A/N: What an awesome response to chapter 1!! We hope this story will live up to any expectations you all might have even if it is away from Hillsdale now.
Please remember when you're done to leave a review letting us know what you think! Thanks for reading and please enjoy!
Neville had spent most of the morning running errands for his grandmother. While he loved his grandmother, he was tiring of her wanting to control nearly every aspect of his life. He had been saving up to get his own place and with the quid he'd earned at Hillsdale plus the money he'd make when training started, he hoped to get a place big enough for Cho and the baby.
Of course, he hadn't mentioned this to Cho yet, but he knew the small, cramped room she was letting at The Leaky Cauldron was okay for now, but the baby would be here in three months and she'd need the extra space.
Cho let her long black hair loose from the chignon it had been tied back in. She had changed into some jeans and a jumper and now watched in dismay as her flat stomach began to protrude.
Every day she had to work, Cho cast an illusion charm to make it look as if she wasn't pregnant. It was risky- she knew there was a slight, very, very slight chance it could harm her baby so she only did it when she had to be working. She threw her cloak over her shoulders and left the back room and saw Neville waiting near the bar.
"There she is," Neville said with a warm smile when he saw his girlfriend making her way toward him.
"Hey," Cho forced a smile onto her face as Neville kissed her hello. He took her hand and they left the pub. "How was your day?"
"Gran had me running around for her today," he said with a sigh. "I cannot wait until training begins next week and I'm out from under her thumb."
Cho smiled thinly. "And you still want me to meet her," she said. "Neville... I know she's not going to like me."
Neville shook his head in disbelief. "What wouldn't she love about you? You're smart, funny, beautiful, charming. She's going to love you, Cho."
"I hope you're right Neville, I really do." Cho said softly.
"I am," he said, gripping her hand tighter. "How was your day? You did take it easy, didn't you?"
"I tried to," Cho replied, her hand going to massage her aching back. "But we got short staffed yet again and I had to take six extra tables."
Neville stopped walking and dropped her hand. He stared disapprovingly at her. "Cho, I know you hate me saying this, but I think you should quit. Look at you, you're exhausted. This can't be good for you or the baby."
"I can't quit Neville," Cho replied. "You know that. I can hardly afford my place as it is!"
"I'm sure you could ask Harry and Hermione if you could stay with them," Neville suggested.
"I don't want to do that to them," Cho said firmly. "Neville, I know all they want is to be alone and I refuse to freeload off my best friend."
"It wouldn't be freeloading," Neville reasoned. "You know Harry would hate it if he knew you were staying at The Leaky Cauldron in that shoebox of a room they have you in. I wish you'd have told him the truth."
Cho sighed, fighting back tears. Her life had sank so low after leaving Hillsdale that she almost wished she was back there, Dursley abuse and all.
"It's going to be alright," he said softly. When he saw her bottom lip quivering, he pulled her closer. "We'll think of something, okay?"
Cho wrapped her arms around him as a few tears slid down her cheeks. "Okay," she sniffled. "I know you're right... and sooner or later maybe we can do what Harry and Hermione have done and find somewhere nice to live together?"
"You'd really want to do that?" he asked, feeling a wide smile spreading across his face. Of course, it was what he wanted, but she'd never indicated that was what she wanted, too.
"Of course I do," Cho smiled genuinely for the first time that evening.
He felt like turning flips down the sidewalk at her words. He hadn't wanted to tell her his plans until he had enough money saved, but he felt this was the perfect time to tell her what he'd been doing.
"Could we sit for a second?" he asked, leading her over to a bench. "There's something I've wanted to tell you about for awhile now."
Cho sat down next to him, pulling her cloak tighter around her. "What is it Nev?" she asked, her hand squeezing his.
"Well," he began nervously. "I hope you realize how special you are to me. You and the baby mean more to me than you could ever imagine."
Cho was touched. "That's so sweet of you Neville," she said softly. "You mean a lot to me too."
He thought about exactly how he wanted to say this because he didn't want her to think he was trying to pressure her or trying to support her. He knew how important independence was to Cho. It was one of the things he loved most about her.
"I've been saving up for quite some time," he continued. "And I nearly have enough now. I figure with my first couple month's salary after training, I should have enough to put a good payment down on a place for you, me and the baby."
Cho's jaw dropped and her eyes filled with tears. "You'd really want to do that?" she asked hoarsely.
He nodded. "More than anything in this world."
Cho began to cry in earnest. "Neville I don't really know what to say," she sobbed.
Neville laughed and pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and offered it to Cho. "I don't know about you, but I'd really love it if you'd say yes."
"Yes," she wiped at her eyes and began to laugh. "Definitely yes."
Neville beamed at her and wrapped her in his arms again, but felt Cho moan softly. He pulled away from her quickly. "What?" he asked concerned. She had a grin on her face, though, and she was rubbing her belly. "What is it?"
"The baby seems to like this idea as well," Cho grabbed his hand. "Here... feel it!" The first time she had felt her baby kick she had squealed in delight and stayed awake most of the night, her hand on her stomach.
Neville laughed heartily as he put his hand on her stomach and indeed felt the baby kick.
"Might have a footballer on our hands," he teased.
"Or just a plain old dancer like its mother," Cho replied.
Neville smiled and got to his feet and offered his hand to help Cho up from her seat. "We better get going or we'll be late."
"And you, young lady, are to do nothing tonight except sit down and eat," he said firmly. "You will not be lifting any boxes or helping move furniture."
"Yes sir," Cho laughed, leaning against him. "Hey Neville?" she asked as they walked up to Harry and Hermione's front door.
"Yeah," he said, turning around and looking expectantly at her.
"You know how you were saying before that me... me and the baby mean so much to you?" she twisted a lock of hair around her finger nervously.
"Yeah," he said softly.
"You mean a lot to me too. You're accepting responsibility for a baby that... you didn't help make yet you don't seem to care." Cho said, even more nervous now.
"I care about both of you," Neville whispered. He wondered what had her so flustered. For a horrible moment, he was afraid she was going to tell him that she saw him like a brother or a friend. "I-I hope you know that by now."
"I do," Cho said softly. "What I'm really getting at here..." she paused and blew a breath out. "I love you Neville."
Neville hadn't heard her. He'd stuffed his hands in his pocket and was looking down at the ground. "You know I'd do anything for you, but if you don't want to..." He looked up suddenly at her and his mouth dropped. "W-what, um, what did you just say?" he asked.
"I love you," Cho said, her voice trembling slightly. What if Neville was only doing this as a sense of duty as a friend and she'd said the completely wrong thing? He never HAD actually come out and said he loved her.
"You...I mean, you really," he choked out. "Love me? Really?"
"Yes," Cho said, still nervous.
Neville felt at a loss for words. He began to pace in front of Cho and then did the first thing that came to his mind as the realization of what she'd said hit him like a ton of bricks. "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" he said at the top of his lungs.
Harry heard a very strange sound as he passed by the front door so he yanked it open, only to see Cho and Neville standing there. Rather- Cho was standing and Neville was doing some strange sort of dance. "Was he hexed?" he asked in bewilderment.
Neville took notice of Harry and before Harry knew what he was doing; Neville had wrapped his arms around Harry and given him a bear hug.
"Hello, Harry!" Neville exclaimed happily.
"Hullo Neville," Harry patted his friend on the back. "Was he hexed?" he asked again, now directing his attention to Cho.
The black haired woman was currently a deep shade of red. "No, he wasn't," she answered.
"She loves me," Neville said motioning to Cho. "Harry! She loves me!"
Harry began to laugh, realising what had Neville so happy. "Congratulations," he said, happy for his friends. He extracted himself from Neville, who latched onto Hermione as she appeared in the hallway and reached for Cho. "I'm really happy for you," he said as he kissed her cheek.
"Thanks Harry," she said softly.
Neville's little celebration came to an end abruptly and he stepped away from Hermione and walked quickly to Cho. "Sorry for getting so carried away," he said with his own cheeks turning red. "I forgot to do something. I forgot to tell you that I love you, too."
Cho blinked back more tears as Neville kissed her full on the mouth. Harry looked back at Hermione, who quite literally had stars in her eyes.
"That's the sweetest thing I've ever seen," Hermione gushed.
Harry turned and glared at her. "How come you never got this happy when I tell you I love you?" he asked, pretending to be hurt.
Hermione hit him playfully on the arm as she dropped her voice to a whisper so only he would hear. "I seem to recall that right after you first told me you loved me, we slept together for the first time."
Harry grinned. "I stand corrected," he slipped an arm around her and squeezed as Neville and Cho finally finished their celebratory snog and came inside. "About time you two came up for air," he teased.
"Leave them alone, Harry," Hermione said, leading the happy couple into the kitchen.
Cho sighed in relief as she massaged her aching feet. "You don't by chance have any pumpkin juice do you?" she asked sheepishly. "I didn't really get a chance to eat today; it was so busy at work."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," Neville said.
Cho looked at him. "I know, I know..." she said and shrank into her seat as Harry and Hermione turned around with their arms crossed as well. "But remember- my boss doesn't know I'm pregnant! He'd fire me if he saw how big my stomach really was!" she pulled her cloak off to let her belly show.
Harry glared at Neville. "I thought you were looking out for her!"
"Harry stop it," Cho replied. "It's me, not him all right?"
"Don't think I'm not angry at you, too," Harry said scornfully. "I still believe you shouldn't be on your feet all the time. You shouldn't be working at all. Don't roll your eyes at me, Cho! You know that I'm right."
"How else am I supposed to make a living Harry?" Cho snapped. "I can't dance, not like this! And that's all I know how to do okay? THAT'S ALL!"
"Hey!" Hermione said, getting in front of Harry. "This is supposed to be a happy occasion, remember? We've moved in together...Cho and Neville are together. Let's not ruin it with you going into overprotective mode, okay?"
Harry glared at her momentarily but at the look in her eyes calmed down. "All right," he muttered. "I'm sorry."
"Okay," Hermione said in relief. "What's everyone drinking?"
"Pumpkin juice for me if you have any, if not, just water would be fine." Cho replied. Harry and Neville opted for some butterbeer.
Neville took the opportunity to look around the room. "You guys sure managed to get quite a bit done," he said. "This place is really starting to take shape."
Harry nodded, pleased. "Hermione's parents were here and helped us set up a lot," he said. "I've just been working on the bedroom and Hermione's in the study setting up her five million books."
Hermione brought a basket of rolls over to the table and glared at her boyfriend. "I don't have that many! He's still mad because I dropped a boxful on his foot earlier today."
Neville and Cho laughed loudly as Harry glowered at his girlfriend. "It weighed a ton," he grumbled. "It still hurts too."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's his own fault for coming up behind me and scaring me like he did."
"Next time I want to try and be romantic I'll think again," Harry quipped, taking a long draw from his butterbeer mug.
"Where are Ron and Luna?" Neville asked a few moments later. "I thought they were coming tonight, too."
Cho frowned. "I haven't seen them since we left Hillsdale," she said. "What are they up to?"
"Ron's working for his brothers," Hermione related. "And Luna's working for her dad. We haven't seen too much of her since we got back. And Ron's trying to stay away from home as much as possible."
"The whole Ginny situation has really taken its toll," Harry affirmed. "Molly is blaming Ron for it and he's really taken the brunt of her anger about the situation."
Cho shook her head. "I can't believe she's blaming Ron for that. It's not his fault her daughter turned out to be a lying, deceitful cow."
Harry laughed, as did Neville. "It'll just take awhile for her to see that Ron only did what he had to do."
"Did we ever find out where Ginny ended up?" Hermione asked. "I still can't believe your uncle just let her and Malfoy walk away like that."
"Just that she's staying with Malfoy," Neville replied. "Rather, living with him. And I'm supposing that Dursley decided since he let Harry 'walk away' from the situation he gave them the same chance. Heard Malfoy and Ginny had to give a rather big chunk out of their summer pay to cover what they used up for themselves."
"Well, if two people were ever made for each other," Hermione said with a wry laugh. "Talk about your match made in hell."
The rest of them laughed and Harry and Neville took off for the bedroom while Hermione and Cho stayed in the kitchen so they could grab a bite to eat. "So how is it living with Harry?" the black haired girl asked.
A dreamy expression came over Hermione's face as she remembered their first night in their new home and a smile broke across her face as she recalled how they'd lingered in bed this morning. "Terrible," she deadpanned.
"What?" Cho was shocked. "Is he still mood swinging? Is he that angry over you dropping books on his foot?"
Hermione laughed. "No, I was being sarcastic. It's been great. We've had a row or two about where we should put a table or a chair, but other than that it's been fantastic."
Cho shook her head. "You shouldn't scare me like that Hermione."
"Sorry about that," Hermione said. "I still have to pinch myself to make sure this isn't all a dream. It wasn't too long ago that I didn't think we'd make it here with everyone against us. But you should have seen Harry and my dad last night, Cho. They were helping each other and joking around. I had to fight the urge to scream out 'I told you so'. I knew my dad would like Harry if given the chance."
Cho started laughing. "It's quite amazing really. I just really hope that Neville's Gran and I have the same sort of fate as your dad and Harry."
"You haven't met her yet?" Hermione asked.
Cho sighed as Hermione set some sandwiches down in front of them. "No..." she said. "Neville wants me to but I remember seeing her at the platform for the train we'd all get on to go to school. Any time a girl would even approach Neville she'd swat at them with this huge umbrella. She's small but really, really scary."
'"Maybe it won't be as bad as you think," Hermione said reassuringly. "Neville's an adult now. Surely, she's not as bad now as she was then."
"I don't know," Cho said, unconvinced as she gobbled down a sandwich.
Hermione was about to reply when she heard the front door open and close and a few seconds later Ron and Luna appeared in the kitchen. Without as much as a hello, Ron helped himself to one of the sandwiches.
"Hello, Ron," Hermione said with a laugh. "Nice to know that you still don't remember to knock."
"Hi," Ron said, his mouth full as Luna shook her head and handed Hermione a bottle of wine.
"I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to stay and help last night," the blonde said.
Hermione waved her hand dismissively. "How was the press conference?"
"Fine," Luna sat down. "There's a good chance I'll be getting a better position in the newspaper already!"
"That's great," Hermione said happily. At that moment, Ron belched rather loudly, earning him disgusted looks from all three girls.
"Ron, Harry and Neville are in the bedroom trying to put together the shelves for the closet," Hermione said. "Why don't you go help them?"
"Okay," Ron grabbed two more sandwiches and headed out; the three girls burst into laughter behind him.
"I don't know where he puts it all," Hermione said watching him walk into the bedroom. "I've never in my entire life seen someone eat like he does."
"We get a lot of exercise," Luna smiled dreamily.
Cho wrinkled her nose. "That's entirely too much information Luna."
"Yeah," Hermione agreed, trying not to laugh. She motioned toward the bedroom. "So what do you reckon that lot in there is doing? Talking about us?"
"So Harry, what happened last night after I left?" Ron stuffed the remaining half sandwich in his mouth.
"You mean after I practically had to shove you out the door?" Harry asked crossly. "Or when you asked and pardon me for paraphrasing here, if I was showing you the door so I could shag my girlfriend...all as said girlfriend's father was standing right behind you. Or do you mean when you left me to face his wrath all by myself? Which one were you referring to?"
Ron gulped down his food. "All of the above?"
"All that happened last night?" Neville asked, staring disapprovingly at Ron.
"Yeah," Harry said nodding. "But with no thanks to him, everything worked out okay."
"I knew you'd be able to handle it," Ron smiled confidently at his friend.
"Nice to know I can rely on you when my back's to the wall, Ron," Harry said sarcastically. "Maybe I need to encourage Mr. Lovegood to drop by his daughter's flat unexpectedly one night. See if you can handle it, too."
Ron glared at him. "You interrupted us enough when we were back at Hillsdale."
"Fair enough," Harry said with a laugh. "Fair enough."
"You guys really got a lot done today," Ron said as Harry started hanging some of Hermione's clothes in the closet while Neville polished off the antique dresser set they'd bought.
"Thanks," Harry said. "How are things at home?"
"Same as ever," Ron replied as he started dusting off the other dresser set. "Mum actually talked to me today even though it was to pass the salt at lunch when we went home for food. Dad's been trying to tell her that it wasn't my fault about Ginny but it seems she's having none of it."
"Are you sure you don't want us to vouch for you?" Neville asked. "Better yet, Harry... would it be at all possible to ask Dursley to talk to Mrs. Weasley?"
"Are you mad?" Harry asked. "Dursley wouldn't dare do something like that unless there wasn't something in it for him. The word 'selfless' isn't in his vocabulary. Besides, you heard him when we all left. Dear old Uncle Vernon said he never wanted to see me or my kind at his resort ever again."
"Rats," Ron muttered. "Well... I guess Dad's right whenever he says Mum will come around eventually. It's just hard to stay around there when she's always mad at me."
"Why don't you move out then?" Harry asked. "Surely Fred and George would let you crash with them until you had enough for your own place."
"Right, and be the brunt of all their jokes?" Ron snickered. "Harry, surely you haven't forgotten being in Gryffindor with them?"
Harry shuddered as he remembered all too well what Fred and George were capable of. "Sorry, momentarily lapse of intelligence there," he said. "I'd offer to have you move in with us, but you'd eat us out of house and home."
Neville started laughing. "That goes double for me, especially since I'm still living at Gran's."
"What about Luna's?" Harry suggested.
Ron looked at the door furtively. "Do you guys promise to keep a secret?" he asked seriously.
Harry and Neville looked at each other and then at Ron before nodding.
"I'm trying to save up enough money to get us a place of our own," Ron said. "I've even had to offer to be Fred and George's guinea pig for all their new jokes so I can get a bonus plus a share of the profits if it does well."
"It must be love if you're willing to go that far," Harry teased. He patted his friend heartily on the back. "That sounds great."
"Thanks," Ron said, relieved. "I've been saving up as much as I can and I've still got a ways to go."
"You know your mum won't be too thrilled about that either," Harry cautioned. When he saw the look on Ron's face, he quickly explained what he meant. "I'm the last person to advise you on this, I realize that, but I know your mum. She's still trying to get over the whole Ginny fiasco and I can still hear her yelling when Bill and Fleur moved in together."
Ron found himself laughing. "And now when they come over with their ten children she can't get enough of them."
"There you go Ron," Neville encouraged. "Knock Luna up and your mum will forgive you!"
Hermione cleared her throat as she watched Ron hurl a sock at Neville's head. All three boys turned slowly to look at her. "Having fun?" she asked.
"Tons," Harry moved to her side. "Just finishing up with your things."
Hermione gaped at him. "You hung up my clothes?"
"Yeah," Harry looked suddenly worried. "Did I do it right? Did you want those in the drawers or something?"
She shook her head still in awe of what he'd done. She'd seen how he'd kept his cabin and she'd been afraid to see what he'd do to her belongings if left alone for too long. That was why she'd come into the bedroom to check on him. She hadn't expected this at all.
She walked over to Harry and knelt down so she was right behind him. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "It's perfect," she whispered.
Harry grinned. "One point for me," he said softly, forgetting Ron and Neville were in the room.
"I'd say that deserves a lot more than one point," she said, nuzzling his neck.
Harry pulled her around so she was in front of him. "Guys..." he suddenly caught sight of his friends. "Give us a minute?"
"Of course," Neville said scrambling to his feet and taking Ron with him. They closed the door firmly behind them.
"Look what he gets just for putting her clothes away," Ron said as they went down the hallway.
"If it gets us out of manual labour, I'm all for it," Neville said with a laugh. "I think our work here is done...at least for tonight anyway."
He and Cho ducked out a few minutes later as Luna pulled on her cloak. "Ron… would you like to go have dinner somewhere?" she asked, pulling her long blonde ponytail over her shoulder.
"I uh… I don't have any money on me," Ron lied. "How about we go back to my house or your flat? I can teach you some chess moves."
Luna smiled. "I don't really like chess Ron, you know that." She said, her eyes fixated on his face.
"Well… uh… maybe my Mum will have something made already," he said.
"It's kind of late," Luna said, looking at her watch. "It would probably be quicker if we just got a bite in town, don't you think?"
"You know, I'm actually quite tired," Ron stretched and faked a yawn.
"I've never known you to turn down a meal," she said looking at him with concern. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," Ron said quickly. "I just... can't enjoy food when I'm tired."
Luna nodded, but still looked unconvinced. "Did you want to stay at my place tonight then?"
"Uh... sure," Ron grinned. Staying at Luna's was always a good idea, as it got him out of his mother's hair for the night, plus he didn't have to spend any of the money he was saving up. "That sounds fantastic to me."
Luna stared at her boyfriend for a moment. One minute he was hungry and the next he was saying he was too tired to eat. Now within less than a minute, he seemed energized and happy. She couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't being entirely truthful with her. "When we get back to my place, I could make you a sandwich," she asked hesitantly. "If you're not too tired that is."
"I'm never too tired to eat," Ron said, putting his arm around her, then suddenly realised his mistake. "Not for one of your sandwiches anyway," he gave her his best smile and leaned in for a kiss.
Luna gave a weak smile before allowing him to kiss her. He took her hand and they began walking down the street in silence, each seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Never too tired to eat, he'd said. Not two minutes ago, he'd said he was too tired to go out to eat. She tried to shake these thoughts from her mind, but it seemed impossible.