Bent But Not Broken

Title: Not So Secret Affair
Author: unbroken_halo
Pairing: Neville/Bill
Word Count: 100x3
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Challenge:#31: Romance
A/N: Thanks to the slashinistas for the once over.



Not So Secret Affair

Neville studied the platinum and diamond band sparkling in the light from the candles. It had felt almost sacrilegious to even think about removing the ring, but he knew working in the greenhouses would not be kind to the jewellery.

Bill suggested Notice-Me-Not and Impervious Spells for their rings. Neville had readily agreed, knowing the charms would work to their advantage in more ways than one.

Only the governors and their family knew of their marriage convention. Neville liked having the romantic secret to keep from the prying eyes of the world after the publicity the war had brought him.

~*~
Neville hurried down the corridor, trying to make it to dinner on time. It wouldn't do to be late the first night. He swept into the Great Hall, and dropped into his seat at The Head Table, breathing a relieved sigh as the doors opened to admit the First Years.

Looking down, Neville spied a flower lying across his plate. He picked it up; inhaled its scent, then heard a familiar deep, throaty voice whisper.

" Don't get caught!"

"Neville! Have you a secret admirer?" Sinistra inquired.

Pomfrey sighed. "How romantic."

Neville just smiled, knowing a blush stained his cheeks.

~*~
Bill glanced down at Neville as Flitwick called the new students to the Sorting Hat. Sinistra and Pomfrey were clucking over the bloom he'd left on Neville's plate. He rolled his eyes at the noises, picking up his goblet for a sip of pumpkin juice.

"Sound like a couple of hens, don't they?" Sprout chuckled and nudged Bill's shoulder.

Bill laughed and nodded. "Don't all women around romantic nonsense?"

"Neville's not much better," Sprout continued, eyeing Bill. "He's got puppy eyes turned this way and is staring right at you. Are congratulations in order?"

Bill choked on his pumpkin juice.