A/N: Neville asks Hermione to the Yule Ball. Writing Nevmione is so hard. I really don't see them as a possible couple. They are purely platonic. The only possible romantic time was Neville asking Hermione to the ball, so I had to use it. RxR. FxF.
Submission for:
Pairing God Challenge CHARACTERS: Neville/Hermione
Hogwarts Fair 2014 Challenge/Competition: Refreshments
Hogwarts Casino 2014 Challenge/Competition: Bar
Represent That Character! Challenge II
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
She walked through the halls with her head down in her book as usual, her bookbag over her shoulder no doubt filled with many others. Neville peaked around the corner watching her walk from his spot near the window. It was suprising to find her walking alone, but he had heard that Harry and Ron were too busy trying to find dates to spend a lot of time with her lately. Neville counted himself lucky however. It would make what he wanted to do easier and possibly less embarrassing.
He walked quickly behind her until he was walking right on her left. She still hadn't noticed his arrival so he cleared his throat. He waited but still no response. He tapped her shoulder and said, "Hermione?"
"Ahh!" she screamed, jumping suddenly and dropping her book to the floor. Neville looked sheepishly at her blushing face before stooping down to pick up her book.
"I'm so sorry, Neville. I was just so caught up with reading," she apologized, taking the book back from him and placing it in her bag.
"Don't worry about it, Hermione. I should be the one who's sorry for startling you," Neville said, offering her a small smile that made him seem more confident that he was.
She smiled and asked, "Did you want something though?"
Now Neville paled. This was it. He took a deep breath and said, "I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Yule Ball with me."
One... Two... Three... Hermione's eyes lit up but then they fell once more. She smiled slightly, but it didn't meet her eyes, "I'm so sorry, Neville, but I've already agreed to go with someone else."
Neville looked at her and said, "Oh it's okay, Hermione. But if you didn't want to go with me, you could have just said so. I can take it."
He made to walk away from her, his pride hurt but trying to hold it together. He knew she wouldn't go for someone like him: Neville who was horrible at everything he tried and awkward at every else, but she could have at least told him the truth.
"No!" she said before grabbing his hand. She spun him to face her and said, "I'm not lying, Neville. I would love to go with you, but I just said 'yes' to someone else only a few moments ago. If you had asked me this morning, I would have gladly said 'yes'. I would have loved to go with you, but I can't turn my date down. He asked first. Please don't be mad at me."
Neville sighed and took her other hand, "I could never be mad at you, Hermione. It's my fault. You didn't know I had wanted to ask. I just wished I had mustered up the courage yesterday, instead of waiting until the last moment. "
They stood like that for awhile, neither knowing what else could be said. There was no changing it. Hermione was going to the Yule Ball with someone who was not Neville.
"I should go," Neville said quietly. He would go lick his wounds alone and then try finding someone else, though he didn't really want anyone else.
He walked away down the hall, but she called his name. He turned around and she called out, "I'll save a dance for you, ok?"
He smiled back. If that's all he could get, he would take it. Anything to be close to her.
