Redhead || George x reader || y/n Lestrange

Chapter 35

You spent the entire night with George. walking around the castle, eating stolen pastries, some other things...

And by the time it was over it felt like it hasn't even started. Like that was what you had been doing your whole life. So naturally, when you woke up the next morning, part of you was just lonely without him next to you. Regardless, you couldn't stop dreaming about it. Running with him, talking about everything, you still felt the butterflies flying around in your stomach.

George was going to Hogsmaede today, without you this time. You said you would stay back and work on a small project you had. It was technically true, you did have a project that needed doing for potions. But, that could wait.

What you actually had wanted to do the whole day was read. You had just borrowed "Quidditch through the ages" from the Hogwarts library. Everybody who would bother to talk to you was gone, and as depressing as it sounded, it was perfect. You practically had the whole school to yourself since everyone was out! Reading in peace was the one thing you missed from your old life. That was it though.

So once you were dressed you left the tower to go get breakfast. You ate eggs, a tart and some tea. And you did it in silence. There were very few students around the tables, none of them seemed too keen on striking up a conversation.

"Hey Harry." You said casually as he approached you. You placed your tart back down on the plate and your now closed book next to it, and looked up at him to meet his eyes.

"You know, I keep forgetting that you don't go to Hogsmaede. You're just such a big part of the group, it doesn't feel like you should be here doing nothing." You went back in and took a bite of the tart before you had to start another sentence. Harry sat down next to you.

"Sometimes I forget that we're similar."

"How so?"

"Well, no parents." He shrugged.

"Alone on Hogsmaede day."

"We're here together." You corrected.

"Sorry. I guess we're just both kind of...stuck." He looked down. You looked at him, or rather through him, and asked him a question.

"Well, go on." You crossed your legs, prepared to listen.

"On what?" He looked up at you.

"What's the matter, potter?" Harry was visibly surprised at the nickname, you realized why.

"Sorry. Must be a bit weird having a Lestrange call you that. After Draco coined it."

"No it's fine." There was a pause when he looked down and fiddled with his fingers.

"The second task is coming up. I just figured out the gist of it. But I don't know what to do."

"That's a little vague, Harry." You made sure to call him by his first name.

"I need to figure out how to hold my breath underwater for a long time."

"That's it?"

He looked up at you in surprise, eyes wide.

"Wait, you know how?" He leaned in.

"I don't know why more people don't come to me, honestly." You inched forward and put your arm on his shoulder.

"I always have the answer." You both smiled. You took a deep breath in and removed your hand.

"Give me a bit. I'll get back to you tonight."

"Brilliant."

                  ______________________

"Gillyweed...Gillyweed..." you were standing on the shore of the lake with your hands in the water, trying to find a large enough amount of the plant you needed for Harry.

"AH HA!" You had finally found a small amount of it. You marched back to land and pulled out a glass jar from your bag. You opened it up and gently put the plant sample inside.

"And again." Before you could turn back to collect more, you saw someone moving behind the trees. Curious, you slowly took a step forward to try and peek around it.

"Neville?"

"H-hi y/n." Neville stepped forward, clutching his bad to his chest.

"I didn't mean to intrude on your territory. I'll stay out of your way." You smiled and turned.

"Oh, that's not it!" He quickly said.

"It's ok." He stepped forward next to you. He plopped his bag onto the ground and rolled up his pants in preparation to go in the water.

"What are you trying to find?" You rolled your pants up a little higher as well, but because of that you were both talking with your heads upside down.

"Moody gave me a book on water plants. I'm going to try and find some for tea."

"Well when you do, would you save a cup for me?"

"Of course." He smiled and got back up, you followed. Both of you walked back into the lake, smiling and talking.

"So Moody likes you, huh?"

"I don't know about that. I guess he does." Neville didn't look up, he was too busy fiddling with some greenery in his hand.

"Lucky for you. I don't think Moody thinks too highly of me." You were squatting, digging through the water to gather more. You were finding some, bit by bit.

"He's...a complicated man I suppose. Gives you books when you're on his good side." He smiled.

"It's great you are then. You won't have to suffer his detention lectures."

"That difficult?"

"More than you know. He never stops talking. He just gets borderline abusive and screams."

"Remind me never to join you and the twins in any of your adventures."

"Can't make any promises. We could use someone like you."

"Me?"

"You."

"Why?" He finally looked up.

"A voice of reason, I suppose." You paused to think.

"Actually no, just someone kind. Always has good intentions and genuinely cares."

Neville blushed and looked back down.

"That's very sweet, y/n."

"You are."