FIC: Twisted Lives (Neville/Ginny, Harry/Luna)
To: redshoeson
From: Your Secret Santa

Title: Twisted Lives
Author: lady_caetlyn
Pairings: Neville/Ginny; Harry/Luna
Summary: Harry and Ginny, Neville and Luna are married. However, nothing is what it seems.
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: none
Author's notes: I would like to thank my three betas for inspiration. This story has been writing itself since I got the assignment. I hope you like it.



“Honey, I’m home.”

”Good.” She came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. “I’ve missed you,” she said as she wrapped her arms around him, “I always miss you.”

“Likewise,” he replied as he bent down to kiss her.

It had been like this for the past few years. No one knew about it, and that was fine. If people were to find out, it would end badly for all of them. It was a bit inconvenient at times, with coded messages, notes slipped into pockets, and discrete short meetings in various areas of Diagon Alley. It was worth it, though, and no one involved seemed to mind, and they were the most important people.

“Did you see them, by the way? I think they were going out to dinner in London,” she said.

“They were. I saw them leave. It was a ‘business’ dinner.” He took her hand and led her back into the kitchen. “I hate this arrangement, you know that?”

She sighed. “I know, love, but you know we have to do it this way. I hate it too. But, we need to think about his reputation as well. He doesn’t deserve it, but, you know how it is. He thinks I’m out with Hermione.”

”I know, sweetheart, but I hate that it has to be like this. I hate that he gave no thought to your wishes or mine. He stepped all over us. I’m sorry, love, I just think he was selfish about it.”

She nodded in agreement. “You are right,” she said softly, “which is why I feel no guilt about this.” She kissed him deeply.

He returned her kiss in equal measure, running his fingers through long auburn locks. He loved the feel and texture of her hair.

“Forget about them for now,” she whispered, pulling away to take his hand and pull him to the couch in the living room. This was their hideaway, secluded, private and unplottable. She sat down, pulling him down next to her. “This is for us,” she whispered, kissing him again. “This is our secret.”

He loved the tone of her voice when she talked like that. He was a romantic at heart and this was romantic to him. Her kisses affected him in ways that no one else’s could. His blood was pumping and he could feel it rushing to his groin, giving him that feeling of urgency. He wanted her, to touch and taste and explore. Each time they were together it was different, and that helped keep the excitement between them. In a perfect world, they would have been together, leaving the others to do what they would. Fate and politics had intervened, however, pulling them apart and forcing them to make choices that they didn’t want to make. Of course, being who he was, no one questioned when he did what he wanted, when he wanted, and to hell with the rest of the world.

He pushed said thoughts aside and focused on her pale skin, and long slender neck. He could smell her perfume, the one he bought for her in Paris. He kissed and nibbled her neck, before pulling back to unbutton her white blouse. Slowly, he trailed kisses over her collarbone, one hand cupping a lace-clad breast. He ran his thumb over her nipple until it grew hard and then did the same to the other breast.

She arched up so he could remove her bra, a small noise escaping her lips as he pushed both it and her blouse over her shoulders, leaving her breasts exposed to him. She looked into his eyes, trying to relay how much she needed this. “Please,” she whispered, “please…”

He smiled and kissed her again as he moved one hand around her to pull her close to him and the other one down to the edge of her skirt. “I want this to last,” he whispered, as he dropped his head down to her breasts, gently sucking each nipple for a time before moving himself down her body, trying to kiss every inch of flesh he could.

He moved his hand slowly up her skirt, massaging her thighs as he did so. Her legs were still strong from quidditch, and he loved feeling the taut muscle underneath his fingers.

She pulled his shirt out from his slacks and ran her fingers over his back. He had shaped up nicely in the years since they were out of Hogwarts, partially because they would go running together in the mornings. Sadly, those days were long gone for them. Because of him. She took great satisfaction in her liaisons with her former lover, the man she should have married.

Those thoughts spurred her on. For her, it was just as much about revenge as spending time with the man she loved. Her husband was out with the woman that loved him, now deciding that because she was married, she was worth his time. She knew that he didn’t love his mistress, he was using her, and she was letting him because he loved him so much.

She came back from her thoughts as her lover’s wonderful hand’s trailed over her knickers, touching her with light teasing strokes. She bucked against him, wanting him to touch her more. First however, she needed to take care of something. “You are wearing way too much,” she whispered, trying to unbutton his shirt, so she could touch his chest. She smiled at him when he stopped long enough to remove the shirt, and the rest of his clothes. He climbed back onto the couch, the fire casting a warm glow over his naked flesh. Neville was warmth, while her husband was pale and cold…much like the man he helped destroy.

She helped her lover pull her skirt and panties off. “Now...please,” she said softly, as she reached down to stroke him, smiling as a small groan escaped his lips.

Without another word he was on top of her, slowly pushing his way inside. She was warm, and perfect. He kissed her hard as he began to move slowly inside her, savoring the feeling. This was what it was supposed to be like.

She moaned and wrapped her legs around his waist. He knew what she liked; he paid attention to what she liked.

They moved together for what seemed like hours, slowly building up to their mutual climax. She called his name as she came, kissing him with everything she had in her.

When it was over, they cuddled together for a brief time before he looked at her regretfully. “I should go,” he said softly.

“Stay for a while longer,” she said looking up at the clock.

~*~*~*~*~*

“Why do you stay with her?” The blonde asked as they lay in bed. She was getting tired of this arrangement.

“Because, she is perfect. Her family is so well-loved. They make me look good.”

”She doesn’t love you.”

”How can she not love me? I’m her world. She would do anything for me. She is the perfect submissive society wife.”

”I love you,” she said quietly.

”I know you do, which is why you do this. In the end, it works for me. I get what I want from you…and then I can go back to her and be respectable.”

She looked sadly at him. If only he’d love her the way her husband loved the woman she knew he went to. It was sad that this was what they had been reduced to. She would have gladly given up her husband to her friend if the opportunity presented itself. At times she resented the other woman for having the man that she truly wanted…a man who she loved, and had loved for a while.

She knew he didn’t love her. To him, this was just sex. It was her belief that he didn’t know how to love anyone but himself. He didn’t love his wife either. She looked good on his arm…the spitting image of his parents. They both knew that.

He watched the blonde, reveling in the fact that he was shagging the wife of a former classmate. That he was able to give her what he assumed her clumsy husband was unable to. Of course, he knew she loved him. He however, did not return the favor. She was a good fuck, kinky as hell, but nothing more. However, she was willing where his wife was not. More than that, it only proved how wonderful he was…he could have anyone he wanted…and he did, frequently.

He laughed as he imagined his wife out with Hermione, not suspecting a thing. She really was naive, and too trusting. But she made him look good, and that was all he cared about. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

She could almost read his mind, and it hurt. She knew how he operated, and she cursed herself for allowing it. Love, however, makes people do weird things, and well, this was about as weird as it could get. She never thought she would lower herself to being his whore.

Every time he got dressed like he was doing now, she felt like her heart was ripping. She hurt for all of them. For her friend, who was tied to this man, and her husband, who was tied to this man’s wife. They deserved to be together, and perhaps, maybe someone would be happy.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. He was playing with people’s minds here, and as much as she loved him, in that moment, she realized that he needed to pay. It might cost her what little she could have with him, but it would be worth it.

She dressed quickly and grabbed his arm, praying that her friend would forgive her.

“What the fuck are you doing, you crazy bitch?” He yelled trying to shake her off of him.

“You’ll see,” she said as she apparated them to the outside of a rather posh flat in London. She had helped set it up for the two that were inside.

Quickly, she took out a key and opened the door. “Go and see what’s inside,” she said pushing him in the door.

He stumbled into the living room to find his wife entwined in someone else’s arms, both of them staring straight at him “What the hell are you doing with him?”

“Spending time with him,” she said calmly, not caring that they had just been caught.

“You cheating bitch!”

”You’re one to talk. I’m sick and tired of being your damned trophy. I will be filing for divorce in the morning.”

He turned to Neville, “How the hell could you do this?”

Neville wrapped a blanket around himself and stood up. “Easily actually. Luna loves you, she has always loved you and you used her. I’ve known for years, actually, and she has known about Gin and I.” He shrugged. “You however, have no respect for people. You play games with them. It’s gone on long enough.”

Luna watched as angry words were exchanged. She let her mind wander back to when all of this had started.

They had gone out to dinner just to catch up, as far as Harry had known. She had set it up to allow Ginny and Neville some time together. They had shared a bottle of wine or two and were both incredibly drunk.

He had taken her to his office where they fell to the couch, kissing and frantically trying to rip each other’s clothes off. It was hot, and passionate.

There had been many more times after that. They’d meet and he’d embrace her before seducing her with his words, his hands exploring her body until she melted. He knew how to touch her, what she liked, and she had realized that she instinctively knew what he liked. That had been the beginning of it.

She had believed that he had actually cared. His actions, the way he made love to her made her believe that he cared. It had apparently all been in her mind.

She looked at them all. “You know why I did this right, Harry?” She asked quietly. “You needed to see how happy Ginny is when she is with Neville. She’s always been happy with him and you destroyed that for them. I was using you as much as you used me. I love you, but I wanted to see them happy, so I created a diversion for you. I didn’t realize how hurt I would get. I don’t want to see you anymore.”

She had tears in her eyes. “Goodbye, Harry Potter. I hope one day you realize what you have done.”

~*~*~*~*~

Several months later, Luna was having dinner with Ginny and Neville. They were discussing a potential job opportunity that Luna was considering in the States.

Ginny was getting up to get dessert when someone knocked at the door. Luna went to answer it.

“What are you doing here?”

”I was told you might be here.”

”Yes, I’m here.” She wasn’t sure whether to invite him in or slam the door in his face. “What do you want?”

”I want to apologize,” he said. “I was awful to you, and I have done a lot of thinking and a lot of soul searching.” This was proving to be harder than he thought it would be. After she had left, he realized what he had done, and how spectacularly he has screwed it up. He realized that being with Luna felt right. It had been comfortable, a feeling he had never had with his now ex-wife. He had been a fool to not see what was right in front of him and he told Luna that.

She listened to his explanation not sure whether to believe him or not. “What do you want of me, Harry?”

“I want to be with you.”

”Do you? Why?”

“I love you.”

“Why do I not believe that?”

”I’ve not given you reason to.” He stepped into the flat and reached out to touch her face. “I don’t blame you for being angry, but I’d like you to give me another chance.”

She thought for a few minutes. This was what she had always wanted. Could she forgive him?

She looked into his eyes, trying to figure out what emotions she could find. “I…I don’t know, Harry.”

Before she could say anymore she found herself swept into his arms, and his lips covering hers. No more words were needed.