To All The Wizards Ive Loved Before [Neville Longbottom]

The Letters

The forbidden kiss. We knew that it was wrong, that he was betrothed to my sister. But if this wasn't what he wanted, then why did he come to the field of desire? It was fated, that we should meet like thi-

A pillow hits Neville in the face, abruptly pulling him from his thoughts.

"Hey!" Neville yelled, looking up from his romance novel that he attempted to discreetly tuck behind his back.

"What's that?" Seamus chuckled, leaping towards him. Neville desperately attempted to pull away from him but he's too slow. His mate easily retrieving the book.

Seamus flipped through the pages, giggling to himself as he read. Neville shrunk into himself, turning a bright crimson under the attention.

"Let's not pretend you didn't call Dr. Suess the poet of our generation. Leave Nev alone, so what if he likes those muggle romance novels." Dean said pointedly towards Seamus.

"Oi! Suess is a great Craic, give him a chance." Seamus countered.

"I did, when I was 4." Dean laughed in return as he went back to unpacking his trunk.

It felt different this year for the three of them. Ron and Harry's absence in the dorm was noticeable to say the least, but that wasn't the only thing that felt different. Neville shrugged off the feeling and snatched his book out of Seamus' grasp.

"Sorry that I fancy a little unattainable romance, it's not like my parents are a lot to live up to or anything." Neville huffed. He sat back cross crossed on his bed, flipping the book back to the place he had left off.
"At least let me finish this chapter."

"Mate, you've barely unpacked. We promised to meet Luna and Ginny in the common room in-" he looked down at his watch before his face looked slightly shocked. "Shit we are already late!"

"We're meeting up with them?" Neville asked as he snapped his book shut and leaned forward with full interest. Dean nodded causing Neville to swallow a nervous lump in his throat.

He hadn't seen Luna Lovegood since the war ended. She had this outrageously handsome boyfriend by the name of Blaise Zabini. Neville missed being near him. It was harmless, he'd gotten over the stupid crush. Plus the two had recently broken up. There was no harm in looking, right?

By the time Neville had reached the bottom of the dorm stairs into the opening of the common room, Blaise Zabini in all his glory was conveniently entering through the portrait door. He greeted Dean and Seamus enthusiastically, but with a charming calmness about him as well.

He turned towards Neville- ruffling his hair as his way of saying hello, this was something he had done for years. Blaise was Neville's first mate outside of his own group, far before he became Luna's ex boyfriend. The two would discuss academics and books but after he started dating Lovegood he became more distant.

"Sorry I'm late, I was reading and fell asleep." Blaise noted with a handsome smile.

"You're fine Zabini, the boys were late too." Ginny replied.

Everyone sat in their respective spots, the common room sounding eerily quiet. Hogwarts may have been rebuilt physically but the trust of many parents was still broken. It would be awhile till the school was full again, so the Gryffindor group's eighth year would most often feel just like this.

Ginny cleared her throat to begin speaking again, the attention was all on her now.
"I'm going to try out for the Hollyhead Harpy's."

A collective excitement fell over the group as they patted her on the back and cheered her on. She smiled but her excitement soon fell.