Title: How soon is now?

Author: Death of the Endless

Rating: R? Oh, and it's slash. You heard me, right? If not: This story is SLASH!

Pairing: Draco Malfoy/Neville Longbottom

Summary: Takes place their fifth year on Hogwarts. Say hello to rampaging hormones.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not the characters, not the setting. I would own the plot, except that there isn't any.

Please, PLEASE read & review. Flames will be passed around friends and laughed at.

How soon is now?

Chapter 21

The Last Dance

Yeah, we're gonna fight
We do it every night
Baby, when you scratch
You know I'm gonna bite
You can make me die
I can make you cry
Opposites attract
That's the reason why
No one else could make you feel
Like I do, I do, I do
No one else can get as deep inside you
As I do, baby

-Alice Cooper, Bed of Nails

The ball was officially on, and Draco had even got himself a date. None other than Cho, in fact. Of course, he had to sweet talk her a little bit, but it was worth it if Neville would be jealous. He snarled to himself. A date! How could he even think about it? They were practically married, for fuck's sake!

Draco took a deep breath and walked proudly through the corridors, flanked as always by Crabbe and Goyle. It was time to go to Hogsmeade for a set of new robes. "Hey, Draco, want some company?" Blaise walked up to him and kept his pace. He shrugged. "Do as you please." He said coldly and kept walking. "Fine, I'll tag along, then. What's with the attitude?" She asked casually. He sniffed. A few long seconds ticked by.

"Neville's got a date." He finally stated with obvious distaste. She nodded. "And I take it it's not you." She said and whistled when he nodded. "I have to say, it doesn't sound like him. Are you sure?" He nodded shortly and she raised her eye brows in silence. "Hogsmeade, then?"

"Yes." He conceded and they made their way to Hogsmeade together.

Neville was trying out robes, and Hermione stood with her arms crossed and watched him critically. "Honestly Neville, what do you have against pink? The right shade would go perfectly with your hair." She said, still toying with her rose. Neville grimaced. "You wear it." He suggested. "I'm not going to the ball dressed as a… a…" He trailed off.

"Pansy?" She suggested helpfully. He nodded ruefully and pulled off the offending robes. "How about green? I like green." He said and tugged at a beautiful emerald creation. "Slytherin green?" Hermione said slyly, but held her hands up in surrender when he glared at her. "Sorry! No offence. Try it on, I think it's lovely." Neville chewed on his lip and took the robes and ducked into the changing room. Hermione sighed. They had been at it for two hours straight, and she really needed to get some studying done. But that was the wrong thing to say to a friend whose heart was currently in a thousand pieces.

Neville came out looking like a million galleons. Even Hermione stared, and promptly dropped her rose on the floor. She licked her suddenly dry lips. "O-okay, then! Pay up and then we go." Neville stared at his reflection in the mirror. "I don't know… It doesn't feel like me. It really looks good?"

Hermione patted him gently on his back. "You look great, trust me. Draco's an idiot if he doesn't notice. He'll be all over you tonight, I promise." Neville grinned to himself. "I hope so. I have to show him that I'm serious, but… I wonder who he's going with. His date, I mean." Hermione wisely shut up. He didn't need to know that Cho had dug her well polished claws in days ago, and that this situation had played right into her hands. "I have no idea." She said innocently. "Let's get back to Hogwarts, okay?"

When they had paid for the robes and left the store they accidentally bumped into another pair. Draco glared at Neville coldly and Blaise rolled her eyes. Neville tried a soft smile. "Hi, Draco…" He said gently. Draco sniffed haughtily. "Hello Neville. Is this your date?" His voice was poisonous at the end of the sentence and Neville looked confused. "No... is this yours?" Draco smirked evilly.

"No. I'm going with Cho. She'll be wearing lavender… the colour suits her, don't you think?" He said and Neville felt an unfamiliar surge of anger. "It really does." He said hotly. "Speaking of Lavender, that's my date, actually. Isn't that funny?"

Hermione and Blaise shared a look and inched away from their friends. "This could go on for awhile, and although I love a good cat fight, it's only a matter of time before they drag us into the fray." Blaise whispered and Hermione nodded.

"Tea?"

"Tea."

And the girls walked away quickly leaving the war zone.

The boys barely noticed their friends' departure. They were much too busy staring each other down like a couple of angry tomcats. Draco looked absolutely livid, eyes throwing daggers at his assumed former lover. Neville had gone from shy to sad to annoyed to bloody furious during the short minutes since they had set eyes on one another outside the store. The silence that hung between them were so loud that people passing them stopped talking to each other and just hurried past. It was the silence that could be found the second before atom bomb detonations or, failing that, Snape's office. Draco sneered down at his opponent and opened his mouth to deliver a suitably deadly remark to break the silence, but to his shock Neville beat him to it.

"I can see events such as this one bring out the true nature of people. This has certainly been… enlightening." Neville said, so eerily calm it made Draco's skin prickle. He also felt that Neville had somehow stolen his line. He wasn't supposed to be this calm! He should be ranting, begging, crying! This was nothing less than an act of war, he concluded with a rising feeling of pain, and consequently, hate. To top it all off, he was horny and frustrated enough to drag him down on the ground in the middle of the street and take him then and there. "I agree." He heard himself say. "I've obviously been misinformed." He continued icily, completely ignorant of the fact that he indeed was. Blaise and Hermione, lurking nearby, overheard the whole conversation and exchanged meaningful glances. Outside of the hormonal bubble of Draco and Neville it was easy to have a laugh at their expense, although fate would certainly pencil in some overly dramatic heartache for you too at some point. Nevertheless, the silent drama scored some entertainment points with passing strangers, not to mention nosy classmates. It was all people could do not to moan out loud in disappointment when the pair turned on their heels and headed for Hogwarts, pointedly taking different routes as to avoid one another.

"That's it, Hermione! I'm straight!"

Hermione stared at her friend in disbelief, not really daring to open her mouth. Straight. Good? Bad? She could only hope this would turn out to be a rant… and how lucky she was. Neville glared at her in an aggressive attempt to look serious. "I'm serious! This gay thing is obviously not working out for me! Girls couldn't possibly be this hard to understand!" A loud snort interrupted him and he shot Harry an angry glare. Harry held up his hands in self defence. "I'm just saying!" He pleaded. "Try it. I bet you five galleons Malfoy's easier to get than a girl. Pick a girl. Any girl." He prompted, and now it was Hermione's turn to glare at him. "Having trouble with your date, Harry?" She said sweetly and folded Neville's new robes neatly. They had landed on the floor the second he got through the portrait to the Gryffindor common room. Harry shook his head sadly and slumped in the chair he occupied. "No… well, yes. I don't think I have one anymore. Me and Cho, we had a fight again, and she's still not talking to me! It was a whole day ago! I don't even remember what it was about. She said something annoying, I think, and I said something she thought was insensitive. I think." He looked up helplessly and frowned at his friends' expressions. "What?" He said suspiciously. Neville coughed.

"Umm… I'm afraid Cho's got a new date. She… uh… Draco's taking her." He finished quickly and Harry's jaw dropped. It didn't make sense! His thoughts stopped dead in their tracks. On the contrary, it made perfect sense. Draco and he had been rivals from day one. Stealing his date would be a typical thing for him to do. He gritted his teeth, and the little snake within him smiled at the chance to take the wheel for once. After all, it hadn't had many chances when Harry had been sorted into Gryffindor. Well… two could play the dirty game. "Neville, I've got an idea…" he said slowly with a broad, friendly grin that somewhere made Voldemort's thumbs prickle.

As the ball drew ever closer, you would think that everyone would react to the mounting tension between Draco and Neville. This, of course, did not happen in a school with over a thousand hormonal factories, of which a majority had regular meltdowns. In other words, everyone had problems of their own to worry about. In all of this, we shall naturally concentrate on our favourite pair. They were currently both cooped up in different common rooms. Draco was in a horrible mood, although he hade done his best to pretend otherwise. For once it hadn't worked and for this reason the room was almost empty. The only other person in the room was Blaise, who still had seated herself as far away as possible, and was now twirling a quill between her fingers in what she hoped was a calming manner.

"Hrm. So…" She mumbled and twirled along. "…you've even managed to scare off Crabbe and Goyle. Quite a feat, I feel. I thought the only way to make them take a hint was to attach it to a sledgehammer." It was a half hearted joke, but she still felt that the crowd was tougher than necessary. An icy glare was her only answer. She felt herself growing impatient with him. "Look, if you miss him, go to him! You two can't be serious about all this. After all you've been through… I… why don't you talk to him?" Draco sniffed haughtily. "That's what he wants. He's testing me. He's testing his control over me, and I'll show him he has none! I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me crawl." He dug his fingernails into the arms of the chair, unknowingly tearing the wood a little. "A Malfoy is always in control." He said slowly in a dangerous whisper that made Blaise's hair stand on end. She fought the urge to back out of the room where people were generally halfway sane and not necessary a carbon copy of their fathers. Up until now she had only had the pleasure of meeting Lucius Malfoy twice, but this was unbelievably creepy. If this was what Draco became without Neville than she really should get them back together as a favour to mankind. She swallowed and looked down at the sad remains of the feather quill in her hand.

Death by twirling. She tried to see a comforting metaphor in that, failed, and left the room walking backwards.

At last came the evening everyone was waiting for. The ball. All over Hogwarts people were dressing up, prancing around and taking deep, calming breaths. A chosen few were reasonably sure they were going to have a good time. Neville wasn't one of them, even though Harry and Hermione had done their best to comfort him. Harry had promised him a good time despite of the fiasco with Draco.

Draco was currently standing in the middle of a crowd of popular, rich Slytherins, just as he was used to. Cho had practically taped herself to his arm and showered his friends with radiant smiles. His harsh words earlier were conveniently forgotten. His eyes travelled around the room in search for that certain someone… and he felt a pang of satisfaction when he saw Lavender dance with Seamus Finnegan. Perfect! He's alone! He had to bite his tongue to keep himself from laughing out loud. Almost without thinking he made preparations to kiss Cho on the cheek the minute he was sure Neville watched. But where was he?

A few seconds later he almost felt his heart stop. The object of his obsession walked inside with Harry Potter, and time seemed to slow down as Harry caught his eye, smiled triumphantly and draped his arm around Neville's shoulders. Time sped up again and he realised he had forgotten to breathe. Cho frowned and looked concerned at his sharp exhale. "Draco? Won't you ask me to dance?" She whispered softly and took his hand. Draco fought an urge to break her neck and gave her his most charming smile before he offered her his hand and pulled her out on the dance floor.

What the hell is going on! Is Neville dating Harry now? Are they having sex?

At the last thought he was surprised that his brain didn't dribble out through his ears. A part of him was already planning to wreak bloody vengeance on them both.

However, on the other end of the room Neville was actually having a good time. He hadn't seen Draco yet, which was just as well. After all, he didn't want to see him with Cho. What if the were kissing right now… "What if they're kissing right now?" He said out loud before his brain could intervene. Harry shrugged. "Then he's stupid, Nev. Come on, you know he wouldn't risk losing you like that. This is just a fight, it'll pass." He said encouragingly and gently pushed a glass of punch in his hand. He carefully neglected to mention that the punch probably had been spiked so many times over that it by now had to be fit to disinfect wounds. He inhaled it carefully and felt his airways close in self defence. Neville, on the other hand, took a sip and winced without really noticing the taste. He didn't resist when Harry led him to the dance floor.

Among the many pairs on the dance floor only two made a point of never leaving the other one out of sight. Draco's eyes were cold and cruel as he moved with a predator's grace, aware that he and Cho matched each other splendidly. Harry was more relaxed than ever and delighted in the sparks of pure hatred in Draco's eyes when he moved his hands over Neville's hips and arms suggestively. Neville ignored Draco completely, to the other's frustration. This was more because of his heart breaking that anything else, but that didn't occur to Draco who preferred to take it as a personal insult. But the moment that took the proverbial cake was when Harry locked eyes with Draco and let his hand glide down to Neville's ass. Neville jumped and stared at Harry who smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Nev. My hand slipped. Won't happen again." He said and Neville shrugged.

Draco saw everything through a red haze. He had always thought that was just a saying, but he actually saw red. He swore to himself that The Boy Who Lived would not enjoy that particular state much longer. He had touched his property. His! Clearly, this could not go unpunished, for either one of them…

Blaise watched the show with great interest over the shoulder of the tall Slytherin Quidditch Captain. "Will you excuse me? I'll be right back." She said with her voice so full of promises she could have entered politics. With skills worthy a Slytherin she manoeuvred herself through the sea of dancing pairs until she reached Harry. She gave him the full force of her dimples in her charming smile, and he blushed on cue. "Do you want to dance? I mean, I saw you dancing before, and I think you're amazing…" She said, trailing off and blushing herself. Harry stuttered in his effort to not seem desperate. "Yes! I mean, I'd love to! I mean…" He took her hand clumsily and dragged her to a space in the crowd just big enough to dance within. If you by dancing meant an occasional twitch.

Neville smiled and shook his head. He had his suspicions abut Harry and his affections. Oh, well. With a small sigh he went outside, tilting his head backwards to look at the moon. It hung full and heavy over the treetops and he inhaled the cold night air deeply. He couldn't help feeling a bit giddy… just how strong was that punch anyway? He should be able to hold a couple of cups at least, he felt.

"Where are you going, Neville?"

The cold voice cut through the night air like a sharp blade, and he shivered slightly. "None of your business." He said with unusual strength. "Go back inside. Cho must be missing you." He didn't know why he said that, he really didn't. They loved each other, didn't they? What was happening to them? He counted his lucky stars that he had his back to Draco, so that he couldn't see the tears that spilled over his cheeks. The warm wetness felt refreshing. Had he not been slightly drunk he would have taken the silence behind him as a warning, but as it was he made the mistake of believing he was alone. Suddenly he felt a couple of strong fingers dig into his arms and moments later he was thrown into a tree. The jolt of fear that made parts of him tingle also managed to make him borderline sober. He half heartedly tried to push his aggressor away, but found his wrists pinned over his head, sharp nails digging into them until he felt a small, warm trickle that made him hiss in pain and excitement. He opened his eyes and searched Draco's face for any trace of mercy. He found none. The pale face above him sneered hatefully down at him and he swallowed, suddenly more afraid than he had ever been. He didn't dare move as Draco tore his new robe with sadistic satisfaction until his neck was bare. "No, Draco, please… ow!" He squirmed in pain as sharp teeth latched unto his throat in a bite a lot harder than he had ever experienced. It scared him that he was still aroused. He tried to whisper through the pain. "I don't know why you're so angry with me, I really don't… please, explain… tell me, please, tell me." It was incoherent and almost too silent to be heard, but Draco tore his mouth away from his neck and examined his mark.

"Won't this be something for you to show Harry." He said, poison dripping of every syllable, rubbing the tender mark. "Ow! What are you talking about? Why would I ever show this to Harry?" Neville said and squirmed a bit for good measure. "Well, where should I start? You let him take you here, you let him touch you here!" At the last word he squeezed Neville's buttocks and he yelped, startled. "Draco, it was an accident! And we came here as friends! Oh, why am I explaining myself to you anyway, you're here with Cho!" He spat and Draco sneered down at him. "That's only because you decided to go with someone else." Neville was shocked. "What! Who told you that?"

"Justin." Silence fell between them again, but this time it was while their brains did the intrigue equation and came up with the same result. "I suppose he's the one who told you that I…" Draco began and Neville nodded. "He told me that you had said that I shouldn't bother wearing my ring." Draco felt a surge of rage against Justin and put him right on top of his list again. He felt Neville trying to squirm free and held him tighter. After all, there was obviously more pressing matters to attend to… he bent down and let his tongue trace the quivering lips beneath him. Neville moaned and pressed himself briefly against him. Draco traced his soft features with a sharp fingernail, scratching gently on the sensitive skin. He felt Neville's breathing hitch and enjoyed the delicious shudder that ran through him. He savoured the feeling. It had been much too long and he intended to make this last forever.

"Wait!" Neville tried to break free again, but with similar success. Draco barely slowed down, but tilted Neville's head to the side and worked his ear with his tongue. Neville whimpered and spread his legs ever so slightly to make room for the forbidden friction. Draco snickered and allowed his hand to stray inside his victim's robes. When it reached its goal Neville jerked and moaned, hiding his face in the crook of Draco's neck. He mumbled something against the warm skin and Draco bit his neck softly. "Hm?" He murmured. "Please!" Neville repeated desperately and Draco smiled sadistically and pushed him down to his knees. "Earn it." He ordered and steadied himself with one hand on the cold tree and the other tangled in Neville's hair. Neville trembled slightly, a bit unused to this now. He freed Draco's hard member from the robes and ran his lips over the soft skin, secretly delighted to be in that position once more. He wet his lips and rubbed them gently against the tip before sticking his tongue out and he felt himself grow harder as the taste invaded his mouth. Draco directed him with his hand and held his head in a firm grip. "Touch yourself." He commanded as he set up a comfortable pace, thrusting in and out of the moist warmth. He hissed in satisfaction as he felt Neville touching himself desperately. He kept en eye on him until he felt they were both teetering on the edge of climax, and then he pulled him up by his hair and pushed him up against the tree again.

Neville almost sobbed. "Oh, no… so close…" He whispered, still trying to achieve enough friction to bring him over the edge. A small slap brought him at least half way back to reality. "You don't get to come until I tell you to, understand?" Came Draco's silky whisper, and he trembled. "Yes, Draco." He said timidly, trying to keep himself from spilling all over Draco's beautiful robes as he pushed his legs apart forcefully and hoisted him up in his arms against the tree. He wrapped his legs around him and felt the huge hardness nudging at his opening. A bit of the old fear rekindled and he clutched Draco to him in a desperate need of closeness. After all, it had been awhile…

The tearing pain wasn't completely unexpected and it occurred to him through the red haze that this might well be a penalty fuck, despite the fact that they both had been tricked. Knowing his partner, and being entirely too horny to care about pride, he took the pain as best as he could and planted submissive kisses along his lover's jaw line. Merlin, it felt as if he was being split in two! He sobbed and squirmed. "Please, Draco...! It hurts so much!" Draco grinned evilly and thrust a bit harder, deliberately nudging just the right spot, and felt Neville moan on cue. Feeling his own climax building up, he grabbed a fistful of Neville's hair and reached down to jerk him off roughly, increasing the force of his thrusts. Neville pressed his fist to his mouth to keep himself from screaming as Draco pounded into him mercilessly. Pain and pleasure mixed until he couldn't separate them anymore, and he didn't want to. He felt claimed, taken, nailed against the tree until he screamed hoarsely and spilled himself in Draco's hand. Some part of him even enjoyed the pain of the continuing stimulation of his oversensitive areas, until Draco shuddered against him and he felt the warm wetness trickling down his thighs.

After a few minutes Draco let him down gently, pulling himself out and rearranging their robes. He stopped to kiss Neville's face tenderly, and it took awhile before Neville understood that he was kissing away tears. He laughed, a bit embarrassed at the attention. For a good long while they just stood in each other's arms and felt calmer than they hade in a long time. "So… what shall we do with Justin?" Neville asked, surprising Draco with his uncharacteristic vengefulness. "Well…" He said, leering evilly. "I do have an idea."

Filch hurried down a corridor, feeling better than he had done all night. These brats were enough to drive anyone around the bend! Finally, and anonymous tip had led him here. He didn't care about the "why's'" as long as he got to give someone detention. He scowled angrily as the balcony proved to be empty. It had been a prank, after all.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out of the shadows towards him, and he jumped. Startled became angry and he was just about to growl a horrible threat when the words stuck in his throat. The boy… he had a very odd look in his eyes. Filch felt trapped somehow, but couldn't move, horrified and fascinated at the same time. A big part of him wanted to see what the boy was up to. "Mr. Filch… sir… I have something to report." The boy said, stepping closer. Filch stared at him, mouth agape. "Oh?" He managed weakly and grabbed the wall for support. He recognized the boy… a Gryffindor, if he wasn't mistaken. Said boy leaned in closer, giving Filch a full view of his handsome features. Filch swallowed. Something was horribly wrong.

"I've been very… bad." The boy breathed and pressed his lips against Filch's.

The boys who had listened beneath the balcony laughed quietly. Neville tried to suppress his laughter. "Really, Draco, that was wicked!" He managed as they snuck away into the night. "Oh? I didn't see you trying to stop them!" He grinned and pulled Neville up against him again. "Speaking of wicked…" He said, placing small bites on Neville's hand. "You… have… been…bad." He said slowly and Neville blushed. "W- what..?" He stuttered and Draco leaned in close. "I didn't say you could come. I suppose I'll have to teach you a lesson. It may take all night."

Neville blushed even redder, but made no protest as Draco led him away through the trees.

Amazingly, this rare peace lasted well enough into the next day. They had talked a lot, and made a lot of promises, mostly about communication, of which half would be broken within a month. But right now, they understood each other perfectly, and…

FLASH

They jumped and turned, Draco glaring at the intruder. Neville sighed. "Colin! I thought I told you that we wanted to be alone!" He said tiredly, trying to calm Draco. Colin blushed and fumbled with his camera. "I… I just thought that you, maybe, wanted a memory of the other night. You know, a memory you could frame. Um." Draco shrugged, only partly calmed. "Fine." He conceded and embraced Neville from behind, nibbling his ear sharply. Neville blushed but didn't seem to mind. Colin left them alone for awhile to let them relax again, then backed away until he had the perfect angle. While he adjusted a couple of things on his camera, Draco bent down and whispered something in Neville's ear, and they both laughed happily. Colin flung the camera up and took the picture as fast as he could, delighted that they forgot about him. He snuck away quietly, not wanting to interrupt them a second time.

… So, they understood each other perfectly. And if they had learned something of all this, something that they understood with perfect clarity now, it would be that there is some things worth fighting for, some shit worth wading through.

All stories don't have to have a moral nowadays. But some of them have.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ The End ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

Author's note: Thanks for your persistence and patience, everybody! You've been great! Please, please drop me a review since this is the last chapter and everything. I'll write a new story, and I need to know if it's still, you know, passable. Gnarly. .