hackthis_archive ([personal profile] hackthis_archive) wrote2004-07-09 01:52 pm

HP - Potential Ending #5

I'm having an off week, and now I'm having writing issues, so I opted for something quiet.

Inspired by Ryan Adams 'Political Scientist' and Jamie Cullum's video for 'All at Sea'
Draco/Neville for [livejournal.com profile] lalejandra
Potential Ending #5






They have two chairs that sit side-by-side in the yard. One is green velvet and lush; it's impervious to rain and never seems to stain. The other chair is white wicker, which Draco hates. He says it looks like something someone's nan would own, which is true. It's the only thing that Neville was able to salvage from his grandmother's home after the Last Battle. He'll get around to telling Draco this one day, when a little more time has passed and Draco’s breathing doesn’t become erratic at the mention of Past Events. Neville thinks the trauma of killing your own father could scar anyone, but maybe once Neville relates the lineage of the chair, Draco will leave off about it instead of continually trying to transfigure it into something more ‘aesthetically pleasing’. Every time Neville changes it back, Draco sulks.

Neville tells him There are some things that should stay the same.


*



They live on the edge of town in a small cottage, which suits Neville just fine. He's had enough of people and noise and large buildings where it's entirely too easy for people to hide in corners and curse the stuffing out of you.

Draco says he doesn't miss the Manor; he says he doesn't miss his old life. But Neville knows that if that were really true then Draco never would've salvaged the portrait of his mother that hangs in their sitting room. Neville knows that if Draco truly had no regrets, Neville would never find him talking to the portrait as though his mother were still alive.


*



They don't have a lot of visitors, which seems to suit them both just fine. If Neville really wants to see someone, he can walk the mile down the road to the pub and floo from their fireplace. Draco made it very clear that when they moved to the country there would be no fireplaces in their home. Apparently he was tired of people popping in at all hours of the day or night and trying to kill them. Neville understands his resolve.


*



Neville has a garden in the back of their home, which he works in first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon, after tea. Tending to his plants tends to alleviate the twitching of his right hand, and in the mornings Draco practises Quidditch moves that no one else will ever see. A long time ago, Draco used to try and entice Neville to practise with him, but Neville’s never been that good on brooms, and eventually Draco let him be. Now Draco takes delight in buzzing over Neville’s head as he prunes his lilies and talks quietly with the posies. Sometime Neville can feel Draco hovering overhead, watching him. It makes him feel strangely protected and safe.


*



At twenty-two, Neville has officially retired from the post-war clean-up. He's decided that he's sacrificed enough for the war effort by watching his friends die. Draco never announced he was retiring from anything, but anyone who was at the last battle could understand why he prefers a secluded life.


*



They live down the road from the sea, and in the afternoon they walk down to the beach to do nothing at all. Calling it a beach is a little generous as it’s less sand and more rock, but there is a great stretch of water beyond the pebbles and fisherman’s hut; it’s enough to keep them satisfied.

Some afternoons they bring food along and have lunch by the water’s edge. Sometimes they compete to see who can skip the most rocks along the surface of the water before they sink to the bottom. Draco always sulks when Neville wins, which makes Neville laugh. Sometimes he lets Draco win. Sometimes he just can’t help himself.


*



They sit in their chairs twice every day, once for tea and again to watch the sunset and talk about whatever comes to mind. The sky these days is a calming shade of grayish-blue, as opposed to the months on end when it bled crimson and gold. They try not to talk about those days. Instead they talk about the plants that Neville is growing or Puddlemere’s hopes for the cup. Draco thinks they’re crap, especially now that Harry’s playing for them, but when Neville points out that Draco could just as easily be playing for them Draco snorts and changes the topic.


*



At night they curl up in the huge brass bed that’s their main piece of furniture and take solace in still wanting to be together, even after all this time.

Sometimes they touch cautiously; sometimes they play rough. Sometimes they simply tangle their limbs together and fall asleep, content to know that they should wake up in the morning and find the sun just as yellow as it was the day before, because if this is their ending; they’re going to enjoy it.



-end-

[identity profile] lalejandra.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
if this is their ending; they’re going to enjoy it.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like this. It's so simple and sweet and slow and sad.

They sit in their chairs twice every day, once for tea and again to watch the sunset

This made me giggle. Draco and Neville: Grumpy Old Men.

but anyone who was at the last battle could understand why he prefers a secluded life.

I'd like to read that, yeah.

Poor Draco. *sniff*

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
They sit in their chairs twice every day, once for tea and again to watch the sunset

This made me giggle. Draco and Neville: Grumpy Old Men.


*laughs* Now there's a thought.

but anyone who was at the last battle could understand why he prefers a secluded life.

I'd like to read that, yeah.


You are not slick. Maybe when I'm less like to have a wobbler, kay?

[identity profile] lalejandra.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
You are not slick. Maybe when I'm less like to have a wobbler, kay?

Dude, honestly, I didn't mean it like that. If I wanted you to write me something, I would say so! I was just, like, thinking aloud in your LJ!

also, *squishyhugs*

Can I write you something to help cheer you up?

[identity profile] serialkarma.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I would like to curl up inside this story and take a nap.

This was beautiful, sweetie.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Me too. *pets*
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[identity profile] shezan.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Lovely, lovely, lovely! Off to rec this (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HP_Fanfic_Recs/) at once!

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so pleased you liked it so much, thank you.

[identity profile] millefiori.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh how lovely!! For some reason the chairs struck me as particularly poignant. I'm having fun imagining Draco's possible responses when Neville finally tells him. :)

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Merlin, with Draco who knows how he'd take the news.

How lovely

[identity profile] smaragdgrun.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
And it just makes me feel happy. Thanks --

Re: How lovely

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
Yay for the happy!
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[identity profile] queenofalostart.livejournal.com 2004-07-09 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Draco always sulks when Neville wins, which makes Neville laugh. Sometimes he lets Draco win. Sometimes he just can’t help himself.

*!*

That sound was my hard little heart cracking. You bitch!

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:04 am (UTC)(link)
I know, they can do that to you; you've gotta be careful.

[identity profile] darkvictory.livejournal.com 2004-07-10 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
gah, how can you make Draco/Nevill so lovely? :D loved the last paragraph.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:05 am (UTC)(link)
gah, how can you make Draco/Nevill so lovely?

It's all part of my evol plot, dude. *nods officiously*

[identity profile] not-vacillating.livejournal.com 2004-07-10 08:02 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, that's a beautiful story. I particularly love Neville tells him There are some things that should stay the same. Thanks for sharing!

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:05 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it, thanks for reading.

[identity profile] counterfeitcoin.livejournal.com 2004-07-10 01:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Really touching story. As sweet as it is, the image of their happily ever after, it's a little sad because it doesn't feel like a complete happily ever after. They've lost so much to get there.

I will stop rambling, honest.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:06 am (UTC)(link)
As sweet as it is, the image of their happily ever after, it's a little sad because it doesn't feel like a complete happily ever after.

I don't believe in happily ever after; this is as close as I get.

[identity profile] emmalyne.livejournal.com 2004-07-10 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Draco/Neville! One of my favorite random Neville slash pairings. And this was such a nice little fic. It's good to see the boys peaceful and happy (if a bit haunted) instead of angsty.

if this is their ending; they’re going to enjoy it.

Lovely.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:07 am (UTC)(link)
It's good to see the boys peaceful and happy (if a bit haunted) instead of angsty.

I try and mix a little happy with the angst every now and then, just to keep people guessing.
celli: a woman and a man holding hands, captioned "i treasure" (Default)

[personal profile] celli 2004-07-11 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
*loves*

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:08 am (UTC)(link)
*smiles*

[identity profile] percysowner.livejournal.com 2004-07-11 04:59 am (UTC)(link)
This was lovely. It's nice to see they both find some peace in the end.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:08 am (UTC)(link)
I thought so too.

[identity profile] crimsonclad.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
Oh.

Um, so I have a few tears, and I love this Draco who still sulks but can't talk about the War, and this Neville who gives him time and warmth, and the way they have tea together in their chairs and eat lunch at the shore and care for one another so quietly.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
I'm so pleased you enjoyed this; thanks for reading.

[identity profile] dorrie6.livejournal.com 2004-07-12 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Ack! How did I miss this before?

Sometimes they touch cautiously; sometimes they play rough. Sometimes they simply tangle their limbs together and fall asleep, content to know that they should wake up in the morning and find the sun just as yellow as it was the day before, because if this is their ending; they’re going to enjoy it.

That's so pretty I... yeah. Just. Yeah.

*sigh*

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-13 09:33 am (UTC)(link)
*laughs*

No worries, sweetie. Sometimes I'm really prolific, and sometimes niente.

[identity profile] dorrie6.livejournal.com 2004-07-13 09:34 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, and I'm definitely on board with the love for your icon.

[identity profile] penknife.livejournal.com 2004-07-13 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
This is lovely, so quiet and bittersweet and gentle. Thanks.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-13 09:33 am (UTC)(link)
I'm glad you liked it; thanks for reading!

[identity profile] lifeinwords.livejournal.com 2004-07-20 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
So comforting and delicate, half-mentioning the things they're trying to forget. I really enjoyed this.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2004-07-26 10:18 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for reading!