It started off in our third year.
Potions took place in the dungeons, quite frankly the coldest place in Hogwarts, if you aren't counting Snape's office. My robes just weren't cutting it that day and I had asked Neville Longbottom, a Gryffindor in my year, if I could borrow the sweater by his bag.
"Sure." He didn't smile much, but a slight rose tint covered his cheeks and crept up his ears.
"Thank you. I'm Sapphirus Knight, by the way." I whispered, turning my head to the front quickly as Professor Snape entered the room. I thought he wouldn't notice me, a Ravenclaw in another houses' colors, but then again, I never said I was the smartest Ravenclaw in my year.
"Miss Knight." I swallowed hard as all eyes seemed to turn and zero in on me.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Why are you wearing a Gryffindor sweater, when you are, in fact, a Ravenclaw? And you should be in your robes, no less." Snape sneered, crossing his arms and taking a few steps towards where I was sat.
"Well, sir, I have my robes right here," I gestured down towards my bag. "It's just cold in here-"
He cut me off. "Ten points from Ravenclaw and ten from Gryffindor for whoever was foolish enough to let you wear that sweater." My classmates groaned and someone threw a crumpled piece of parchment at my head.
Like I said before, I'm not the smartest Ravenclaw in our year.
Potions was over after an agonizing class of trying to brew Shrinking Solution. My shoulders sagged as I walked through the dungeon hallway, trying to avoid the death stares of my fellow Ravenclaws.
"Way to go, big head." My eyes met my best friend's, Nataley Clarke's, eyes.
"Oh, shove off. If you would just bring an extra sweater or let me borrow yours-"
"I ought to buy you a Remembrall at this point." She laughed, making me feel slightly better. "But I swear, if we don't win the house cup this year, I will blame you because of this one event."
"Relax, Nat, it's only the beginning of the year, what could go wrong?" We made our way back to the Ravenclaw common room, flopping down into chairs opposite each other.
"You're still wearing it, you know." Nat said, not looking up from her Charms paper. "Longbottom's sweater."
Looking down, I blinked and touched the red and gold wool.
"You should return it before someone gets the wrong idea." She jerked her head over towards Andrea Barnes, one of our Prefects, who was in a deep discussion with a first year.
"Right, right. I'll go find him." I stood up, dusting off my skirt. "I..I don't know where he'd be."
"Try the greenhouses. He usually spends most of his time there." A voice floated behind me. I turned, a short blonde girl in front of me. She wore giant, weirdly shaped glasses and earrings shaped like what seemed to be turnips.
"Ah, uhm. Thank you." It didn't take me long to walk to the greenhouses, as I had been there many times before, catching up on assignments or doing extra credit. Herbology was by no means my strongest subject and I seemed to spend every waking moment with Professor Sprout.
Peering inside the glass of Greenhouse Three, I saw a mop of dirty blonde hair, bent over some sort of funny looking plant.
"Longbottom?" I called out as I opened the door.
The mop lifted itself and turned around.
"Yes?" I extended the sweater, my hands slightly shaking.
"I wanted to return this. I'm sorry about earlier today. It was stupid of me." Neville didn't look sad, but amused.
"If I had a galleon for every point Snape took away from Gryffindor because of me, I think I'd be rich." He froze, unsure of whether to laugh, so I did for him.
"I think I'd have more money than you." I crossed to stand next to him, looking at his plant.
"Ah, Sapphirus-"
"Sapphi. I go by Sapphi."
"Sapphi..right. Don't stand too close. Or touch it." My eyebrow quirked and I looked at him.
"Why's that?" He glanced down at his sweater vest and tie. "Stinksap. It's a uh..mimulus mimbletonia. You poke it and it gets very upset."
"A lot like Snape, huh?" He laughed first this time, causing me to smile. "Anyways...I ought to go. Again, sorry about earlier. I hope to see you around, Longbottom."
He stopped laughing, waving as I left.
"Bye, Sapphi."
YOU ARE READING
loverman (neville longbottom)
Fanfiction"I don't think I should've been placed in Ravenclaw. I'm not as smart as the others...I'm not enough for my house." He took her hands in his, Gryffindor bravery shining through. "You are enough. It's ridiculous how enough you are."
