morning. Now they lay curled there, murmuring quietly to each other, kissing, touching. Emily’s hand drifted down to Hermione’s breast, touching lightly, making Hermione giggle, then shudder.

 “Oooh, Emmy…”

 Emily chuckled. “Relax, chere.” Her hand slid under Hermione’s shirt, inching it up. Hermione squirmed slightly. smoothing out the wrinkles on his robe.

 “Emmy, you sure we should be doing this? I mean, people could come back, and we’re not that quick…” Hermione blushed.

 “Love, n’ ones gonna c’me back jus’ yet. Unless…”

 “Oh.”

 Emily grinned at the expression on Hermione’s face and lifted her slightly to kiss her sweet and gracefully, wrapping her entire lanky form around her girlfriend’s, one slim hand sliding into the waistband of her girlfriend’s pants. And there was a knock on the door.

 “Merde.”

 Hermione sighed, sliding away from Emily. “I did tell you so,” she murmured, bending down for one more kiss before unlocking the door.

 “Ron, Neville, what the hell are you doing in the girl’s wing?” She caught sight of Ron’s hand holding Neville’s. “Ah?”

 Ron stood there; shifting from foot to foot as Emily, realizing who it was came up behind Hermione, wrapping her arms around the young witch. She grinned.

 “Awwww, sweet. Mais…dere’s a reason yer here ‘sides tellin’ us, isn’t dere?”

 Ron blinked for a minute, then nodded. “Ummm, we, well you see…Can we just come in?”

 “Suah,” Emily ushered them in, pulling Hermione aside for a minute. “One ‘a dese day I am gonna get ya alone,” she whispered. Hermione blushed.

 “Emmy!”

 The mutant girl laughed, low and husky, turning back to the two boys. “Now, what’s da problem?”

 Ron blushed slightly. “Um, Nev’s self esteem actually. It seems to be non-existent and I was wondering if …well, maybe you could help?”

 “We’ll do wha’ we can.”

 Neville was busy hiding his head in his hands. “You guys talk, ok, I’m not here.”

 Hermione laughed. “Now I see what Ron means.”

 Emily smirked at Ron. “Good, den Ron can get his loving little ass out of here an’ let us amateur shrinks get ta work.”

 Ron sighed. “Yes, mommy” Petting his hand over Neville’s cheek he left the room, to stalk the corridor like some man with a wife in labor.
 

 Draco turned to Harry, still sprawled out naked being used as Draco’s body pillow. “Harry, d’you remember who exactly started throwing stuff at Emily on Halloween?”
 
 

 Heehee! Plot in the offing, Finally!
~Isabella
  Chapter 11
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