Chapter 23: Break Up

Dora got up, hugged her cousin and assured him, "That doesn't matter, Zach."

"It doesn't?"

"No, it doesn't."

Sirius smiled and said, "Well on that note, we should eat."

Everyone nodded in agreement and they went to eat.

"You know I was a Hufflepuff too, Delaney." Dora said.

Delaney glanced at the older girl and asked, "You were?"

"I was."

"That's cool. Neville always thought I would be a Hufflepuff." Delaney smiled at her boyfriend.

"I've noticed those scars on your wrist, where are they from?" Andie asked gently.

Delaney shuddered slightly at the memory and said, "I got detention earlier this year and the teacher made me use a blood quill."

"Those things were outlawed ages ago." Andie said.

"What did you get detention, you don't seem like much of a troublemaker?"

Delaney nodded and said, "I'm usually not but our old professor just pushed the wrong button."

Before anyone could respond there was a knock on the door. Everyone looked confused.

"I suppose I'll get that." Sirius said.

"Alright."

Sirius got up and answered the door. It turned out to be Ms. Summers.

"Ro, what are you doing here?" Sirius asked his girlfriend gently.

The usually calm professor said, "My family is dead, bloody death eaters set their house on fire."

Sirius pulled his girlfriend into a hug as he tensed. Over his shoulder she saw Andromeda who was almost the spitting image of the main death eater that caused the death of her family also known as Bellatrix Lestrange.

"You didn't tell me you were related to her!" She exclaimed glaring at Andie over Sirius' shoulder.

"Ro." He said trying to reason with his already ticked off girlfriend.

"I don't want to hear it! We're over!"She exclaimed.

Sirius looked hurt. He had a feeling she would react this way when she found out he was related to death eaters. Ms. Summers left in a huff.

"Well, this is awkward."

"I suddenly don't have an appetite." Sirius sighed leaving the room.

The rest of the occupants said their goodbyes to Andie, Ted and Dora. The three kids walked to the living room.

"Maybe I should go check on him." Zach said.

Before either one of them could respond Remus walked in from work. He was uncharacteristically happy. It's like the two men switched personalities for the time being or something.

"Hey kids." He greeted.

"Hey Remus."

He glanced at his best friend's son and his two best friends and asked, "Is there something wrong?"

"My dad and Professor Summers broke up." Zach said.

Remus blinked in surprise and asked, "What happen?"

"She found out I was related to death eaters." Sirius sighed.

Remus nodded and went to go comfort his best friend.

"So, Nev. Why did you react that way to Andie?" Delaney asked.

He sighed he was sort of hoping that Delaney wouldn't remember how he reacted but he knew she wouldn't.

"You don't have to tell us, if you don't want to."

Neville shook his head and replied. "No, I'll tell you."

Flashback 1980 -1981

The Longbottoms had been told to go into hiding along with their friends the Potters since Voldemort was after their son. Frank's mother Augusta was their secret keeper. Even when the Potters were betrayed by their secret keeper Peter Pettigrew they decided to stay in hiding for safety until all the death eaters were caught. This is why Neville was quite awkward around girls besides his mum. The reason why he flinched when he saw Andromeda because she looked so much like Bellatrix and she was the main death eater that was after his parents for information.

That also explains the reason why his parents jumped at the chance to be transferred to America. They would be safer despite Bellatrix being in Azkaban since Neville was three. They wouldn't have to worry about her anymore.

End of Flashback

As the flashback finished Neville was looking at his friends for their reaction.

"I'm sorry, Nev," Delaney said, hugging her boyfriend.

"Merlin, my family is messed up!" Zach exclaimed.

Delaney was still comforting Neville.

"You remember when I told you about the trio went to go save the stone in our first year?"

Delaney nodded.

"Well, I sort of stood up to them saying that Gryffindor was going to get in trouble again. Hermione promptly cast a body binding curse at me and I fell down."

"Were you hurt?"

"Not really."

Delaney nodded.