REWRITING: a neville long bottom x fem reader story

Chapter 1: The Train Ride

 You stared out the window of your compartment at the crowd of wizards and witches waving to their children. As your gaze sifted through the many faces you felt jealous of those who could look out the window and have the smiling face of a parent to wish them well off.

You sunk back in your seat away from the window looking across the compartment at your best friend Hannah Abott. You smiled to yourself watching her wave goodbye to her parents and blowing them kisses.

Her parents took you in for a few weeks during the summer, and you were more than glad to visit. You've lived with your aunt and uncle ever since you were eight when your mom died in an accident while studying dragons in Romania.

The Hogwarts train then gave a small rumble and took off from the platform at a slow pace.

"I can't believe we got a whole compartment to ourselves" said Hannah finally looking away from the window.

"I know I was certain we were gonna have to share with other people, thank god we're not"

You and Hannah were not necessarily shy people but you definitely always had a better and much louder time alone together than in the company of others.

"Speaking of that" Hannah started, "So-I-kinda-sorta-have-yet-to-tell-you-because-I've-been-scared-of-how-you-might-react-but-I-kinda-sorta-think-I-have-a-thing-with-Justin-now".

"OH MY GOD! HANNAH! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" you shrieked.

"I dunno" she laughed now realizing how stupid it was to keep something this big from you.

"I can't believe you never told me, oh my god I hate you" you scoffed while smiling.

"I know I just don't really know whether we're even technically a thing or not you know so I didn't wanna make something out of it if it ended up not really being anything"

"Well go on" you said "How did it begin".

"Well a week after I got home at the beginning of summer, so two weeks before you arrived at my house, I got an owl from him. His letter just said a bunch of friendly stuff and he asked me how my summer was so far, and from there we just ended up sending owls back and forth the whole summer and there was definitely some flirting going on".

"So that's why you were always receiving letters while I was there....well dude I am literally so happy for you that's so freaking cute".

"Yea I'm so happy, thank you for being so supportive. But yea I just knew I had to bring it up cause I wanted to tell you I'm really sorry but I don't think I'm gonna be able to be around all the time if I'm gonna start spending more time with Justin".

"Oh" You hadn't thought about that part, but trying to shake it off and not sound too hurt you continued with "Oh yeah I'll be fine don't worry about me. I bet I'll be so busy with studying this year that it won't bother me"

"Yea and don't worry I'll still hang out with you of course, why would I not, you're my closest friend in the whole world". You felt more relieved at her words.

The two of you spent majority of the train ride catching each other up on the parts of the summer that you weren't together, eating treats from the trolley, reading, and talking with fellow fourth years that popped into your guys' compartment. One of which was Justin.

The initial second hand embarrassment you received from watching Justin and Hannah talk for the first time in person since last year was too bad so you made an excuse to go get some fresh air.

You walked down the corridor of the train stopping when you heard a loud thud followed by what sounded like a toad croak come from one of the compartments. You popped your head into the compartment to see three of the Gryffindor fourth year boys. Dean and Seamus on one side of the compartment holding hands and giggling at Neville who was sitting across from them rubbing the back of his head with one hand and holding his toad in the other hand.

"What happened in here" you questioned looking at Dean and Seamus.

"Neville's toad jumped underneath the seat and when he bent down to grab 'em he slammed his head into the bottom of the seat on the way up" Seamus said trying hard to not break into a fit of laughter while talking. Dean however was not even trying to hold back his laughter.

"Haha yea very funny guys" said Neville dryly, mocking the two of them.

"Yea that sounded really painful I heard it from all the way out in the corridor" you said trying to sympathize with Neville but holding back the urge to laugh. Dean's laughter however only grew louder.

"Yea don't worry though nothing's more painful than third-wheeling with these two" Neville replied pointing at Dean and Seamus.

"Oh DUDE! You have no idea! I literally left my compartment because my best friend is talking to this one guy and I couldn't bare it, they were so awkward I think they were talking about the weather when I left"

Neville laughed into the hand that wasn't holding his toad, and you couldn't help but smile.

"Anyways" you continued, "I probably should head back, nice seeing you guys"

"Bye, nice seeing you too" said Seamus as Dean nodded with him in agreement still giggling.

Neville smiled said softly "Yea it was really nice talking to you"

And at that exact moment all in an instant the sun came out from behind a cloud and shone a patch of sunlight through the window. It happened to land perfectly on Neville's face, the golden light illuminated the way his black hair curled out at his ears and without much thought you said, "By the way Neville I really like your hair". His smile dropped a little and his cheeks went pink before you closed their compartment door and headed back to your own.