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You're sure this isn't the best idea. Arguably a pretty idiotic one, actually. Exams are right around the corner, but something else occupies your mind. You shake you head in an attempt to concentrate on something else other than him.
Wand in hand, you delicately step on the ground covered in greenery beneath you. You should be in your dorm, sleeping soundly with your housemates, but instead you're roaming around Hogwarts grounds.
The night is peaceful, the mellow breeze cool against your skin. The orangey glow from the castles windows is the only thing that brightens the void of the night. You look into the distance at the Black Lake. You were fairly familiar with it, since being in Slytherin meant having your common room submerged in the lake, giving it a glow of serene green. Observing the underwater creatures swim past the tall windows brought an odd sense of comfort.
You snap out of your thoughts about the beautiful Slytherin common room, as you hear a sudden noise. You debate on whether you should illuminate your way with your wand, but decide against it as you realize the person, or creature, would be able to see you aswell.
As you walk slowly, you tilt your head to peek behind a tree. Although he is the first person that comes to your mind, he is the last one you would expect to be out after hours.
He sits on the grass and seems to be rummaging around with a few gardening tools, and a potted plant beside him.
"Nev?" you whisper into the darkness.
Neville jumps up at your voice as he turns around to look at you.
He tries to catch his breath as his hand clutches at the place on his chest where his heart is.
"You scared me! What are you doing out here this late?"
"I could ask you the same thing, Neville."
He explains that he was in the gradual process of hardening off a certain plant to prepare it for the outdoor conditions, instead of letting it live in its constricting pot. You can't help but smile as he speaks, you enjoy listening to him talk about plants and seeing how much he cares for them. After all, that's how you became friends.
"I wanted to get a breath of fresh air, y'know, get my mind off of some things," you say as Neville returns to transplanting the flora.
"What kind of things?" he asks.
You gaze up at the castle as your heartbeat quickens. You're not exactly ready to tell him that the thing you were thinking about is him, not yet.
"Oh. Just uh- exams and all that."
Neville nods as he expresses his own concern regarding the upcoming exams.
"By the way," you ask, "how were you able to leave your dorm without being seen? I had to use a few spells to disguise myself better."
"Oh, I just went."
"Wow, that's bold. A true Gryffindor," you snicker at his simplicity as you take a seat beside him.
You and Neville sit in familiar silence for a bit, occasionally breaking it to talk about whatever is happening in your lives.
A strange sound startles the both of you. You can't tell if it was a howl, scream, or something a lot more terrifying. You immediately get to your feet and press your bodies up against the closest tree. Its large trunk conceals you, but your heartbeat doesn't slow down. The wind gently plays with the leaves of the newly relocated plant as you hold your breath and draw your wands.
You turn to look at Neville, although his focus is directed behind the tree.
"Neville!" you hiss as he peeks his head out further.
"What if that noise came from something dangerous, I can't let you die out here! Hold on," he says in a low voice.
Your face grows warm at his words, but you don't interfere any further. Neville mutters 'Lumos' as he steps away from the tree. You watch his outline gradually grow fainter and fainter, and try to form a plan in your head of what to do in case there really is something dangerous out there.
-- ✦ --
After some time you begin to feel uneasy. Neville still hasn't returned. It's silent. You confirm that the coast is clear, and make your way towards the direction that he went.
To your surprise, practically the second you do, a figure whispering your name approaches you.
"Neville! Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he sighs, "it was just an owl."
You exhale with relief, "Thank Merlin, I was so worried for you…"
Neville raises his hand to cover up a cough, or was it his smile? As he does so, you notice a small wound on his hand that you're sure wasn't there before. You reach out to pull his wrist closer, and mutter a quiet incantation as you aim the end of your wand at his hand. The wound closes up little by little before your eyes.
Neville doesn't even have the time to mutter a few words of gratitude before you hear the familiar meow of… Mrs. Norris!
Neville hesitates for a moment, before grabbing your hand. The heat of his skin clashes with the coldness of yours. You both dart off, deliberately picking up your pace. Trying to mask the fact that you were out of bed, you cast a few spells under your breath. Nothing matters in this moment, not even Mrs. Norris, only you and him. You and Neville laugh quietly as you run up to a quaint entrance to the castle and lightly push the doors open.
-- ✦ --
In due time, through hushed chuckles and careful steps on the hallway floors, you and Neville arrive at the Slytherin common room entrance. You wish each other goodnight, before Neville starts hurrying off to his dorm.
"Wait!" you exclaim softly.
Neville turns around to look into your eyes.
"Thanks for saving my life," you beam with a tinge of sarcasm in your voice.
"Don't mention it," he grins in response.
The two of you head in opposite directions, hoping nobody saw you, and hoping to let the other know about their feelings soon.