Chapter 16: Unexpected Occurences.

I look at my watch as I once again trudged through the corn towards my parents' house. At least today I wasn't late. I hated being late. For what seemed like the hundredth time I asked myself, Why was I doing this again? Hermione and Ron. Sometimes I love them so much I just want to kill them.

Just Kidding.

But seriously.

I still had absolutely no clue what Harry wanted and after his unexpected call to my grate my mind had wandered to every possible scenario. Some were rather dirty, other's where angry, others were simple niceties and then I skipped on my way. And I mean skipped.

I shuffled up to the front steps and pushed the door to the kitchen open. I didn't see a soul. A strange occurrence, this place was usually busier than King's Cross on the first day of Hogwarts. Mum must be off somewhere since there were no brooms sweeping or dishes washing themselves. The usual tell-tale signs that my mother was around was the enchanting objects in every single corner. I looked around the dining room and the living room before chancing a call into the house.

"Hello?" A loud shuffling. And a bang echoed above me. I'm assuming that he was upstairs. I hopped up the first steps of the staircase before I realized I didn't actually know what bedroom he was staying in. Probably Ron's right? Wouldn't he stay in the room that was familiar to him? "Hello? Harry?"

I made it up to the landing where I spent the entirety of my child hood passing to my room when Harry appeared out of the opposite bedroom. My mind blanked in shock for a moment as I eyed the two doors.

His room was right next to mine.

Those rooms have an adjoining door. It was never used….

But the possibilities….

NO! BAD Ginny.

Suspicion welled up inside of me as I took in his sheepish expression. My gaze traveled over the gray Henley and jeans. He looked delicious. Like he didn't care who the hell saw him. Merlin, that man could wear a pair of jeans.

"You're staying in Percy's room?" His expression didn't change as he shuffled from one foot to another. Okay, if I wasn't suspicious before, now I'm really worried.

"Yeah, I didn't want to move all my stuff up to Ron's room. Your mum said it was fine." He nervously raked his hand through his hair and I stifled the urge to groan aloud. I loved it when he did that.

"All those stairs…" I said lamely letting my eyes drift to the staircase that led to the other floors.

Silence hung stagnant between us for a few minutes.

Well, this wasn't awkward or anything.

"So what did you want help with?"

I would not have expected the next words that came out of his mouth in a million years. He raked his hands through his hair again, tousling his black locks so that it looked like he had spent a good deal of time rolling around the bed sheets. His eyes met mine and I didn't even know if I understood what he said until I repeated it out loud.

"You want help with a first date." My voice was deathly monotone.

Rage and hurt coursed through me in a way that I couldn't even begin to explain.

How dare he. How fucking dare he.

"And you think I'm the person to ask about this?" His face showed that he thought the answer to his predicament was obvious.

"Of course, who else was I going to ask?"

Anyone else? Anyone else would have been good. He was higher than hell if he thought that I was going to do this. Who was he even going out with? Cho? That bitch…

"Come on, We're in here." My eyebrows shot up! What in the hell was going. I hesitantly followed him to Percy's room. My mind not working and going a mile a minute at the same time. I was numb. I was confused. It felt like I had gone into to shock. My mind was screaming for me to run away, but my body traitorously followed him.

I slowly crossed over the threshold.

And that's when I saw Neville standing next to an open window erratically breathing in and out of a paper bag.

Oh my god.

"Oh my god." I let out a huge breath of air as I took into account the clearly panicking form of my date to the Yule Ball. "Neville's first date."

Not Harry's first date. The relief that swept over me was monumental.

Harry nodded to me from my side, motioning towards our friend. "He's been like that for a good half hour now. " There were severe sweat marks down Neville's back and under his armpits. I moved towards him, this just wouldn't do. I lightly removed the bag from his face.

"Neville sweetie calm down." He gasped for breath a few more times. Moving to open up the window I rubbed his back, well the part that was dry at least, soothingly as I tried to get him to stop freaking out. His breathing finally slowed to a normal pace and I motioned for him to drink some water. "Everything is going to be fine. Now where are you going for dinner?"

Neville sipped the water, his eyes glazed over like he wasn't really sure of the answer. Harry spoke from behind me. "I made them reservations at the Palamino for seven." Perfect. That at least we could work with.

"Okay, are you meeting her there? "

Neville seemed to snap out of his trance for a moment. He spoke, his words garbled and low. "No. I am picking Hannah up at the leaky."

I almost squealed. Hannah Abbot and Neville Longbottom? Talk about the most adorable thing ever! I won't even be able to look at them they would be so cute together. I'd just want to shrink ray them and put them in my purse so that I could keep them forever.

Gah, I am such a girl sometimes.

"And then after dinner what are you going to do?"

There was silence for a minute before he answered me. "Then we are going to take a walk around London."

Freaking adorable.

"Why are you so nervous? You can do this. Just be yourself, you are an amazing guy." He shook his head as the grip he had on the glass tightened.

"I…. " Neville looked like he was about to cry, poor bloke. "I can't mess this up. This is my one shot, and if it goes wrong…"

"Nothing will go wrong." I assured him. Lightly removing the glass from his hands. "Everything is going to be perfect."

His eyes met mine; I could see the passion burning behind his irises. I could tell how much he meant the words as he spoke them. "But I love her."

I think I just swooned.

If I was not carrying a serious torch for the Neville/Hannah boat right now I would probably propose to Neville myself right now.

All I could think was, He loves her? Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww…..

Just like that.

He raked his hand through his hair and my mind hit the repeat switch. He's so nervous. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww…..

I don't think that I'm helping to0 much right now.

"We'll be with you right up until you pick her up. I promise. We'll make sure everything works just the way it should, just stay calm and be optimistic."

"Okay." He muttered to himself.

"Neville, who stood up to Harry his first year when he was sneaking out?"

He looked at me quizzically for a moment before he answered. "Me."

"And who knew to give him gillyweed when he became Hogwarts champion?"

I could tell he still wasn't getting where I was going with this. "Me."

"And when we fought at the battle of Hogwarts, who stood up face to face with Voldemort and told him to go fuck himself." That wasn't what Neville said, but I was being motivational here.

A small amount of confidence rang through his voice as he answered "I did."

"You are an amazing man. Brave, loyal, dependable, and not too bad to look at either. You are a hero. Any woman would be lucky to have you." A smile quirked at his lips.

"So you are going to go out there, and sweep Hannah Abbot of her feet tonight. If there is anyone in this world who could do it. It would be you."

There it was, the smile I had been looking for. "Thanks, Ginny." He moved to hug me and I put up my hands to stop him, cringing as his sweat marks as he moved closer.

"First things first. I say we take a shower."

Seriously Ginny was amazing. Within minutes she had calmed Neville down and had him actually excited about his date. The only thing I had managed to do was to get him to hyperventilate. She had so much of her mother in her. The nurturing motherly nature that I loved. The caring friend who had gone out of her way just to make sure that he was confident enough to get the girl. Even I had faith that he could do this.

She was one hell of a woman.

That was for sure.

Neville was calm as we approached the front of the leaky cauldron ten minutes to seven. With a small smile he disappeared inside to meet his girl for his first date.

"I can't believe you pulled it off."

She smiled as she leaned against a lamp post eyeing the door lazily. "It wasn't just me, you know." I nodded, stuffing my fingers into my pockets. Maybe I should ask to hang out or something, we were getting along really well… "I was happy to help. For Neville's first date."

Her eyes flicked to me and I couldn't help but to think that I was missing something.

The light switch over my head turned on.

"Merlin you thought I was asking you to help with my first date?!" I roared with laughter as her cheeks tinged with a rosy blush. She was adorable when she was embarrassed.

"How was I supposed to know it wasn't you. You didn't say right off it was for Neville." I laughed harder, happiness blossoming inside of me as a smile spread across her face and she chuckled lightly.

"Why in the hell would I ask you to help me for a date? What were you thinking." She turned resting her back fully against the light post. I unconsciously leaned closer.

'I don't know. It just the first thing that ran through my mind." I looked down at her, at her beautiful auburn hair down around her shoulders. Her thick eyelashes fringing her eyes. Her lush mouth twisting up into a smirk. She was irresistible. A sigh tumbled out of me. Her eyes met mine for several long moments. Speaking moments. I willed everything I could into my gaze. Trying silently to let her know how much I wanted her, how much I still loved her, how much I cared. Her gaze left mine, blinking furiously before taking a step away from the post, her side turned to me. I stared at her some more, I didn't look away. I didn't have too. She knew I was looking at only her, and until she told me not to, I was going to get my fill.

I wish that I had the guts to tell her everything.

To tell her the truth.

That I hadn't just abandoned her… that there was more…

But it wasn't the right time. It almost felt like there would never be a right time. That I would wait forever and I would still be a coward waiting to tell her the truth.

I hated that I was a coward.

I hated that I wasn't stronger for her.

Neville and Hannah exited the front doorway of the Leaky and I could immediately tell something was wrong. Neville had began to sweat again, but it hadn't gotten to the worst stages. There might be time to salvage this.

Neville spoke before we even had a chance.

"You remember Harry and Ginny don't you? They are going to be going on a double date with us."

I chanced a look at Gin whose faced I'm sure mirrored my own.

Horrified.

"What?!"

A/N: Look what I did! I updated again! I swore that I would and I did!

Alrighty folks. I should have the next chapter done by Monday. I have three jobs and my busiest time is the weekends so I won't be able to work on the next chapter much.

How did you like the chapter? Are you excited for the next one?

Questions concerns comments?

I love to hear from you.

3

Nurse Holliday