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Chapter Text

1994, September 1

"Very cold," thought Neville as he entered the train bound for Hogwarts. He almost tripped over his own feet as he looked for a free seat by the window to wave to his grandmother, who was almost in tears and waving frantically, as she did every time he left in late August.

Neville always found it amusing to watch the wizards' excitement as the train began to board. He enjoyed even more trying to unravel the emotions expressed on people's faces. Some seemed extremely happy, laughing with their friends, others seemed sad because of extra studies. As he analyzed himself, Neville noticed that he often had a neutral, almost depressing expression.

Despite this, he loved his friends and herbology. However, the malicious words of the Slytherins and even the Ravenclaws still affected him. Neville thought he had improved, after all, they used to call him chubby, but after a few years he grew up and, as his grandmother said, "stretched out". Nowadays, the offenses were more directed at his personality, which always took him out of his little imaginary world. "It happens," thought Neville.

He sat down in an empty booth and put on a coat, thanking Merlin he was alone. However, the loneliness didn't last long, as he soon saw a blonde head of hair entering the cabin. Luna asked in surprise.

"Neville! i missed you" The blonde sat in front of him, holding a newspaper upside down in her arms, and Neville smiled.

"Luna, it's good to see you. I brought some cool books for us to read on Thursday nights." Thursday nights were a ritual that Luna, Hermione and Neville maintained. Every Thursday they would gather in an abandoned classroom to read stories aloud or simply relax, nap or eat. It was almost like a refuge, extremely cozy. They started this tradition in their second year and continued into their fourth year, a ritual that Neville hoped would never end, as it was something he loved, after Herbology of course.

"Cool, Nevil. I brought some interesting Muggle things too. I discovered a technique called crochet, it's like a thick thread that you can adjust. Yesterday I finished a strawberry bag and I'm going to make one for you too", said Luna smiling as she showed off her A new discovery for Neville, who could barely complete a sentence when he heard the door open.

"Nevis, Luna, it's good to see you," Hermione exclaimed excitedly as she sat down next to Neville. Soon after, Harry and Ron entered the cabin with triumphant smiles and hands full of sweets from the carriage, taking the seats next to Luna.

Neville smiles as he sees everything unfold before him as if it were a movie scene: Hermione angry with Ron for talking with her mouth full, Harry laughing at the situation, and a radiant Luna staring at a little blue box.

"Look, I got Minerva," Luna says happily, diverting attention from the argument between Hermione and Ron.

"I've already gotten about seven of her," Ron replies with a mouth full of chocolate, receiving an icy look from Hermione. Luna lets out a sigh of disappointment.

"Will we have any new teachers this year?", asks Neville, drawing attentive looks towards him.

"Probably yes, Lupine left Hogwarts, and we will have the Triwizard Tournament this year. I already have a suspicion who it is", replies Hermione, receiving an incredulous look from Ron. "She knows everything, how can she, Harry?", says Ron with indignation and a funny expression, making Harry and Neville laugh. Hermione rolls her eyes and Luna remains attentive to her newspaper, upside down.

After a while following the conversation, Neville begins to wander in his thoughts. He has never considered himself a lucky person, has never dated and has low self-esteem, which makes the situation worse. He remembers the kiss with a Hufflepuff in his third year, wrinkling his nose when he remembered the somewhat awkward experience, as they were both inexperienced and didn't have much to entertain themselves. To this day, he believes that his true love is Herbology and books, always making Luna laugh sincerely when he talks about it with her.

In fact, the idea of ​​being loved by someone sometimes scares and bothers Neville. Your insecurities corrode your veins, influencing your thoughts. He has had several arguments with Hermione over these issues, and the girl always shows her love with words of affirmation to try to make Neville feel safer. Sometimes he wonders if he really deserves all this love from her. After a few moments immersed in his thoughts, Neville is awakened with Luna holding an open rectangular white paper box in front of him.

"I got one for bad breath, it wasn't that bad, try one" Neville hesitates for a moment, but grabs one with a dark brown color, and puts it in his mouth. First it tasted like something old, followed by a taste of sweat mixed with sourness. The Gryffindor swallowed as quickly as possible with a tearful expression, those present laughed at the expressions.

Neville was trying things that Harry did with Luna, the end was the two of them getting teased by Hermione because they tried to catch the chocolate frog and Luna almost fell off the train, at least they managed to catch the frog and ate it during the chestnut fuss. After Hermione's warning to hurry up and change their uniforms as the corridor will soon be crowded, Neville follows her advice and heads to the bathroom. Lost in his thoughts, he enjoys the somewhat gloomy but beautiful view through the window until he reaches the location.

Upon leaving the bathroom and entering the long corridor, Neville accidentally bumps into two Slytherin students. Before he can apologize, the girls look at him mockingly, start laughing and whispering among themselves. A feeling of discouragement comes over Neville at the girls' reaction.

With a mix of resignation and indignation, he dismissively walks away from them and heads to his seat on the train, paying no attention to the conversation around him. Sitting in silence throughout the journey, Neville tries to calm his tumultuous mind. "It happens", he thinks to himself, trying to bring some comfort to his own restlessness.

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"Ron, you could at least wait for the others to get it too. Stop being greedy, there are three giant chickens on your plate," Hermione says in a tired tone, as the redhead grumbles briefly before continuing to eat.

Observing the movements and dialogue at the table, Neville notices the abundance of food before him, but finds himself unable to enjoy it due to an internal crisis of self-esteem. This situation has been repeated so many times, approximately every two months, that it has become an ironic habit for the brunette, who laughs sarcastically in his thoughts, attracting curious looks.

"Nevis, aren't you going to eat? You've been just staring at your food for a long time," Harry comments, noticing Neville's unusual posture. Hermione frowns when she hears her friend's words, aware that it's not like the brunette to worry others about his problems, preferring to always show happiness. When trying to establish eye contact with Neville and only finding downcast eyes in response, Hermione decides to gently touch his hand on the table in a reassuring gesture. Ron, in turn, wrinkles his nose at the scene.

"I'm just not hungry, it's okay," Neville says with a subtle smile to his friends at the table, avoiding worrying them further.

"Hey, Neville, if you're feeling sad for anyone, we're selling love potions in our shop," Fred Weasley announces, holding up a vial of bright pink liquid, which causes Neville to frown curiously.

"Where did you get this potion from?", Dino asks with an indecipherable expression, receiving a whisper from one of the redheads next to him. Hermione narrows her eyes suspiciously of the situation.

"Ignore these two, Neville. I'd like to see someone cast that spell on them one day," says Hermione with a withering glare aimed at the twins.

"We could postpone Thursday night until today, if you want," suggests Hermione, worried about Neville, receiving a somewhat guilty look from her friend. She knows he usually takes comfort in the presence of his friends and time to himself.

"It's okay, classes start tomorrow and we'll probably all be tired," Neville replies, while Hermione just nods, squeezing his hand lightly and realizing she's still touching him. Ron once again wrinkles his nose at the gesture.

"Hermione, if you're having anger issues, we have some patience potions in our store," jokes George Weasley, pulling a vial out of his coat and placing it on the table. Hermione ignores the comment, while Ginny laughs loudly.

"Merlin! They've been like this since they opened the store" says Ginny, wiping the corners of her eyes as if she were crying, Harry laughs.

"Hermione, can you believe they offered Filch a love potion because they mistook him for a girl?", says the redhead, laughing.

"We almost got kicked out, but it was worth it just to see Filch's face", adds the other twin.

After the welcome dinner, the monitors took the first-years and students to their dormitories and presented the new password. Neville, who had difficulty remembering things, stopped in front of the Fat Lady's painting, took a paper and a quill from his pocket ready for the moment, while hearing Hermione's soft laugh beside him.

Once settled in the dormitories, most of the Gryffindors went downstairs to enjoy a little time before curfew and catch up on things. Harry and Ron joined a group of Gryffindors in a lively circle, while Neville remained on the sofa with his head resting on Hermione's shoulder, enjoying the quiet comfort he so cherished. In the background, laughter could be heard coming from the circle, Ron sharing the dream he had about killing a giant spider with pink ribbons on its eight legs using a stick, which made Hermione and Neville laugh. The narrative was interrupted by Gina's voice.

"Apparently Dumbledore is going to release a common room for all joint houses", everyone pays curious attention to the redhead's words. Hermione asks, surprised.

"As you know?" Seamus asks. Gina shrugs and makes an amused expression.

"I'm the sister of two idiotic and gossipy twins, how could you not know", the redhead replies, only receiving a "Hey" from the twins, followed by laughter and agreement. Ron leans over to Harry and asks in a whisper, "What exactly is a common room?"

"It's a room to socialize, or debate important matters. We'll probably have to share the space with the Slytherins if we want to attend it" Harry replies. Ron makes a sour expression at the idea.

After a while, Neville is almost falling asleep on the sofa, lying with his head in Hermione's lap, having his hair stroked, completely relaxed and enveloped by the comforting feeling of the friendship they share.

Neville often finds himself reflecting on how lucky he is to have friends as special as those around him. Hermione and him are like brothers at heart; the brunette feels like there isn't a memory at school without Hermione by his side. Since they were little, they have always been together, sharing laughs, challenges and moments of mutual support. Even with the 'golden trio' that Hermione included herself in, the bond between them was unique and deep. Luna also fit into this special circle of friendship, bringing her own magic and uniqueness to the group.

The subtle smile on the brunette's lips reflects his gratitude for having these incredible friends in his life. The complicity and connection between them is an invaluable treasure that Neville holds dearly in his heart.

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1994, September 2

Neville shifts a little in bed, hearing his clock chime softly. It was a Muggle gift he had received from Hermione in his second year at Hogwarts.

"Neville, if you don't turn this thing off now, I'm going to..." Neville could only hear Ron's loud snoring, who fell back into a deep sleep before completing the sentence. The gryffindor let out a muffled laugh between the pillows, feeling grateful for the lightness quickly provided by the morning.

As he stood up, Neville realized he barely remembered how he ended up in bed yesterday. His mind still echoed feelings of disappointment from the day before; he knew he shouldn't have worried his friends with his emotions. The feeling of being a burden to those he loved was something that tormented him deeply, becoming the heaviest weight on his kind heart. However, he recognized how grateful he was to be surrounded by such loving and understanding friends.

On that busy morning at Hogwarts, the first class would be Defense Against the Dark Arts, a topic that always made Neville a little apprehensive. The dark creatures and spells covered in the discipline often scared him, and his self-confidence wavered in the face of the challenges that arose. Although he didn't consider himself brave, he recognized that classes could be surprisingly fun at times. The almost obsolete memories of Snape dressed in his grandmother's clothes still brought laughter from the group of friends whenever they were mentioned, bringing a bit of lightness to the tumultuous days at Hogwarts.

After showering, putting on his impeccable Gryffindor uniform and casting a quick refreshing charm to keep the bad morning breath out of his mouth, Neville tried to wake Ron and Harry, who remained soundly asleep, in their respective beds without moving. Patiently, he waited for Hermione in the common room, carefully observing the new details that had probably been added by Minerva McGonagall.

Between the newly incorporated boards and the new games available for the students' entertainment, Neville found himself intrigued. Upon closer examination, he noticed the presence of a Muggle game among the available options. Thanks to his close friendship with Hermione, he already had some knowledge about Muggle games, as the brilliant Muggle-born witch often shared these fun facts with enthusiasm. Harry had knowledge of Muggle games, although he didn't always know how to play them properly. Luna Lovegood, on the other hand, particularly appreciated the peculiarities of the Muggle world and often shared her discoveries with Neville.

Once the Weasley twins had sold a Muggle game to Luna, claiming that it could talk to the dead, and Luna believed it, to this day she remembers taking the game on Thursday nights, in the hope of contacting the afterlife. Neville smiled at the memory of the blonde disappointed because she couldn't talk to a pet bird from her childhood, Hermione laughing at Luna's naivety and promising that she would spank the twins, or if it didn't work she would tell Molly.

"Nevis, where are the boys?" Hermione interrupted Neville's reverie by coming up behind him.

"They didn't wake up, I tried calling them, but they didn't even move." Hermione rolled her eyes in slight frustration. "Would you like me to try waking them up again?" The chestnut simply shook his head in disagreement.

"Are you feeling better, Neville? You looked so haggard yesterday," said Hermione with genuine concern. Neville smiled, recognizing his friend's care.

"I'm fine, I promise," said the brunette, trying to reassure Hermione with an irresistible look that always worked. Hermione frowned, debating whether she should insist, but ended up giving in to Neville's charms, unable to resist his usual tricks.

"You know you can tell me everything, don't you, Neville?" Hermione brushes her friend's hair away from her face and gives him a soft kiss on the forehead, a gesture that was already familiar between them.

"Yes, I know, Mione", responds Neville, squeezing the hand that still rests in her hair.

"Okay, let's go. Then I'll prepare something for the boys to eat, they'll definitely miss breakfast", suggests Hermione. Neville nods and gets up, ready to walk through the corridors of Hogwarts alongside his friend.

"It's hot today. I think I'll leave the cape aside for the first few classes", comments Neville. Hermione nods in agreement.

"I'm thinking about that too. It really is warmer than usual."
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Arriving in the Great Hall, Neville felt an unusual sensation of being watched, which made him a little uncomfortable. As he narrowed his eyes to survey the room, Neville detected a pair of dark eyes looking in the direction of the Slytherin table. He furrowed his eyebrows when he identified Theodore Nott, a boy who was quite popular among the girls. Neville had some vague memories of the boy from the past vacation, he remembered seeing him helping Minerva with something, although he hadn't dedicated himself to finding out the details.

Theodore was handsome, but Neville already anticipated the outcome if he became interested in the boy. Theodore's gaze was both cold and welcoming, which made Neville blush involuntarily. His face burned even more when he noticed his cheeks burning. "Why was Theodore looking at him like that?" Neville questioned himself mentally, quickly looking away from eye contact with Hermione, who was speaking next to him.

"I shouldn't even bring them food. They already know they have trouble waking up early and always go to bed late, those idiots," Hermione grumbled as she wrapped some pieces of cake in a clean cloth and tied them up.

Neville got comfortable, removed his black cape and rolled up the sleeves of his uniform a little, in addition to loosening his red tie with small gold details, after all, the heat was more intense than usual. As he began to eat, Neville concentrated on savoring each bite, remembering that he had barely managed to eat anything the day before.

Resting his cheek on the palm of his hand on the table, he fell into a daydream about what his day would be like, mentally making a to-do list that included a visit to the library to check out some books and then meet Professor Sprout. Neville frowned uncomfortably, distracted from his train of thought as he once again felt the sensation of being watched. Could it be Theodore Nott once again? he questioned himself internally.

Luna walked away from Hermione, approaching Neville, her blonde hair tied into a messy ponytail tossed to the side, and with a calm look asked. "Are you feeling better? Hermione told me that you didn't eat anything yesterday and were A little sad." Neville, with a shy and sincere smile, nodded in agreement.

"I'm fine, I just wasn't hungry yesterday, no big deal," he replied softly. While they were talking, several owls began to cross the bright ceiling of the Great Hall, delivering packages and making a little noise as they left the packages on the tables in the different houses.

The atmosphere was buzzing with the arrival of messenger birds and the excited voices of students as they received their mail. Amid the murmurs of neighboring tables, Neville caught fragments of a conversation about someone who had received a Howler in the mail. However, he tried not to be distracted by the rumors and refocused on his own thoughts, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of being watched. As he tried to focus on mentally planning his day and deciding what his priorities would be, Neville felt a mixture of curiosity and uneasiness about what the future held.

"Class is about to start, come on, Nevil," Hermione called, interrupting the Gryffindor's thoughts. He stood up quickly, grabbing his cloak and books, and waved a brief goodbye to Luna, who returned it with a warm smile and a friendly wave. As he prepared to follow Hermione to the classroom, Neville tried to focus on an object in front of him, avoiding meeting any gaze that might make him uncomfortable. The feeling of being watched persisted, but he couldn't understand the reason behind it.

"This afternoon I'm going to visit Professor Sprout. I'm thinking about volunteering to help her on the weekends with the crops again," Neville commented excitedly, his eyes lighting up at the idea. Hermione nodded approvingly.

"That's an excellent idea, Neville. You and Luna helped the teacher last vacation, didn't you?" Neville nodded slowly, a small smile lighting up his face. The memory of the holidays spent with Luna and Professor Sprout brought him comfort and joy, fueling his desire to contribute and learn more about herbology.

"Today we will have class with the Slytherins", Hermione muttered frustrated as they arrived in the classroom, choosing the front chairs to sit down. Harry and Ron appeared a little later, out of breath, and took the empty seats to Hermione's right.

"I bet you spent hours talking in the dormitory during the early hours of the morning," Hermione commented as she distributed some pieces of cake to those who were late, receiving a thank you from each one before preparing for the start of class.

Neville still didn't have an opinion about the new teacher. He was missing one eye, always seemed to be drunk, and gave off a menacing aura that made Neville want to hate DADA classes even more.

"We are going to make some changes. Dumbledore has personally asked all the teachers who have Gryffindor and Slytherin classes together to let them know that…" Moody paused to take a drink from his flask, while Harry rolled his eyes at the delay in giving the news.

"Where did I stop? Ah, yes, for a Slytherin to be paired with a Gryffindor in every class," concluded Moody with a brief laugh, before taking another sip of his drink, which resulted in a frustrated groaning reaction. and loud murmurs from students.

Neville felt as if he had never seen so many sour faces around him. Even he was frustrated with the situation, as he mentally begged Merlin not to be paired with Draco Malfoy.

"Well, I'm going to throw together some random names here, so let's go," Alastor said as he took out a parchment from a coat pocket.

"Pansy Parkinson and Seamus Finnigan, Ron Weasley and Vicente Crabbe," the professor announced, pausing to take another sip of his drink. Neville turned to look at Ron and saw the look of pain on his face, as if he had been stabbed, which made him laugh.

"Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy", added Alastor. A heavy silence took over the room after the last two names were mentioned, being interrupted by Draco's voice.

"Someone cast a Crucius on me please" With a tone of disgust and a thoughtful expression, Draco spoke, while the room let out restrained laughter. Neville thinks it was the first time he laughed at something from that blonde.

"Blaise Zabini and Neville Longbottom..." Alastor announced, and Neville mentally thanked Merlin for that choice. Zabini was one of the few in Draco's circle of friends for whom he felt a little sympathy, he was kind, and that was enough for Neville to reciprocate with appreciation.

"Hi, you're Neville, aren't you?" Zabini appeared next to the brunette, causing him a slight fright. Neville just nodded and smiled discreetly, without showing his teeth, seeing his new partner sit on his left side, while Hermione collected her belongings.

"Good luck", whispered Hermione with a pained expression to the brunette before walking towards the table where Nott was. Neville followed her with his eyes, meeting Hermione's companion's gaze and quickly looking away.

Why on earth was Nott staring at him again, Neville wondered. He thought he saw a flash of anger in those eyes. It must be all in your head, he concluded to himself. The fleeting exchange of glances between Neville and Nott made the griyffindor uncomfortable, making him question whether there was something more behind that apparently hostile expression. He was feeling very uncomfortable with that look, and he didn't know the reason behind it.

Zabini's presence at his side brought a sense of relief to Neville, who now faced the class with a little more calm. His classmate's tranquility promised to make this unexpected partnership more bearable than he had initially imagined.

Chapter Text

Theodore Nott, a Slytherin with piercing blue eyes and messy brown hair, watched Neville Longbottom from afar with a mixture of desire, and as Blaise had said, slight obsession.

Neville.

It sounds so sweet in Theodore's head that it makes him unfasten his uniform tie, looking for any shred of sanity he has left. Theodore couldn't remember the exact moment it all started, but he was fully aware that he felt something more than sympathy - it was intense adoration - when he watched Neville. Every detail of Neville's face seemed to mesmerize him: the upturned nose dotted with freckles sparkling under the sun's rays, the pink lips parted by his teeth, and those bright eyes that conveyed warmth.

It was as if Theodore was on the verge of insanity, unable to resist the irresistible spell that Neville unconsciously held over him. At first, Theodore didn't fully understand why his eyes kept lingering on Neville's adorable figure. His heart seemed to race with every smile or movement of the Gryffindor's clumsy hands in his hair during the classes they shared. The feeling of butterflies in his stomach and the difficulty in looking away intrigued Theodore.

On certain occasions, while drawing subconsciously, I realized that the dark-haired was the only figure present on the paper, always shyly putting the parchment aside. Even during Quidditch games, his attention was on him, even if he was on the field as chaser. Watching him at games was a pleasure as he radiated happiness and enthusiasm, sometimes adorned in his home colors and his cheeks flushed with joy. When his team was losing, his expression would turn into a pout on his lips and a frown on his face, but Theodore always laughed when he saw him like that.

He could never understand why Neville never seemed to notice the intense, fixed gazes directed at him. He knew that it was only in the last few months that he allowed himself to completely surrender to looking, when he finally accepted the intense attraction he felt for the dark-haired man. Before, he only stole glances from time to time, afraid of being discovered.
However, in recent times, Theodore found himself completely open and vulnerable whenever his eyes met Neville, unable to disguise the emotions that overflowed in his facial expressions. The grynffindor seemed to have the power to bare Theodore's soul with just one look, revealing deep layers of feelings previously unknown to both sides.

Theodore Nott had already kissed several people, but had never allowed himself to become fully involved in dating. In his moments of losing himself in thought, he found himself carefully observing those he kissed, always noticing a common tendency: the preference for people with brown hair and freckles on their faces. Theodore recognized the meaning behind this pattern, but avoided facing the persistent voice in his mind, whispering that his choices reflected an unconscious search for characteristics similar to Neville's.

Blaise was already exasperated by Theo's frequent confessions about the boy. According to Zabini's memories, the outbursts had started around the third year. The dark-haired boy could understand Theo's attraction to Neville - after all, the Gryffindor was adorable and kind, characteristics that pleased Blaise as well. However, he respected his friend's emotional journey, clearly realizing that Theo was falling in love, even if he couldn't interfere with this "obsession". Thus, Blaise found himself daily hearing stories about the little Gryffindor who occupied so much space in Theodore's mind.

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1994, September 1

"Missed something at the Gryffindor table again, Nott?" Astória murmurs, leaning in, breaking the boy out of his daily reverie, the other just gave a sideways smile.

During the first months of studying at Hogwarts, he developed a special friendship with the girl, as they shared similar tastes. Over time, Astória became the confidant of his discovery about his attraction to men, being the first person to whom he revealed this aspect. Theo began to see her as a brotherly figure, an older sister he could trust completely.

"I think Draco lost too" Blaise comments, laughing. Draco lets out some swear words that Nott didn't listen to. I was more attentive to Neville's expressions, he seemed sad, I'm a little surprised, Neville is almost never sad.

He looked down and his eyebrows were furrowed, making Theodore feel like kissing them until they were normal. The boy barely touched his food, which worried him - he almost got up from the table to make him eat. The mere thought of Neville getting sick or anything like that scared Theo. He doesn't care how the other person would react if he saw him coming to the lions' table and gently asking him to feed; he just wanted to see him well.

After a few minutes of watching him, he saw the Granger touching Neville's hand. Theodore felt a pang of jealousy in her heart, but she thought about Neville's good, and considered that it might help him feel better, even though she had an overwhelming desire to get up, go to the other table, and pick him up on his lap and kiss his entire face to comfort him.

Sometimes these thoughts scared him, even if he was too used to this line of reasoning. He never bothered to try to understand the feelings that invaded him, he never tried to recognize the strong attraction he felt for that Gryffindor with the wild hair. Uncertainty and confusion mixed within him, creating a silent storm of emotions that he preferred not to fully explore.

Theodore felt relieved to see Neville smiling a little more. He knew that Hermione and him were very close and connected, so, even with a heavy heart, he understood the situation. His wish was only the best for the griffyndor.

"For the love of Merlin Theodore, you didn't even put your food in" He shifts his gaze to the right, where he finds Astória exasperated, with half-wide eyes. Ignoring the comment, the boy calmly puts down his food and begins to eat, occasionally looking away at the lions' table.

"Don't you think it's time to have some attitude? Dude, you're a goalscorer, you have to score goals" The girl on his right comments with a bored expression. Theodore laughed.

"But you're not the only top scorer on the field my friend, the match could be over" Astória added to his sentence, the brown man made an acidic expression at the girl's words. He knew very well that that was true, he had often seen people look at Neville with a look of ulterior motives, but thanks to Merlin the other never noticed or no one was direct enough for him to notice.

After the welcome dinner ended, the director left and Nott carefully observed the first-year children following the monitors. A crowd of people formed near the door, waiting for the first years to find their places with the monitors to go to their dorms. Nott stood up promptly, accompanied by Blaise and Astória, their steps leading them towards the commotion. His eyes, like magnets, soon found Neville, rising from the table and sharing laughter with some of his friends.

Near the hall door, he was lucky enough to hover close to Neville, the bastard was so much lower than Nott's height that he would have to almost lay his spine straight to kiss him.

Astoria was amused when she noticed Theodore fixated on Neville and, with a mischievous smile, pushed the brown boy closer, starting to talk to Blaise normally, feigning innocence. Theodore's eyes widened a little at the accidental approach, he was millimeters away from the dark-haired. He could smell his shampoo as he got closer, it was very similar to cheap baby perfume, Theodore breathed in again in wonder.

Never before had Theodore been as close to Neville as he was at that moment. The closest memory he had was from third year, during an Herbology class, when Neville was struggling to reach a bag of dirt on one of the shelves. It was then that Theodore, with a simple gesture, extended his hand and handed the object to the little one. Neville just muttered a brief "thank you" without even looking at him, but that quick touch left an unforgettable mark on Theodore. He spent an entire week remembering that moment, watching his own hand as if trying to capture the feeling of that fleeting contact again. His friends had to deal with the brown man's outbursts and daydreams, who found themselves immersed in confused memories and feelings when faced with the simple exchange of an object in Herbology class.

As the short figure walked away through the school hallways, Theodore sighed, feeling a pang of longing as he watched Neville walk away. Astoria, noticing Theodore's longing expression, couldn't contain an amused laugh as she looked at the boy beside her.

Leaning towards her friend, she murmured with a mischievous smile on her lips: "Merlin, you're so gay." Astória's slight provocation brought a relaxed and complicit atmosphere to the moment.

"You were the one who pushed me, weren't you?" The girl next to him just shrugs with a 'who knows' expression, Theodore rolls his eyes.

Arriving at the dormitories adorned in the distinctive colors of black and bright green, students excitedly descended to enjoy free time and chat in the common room, or opting to stroll through the imposing Hogwarts corridors. Theo, however, preferred to draw a little on his bed, Blaise lying near his feet reading a book.

She was making a drawing that Astória had asked for in a letter sent at the end of the vacation, it was a semi-realistic drawing of Blaise's face being imprisoned in Azkaban, the girl wrote that she would make a newspaper as if he were making headlines in the daily prophet, she would reply it and spread it in the Slytherin dormitory. She stated that it was revenge for the episode when the black man made the girl have pink hair for days due to a spell, Theodore gladly accepted.

As he concentrated on his drawing, Astória's impactful words during dinner echoed in Theodore's mind, bringing to light again an uncomfortable truth: at any moment, someone could steal Neville. This simple reflection was enough to send chills down Theodore's spine, who had never found the courage to express his feelings to the short Gryffindor who tugged at his heartstrings. The fear of rejection, the uncertainty about his own feelings and perhaps even the hesitation in fully understanding what he really had for Neville contributed to this invisible barrier that prevented him from taking action. Theodore found himself regretting lost opportunities, wondering what he could have done differently and what he could still do to change the course of things. The silent anguish that permeated his thoughts contrasted with the apparent tranquility of the environment around him, revealing a whirlwind of emotions on his face contained within the young Slytherin wizard.

"What are you thinking about? You've been standing there with this sad face looking at the parchment for minutes now." The brown man watched Blaise reading his book without looking away, he remained silent for a few seconds wondering if he was talking about the thoughts that were echoing in his head.

"Let me guess, are you thinking about Astória's words at dinner?" Thedore widens his eyes in surprise at the words of the boy nearby.

While watching Theodore in amazement, Blaise broke the silence with cutting words. "You're like a page in an open book, Theo. So what's bothering you? The part that you've been obsessed with a boy for at least a year and never even said hi to him or the part that the Any time you could lose it for someone else and you would drown in sadness and regret at your cowardice?" The direct and incisive question echoed in the room, making Theodore feel exposed to that uncomfortable truth that he had been avoiding facing.

Blaise's tone was different, more serious and profound than usual, expressing the importance of the matter at hand. The mention of Theodore's silent obsession struck straight at the Slytherin's heart, bringing to light the painful reality of his own hesitations and fears. The dilemma between the courage to declare himself and the fear of rejection, between the possibility of living a love story and the prospect of losing her forever through his own inaction, echoed like a deafening echo in Theodore's mind. The mention of the great regret he could have if he missed the chance to express his feelings stirred the most intimate fibers of his soul, awakening a storm of emotions that had been contained until then.

"I.." Faced with the intensity of Blaise's words, Theodore found himself unresponsive, feeling vulnerable and exposed in a way he rarely allowed himself to be. Nott rolled his eyes trying to find words in his empty mind, he knew that Zabini was right, he even knew too much.

"You think too much, you're so afraid of being rejected that you don't even try. Theo, stop being a coward and face your feelings, stop fantasizing about things and let yourself be led by your heart, not your head. Hugh, I'm talking like a Gryffindor ." The black man continues to look at his book, seeming concentrated. Blaise didn't mince words, challenging him to abandon self-made barriers and allow himself to fully live his feelings, even if that meant facing the unknown with courage and determination. The advice to follow the heart instead of the mind echoed like a mantra in Theodore's mind, awakening a spark of hope amid the darkness of his doubts and fears.

This is so real, Theodore ran away so many times when he had the chance, so many times that his friends pushed him towards Neville and helped him and he always ran away, he just took comfort in something that didn't exist, and wouldn't exist even if he continued like this, Theodore was overcome by an overwhelming warm feeling in his chest.

"You're right, I need to face this. Somehow, I'm going to win over Neville, no matter what." The other didn't react, but Nott quickly noticed a small, proud smile on the dark-skinned boy's lips, as he murmured a good night and get out of bed to go out.

Theodore slid the tip of his wand deftly, casting a small spell that plunged the room into a comforting gloom, with just a trickle of light escaping through the half-open window. As darkness closed in around him, Theodore sought refuge in the comforting idea that he had at least tried. Uncertainty hung in the air like a thick fog, clouding his thinking and making the unpredictable future even more intimidating. For a fleeting moment, Theodore allowed himself to imagine the different scenarios that could unfold from that turning point in his emotional life, but he soon repressed these unsettling thoughts.

The prospect of possible failure or disillusionment was almost unbearable, and he knew that if things didn't go as expected, Blaise would be the target of his frustration and resentment for a long time. However, in that moment of stillness and darkness, Theodore chose to silence the voices of doubt and fear that whispered within him. With his eyes closed and his mind momentarily empty of tumultuous thoughts, he allowed himself to simply exist, breathe and wait for the dawn for a new journey that began in that moment of apparent calm.
___________________________________________________________

1994, September 2

As he entered the room on that radiant morning, Theodore wore an infectious smile that reflected the determination pulsing within him. Moved by new energy, he felt reinvigorated and fully ready to win the heart of that Gryffindor who intrigued him so much. Blaise's insightful words echoed in his mind, opening previously unexplored doors and awakening in him a renewed confidence. An auspicious feeling blossomed in his chest, nourishing the flame of hope and certainty that, this time, things would flow according to his deepest desires. Theodore was determined to move forward, armed not only with words of encouragement, but also with the inner conviction that the universe was conspiring in his favor.

"You could ask him for help in Herbology class", suggested Astória, while Zabini nodded in agreement, enjoying his apple calmly.

"The idea is great, in this way, I would have the opportunity to be alone with him during practices in the garden or in the library", reflected Theodore, excited at the prospect of establishing a more intimate connection with Neville. The possibility of starting informal conversations while studying together awakened in Theodore a complicit smile full of positive expectations. Upon envisioning the moments shared in the company of the boy who aroused his interest, Theodore felt driven by the idea of ​​exploring new ways of getting closer and getting to know Neville better.

"Look, I'm not exactly an expert in winning over men, so leave it to Astória", Blaise joked, emphasizing the "I" with a playful smile, while directing an amused look at the girl. Astória noticed her colleague's relaxed tone and, in an awkward gesture, put an arm around Nott's shoulders.

"Come on, my friend, you need to be rude, treat these guys badly, act like a real 'alpha', make them suffer a little and then have them at your feet. That's how you win your pookie' you get it?", joked Astória with a deep voice and a theatrical posture, as if he were playing the role of a muscular and domineering man. Blaise and Theodore couldn't resist laughing at their friend's amusing interpretation, while Astória herself couldn't contain her laughter, infected by the relaxed atmosphere of the moment.

The union between them was strengthened not only by sincere friendship, but also by their ability to support each other and find comfort in each other's company. As the laughter echoed around the room, it was clear that this was more than a simple group of friends: it was a true chosen family, united by the bonds of affection and complicity, Theodore loved them very much.

"I found out that Dumbledore is going to force Gryffindors to be paired with a Slytherin in every class this year" the girl next to Nott says, sipping her pumpkin juice, some Slytherins who were nearby and heard had expressions of disgust. Theodore smiled, imagining that he could stay with Neville in one of the classes.

"But out of nowhere? It's very strange" a Slytherin comments at the table.

"It's because of the Triwizard Tournament, they want Hogwarts to look perfect, without rivalries or problems," Pansy Parkinson says, rolling her eyes, while Draco snorts.

"Is the drawing ready yet?" Astória asks in whispers, leaning towards her brown friend. He takes a parchment out of his pocket and hands it to her. He observes the smile of conquest on the girl's lips and hears a quick "thank you" before she hides the parchment under her uniform.

While Theodore was eating his breakfast, he saw Neville entering the room. The boy's hair looked defiantly unruly and small dark circles adorned his eyes, but he still looked charming. Nott sighed, mesmerized by the shorter man's charm.

As he watched him enter, Neville met his brown eyes. Theodore was left without a reaction, seeing the other look away and blush. Neville blushed because of him, because of him. A smile slowly began to form on Theodore's face as he processed the latest events; happiness overflowed within him. Astória noticed movement next to her and watched curiously.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Zabini pays attention to the girl's question, noticing the other's smile.

"Neville made eye contact with me, and.. blushed, he blushed at me" Theodore says in amazement, still wondering if it was real. The girl next to him raises her arms in happiness, celebrating discreetly so as not to attract attention, Blaise laughed.

Theodore was overflowing with happiness, feeling one step ahead from the moment he decided to completely transform his feelings and his future. Merlin, Theo was on the verge of a breakdown, mentally reliving that eye contact every single second.

Theodore looked at the Gryffindor with joy, several fantasy scenarios running through his mind to try to understand why he had blushed in front of the Slytherin. His train of thought was interrupted when he saw Neville take off his black cloak and roll up the sleeves of his blouse; Theodore sighed in wonder at that sight. A few drops of sweat ran down Neville's forehead, giving him a tired look, and Theodore watched one of those drops slide from the Gryffindor's face to his neck. The Slytherin exuded admiration, entranced by what he saw.

After watching Neville eat for a few minutes - it was the cutest thing anyone could see, in Nott's opinion - a head of blonde hair appeared in front of the Gryffindor, interrupting the brown boy's vision. It was Luna Lovegood once again. Theodore frowned, frustrated at the unexpected interruption to his moment of admiration.

"Look, a Gryffindor got a Howler!" An amused Slytherin commented at the snake table, attracting curious looks to the other table. Theodore didn't bother paying attention to the whispers around him, as he was focused on Neville, who was rushing out the door of the Great Hall.

"Theo, our class is about to start. Let's go!" Blaise interrupted the boy, catching his attention. He promptly collected his daily books and followed his friends to his first class at the start of the school year, leaving behind the agitated comments that echoed between the school tables.

"Today the class will be with the Gryffindors. I hope you are lucky enough to be paired with Neville", said Astória, excitedly, with a bright smile on her face, happy with the recent events. Theodore smiled upon hearing the girl's words. Merlin, if he were assigned to be Neville's double, Theodore would feel a wave of happiness wash over him and he would cry tears of joy - internally, of course. It would be tremendous luck, and for the first time, the world would seem to be on his side.

Entering the DADA classroom, Nott joined Zabini, Astória sat with a Slytherin friend. He met his eyes with Neville, sitting next to Hermione, the latter who was in a conversation - it seemed more like a sermon - with Potter and Weasley. Although Theodore didn't have much sympathy for the last two mentioned, he knew that because they were Neville's friends, he didn't have much choice but to suppress his thoughts.

Nott heard the teacher enter the room. As Astória mentioned in one of the letters exchanged during the holidays, there was a great expectation that a new teacher would take over the position, which was right. Theodore sighed in frustration, thinking that if Lupine had still been present, he probably would have paired him with Neville. The affection that the brown man had for his former teacher was evident; Lupine often shared his past adventures and, in particular, his stories about the Marauders. Theodore loved hearing these reports, and even today, he wasn't sure if they were real. Furthermore, he found comfort in sharing his thoughts about Neville with the professor.

The news of Remus' sudden departure from Hogwarts had deeply impacted Theodore. It was a shock to discover that his former teacher was a werewolf. However, during the holidays, Lupine sent the boy a letter, apologizing and detailing his situation. Understanding the complexity of Lupin's dilemma, Theodore decided to respond to the letter, demonstrating his support and understanding in the face of the former professor's difficult life.

"Today, my dear students," Nott paid attention to the teacher's words, watching him pat Ron Weasley on the head; Laughter echoed from the Slytherin table throughout the classroom, and Theodore let out a small chuckle alongside Blaise.

"We will be implementing some changes. Dumbledore has personally requested that all teachers who have Gryffindor and Slytherin classes together report that..." The teacher paused to take a drink from his flask.

"Where did I stop? Ah, yes, for a Slytherin to be paired with a Gryffindor in every class," Moody finished the sentence with a laugh, taking a last sip from his canteen. Groans of frustration echoed through the room, as Theodore looked forward to the possibility of being Neville's partner.

"Well, I'm going to throw together some random names here, so let's go." Alastor took a parchment from a pocket in his coat.

"Pansy Parkison and Seamus Finnigan, Ron Weasley and Vicente Crabbe" The professor paused to drink again, while Theodore wrinkled his nose at the amount of alcohol the professor had already consumed.

"Hermione Granger and Theodore Nott" The brown man quickly withered at the words spoken by the teacher, Blaise and Astória turned to the boy, giving him comforting looks at the surprise of the designated duo. At least there was the possibility of being able to pair up with Neville in another class; his hope continued to burn in his heart, fueling the expectation that he could still win over the Gryffindor.

"Harry potter and Draco malfoy" the room fell into a dead silence after the last names were mentioned, being broken with Draco speaking.

"Someone cast a Crucius on me please" With a tone of disgust and a thoughtful expression, Draco spoke, while the room let out restrained laughter.

"Blaise Zabini and Neville Longbottom..." Theodore felt a surge of anger upon hearing Alastor's last words. He couldn't believe Blaise had been paired with Neville. I was beginning to harbor a strong feeling of hatred for the teacher. Before getting up from his seat, Blaise exchanged a meaningful look with Theodore, silently apologizing. The other responded with a reassuring look, although inside he knew things weren't going well, Blaise also knew about it, even so, he got up and walked to the front of the room to join his new partner in the DADA class.

Theodore followed Blaise with an angry look, meeting Neville's gaze again. This time, the Gryffindor dodged faster than the last time, leaving Theodore unresponsive again. However, all of the brown's anger dissipated with that last gesture. He felt light as a feather, a feeling of peace invaded his being as if he were the happiest person in the world, knowing that if he died at that moment, he would leave in peace; Theodore smiled happily at the dramatic thoughts.

"Theodore Nott, right?" Hermione Granger hovered next to the aforementioned, who nodded, still flustered by the latest events.

Chapter Text

September 2, 1994

"Turn to page 5, today we will study about the Imperius Curse," announced Alastor, taking another sip from his flask at his desk.

After the professor had paired up all the students from both houses and everyone had organized themselves - with a lot of disdain due to recent events - Neville felt a great relief, knowing that at least until lunchtime, he wouldn't have to endure insults from any Slytherin if he made a mistake. He was praying to Merlin that in classes with the snake house, he would be assigned to a mentally balanced Slytherin, or even better, paired up with Zabini again.

Neville knew that his partner in DADA was a nice person. Luna occasionally mentioned how Zabini helped her in Potions when Hermione couldn't assist her. The blonde would talk about Zabini's patience in answering her doubts and questions. Despite the great disharmony between the two rival houses, Neville began to feel a slight sympathy for Zabini due to Luna's subtle praise. The dark-haired boy genuinely felt happy to see the blonde being accepted by a Slytherin and admired the fact that Zabini was not rude to the Gryffindors, despite being in Slytherin house. Neville detested the rivalry between the houses and appreciated the moments when he could witness the breaking of these barriers.

"Could someone tell me how this curse works?" Hermione quickly raised her arm with the question asked by the professor, who nodded encouraging her to continue.

"The Imperius Curse, also Imperio, is a tool of the Dark Arts and one of the three Unforgivable Curses. When successfully cast, it places the victim under the control of the one who cast it." The girl quickly added with a calm expression, while she heard a voice next to her speaking soon after.

"The Curse was created with the purpose of coercing and subjugating others into slavery, being an extremely dangerous and frightening magic. Although there are people who have managed to resist this coercive influence," Theodore concluded perfectly with a distant look. Hermione made a quick assessment of her new DADA companion: he showed skill and knowledge in the subject.

"Alright. Ten points for Gryffindor, five points for Slytherin." Some Slytherins rolled their eyes at the evident preference for the lion house. Moody would quickly be compared to a cheap copy of Dumbledore; he would not go unnoticed by the Slytherin students at the school.

"Would anyone like to volunteer to be a target of the Imperius Curse here in front?" The question reverberated through the classroom, followed by an uncomfortable silence. Neville shuddered in fear at the professor's words; Dumbledore had not mentioned this incredible news at the welcome dinner, Neville ironically thought. The possibility of being chosen as a volunteer sent shivers down the brunette's spine, leaving him deeply unsettled by the prospect.

"Just look at your faces! I'm just joking," Alastor laughed playfully, pausing to mimic the students' expressions, his fake eye wiggling with amusement. Some sighs of relief echoed through the room, Hermione was holding herself back from leaving the classroom rudely. If the professor hadn't broken the silence, maybe it would still be possible to hear the sound of the Whomping Willow moving outside and some birds singing. Neville was gradually nurturing more aversion towards Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and a bit towards the professor himself.

To try to dispel the slight nervousness and past anger, he decided to distract himself by scribbling on parchment with a quill and ink; an action that didn't escape Blaise's notice. After some time drawing absentmindedly, he finally looked at what was on paper and let out a discreet laugh not to attract attention. The drawing depicted an attempt at Hermione's profile face, next to Luna's pink glasses, and below them, a Honeydukes sweet - Neville believed.

The unusual and fun composition in your notebook was a reflection of the scattered thoughts that populated your mind in that boring DCAT class. You took your wand out of your pocket delicately and cast a small spell on the drawing, making the figures come to life and start moving. Hermione tossed her hair to the side, Luna's pink glasses sparkled magically, and the Honeydukes sweet seemed to dance on the paper. The boy's face lit up with enchantment as he witnessed his art come to life before his eyes. Blaise eventually noticed that Longbottom was having trouble focusing on this subject. A fleeting idea sparked in his mind.

"It can be directed to do anything the wizard who cast it desires, including crimes like murder, political corruption, breach of trust, and even suicide," explained the teacher as the dark-haired boy looked up to pay attention.

He clearly realized he had missed at least half of the class. This distraction was recurrent in DCAT classes, and the lack of focus was becoming a problem, especially with the NEWTs approaching. Hermione was already starting to worry about the need to study more intensively to ensure a good performance in the assessments. The pressure of the beginning of the school year was starting to weigh on the students' shoulders, making every detail and piece of learning even more crucial for academic success. He knew he would need to find someone to help him quickly in this subject without wanting to bother Hermione.

"I'll want a full parchment on this subject by the next class," declared the teacher firmly. Sighs of desperation echoed through the classroom. Some students were already starting to plan their research and organize their ideas to fulfill the task. Neville looked again at the parchment on the table. He was screwed; he didn't even pay attention subconsciously to jot down the teacher's words while drawing. He could already imagine Mione's reaction when he asked her for her notes; it certainly wouldn't be serene.

"I'll go get some missing parchments. Be quiet," said Alastor, hastily leaving the room, limping with his fake leg, making noise on the wooden floor hurriedly. Murmurs began echoing through the room as students awaited the professor's return.

"Do you want my notes?" Neville looked up surprised at hearing his companion's voice next to him, and quickly replied with a slight smile.

"Oh, no need." Zabini narrowed his eyes, intrigued by the dark-haired boy's response. In a generous gesture, he pulled out his wand and duplicated his own paper, handing it over to the boy beside him. Neville felt frustrated, lacking the courage to refuse such kindness.

"Thank you very much. Mione would kill me if she knew I'm slacking off in DADA again," said the dark-haired boy grabbing the duplicated paper, along with an embarrassed expression of shame. All his effort over the past few months with Hermione for Defense Against The Dark Arts seemed to be slowly going down the drain. The brunette had made him study during vacations and report back on what he was learning in letters sent; it turned out to be a fun experience.

"I have a friend who is great at DADA. I'm sure he could help you," Blaise commented, emphasizing the "sure," hiding amusement on his face with a comfortable expression. Theo and Astoria would have to take notes for him in class for at least a week, Zabini cunningly thought.

Blaise's suggestion left Neville with a mix of hope and concern. On one hand, the idea of not relying solely on Hermione, and having the help of someone else skilled in Defense Against the Dark Arts was tempting; on the other hand, he feared it might be some Slytherin more interested in teaching swear words than actually teaching DADA. Blaise noticed the boy's hesitation next to him.

"It's Theodore Nott, he also needs help in Herbology. From what I know, you're good at this subject, aren't you?" Zabini discreetly pointed to the boy who was a few tables away. Neville felt a shiver in his stomach upon hearing the name mentioned, nodded in agreement with the last words of the boy next to him, trying to dispel the recent mysterious sensations.

"He's terrible at Herbology, seriously! Like really bad. There was this one time he confused a Mandrake with a Mimbulus Mimbletonia in third year," Blaise exclaimed exasperated. Neville wrinkled his nose upon hearing the story, remembering when he also made that mistake, but that was before attending Hogwarts.

"He tried to pick fruits from the Whomping Willow thinking it was a normal tree during these holidays and got seriously hurt, just to show you how serious the situation is. He's desperate for help!" concluded the boy holding back laughter, with a calm expression as if he wasn't making a big fuss seconds ago; he could hardly wait to tell Astoria about this. The brunette was incredulous at the Slytherin's words next to him. It was practically impossible to confuse the Whomping Willow with a regular tree; he must be really foolish indeed, reflected the Gryffindor.

As Neville absorbed the situation, he really hesitated to agree. With recent events involving ambiguous eye contact and strange sensations in his stomach complicating things, he felt uncertain about how to deal with the Slytherin boy. Neville didn't see himself as so shy that he couldn't hold a socially normal conversation.

Anyway, he knew he needed to be understanding and help not the person who made him feel weird sensations in his stomach and his cheeks turn into tomatoes but rather the person who clearly needed help in Herbology; Neville convinced himself of this thought in his mind. He also needed help in Defense Against the Dark Arts and knew it would be beneficial for both of them to accept, especially considering how close the OWLs were getting.

"Alright, I accept. I'll talk to him at the end of class," said the Gryffindor, ending his confused and tangled thoughts with his words. Blaise internally celebrated; Theodore would have to kiss his feet after this.

"Don't forget, it's for the next class," Alastor reiterated upon entering the room, distributing scrolls from table to table and making ambiguous noises again about the floor with his fake leg; Neville found it eerie. The professor ended the class by sitting in his chair, while Blaise was absolutely sure that Alastor was drunk, hence why the class ended earlier than usual.

Some students quickly distanced themselves from their cross-house pairs with expressions of disgust, while others had already left. Neville felt his hair getting more disheveled as he hurriedly gathered his books and scrolls, hoping not to be overtaken by Nott when leaving. He didn't want to chase after someone in Hogwarts corridors looking like an idiot, especially when it came to Theodore Nott.

"See you later, Longbottom," Zabini said politely, giving a nod to Neville beside him, who awkwardly returned the gesture before the Slytherin moved away from their table.

As he organized his belongings in his arms, Neville scanned the room somewhat distractedly, his eyes searching for Nott. He noticed the Slytherin was already looking at him while arranging his books on his desk; Theodore watched him with melancholic eyes that seemed like they could melt in seconds. The Gryffindor's heartbeat quickened, of that Neville was sure.

After staring into Theodore's unusual blue eyes for a few seconds, he noticed a small smile forming on the tall boy's lips. The young Gryffindor's cheeks went from a pale tone, with extremely visible freckles, to the characteristic color of the lion houses. Neville averted his gaze, feeling flustered, hoping that the dim morning light in the room would hide his blush from the intense gaze of the boy. If someone said he looked like a mandrake, Neville would believe it without hesitation.

The brunette was about to lose it; he just wanted to understand why that Slytherin was acting that way towards him and why he responded to his actions in such a peculiar manner. He was starting to realize he hated being watched - especially by someone he found attractive. Maybe he needed to talk about this with Hermione at some point.

Neville closed his eyes, sighing in frustration with the situation he was in. He had already agreed with Zabini that he would talk to Nott at the end of the class, and surely Mione would scold him on Thursday nights if he didn't know when the Imperius curse was created or which famous wizards had used it.

Taking a deep breath, Neville honored his house and quickly gathered courage to act as planned; he didn't care about the peculiar behavior of the Slytherin affecting him – and his cheeks; all he wanted was a little help in DADA, nothing more. With this firm conclusion in mind, Neville proceeded determinedly towards the Slytherin's table. As he raised his eyes quickly, almost twisting his neck to fully see the other's face; Near Nott, he realized that the Slytherin was much taller than he had imagined. Staring into the other's eyes again, Neville swallowed hard. The golden trio waited for the Gryffindor near the door, observing the whole scene from afar.

"Zabini told me you needed a lot of help in Herbology," Neville furrowed his brow at his own words.

"And that you'd be willing to help me in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I accept." The boy concluded somewhat awkwardly, trying not to stutter and avoiding staring too much at the Slytherin's face; mentally, Neville hoped his cheeks had already returned to normal.

After four endless seconds of silence without a response, Neville raised his eyes uncomfortably due to the Slytherin's quietness. He found Theodore staring at him - once again - in a peculiar way, as if holding his breath. He began to suspect there was something on his face since maybe Theodore was staring at him too much just to mock him. A slight irritation took hold of the Gryffindor at this thought.

"Is there something on my face?" Neville asked, bringing his hand to his face still irritated; Theodore seemed to snap out of his trance.

"Oh, there's nothing. It's just your hair, they..." Theodore seemed to have fallen into a trance again. Neville put his hand on his own hair, worried if there was something wrong with it.

"They're messy, aren't they? I forgot to comb them this morning." Neville said with a frustrated yet cute expression, still keeping his hand on his hair. Theodore found it adorable and laughed, amused; Neville raised his eyes, curious about the unexpected reaction from the Slytherin.

"I'm free all week at 5:30 p.m. I have Quidditch practice before that," Nott explained, watching the Gryffindor absorb his words while calculating his own schedule in his mind, looking down. Even with the O.W.L.s, Neville didn't intend to give up his visits to the greenhouse to help Professor Sprout on weekends; he preferred to find an alternative time on days without classes. Theodore found it even more charming to see the brunette distracted, with messy hair and biting his lips; it was even more adorable up close. Neville was driving him crazy, and the shorter one wasn't even aware of the effects he had on the Slytherin.

"Can we meet today in the library? I won't be able to go after 5:30 p.m. on weekends, so we should arrange another time on those days." The Gryffindor explained, gazing into those fascinating sky-colored eyes. Even if Neville suggested midnight, Theodore would be willing to go.

"Yes, we can. So today at 6:00 p.m. in the library." Nott confirmed, pressing his lips together in an attempt to hide a smile that radiated happiness; Theodore felt immense peace in his heart with the prospect of the "date" set. The mere thought of spending more time in Neville's company filled him with a nervous yet comforting excitement.

"Oh, yes. See you later, Nott." Neville gave a small discreet smile before moving away from the Slytherin and approaching his friends who were waiting for them. Hermione raised an eyebrow with a mischievous smile, while Harry and Ron tried to imitate the girl's expression with similar features. Neville left the room laughing at their forced expressions, holding back his laughter so as not to be too loud.

"And so, are you going to tell me why you were talking to Nott?" Hermione asks with a playful look.

"He needs help in Herbology and I'm going to assist him, nothing serious."

"The way he was looking at you didn't seem like nothing serious, Neville," Harry comments, and Hermione discreetly agrees.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing," Harry replies, then exchanges a playful look with Hermione, who returns it. Neville sighs in frustration, hating to feel behind on the recent topics of conversation among friends.

"I hope there's chicken thighs for lunch," the redhead commented thoughtfully, equally lost in the conversation. Hermione grumbled something about Ron's comment, but Neville didn't bother to listen. Harry's words echoed in his mind, making remember the recent questionable events. Why was that tall Slytherin staring at him so much? Neville wondered for the second time that day. The Gryffindor's head could tie itself in knots with recurring thoughts.

As they walked through the bustling corridors of Hogwarts, Neville felt a mix of curiosity and concern. Those persistent glances did not go unnoticed, and he knew something was off; a feeling of unease settled in his chest.
The atmosphere heavy with curiosity and possible intrigues hung over Neville, diverting his attention from the everyday details of the school. The sensation of being at the center of something bigger than he imagined stirred his restless mind, leading him to question every gesture and word exchanged with Nott.

"I didn't hear it properly," Zabini spoke, hiding the amusement in his expression. He was sitting in the armchair of the Slytherin common room, with Astoria and Theodore kneeling in front of him. Some Slytherins passed by, curiously observing the trio's commotion; Blaise held back his laughter at the antics of the duo in front of him.

"We are grateful for your existence, our dear" Astoria says, elbowing Theodore – who was still on cloud nine with the recent events – to continue.

"Cutie" Theo said, speaking the first thing that came to his mind.

"Delicious."

"Tasty."

"If you weren't a man, I would totally chose you, handsome."

"You're the best," the two kneeling spoke in unison, adopting a submissive yet comical posture in Blaise's eyes. Remaining relaxed and expressing superiority, Zabini released the two with a gesture of his hands, and they quickly ran towards the Slytherin, kissing his hands and cheeks; Blaise couldn't contain his laughter.

"How did you convince him?" Theodore asks, as Zabini carefully formulates a response to not reveal what he said to Neville about the Slytherin.

"I just mentioned that you were having a bit of trouble in Herbology, that's all," Blaise said with a crooked smile to the duo before him, while praying they wouldn't suspect anything. The girl would love to know the story, but not Theodore; if they found out, Astoria would help the Slytherin get revenge. Blaise would probably wake up with his mouth glued shut.

"It will be at 6 p.m., right?" Blaise quickly changes the subject, receiving a nod from the boy in front of him.

"Theodore Nott, get ready because today you're going to become the best-smelling boy at Hogwarts and turn into a man!" exclaimed the enthusiastic girl, while Theo and Blaise laughed, infected by her joy.

Chapter Text

September 2, 1994

"And this one?"

"It looks like a Doxy"

"Astoria?"

"Too gay. Although you are—"

"Okay. And this one?"

"Ugh!"

"Just no"

"So, which one should I wear?!" Theodore exclaimed, his tone elevated, which was unusual for him. The anxiety he felt about the upcoming events mixed with the fury boiling inside him, directed at the two friends in front of him. It was already past 5:30 p.m., and Theodore hadn’t showered yet, seeking help to choose a decent outfit for the date. He had never felt so lost.

"Where’s that shirt you got from Blaise for Christmas?" the girl asked, while Theodore turned to the wardrobe in search of the mentioned item.

"I found it!" The Slytherin exclaimed, holding the shirt in front of his two friends.

"Now that’s it" Astoria said, while Blaise nodded in agreement, a satisfied smile on his face. Theodore smiled in relief; his friends’ opinions were one of the most important things to him at that moment.

"I got some Muggle perfumes from Lovegood" Astoria said excitedly. "They smell really good! You’ll have to choose one" Theodore nervously pulled at his lip, trying to hide the anxiety consuming him.

"You could have asked someone else, Astoria" he continued, concern creeping into his voice. "Lovegood might tell Neville that you asked for these on the day I went on the 'date,' and it might make him suspicious of everything" Blaise frowned upon hearing this.

"Theodore, there’s no way Neville isn’t already suspicious. You practically devoured the kid with your eyes this morning! And to make it worse, you looked like you’d been petrified just by looking at him. I’m sure his friends noticed" Blaise murmured in a disinterested tone while starting to braid Astoria’s hair.

"For Merlin’s sake, you don’t understand!" Theodore exclaimed, his voice laden with frustration. "I couldn’t hold back after he came near. His hair was all messy, and his cheeks were all red. Guys... I nearly died!"

"Merlin, you’re so dramatic" Blaise commented, rolling his eyes with a half-smile, unable to hide his amusement and pride in his friend. Astoria, in turn, watched Theodore with a gleam in her eyes, enchanted by his sincerity and vulnerability.

"Theo... I think you need to open up more to Neville" Astoria said, laughing softly at the Slytherin’s last words.

"Do you really think so?" Theodore asked, his expression softening a bit with Astoria’s encouraging words.

"Definitely! He’s just as lost as you are" she replied, maintaining a gentle smile that reflected her confidence in Theodore.

"But I also think you need to be careful with your intensity. This is something new for Neville, something very recent. When he realizes it, you need to be calm and give him the time he needs to get used to all of this" Astoria concluded, her voice full of understanding. Theodore nodded slowly, absorbing his friend’s words.

"You’re right. Sometimes, I get so excited that I forget he isn’t aware of my feelings" he ran his hand through his hair, a nervous gesture that was becoming habitual when he thought of Neville.

"Let’s focus on what really matters" Theodore said, trying to calm down. "I need to make a real impression this time"

"Exactly, go take a shower already!" Astoria exclaimed, jumping up with an infectious energy that lit up the room. Her hair fell into loose waves as she moved.

"Astoria, my braid!" Blaise protested, but the girl seemed oblivious to his displeasure, enthusiastic about the situation. With a determined gesture, she pushed the Slytherin out of the room.

Theodore couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh at the scene. As he left the dormitory, a smile lit up his face, and he felt as if he were living a dream rather than reality. If happiness could be fatal, he would have already found Merlin.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

"AAAHHHH!"

"What happened!?" Neville exclaimed, looking scared at Ron.

"Neville, you could have warned me that this plant bites!"

"Oh, Ron, it says here not to approach it because it’s dangerous" Luna replied, trying to stay calm.

"Well done! It’s good you learn not to stick your hand anywhere" Hermione scolded, her eyes wide with concern.

"Hermione... I almost lost my finger! And Harry, stop laughing" Ron protested, gesturing dramatically.

"I can’t help it!" Harry was enjoying the scene, laughing loudly and wiping tears from his eyes. The atmosphere in the greenhouse was electric, and the confusion only made everything more amusing.

At that moment, hurried footsteps approached the greenhouse door, and soon a redhead appeared in view. It was Ginny, who looked at the scene with an expression of surprise and amusement.

"What’s going on here?" she asked, barely able to contain a smile at the sight of Ron with his hand curled up and Harry in a state of hilarity.

"Ginny, you won’t believe it" Harry said between laughs, pointing at Ron, who was still recovering from the scare. "He decided to make friends with the biting geranium!"

"Biting geranium? That explains the scream" Ginny said, covering her mouth to hide her laughter. "Ron, you’re a genius"

"Oh, very funny" Ron grumbled, trying to look serious but unable to hide his frustrated expression. "If I had known they bit, I would have stayed away!"

Hermione approached him, looking worried. "Are you okay? Really?"

"I’m in a lot of pain in my finger. I’m sure this finger destroyer is poisonous!" Ron exclaimed, dramatizing the situation as he held up his finger, showing it as if it were a precious relic.

"Ron, the sign says it’s not poisonous" Neville replied, trying to stay serious. Meanwhile, Hermione hurried to conjure some first aid items.

"It’s all your fault for not reading the instructions," she said, frowning. "You need to pay more attention" she added while carefully bandaging Ron’s finger.

"Sorry, Neville. I guess we’re just getting in your way" Hermione said, looking between Ron’s finger and Neville with an apologetic air. "Maybe we should have stayed in the dorm instead of helping you."

"Don’t worry" Neville replied, shaking his head. "I’m used to dealing with you guys. And honestly, this has been way more fun than I expected." He couldn’t help but smile as he watched Ron writhe dramatically while Hermione applied the bandage.

"Fun? You must have a different idea of what fun is!" Ron protested, making a face as he felt the bandage. "I just wanted to help you, and now I’m here as an injured patient."

"I think you should start with the first-year stuff; it suits you better" Ginny interjected, laughing. "How about taking care of the flowers instead of messing with carnivorous plants?" The redhead approached the greenhouse, examining the plants with curiosity.

"Great idea" Harry agreed. "Ron and the flowers: a perfect combination! That way, he won’t risk losing more fingers." They all laughed together as Ron rolled his eyes, getting used to his friends’ teasing.

"Let’s go" Hermione said, changing the subject with determination. "We need to help Professor Sprout prepare the soil for the upcoming classes. And Ron," she added with a sharp look. "Try not to get too close to any more plants today"

"Okay," he replied dramatically, holding up his bandaged hand as if making a solemn vow. "I solemnly swear that I will avoid any plants that might devour my little finger"

The other friends couldn’t contain their laughter at Ron’s exaggerated expression. Hermione rolled her eyes but a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. "Let’s focus on the work, please" she said, trying to stay serious.

After Ginny said her goodbyes and left the greenhouse to continue on her way, the friends headed towards the cultivation area. Neville started talking about the different species of flowers they would encounter there. "These flowers have amazing magical properties. Professor Sprout always says that caring for them is just as important as understanding the more dangerous plants."

Hermione nodded, interested. She couldn’t help but feel a wave of satisfaction seeing Neville so enthusiastic, especially after the events of yesterday. It was reassuring to see how he opened up when talking about what he loved, and the sparkle in his eyes showed how much the subject meant to him.

"Some of these soils can even be used in potions," Neville continued excitedly. "Each plant in this area has its own particularity. For example, the Fire Flower is great for enhancing the potency of spells."

Hermione smiled, admiring his passion. "It’s amazing how fascinating Herbology can be" she said encouragingly. Neville agreed with a slight nod.

The friends arrived at the area with the pots and gardening tools. Neville quickly assigned tasks while Ron tried to handle a spade with his bandaged hand, doing his best not to appear clumsy.

"And who would have thought a simple visit to the greenhouse could be so much fun?" Harry commented, looking at his friends as they worked hard to prepare everything properly.

"True" Hermione agreed. "I think we should make this a tradition." Neville felt a sense of accomplishment with her words.

"Isn’t it time you went to get ready for your class, Neville?" Hermione asked, crouching next to him with a discreet smile on her lips.

"Hm, that's true” Neville replied thoughtfully. “Nott must be waiting for you to teach him how to handle a potion” Harry commented with a mischievous tone that made Hermione and Ron burst out laughing. Neville was about to question his friends’ joke when a soft and calm voice resonated in front of him.

“Speaking of Nott, his friend came to see me today asking for Muggle men’s perfumes" Luna said, removing her dirty gloves with a serene expression.

“She was interested in something that wasn’t too strong, but rather light and fresh, a scent that could envelop without overwhelming; I loved Astoria’s description!” Luna explained, her eyes glowing with subtlety. “She also mentioned that Nott wanted to impress someone special" the girl added, adjusting her blonde hair that fell gracefully over her shoulders. Hearing this, the golden trio exchanged knowing glances, a mix of surprise, understanding, and amusement lighting up their faces.

“I think you’d better get ready, Neville” Hermione commented, trying to hide a radiant smile.

“But it’s not even 5:40 PM yet, and we have a lot to do here” Neville replied, frowning in concern.

“It’s more important for you to study the Dark Arts!” Hermione insisted with a firmness that left no room for argument. “We’ll take care of everything here, you can trust us!” Her determination was clear. Neville hesitated for a moment, looking between his friends, and with a resigned sigh and a slight smile on his lips, Neville finally gave in.

“Okay, okay! I’ll get ready.” He began to walk toward the exit, feeling a bit lighter. As he opened the door, he glanced back at his friends. “Promise you’ll take care of things while I’m gone?”

“Count on it!” Hermione replied, her enthusiasm coming through in every word. With this encouraging response, the Gryffindor left the greenhouse.

Neville’s mind was buzzing with thoughts and emotions, the scent of the greenhouse flowers still fresh in his nose. As he walked through the castle corridors, he couldn’t help but let his imagination wander. Why would Theodore Nott want to impress someone on the day of their 'date'? Why was he bumping into those blue eyes more than he should? And why did he feel this strange sensation in his chest every time he thought of the Slytherin? These questions danced in his head, mixing with memories of their conversations earlier in the day.

The idea of being next to Theodore, even if just as strangers getting to know each other, made his heart race. The desire to be seen and noticed by someone so intriguing made him nervous but also excited. He began to imagine what it would be like if Theodore was truly interested in him. His heart beat fast and his mind was filled with timid — and, in Neville’s view, false — hopes. It was almost surreal to think that someone like Nott could look at him in a special way. Nervousness mingled with excitement, creating a whirlwind of emotions that he could barely control.

After a quick shower and selecting an appropriate outfit — with considerable difficulty — Neville started heading toward the library, feeling a bit more confident. As he passed by a window, he paused for a moment to observe the sky. The clouds were slowly dispersing, revealing a vibrant blue. Biting his lip, he took a deep breath, trying to gather the courage he needed for what was to come.

“Be yourself, Neville” he murmured to himself, as a mantra to encourage himself to move forward.

“We need to have a serious talk with him” Hermione said, looking firmly at the trio in front of her. Her determined gaze made it clear that she wasn’t joking. She always had a special talent for sensing what was between the lines of situations, and at that moment, she felt that something involving Nott was intertwined with Neville’s destiny. “We can’t let this opportunity pass!”

“Merlin, this is going to be more exciting than Quidditch" Ron gestured animatedly.

⚯ ͛

“There are three infallible steps to win someone over” Astoria said, raising her hand with an air of confidence. Her amused gaze turned to her friends, who watched her with curiosity. “Step 1: Make them smile" She lowered one finger, as if marking each stage of her plan.

“Step 2: Tell them they have a beautiful smile" Another finger joined the first one, while Astoria maintained a smile on her face. “And finally, Step 3: Tell them they have to go out with you in the evening”

Theodore frowned, clearly confused. “On the same night?” he questioned, his eyebrows arching in disbelief.

“Exactly” Astoria replied enthusiastically. “Because that way, there’s less time for them to realize you’re ugly, because you are ugly” she pointed at Theodore, convinced of her own idea.

Blaise rolled his eyes and couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard” he commented, shaking his head in disapproval. “How do you expect anyone to take that seriously?”

Astoria shrugged, still amused. “It might sound dumb, but you can’t deny it works sometimes. Brutal honesty is the best route”

Theodore crossed his arms and wore a thoughtful expression. “Maybe you have a point... but who actually agrees to go out with someone based solely on a quick smile and a tossed-off phrase?”

“Oh, my friend" Astoria replied with a touch of sarcasm in her voice, “love is full of surprises and strategies. Sometimes, all we need is a little push”

Blaise let out a low laugh. “And if the little push fails? What’s your Plan B?”

Astoria winked at him. “In that case, I suggest a good supply of chocolate and a romantic playlist. If all else fails, there’s always food and music!”

Blaise furrowed his brow, his look of indignation fixed on Astoria. “When I was pining over someone, you told me to kill myself!” Astoria raised both hands, placing them beside her head in an exaggerated gesture of innocence.

“Look, it’s different!” she exclaimed, trying to justify her words. "At that moment, I was just trying to be straightforward! You know how I am; sometimes I can’t find the right words” she added, closing her eyes in a mocking gesture that irritated Blaise.

“Straightforward? You mean insensitive!” He crossed his arms, still not believing Astoria hadn’t acknowledged her mistake.

“I didn’t mean to be insensitive!” Astoria quickly replied, frustration starting to seep into her voice as well. “I just thought you were getting lost in your own thoughts and needed a push. Sometimes, we need to hear harsh truths to wake up!” Zabini rolled his eyes.

“You also told me to kill myself, so we’re even” Astoria declared, crossing her arms with a challenging air.

“I don’t remember that” he replied, shaking his head as if trying to push the memory away.

“You do remember!” she insisted, with a murderous look" It was that time I was complaining about everything and you just turned and said: Astoria, jump off the Astronomy Tower before I kill you.”

“Oh, that doesn’t count!” Blaise made a face. “I was just trying to make you stop being so dramatic!”

“Dramatic? I was just expressing my feelings and opinions” Astoria laughed, unable to contain herself.

“I think I’m going to head out” Theodore intervened in his friends' argument, his voice coming out more hurried than he intended. The nervousness was evident on his face, and he felt like he was about to face a dragon, rather than simply approaching someone he liked.

“Good luck!” Astoria exclaimed with a gleam in her eyes and an encouraging smile. She always had a way of making tense situations lighter.

“Good luck” Blaise murmured, with a calmer but still sincere tone. He knew how much Theodore needed support at that moment.

“Don’t stutter” Blaise added quickly, his expression full of confidence in the Slytherin in front of him. “Believe in yourself.”

“Charm them!” Astoria finished, striking an exaggerated pose and winking at Theodore, who couldn’t help but chuckle. “And follow my three steps” the girl insisted, holding up her fingers as if recalling a mantra. “Remember: smile first!”

“Okay, okay" Theodore replied, letting out a nervous laugh as he took in his friends' enthusiasm. The support they offered made him feel a bit more confident, even though anxiety was still present.

He took a deep breath, trying to absorb the tips and positive energy around him. “I’ll do my best” he said, beginning to walk away.

Astoria and Blaise exchanged knowing glances and smiles. They knew that every little step could be important for Theodore that night. As he left the dormitory, his friends continued to encourage him with gestures and silent words.

“It’s going to be fine!” Astoria shouted as he walked away, her voice full of enthusiasm.

With his heart racing and his mind still echoing Astoria’s words, Theodore made his way to the library. As he entered, the characteristic smell of old paper and fresh ink enveloped him, offering instant comfort. The tables were softly illuminated by magical lamps.

The Slytherin’s heart raced even more when he saw Neville sitting at a table, engrossed in a book about magical creatures. The way he bit his lip while reading was adorable, and Theodore couldn’t pull his eyes away at all.

“Hi, Neville" Theodore greeted, trying to mask the anxiety that was beating inside him like a wild drum. The Slytherin felt a bit embarrassed for having called Neville by his first name instead of using the surname, as was customary among students. He hoped the Gryffindor hadn't noticed the slight break in formality, but the way Neville smiled at him made his stomach churn, and he quickly forgot what he had eaten for lunch.

"Hi, Nott" Neville greeted him with a warm smile, closing his book. Neville’s voice was as soothing as a gentle breeze on a hot day, which made Theodore's heart melt a little more. He had always admired Neville’s kindness and confidence. “I was starting to think you were going to be late”

“No, no! I was just... dealing with some things” Theodore replied, remembering the earlier scenes as he tried to hide how excited—and nervous—he was to be near the Gryffindor. He pulled out a chair and sat down right next to Neville, almost leaning into him.

Neville caught a faint scent of perfume as Theodore approached, exactly the scent Luna had mentioned. It made his face flush instantly. He was torn between trying to forget the perfume topic and the urgent need to discuss it with Hermione later.

“Already studying?” Theodore asked, his voice a blend of curiosity and a hint of shyness. He seemed a bit nervous, as if trying to find the right words.

“Actually, I was reviewing some Herbology content and taking notes to give to you" Neville said, his eyes lighting up at the thought of sharing his passion. Theodore felt his heart race, almost missing a beat. The idea that Neville was thinking of him, even if just a small detail, made him close his eyes and struggle to contain a smile that was forming involuntarily.

“I was thinking of reviewing Boggarts. I wanted to learn the Riddikulus charm, or rather, relearn it" Neville continued, opening the book to show an illustration of a Boggart turned into a humorous scene.

“You should think of the funniest possible situation related to your fear. It will weaken the Boggart" Theodore explained patiently, though his mind was far from the charm. He was more focused on how the sunlight illuminated Neville’s face, making his eyes appear even deeper and his freckles shine magically.

“I always used to think about my grandmother when I saw a Boggart" Neville said with a shy smile. He felt more at ease in the conversation, though he still avoided looking directly into Theodore’s eyes, fearing he wouldn’t be able to look away from that endless sky.

Theodore laughed awkwardly, trying not to seem obsessed as he gazed at the boy before him. He found it impossible to avert his eyes from Neville’s almost always tousled hair, his milky, smooth skin speckled with freckles. Neville’s puppy-dog eyes made him feel something he couldn’t quite explain, and his lips... Oh, gods! Those red lips were an irresistible invitation. Theodore wondered how many times he had dreamed about them, imagining what it would be like to touch, kiss, or even...

“Don’t you fear Boggarts? I wouldn’t find it fun to face them at all" Neville said with frustration, looking down at his shoes, which were dirty from soil.

“It’s true, facing a Boggart can be terrifying” Theodore replied, trying to maintain composure. Neville’s words pulled him out of his trance. Yet, as he spoke, his mind still wandered over Neville’s face. “But when you have a bit of practice defending against them, it becomes much less frightening”

He glanced around to make sure no one was nearby. The room was empty and quiet, and the soft light streaming through the window created a serene environment for a peaceful practice. “It’s just a matter of facing your fears. We could practice conjuring if you want”

“Practice? Here?” Neville asked, his eyes sparking with curiosity.

“Why not? No one’s around" Theodore said encouragingly, trying to convey confidence and calm.

“Okay, let’s try” Neville said, taking a deep breath.

“Alright, imagine something that scares you" Theodore said, pulling out his wand from his robes, waiting for the Gryffindor to do the same.

“I can imagine...” Neville closed his eyes for five seconds, diving into his mind for something that genuinely frightened him. First, the image of Snape came to mind, but he quickly discarded it; admitting that to Theodore would be a bit humiliating. Then he thought of losing his most important friends. This memory enveloped him in a wave of melancholy he didn’t want to bring into their light conversation.

After a brief moment of reflection, an idea came to him: he recalled a snake he had seen in one of the magazines Luna had given him. He remembered the cold, penetrating eyes of the creature, as if they could hypnotize him. The thought of being surrounded by such a creature, unable to move or escape, was a genuine source of terror.

“… a giant snake" Neville said, a faint, sour expression showing his discomfort. Theodore found this reaction adorable and struggled not to laugh.

“And you? What scares you?” Neville asked, his curiosity and interest evident in his eyes.

“Oh… well… I’m afraid of Death Eaters" Theodore replied, his calm voice contrasting with the weight of the confession. He looked down, but in reality, he was thinking about how terrifying it would be to lose Neville forever. The idea of losing someone so special to him made him uneasy.

“Oh, that’s not comparable!” Neville exclaimed, letting out a small laugh that seemed to light up the room. He finally dared to look into Theodore’s eyes, which were filled with a warm glow and a kind smile. That brief connection made his heart race.

However, as Theodore’s gaze intensified, Neville began to feel awkward. The lack of clear answers made him somewhat embarrassed, and he looked away to his own feet, trying to hide the blush rising to his cheeks; Theodore’s expression showed calm, contrasting with how much he was screaming with happiness in his own mind.

“We could ask Alastor to bring the Boggart, and you could use it to practice" Theodore suggested, looking at Neville with an excitement he couldn’t disguise. The soft light from the library reflected on his hair, and the quiet atmosphere made Theodore’s heart beat faster.

“Ah, yes. Sure" Neville replied, trying to hide the shyness growing inside him.

“Great!” Theodore struggled to contain a loud laugh of pure joy. The simple fact that Neville was watching him and paying attention while he was playing made his stomach churn and his heart race even more.