Chapter 1
The cauldron of potion exploded as Neville Longbottom added a new ingredient. He groaned at the unanticipated outcome. "Bollocks! I'll never get it right!"
Against the one wall of the Room of Requirement, Hermione Granger winced, but tried to keep her outlook positive. "We'll just start again. Come on, Neville - you can do it!"
The fifth-years at Hogwarts had their OWLS examinations coming up. To achieve his dream of becoming a herbologist (and perhaps one day obtaining the post of Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts), Neville had to get an O in Potions - his hardest subject. Naturally, he had turned to Hermione, the best student in their year, and she had agreed to tutor him. The pair met every evening in the Room of Requirement as preparations for the exam began in earnest.
Neville kicked the simmering remains of the cauldron as he trudged over to Hermione, allowing himself a moment to rest before having to start the concoction over again. "It's no use, Hermione - even if by some miracle I do get an O, who knows if Professor Snape will mark me fairly? He's always hated me!" He sighed. "Maybe the other students are right. Maybe I am a Squib."
Hermione gaped at this new piece of information. It had to be some awful slander perpetuated by the Slytherins, because no Gryffindor she knew would say such a thing and expect not to be hexed. The thought of anyone talking down about Neville made her blood boil. She marched up to Neville and grabbed him by the shirtfront to make damn sure he listened. "You are an incredible wizard, Neville," she breathed, and she meant it. "And you are lightyears better in magic than Filch." - the school janitor who was actually a Squib. Besides, Squibs were rare - Harry had mentioned something about the Dursleys' next-door neighbor being a Squib.
Neville gazed down at Hermione, smiling weakly in encouragement. But there was also something about the look in his eyes that Hermione didn't recognize. "Thank you, Hermione."
All at once, Hermione felt Neville's hands brush her face, his thumbs rubbing circles along her cheekbones. Eyeing him warily, she watched as he suddenly bent his face very close to hers. She didn't move, which gave Neville the opening to continue until he gently captured Hermione's lips between his own in a soft kiss.
Hermione's head tilted back, and her eyes remained open for a moment as their lips met. This was her first snog! And she was sharing it with Neville! But soon, she felt her eyes flutter shut as she relaxed into the kiss, and even kissed Neville back just a little. He tasted quite nice, and she didn't feel his hands wandering anywhere, trying to take advantage of her. Tilting her head just a bit, Hermione actively returned and deepened the kiss, even opening her mouth just the tiniest bit as she felt Neville's tongue dance across it, and eventually slide ever so slightly between her parted lips. Neville's hands glided about Hermione's slim waist; in perfect harmony, Hermione's palms framed Neville's face, keeping his mouth against hers for a moment more before, at last, they broke apart.
Hermione's eyes slowly opened. She was absolutely stunned. All she could think to do was respond in a whisper to the last words Neville had said before he up and snogged her: "You're welcome."
And as a bashful Neville smiled and blushed and turned away, Hermione licked her lips, tasting the residual of the kiss there. She pondered her first kiss, whether she had liked it or not. Then, little by little, her flushed and kissed lips curved into a pleased smile.
