Chapter 16: Long Time No See
Delaney's dad was transferred to the Ministry of Magic. She could stay at Hogwarts. Her dad brought a certain someone along with him.
"Zach?" Delaney asked.
"Lane?"
The two fifteen-year-olds shared a quick hug.
"Nice to see you again, mate," Neville smiled at their mutual friend.
"You too, so how long have you two been together?" Zach smirked, noticing their linked hands
"Depends if you want to count when Neville gave me this flower." Delaney said touching the flower in her hair and continuing. "Or just when we kissed. He gave me this flower back in March or so but we barely kissed about a week ago."
"Either way, it's about time."
Neville smiled and said. "I owe it to your brother, he encouraged me to tell her how I felt."
"You've seen my brother?"
Delaney nodded and said. "Yes, he's friends with the Weasley's second eldest son, Charlie."
"Okay."
Delaney was sitting between her boyfriend and their best friend. Neville had his arm around her.
"So, Tyler mentioned that you've been dealing with something."
Zach sighed and said. "I found out that I was adopted."
"You're adopted?"
Zach nodded and said. "I've known for the past two years."
"Why haven't you told me?" Delaney asked, sounding hurt.
"I never found the chance."
Delaney nodded.
"You know I always knew you two would end up together but at a point in time I did have a minuscule crush on Delaney but I knew by then her heart had already been stolen by you. Though I wouldn't stand a chance with her anyway."
"Why do you say that, Zach?" Neville asked.
"I'm just a lowly squib. I have so much competition in wizards."
"Zach, you're a great guy. Don't say that."
He sighed again and said. "Although, I now understand why Delaney developed a crush on Brayden."
Neville turned to his girlfriend and asked. "Who's Brayden?"
"He was a guy I was infatuated with for most of my second year. Though it didn't turn out well." Delaney blushed slightly.
Neville stiffened and said. "How so?"
"At one of our dances I kept asking him to dance but he never gave me the time of day."
"I'm guessing you didn't tell me because you knew I would somehow find a way to come over there and beat him up," Neville smirked.
"Precisely, Nev," Delaney giggled.
Neville kissed her cheek and asked. "So, do you know anything about your biological parents?"
"All I know is that I was sent to America when I just over a year because my mom was killed and there was no father on my birth certificate," Zach replied.
"Who was your mum?"
"Marlene McKinnon," He answered.
Neville swore he's heard that name before. He thinks she was friends with his mum.
It was a few days later.
"Mum?" Neville asked.
"Yes, sweetie."
"Did you know someone named Marlene McKinnon in school?"
Alice nodded and said. "Yes, I did. Why do you ask?"
"Zach claims she was his mum."
Alice nodded and said. "You know I always suspected that Zach was adopted but I never brought it up."
"Alright, would you happen to know who his biological father might be?"
"The only guy she dated on and off was Sirius. So it could be possible that he's the father. Although, Marlene was in my year and Sirius was about two years below us."
Neville nodded. Now that his mum had mentioned that he could see the resemblances between the father and son.
They went to Saint Mungos a few days later.
"Why are we here again?" Zach asked, nervously.
"We're getting you a blood test to see who your father is," Alice informed her son's best friend.
Zach nodded and looked hesitantly at Neville and Delaney. But of course they were too wrapped up in each other.
"Zachary Gilman!" The healer called.
Zach got up and the rest of them followed him for the blood test. Zach was nervous.
"Hold out your arm, Mr. Gilman."
Zach tensed. He had always been afraid of needles. He took a deep breath as the nurse took his blood.