Lorelai || Neville Longbottom

Chapter 5

TW: drinking

September 18th. 1995

Most of the month has gone by. Lavender and Hermione made up, eventually, but there's still some tension in our dorm. They don't talk to each other one on one as much anymore, maybe because Hermiones not over what Lavender said, or maybe because of her possible feelings for Ron.
I didn't bring it up again, not wanting to strike up confusing feelings out of her this soon.

I started hanging out with Neville a lot more, as well. I was having a hard time understanding the logic of plants, and have been in need of some help for herbology.

That's all.

So that's where we were after classes. Me and Neville were in the library, working on herbology that I needed much help on. We had books stacked on top of books on our table, trying to cram everything into my brain at once.

"Hey Nev, what does this mean?" I ask, pointing to a word describing a plant in the textbook.

"Oh, that basically just means the plant is poisonous and dangerous. If you get anywhere near it, take precautions," He responded.

Now I remembered. "Ugh, im sorry, you already told me this."

"No, no really, it's no trouble at all. Just try tk focus on one thing at a time instead of everything all at once."

I nodded, looking back at the textbook. Neville got up, and started to walk around the aisles.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Trying to find another Herbology book I think would help you. I've read it before, and it's helped me loads."

"Do you want me to help you," I start getting up.

"That would be great, thank you! It's called The Basics of Herbology by Arthur Max."

"Okay," I start to look around, tackling the aisles that he wasn't looking in.

As I grazed my hand along the rough, dusty books, I noticed the book that we were looking for.

"Nev, I think I found it," I yelled out, causing the librarian to shush me.

"Sorry," I whisper, trying to get the book. It was on one of the higher shelves, so it was difficult for me to grasp.

Neville noticed I was having a hard time reaching it, so came up from behind me and grabbed it above me.

"Here, I got it," he said, looking down at me.
I was on my tippy toes, so I lowered myself slowly, while he kept his gaze on mine. I felt a blush creep on my cheeks.

It felt like hours we were there, from the feeling I received. He towered over me it seemed, a lock of his curly brown hair falling in front of his eyes, as I continued to stare up at them. I backed myself up against the table, feeling our bodies growing closer.

Just then, a group of second years come into the aisle, chattering about who knows what, causing me and Neville to break out of the gaze.

What was that?

We both look away, with feelings of confusion clouding my vision.

"Um, thank you. For grabbing it for me," I grab the book out of his grasp, grazing his hand slightly again. My breath hitches.

"Yeah, no problem." He responds hesitantly, looking at me again.

We stand there for a little bit, the awkwardness seeping into the air, until I finally break the silence. I check the clock on the wall, noticing it is almost time for the quidditch match.