Professor Neville Longbottom (A Harry Potter FanFic)

Chapter Seven - Admiration

MOST OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS BOOK ARE THE WORK OF J.K.ROWLING, NOT MY OWN.

Chapter Seven - Admiration

As Neville ran he could feel the anger draining away from him. He needed a level head when dealing with students, especially those as difficult as Falco Malfoy. His footsteps thundered through the corridoors and seemed to echo off the walls. Huge silk banners hung from the ceiling and flapped in the wind, swirling around eachother as their colours merged and flickered in and out of Nevilles vision. Dry leaves flew in through the open window, and as they scattered and danced beneath his feet, Nevilles mind began to wonder to the beautiful woman he had met earlier. Her face hung in his mind like a delicate tapestry, and her mesmorising smile haunted his thoughts. He had never met anyone like her before.

It was at this moment that Rosalind stumbled from her fathers office, and into Nevilles path, her long skirts swishing around her and the various charm she wore round her neck clunking together. Neville glanced up and a broad grin appeared on his face. His smile was matched by Rosalinds and they held eachothers gaze. Her eyes were like pools of liquid silver, and Neville felt himself sinking into them. He stopped walking and just stood mesmorised, his grin grew wider and Rosalind began to laugh. It sounded like thousands of tinkling bells.

"Not trying to trip me up this time I see." Mocked Neville, his head cocked to the side in a boyish manner causing his soft chestnut hair to fall over his eyes. Rosalind stared at him, her eyes sparkling as she bit her lip and copied Nevilles action.

"Looking where your going this time!" She grinned with her head cocked to the side. Neville laughed and clutched his chest in a gesture of shock.

"Who knew you could speak such harsh words?" He smirked before a bubble of laughter escaped his lips and he couldn't keep up his serious facade.

"See you later!" He exclaimed before dashing down the corridoor, his green cape billowing behind him as he ran. He was acting like a lovestruck teenager but he didn't care. That brief exchange of words had brightened his day, and he felt lighter, especially after the depressing episode with Snape.

As he approached the door he heard the low chatter of children and the occasional burst of laughter. This next class might not be ideal, he thought, but at least it wont be with Falco. The huge wooden door creaked as Neville pushed it open, the brass knocker and hinges were rusted and the wood was caked in mould.

As he entered the room he noticed the heat. The greenhouse had heated up under the autumn sun and the temperature was intense and sweltering. The children turned when he entered and their eyes seemed to bore into him. But the majority of the class was Gryffindors, so at least he was safe from the hostile glares of the Slytherins.

As Neville marched towards his desk he noticed two pairs of eyes were following his every move intently. It was the two girls that had wolf whistled him during the first day. He glanced up and met their gaze, and they instantly blushed. Neville felt himself also blushing as he noticed the adoration in their eyes. This distracted him for a moment, but he soon had the lesson underway and recieved no hassle from the group of fith-years.

Most students seemed to know what they were doing, but the two Gryffindor girls kept asking for his help. Each time he strode over to where they were sitting they would giggle and whisper to eachother. Sure it was nice to have admirers, thought Neville, but this could become seriously annoying. It didn't help that the heat was getting him flustered and he felt drips of sweat trickling down his brow. He really regreted choosing to wear a woollen jumper. He reached up and pulled the jumper over his head and felt relieved as the cool air reached his clammy skin and reduced the heat.

Yet again he regreted his choice of wardrobe as his skin tight black t-shirt revealed his ample muscles he had earned from years of digging and gardening. The Gryffindor girls gasped and many more oggled him. Damn, he thought, stupid mistake. He was desperate to put the jumper back on but he was sweltering in the heat and wouldn't dare try. He felt uncomfortable with all these people staring at him but to put the jumper on would be suicide.

A very uncomfortable Neville spent the rest of the lesson with his eyes concentrated on his books, glancing up now and again to check on the class, most of whom were practically drooling. He had never been more relieved when the end of lesson bell rang, and he dashed from the class to avoid the unnerving eyes of the girls. "Think carefully about clothing next time." he said to himself. The admirers had made him feel more than a little awkward.

Later that night he lay under the silk covers and felt a blush rise to his cheeks as he remembered the adoring eyes of the girls in his class. No-one had really taken much notice to him before, so this sudden attention was strange and new and it made him uncomfortable. He had already planned tomorrows outfit in advance just to avoid the same situation.

Neville couldn't sleep. He was restless and flustered, he couldn't settle and his palms were hot and sweaty. He pulled the covers off and lay there thinking. His mind was wirring away and he knew that he wouldn't sleep properly now. He pulled himself off the bed and slipped on a pair of faded brown brogues, black jeans and an embroidered jumper. He stood wondering where he had been given the jumper when suddenly he remembered.

His friend's mother had given it to him as a leaving school present. Neville had grown close to Ron, but never understood why he hated his mothers knitting. He thought the jumper was amazing, it was pearly green and had a large N weaved through it in gold thread. The jumper was comforting and warm, so Neville was rarely without it.

When he opened the door it squeaked slightly and he cursed before checking the dark corridoor was empty. He didn't want a run in with Snape. He slipped silently down the halls, his feet barely making a sound as they slapped against the cold slabs. When Neville reached a large, elaborately decorated door he stopped. Wrenching the door open he breathed in the cool night air and stepped outside.

The moon was casting watery shadows across the bleak landscape. The castle was lit up by orange glows seeping from the dorm windows. Nevile knew that most of the children were asleep so walked silently down the cobbled path and deeper into the grounds. A thin mist hung over the earth, the moisture sinking into his clothes. Cloud covered the moon and he was plunged into darkness. Around him the calls of animals echoed through the night air and the wind whistled through the spindly branches of the trees. The temperature was the exact opposite as it had been this afternoon, he was chilled to the bone and was glad of the warm jumper he had pulled on.

The hooting of an owl brought Neville out of his peaceful trance and he looked around. He was standing upon the shore of an inky black lake. Water lapped at the pebbles around his feet and the moon reflected off the creased, rippled surface. It was so peaceful that Neville sank to the ground and rested his chin on his knees. Closing his eyes he allowed tiredness to wash over him and he drifted into a light sleep.