Archive of Our Own ^beta

It was only gossip, it had to be.

There was no way that Hermione would do this to him.

Neville turned a corner into a darkened hallway, pacing away this insanity. It happened to be the wrong corner.

“Malfoy,” he heard her whisper. “Where are you taking me?”

He shouldn’t have listened but he needed to protect her. Malfoy was bad news.

“Somewhere private… You’ll like it, I promise.”

Like hell he was. Neville followed diligently in the shadows - just close enough to be able to hear them talking but not so close that he could get caught.

Their hands were linked, fingers tangled, and smiles decorated their faces. Hermione had always been a beautiful person but the way her lips curled upwards had become Neville’s favourite thing to create. Her curls would bounce around her face while her chest heaved with the laughter he would bring her and nothing else mattered in those moments.

Huh. He didn’t know that this is what Malfoy looked like happy; dimpled cheeks, a cheeky grin and mischief in his piercing eyes. Neville had never witnessed him like this before but since Hermione was in his arms, he could understand why.

The envy in his heart just burned is all.

“Will you show me it again?” 

“Of course, my love. But we need to talk through the plan again,” Malfoy said as they stepped through the doorway to the Room of Requirement. 

What could they possibly need from in there?

Neville timed it just right, squeezing through the gap before it could close in front of him. He ducked behind a stack of chairs while the two walked forwards into a small opening where Malfoy pulled out his wand.

The Slytherin’s eyes became hooded and he bit his lip. Neville’s throat constricted involuntarily as he watched, taking in every movement and every facial expression Malfoy gave. Entranced by the man who was acting so oddly. So out of character. 

His heart pounded, the thumping could be heard over the din of the cool, night air.

This was it. Malfoy was about to curse her or worse. That must be what his plan is for bringing her here. Why else would they want to spend time together alone?

But Hermione didn’t back away and that pretty smile remained in place as she watched on at Malfoy, just as Neville was, with excitement in her eyes.

“Expecto Patronum!”

A silvery whisp of light exited Malfoy’s wand in the shape of an otter. It swam circles around Hermione and himself, locking them in a beautiful display of power and magic. The little creature flitted and flew. It teased a curl of hers into its paw as though it recognised her and her cheeks reddened at the touch. Almost as though this had happened before.

Malfoy’s patronus couldn’t be like hers though… That would mean… Well, it would mean…

Neville took a step forwards, enraptured by the scene before him. It was a mistake.

The otter disappeared and in it’s place, a bright light blinded him.

“Who’s there?!” Malfoy called into the darkness.

“Neville?”

Her voice was soft, not at all disappointed in finding him there. No, it sounded confused but that edge of excitement remained.

“He’s in love with you?” 

The words left Neville’s lips before he could reign them in. This was too bizarre. He didn’t even care that he had been caught. He needed answers. But the one thing he was expecting - for Malfoy to hex him to oblivion - didn’t happen. 

His wand lowered and he pulled Hermione into his side. She merely smiled again and forced Neville’s feet to move closer.

Cautiously, Malfoy said, “Longbottom. You’re here? Granger, I thought we agreed not to tell him yet?”

“I didn’t,” she beamed upwards. “Why are you here, Nev?”

Why was he there?

“Well, I… I thought he was going to hurt you. I heard him mention a plan?”

If Malfoy was in love with her, did that mean Hermione reciprocated those feelings? His heart burned at the thought.

“He would never,” Hermione said, reaching forward to take Neville’s hand in hers. It dwarfed it, her fingers stretching out within his palm. He took it gladly, hoping for an explanation and preferably a gentle one.

“The plan was to figure out how to tell you about us, Longbottom.”

Us? They may as well have stabbed him, it hurt that badly.

“Why me?” Was the question at the forefront of his mind. His own voice rung in his ears while he stared down at Hermione’s soft fingers playing with his own. It was a soothing sort of torture.

“Because…” Hermione hesitated and looked up into Malfoy’s approving eyes for something. A sincerity laid there when Neville looked too. A side to him unrecognisable but… kind? No, loving. It was strange and mesmerising all at once. “Because we wanted to know whether you would be interested in joining us?”

He shook his head at first. Not to say ‘no’ but only to blow out the cobwebs from his ears that made it sound like they were asking him to be with them. Both of them.

“I don’t understand,” he mumbled, looking at Malfoy’s inquisitive face. Never before had it looked like this. Vulnerable. Open. It was alarmingly confusing.

“Granger and you have a good friendship. She’s told me all about it. She’s asked me if I would be comfortable allowing her to explore something more with you.”

Hermione teased her lip between her teeth in that way she always did when she was nervous. It was endearing.

“I—I—“ he stammered. All of his dreams were coming true, even if he would have to agree to sharing her. “I want her.”

“I know. I’ve seen the way you look at her. It’s the same as I do. You love her.”

“Is it true, Nev?” Hermione asked and pulled him closer so that their foreheads met even while she still clung her arm around Malfoy’s back.

His silver eyes trailed over Neville’s features, causing wave and wave of shivers to tingle his senses. Why was this happening? It was Hermione he wanted. Hermione.

“Yes but… You’re with him…”

“I can have you both. Draco wants this too. He wants me to be happy.”

“Kiss her,” Malfoy commanded and Neville, as conflicted as he was, couldn’t resist.

He dropped Hermione’s hand and, sending one final glance over to Draco, crushed his lips upon hers. He captured every sweet, fantasy-like moan and felt her soft skin as his hands trailed up her arms.

“What does this mean?” He asked when he finally let her go.

“It means you can have her as long as you know that I love her too.”

“Then I agree,” Neville grinned, kissing Hermione once more.

It was like a dream, one he would quickly wake up from. He would give anything to be with her and if dealing with Malfoy was the condition… Well, that idea didn’t seem so bad anymore.

“Wait. There’s something else…” Hermione panted as Neville released her, taking in her thoroughly flushed cheeks.

“No, Granger. It doesn’t matter,” Malfoy interjected, turning… nervous? A blush stained his pale cheeks in a way that had Neville’s hands becoming clammy. 

What was happening to him?

“It does, Draco. Neville, I want you too. But… I can’t do this and watch Draco be unhappy. If you’re going to agree, you should know all of the facts… I’m not the only one who wants you.”

“Granger, stop.”

“No,” Neville cut in and caught Malfoy’s eye. “/You/ want… me?”

“You were always too busy watching her to notice me.”

Malfoy’s once confident voice had turned quiet with a tinge of longing. 

“I’m not… into guys. I don’t think…”

Even as he said the words, they felt like a lie. And one that had only become clear that evening. Suddenly it made sense. It wasn’t the fact that Malfoy was a man that was stopping him from exploring this. It was who he was. He was the man that caused Hermione and his friends pain. He was the one that had a past that Neville struggled to connect to this new side of him.

But it was one that was intriguing and his heart screamed at him to take a chance.

“That’s fine. You don’t have to return my feelings. Granger, this is stupid. I told you he wouldn’t want to—“

“Wait…” Neville gulped and held out his free hand, offering it forward towards Malfoy.

Eagerly, the confusing blond took it and linked their fingers tightly. 

“Kiss me,” Neville gulped. “…before I regret it.”

A small smile curved upwards on Malfoy’s face, highlighting to Neville just what Hermione saw in the man. If he continued to look at him like this, with crystal-clear emotion in his eyes, he might just fall for him too.

Draco took his shot, brushing his lips gently over Neville’s at first, taking it at his pace. It was different, kissing a man and he didn’t care that it was Malfoy’s hands that gripped onto his hips. In fact, it made every nerve-ending in his body light up with unfamiliar curiosity.

Neville moaned, the sound parting his lips for Malfoy to take full advantage. His tongue trailed over Neville’s bottom lip, testing the waters, and both of their eyes opened. Malfoy’s to ask permission. Neville’s to grant it. His lids closed over chocolate brown irises and Draco plunged himself into his mouth, gripping Neville’s face to take what he wanted.

A small, feminine hand skated up his back to rest upon his neck, encouraging him into the kiss.

All too soon, Malfoy pulled away. His lips were wet and swollen and it didn’t matter that they were surrounded by a shadow of stubble. By a masculine jaw and sharp cheekbones. Neville didn’t care that he’d kissed a man when all his life he’d been kissing girls.

He had never felt so fulfilled.

“So…” Hermione began, biting down on her bottom lip. “Will you take us? As we are?”

How this had happened would play over in Neville’s head endlessly and if he would just wake up in a moment rendering it all a dream, then it wouldn’t matter. He knew who he was now and what he wanted.

“I’ll have you both. Now kiss me again.”

Neville’s excitement caused butterflies to flutter uncontrollably in his gut as they both smiled widely and walked towards him.