The New Student is a Year Four ☆•*: . | Neville Longbottom Fanfiction

Chapter Ten - Lunch

I wake up to the sound of someone whining and cursing. It sounds like it's coming from the bed next to mine. I'm a little annoyed that I woke up this early but maybe that person is actually in a lot of pain-

"My father will hear about this!"

Nevermind.

I open the curtain and give Draco a stare. "You father never did and will not hear about it, now shut up, I'm trying to sleep."

"You're the filthy mudblood from the train! How dare you speak to me like that!" He yells.

I give him a look. "Oh please, it's not like you're royalty just because you're pure blood."

"You have no say in that! You're not even-"

"Pure blood? Yeah, I am. Asphodel Evergreen, nice to meet you. Now stop whining so I can sleep." I say before laying back down and closing my eyes.

"You can't be an Evergreen! The way you dress, it's just-"

"Look, Malfoy, I'm sorry that your mommy can't attend your boo-boos"—I point at his leg, which has a scratch clearly from falling—"And I'm sorry that you have a single candy bean for a brain rattling around your skull. But hear me out, put that bean to fucking use. Now shut that good for nothing mouth before I give you a real reason to call your father."

He stays quiet and shut the curtain before going back to sleep.

That doesn't last long.

Madam Pomfrey opens the curtain with a medicine in hand and makes me sit up so I can take it. After I do, she puts her hand on my forehead.

"Looks like you're all better!" She takes a look at her watch. "You can still make it to lunch and your last three lessons of the day, but..." She drops her voice so Malfoy can't hear. "If you don't feel like going to class, you're free to skip. You can stay here or look around the school, your choice. Don't worry about getting caught, I'll give you a pass and you'll be excused for the rest of the day." She winks.

I smile. "Thanks."

So I don't have to see Professor Snape today? I'm more than happy to take this offer.

Me and Professor Snape have a weird student-teacher relationship. He tolerates me because I do good in Potions, I tolerate him because his classes aren't hard. That doesn't mean he likes me though. It's probably because my father was friends with James Potter back then. I wonder what Potter did to Snape...but it's not my business.

Anyway, I have tried to be likeable to all of my teachers but Snape is a different story. He doesn't intimidate me much, but I have heard that Neville is terrified of him. Neville! What's he doing right now? Maybe having lunch. My stomach keeps rumbling. Maybe I should go and get lunch too.

———

"Where have you been the whole weekend and today?" Hermione worries. "I hope you weren't skipping..."

"Skipping?!" I scoff. "It's like you don't know me at all! I would never!"

"You're planning on it, aren't you?" She asks bluntly.

"Psh! No!"—she gives me a look—"...maybe- but that's not the point! I got sick while I was at the lake with Neville and Harry so Neville carried me to the hospital wi-"

"NEVILLE DID WHAT?!" Ron exclaims.

"He carried me to the hospital wing, what's wrong with that?" I give him a confused look.

"Nothing it's just-" Ron hesitates. "Well-"

"Neville doesn't do physical contact," Dean says. "So it's unusual to hear him volunteer to do things like that since he gets nervous around girls easily."

"THATS WHY WE'RE SO HAPPY FOR OUR LITTLE NEV!" Seamus exclaims. "Where is he, by the way? He won't hear the end of this!"

We all turn to look at the doors of Great Hall and see Neville standing there looking for something. When he meets my eyes, his eyebrows rise. Maybe it's because he didn't expect me to be sitting at the Gryffindor table.

He comes over and smiles. "I didn't expect you to be back so soon."

"Why? Do you not want me here?" I grin.

He blushes. "What?! N-no! That's not-"

I laugh. "Sorry, I'm just teasing you. By the way, I never thanked you for taking me to the hospital wing."

"I-it was nothing," he smiles.

"I heard you carried her there," Seamus smirks and Neville turns red. "I never expected you to that, my little pumpkin pie."

"Seamus." Dean warns him with a smile.

"What? I'm just saying what everyone is thinking!"

"I mean it's kind of a shock, mate," Ron tells Neville.

"Alright boys, that's enough," Hermione says. "Whatever goes on between those two is none of our business." She winks at me and I feel myself turn red.

Harry hurries over. "Asphodel! You're back! Did you get my note?"

Everyone stares at Harry in silent.

"...what?"

I smile. "I did and I would like to speak privately to you about it so please get me out of here."

"Okay...?" he says and we exit the Great Hall.

"What's your strategy for the dragons?" I ask worriedly. "I've been thinking about it since you told me and I can't come up with anything."

"I- I don't have a strategy," He answers.

"What? So how do you expect to defeat the dragon?"

"I'm sure I'll come up with somethin-"

"Harry, I know I told you not to worry too much but the tournament is in a week. These opponents are no joke. I heard Krum is really strong and from what the teachers said, Cedric was outstanding with his wand by the time he was our age. And I know Fleur, she is ready for anything that gets thrown at her and is extremely smart. You are good with your broom, I've seen it, so use that to your advantage."

"What about you?" He asks.

"I'm...good with plants...and potions, but that's not something that I can use in the arena," I look at him. "Unless..."

"Unless?"

I grin. "I think I just found the perfect strategy." I rush up the stairs. "Thanks Harry!"

"What? But I didn't do anything!" He yells. "Asphodel!"

BONUS:

*Meanwhile at the Gryffindor table...*

"What could they be talking about?" Hermione asks.

"No idea," Ron says and looks at Seamus curiously. "Why did you suddenly become quiet? I thought you would bother them or something."

Seamus looks like he's seen a ghost. "Did you notice the sweater that Asphodel was wearing...?"

Hermione frowns. "Yeah, it was a stripped blu-" She lets out a loud gasp and everyone suddenly realizes what Seamus is saying.

"NEVILLE'S SWEATER!" Everyone exclaims.

Hey everyone! I may or may not be a tad bit late on posting this chapter 😝

It's so bad but next chapter will be about the tournament so stay tuned for that!

Word count: 1,044