Chapter 21: The First Kiss
She opened the envelope it was a picture of her and Luke but it wasn't innocent as she remembered. They were snuggled up to each other like Neville and her would sleep.
"What's that?" Luke asked.
Delaney showed him the picture and he choked on his pumpkin juice.
"I knew you two fancied each other!" Ernie McMillan exclaimed loud enough for the Gryffindor table and the Head table to hear.
"Shut your mouth, McMillan!" Delaney growled getting up from the table.
Luke followed Delaney out of the Great Hall.
"Whoever took this picture is going to be bat bogeyed into oblivion." Delaney said.
"What was that all about, Lanes?" George asked.
Delaney showed him the picture.
"You only fall asleep like that with Neville, that's a fake."
"I know but who would take this picture."
"Everything okay, sweetie?" Remus asked.
Delaney showed her dad the picture. He knew it was a fake too since he knew his daughter only slept like that with her best friend.
"Who would do this and why?" Remus asked.
"That would be me." Rita Skeeter said.
"How did you even get into the Hufflepuff common room?" Delaney asked.
"She's a beetle animagus." Hermione said.
"How dare you invade our privacy, we're just friends." Delaney said glaring at the woman.
"Not according to the picture." Rita smirked at her.
"Delaney is just a friend, she'll probably end up being my sister."
"You're Maggie's son?" Remus asked Luke.
"Yes."
Just then Dumbledore walked up.
"Headmaster, this woman invaded our privacy." Delaney said.
"I did nothing of the sort."
"How so, Ms. Lupin and Mr. Rollins?"
Delaney showed Dumbledore the picture. Promptly Dumbledore escorted Skeeter away. That was the end of it. It was now time for the third task. Delaney saw her eldest surrogate brother talking with the only female champion Fleur Delacour. Forget talking they were flirting big time.
"Delaney?" Remus asked.
She turned towards her dad to see him standing with a beautiful blonde woman.
"Delaney, this is Maggie."
"Nice to meet you." Delaney smiled at her.
"You too. So you know my son Luke already but this is my daughter Sarah."
Delaney looked to see a little girl who was basically the carbon copy of her mum.
"Nice to meet you, do you like Quidditch?" She asked Delaney.
"Not particularly." Delaney said.
Sarah frowned.
"But I like Qudditch." Ginny said.
"Cool."
The two new friends sat down. Maggie laughed and said "I have no idea where she gets the Quidditch obsession. I was afraid of flying and so is Luke."
"Mum!" Luke blushed.
"I'm horrible at flying as well." Delaney said.
Neville joined the group.
"This is my best friend since I was three, Neville." Delaney introduced him to Maggie as he put his arm around her casually. Luke had already went to go sit by his friends.
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
The third task started. Krum appeared first then Fleur. Eventually, Harry and Cedric appeared. Was Cedric? No it couldn't be. Cedric's dead. Delaney's heart broke he may have been two years ahead of her but they would have casual conversations now and then since they were in the same house. What broke her was seeing Cedric's father run over to him sobbing. She clung to the closest person to her that just happened to be Neville. He comforted his best friend. They had a memorial for Cedric. Harry was worse off then Delaney since he saw Cedric die. Delaney was more or less not grieving anymore by the middle of the summer. Hermione, Harry, Neville, Delaney and the younger Weasleys were out by the small lake. Neville was again flabbergasted when he saw Delaney in her bathing suit even though it was quite modest.
"Neville, you're drooling." Ginny giggled.
He blushed as Delaney sat down across from him. Ginny walked away.
"Shall we go in the water, Laney?" Neville asked.
"Okay."
Neville stood up and held out his hand for Delaney. She gladly accepted it and he pulled her up but the force sent them back onto the ground and Delaney landed on Neville's lap just like she did back in third year. Neville looked down into those green eyes he loved so much. Delaney smiled and kissed him. That caught Neville off guard he thought he was dreaming so he kissed back like no tomorrow not wanting this dream to end.