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It was that time of year again. My absolute favorite, the ride to Hogwarts. The train was just as busy as ever, kids running up and down the halls, high on sugar and excitement. It put me in a cheerful mood and I found myself humming while watching the scenery fly by outside the window of the compartment I was sitting in.
That was until I heard a croak. I blinked and looked around confused. "Uhmm..." I heard another croak and glanced down to see a fat brown toad staring up at me. "Hello there," I murmured to the little creature. It was so ugly, that I found it quite cute. Toads didn't seem to be the most popular choice when it came to familiars, but I did find myself liking them. Though I got the family Owl, Arch-beak. He was a grumpy old owl who liked to snip at fingers, but he was part of the family, nonetheless.
"I bet you wouldn't bite my fingers, huh?" I asked the toad as I lift it up from the floor. It croaked again and stared up at me dumbly. I giggled, it's skin was bumpy but also smooth, and a bit slimy.
I looked up suddenly when the door to my compartment was opened, "Sorry-H-Hi, Have you seen my toad?" A boy asked me. He had round chubby cheeks, and he looked quite young. He must have been a year or so under me, because I don't think I had seen him around much. He also seemed horribly nervous, I wonder if this was his first year? His eyes, that had seemed rather sad lit up when he saw the fat toad sitting on my lap. "Trevor!"
"So your name is Trevor?" I asked the toad, lifting him up to my eye level. "Well it's lovely to meet you. My name is Y/N." As if Trevor responded, he gave another croak. My silly display seemed to calm the nerves of the younger boy, and I nodded to the seat in front of my own. "Take a seat, sir. You've just come along my first meeting of the grand Toad Trevor."
I winked playfully, and though the boy flushed, he sat down. "Sorry," the boy repeated. "He likes to try and escape."
"Ahh! An escape artist, I see." I wiggled my eyebrows. Trevor croaked, and I gingerly handed him over to his owner. He took his pet, seeming to be much more relieved than a couple of moments before. "It's alright," I told him, giving him my best comforting smile. I knew full well how nerve wracking the first year of school could be. Especially the train ride there.
"My Walter likes to try and get out sometimes too."
The boy lifted his eyebrows, so I smiled and allowed him a peek of my pet rat, that currently snoozed in the pocket of my cloak. "Oh you have a rat!" I lifted a finger up to my lips, "It's a secret, okay? Really only supposed to have one pet you know. And my family handed me down our family owl, but Walter is much more friendly. I'd say we're more like friends, rather than him being my pet. He comes and goes, really. I am not completely sure how he manages to find me." I shrugged a shoulder, keeping a friendly grin on my lips.
"That's handy! I wish Trevor would try to find me when he wanders off, chasing him down all the time is tiring." He almost seemed to pout as he said that and I found it oddly cute.
I giggled, leaning in as if to whisper "You know, I bet if he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't. He probably just likes to play hide and seek with you."
The boy looked at his toad, and he smiled, "You think so?"
I nodded, "I think so! My name is Y/N, by the way." I held out my hand. He gingerly reached forward and shook my hand, "I'm Neville."
Together we sat and talked for the rest of the train ride there. I think my company helped him calm down enough to prepare for the first few hours of nerve wracking processes, such as getting sorted and meeting your new housemates. Luckily, he was put in Gryffindor, the same house as my own. I found out that I was only about two years ahead of him, third year to his one year. I didn't mind it, I helped him to find his classes and helped him with his first homework lessons. I was told off by a prefect, something about how it being their job to show new years around, but I didn't care much. As far as I was concerned, Neville and his toad Trevor, were going to be my friend and I would take him under my wing. The third year pride, it was, looking back at it now.
When you're young, it's much easier to make friends. Over the next few years, I had plenty and Neville, while he didn't have as many as I did I never left him behind. Whether it was lessons, or free time, we were often together. Of course, rumors spread around about us being a couple.
At one point, one of the older girls stopped me in one of the many long hallways to question why I decided to be with Longbottom. She called him some rather mean names, and I grew flustered with embarrassment and anger.
"You don't know what you're saying," I spat at her angrily. She was a pretty blond, who had very nice skin and teeth. I wasn't ugly, persay, but I felt like a mouse next to her. Her friends leered on at me and she grew meaner, and her words became uglier.
"Just because you don't know what it's like to have an actual friend doesn't mean you get to tease me about mine!" I yelled at her angrily, looking pointedly at her two 'friends'. I heard the way the three spoke nasty things about the other behind their backs.
"Why don't you ask them how they really feel about you? Prissy? Bitchy? A prude?" I offered only some of the insults I had heard. The blond immediately turned her attention to her friends, her eyes lit up with fury and I took the chance to slip away.
I ended up in the courtyard outside. I sighed, kicking a rock. "They're jerks." I whispered quietly. Walter peeked his little head up from the pocket of my cloak and squeaked his agreement. Or at least that's what I liked to think he said.
"Are you okay?" I heard a familiar voice ask me. I nearly jumped out of my skin and spun around to see Neville. I placed my hand over my chest and huffed a big breath, "Merlin's beard.. You scared the daylights out of me!"
He gave me a half grin, "Sorry."
I shook my head, "What did I tell you about apologizing so much?" He looked bashful and then spoke, "To not?"
"Exactly." I responded, sitting down on a stone bench. The weather was warm, but the bench felt cold against my rump. He sat down next to me and was quiet for a moment. "That girl was being mean to you, because of me."
When I looked up at him, about to disagree I saw that he had a look that was if someone kicked his puppy. I felt a pang of guilt and scooted closer to him, "Hey don't worry about it. Who cares what some random girls say?"
"You shouldn't have to deal with being bullied just because your my..friend." He looked to the side, and I could see a blush on his cheeks. I gave a soft smile, it was cute whenever he got flustered.
"You're right." I said, and he looked at me with wide eyes, "But I don't care. I'd rather be bullied for the rest of my life if it meant we'd be friends, Neville. You could move across the world, and I wouldn't care, I'd probably even come with you." I teased playfully.
He looked thoughtful, and rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you mean that?" He asked me.
"Of course! I've never lied to you before, have I?"
"Not that I know of." He cheeked, giving me another half grin.
I giggled, pinching his side. "Ouch!"
Christmas was nice, sure. Got to go home and spend some time with my family, got a break from all the studying and day to day school stuff. I got to sleep in my comfy bed, rather than sharing the room with the other girls my year. I got my room back, I got to hang out with my gossiping sisters, and boy did they gossip. They were years older than me, and they loved teasing me about the boys I went to school with.
"Soooo, got any boyfriends?" My oldest sister asked.
"No!" I responded immediately, blushing furiously. "And what do you mean boyfriends? With an 'S'? Have you ever had more than one?" I accused her, to which to innocently smiled with a shrug.
Her belly was round with her baby, she had gotten married two years ago and was finally getting on her way to making me an auntie.
"I don't knooow, with how much you're blushing, you could fool me~" My other sister teased. They were so similar it was creepy. Of course, they were twins. The only difference was that the younger of the twins hadn't gotten married, and was slim, with an athletic build. She played Quidditch for a living. Much to my Mother's dismay, because it meant that she wasn't interested in having kids any time soon.
"Shut it, you twin terrors." I mumbled, crossing my arms over my chest. My cheeks were red hot though, and I could feel the blush spread it's warmth all over my body.
"You know Cassie met her husband at Hogwarts?" The younger twin said, her name was also Kassie, but with a K. Don't know why my mom did that to them, so we just called Kassie with a K, Kat. Casandra and Kasandra. 10 points to originality there.
"I know, I know. Where is he anyway?" I looked at Cassie. She sighed dreamily, "Off to buy me icecream, pregnancy cravings. What a man, am I right?"
"I guess so?" I answered, happy to be on a different topic.
They began to talk about Cassie's husband, and her plans on a nursery and I managed to slip away. My face still felt hot, even as I went up into the coolness of my bedroom. I had left the window open by accident, and the window seal was covered with white powdery snow. I closed the window and sat down on my chair in front of my desk.
"Do I have any boyfriends. Pfff. PFFF I say!" I spoke allowed to myself.
I leaned back against my chair, feeling the front feet lift from the wooden floor. I stared up at the ceiling and sighed. I didn't have any boyfriends because I didn't want anyone else besides... I shook the thought from my head and groaned.
Dating is awkward, it can lead to breakups, and those ruin friendships. I would hate myself if I messed up... Gods, it was hard to even think it. The one name that kept popping into my head when my sisters pick on me.
Neville. There I thought it.
That wasn't so hard. Was it? I swallowed nervously, and being so lost in my thoughts I pushed a little to far and cried out as the chair slipped out from beneath me and I landed hard on the floor. I groaned, rubbing the sore spot on my back.
"Y/N?" I heard a muffled voice from downstairs, probably my mom. "I'm okay!" I called out and scrambled up to my feet.
I brushed the dust off my rear and wrinkled my nose, I really needed to sweep more often...
A sudden thump against my window nearly brought a shrill cry from my lips and I cursed inwardly. Turning around I saw an owl at my window. It shook it's head, looking a little dazed. Did that owl seriously just fly into my window?
I walked over to it, opening the window. A fresh cold breeze flooded my room, a little colder now that the sun had completely vanished from the sky. The owl had a small parcel connected to it's leg and I took the letter from it's beak.
"O-Oh, thank you." I mumbled to the owl. It stared at me expectantly and I blinked. "I uh, don't have any treats for you." It narrowed it's eyes at me, snipped at my finger and shook the parcel off it's leg, taking off a moment later.
"I could have grabbed something for you, you little brat!" I called after it before looking down at the cut I now sported on my finger. Oh well, nothing new. I grabbed a bandaid out of my drawer and fixed up the cut before picking up the parcel.
"Whose this from then?"
My heart skipped a beat when I saw Neville's name on the letter.
'Dear Y/N,
I hope your holiday is treating you well, mine has been fine. I'm spending it with my Grandma like usual, she got me a new sweater. It's kind of ugly, but I know better to tell her that. Last time I did, it didn't end up too well for me.
I told her about you, and she said that next year she wanted to make one for you too, so.. sorry about that, I guess. I don't think she believed me much about you at first, but when I showed her a picture of us together she got really excited and then started talking about how we should be together. Funny isn't it? And also really embarrassing. But it's rare to see my Grandma get very excited so.. I didn't mind.
I felt a blush return to my cheeks at this. He showed his Grandma a picture of us together? And she said what? I couldn't believe it for a moment, and didn't even let the fact that he said he found the idea funny bother me and read on.
But it did remind me to send this out to you, it's not much but I hope that you like it. It's okay if you didn't get me anything, I know it's last minuet. Anyway, can't wait to see you after break. I miss you.
L - From Neville.'
I stared at the words that he tried to scratch out. I miss you. I swallowed nervously and then peered at the ending, there was an L. Was he gonna say Love? I felt a tremble move throughout me, and I bit at my bottom lip.
I reached over to the parcel and slowly opened it. I felt a smile slip over my lips as I saw it was a collection of a few chocolate frogs. I had told him years ago that it was my favorite. I didn't realize that he would remember.
I looked at the letter, lifting it up to gently hold it to my chest. I sighed happily. Not even my sisters teasing me would be able to bring me down at this moment.
The day back at Hogwarts, Neville and I met up after dinner for a walk out in the courtyard. It was mostly quiet, since most of the others were spending time catching up after the holiday break. We found a place to sit together.
"Thanks for the chocolate frogs," I spoke to break the silence. He smiled bashfully and nodded, "I'm glad you liked them."
"I'm sorry I didn't get you anything," I said to him, staring at my hands. I was feeling bashful, trying to gather the courage to do what I had been planning ever since I got that letter of his.
"It's okay, Y/N. You don't have to, I know it was kind of late-"
His voice hitched in his throat as I brought my hand over to his, slipping my fingers to clasp with his own. He looked at me with wide eyes and I bit my bottom lip, "I-If you don't mind, I could give you something too.. kinda late also. But better in person."
His eyebrows lifted, his face heating up with a blush to meet my own. "O-Okay," He stammered.
Slowly, I leaned forward. The seconds seemed to last forever, but finally my lips connected with his. I felt him freeze. I almost panicked, making a move to pull back but at the last second, I felt him press back. My heart skipped a beat. The kiss lasted for only a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity. Or at least a few years worth of built up crushes.
"T-Thanks," He said, his voice a higher pitch than usual. I smiled shyly, and scoot closer to him, resting my head against his shoulder. "If you liked it, I have more I could give you." I teased, breathlessly.
I felt his arm wrap around my shoulders, hesitant and a bit awkward but I didn't mind. I felt at home, like I was where I was meant to be.
"I'd like that," He spoke after a few moments of silence. A smile spread over my lips. Okay so maybe I don't have boyfriends. But maybe, I will have one. Without the 'S'.