NOTES: Written for the Slash_Challenge community on Livejournal.com, 4.5th week special
birthday challenge: It's Harry's 18th Birthday, and his special someone helps him bring in his 18th
birthday with something special.
Unlike Always
Even though this was Harry's first birthday away from the loving care of the Dursley's, it still
seemed far from the happiest day of his life. He was stranded in Muggle London. The weather
was uncharacteristically hot and humid -- even for this particular time of year -- mercilessly killing
all plant-life and making people irritable. Hermione, along with his other so-called friends, was
nowhere to be found, because he just had to have been born during the busiest vacation season.
Ron still wasn't talking to him.
It was not blessed being a Summer's child.
With sweat already drenching his new change of clothes -- and he'd just come out of the shower,
too -- Harry slumped on the sofa next to his boyfriend. Neville, with his round, sweet, and oddly
feminine face awarded him with an insecure smile.
"Wanna stay in tonight?" Harry smacked a rather wet kiss on Neville's cheek.
"Actually," Neville blushed, but leaned his head on Harry's chest all the same. "I had planned
something."
"Yeah, like what?" Harry ruffled his still dripping hair.
"Um, I found this little Italian restaurant in the City and--" Neville paused and took a deep breath.
"I thought I'd give you your present after."
Harry smiled rather deviously. "What kind of a present are we talking about?"
Neville turned the most delicious shade of crimson, which was all the answer Harry needed, and
as he opened his mouth to splutter some kind of an answer Harry caught his lips in a searing kiss.
"Or we could just stay in?"
Perhaps it wasn't so bad after all.
