Chapter 2: Brotherly Support and Ice Cream with Neville

Riley's POV

NO WAY! I was so happy I could hug someone! "Ginny…..Can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked her so I could let her the letter. "Sure. Let's go to my room." She offered as we walked to the entry of her bedroom. We entered the bedroom and she closed the door behind us. "HE ASKED ME OUT!" I said excitedly. "NO WAY!" She responded. "Read this letter." I told her; handing her the letter. I saw her facial expressions and I asked, "I know, right?" She hugged me and asked, "Did you write him back yet?" "No, But I am right now though." I answered as I graced the nearest ink, quill and piece of parchment to me. I started to write:

Dear Neville,

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I did have a great one. And I would LOVE to go out with you! I also have a HUUUGE crush on you.

Love Always,

Riley

I finished my letter and attached it to Melena's leg and she was off in a flash. Well, as fast as we could get the window open. "We are going to have the best girl's night ever!" Ginny said. "Wait….Did you ask out my brother yet?" I asked. "No….." She said; blushing greatly. "Go do it then! What are you waiting for?" I told her encouragingly. "You know what you are right." She said as she confidently walked out of her room. 'That's my girl' I thought to myself. I grabbed the novel I was currently reading, The Great Gatsby, and started reading it to keep my patience in line. About 10 minutes later, Ginny walked in with a smile wide as a full moon. "So…Did he say yes?" I asked excitedly. She nodded her head with the smile still wide and bright. I dropped the book and ran to Ginny and hugged her. "Congrats, Gin" I told her and released her from the embrace. "Hey Riles….Can I talk to you for a second?" I heard Harry ask as he came through the door. "Sure. I will be right back, Gin." I said as I walked behind Harry and entered Ron's room. "Hey Buba." I said with my shy voice. "Hey sis, have a great birthday?" Harry asked. "Yeah, I did." I said. He noticed my shoulder shivering and removed my sleeve; exposing the big blue and purple splotch on my shoulder that Uncle Vernon gave me without question. As he tried to soothe it, I flinched while he attempted to. "Harry, be careful. It still hurts." I said biting my lip in prevention of me screaming in immense pain. "Riley, I think it's time to tell someone about….you know….Uncle Vernon. I can't stand to see ourselves suffer each day." He said in a calming voice. I nodded my head and started to shake tremendously. "Why does this custody battle take so goddamn long? I want to live with Remus and Sirius; Not Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon. I want to be loved; not starved and beaten." I told Harry truthfully as tears ran down my face free willed. He held me tightly and I rested his head on his chest. "Whatever happens, we will be there for each other; No matter what happens. I promise" He told me as he pulled the hair out of my face. I smiled as I listened to his heartbeat. "Harry, please never leave me." I said still shaking tremendously. "I will NEVER leave you, Riles." "You promise?" I asked him. "I promise." He said as he kissed my hair. "Neville asked me out; will you let me go on Friday?" I asked him; trying to change the subject. "Do I get teasing rights?" He said like a five year old. I laughed at my older brother's actions and said, "Yes as long I get teasing rights." I said; winking back to him. "DEAL!" He yelled. I laughed hysterically and collapsed onto the chest and listened to his heartbeat. "What would we do without each other?" I asked. "I don't know. I would go psychotic and you would be VERY creepy." Harry said. I laughed at my brother's answer. I started to get up from his bed and said, "I have to go back to Ginny's room. She will probably we got taken away by death eaters if I don't come back soon." He chuckled and said, "Probably." He said as I exited the room. I re-entered Ginny's bedroom and she smiled at me. "Ready for makeovers?!" She asked in excitement. "Gin, you didn't even have to ask." I told her. We, as always, were having the time of our lives. We eventually fell asleep on the 'pallet' of blankets we set up two hours prior.

~HJPRLP~

Friday Afternoon

I walked down the sidewalk in Diagon Alley and saw Neville sitting at a table with purple tulips and his white T-Shirt and Blue Shorts on. He looked completely ADORABLE. I was wearing a baby blue sun dress and white flats. I walked up to the table he was sitting at and he got up and kissed the top of my hand. AWW. He handed me the flowers and blushed deeply. "Neville…you didn't have to do that for me." I said; also blushing as well. "Well…I thought that a beautiful girl needed some beautiful flowers." He said truthfully. I smiled sweetly and we went to the cashier and ordered our ice cream. I ordered cookies and cream with hot fudge topping. Neville ordered a banana split with caramel sauce. We sat at our table; eating and talking. But much appreciated; not at the same time. We sat there talking and he scooted closer to me and put his arms around my shoulders and kissed the top of my forehead. He rubbed my shoulders tenderly and I smiled. "Does this mean we are…like….boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Neville asked. I nodded my head at him and we walked down Diagon Alley hand and hand; ignoring the press and peers that were going insane. Eventually, we apparated to The Burrow and we bid ourselves goodnight and went our separate ways. I ran up to Ginny's room (with the tulips still in my hands) and I heard her with Harry. So I went into the living room; only to find Ron and Hermione sucking faces. God dammit! So, I walked to the backyard with Mason and stared at the water. I was playing fetch with him and he looked COMPLETELY adorable trying to run. I took the ball of fluff into my arms and hugged him while he momentarily licked my face. Little did I know; Harry was watching me playing with Mason. I felt someone watching me and I turned around to see my brother. "Hey." I greeted him. "Hey." He greeted also and we both sat down on the grass and Mason lunged himself onto my lap and fell asleep; also adorable. "When did you get home?" My brother asked me. "About an hour ago; I went to go talk to Ginny but she was with you so I went downstairs into the living room and Ron and Hermione were sucking faces again so I started to play outside with Mason." I told him as I stroked my puppy's fur. Harry chuckled and said, "How was your…..um….date?" He asked me very awkwardly and I laughed. "It went extremely well and we are going out now." I blushed and he smiled. "We still have the deal about the teasing, right?" He asked cheekily. "Yeah why wouldn't we-ooh." I said in my train of thought. "Sis, I'm completely sorry, but it's going to be a LONG night." He said with a mischievous grin. Dear Merlin.