loverman (neville longbottom)

ch. four: holding my hand for the whole thing

The goodbyes were said to friends from other houses as we boarded the Hogwarts Express.

I had said goodbye to Neville the night before, after the screaming match between Andy and Oliver unfolded, thanking him for his gift. He promised to write over break, telling me to look out for his Gran's owl, Aster.

I was tucked away in a compartment, staring at the tiny moonflower he had given me and it spun in my hands. I closed my eyes, my brain replaying last nights moments. Neville had been so close and it had been my one chance to either screw things up or make something happen and Oliver Wood had to ruin it. A sigh escaped my lips and I carefully tucked the plant back into its' box and back into my cardigan pocket.

The door slid open moments later, revealing a frazzled looking Nataley, trailed by Luna Lovegood, a second year in our house.

"God, I thought we'd left you behind in the dormitories." Nat sat down, blowing hair out of her eyes. "George and I couldn't find you anywhere."

Luna placed herself opposite the two of us, thick and oddly shaped glasses adorning her face. She didn't say much, quietly observing most of the time, but when she did speak up, she was picked on for being...a bit different. I truthfully didn't mind, but I knew a few others in Ravenclaw weren't too fond of her outlook on some things.

"Right, you and George were definitely looking for me and not snogging in the empty dorms, when you'll get plenty of time to do that at his own house." I scoffed, looking at Luna. "Hey there."

"Oh, hello." Her voice sort of floated out of her, almost ethereally. She put the magazine she was reading down and pushed her glasses up into her hair.

"You've got a lot of wrackspurts fluttering about. Are you worried about something?" I blinked slowly, Nataley coughing to cover up what would've been a confused laugh.

"Wrackspurts? What are those?" Nat asked after a moment.

"They fly through your ears and make you feel all fuzzy. Sapphirus has quite a lot." Luna stated, as if it was quite obvious, she pointed to the magazine she had closed. "It's all here in the Quibbler."

"That sounds quite lovely, er-" I was cut off by Luna shoving the magazine at me, an excited smile painted on her face. Nat was giving me a weird look, but I smiled and opened it up, nudging her to read along with me.

The train ride ended sooner than I would've hoped, the breaks screeching loudly as we stopped at Platform 9 3/4. I reluctantly grabbed my trunk, bidding goodbye to Nataley and Luna.

Stepping out, I saw my mum and dad almost instantly, my mother's silver hair a beacon in the crowd. I glanced sideways as Nat was enveloped in a crushing hug from who I could only guess was Mrs. Weasley.

I took a deep breath and made my way up to my parents.

"Sweetheart, look at you." My mother's hands were like ice, cupping my face and squeezing it. "You look more beautiful everytime I see you."

"Hi mum. I missed you." It was the truth, I had missed them- but I knew in a few days, I would feel the weight of their overbearing presence crushing me. My dad didn't say much, just looked at me, happy I was coming home. He put an arm around my shoulder and off we were, to my home.

It only took about two days to feel suffocated by my parents. Around one o'clock, a gray owl had perched on the outside of our kitchen window, clutching a letter in its beak. My dad had been quick to grab it, as I was deeply involved in my lunch.

"Sapphi, dear, you have a letter. From a...Neville Longbottom?" I stood quickly, sandwich almost falling from my mouth to the floor. My mum had most definitely heard.

"Neville Longbottom? Is this a boyfriend?" She was shouting across the house, from the living room. I took the letter from my dad, trying to make the mad dash to my room upstairs. "Should I be planning a wedding?"

"Mum, I'm only fourteen, please! He's just a friend. And we're working on a project together for potions, don't make it weird." I called out behind me, shutting my bedroom door and blocking her reply.

I looked down at the letter, turning it over and over in my trembling hands. I didn't know why I was so nervous, only that I was. Peeling the wax seal up, I pulled out the folded parchment inside.

Dear Sapphi,
I hope it's not too soon to write. Snape's potions essay is still on my mind and so are you. I'm lucky to have found someone as bright as you to tutor me, but more importantly, be my friend.
How's your holiday? Gran is breathing down my neck about who I'm writing to, so I suppose you'll have to come visit sometime. Maybe then we could finish the Potions essay.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Neville

My eyes scanned the letter over and over again as I sat down on my bed. I was on his mind? Granted, he had written a lot about the potions essay and how I was such a great friend, but I was still on his mind.

Doubt creeped into the back of my mind.

"Surely if he's this enthusiastic about potions homework, he's only using me for help. I mean, there's nothing special about me." My mind spun and I flopped back, letting the parchment float to the ground, closing my eyes.

I awoke in the middle of the night, the moon shining brightly into my room. I sat up, correcting my glasses, as they had been uncomfortably smushed against my face for the past nine hours.

I felt gross, hungry and overly exhausted, a migraine starting to rise in the back of my neck. I stood, cracking several muscles in the process, and slowly opened my door, slipping downstairs.

Neville's owl had gone from the kitchen, as had my parents, and all that remained were leftovers in the fridge from dinner. I heated up a plate, carrying it carefully back upstairs. Pushing open my door, my eyes focused on my desk.

The moonflower was in bloom, the moon it's own spotlight.