Disclaimer: All credit for characters and world belong to the genius that is J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: Two chapters in a night! I'm on a roll! Review!

Chapter 11: Kiss and Run

Giulia's point of view.

"Hey Giules! How're you?" Neville asked, smiling widely.

Giulia's stomach immediately sinking in response was not encouraging. She couldn't yell at him. He hadn't done anything wrong. They had never been together and she was an idiot for thinking so. She avoiding responding and tried to rush away to no avail. He caught her arm startling her. Her anger with herself and conflicting emotions with him hadn't prevented her heart practically leaping out of her chest at his touch.

"Giules? Giulia! Hello?"

"What?" she replied, trying to avoid his gaze. Surely he'd notice how bright red her cheeks were.

"Erm…well, I was just going to say hi. Your friends are here right? How are things with them, are they enjoying themselves? Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked.

"Yes, they're here, they're fine, I'm fine. Is that all?" she replied trying desperately to get away. She didn't want him to see her dissolve and him acting like a friend wasn't helping.

"What's going on," he asked, "Why are you mad at me, what did I do?"

"Nothing, you've done nothing," she replied because it was true. He hadn't done anything wrong, except maybe not tell her that he had a stunningly pretty girlfriend.

"Then why are you upset with me? Giules, tell me. I dunno what I could have done…" he trailed off.

Then it hit her. She had opened up to him completely and he hadn't. She hadn't know he had a girlfriend and suddenly her fury came swooping irrationally back. A small voice reminded her that she probably had never asked but instead her mouth reacted, ignoring reason.

"Of course you don't know why I am upset. All thoughts of me have been wiped from your mind. You have better things to think about I'm sure. So tell me, how is your girlfriend? Why was she never mentioned to me? I don't hide anything from you, Neville, so why is it not okay for me to be mad at you when I find out you have hidden something from me?"

"Wait, what? Giulia, what are you talking about?" he questioned however she didn't notice the genuine look of confusion hardly hearing his response in her anger.

"Never mind, forget I said anything," she replied and walked away. She couldn't deal with this right now and she just wanted to go home. If Neville wanted to sneak around with her secret girlfriend than it was his life and he could do whatever he wanted. See if she cared. If wasn't until he grabbed her arm again that she realized he had been following her.

"Stop it, don't touch me."

Neville's eyes flashed and for the first time ever he yelled at her which pissed her off even more. How dare he.

"What the hell, Giules. Would you talk to me please?"

"How dare you get angry with me when I've done nothing except be there for you and share every secret I have with you? Here I am, innocently thinking that you tell me everything in return, but no, the mysterious Neville Longbottom is too great to confide in me that he has a girlfriend, let alone the fact that she was coming to the island."

Then he started laughing and before she even realized what she was doing her arm jerked and she slapped him as hard as she could across the face.

"How dare you laugh at me? It's like I don't even know who you are," she hissed watching his eyes widen in shock as he brought his hand up to rub his cheek which had turned bright white and now was coloring with a bright angry red. The stupid naïve look in his eye made her angry and she raised her hand to strike again when he grabbed her wrists knocking the two of them off balance. She righted herself only to realize she was trapped between the wall of the builing of the alley and Neville who looked dazed.

His proximity to her promptly turned her body to mush and her brain to overdrive. She could feel the heat from his body and she just started yelling at him for causing her this much anger without even realizing that he couldn't understand a word she was saying. She was speaking in Italian. Staring into his eyes she ranted until she notice them focus and cast downwards. His gaze was on her chest and his cheeks reddened not from where she slapped him. His eyes flickered to eyes and then trailed down to her mouth and all air expelled from her.

Thoughts disappeared and she impulsively raised up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his. She had no idea what caused her to do it but it happened and it felt right. Her mind spun and a feeling like chills ran throughout her body as she gave over to her senses.

Sensing no resistance she opened her mouth and tasted him noticing his arms which she was gripping move down and clutch her waist. Fire spread from his fingertips throughout her and then she went numb. He opened his mouth cautiously and it came to her that he seemed just as clumsy as ever.

His tongue tentatively swept out and brushed her own transferring more spit than any experienced boy ever would. Instead of disgusting her, elation rose in her like a balloon. He was following her cues and hardly making any moves of his own. His stance was awkward and tense but willing leading her to realize he probably had never been kissed before.

In her happiness her arms slipped into his jean pockets and pulled him to her. His butt was firm and his tenseness caused her to semi collapse crushing her between the wall and his frame.

His weight against her made her moan slightly and a twitch by her thigh made her realize the feeling was mutual. However his body tense and pulled away ending the kiss with an undignified smack.

He tried to pull away and she opened her eyes to the sight of Neville looking caught between embarrassment and something unfamiliar. It wasn't until he pulled away again that she realized his embarrassment must be related to his obvious reaction.

"Wow," she breathed not realizing she had said it aloud until Neville's hazy eyes focused and his grip on her waist slackened while he pulled away more forcefully.

Neville stared at her like a caged animal and sensing his distress she pulled him into a hug.

"Nev, I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…well I did but. I'm really sorry, I just…well…" she stammered realizing he probably actually hadn't reacted well to her kiss and was just realizing it

He pulled away and put his finger to her lips silencing her worries.

"How long Giules?" he asked. At first she didn't understand until she looked back at him and gone was the look of uncertainty and fear replaced by one of happiness and was that amusement? He was asking how long it had been that she'd liked him. Or at least she thought that was what her was asking.

"Probably since I first laid eyes on you but I was too stubborn to realize it until…well…yesterday," she admitted, casting her eyes downward in embarrassment.

"Oh. Wow. So…" he continued taking her chin in her rough warm hand and tilting it upward to look at him. His eyes were hazel brown and he was smiling widely. He was happy. Warm brown meant happy and she hadn't seen his eyes that color in months.

"So…what," she questioned, confused.

"I'm sorry," he said simply his eyes flickering with concern this time, him looking away.

Confusion consumed her. Why was he sorry? Was he going to tell her he wasn't interested? Was she wrong in believing she had a chance?

"What for?" she breathed, terrified for the answer.

"Well…" he stuttered, "For being a terrible kisser. I've only ever kissed one girl before and I was fourteen and it was only a peck and you must think I'm gross and I'm sorry," he spilled out looking at her in a heartbreakingly adorable way.

She couldn't even answer. Her lips instead found his again and her heart sung with happiness. He sighed and leaned into the kiss and it was slow and sweet and perfect. He wrapped his arms back around her waist and she wrapped her around his shoulders.

When they drew apart all she could do was smile and he smiled back at her. All memory of her anger had disappeared. His eyes soon changed to one of worry.

"Giulia, I really really really hate to ruin this moment, but Hermione is still at my house and I need to help her with some stuff but I want to see you. Tonight can you meet me on our beach? Maybe at 9 o clock? Please don't be mad at me. I just…well I wasn't expecting this at all," he said hurriedly looking at her as though praying she wouldn't start yelling again.

"Hermione?" she questioned, feeling the familiar grip of jealousy claw at her.

"She's an old friend from school. She's having a hard time and truthfully I don't really know why she's here. I haven't heard from her in years and she just showed up and I have a feeling something bad must have happened."

When he said that he hadn't heard from her in years a look of sadness went through his eyes that raised alarm bells.

"Neville, I understand but can I just ask. Do you care about her as more than a friend?"

Her question must have caught him off guard and his eyes widened and his cheeks flushed. She frowned and turned away not wanting to deal with this turn of events. He liked her but there was someone else.

A hand caught her arm and turned her around. Neville pulled her in close and hugged her.

"Giules it's adorable to see you like this. I'll be honest with you. Yes I used to have a crush on her but I think it was a boyhood thing. I haven't spoken to her in years and she sort of has a fiancé," he pulled away and looked at her in the eye, "I think the girl for me is the one who has been by my side for these past three years. Giules you're my best friend and I'm pretty sure we could be something more…well…if you want," he trailed off awkwardly in his klutzy unsure way of his.

Her heart rate sped up again at his words. His eyes were sincere and she had known him long enough to know that Neville didn't share his feelings often but when he did it was important. She nodded.

"Think it was a boyhood thing? Sort of has a fiance? Uhm.." she asked her eyes flashing, however his look of sincerity made her realizie she was probably being unfair to the boy who blushed even when he excused himself to go the the bathroom. She relented and smiled.

"Take care of your friend and if there's anything I can do, let me know. I trust you, Nev. I'll meet you on our beach at 9."

"You're amazing. I'll explain everything then," he declared and hugged her closer again. Pulling away he started to turn around when he stopped and looked back.

"Giules?"

"Yeah Nev?"

"Mind if I kiss you one last time? For the road and all?"

"If you want," she said grinning and he grabbed her and kissed her on the mouth. It was short and he pulled away quickly. He turned to run off and promptly tripped over his feet. He turned around and gave her an embarrassed shrug and a smile and was gone. And that left Giulia standing there with her fingers on her still tingling lips. A thought crossed her mind making her laugh.

He was handsome, cute, funny, and amazing but it was definitely the clumsiness she loved the most.