Sticks & Stones

Neville stepped out of his door slowly, sighing a bit as his body screamed in protest. He was still exhausted, despite sleeping in until ten.

Well, not that he’d actually slept for the entire night. He’d been up until almost midnight talking with Harry, who’d been filling him in on everything he’d missed in the D.A. since he’d been gone.

Neville was still bewildered by what he’d been through. Now that his memories had been restored, he knew he’d asked—even demanded—that Harry Obliviate him, in order to keep word of the D.A.’s involvement in Bellatrix’s death from reaching Voldemort. He was no longer angry with Harry for having done it, although he couldn’t help but still feel… well, violated was the best word for it. But Neville vowed not to hold it against Harry—it had been the right thing to do, even if both of them really wished it hadn’t been necessary.

Neville had been Obliviated for almost a month, and so much had happened in the D.A. that he was still having trouble processing it all—Harry hadn’t even covered everything, and Neville’s head was ready to explode. He still felt as if he was missing some pieces of the puzzle.

As confusing as that had all been, it hadn’t even compared to what had happened with Pansy. One thing Harry had been sure to mention was their successful capture of Draco Malfoy, right from under Voldemort’s nose. When Neville had asked if Pansy had convinced Draco to help them—since that had been part of their nebulous plans regarding Draco from the beginning—Harry had explained the falling out between Pansy and Draco. They were still working on Draco, of course, but hadn’t had much luck so far.

And then, when Neville had returned to his room, he’d run into Pansy. She hadn’t heard yet about the Death Eater attack on Neville, and didn’t believe at first it was really him. But when Neville had convinced her he was who he said he was, she’d thrown herself at him. To Neville’s shock, his kind attitude towards Pansy—despite her normally scathing responses—had been part of what had given Pansy the strength to admit that Draco was less than what she’d built him up to be, and end her “relationship” with him.

Much to her own confusion, Pansy had grown fond of Neville, and the previous night they’d consummated their relationship—literally, for Pansy had given up her virginity despite her previous adamant refusal (due to the pureblood tradition of being a virgin on her wedding night). They’d talked before and after having sex—after having sex twice—which was fairly astounding itself. Neville wasn’t completely clear on what the conclusions had been, but Pansy had spent the night with him for the first time. She’d even snuggled up against his side, while they slept, although she denied it later, insisting that “Slytherins do not cuddle.”

Neville paused in his doorway, contemplating the reaction his and Pansy’s “relationship” was certain to get from the rest of the D.A. He suspected several people would accuse Pansy of manipulating him while he was still recovering from the Memory Charm, while others would say she was using Neville as a rebound from Draco. He sighed, not looking forward to the next several weeks until people got used to the idea…

“NEVILLE!”

Susan Bones ran into Neville as hard as she could, throwing her arms around his neck as he was pushed back against the wall. “You’re back,” she cried, pressing up against him and pulling his head down to kiss her. “I ran into Harry and he told me but I didn’t believe it… Oh Neville, I missed you so much—!”

She stopped talking as her lips locked on his. Neville tried desperately to fend off Susan’s heartfelt advances, but everywhere his hands went seemed to be a part of her he really shouldn’t be touching…

“BANIR!”

The Banishing Charm flung Susan back and slammed her into the opposite wall. Neville stared in horror as Susan slumped to the ground. Pansy was advancing on them, enraged. “NO!” Neville shouted, and placed himself between Pansy and Susan just as Pansy raised her wand again. He instinctively pulled out his own wand; “Pansy, don’t!”

“You’ll be lucky if I don’t do the same to you!” Pansy snarled. To Neville’s amazement, there were tears in her eyes.

“It didn’t mean anything!” He insisted frantically. “Susan was just happy to see me, that’s all!”

“Does she greet everyone by shoving her tongue down their throat?” Pansy shot back, her blazing eyes fixed on Susan, who was looking up at her with a stunned and frightened expression, fumbling for her wand.

Neville could hardly believe it—Pansy was jealous of Susan. He took Pansy by both shoulders and steered her backwards, away from Susan. “Pansy, I—”

Pansy shoved Neville’s hands away. “You let her kiss you!” she growled. “What happened to Gryffindor loyalty and honesty? You’re a better bloody liar then I ever dreamed!”

“I didn’t lie!” Neville snapped. “I meant everything I said last night!”

A movement from the corner of his eye made Neville spin around. Susan was on her feet, her wand was pointed at Pansy—“Stupefy!”

“Protego!” Neville shouted, and the Stunning Spell Susan had cast bounced harmlessly into the ceiling. “Susan, stop!”

“Get out of the way, Neville!” Susan demanded furiously, trying to aim around him. “She’s finally turned on us—”

“Oh yes,” Pansy sneered, “because I rather fancy being dumped at the Ministry to be assassinated—”

“STOP IT!” Neville shouted. “Pansy, she doesn’t know! At least give me a chance to explain!”

Pansy glared at Neville, but she was clearly thinking instead of reacting, which was a positive step. Finally she nodded shortly, once.

“Neville, what are you talking about?” Susan asked, her wand still pointed toward Pansy. “She hexed me! And I was only kissing y—” Susan’s jaw dropped. Her gaze went from Neville to Pansy, who curled her lip, and back to Neville. “Neville—no, you can’t be, you can’t mean—”

Neville turned to Susan. “Susan, I—I’m really glad to see you,” he said lamely. He was, it was true, but he just didn’t know how to begin explaining.

“Neville, tell me you’re joking!” Susan implored, tears beginning to form in her eyes as well. “Anyone else I could understand, at least a little, but not her!”

“What’s wrong with me?” Pansy demanded, grabbing Neville’s arm as if to toss him aside and resume hexing Susan.

“You know what’s wrong with you!” Susan yelled back.

Both girls stepped back and raised their wands, but thankfully Neville was just a little quicker. “Expelliarmus!” he shouted; both girls’ wands flew out of their hands, and Neville caught them. “Please, Pansy,” Neville begged, “give me ten minutes to explain!”

“You can have all the time you want, Longbottom!” Pansy snarled. She snatched her wand out of Neville’s hand and stormed back into his room, slamming the door behind her.

Neville sighed and turned back to Susan. She was staring at the closed door, looking utterly betrayed. “Merlin,” she whispered wretchedly, “she was in your room…”

“Um, yeah,” Neville muttered, handing Susan her wand. She took it blankly. “I think I can explain…”

“It’s really true?” Susan asked. “You and Pansy…” She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “Have you been shagging her for ages, then, or was this the first time?” When Neville didn’t answer, Susan’s face crumpled. “You have shagged her before! Has it been months? Years? Were you f-fucking her back at Hogwarts? Where you lying when you s-said I w-was your f-first…?”

“No!” Neville blurted out. “No, I swear! You were my first, and back in August you were my second, Susan,” he said softly. “That’s the truth, I swear it on Merlin’s blood.”

Susan stared mournfully at the ground. “Then why?” she asked plaintively. “That day—the l-last time we s-spoke before you were O-Obliviated—you were trying to ask me something. I—” Two tears slid down her cheeks. “I thought you w-wanted—I thought you were going to ask me…”

“I was,” Neville murmured. “I really wanted to, I was just so nervous, and you were spending all your time with Hannah…”

“Because she’s my best friend and I’d missed her!” Susan responded. “I would have listened!” She walked over to Neville and looked up into his eyes. “I’ve missed you so much, Neville, and I’ve had all this time to think about why—I finally figured out that—” She flushed. “Can’t we just try? I—I’m willing to pretend that that—” she gestured at the closed door—“didn’t happen, I guess it doesn’t really matter…”

“Susan, I can’t do that.”

“Why not? It’s only Pansy, for Merlin’s sake! She’s going to hurt you, maybe even turn on us if she hasn’t already!”

“No she won’t,” Neville insisted vehemently. “Pansy won’t do that.”

“You’re insane to think you can trust her!” Susan snapped. “She’s going to make a fool out of you!” She clutched the front of Neville’s robes. “Neville, we’ve been friends for so long, and we know we get along and we l-like each other and find each other attractive,” she insisted, her blush deepening. “We’re much better matched then you and Pansy!”

“Better or worse isn’t the point,” Neville countered, taking her hands in his. “Pansy and me, we’re—um, something. I don’t really know what. But it would be wrong to just shove that aside, and not fair to her. Besides, Pansy isn’t all cold like everyone thinks, and… well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have some feelings for her. It’s strange to hear myself say this, but I want to see what happens with her and me. Things have changed a lot between us since the first day I was here, and—”

“The first day?” Susan interrupted. “That was—” Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh Neville, how could you?” she choked out. “You made love to me and then went and shagged Pansy the same day?”

“I—”Neville didn’t know what to say. The first two things that occurred to him were That day you said no obligations… and But at least I didn’t shag Parvati, Padma and Lavender as well, both of which would have earned him a well-deserved hexing. “It—it wasn’t my idea,” he muttered weakly.

“But I guess you didn’t try very hard to stop her, did you?” Susan shouted.

Neville slumped defeatedly. “No,” he admitted. “Susan… I like Pansy. I like you too, but what I’ve got with Pansy… I don’t want to stop it.”

With a strangled sob, Susan wrenched away from Neville and ran down the hall to her room. The door slammed behind her.

Neville leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. Even if it hurt both of them, he knew he was doing the right thing. And he’d told Susan the truth—he did like whatever it was he had with Pansy. She was intelligent and quick-witted, and fun to be around when she forgot to be acerbic. She was beautiful, and Neville was still amazed that a girl that gorgeous would ever kiss him, let alone shag him. She and Neville each had something the other needed; Neville wasn’t exactly sure what those things were, but he wanted to find out. He just hoped it didn’t cost him Susan’s friendship as well as his chance to be involved with her, which she’d made clear she’d been amenable to.

Sighing, Neville pushed himself off the wall. He wasn’t looking forward to trying to explain to Pansy what he’d tried to say to Susan. Neville just wasn’t very good with words.

Amazingly, it turned out he didn’t need to. As soon as Neville stepped in the door, Pansy’s arms went around his neck and she gave him a kiss so thorough he worried he might have lost his tonsils. “Wh—wh—” he gasped, out of breath, when she finally pulled back to let him breathe. To his shock, Pansy was completely nude. “What—I thought—”

“I heard what you said,” Pansy murmured huskily, making Neville’s spine tingle. “Extendable Ear from the Weasley twins. Feelings, was it? You ‘like’ me?”

“Well… yeah,” Neville said distractedly. Pansy’s hands were doing amazing things just out of sight below.

“I was planning to collect my things and storm out,” Pansy admitted, skillfully relieving Neville of his clothes. “But after hearing what you said, I thought I should apologize for assuming the worst about you.” His trousers fell to the floor, and Pansy’s fingernails raked lightly up his firmly erect cock. “But verbal apologies just aren’t very potent, so…”

Neville gulped as Pansy turned him and walked him backward toward the bed. “Um, I thought you said you were… er, sore… you know,” he muttered, flushing.

Pansy shoved Neville back onto the bed and climbed catlike over him. “I am. I’m so sore I doubt my legs will ever close, which should make you happy. But I want to apologize now. And besides, I noticed that you were able to walk to your door, so clearly I’ve performed below my own standards.”

“Er… I wouldn’t say that,” Neville mumbled, “b-but I really wanted to get a late breakfast.” That last comment was said without much conviction as Pansy had taken hold of his cock again.

“Well then, you’d better prepare yourself to hold off until lunchtime,” Pansy purred. “Possibly supper.”

She lowered her head and gave Neville’s cock a long, slow lick. Neville’s head fell back onto the bed and he arched up to meet Pansy’s mouth; “Merlin,” he gasped.

“I’m actually impressed, Neville,” Pansy murmured, working her hand up and down his shaft. “I had thought boys needed time to recover after the amount of shagging we did last night.”

“N-not if we have the r-right incentive,” Neville managed to squeak out.

Pansy gave a low chuckle. “Which I am more than happy to provide,” she replied, and dipped her head again. She took him in her mouth all the way to the base, amazing Neville yet again even though he’d seen the skill—been the lucky recipient of it—several times before.

I wonder if she’d like—if she’d let me—“Pansy, will you—turn around?” He asked hesitantly.

Pansy pulled her mouth off his cock with a pop and peered at him, looking puzzled. “Turn around? Why?”

“If you… um, put your leg over me, then…” Neville stopped and flushed, unable to finish—Pansy’s open-mouthed stare was too much. “N-never mind,” he stammered.

Pansy seemed to want to say something but couldn’t find the right words. Finally her right hand squeezed Neville’s cock, and she swung around, lifting her left leg over his head so she was straddling Neville’s face. Neville swallowed as he gazed at Pansy’s quim, only a few inches from his lips. Pansy’s hand stilled on his cock and he felt her body tense, bracing herself in anticipation.

Neville wondered what had suddenly made him think of this. He’d never done it before, and had no idea what he was doing. But with Pansy’s quim open and ready before him, the scent of her arousal filling his nostrils, Neville leaned up and kissed her, lightly.

Pansy gasped, and her whole body jerked; Neville thought that was a good sign. He licked his lips, and found the taste of Pansy unusual… he couldn’t decide what he thought of it. But not being one to not finish what he started, Neville leaned in again, this time running his tongue over the red, swollen lips. Pansy’s whine was encouraging, so Neville maneuvered his arms so he could spread her open with his fingers. Pansy’s legs trembled as his tongue dipped inside her, and when he pressed a finger tentatively forward she groaned and shoved her hips back. His finger worked in and out, and Neville found he had to hold on to Pansy’s hips to keep her from rocking too much.

When Neville added a second finger Pansy moaned desperately; figuring she might not tolerate too much torment, Neville again raised his head, this time seeking her clit. When his hot mouth surrounded her clit and his tongue flicked it aggressively, Pansy came, screaming Neville’s name.

Neville slowly pulled his fingers out of Pansy, whose body didn’t seem to want to let go. “Oh,” Pansy groaned shakily. “Oh—M-Merlin. Oh, b-bloody hell.”

Neville couldn’t help but grin a bit. “I hope that didn’t hurt, I know you’re still sore…”

Pansy spun herself around so fast Neville didn’t know how she managed it. She grabbed Neville’s head and kissed him as fiercely as she had at the door, at the same time shifting so she was straddling his waist. “I’m supposed to be apologizing to you, you blasted selfless Gryffindor prat!” she mumbled into his lips as her quim teased the head of his cock. “Cast that bloody charm already!”

Neville grabbed his wand and Pansy pulled back enough to let him breathlessly cast the Anti-Pregnancy Charm. His cock was still sparkling from the effects when she thrust her hips back, and Neville groaned as he spread up inside her, her tight warmth growing more familiar each time it embraced his cock. She sat up carefully, going slowly as he entered her completely. “Still h-hurts a little,” she growled, “but I think it’s just soreness. Feels so good…”

“Good,” Neville agreed, pushing up and grinding into her. “Glad it’s—easier—”

Pansy peered down at him intently for a moment before raising her hips; Neville’s cock slid out of her almost all the way before she slowly, torturously lowered herself again, hissing in pleasure. A few more times, though, and she was groaning, apparently in frustration. “Not f-fair,” she gasped. “Want to kiss you, but… I don’t want to stop—!”

That was almost as surprising as anything that had happened yet between them, Neville thought. Pansy hadn’t ever kissed him until the night before, and even since then she’d seemed hesitant about it, even when she’d been ready and even anxious for a second go at vaginal sex. Not wanting to disappoint her, nor to let the desire go unacknowledged, Neville pushed himself up into a sitting position. Pansy instinctively wanted to straighten her legs, and in a moment they were facing each other, Pansy sitting on Neville’s lap with her hands on his shoulders, her legs wrapped around him and his cock still buried inside her.

Neville grasped Pansy’s arse in both hands and pulled her forward, grinding her pelvis against him, and she whimpered as his cock penetrated her even deeper. She took his head in both her hands and kissed him, playing his lips with her tongue as she pulled her hips back a bit and then thrust them forward. In no time their kiss had broken and they were gasping into each other’s mouths as Pansy’s hips slammed against Neville and he arched forward as much as he could to meet her. One of Pansy’s hands had fallen to Neville’s shoulder and the other was bracing her on the bed from behind, giving her greater leverage with which to thrust. Neville’s hands were still on Pansy’s arse, dragging her forward with all his strength.

“Nev- Neville,” Pansy gasped, but she was too out of breath to form words. Her hand came off the bed and grabbed one of Neville’s hands, and yanked it further around her until his fingers brushed her anus, drawing another whimper from her. “In!” she managed before she slid forward and pressed her entire body against his, her breasts crushed against his chest, and sank her teeth into his shoulder, never stopping the pistoning of her hips.

It made sense—up until the previous night, all of Pansy’s shags had involved anal penetration, and it seemed she’d developed an affinity for it. Neville pressed his finger forward, finding her slick with sweat and remembered arousal. His finger went in to the last knuckle and Pansy howled into his shoulder, grinding her hips forward and drawing Neville’s orgasm boiling out of him.

They clutched at each other to keep from falling, both gasping as they regained their breath and equilibrium. Even when her breathing evened Pansy seemed reluctant to let go, so Neville waited, whispering a cleansing charm on his fingers before setting down his wand and wrapping his arms around Pansy’s back.

Finally Pansy shifted a bit, and Neville took it as a signal and released her. She moved back, gritting her teeth as Neville’s softened cock slid out of her abused quim. “I think a Healing Charm is in order,” she muttered.

Neville noticed the way Pansy was avoiding looking at him—strange, she’d never bothered before, except when she was embarrassed. Or jealous. “Are you all right?” he asked anxiously. “I told you we could stop if you were too sore—”

“So you did that with her then,” Pansy interrupted sullenly.

“Uh… what?” Neville asked dumbly.

“That!” Pansy snapped. “Bringing me to a screaming orgasm with your mouth and fingers—you practiced on that Hufflepuff bitch who thinks you’re both better than me!”

“No!” Neville denied immediately. He should have known Pansy would be upset to learn Susan had been his first time. “No, I didn’t—I mean yeah, we did… but I didn’t do that to her. I’d never done that before, ever!”

Pansy’s eyes widened, and then narrowed skeptically. “Either you’ve gotten much better at lying in one night, or you’re utterly brilliant,” she muttered. Neville flushed. “Oh fine, you’re a bloody marvel,” Pansy conceded, smiling reluctantly. “I—no one ever offered to do that before, so I figured you had to know what you were doing, and it was incredible…”

“Uh… you’re welcome,” Neville replied tentatively. “But Pansy…” he sighed. “Look, you heard what I said outside, right? You know I’m not going to—to pretend you’re not here and go get together with Susan. So can you please not insult her like that? She’s my friend, and she’s important to me.”

“Some friend,” Pansy growled. “She called you insane and a fool to your face!”

“She was just upset,” Neville said quietly. “She just found out I got back, and…” he rubbed his forehead tiredly. “Look, it was just chance that I ran into you before I ran into her,” he pointed out. “If it had been her I’d met in the hall last night, I—well, I probably would have spent the night with her. And you’d have found that out this morning, and how would you have felt about that?”

Pansy clenched her jaw and glared furiously at him. “I’m not saying I’d rather it had gone that way,” Neville added quickly. “Because I wouldn’t. I’m glad things have turned out the way they have. But Susan has been my friend for a long time, and I care about how she feels. I don’t want you two going at each other … Susan doesn’t have as thick a hide as some of us. You could easily tear her apart, so please, leave her alone.”

“And you expect her to do the same?” Pansy asked sarcastically.

“Er… no, probably not,” Neville admitted. “But I’ll tell her the same thing.”

Pansy snorted. “We haven’t been friends a long time, Neville. And I seriously doubt you care about my feelings.”

Neville frowned; he really didn’t understand Pansy most of the time. Or maybe it was girls in general. “Yes I do.”

He wasn’t sure if Pansy’s look of surprise was encouraging or vaguely insulting. “This is as weird for me as it is for you, you know,” he grumbled. “Up until a few months ago if anyone had asked me I’d have said I was sure you’d turn me over to Voldemort if you could. Now we’re…” he shrugged. “We’re seeing each other. I would never have believed that.”

Neville noticed with satisfaction the way Pansy’s eyes lit up when he said they were seeing each other. “Are you making it official, then?” she asked sarcastically. “You’re just informing me that we’re a couple, without consulting me?”

Neville knew he should tread cautiously—he recognized Pansy’s comment wasn’t biting so much as defensive. But one thing he knew she appreciated was irony. “Unless you changed your mind since last night, I thought you’d made your opinion on it pretty clear,” he said.

Pansy smiled, which Neville thought might take some getting used to. “You’re different,” she said. “Before you got some confidence I never would have believed you had a drop of sarcasm or irony in you. I—like you more like this,” she added shyly—also something that would take getting used to. “It’s easier to see you as—”

“As what?” Neville asked when Pansy didn’t finish her thought. She was blushing, though, so he thought he knew.

Pansy went even redder, all the way down into her cleavage, which Neville found very distracting. “As someone to—to be part of a couple with,” she whispered.

“So if I stop being sarcastic it’s all over?”

“I can outdo you at sarcasm any day.”

“Of course you could—Slytherin.”

“Gryffindor,” Pansy retorted. It didn’t sound condescending the way it usually did coming from Pansy. Neville liked that. “That’s—odd, isn’t it,” Pansy said, looking positively bewildered.

“What is?”

“You. Me. Gryffindor and Slytherin. We’re not supposed to do this—it’s against nature.”

Neville smiled tentatively. “Um, well I think it’s working okay so far.”

Pansy went red again. “So do I. Although if you keep making me blush I’ll be forced to—”

“To what?” Neville asked nervously.

“…I don’t know. I’ve never blushed so much in my life—Slytherins don’t blush, except as a show when it gains them something. I don’t know what the proper response is to blushing for real.”

“I don’t know either,” Neville admitted sheepishly. “I mean, I’ve blushed plenty, but I don’t understand it any better. And I feel really embarrassed around you, too. Is that normal?. I’ve never had a girlfriend before so I don’t know if it always happens.”

Pansy crossed her arms in front of her chest. “One thing I’m absolutely certain of—call it an instinct—is that if you intend to use that utterly banal word in reference to me you’d better ask me first.”

That seemed very formal to Neville’s mind, considering the circumstances. But if it mattered that much to Pansy… “Okay,” he said. “Um. Pansy, would you—” He found the words catching in his throat. Even in light of all that had already occurred, Neville was still scared that Pansy might reject him. Gryffindor bravery, he reminded himself. “Pansy, would you be my…girlfriend?’ he asked; the last word came out at barely a murmur.

Pansy was still blushing, but she grinned teasingly. “That’s more like it,” she said, and kissed him.