Prologue:

"Riley." Albus groaned. He had to pull away. Had to get away before he did something they would both regret.

"It's okay Albus. I want this." Riley Creevy said as she moved to kiss him, but again he pulled back. This time he sat up and they both looked at each other.

"Riley. You know I care about you, but I'm not always going to be with you." Albus said. He didn't want to be married to his Hogwarts sweetheart like so many others. All of his family had been sweethearts and Albus longed to be different. He didn't want to be just another Potter/Weasley.

"I don't expect us to be together forever. I just want us to be together tonight." Riley said only being partially honest. It was true that she didn't expect them to be together forever, she could see it in his eyes that he wanted something more, but that didn't mean she didn't want him forever.

"Look, I don't want to make you think you have to do this, especially you." Albus said. Riley stiffened.

"Why 'especially me'?" Riley asked suspiciously.

"I mean. I didn't mean. It's just that I, I don't want you to think you can trust me after all you've been through."

"Excuse me, but what all have I been through?" Riley asked. She knew what she'd been through, but she had gone through so much trouble to make sure that no one else knew.

"You know, having to deal with such a jerk of a brother." Albus said. And Riley thanked heaven that he was as thick as the Whomping Willow.

"Albus, I want this. You want this. It's just one night."

But it wasn't 'just one night', it was many nights and before Riley knew it, she was in love with him. She tried so hard to distance herself from people. She tried so hard not to care for them, but in the end she always did.

The last time they slept together was the day before the Gryffindor Slytherine match. She knew that Albus was anxious because of Rose and all the threats the Slytherine team had given her. That night he was so desperate that things got carried away before she could place the contraceptive charm. But one time wasn't going to be enough to get her pregnant.

As Riley lay awake worrying about a pregnancy Albus held her tightly to his chest and whispered those three words that a girl waits her entire life to hear.

"I love you."

Of course Albus was half-asleep, but that still didn't change the fact that he'd said it. Riley got so scared that she jumped out of the bed and made a bee-line for the door before Albus even realized she was gone.

"Stop Riley." Albus said. And for the millionth time he thanked Merlin that he was Head Boy and had a dormitory to himself.

She paused, naked apart from a flimsy nightie, holding onto the door knob for dear life.

"I have to get out of here." Riley said but she didn't move. "Don't do this to me Albus."

"Why won't you trust me?" Albus asked angrily. "I'm not going to hurt you!"

She couldn't trust men. Not after everything that had happened to her. She knew that Albus didn't understand. He came from such a loving family. He wouldn't understand that her father, Colin Creevy, was a raving lunatic that was affected so much by his brother's death and the war. He couldn't know that Colin had beaten his wife, her mother, to a pulp and had physically abused her all her life. Nor could he understand that Jeff, her twin brother, had also given her countless beating when they were at home.

But for an unknown reason she felt that maybe she could trust Albus. He was always honest with her. He always kept his word. He was sweet with all his cousins and sister and had a strong kinship with the males in his family. He was raised by Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley.

Without knowing it, her hold on the door knob relinquished. Albus took a step closer and said those pretty little words again. No one had ever told her that. Even her mother never said it. She couldn't have said it; any words she spoke would have resulted in a beating.

Riley didn't say those three words back because if she did there wouldn't be any going back after that. But she said them in her head, and she meant them.

The next day changed everything.

For the first time since Riley and Albus started sleeping together, they woke up together. That had been their number one rule. They were in a completely sexual relationship and they would not cuddle and they would not eat breakfast together and all of the other things that couples do the morning after.

But they woke up together, they cuddled, then they ate breakfast together. Riley allowed her barriers to be brought down. By the time it was ten Riley awoke from this dream.

"Albus! We have a match in two hours!" Riley said as she rolled out of bed and quickly put her clothes on. She had to get to the other side of the school to get her Quidditch uniform and then be down at the Quidditch pitch.

"When you see your brother tell him that I want to talk to him about the match today." Albus said.

Riley stopped cold. What business did Albus have with Jeff?

"Why?" Riley asked panicking, but trying not to show it.

"Rose can't play today." Albus said determinedly.

"What are you talking about? Rose is fine. I just spoke with her yesterday and she can't wait."

"Didn't you hear what all of those Slytherines were planning to do to her?" Albus asked angrily, not understanding Riley's defensive behavior.

"Rose can handle it herself. She's not a baby." Riley said completely frustrated.

"You don't get it Riley!" Albus said impatiently. "Just because he's your brother doesn't mean that he's not a good Seeker. Get over yourself."

Riley could have told him. She could have spilled her guts and said the perfectly justifiable reason for hating her brother, but she didn't. She didn't because if Albus really loved her then he would listen to her.

Riley left the room without another word. She cried at what Albus had said to her, but she was a big girl, she would deal with it. Then there was the fact that she thought that Albus had listened to her.

Riley was the last one in the locker room followed by her brother which confused the whole team apart from Albus who looked ashamed as he looked at Riley. Riley glared at Albus, not caring if people saw.

Rose asked the obvious, "What's Creevy doing here?"

Jeff Creevy wore a huge smirk on his face. "I'm going to play seeker."

Riley watched as Albus refused to meet Rose's gaze. There was a moment of silence before all Hell broke loose. Riley saw everyone jump at Albus and start yelling at him, except for Rose who looked completely blank. Riley watched as betrayal crossed over Rose's features and instantly felt a kinship with her.

Riley stood in a corner, her eyes moving back and forth, calculating what to do. Riley was embarrassed when a tear escaped her eye. She knew Rose had saw it but hoped it wouldn't be mentioned.

"Hey!" Riley shouted and for such a little person she had a very loud voice. "Albus. You need to choose."

Riley knew that everyone was a little lost about what she was talking about, but what they did get was Riley was saying it's either him or me.

Albus looked pained then he said, "I'm sorry Riley, but I have to protect Rose."

Riley stormed out and everyone knowing what it meant, Gryffindor was short one Chaser. Riley couldn't help it. She had to get out of there before everyone saw her break down. Betrayal, hurt, every other painful emotion in the book crossed through Riley's head.

She didn't get very far before all of it came bubbling up. She made it to a rubbish bin before she vomited. And that's where she stayed as she watched the match unfold. (To see details of the match, visit the story The New and Improved Rose Weasley, chapters 10-12)

Riley saw what was going to happen before anyone else did. Rose was going to fall and there would be no way she would survive the fall unless Riley did anything. She leapt to her feet even though it made her extremely dizzy. And she pointed her wand at Rose Weasley.

Before she fell ten feet, with the Snitch in hand, Riley had already muttered a spell to gracefully set her on the ground. When Rose was safe Riley looked up, sensing a pair of eyes on her. Albus was up at the rings watching her. Their eyes locked and Riley stared in them defiantly . Albus was, predictably, the first one to turn away.

Hours later Riley waited in the locker rooms for Rose to be done. She had to see if she was okay, if she hadn't seriously injured Rose by her spell.

"Hey." Riley said nervously as Rose appeared. She looked fine, exhausted, but fine.

"Hey yourself." Rose said.

"Look Rose, I'm so sorry for running away like that. You wouldn't have gotten hurt if it wasn't for me. Albus and my brother, it just…" But she couldn't continue, because if she did, she'd spill all her guts.

"I understand." Rose said as she hugged Riley. It felt so good to be hugged by a friend.

"Thanks and good job." Riley said as she went to leave.

"You should give Al another chance." Rose said to Riley's retreating back. Riley stopped and turned around.

"I can't." And with tears threatening to spill over she left.

She ran into Scorpius on her way out of the locker room. He was pacing and Riley knew that he was going to talk to Rose.

Riley said encouragingly, "Good luck." But Scorpius was too caught up in his own world to hear.

Two weeks later the N.E.W.T.s were over and Graduation day was there.

Rose and Riley had become close friends in such a short period of time. Riley supposed it was because they were both dealing with heartbreaks. Riley had told Rose what had happened between herself and Albus, but didn't mention her relationship with her family. In turn, Rose had told Riley about her unrequited love for Scorpius.

Upon graduation, Rose and Scorpius got together, like everyone knew they would and Riley was extremely happy for them.

Upon graduation Riley had plenty of job offers as a Healer to study abroad in many countries. She chose the country where she figured she could forget Albus the easiest. Riley went to the United States.

One month later Albus spoke to her for last time before she left, he of course didn't know it was the last time.

"Riley." Albus acknowledged as he sat down next to her at one of the many tables at the Burrow. Riley loved this place so much; it was a home, one that she wished she could have.

"Hello Albus." Riley said faking cheerfulness.

"Riley I'm-" Albus started only to get cut off by a screaming child running past them.

Riley didn't want to hear any of what he said, her heart couldn't take it. She got up to leave. Albus stood up with her but didn't intend to stop her departure.

"I've got to go find Rose." It was her engagement party after all. She turned and walked off in the opposite direction before Albus could say anything else.

Riley wished Scorpius and Rose well and hugged her best friend goodbye. Rose didn't ask any questions, she was good like that.