Plants in the Moonlight (open)

Draco continued on with the figs, though he was quickly becoming bored of it. He finished a few more, having found it easier with his blade being sharpened. He stayed quiet for a while, wrapped up in his own thoughts. He would have liked to have been able to share them with someone, but he didn't. He felt that few people would understand--and after all he couldn't trust many people either. Draco finished looked down at the few figs left, and reluctantly peeled another.

He feigned a large yawn, as he put his knife down.

"It's late. I've had enough of plants for one day." Draco glanced out the windows of the greenhouse. The lawn was dark, and suddenly Draco didn't really want to walk back to the castle alone, even though it was a short trip. He swatted Neville lightly with his gloves, before putting them into his pocket. It was a playful action which he surprised himself with, and probably shouldn't have done, but it was quick and over with before he could take it back. He looked at Neville, with a rather blank expression on his face.

"Let's go. No use leaving you here by yourself. Besides..." Draco added hastily, as the conversation felt a bit too friendly, and even more awkward. "Strange things lurk in the darkness, even here, and if something horrible is going to eat you tonight, I at least want to be there to witness it."

Neville had jumped a bit with the light swat to his arm and his knife nicked his thumb through his gloves; making him hiss and stick the slightly bleeding digit in his mouth after removing the glove hastily.. He groaned as realized belatedly what it looked like but to be truthful he didn't care. The cut, as tiny as it was hurt like the dickens and he hated to admit that he secretly liked the copper taste that spread across his tongue. He worked a scowl on his face as he removed his thumb from his mouth.

"Of course, because y'know, I'm not a wizard and can fend things off with my wand." He rolled his eyes and looked out the glass windows. "I suppose you're right Malfoy. Let me get this cleaned up for Professor Sprout and then we'll leave."

He didn't give Draco a change to react, he just gathered the skins and disposed of them in the organic fertilizer pile at the back of the green house. He then placed the peeled figs in a jar with a tight lid and placed them on a shelf near the top with a placard that had Snapes name on it. After washing his hands he returned to Draco and nodded his head towards the door.

"Well c'mon now, it's late and I don't have a pass for anything later than midnight."

Draco said nothing as they walked across the dark grounds, back to the castle. When Draco got back to the Slytherin Common Room, he say Pansy curled up in a chair. She'd been waiting for him, and got up immediately to talk to him and fawn over him, brushing the left over bits of dirt off of his face and hair. He warmed a bit at her fussing. Sometimes her attention was nice, and other times, it was just annoying. She was supposed to be his girlfriend but Draco didn't feel it at all.

If anything she was just a close friend, oddly a closer and more comfortable friend than his male ones. What she really was, however, was his cover. She however, didn't know that. Draco knew it couldn't possibly last forever, as she would eventually want their 'relationship' to progress to places physically that Draco just--well he didn't want to think about it.

He wasn't attracted to her. He found nothing physically desirable about her small soft frame, with subtle curves, and girly features. He had tried very hard to appreciate such things in her, in girls in general, but they just didn't catch his eye or distract his attention. They might as well have been flies buzzing around, as much as they failed to gain his interest.

What did gain his interest were certain male members of the Slytherin Quidditch team walking around the locker room scantily clad or completely naked, the way getting Ron Weasley's temper up made his whole person seem to burst into an unquenchable flame (though he continued outwardly to despise everything Weasley), or the way Harry's green eyes flashed behind his glasses and his black hair was always messy--as if he had never laid eyes upon a comb in his entire life. There were other names on Draco's endless list of boys who spent far too much time unknowingly catching his eye or possessing his thoughts--and on that list he now found Neville Longbottom.

Neville with his face set hard in concentration as he meticulously peeled figs, Neville actually standing up to him, Neville with dirt smeared on his cheeks, the moon catching over the features of his face as they had walked over the night time grounds...a face that was making a transformation from pudgy boy to the beginnings of a handsome young man. Draco swallowed hard, as Pansy's fingers--no those were her lips--brushed against his ear. Had he really thought all that about Neville? A warm pinkness spread over Draco's pale cheeks. Pansy misinterpreted his reactions as responses to her teasing, and her tongue slid over the shell of his ear.

He pushed her back gently, repressing the urge to look at her as if she were an alien...or to wipe at his ear. He found nothing attractive about what she had been doing. It frustrated him endlessly that nothing prompted him to snog her senseless. He enjoyed talking to her, being with her, being the recipient of her fussing and doting, but nothing more. He sighed.

"Pans, I'm sleepy." He said, and he faked a yawn which he hoped was believable. She nodded, and pressed a kiss to his lips, and he let her.

---

The next morning at breakfast, he only half-paid attention to her as she talked about whatever it was she was talking about. He was too busy looking at various other faces in The Great Hall. His silver eyes fell over various ones, until they caught Neville. Moments later, Draco was drawn from his thoughts by a not so subtle jab to his ribs. Pansy frowned at him.

"You're not even touching your breakfast. Don't whine to me about being hungry during Care of Magical Creatures later."

She said, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. Draco had only half heard, because as she spoke to him, he realized that for many moments--what in his head had seemed like an hour--he had been staring at Neville Longbottom. Even worse, he had been smiling at Neville Longbottom from across the Slytherin table. This was horrible, and completely ridiculous. He didn't even like Neville. Their one night in the greenhouse had been just barely tolerable. What the hell was exactly wrong with him? He glared down at his untouched plate, and received another nudge in the ribs from Pansy.

"Yes Mother." He bit out to her moodily, and nudged his food around on his plate until it looked as if he had eaten some of it. His not-really girlfriend was sufficiently appeased at the deception.

After depositing Draco off at the main foyer Neville had taken himself up to bed, struggling with his clothes and barely putting on his sleeping pants before crawling under his covers. Ron and Dean had been awake and had questioned him about his night in the greenhouse with Draco and while nothing had really happened Neville felt a bit reluctant to spill the details.

"Well you're not in the hospital wing mate, so it couldn't have been that bad." Ron laughed as he swung his legs over the side of the bed. "It's ok, maybe next time you'll be able to feed him to something that likes sour tasting things."

Dean had cracked up over that and Neville did manage a smile before he pulled the curtains around his bed and put a silencing charm on it. It wasn't that he was worried about him talking in him sleep; he was more worried about his screams. He had horrible nightmares most nights and they all centered around his parents and he didn't want to bother the others in his dorm room.

However his eyes didn't feel heavy, instead his mind was running circles over the events of the night. Draco Malfoy. Once away from his goons wasn't so bad. He had his moments, but still Neville didn't find it hard to get along with him. His cheeks did heat as he recalled how the moonlight had played across Draco's cheeks and how when the plant had thrown dirt on him that his stomach had lurched a bit and he'd wanted to clean away the trails that left streaks on the pale skin.

As he closed his eyes the image of Draco again in the moonlight crossed his mind but this time the other boy was wearing nothing but a smile and heat stole through Neville's veins.

---

Morning had found Neville in a bothered state and his cheeks were red as he peeked from between his curtains to see if anyone else was in the room. Thankfully they weren't and he grabbed his largest towel and a clean set of clothes and hurried down the hall to the bathroom, using the clothes and towel to block himself from sight.

He chose a shower stall towards the back of the room and turned the water on full blast and as cold as it could go. He'd heard others in the common rooms saying that it helped when a matter like this happened, only this was the first time it'd happened to him and he found himself hissing as the cold water dug pins and needles into his skin.

He grabbed his wash cloth and scrubbed his body until it was raw before rinsing off. Unfortunately for him the cold shower didn't do all it was supposed too and Neville found himself still sporting a bit of a 'morning wood' as Ron had once called it. Carefully he dressed, trying to make it look like he wasn't having any issues and for once thankful that they had to wear robes.

By the time he made it to breakfast it was about over and he slid into his seat, aiming a smile at Harry and Hermione as they greeted him. He was putting a couple pancakes on his plate when he felt someone looking at him and he looked up and around to find the source of the prickling sensation. His eyes rounded on the Slytherin table and he stopped.

Draco was looking...no staring at him...and smiling. Taken a back Neville looked down and tried to concentrate on his food; groaning when his body gave a violent twitch.

Of all the days to decide to be attracted to blokes and of all the blokes. Draco? Why couldn't it be Dean, or Seamus? Or even one of the twins.

Neville waged a mental war for a bit before gathering his books and heading out to Care of Magical Creatures, not caring that he'd not taken a bit of breakfast nor that he was nearly ten minutes early. All he wanted was some time to himself to think, or to throw himself into the Black Lake. Whichever came first.

The day passed by rather uneventfully, until after dinner. Draco's inner thoughts were in such turmoil that a sneer to befit his sour mood was more severely twisted onto his face as the day progressed. By the time dinner was over with, he was ready to pick a fight with anyone just to get his frustration out. Outside the Great Hall, he took his opportunity to pick on Granger, even though Harry and Ron were there to take up for her--actually, because of it. He had as much of a need to spew insult at Hermione as he did to arouse the boys anger and provoke them. He did of course take the risk of being verbally abused back by Hermione, or even slapped, as she had taken up to defending herself rather than leaving it to her two Gryffindor knights.

At the moment he was willing to risk that to see the flashing eyes of Harry and Ron. Before Hermione could finish her retort to Malfoy's waspish insults, Ron had stepped in between them and his quick temper had taken over as it so easily did when the red-head was near the mouthy snobbish Slytherin. Hermione gave a small squeak of surprise when Ron fisted his hands into Draco's cloak and pushed the blond hard into the nearest wall.

"Get off of me, Weasel!" Draco spat. "Before I break your filthy mudblood-loving hands of--ah..." The words died on Draco's lips as Ron, the taller of the two, leant in with a look of such intensity in his blazing eyes that it sent a shiver twisting up and down Draco's spine, the prickly sensation settling into his groin and flaring into a heat that made his heart bump a bit quicker and his silvery eyes narrow at the Gryffindor. He wasn't even hearing whatever it was Ron was shouting at him--except for the profanities that peppered his angry tirade--among them the use of the word 'fuck' or a variation of it, making Draco squirm all the more in his pinned position. Ron was so close to him, Draco felt he could hardly breathe.

"Unhand me!" Draco shouted again, snapping himself out of his temporary mental shutdown and pushing against Ron--although he stopped when he realized with horror that he was a little too bothered by what had taken place. Pushing against Ron to dislodge him was not a good idea given Draco's current state. He certainly didn't want that to be noticed by Ron, or any of them. Thankfully, Hermione had grabbed Ron's elbow, and the red-head backed off, though reluctantly.

"You disgust me!" Draco spat, snarling, and fixing his rumpled clothing. He turned on his heel, desperately needing the fresh air.

Draco walked around the grounds, eventually making his way towards the greenhouse, after he had calmed down from the confrontation. It was still a bit early, but just now, Draco didn't want to be back inside the castle.

Other than seriously thinking about throwing himself into the lake and then actually trying only to have the giant squid set him back on shore, Neville's day was quite ordinary. He spend most of his classes taking notes and in the case of Care of Magical Creatures petting a Thestral that had wandered from the forest in search of food.

Dinner was yet another picked at affair and he managed to this time take at least a few bites of the food in front of him before he lost all interest in it and got up. The time according to the giant hour glass was still early so Neville decided to take himself into the common room for some relaxation before his lessons that night.

However the quiet of the room wasn't to last and he listened quietly as Ron came in bellowing and yelling about Draco's audacity to be so pompous and bullheaded while Hermione and Harry did nothing but corroborate Ron's story. The fact that Draco seemed to be in a foul sort of mood put Neville in one and as he found himself heading across the grass he prayed that Draco knew better than to mess with him tonight. He was confused, aroused, and completely angry that he didn't know what he was feeling or what was going on.

Before he even got into the greenhouse he seen Draco moving around the darkened interior and he swept into the building with a cape billow that would have made Snape proud if he'd had seen it. Hr put his books down on the table and pinned Draco with a glare.

"Tonight we're learning about the different trees that are used in wand making and what they are the best for. It's on our OWLS and our NEWTS, so if you don't retain the knowledge then I suggest you cast a spell on yourself to do so." He moved over to a rather stout tree in the back of the green house. "Cherry. It's a good wood, sturdy, and easily worked. The strength in the wood is evident from the moment you touch it and a Cherry wand will give you, many-many good years of service."

It was odd, but Neville didn't even care what he was teaching, instead he found himself drawn to the bright color in Draco's pale cheeks and the way that his bright pink tongue came out to set the fully lips that he wasn't aware he was staring until a puffapod exploded and showered him with flowers.

Get a hold of yourself man.

Neville's dramatic entrance and glare had gone unnoticed by Draco, who belatedly realized Neville had come in and was speaking to him. His mind finally focused in and caught...

"The strength in the wood is evident from the moment you touch it..." and then his attention span was lost again.

His mind took that statement and twisted it into something that caused Draco's cheeks to color even further. It was feeling impossibly hot in the greenhouse, and Draco fumbled with the buttons on his cloak and then laid the article on a table behind him, without even the presence of mind to use a cleaning charm to clear the dirt and stray plant material off of the top first.

Draco realized dimly, that Neville was talking to him about cherry wood, and it's use in wands. An impish smirk twitched at the corners of his lips as his mind ran further and further away from the actual topic, thinking of all sorts of innuendos having to do with wands. Tell me, how long is yours? Is it soft and pliable, or is it rigid and unyielding...

It wasn't just Draco's cheeks which burned with heat now, but his entire face was pinkish and his body felt overheated, as though a fever was coming upon him. Draco tried once more to focus, as his wandering mind was not doing him any good whatsoever. He had come here to calm down, but that plan was certainly failing. He loosened the knot in his tie, and then startled when the puffapod exploded, raining flowers upon Neville.

Before Draco realized what he was doing, his pale hand reached to brush a couple of the blooms out of Neville's hair, his fingers trailing through the soft, longish, locks as he did so. He drew his hand back quickly, suddenly coming to his senses and feeling beyond awkward at what he had just done.

"You...er...had a flower in your hair." Draco said lamely as some sort of explanation, as if Neville hadn't known. Trying to cover over his actions he added with a half-hearted sneer: "Though it rather suits you."

He wasn't even sure if that qualified as an insult, and if anything it was a very poor attempt.

"You were telling me about um...wood used for wands. What's this one?"

Draco motioned to a small sapling in a pot. He would have had to have been extremely stupid not to have recognized the common tree, which he did know. He was simply in desperate need to get Neville's attention back onto the plants, and off of him, as he was sure his strange action had the other boy confused. Draco took a couple of slow breathes to try and calm himself, and popped a few buttons on his shirt, as he waited for Neville to continue, hoping the boy didn't notice how distracted or red-faced he was. It wasn't like Draco to let things get to him. He was good at compartmentalizing and fairly practiced at hiding behind masks. However, a lot had been on his mind lately, and it was showing through much more than he desired it to.

Neville blinked and focused back on the potted tree; his mind and his knowledge of plants failing him and making him stutter.

"Uh-h..well...." Neville coughed and took another look at the tree, the name finally dawning on him. "Willow. It's willow. And the wood of the willow tree is very supple; allows for flamboyant swishes and is normally very good for charms. Most people tend to believe that wands made of Willow most times pick females to align themselves with. But a few well placed aurors have them as well."

Back in teaching mode the color left Neville's face and he pushed away the stray thoughts about the pinkish look on Draco's face and why it seemed as if the other teen was undressing him with his eyes. He cleared his throat and moved onto another potted tree.

"Ash is another fine wood for a wands, as is Apple, and a few other choice woods. The best ever, though only one known wand is made from it is the Elder Tree. The Elder tree has more power stored in it's wood than anyone can measure and the person blessed with the Elder wand had more power at his beck and call than anyone before and after him."

The humidity of the green house had him pulling at his robe and he stopped for a moment; chucking it one fluid motion and laying it on the back of one of the chairs. He'd changed after dinner so instead of the school required vest and khakis he had slipped into a worn pair of jeans; leaving the plain white t shirt in place. The air was still warm but it was cooler than before and he turned and looked at Draco again; nodding towards the puffapod that exploded before.

"Alright, we've covered most of the wand woods that are on this years OWLS, so next we're going to do something that is actually a bit fun. Professor Sprout wants all the puffapods depodded before the next class. They apparently are exploding during class and she doesn't want the first years distracted again."

Neville picked up one and threw it against the wall; watching it explode in a shower of brightly colored flowers. Professor Sprout hadn't said anything about it, but the subject of woods, and the errant thoughts he was having about Draco he decided to change the direction of their lesson. Maybe they'd come back to it another day--a day when Neville didn't find himself staring at Draco's crotch covertly at every opportunity.

Draco watched Neville tossing the pods, and after a couple of tosses and floral explosions, Draco followed suit. At first it seemed silly, but the more pods he tossed the better it felt. There was something about it that relieved some of his pent up emotions, and one couldn't help but enjoy the natural fireworks the flowery bursts presented, or the sweet perfume that was in the air after awhile.

Draco glanced over at Neville, a puffapod poised in his hand. Though he was oddly enjoying what they were doing now, there wasn't any harm in livening things up a bit. He threw the pod playfully at Neville. It hit him in the chest and puffed flowers everywhere. Draco grabbed up another pod, raising it in ready for another strike, and took a few steps back.

Draco's shirtsleeves had been rolled up to his elbows, showing off more of his pale, flawless, skin. His tie was undone completely and hung around the collar of his shirt, which slouched open enough from him popping the couple of buttons earlier, to show a teasing patch of his chest. His hair was a bit disheveled and had fallen over his forehead, his lips were pulled back into a grin that lack the usual malicious intent Draco put behind it. Instead, this was more playful and competitive, and his silvery eyes glinted as he waited for Neville to make his move.

"Come and get me, if you can, Gryffindor slime!"

The first hit caught Neville off guard and he blinked at Draco for a moment before taking the puffapod in his hand and winging it at Draco. The pod exploded and he laughed a bit, taking in the dishelved appearance of the blonde boy; his eyes going to thw loosened tie and wanting to wrap it around his fist and pull him in slowly, kissing the parted and wetted lips.

He blinked and looked around for another pod, seeing one hanging just behind Draco's head. With a quickness that most didn't attribute to him because of his chunky stature he lightly pressed against Draco for a second to grab the pod and then moved back; tossing it at Draco.

"Your move Slytherin boy." He called out with a smirk even as his eyes ghosted over the exposed portion of Draco's chest the urge to pull him in by the tie again stronger than before and he had to fight himself honestly to keep from doing so.

Draco hit his mark again, and then ran around to duck behind a large cabinet to avoid being hit again. Soon the two were all over the greenhouse, chasing one another with puffapods and dodging out of the way of each others shots. If Draco would have taken the time to realize what was going on, he would have become aware that he'd let his guard down and was having a great time with a boy he usually picked on relentlessly and had never really given the time of day. It really had been a long time since he'd just stopped being so uptight and had a good bit of fun. Most would probably be surprised to see that he could have fun in something harmless, that didn't involve inflicting woe onto someone else.

Neville was catching a rare glimpse of Draco with his defensive walls lowered.

The floor was littered with flowers by the time they got all the puffapods exploded and Neville was bright faced and breathing a bit heavily as he snuck around behind one of the giant flutterby bushes with a handful of the fallen flowers. He waited until Draco was close and was about to toss them when he seen that the Devils Snarl had it's vine around his ankle. With a yelp he jump and pushed Draco out of the way, pushing him to the ground and settling down on top of him as he flipped and shot a jet of light at the creeping plant.

With what sounded like a yelp the plant retreated and Neville got to his feet, turning and holding his hand out to help Draco up.

"You ok?" He asked as he looked around to make sure that nothing was sneaking up on them.

Draco looked up at Neville, his breath having been knocked from him at the sudden tackle. He nodded silently, and took Neville's hand and got to his feet. He brushed at his clothes, covered in dirt and flower petals.

"Thank--er.." Draco said quietly, and then turned away from Neville when he realized his tie was missing. He bent to pick the green and silver article up off of the greenhouse floor. He draped it around his neck, and then turned to Neville once more. He chewed his lip a bit, before starting again. "Thank you for getting that Devil's Snare...and for...well...that was rather fun, wasn't it?"

He scowled slightly though, somehow just now thinking about the error he was making. He sighed, his shoulders slumped a bit. He didn't wait for a response from Neville, he simply moved past him and retrieved his cloak, though he was reluctant to put it on and leave.

"It, uh--, wasn't a problem." Neville was unsure of what to do next as he scuffed his shoe in the dirt. "It was fun, and..I-ah, enjoyed tonights lesson."

Nevilles lips curled a bit at the corner as he rubbed at the back of his neck. The sudden awkwardness in the greenhouse was stifling and he looked around for something to defuse it; his eyes once more landing on Dracos tie. That damn green and silver thing had been the foil to Nevilles whole night and he scowled a bit as he finally gave in; wrapping his fist around it and yanking.

Only problem was that in his sudden anger of the silken mind stealer he'd grabbed both ends and when he pulled he pulled Draco to him until they were nearly flush together. Red crept along his cheeks as his eyes drifted down and though he knew Draco would more than likely hex him into next week he bent his head and very lighty kissed the blonde teen. Having never kissed anyone before other than leaving a kiss to Hermione's cheek at a dance Neville was shaking hard as he stumbled back, stuttering and looking around as if Crabbe and Goyle were waiting in the wings to jump him.

"I-I-I-I...."

Neville didn't wait for Draco to get over the shock and dissovle into disgust, he grabbed his robe and practically flew over the grounds back to Gryffindor Tower, shutting himself in his bed and pulling his covers over his head as he tried to block out how soft Draco's lips had felt against his for that brief moment in time.

Draco had no time to react before Neville had ran off. Even after Neville had gone, Draco still didn't know how to take what had just happened. Many thoughts and feelings were warring in his head, and so he just stood there for what seemed like a long time, taking deep breaths and playing with the ends of the tie which Neville had grabbed.

The next day Pansy tried to talk to him several times, but Draco was ignoring everyone. He hadn't said a word all day, not even a disparaging remark to Hagrid during Care of Magical Creatures, nor the slightest insult to any member of the trio. Finally Potions class rolled around, and this was what Malfoy had been waiting for. Instead of taking his usual seat up front, he moved to a seat that no one ever wanted to take: In the back, next to Neville.

If any one dared to so much as raise an eyebrow at his choice, he would hex them on the spot. Potter in fact gave Draco an odd glance as he passed the back table and sat down next to Ron. The two were talking in hushed tones, no doubt wondering what was up with Draco. He sneered at them, but didn't say a word.

Snape made his entrance into the room, graceful and grumpy as ever. He pushed a bit of his greasy hair back from his pale face and right away went into what they'd be making for potions that day. He noticed Draco in the back with Neville, and raised a black eyebrow.

"I see Mr. Malfoy, that you've taken up new seating arrangements today. How...very bold of you to place yourself next to the walking disaster that is Neville Longbottom. Fifty points to Slytherin, for bravery."

Snape placed the instructions for their potion on the board, and left them to work on it. Draco began fiercely chopping the first ingredient, as if the plant itself had offended him. He knew in his annoyance he was ruining it--the chop was supposed to be fine and delicate on this particular ingredient--but it didn't really matter. If--no not if, when the potion came up wrong, Snape would blame it on Neville anyway.

Draco tossed the ingredient into the cauldron, and turned to Neville, unable to stay silent any longer. His hissed as he messed with the fire beneath the cauldron.

"What the hell was last night all about, Longbottom? Do you think I...that I'm...like that?" He finished, nearly spitting the last words out as if they were poison. "Well, do you?"

Neville jumped a bit when Draco sat next to him. He'd ghosted through Gryffindor Tower that morning and even skipped out on breakfast. If anyone noticed his preoccupation no one commented. But the sudden appearance of the cause of his preoccupation made his face turn red as he looked anywhere but at Draco.

"uh...ah...no."

Neville turned his attention to the directions on the board. The need to get away was so strong that Neville looked at the knife that Draco had used to mutilate the ingredient and with a shaking hand he picked it up, "accidentally" slicing his finger deeply. He stuck the bleeding digit in his mouth and after losing twenty points from Gryffindor for 'sheer and utter incapability to reform the most basic task' he was released to go to the Hospital Wing.

Like always Madam Pomfrey was quick with the chocolate and he took up residence on one of the beds as she gathered her things. The cut, though bleeding badly wasn't horribly deep so in the end she just bandaged the wound and let him on the way.

The day was a nice one so instead of going back and facing Draco's questions he headed out to the tree by the Black Lake. Lazily the giant squid surfaced to check out who come out to visit. Neville chucked his robe and used as a pillow as he laid down; staring up at sky and watching the clouds move across the sun.

Am I that way? Do I really fancy blokes over birds? Or was it just a heat of the moment? Draco did seem to feeling a bit of something...I swear he was staring at me at times. Ohh, get a hold of yourself Nev, you did something foolish and now Malfoy is going to spread it all over the school that I kissed him and I'll be a laughing stock. Well more of a laughing stock.

Neville closed his eyes as the warmth of the sun bathed him and before he realized it he was asleep, images of Draco pink faced and panting floating through his mind.

"Why won't you tell me what's bothering you!" Pansy huffed exasperated as she jogged to catch up to Draco's fast pace towards the lake. Neither of them noticed Neville, who was probably close enough to hear them. Both were too caught up in their own issues.

"Nothing's bothering me!" Draco spat back acidly, wanting just to be left alone. He didn't slow his pace and allow her to catch up to him. He sat down hard at the edge of the Black Lack, looking out moodily over the depths. Panting, Pansy dropped down beside Draco.

"Don't you lie to me. There most certainly is and I'll get it out of you even if I have to resort to punching you for it." And with that she did punch him, a stiff jab to Draco's arm. He pretended not to notice it, and that only annoyed her further. For moments they were both silent, Pansy scowling at Draco, and Draco scowling at the lake. "I'm your girlfriend, you're supposed to talk to me."

Draco snorted.

"You've been increasingly moody. If I didn't know better I'd accuse you of PMS. What's been on your mind, Draco, you've been miles away lately."

Draco's chest felt tight as Pansy continued to prod him. He focused on the lake, not looking at her but hearing her words. He had wanted for quite sometime desperately to have someone he could talk to about this, but it was just too much, wasn't it? How would she react? What if she was angry at him for keeping such a thing from her and using her? Pansy was not known for being very forgiving and she loved to gossip and spread juicy rumors about anyone. But this was Draco, he was from her own house, and even if he couldn't be a suitable boyfriend, he was at least her friend. Draco turned to look at her, studying her face and eyes as she continued on. His throat felt clogged, his mind racing, and he hated when he allowed his emotions to take him over like this. It was much easier to shut them down, and be the uncaring bully, than to risk anything else.

Could he risk this with Pansy?

Her hand rested on his shoulder, and then moved down to gently rub at the spot she had punched. Over the fabric of his cloak and shirt, her touches felt like ghostly movements.

"It's Neville." Draco heard himself say, though he hadn't planned on saying it. It just slipped out from between his lips, and his voice sounded like something that wasn't attached to his body anymore.

"Longbottom, you mean?" Pansy sneered.

"That's what I said, wasn't it?" Draco bit harshly, jerking away from her hand.

"No. You said--well never mind." She sighed, shoving him. "Really, Draco? This is all about Longbottom and your pride? I understand it must be horrible to have tutor him in potions, but that's really all?"

Draco did his best to look indifferent as she spoke of another lie he had told her and any other Slytherin who had been curious as to where he'd been going in the evenings. He couldn't possibly admit to them that it was he who was being tutored by Neville.

"He...the other night...um...something happened. He ki..." Draco began, but the word wouldn't properly escape his mouth. He felt Neville's lips pressed so briefly to his, and the feel of his tie tightening around his neck as Neville had pulled him forward. He hadn't realized that his fingertips had gone to his lips to trace them, and that the memory alone had the scowl on his face relaxing away, his eyes hooded. His fingers moved down, and curled around the knot in his tie, resting there. He licked his lips.

"He did what, Draco?" Pansy urged, drawing him out of it.

"Kissed...me." Draco said very quietly. He watched Pansy, who had an expression of pure shock on her face, her mouth hung slightly open. The shock gave way to a hysterical laughter that had her wrapping her arms around Draco and giggling uncontrollably onto his shoulder.

"Longbottom KISSED you!" She shrieked with laughter.

"SHUSH!" Draco demanded. "Not so loud! Don't you DARE go telling anyone, do you hear me? No one."

She pulled away from him, sniffing and hitching with the stray giggle here and there.

"Oh Draco, but why not? How I would just looove to spread that through the school--Longbottom's a twink--"

"DON'T." Draco warned again, snapping at her.

Her giggling stopped.

"Don't what?" She asnwered, snapping at him just the same.

"That...word. Just don't. Don't say anything to anyone, didn't you hear me the first time, or are you deaf?"

She huffed.

"I don't understand why--" But the look in her eyes made Draco feel uncomfortable, as a realization dawned on her. Her hands flew to her mouth but were too late to cover the gasp. "Draco you...you didn't...you didn't [/i]like[i] the kiss, did you? You're not...are you?"

But it made sense to her now, and Draco could see that it did to her. It scared him that she knew, even without his confirming it.

"N-no!" He choked out the word, unconvincingly, and Pansy moved closer to him, a look of concern washing over her features.

"I'm not mad, Draco. It makes sense now, why you don't show much affection to me, why you tend to push me away when I show it to you. You're parents...they expect certain things out of you, don't they? Oh, Draco."

She hugged him, and he hugged her back, resting his head against her shoulder as she stroked his hair. He realized that he was trembling at his unspoken confession, that she knew, but he didn't care in the moment. He was only glad to have her comfort as a friend, and glad to know that she understood, at least in her own way. After a few moments, Pansy pulled back from the embrace a bit, and smoothed her hand over Draco's tie.

"How long have you known?" She asked, looking up from the pattern on the tie to meet his eyes.

"First year." He said without hesitation.

"I won't breathe a word, Draco. I promise. I do care about you a good deal, you know. I'm glad you told me." She hugged him once more, and then stood up, raising her arms above her head to stretch. "Do you want to come back to the common room with me?"

Draco shook his head.

"No, I think I'll stay here a bit longer. Pansy..." He looked up at her, relief clear on his face that she had accepted him, and that he didn't have to hide anymore--at least not from her. "Thanks."

The sound of voices startled him and Neville scuttled behind the tree he was laying under. Curious he peeked around the trunk of the tree and watched. His face burned red as he heard Pansy laugh and turned to start back towards the school but he stopped when Draco looked down and the mood of the enounter of the two Slytherins changed.

Tomorrow the whole school will know that you perfer Blokes. Somehow the prospect didn't seem all that bad in the light of day but he still felt sick to his stomach as he thought about the lesson that night. He took onelast look, admiring the way the sunlight drenched Draco's hair and turned it to a light spun gold. He finally pulled his eyes away and he hurried back to the greenhouse, slowing down and grabbing his stomach as he pushed the door open.

"P-Professor Sprout!" He called out in the most pitiful voice he could muster.

From behind the fanged geranium her dirty patched hat poked and he only felt slightly ashamed of the lie he was going to feed her.

"Mr. Longbottom? Is everything alright?" Her voice was full of concern and she put down her pruning shears to move over to his side.

"N-n-no. I think I've come down with something. My stomach is in pain and everytime I take a deep breath I feel like I'm going to vomit. I don't think I can hold the lessons tonight..."

Professor Sprout nodded her head in understanding and she dug around in her cabinet full of potions that were made to ease pain and naesua, pulling out a light vial that was light violet in color and putting it in Neville's hand.

"I'll pass the word to Mr. Malfoy that he doesn't have to attend tonight." She smiled slightly as she patted his back. "Go rest Neville, you're overworked. I hope you're feeling better soon."

Neville nodded and tucked the vial into his robe pocket and headed back into the school. The hallways were deserted and he slunk his way back to Gryffindor Tower, mumbling the password and scurrying towards his dorm. That to was empty and he slipped out of his robe and his clothes, lying on his bed with the curtains drawn and his cover pulled up to his throat.

In the semi darkness he closed his eyes; images of Draco ghosting past his mind and with a red face his hand slipped down into his boxers where it curled around his slowly thickening shaft. Shame seemed to burn him from the inside out and his stomach clenched hard as his hand slipped up and down. It didn't take long before he bucked and a soft moan left his lips that sounded suspiciously like Draco.

As he was comming down from his high the door to the dorm opened and threw the cover up over his head as he whispered a quick cleaning spell to eradicate the evidence then he pretended to sleep. Words were whispered in the room but he paid them no mind as he actually fell asleep, his pillow held tight against his chest as he drifted off into dream land.

Draco was a little disappointed not to have seen Neville for their regular study session. He had actually had fun with the last one, at least, up until the kiss which had seemed to frighten them both. Draco spent some of the evening in the Slytherin common room, and the rest of it flying around the Quidditch pitch in deep thought. He would have been perfect target for hateful bludgers in those moments, but luckily it was just him, his broom, and the chill night air lifting his pale hair away from his face and nipping his nose and cheeks pinkish.

Classes came and went, some shared with Gryffindor, and Neville. Draco kept up his pretense of disliking him, though he had stopped his traditional bullying of Draco and instead increased his attacks on Granger much to the annoyance of the trio. He made sure to throw Neville mean looks now and then just to keep up appearances.

Soon enough another of night of tutoring was in order as they had scheduled things, and Draco waited in the greenhouse turning thoughts over in his mind.

Neville's stomach clenched hard as he made his way to the green house. Just the thought of being alone with Draco in the overly humid greenhouse--whose windows were almost always fogged and caused endless amounts of privacy--made his slack feel tight and he took a moment to catch his breath.

It's Malfoy...think of someone else...like Oliver Wood...or even George Weasley. That's it...George. He's always been nice to me, and he kisses nice...

He continued his way to the greenhouse lost to his thoughts and absentmindedly greeted Draco when he entered. As always the heat in the place made him sweat and he discarded his robes; rolling up his sleeves and popping the top few buttons on his shirt. His tie had already been loosened before he left the great hall so it hung in a low knot in the middle of his chest.

"Tonight Draco we're learning about non magical plants that muggles believe are magical. Like the witchhazel bush. It's said to make a witch spill their secrets so they can be hung or drowned. Next is the sage...well sage itself is very useful in many things magical and non."

Neville droned on as he walked through the more 'mundane' plants of the greenhouse, his finger tips lightly touching leaves and trailing along them like a long lost lover. He came to the rose in the back and he smiled. He remembered when George had giving one that was enchanted to change color and never die..he'd lost it..but it had been pretty.

"The rose, the symbol of love eternal and given more credit than one flower should ever have. For centuries it's bewitched women and have turned their anger to love and so forth. Now not all of this will be on the OWLS, but there will be some questions."

Fully calm he turned and looked Draco in the eye, tilting his head to the right so that the slightly long locks curling around his ears and falling into his eyes; making him push them out.

"So, any questions of what we covered here Draco? Or are you ready for the physical part of the night?"

"Yes I do have a question." Draco snarled, tugging his own tie loose.

"Why do we have to learn about sodding Muggle plants? If I wanted to learn about pathetic Muggle junk then I'd take Muggle studies--a useless piece of curriculum. My father says that old crackpot we have for a headmaster has no business doing what he's done to this school. You know, some schools don't let mudbloods in. They've got the right idea, only too bad I couldn't attend one." Draco stopped, pouting slightly.

"Mother wanted me to stay close to home, and look what it's gotten me." He motioned grandly and with much sarcasm to the rose. "This is ridiculous. Who cares if some stupid non-magical flower entrances Muggle women. How is that bit of useless knowledge going to make me a better wizard? It's not, is it. I certainly have no use for things that attract dirty Muggle whores."

Draco crossed his arms over his chest, scowling down at the non-magical plants.

"If this is all we're doing this evening, then I won't waste my time in this sodding hot greenhouse." Draco shoved some of his damp blond hair off of his forehead, but it just tumbled back down and stuck to the sweaty skin. "Before I blow this place, I have one more question."

Neville rolled his eyes. He'd known from the start that this was going to end badly and he wondered why he didn't just call it off all together.

Man up Neville. You're a Gryffindor, act like one.

"You know what Draco, you want to fail and stay here at Hogwarts fine. I was only trying to help. Lessons are closed from here on out. Go muck your way through the course on your own."

His eyes flashed a little as he grabbed his robe and moved back into the back of the greenhouse. He had other things to do tonight, the wolfbane needed harvested and dried, the flitterbloom needed pruned and the devils snare needed fertilized. Without turning around he called out over his shoulder as he lifted one of the heavy bags of fertilizer and started twoards the devils snare.

"What Malfoy? And be quick about it. I have things I have to do tonight for the classes in the morning."

Draco narrowed his eyes at the back of Neville's head. For a moment he just stood there glaring at Neville's back, but then he approached. He knocked the bag out of Neville's hands and wrapped his hand around the loose knot of Neville's tie. He looked up into the fiery hazel eyes, his own glinting silver.

"Did you like it?" He moved still closer, their clothing near enough to brush. He lowered his voice to a near whisper, as if some of the plants might over hear. "When you kissed me. Tell me."

"Oi!.." He started until he found Draco scant inches away from him. His eyes dropped down to look at Draco's lips and a faint blush covered his cheeks, instead of answering however he questioned back; his voice just as hushed as he tried to look everywhere but at Draco. "Did you like it when I kissed you?"

A part of him wanted to die and he raised his hand to pry Draco's fingers off his tie; things were getting a little out of control and he didn't want to make a fool out of himself again. He wrapped his hand around Draco's but instead of wrenching his tie free he just left it there, chewing his lip raw.

What is he thinking? Why hasn't he hexed me yet? Ohh, he's going to kill me for this, I can feel it.

Draco's heart pounded hard in his chest. A strange tingle seemed to fan out through his body as Neville's hand rested over his own. He opened his mouth to say something--probably something snappy and sarcastic--but he found he couldn't say anything at all. His throat felt closed off, so he swallowed and leaned closer to Neville. He was trembling as the confession bubbled near the surface. He knew better, but here it was going to come out anyway. Draco's lips almost brushed Neville's ear and the one word came out almost silent on a puff of breath.

"Yes."

Draco backed away, the need to run from what he had just said overwhelming. What was he thinking? His heels collided with the toppled bag of fertilizer and with a surprised squeak he fell backwards over it and lay stunned on the floor for a moment, looking up through the roof of the greenhouse.