Fic: Warming Up
Sep. 19th, 2013 02:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: Warming Up
Author:alisanne
Rating: G
Pairing: Neville Longbottom/Draco Malfoy (pre-slash)
Word Count: 625
Genre: Gen
Warnings: None
A/N: Written for![[insanejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/ij-userinfo.gif)
besamislabios as part of my 8th LJ-Versary celebration. The request was for Neville/Draco, prompt: cold. And, because this is how my muse works, this is a follow up to the ficlet ( which I wrote for torino10154) The Accidental Saviour
Betas:sevfan and emynn
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
Warming Up
~
Draco shivered, feeling cold. His mother, seated next to him, slipped an arm over his shoulders. “We should go home,” she murmured. “This isn’t the place for us right now.”
Exhaling, Draco looked around. Like him, everyone seemed dazed that the final battle was over and that they’d survived. He shook his head. “I want to stay.”
Narcissa turned her head, staring at him. “Why, darling? This is no place for us. We fought against them. We need to leave before they remember that.”
Draco sighed, leaning his head on her shoulder. “Mumsy,” he said, lapsing into his private name for her, “I have to, all right? If I’m ever to show my face in public again I can’t just run away now.”
Her body stiffened for a moment before she finally relaxed against him. “All right,” she agreed softly. “Just...please be careful. I couldn’t bear it if you survived the war only to--”
“They won’t hurt me,” Draco said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “I’ll be fine.”
“I hope you’re right.” Narcissa seemed to gather herself before standing. “Come, Lucius.”
Draco, who had been avoiding examining his father, winced as he finally took a good look at him. Lucius’ eyes were blank, unfocussed, and, as Narcissa grasped his arm and led him away, he went meekly, something Draco had never seen him do before.
Turning away, Draco bit his lip. Hogwarts was a mess, and for a moment he wondered what in Salazar’s name he was doing by staying. Everyone’s going to be staring and pointing. They’ll think I’m responsible--
He edged his way towards the door, what was left of it, and made it into the hallway. The magical stairs, with large bits missing, were vibrating in distress. Without even thinking about it, he placed one hand on a bannister. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s over. You’ll be fine.”
To his surprise the vibrations actually stopped. Draco blinked.
“Looks like you’ve the touch.”
Spinning, Draco stepped back when he saw Longbottom. “What?”
Longbottom smiled faintly. “Even Professor McGonagall couldn’t calm those stairs down. Are you going to stay and help us rebuild?”
Draco tilted his chin up. “That was my plan, yes.”
“Good.” Longbottom moved closer. “I’ve been meaning to thank you, by the way.”
“For?”
“Saving me from Carrow that night. I appreciate it.”
Draco shrugged. “It was too little, too late.”
“Not to me,” Longbottom said.
Draco inclined his head.
Longbottom sighed. “Look, I dunno about you but I’m knackered. No one’s starting any work until tomorrow. The Slytherin dungeons aren’t fit for habitation. You’re welcome to stay in Gryffindor.”
Draco raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you check with your dorm-mates?”
Longbottom shrugged. “No one else will be there. Ron’s staying with Hermione, and Dean and Seamus are...elsewhere.”
“And Potter?”
Longbottom smiled. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be in the infirmary waiting for the headmaster to wake up.”
Draco’s eyes widened. “Severus is alive?”
“Oh yes.” Longbottom caught him as he swayed. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, of course.” Draco sagged against Longbottom savouring the sudden warmth. He’d been so cold... “I just thought--”
“Yeah, we all did, but Harry carried him back from the Shrieking Shack and he turned out to be alive and, apparently, a hero.”
Draco bit back a smile. “Like you?”
Longbottom blushed. “I was just lucky. Look, let’s get you to the infirmary.”
“No.” Draco straightened up. “I’m fine. I’ll just find somewhere to rest--”
“You have somewhere to rest,” Longbottom said gently. “With me. Now come on, let’s go.”
Draco stared into Longbottom’s eyes for a long moment. Why not? It’s a changing world, after all. “All right. Lead on.” It would feel good to be warm.
~
Author:
alisanneRating: G
Pairing: Neville Longbottom/Draco Malfoy (pre-slash)
Word Count: 625
Genre: Gen
Warnings: None
A/N: Written for
besamislabios as part of my 8th LJ-Versary celebration. The request was for Neville/Draco, prompt: cold. And, because this is how my muse works, this is a follow up to the ficlet ( which I wrote for torino10154) The Accidental SaviourBetas:
sevfan and emynnDisclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
Warming Up
~
Draco shivered, feeling cold. His mother, seated next to him, slipped an arm over his shoulders. “We should go home,” she murmured. “This isn’t the place for us right now.”
Exhaling, Draco looked around. Like him, everyone seemed dazed that the final battle was over and that they’d survived. He shook his head. “I want to stay.”
Narcissa turned her head, staring at him. “Why, darling? This is no place for us. We fought against them. We need to leave before they remember that.”
Draco sighed, leaning his head on her shoulder. “Mumsy,” he said, lapsing into his private name for her, “I have to, all right? If I’m ever to show my face in public again I can’t just run away now.”
Her body stiffened for a moment before she finally relaxed against him. “All right,” she agreed softly. “Just...please be careful. I couldn’t bear it if you survived the war only to--”
“They won’t hurt me,” Draco said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. “I’ll be fine.”
“I hope you’re right.” Narcissa seemed to gather herself before standing. “Come, Lucius.”
Draco, who had been avoiding examining his father, winced as he finally took a good look at him. Lucius’ eyes were blank, unfocussed, and, as Narcissa grasped his arm and led him away, he went meekly, something Draco had never seen him do before.
Turning away, Draco bit his lip. Hogwarts was a mess, and for a moment he wondered what in Salazar’s name he was doing by staying. Everyone’s going to be staring and pointing. They’ll think I’m responsible--
He edged his way towards the door, what was left of it, and made it into the hallway. The magical stairs, with large bits missing, were vibrating in distress. Without even thinking about it, he placed one hand on a bannister. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s over. You’ll be fine.”
To his surprise the vibrations actually stopped. Draco blinked.
“Looks like you’ve the touch.”
Spinning, Draco stepped back when he saw Longbottom. “What?”
Longbottom smiled faintly. “Even Professor McGonagall couldn’t calm those stairs down. Are you going to stay and help us rebuild?”
Draco tilted his chin up. “That was my plan, yes.”
“Good.” Longbottom moved closer. “I’ve been meaning to thank you, by the way.”
“For?”
“Saving me from Carrow that night. I appreciate it.”
Draco shrugged. “It was too little, too late.”
“Not to me,” Longbottom said.
Draco inclined his head.
Longbottom sighed. “Look, I dunno about you but I’m knackered. No one’s starting any work until tomorrow. The Slytherin dungeons aren’t fit for habitation. You’re welcome to stay in Gryffindor.”
Draco raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t you check with your dorm-mates?”
Longbottom shrugged. “No one else will be there. Ron’s staying with Hermione, and Dean and Seamus are...elsewhere.”
“And Potter?”
Longbottom smiled. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be in the infirmary waiting for the headmaster to wake up.”
Draco’s eyes widened. “Severus is alive?”
“Oh yes.” Longbottom caught him as he swayed. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, of course.” Draco sagged against Longbottom savouring the sudden warmth. He’d been so cold... “I just thought--”
“Yeah, we all did, but Harry carried him back from the Shrieking Shack and he turned out to be alive and, apparently, a hero.”
Draco bit back a smile. “Like you?”
Longbottom blushed. “I was just lucky. Look, let’s get you to the infirmary.”
“No.” Draco straightened up. “I’m fine. I’ll just find somewhere to rest--”
“You have somewhere to rest,” Longbottom said gently. “With me. Now come on, let’s go.”
Draco stared into Longbottom’s eyes for a long moment. Why not? It’s a changing world, after all. “All right. Lead on.” It would feel good to be warm.
~
