The Marriage Law//Neville Longbottom

3

The first week of school has finished and just started for us. Due to the whole marriage law everyone affected got the week off to adjust. I guess they expected in a week's time everyone would be fine? They must be fucking idiots then.

Neville and I have hardly spoken a full conversation in the whole week. Anything that has been spoken between the two of us is short, usually one-worded replies. But no, in a week we of course would be dandy, or so the ministry says.

Every couple has the exact same timetable. Probably to make us spend more time together. There is also a 'relationships' class during third period. I still haven't a clue what that is, what are they going to teach us? How to love each other? That is laughable.

The first block is Potions, which is now taught by Slughorn. It's only a bitter reminder of who we lost to the cold and relentless hands of war. It was mostly the basics and catching us up on skills that might have been lost over the war. A slight issue I noticed is that no one really had a steady enough hand to properly make a potion.

The second block was Charms. Flitwick still teaches it of course, but again, no one has steady enough hands. Not even Flitwick can manage to cast a charm first try. Neville hardly said a word to me in either class and usually kept to himself, only making occasional small talk with Harry or Ron. Lunch was after charms and I sat with them again. 

I didn't bother making a plate, I wasn't that hungry, and with classes happening it was bringing up horrid reminders. Truthfully I don't think I would have managed to keep it down, even the thought of eating was gag-worthy.

"You're not eating?" Neville prodded at his potatoes.

I shook my head, "No."

"Why not," He asks, not looking up from his food.

I nearly roll my eyes at his dumb question. Isn't it obvious? Not even he is eating, he is simply poking the food on his plate in an attempt to look like he is eating. "Not hungry," I told him blandly.

He looks up at me, his green eyes meeting mine for the first time today, "You should eat," He says. "There are some plants that can go days without eating," He rambles off into a long list of plants that don't eat for days and sometimes months. I nodded to look as though I am interested. "But you aren't those plants, so eat," He says with a slight blush.

"Neither are you, so why don't you eat?" I shot back bitterly. It was harsh and uncalled for, but who was he to judge me? Hypocrite much? He didn't say anything else and continued rolling his food around on his plate like a child being forced to eat broccoli.

Once lunch was over, everyone headed to the relationship class. Some people seemed anxious and others excited. I personally was pretty sure satan himself was taunting me. I am sure good old Lucifer is getting a real kick out of this.

We entered the classroom where a professor was seated in front of a desk. She grinned at us all, flashing unnaturally white teeth at us. Her hair was light blonde and her face was layered with makeup. She stood up once the class had taken their seats and introduced herself. "I am Professor Breeks. In this course, you will be given simple tasks and with the tasks, you must complete them efficiently before class ends," Her voice is already too cheery and sweet. She was like some squeak toy at a pet store. "Today you will tell your partner three things that they do not already know about you."

I rolled my eyes at her. What's there to talk about? I have nothing that hasn't already been exposed. I am sure even my favorite color is obvious. I turned to face Neville who was frowning.

"You go first," I tell him snappishly. He nods and begins.

"My favorite ice cream is chocolate, I love the color brown, and I keep a box with gum wrappers from my mum," He mumbles over them quickly and then waits for me.