Disclaimer: Harry Potter is from the creative genius that is J.K. Rowling. I am not her. This is merely a fan fiction to tide us over until Book 6. A/N: Neville is a bit well smarmy in this, but he is a teenage boy. Some of you were wondering why Draco didn't rat Neville out. The reason is because it would look bad at if a Malfoy was bested by a Longbottom. He would never admit to that. ==========================================================================

The next few days were filled with studying. Ginny was stacked under OWL homework worse than Harry, Ron and Hermione were last year if that was at all possible. Neville was diligently studying how to make Veritaserum. He was memorizing the potion to make sure he left nothing out. He seemed very determined to get it right. Both of whom were sitting at the table in the common room, while the trio sat on the couch studying.

Hermione was busy studying for NEWTs, while Harry studies DADA. Ron, by some strange miracle had made it into the NEWT level for Divination. He was currently plotting out how horrible the rest of his week would be. So far he had he would be betrayed by a friend, find out some big secret that would have an impact on someone's life and be stopped from killing his future brother-in-law by his future bride. All in all Hermione had to roll her eyes and wonder just where did he come up with such nonsense.

One thing was for sure, she was relieved that Neville seemed to get back to normal. He was beginning to be, well dare she think it – so overconfident that he was beginning to get cocky, like Malfoy. She was glad the spat with Ginny had taken him down a notch. Her mother always said humility would cut down an ego in nothing flat. Of course, it didn't hurt if the humility was being shoved down one's throat at the time. Maybe she wouldn't have to tell anyone about the confidence potion at all.

Ginny was in a terrible mood. Her homework was stacked so high she was sure if she climbed on top of all the books she needed she could see the Atlantic Ocean from Hogwarts. There was no way to get everything done as well as she wanted. To top it all off Neville kept hinting for a snog. Not that she wouldn't normally mind, but she had work to do and him looking at her like he was now was not helping!

Neville knew him staring at Ginny was beginning to annoy her, but really he couldn't help it. She just looked so beautiful, especially when she was trying to concentrate.

He had completely memorized Veritaserum. There was no way possible that he was going to get it wrong tomorrow in potions. Finally he'd wipe that smirk off of Snape's face and find out what he wanted to know -- why Snape acted the way he did toward him, if he knew where LeStrange was and if he was there the night his parents were tortured.

Growing up Neville used to wonder what it would be like to have real parents. Sure his mom and dad were alive, unlike Harry's, but sometimes he thought Harry's parents were better off than his were. He often dreamed of a cure to his parents condition. He would find it, and the first thing he would do would present his family to his parents. He wasn't kidding when he said Ginny was his future wife. He had known for a long time he was in love with her. What was it Luna said? Wit beyond measure was man's greatest pleasure? Ginny had wit alright and spunk. Merlin, he hoped their children looked like her.

He knew as a sixth-year and her being a fifth-year and all, that he shouldn't be thinking that far ahead, but really her mum and dad must have married right after graduation. He knew his parents didn't wait past their 20th birthdays to wed. Was it really that horrible to think about? Sharing a life with her forever? Merlin, he had it bad already, and he really hadn't given her a proper kiss. They had just shared little pecks, but nothing substantial. Sure he had kissed her after the ball, but he knew it wasn't a good kiss. No, he wanted to kiss her so passionately that her knees buckled. That thought caused him to smile happily and look over at Ginny with longing for their future.

Ginny knew he was staring again. She could feel it.

"Stop it," she said harshly, putting down her homework.

"Stop what Ginny?' he nearly purred, causing Ron, Harry and Hermione to look up from the couch.

"Please stop looking at me as if I was one of the flavored lollipops from Honeydukes,' she said cross as she gathered up her books and started to get up.

A feral grin crossed his face. The old Neville would never say or do what he was about to, but a snog would make her relax. He knew the homework was getting to her, and the lollipop thing she said just caused a jingle he once heard on a telly to pop into his mind. As she went to most likely storm up the dormitory stairs, he grabbed her arm.

"And how many licks would it take to get to you?" he said standing up.

"What?" Ginny said completely taken aback and slightly outraged.

Neville just smiled, and seeing his chance lowered his lips to hers. A second later Ginny's books hit the common room floor as she put her arms around the back of his neck and ran her fingers through his hair. It was definitely a kiss she would remember for awhile if she didn't faint before it was over.

At this point, Hermione was holding Ron back from pounding Neville to the ground. Harry, meanwhile was in shock.

Neville broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against Ginny's. He watched as her eyes fluttered open. He wasn't entirely sure when she had closed them, but by the slight smile and blush on her face he knew she had thoroughly enjoyed the kiss.

"I believe you'll notice my kissing has improved since the last time," he said braggingly. "As far as the answer to my question I'll just have to find out on our honeymoon. Goodnight love."

Making sure Ginny was seated, he winked at her then bound up the stairs to the dormitory.

"Wow," Ginny said softly, touching her fingers to her lips, before looking up at the trio. A blush crept into her cheeks as she realized they saw the whole thing. She liked this kiss, just hoped that Neville would give her one like that in private. It made the kiss seem a bit like a spectacle really, not that it wasn't worth one.

"What in the BLOODY hell just happened here?" Ron yelled.

"I say your sister is pretty well snogged," Harry said softly. "Not only that I think Neville asked her to marry him."

"I'll kill the smarmy buggar!" Ron raged. "And what did he mean it was better than the last time. Just when was the last time!"

"Probably during the ball Ron. Really calm down," Hermione said trying to reason with him.

"He must have a death wish to say and do that to Ginny in front of me!"

"Yeah, it's almost like he's channeling Draco Malfoy or something," Harry said offhandedly.

Hermione cringed, "Well not exactly."

Three pairs of eyes turned to her.

"What do you know about all of this?" Ron shouted.

"You see it's a long story," she said meekly.

"I think we have time," he said sternly.