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zurzolo-riddle · 9 months ago

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made a neville mood board to go with the small fic i wrote for him! this is my first attempt at writing so let me know what you think!!

summary: you spend an unpleasant amount of time waiting in the cold library for the chance to get to talk to your crush. however, after all is said and done you decide that the pay off was more than worth it.

You couldn’t help but shiver from the shrill chill in the air as you sat waiting, tucked away in one of the many vast isles of the Hogwarts library. Though sitting in one of the deeper and darker isles of the library left you freezing, your placement was nothing but intentional. You purposefully chose to wait in the sector dedicated to books and essays on magical plants because you overheard a certain someone say they intended to study in the library after dinner. And you were sure of where this certain someone would visit first in the library on their studying endeavors.

You want to scoff at yourself for putting yourself in such an uncomfortable situation of waiting in the damp, cold just for the off chance that you might get a few minutes alone to speak to the boy you like. But you don’t have it in you to be annoyed at yourself. He’s just too sweet. And kind. You remember the way his messy brown hair brushes down towards his blue eyes. The same blue eyes that have an adorable glint to them everytime you make small talk during class or the way they light up when you get him on his favorite subject. Herbology. Which is why your placement in the herbology section of the library was nothing less than strategic and optimal.

Your ears perk up as the sound of footsteps on the polished wood floor draw nearer to the desk you’re sitting at. You pretend not to notice them as the figure turns the corner of the isle.

“Oh hey, y/n! You’re here late this evening.” Neville says clearly surprised by your presence compared to the general vacantness of the rest of the library. You plaster the most pleasant smile on your face that you can conjure and look up from the book you had placed in front of you. It was, admittedly, one you had already read before. Grabbing it from the shelves upon your arrival for the purpose of looking as if you were there for actual intellectual purposes.

“As are you, Longbottom.” You reply, softening your eyes as you bring them to meet his.

“That’s true.” He says sheepishly, pulling at his sleeves in a nervous manner. “But I need to cram for the darks arts test tomorrow.”

“So you came to the herbology section?” You question, an eyebrow quirking up in the process. His face flushed a shade of red and it makes your heart flutter. His meekness is always something you’ve found so endearing about him. He was one of the most benevolent and intriguing people you knew of and he had the audacity to hide it behind his bashfulness.

“Well, I-… I just wanted to check something out to read before bed.” He stutters to you. You hummed an understanding response.

“Perhaps you would like this.” You say closing the book you had opened to a random page in front of you. “Professor Sprout had us read some excerpts from it a few years back for a project in her class but, there’s actually a lot more fascinating information if you’re interested in delving deeper.” you tell Neville as you reach to hand him the book, hoping he’d take it.

“S-sounds perfect. Thank you, y/n” Neville says as his eyes cut to meet yours and take the book from your hand. You can tell he wants to avert his eyes from yours, as he typically does when he’s nervous, but he makes himself hold your gaze. And the thought of him putting such effort in an a minor exchange with you makes your heart swell. In the few seconds of silence that follow you contemplate that maybe, just maybe, this consuming crush of yours isn’t completely one sided. That maybe he values these small exchanges the two of you often have as much as you do. And as much as the thought fills you with warmth you couldn’t help but to shiver again from the unrelenting chill in the air of the library.

“You’re cold.” Neville says, his eyebrows scrunching together slightly. His tone sounds a mixture of matter-of-fact and concerned.

“Well, it is freezing in here.” You say huffing out a low laugh.

“Here take my jumper.” He says reaching for the hem to pull the article of clothing off.

“No!” You exclaim slightly louder than you intended. Neville pauses and looks to you with slight confusion etching his features.

“Why not?” He ask, his tone uncertain. Was it disappointment you heard in his voice? Perhaps he wanted you to wear his sweater. To find comfort in something that came from him. Or perhaps he was being his usual gallant self. “He’s too selfless for his own good” you think silently to yourself.

“Because then you will freeze, Neville.” You say.

“I’m down here all the time. I’m used to it by now.” He says determined and reaches to take his sweater off again. This time you don’t protest. I mean you’re only human after all. And if the boy of whom you’re irevabicly infatuated with offers you his sweater, who are you to deny him? Neville’s hand reaches the hem once more and you can’t help but let your eyes slide over his form. You admire the way his white button up is messily tucked in his trousers, in true Neville fashion. It was your turn to sport a flush on your checks as Neville so often did. Though your cheeks were more light, dusted with pink compared to Neville’s typical dark, red flush.

“Thank you. You’re too gallant for your own good.” You tell him, aloud this time.

“If being gallant means not letting a lady freeze to death in the library then yes, I suppose I am.” Neville says with an eerie amount of confidence. Yes, his voice did waver slightly but he held your gaze the entire time. Never backing down.

“Yes, that’s actually exactly what gallant means, Neville.” You say with a playful roll of the eyes. You slip the sweater on and can’t help but admire it. It’s in line with his usual fashion. It was brown with a black, excessive pattern upon it. When you look closely you notice slight frays in the fabric, insinuating that the sweater had been worn a long time. That it had been well loved. And as you tug your head through the neck hole you’re overwhelmed the scent of the green houses combined the lavender and cedar scented shampoo he used. You could bask in this scent forever you think to yourself.

“Consider it payback in exchange for the good book recommendation then” Neville retorted.

“It’s hardly a helpful recommendation if you’ve already read it some of it” you respond softly, a sweet smile tugging your lips as you lock eyes with the tall, brown haired boy.

“That was fourth year. I was due for a reread of it.” he says, waving his hand dismissively. He smile at him in response and he smiles back in return. A small silence envelops the two of you and you can feel the conversation starting to drift away. Feeling as though everything that needed to be said was already spoken. Your mind starts clawing at ways to keep a discussion between the two of you going. After all, you didn’t wait in this fridged library for an hour just for a small exchange of words. No, you needed to relish in his presence just a little longer.

“It is unusually cold to be so close to the beginning of the term. I feel bad for all the people that are going to outside in the quidditch stands tomorrow.” You say in a feeble attempt to make this fleeting conversation last a little longer. You’ve resorted to talking about the weather. Merlin, how pathetic you’ve become. How pitiful this boy has made you.

“Are- Uhm did you plan to go to the game tomorrow?” He ask you. His eyes leave yours and dart around the room as he timidly awaits your answer. The question takes you aback and you try desperately to keep the surprise off your face. Though your eyes widen and your small smile stretches a little larger.

“I haven’t decided.” You say honestly. “I do enjoy attending the occasional match but I sometimes favor staying in the castle and catching up on my reading.” In the few seconds of silence that follow your mind is flooded with so many questions. Was this his way of inviting you to the match? Did he want to attend the game with you? Was he simply being curious? You did bring up quidditch first, after all. Perhaps he was simply humoring your attempt at conversation.

“Well I- I mean if you’d like to go… maybe I could save you a seat. O-only if you wanted to attend I mean.” Neville stammered. The confidence he earlier displayed when insisting you take his sweater seemed to have escaped him as he nervously fidgeted with his hands. His gazed turned down to the floor, looking anywhere expect to you.

“You want me to go to the quidditch match with you?” You softly ask, seeking confirmation. His nervous eyes finally meet your wide, hopeful ones.

“I would- I mean yes I do. Only if attending seems fun to you, of course. I usually go to all the Gryffindor matches. House pride and all, ya know…”Neville answers meekly.

“I’d quite like that, Neville.” You say reassuringly. You try to remind calm and quiet but enthusiasm radiates from your eyes, smile, and voice. And it doesn’t go unnoticed by you or Neville.

“Great! I’d like that too.” Neville says offering you a crooked smile. Another blushed creeps on his cheeks and you wonder how he manages to look so flushed in such a cool environment. You stand and push your chair back to its proper place under the table.

“I suppose I won’t keep you from your studying any longer. I hear the dark arts test is going to be a doozy. Goodnight, Neville.” You say as you take your leave. Though your steps seem calm and collected your mind is simply racing with giddiness. You can’t help but hope the chill in the air stays. After all, you have the perfect sweater to wear to tomorrow’s game if it does.

As you turn the corner of the isle, almost out of his eyesight you hear Neville call out to you “Goodnight y/n, stay warm!” And it was that moment that you realize patiently waiting in the emptiness and cold of the herbology section of the library was more than worth it.

#neville longbottom aesthetic #neville longbottom x reader #neville longbottom #harry potter aesthetic #harry potter series #harry potter #neville longbottom fic

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