When we align; a Neville Longbottom fanfiction

12. Arnas Nott

a/n: Happy New Year! I hope 2021 brings you happiness and good memories! Also thank you so much for 128 reads! I literally published this for my friends, so it's incredible that we even got to 100! I hope you're enjoying this story so far!  -soph

He didn't flinch at the mention of his name. He didn't question how she knew that. He simply looked at her, rubbing her shoulders.

Cass could now hear the faint noise of the crowd and looked around. People were making their way back to the castle. Professors Flitwick and Sinistra stood on the path, comforting the students and ordering them to reach their common rooms at once.

She and Neville were standing by the greenhouses, hidden from the main path. Cass looked at the Quidditch pitch and her heart sank. She wondered how Voldemort had managed to do it, and how things were going to change, back at home. What would her father say? How would he behave?

Her mind went back to Cedric and thought about his parents. Looking up at Neville, she thought about his parents, how scared he must have felt in that moment, knowing that the same person their parents had lost their lives fighting was back.

Without a word, she held his hand, trying her best to ignore the sparks igniting in her stomach and fighting the flushing of her cheeks.

For the first time that year, she felt like she wasn't alone. Despite being on two different sides of the war, she and Neville had so much in common. There was finally someone who had been sharing her fears, and it wasn't her brother. She loved Theo, but she could clearly picture him cheering at Voldemort's return.

"I can't find Cassie anywhere! Wait!" Blaise was struggling to keep Malfoy and Theo's pace, torn between staying with them and going back to the pitch to find his friend.

Daphne, not too distant, was asking Professor Sinistra if she'd seen her. Blaise had made his decision and approached the two.

"No, she hasn't come through here." Daphne and Blaise shared a look and started to go down the hill when the professor called for them again. "No! Greengrass, Zabini, I know you're worried, but you must go to your common rooms now, Nott will meet you there."

From their hidden spot, Neville had started walking. He gave a small tug on Cass' hand, seeing as she was still frozen in her spot. He smiled at her reassuringly, motioning for her to reach her friends.

Internally whining, she took a step forward. The greenhouses had never looked safer. She wished they could stay there, watching as life went by, hidden in their little bubble. Her feet seemed heavier, and she struggled to move. 'No one can reach us here.' Her body seemed to be telling her. 'Let's stay here with Neville, we're safe.'

Taking deep breaths, she fought her conscience and started to walk. She needed to face whatever was coming to her. And more importantly, she needed to defeat it.

As they were approaching Daphne and Blaise, Neville squeezed her hand, letting go of it. Her friends glanced at them, still arguing with Professor Sinistra. It took them a second to register their presence, but when they did, Daphne flung herself to Cass, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

"Where have you been? We've been worried sick!" The redhead shouted, giving Neville a scornful look. Seeing as her friend stayed silent, she took a step back, noticing her distressed state and puffy, red eyes. "Are you okay?"

Cass nodded. A knot had formed in her throat and her eyes were starting to sting again. When she spoke, her voice was hoarse. "I've had a bit of a meltdown, Neville's helped me through it."