Neville and I spent a lot of time together after our first encounter in the greenhouse.
Generally, we ended up studying in the library for Herbology and Charms together, because I was so awful with plants and he wasn't too good with Charms. One particular evening, near Christmas, he invited me to the Gryffindor common room and I received a ton of awkward stares from a few of his friends.
"Don't let them intimidate you. They're just jealous cause I've got the smartest Ravenclaw in our year helping me with Charms." He smiled, but it was aimed down at his parchment. The butterflies in my stomach still took notice and my cheeks tinged pink.
Over the past few months, I'd developed some sort of crush on Neville. It started gradually, when I noticed one day in Defense Against the Dark Arts how he would always look over to make sure I was okay, even if he was the one not feeling the best during the lesson. Eventually I was thinking more and more about his crooked smile to the point where Nataley had to snap me out of my daydreaming every so often while we were eating breakfast.
"Oh, right. Smartest Ravenclaw. You know you could just have her help you." I motioned to where Hermione Granger was sat in a chair near the fireplace, bickering quietly with Ron Weasley, as Harry Potter stood staring at the two. I don't doubt this was an everyday occurance for him.
"Well, I didn't want Hermione's help. I wanted yours." Neville smiled again, this time looking straight at me. Merlin, he was going to kill me.
Our studying quickly came to an end as we finished our essays. He waved as I exited Gryffindor's portrait hole and I grinned to myself as I made the trek back to Ravenclaw tower.
"Blimey, do you realize what time it is?" Nat was sitting on a cushion on the floor when I entered the Ravenclaw common room. "You could've been caught by Filch. This little thing you've got with Longbottom is getting...scandalous." She put a hand to her forehead, fanning herself jokingly.
"Hm, me? What about you and Weasley? George, is it?" I poked back, raising an eyebrow as I ascended the stairs to our dorms. She stood, wide eyed.
"Shut it! That's...why that's personal business."
"Not very personal when you're snogging him in the middle of the Three Broomsticks." I stifled my laugh as she sputtered.
At breakfast the next morning, mail descended upon us. A letter was dropped in my lap by the family owl. He nudged my hand as I opened it and scanned the letter.
The upcoming week was the last before Christmas break, something I slightly dreaded. It wasn't that I didn't have a happy home, my parents were just overly attached. Sometimes I preferred being at Hogwarts, somewhere they couldn't hover over me.
"Sapphi. Oh god." Nat hit my arm with the back of her hand.
"Ow-god, what?"
"His family wants me to visit. George's." Her eyes were wide and she looked like she wanted to either cry or vomit. Perhaps both.
"Are you going to?" I put down my own letter, picking up a piece of toast and biting it.
"What if his parents don't like me? What if they think it's weird for him to be with a third year? What if-"
"Nataley, you're going to be just fine. From what I've heard, the Weasley family is really nice. Just breathe and go visit." I dusted toast remnants off my hands and rolled my eyes at her.
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."
