I DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANYTHING AFFILIATED WITH IT. I ONLY OWN DEVYN AND HER PARENTS.

Chapter 12

"Hey," Fred Weasley said, leaning over the back of the couch. George was standing right next to him, doing the exact same thing. Devyn and Neville were currently sitting on it, playing a game of Gobstones. The two of them looked up at Fred and George and said, "Hey, Fred, George. What's up?"

"Well, first off – Neville, George and I heard about your Boggart in Lupin's class. It's gone down in legend, you know. Although, I don't reckon Snape was too happy about it. He's been downright horrible this past week. You noticed that?" Fred said.

Neville and Devyn nodded, having experienced Snape's increased animosity in classes. "Yeah, I was wondering why he was being so mean. More than usual, anyway. That would explain it," Devyn commented.

"Yeah. Also heard about your Boggart, Devyn," George replied. Devyn sighed and said, "From whom did you hear this?"

"Oh, some girl in your year. Kind of giggly, bit annoying really," Fred answered.

Devyn and Neville looked at each other and said, "Lavender."

Fred snapped his fingers and said, "That's the one. Couldn't remember her name. So it's true? Your Boggart is a Basilisk?"

Devyn nodded and George whistled. "That's a good one. Although, why are you afraid of Basilisks? You've never faced one off before…have you?"

Devyn grumbled and nodded reluctantly. Fred and George's eyes widened. "You have? But when? Unless…was it…"

Fred gestured vaguely by pointing to the floor. Devyn could easily figure out what he meant. "In the Chamber of Secrets? Yeah. That's the monster of legend. Or it was. It's dead now."

Fred and George both seemed dumbfounded. Then Fred finally said, "I don't suppose we can thank you enough. For rescuing Ginny. Especially now that we know what you guys were fighting."

Devyn waved them off and said, "Don't mention it, really. Ginny's a friend. We weren't about to leave her down there."

Devyn felt like she had said that same sentence about a million times in the past few months. Fred and George nodded and said no more on the matter. "Anyway," George said, "that's not why we came over here. We wanted to tell you about the Hogsmeade trip date. It's on Halloween. They usually announce about a month before hand, so that students can get their plans together."

"Yeah, but we usually like to wing it. Much more fun that way," Fred added, which George assented to with a nod.

"Oh, thanks, guys. That's very thoughtful of you."

Fred and George exchanged mischievous grins and said, "Yeah well, we wanted to talk to you personally, because we heard from a little birdie that will remain unnamed – it isn't that Lavender girl – that you and Neville are going together. As in a date."

"Why are you so interested?" Devyn asked. She also wanted to know who told Fred and George about their date, if you could even call it that. Technically, it was just two good friends spending the day together.

"Well, normally, we'd not be, but –" Fred said, looking at George to finish his thought.

"-but considering you are basically family – you might be our fifth cousin three times removed or something…all the Pureblood families are interrelated – we thought we'd take it upon ourselves to make sure that Neville knows that if he hurts you, he'll have to face us. And your godfather, and Harry, and Ron, and Hermione. And probably our mum. She's very fond of you, Devyn."

"So, yeah, we just wanted to make sure Neville knew that. Have a nice day," Fred said, smiling brightly. He and his twin walked off, leaving two very stunned thirteen year olds behind them. Devyn and Neville looked at each other, not entirely sure what had just happened.

"Alright then," Devyn said, looking down at the small marble like spheres in front of her.

"Dev," Neville said. Devyn looked up at him. "Are you bothered that Fred and George said we were going on a date? Because if you are, we don't have to call it that. I would understand."

"Neville, of course I'm not bothered. Why would I be bothered to be going on a date with you? You're my best friend and there's no one else I'd rather be with, than you."

"It's just… we never actually said it was a date. I didn't know if you…if you knew that's what I was asking you. I was asking you out…"

"I kinda figured, Nev. And I'm glad you did."

"You are?" Neville asked, looking surprised. Devyn nodded earnestly.

"Yes, I am. I…this is gonna sound so dumb, but I like you. I mean, I love you….but I like you, too. If that makes any sense…"

Neville started smiling more brightly than Devyn had ever seen him do. "That's good. That's brilliant, actually, because I like you, too. Like you said, I love you, Devyn. But I…I fancy you."

Devyn became aware that she was blushing and that Neville was blushing as well. She reached out and took his hand in hers.

"Well, that settles that, then," Devyn said, smiling widely.

"Yeah. Yeah, I suppose it does."

September passed by quickly and soon October took its place, bringing with it colder and rainier weather and Devyn's fourteenth birthday.

On that day, which was a Wednesday, Devyn woke up the usual time she did and started to get ready for her classes that day, smiling to herself about the fact that she had reached a new age. She looked in the mirror as she put on the Moonstone and Opal necklace that Moony had given her two years before; the time had gone extremely fast – it hadn't felt like two years had passed, if she was being honest. And she knew she was rushing time a little, but it would only be three years until she came of age. That was an odd thought.

She brought herself back to the present as she adjusted the necklace's fine chain so that the clasp was on the back of her neck, and wondered how her birthday was going to go. She genuinely wasn't expecting anything special, except maybe a few well wishes from her friends and perhaps a present from her godfather – but when she got downstairs, she was nearly bowled over by someone with bushy brown hair as they hugged her tightly.

"Morning, Hermione," she said, hugging her friend.

"Happy Birthday, Devyn!" Hermione said as she released Devyn from her iron-clad grasp.

"Thanks, Hermione," she replied. Hermione stood in front of her, smiling brightly as she held out a card and a small box. The card wished her a happy birthday and told her once again how much Hermione cherished her friendship. Devyn smiled at Hermione when she finished reading the card and Hermione nodded – no words were needed to communicate between the two of them anymore.

She opened the little box and her jaw dropped when she saw what was inside. Somehow, Devyn didn't know how, but somehow Hermione managed to locate a pin with the Eagles on it, the American Muggle band whose music Hermione got her hooked on.

"Mione… where did you find this?" Devyn asked, taking out of the box and looking at it in awe. It depicted the five Eagles the way they appeared on the back on the Hotel California album cover. She'd never even known any to be in existence.

"My parents and I went shopping in London over the summer, and we went into this vintage shop, and there it was, just sitting in a glass case at the register. I was astonished that no one had bought it, and when I saw it, I just knew I had to get it for you."

"This is great, Hermione. I love it. Thank you!" Devyn said, hugging her friend. She ran back upstairs and attached her new pin to her schoolbag, making sure it was secure and perfectly positioned before she took her bag and went back downstairs.

When she got back down into the Common Room, Neville, Harry, and Ron were waiting for her, and that the Common Room was now filling up with some other people, like the Weasley Twins and Katie Bell. Harry clutched a card that was presumably from both Ron and himself and Neville was holding a rectangular box in his hands as well as a card.

Harry handed her the card when she reached the bottom step and wished her a Happy Birthday. He nudged Ron, who cleared his throat and said, "Happy Birthday, Devyn."

"Thanks, guys," she said, opening her card. It contained two messages – one from Harry and one from Ron. They both pretty much said the same thing; they wished her well on her special day, told her how great of a friend she was, and basically thanked her for not giving up on them.

Harry's was a bit more heartfelt than Ron's but she appreciated them both the same nonetheless.

"Thank you, guys," Devyn repeated, giving a hug to each of them. And then Neville stepped forward, a nervous smile on his face.

"Happy Birthday, Devyn," he said, giving her the card and box. She opened the card and read what Neville had wrote:

Devyn,

We've been friends since we met that day in Madam Malkins'. I remember how surprised I was when Gran told you that you and I had been friends when we were babies. Seems like even then we liked being around each other. Since that day, you've been a constant presence in my life and I can honestly say I don't know what I would do without you. So Happy Birthday to you, to my best friend in the entire world. Thank you for sticking up for me and believing in me even when I didn't. You'll never know how much it means to me, Devyn.

Love,

Neville

Devyn looked up with tears in her eyes and she pulled Neville into a tight hug.

"I love you, Neville," Devyn said. She could almost hear Neville smile.

"Love you, too, Dev," he replied. "Now open your gift."

"Okay," Devyn chuckled, removing the cover on the box. She smiled brightly when she saw what was inside.

There, in a dark wood frame, was a picture of her and Neville embracing. She remembered Colin wanting a picture of the two of them together, for whatever reason. So she had wrapped her arms around Neville's waist and Neville put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her.

Her head was resting on his shoulder and she was wearing the biggest smile on her face, as was Neville.

"Colin showed it to me a couple weeks ago and he asked if I wanted it. So of course I said yes and that's when I thought about how perfect a gift this would be. I thought it'd be nice if it moved so I spent some time with the Potions Club kids, and they taught me how to make the potion that would allow the picture to move. They helped me a little to make sure I got it right, but I brewed the potion mainly on my own…"

Devyn looked down at their smiling faces and laughed softly at the way the wind was blowing their hair. Colin had caught them outside on an unusually warm September day, so their robes were off and they were both wearing the mandatory white shirt and gold and scarlet tie. Neville's was loosened and the crooked smile on his face showed just how happy he was to be there, taking this picture with her.

She saw the look of love in his eyes and wondered how she had ever been so blind as to not notice it. She looked up, still marveling at how she had not seen that look in his eyes, when Neville asked her, "Do you like it?"

"Do I like it? Neville I love it! I love it!" Devyn said. She saw that look in his eyes for the first time in real life and decided then and there that she always wanted to see that look in his eyes. And, perhaps rather selfishly, she always wanted it to be aimed her way.

A sudden urge came over her and she reached out and grabbed Neville's robes and pulled him into a kiss, before she had time to stop herself. Somewhere inside her, Snow howled in delight and victory and her heart started singing. She hadn't realized how much she wanted to do this until she actually did it.

The kiss only lasted a few seconds, but when they pulled apart, Hermione was beaming, Harry was blinking in confusion, and Ron's jaw was on the floor. Devyn, however, only had eyes for the boy she currently had her arms around, whose expression went from surprised to ecstatic within seconds.

The smile that graced his features was one more beautiful than Devyn had ever seen and he said, "Devyn. We've not even been on one date yet, but will you be my girlfriend?"

Devyn smiled before saying, "Yes. Absolutely and unequivocally yes."

The rest of the day, they walked hand in hand, not bothering to hide their happiness from anyone. Moony had been happy for them, if not a little surprised. Hermione was beside herself with delight, Harry was quietly happy for them, and Ron was utterly gobsmacked. Evidently, he'd had no idea that Neville and Devyn were anything more than good friends.

The funniest reaction, however, went to Lavender and Parvati. Immediately upon seeing their intertwined fingers, they started whispering furiously. They had then walked over to the two of them and Lavender said, "So you're dating."

"Yeah," Devyn said.

"Since when?" Parvati asked.

"I asked her this morning," Neville told her.

"How?" Lavender and Parvati asked in unison. Devyn and Neville looked at each other before they too answered in unison.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"