Work Text:
Hogwarts has many beautiful and enormous halls with high ceilings. The sun enters through ornate diamond grille windows, lighting the way for students as they stroll around campus.
You sit below one of these windows, laid back in a cushiony chair, as you dip your quill into a small ink bottle. Neville sits opposite of you, although he seems to be a lot more concentrated on the work than you are. Books and papers are sprawled out on the table between you.
Your Herbology class was assigned homework by Professor Sprout; a paper regarding the plant Neville told you about the first time you met. Thanks to the curiosities he shared with you, you were able to write down a good chunk of information.
"Y'know, what you told me that time in the greenhouse really helped me," you say as you glance up at Neville.
He stops writing for a second as lifts his eyes, "That's good. I thought I talked too much…"
Neville looks back down at his paper and fidgets with the edge of it that's beginning to curl.
"Of course not! In fact, I think you should talk more."
Your over enthusiastic tone takes him by surprise, but you stand with your words, because it's true, you'd love to hear him talk more. He could tell you some more fun facts, sometimes crack a joke or two, and you could listen to his voice... Pause.
You push those thoughts out of your mind and instead decide to focus on your homework, occasionally asking Neville questions regarding the paper. He answers them almost too eagerly. Or maybe he’s just passionate about plants. Surely it’s nothing more than that.
As you scribble another paragraph onto your paper, you think about how the two of you have grown closer. Over the past several days you would chat about the mundane during breaks, and help each other during class. You became more relaxed around him, and it appears to be the same for him as well.
You become so lost in your thoughts you don't immediately realize that you've been writing a whole bunch of nonsense. Your eyes almost pop out of their sockets when you reread your previous paragraph.
"Merlin's beard… Neville, I've written pure rubbish. Can I see your paper?" you sigh.
Neville nods as he slides his paper closer to you.
You squint as you attempt to read his small handwriting. He waits patiently as he looks around the hall.
Neville's paper is almost fully covered in writing, and your eyes can't seem to focus. You feel rude for interrupting his work flow, so you try to think of a solution.
"Do you mind if we sit next to each other? It'll be easier for me to read what you wrote, and you can keep working," you say as you indicate to the empty sofa on the other side of the table.
You hear a quiet thud and a sharp inhale. Sounds like Neville bumped his knee on the table as he jolted lightly at your suggestion.
"Oh, okay," he says as he fumbles with his things and shoves them towards the side of the table that faces the sofa.
Eventually you both settle down on the couch. Neville resumes his work, and you resume your reading of his paper.
-- ✦ --
You don't pay attention to the time as you finish up, but you begin to notice how the candles subtly light up, and how students slowly make their way to their dorms.
You drop your quill as you raise your arms and stretch.
"Alright! I think I got everything, I'll probably turn this in next class. What about you Neville?" you say as you turn to face Neville, who seems to have finished writing before you, but didn't pack up his things.
"Yeah, I finished my paper," he pauses before continuing, "I guess we can go to our dorms now."
"'Kay. Thanks for helping me, by the way," you say as you sense an ache in your chest. What's that all about?
Neville proceeds to avoid your eyes, as his gaze drops down to his hands. The inner corners of his eyebrows pinch closer together, and his mouth opens slightly as if to say something.
You wait expectantly for what he has to say, but all you hear is silence. It doesn't look like he's planning on going to his dorm anytime soon, either.
Your body suddenly acts on its own accord, as you move closer to where Neville's sitting. A soft pink rises to his cheeks, as the distance between you shrinks.
Your knee gently collides with his. He quickly looks away, as he tugs on his collar.
You feel your own face grow hot, although Neville doesn't try to scoot away from you.
"Well- we can sit here a bit longer, if you want. There's still time left before curfew…"
He shakes his head a little in agreement
"Uhm- thanks for… studying with me," he says in an almost inaudible whisper.
"Thanks for agreeing to study with me. You helped me a ton," you chuckle.
A faint smile graces Neville's flushed face.
"I liked it," he mutters.
His soothing voice is so dim, you're forced to ask him to repeat what he said.
"Er- studying. With you. I liked it," he says again, "It feels like I'm almost never someone's first option, cause-cause I always mess things up and-"
Neville trails off as his eyes attempt to focus on anything but you, "Sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"Don't be sorry," you say as you rest your hand on his shoulder.
"I don't think you always mess things up. And… you can be my first option, I don't mind," you say as a bashful grin spreads across your face.
Neville manages to stammer an expression of gratitude.
"You don't have to be everybody's first option. I'm not, neither is anybody else!"
"You might not be for everyone. I'm for sure not for some stubborn Gryffindors," you huff.
Neville chuckles at your remark.
"But, I think you're… for me," you say as you look up at Neville.
His body stiffens at your words, as he seems to swallow a toad that's stuck in his throat.
"Uhm-same," he practically whispers, and as you tilt your head a tad lower, you can see a smile on his face.
-- ✦ --
You and Neville head back to your respective dorms, the sound of your footsteps loud against the empty hallway walls. You noted how even though the both of you are fairly different, certain things like these unite people. Unite the two of you. You'd like to believe that this study session was productive, you guys got your Herbology homework over with, and some weight off your chests.
You're still figuring out the who-is-who's-first-option thing, but your content with the fact that you let Neville know that you're there for him. Hopefully, he thinks of you in the same way. But what kind of way is that exactly?