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It was their sixth year at Hogwarts and their small group was staying late in the Gryffindor common room, studying for their upcoming test in divination class.
“Blimey, why’s this so difficult to remember?” Ron exclaimed laying back in the red sofa and rubbing his temples in a way that said he was tired of staring at bright white pages on a book. “It’s not that difficult, Ron you’re just making it harder than it needs to be.” Y/n said with her nose still shoved deep into her book. “Easy for you to say, it’s your favorite class.” Ron sighed deeply before leaning forward again. “Yeah, it’s getting late y/n. I think we better call it a night.” Dean said closing his book and started shoving it into his backpack that seemed to have been ripping at the seams. Seamus was already asleep to the left of Dean with his elbow propped against the armrest of the couch. When Dean got up to leave he gave Seamus a nudge followed by a “c’mon mate.” Seamus groggily woke up and closed the book that was propped open in his lap.
“Do you need someone to walk you back to your common room?” Dean looked down at her figure on the floor and asked before he turned to go to bed. Y/n shook her head with a smile. “I think Seamus will need more assistance than I do.” She giggled as Seamus didn’t even take notice to what she said. He gathered his books in his arms and started upstairs with a mumbled “g’night” Ron and Dean followed suit behind him.
Y/n started closing her books and left the Gryffindor common room without a sound. It was really late so she quietly made her way through the echo-y halls of the old school half not to grab the attention of peeves the poltergeist who would do something to draw attention to her and get her sent to detention and have points taken from Ravenclaw.
As she entered the east wing of the castle she started feeling the effects of the hour. She was tired and as a result she didn’t even notice when she accidentally crashed into a tall and chubby boy who was carrying a large herbology book and a few tools which hit the ground with a lound clatter.
“I’m so sorry!” Y/n said in a whisper scream not noticing who it was. It was Neville who she clashed into, but because of the darkness of the east wing, she didn’t notice. They both got to the ground and strained their eyes in an attempt to see in the dark to hastily grab the things that Neville had dropped.
Neville was going to say that it was fine till neville heard someone making their way down the hallway behind y/n. They seemed to have lit up their wands and once they turned the corner of the hallway they were in, they’d be heading straight for the young teens. Not attempting to risk it, Neville took her hand and they make their way through the darkness down to where Neville had just came.
“Shh” he said as he pulled her on the other side of the colonnade where there were they would be out of side from the people and their lights.
“Neville?” She asked as she stood beside him and peered out behind the same column he was. “Shh” he said again trying to hear the person. Well, more like people now. It was a few professors who were in their sleep clothes. there was no telling which ones. They seemed to be looking around.
After a minute of trying to listen to them, Neville turned to her in the darkness. “They’ll be patrolling this hall for the rest of the night. Our best bet is try to make it back to the greenhouses. Professor sprout has a comfy couch in her office.” Neville said as he tried to make his way to the end of the hallway.
Y/n followed suit trying to conceal her happiness. She had a thing for Neville.. a huge thing for Neville but he never seemed to be interested in having a relationship. Her girlfriends knew about her teenie tiny crush and thought it was lame. Y/n was beautiful and had most boys swooning for her. Her friends thought it was weird that out of everyone she liked Neville. Her best friend, Padme, told her to quote “snap out of it” and that she could have anyone. This didn’t stop y/n, however, her feelings just got stronger and stronger.
The teachers finally turned a hallway which gave them enough time to sneak through the doors and make their way into the herbology green houses and into professor sprouts office.
“Does she mind?” Y/n asked Neville as he lit his wind up and grabbed a blanket from a cubbard in the back of her class. “No.. well not for me anyway. She’s found me asleep in the greenhouses too often. She said if I accidentally stay too late I could always use her office.” He said handing y/n the blankets and sitting on the couch, opposite to her.
“There’s only one couch.” Y/n said as the heat rose to her cheeks. “I can sleep on the floor…” he said softly not trying to make her uncomfortable. She didn’t want him to sleep on the cold and hard concrete especially in a sweater he seemed to love. “No, of course not.” She said with a smile she attempted to conceal.
“So,” y/n started as she unfolded the blanket and laid it across her. “What we’re you doing out so late?” She attempted to make small talk through her almost chattering teeth. It was freezing in professor sprouts office and the blanket didn’t seem to help too much.
“Working on some Crying Cyclamen. They’re about to mature.” He said with a slight shrug. Y/n didn’t want to fall asleep because it would be all over in the morning. She wanted to live out this moment as much as she could. “What are Howling Helios?” She asked. This made Nevilles ears perk up. No one ever wanted to hear him geek out over plants, and maybe she didn’t either and was just trying to start small talk but he spoke up anyway.
“They’re a type of flower. They sing when they mature but when they’re young they scream. They’re usually found in deciduous forests and tundras. People usually mistake their cries for foxes’ cries.” He said waiting for her to stop him and change the subject but she never did. His heart fluttered a bit. He knew she was beautiful, that was something everyone knew but he also knew he would never have a shot. He would give her the world if he could but she would never allow it, he felt lucky that he was the one getting trapped with her in the middle of the night in professor sprouts office with nothing but a couch to share.
“That’s really interesting.” She said almost as if she wanted him to say more. His heart fluttered a bit more. “Aha yeah they’re super sensitive to temperatures though. We have to keep them super cold for them to mature. We’re trying to get them grown for Valentine’s Day.” He said. She was still staring at him in amusement. Sure, herbology was okay but it was a million times better when he talked about it.
“They sing beautiful love songs.” He said with a smile. Oh how he wanted to get her one but he also knew that she would probably be getting so many there was no point.
Y/n however took this the wrong way, her stomach dropped. He must’ve been growing them for that special someone in his life… someone she wasn’t aware of. Of course she’s happy for Neville but she wished it was her.
“So- are you growing them for a- uh— special someone?”she choked out through heavy breaths. Neville shook his head quickly. “Oh! No! Of course not.” He chucked out too. This made the weight on y/n’s shoulders lift.
“Good.” Y/n chucked out before she knew it. Neville seemed to have not taken notice to it at first. “Aha yeah, we’re selling them to the students… wait. huh?” He asked at the last minute making y/n face glow. Her mouth went on autopilot and she really had hoped he had never heard that. She didn’t have a proper excuse.
“I didn’t mean that… I don’t really know what I meant.” She said shaking even more harshly. Nevilles heart was thumping more than ever. He couldn’t think of a reason why he shouldn’t make a move… other than she could say no. But she’s turned down loads of guys, so he wouldn’t be the only one.. plus if he did feel embarrassed after he made a move then he would NEVER have to talk to her again. He seemed that his plan sounded pretty solid but it didn’t keep him from still feeling overly nervous. He thought quickly about what to do and how to do it.
He noticed her shaking and he took a deep breath. “You know, I- uh- you can- you know lay here next to me.. if you want to! Of course, I don’t want to sound creepy or anything— you just—“ before he could finish his rambling she had already made her way next to him and under his arm. His breath hitched as she nuzzled her head on his shoulder. He knew, no matter how thick his sweater was, she could hear his heart racing.
He placed his arm around her and covered her up with the blankets. She went to sleep hearing his heart race but what he didn’t know was that her head was beating just as fast.
It didn’t take long for y/n’s teeth to stop chattering before he could hear her gentle snores. He felt the way her chest would rise up and down as she was fast asleep.
He couldn’t go to sleep that night, he was too busy admiring her silhouette in the darkness.
She was the most beautiful thing to him, and he didn’t know but she felt the same way.