A/N: Posting this really fast, because I've got maybe five minutes and my betas said this was decent.
Thank you thank you thank you everyonme who reviewed. *hug* You made me feel much better about the first chapter and I'll thank you all individually later, time permitting.
Oh yes and thanks to my wonderful and wonderfully talented betas Bella and Becks! ^_^ You guys are fab!
***
Charlie arrived at the Burrow during breakfast two days after the group from Hogwarts. He greeted his family affectionately and was surprised to see a face he did not readily recognize. "Hullo," he said to Neville. "I don't believe we've met."
"Neville, this is my son Charlie. Charlie, this is Neville, Ron's boyfriend," Molly said. Ginny dropped her bowl of cereal, sending corn flakes and shards of pottery skittering across the kitchen floor. Percy's eyebrows were in danger of disappearing into his hair. Bill, Fred, and George took no notice, having known already. Neville shook hands with Charlie, deciding to ignore for the moment the reaction of various members of the Weasley family.
"Ah, yes, the one who works with dragons in- Romania, was it?" he said. Charlie looked politely astonished.
"That's me. Neville- the name sounds familiar. What's your last name?"
"Longbottom."
"Any relation to Neil Longbottom?"
"Yes, that's my brother. How do you know him?"
"Correspondent in China. Knows an awful lot about dragons."
"He should. He's probably the only child in the world whose first word was 'dragon'," Neville said with a strained smile.
"Actually, he's not," Molly said, casting a meaningful look at Charlie, who turned red.
"Smashing chaser, Neil was," he said changing the subject quickly.
"Was he? I never saw him play."
"You missed out, let me tell you. Absolutely brilliant."
"Did you ever play against each other?"
"No, he graduated before I made the team," Charlie said wistfully. Ron coughed. Neville smiled at him sweetly.
"It was nice meeting you, Charlie. Will you tell me about the dragons in Romania later?"
"Of course," Charlie answered. Neville went upstairs, followed shortly by Ron. "Nice chap," Charlie said.
Ron found Neville reading on his bed as if he had been there for hours instea of half a minute. "Are you quite done cross-examining my brother?" Ron asked.
"I was making polite conversation, " Neville replied, not looking up from his book.
"Mm-h'm. Flirt," Ron grumbled. Neville raised an eyebrow.
"Am not," he said.
"If you say so."
"I'm glad we're agreed, Ronnikins."
"I asked you not to call me that," Ron complained. Neville smiled.
"I think it's cute."
"How come you never told me about your brother?" Ron asked suddenly.
"You never asked."
"I didn't know you had one."
"What do you want to know?"
"Basic stuff."
"Well, he's handsome, nearly twice my age, former member of Slytherin, former Quidditch star, former head boy, and practically perfect in every way," Neville said off-handedly.
"How can you use 'Slytherin' and 'perfect' in the same sentence?" Ron asked.
"It's easy. Listen: Slytherin seeker Draco Malfoy has a perfect-"
"Never mind. That's even worse," Ron broke in. Neville smiled.
"Are you close?"
"Me and Neil?" Ron nodded. "No, actually. We hardly write and we almost never see each other."
"That sucks," Ron said. He couldn't imagine being closely related to someone and having almost no contact with him. Neville shrugged.
"Yeah, well what can you do? Family has never been Neil's top priority." Ron raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. There was more to this than Neville was letting on.
Neville was quiet for the better part of the day. While it wasn't unusual for Neville to be lost in his own thoughts, Ron couldn't help but notice that he appeared to be brooding. However, when Ron asked his boyfriend what was bothering him, the answer was always nothing. It was beginning to bother him.
That evening an owl arrived for Neville. "Laurel!" Neville cried in surprise. What possible reason could his grandmother have for owling him? He freed the letter from the owl's leg. He read it quickly and turned white and the his face was grim when he looked up. "Mrs. Weasley, I'm afraid I have to leave," he said.
"Leave? But why? Nothing's wrong is it?" Molly inquired. A feigned smile appeared on Neville's lips.
"Not in the least. It's my brother. He's decided to pay us a visit."
"But you only just got here!" Ron exclaimed.
"We haven't even had the opportunity to test our latest invention!" Fred complained.
"And who else is Percy going to lecture about the dangers of improper cauldron-stirring or some such nonsense?" George asked. Percy turned bright red.
"I wish I didn't have to, but I haven't seen Neil since I started Hogwarts and I really should be there," Neville said, sounding as if he were trying to convince himself more than the Weasleys.
"If you must go, then we won't stop you," Arthur sighed.
"But you'll come back if you can, won't you?" Ginny said. Everyone looked at her in surprise. This was the first time she'd spoken since her scene in the kitchen.
"If it is at all possible, wild horses couldn't stop me."
"What about Dementors?" Ron asked.
"Well, I regret that that aspect of my education has been neglected," Neville said, looking over at Bill. Bill laughed.
"Is that a hint I'm not assigning enough homework?" he asked. "But I'm with Ginny. Do come back."
"I'll try," Neville said.
***
Second chapter is always easier than the first and third is just a pain! I'll have it up soon (I hope.)!
Love,
J. Silver
Thank you thank you thank you everyonme who reviewed. *hug* You made me feel much better about the first chapter and I'll thank you all individually later, time permitting.
Oh yes and thanks to my wonderful and wonderfully talented betas Bella and Becks! ^_^ You guys are fab!
***
Charlie arrived at the Burrow during breakfast two days after the group from Hogwarts. He greeted his family affectionately and was surprised to see a face he did not readily recognize. "Hullo," he said to Neville. "I don't believe we've met."
"Neville, this is my son Charlie. Charlie, this is Neville, Ron's boyfriend," Molly said. Ginny dropped her bowl of cereal, sending corn flakes and shards of pottery skittering across the kitchen floor. Percy's eyebrows were in danger of disappearing into his hair. Bill, Fred, and George took no notice, having known already. Neville shook hands with Charlie, deciding to ignore for the moment the reaction of various members of the Weasley family.
"Ah, yes, the one who works with dragons in- Romania, was it?" he said. Charlie looked politely astonished.
"That's me. Neville- the name sounds familiar. What's your last name?"
"Longbottom."
"Any relation to Neil Longbottom?"
"Yes, that's my brother. How do you know him?"
"Correspondent in China. Knows an awful lot about dragons."
"He should. He's probably the only child in the world whose first word was 'dragon'," Neville said with a strained smile.
"Actually, he's not," Molly said, casting a meaningful look at Charlie, who turned red.
"Smashing chaser, Neil was," he said changing the subject quickly.
"Was he? I never saw him play."
"You missed out, let me tell you. Absolutely brilliant."
"Did you ever play against each other?"
"No, he graduated before I made the team," Charlie said wistfully. Ron coughed. Neville smiled at him sweetly.
"It was nice meeting you, Charlie. Will you tell me about the dragons in Romania later?"
"Of course," Charlie answered. Neville went upstairs, followed shortly by Ron. "Nice chap," Charlie said.
Ron found Neville reading on his bed as if he had been there for hours instea of half a minute. "Are you quite done cross-examining my brother?" Ron asked.
"I was making polite conversation, " Neville replied, not looking up from his book.
"Mm-h'm. Flirt," Ron grumbled. Neville raised an eyebrow.
"Am not," he said.
"If you say so."
"I'm glad we're agreed, Ronnikins."
"I asked you not to call me that," Ron complained. Neville smiled.
"I think it's cute."
"How come you never told me about your brother?" Ron asked suddenly.
"You never asked."
"I didn't know you had one."
"What do you want to know?"
"Basic stuff."
"Well, he's handsome, nearly twice my age, former member of Slytherin, former Quidditch star, former head boy, and practically perfect in every way," Neville said off-handedly.
"How can you use 'Slytherin' and 'perfect' in the same sentence?" Ron asked.
"It's easy. Listen: Slytherin seeker Draco Malfoy has a perfect-"
"Never mind. That's even worse," Ron broke in. Neville smiled.
"Are you close?"
"Me and Neil?" Ron nodded. "No, actually. We hardly write and we almost never see each other."
"That sucks," Ron said. He couldn't imagine being closely related to someone and having almost no contact with him. Neville shrugged.
"Yeah, well what can you do? Family has never been Neil's top priority." Ron raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. There was more to this than Neville was letting on.
Neville was quiet for the better part of the day. While it wasn't unusual for Neville to be lost in his own thoughts, Ron couldn't help but notice that he appeared to be brooding. However, when Ron asked his boyfriend what was bothering him, the answer was always nothing. It was beginning to bother him.
That evening an owl arrived for Neville. "Laurel!" Neville cried in surprise. What possible reason could his grandmother have for owling him? He freed the letter from the owl's leg. He read it quickly and turned white and the his face was grim when he looked up. "Mrs. Weasley, I'm afraid I have to leave," he said.
"Leave? But why? Nothing's wrong is it?" Molly inquired. A feigned smile appeared on Neville's lips.
"Not in the least. It's my brother. He's decided to pay us a visit."
"But you only just got here!" Ron exclaimed.
"We haven't even had the opportunity to test our latest invention!" Fred complained.
"And who else is Percy going to lecture about the dangers of improper cauldron-stirring or some such nonsense?" George asked. Percy turned bright red.
"I wish I didn't have to, but I haven't seen Neil since I started Hogwarts and I really should be there," Neville said, sounding as if he were trying to convince himself more than the Weasleys.
"If you must go, then we won't stop you," Arthur sighed.
"But you'll come back if you can, won't you?" Ginny said. Everyone looked at her in surprise. This was the first time she'd spoken since her scene in the kitchen.
"If it is at all possible, wild horses couldn't stop me."
"What about Dementors?" Ron asked.
"Well, I regret that that aspect of my education has been neglected," Neville said, looking over at Bill. Bill laughed.
"Is that a hint I'm not assigning enough homework?" he asked. "But I'm with Ginny. Do come back."
"I'll try," Neville said.
***
Second chapter is always easier than the first and third is just a pain! I'll have it up soon (I hope.)!
Love,
J. Silver