If you asked someone at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to describe Neville Longbottom, they would say would say "clumsy", "forgetful", or "round-faced". These were not insults, but merely the perceived truths about Neville Longbottom. Indeed, he was often remembered as the boy who melted his cauldron, or the boy who forgot his Remembrall. While he was still clumsy and somewhat forgetful, Neville was no longer a round-faced little boy. At some point that no one could quite pin down, he grew up.
Neville had slimmed down, traded his baby fat for muscle, and shot up about a foot. He towered over most of the other boys and slouched to hide his height. His awkwardness had perhaps even increased in some ways, as he was still not used to his longer limbs. More than once, Neville bumped his head on the low, stone archways leading to the dungeons, much to Snape's amusement. He took it in stride though, and brushed it off with a lop-sided grin.
This lop-sided grin and the beginnings of a constant five-o'clock shadow drew the eyes of many girls, including those closest to him. His stammer had also faded, except when Professor Snape addressed him to criticize his skills as a wizard. Even this was happening less often by the end of the fifth year. It seemed as if Neville Longbottom had caught up with himself.
"Did you see him, Hermione? What happened to him?" whispered Ginny. They were sitting alone on the Hogwarts express while the boys had gone to put away their trunks. It was the beginning of Hermione's sixth year and Ginny's fifth.
"Dunno, Ginny, but it's working, isn't it?" Hermione had also noticed the drastic changes in Neville Longbottom. She had seen the other girls doing double-takes as they passed him in the corridor. Jaws were dropping every second. Hermione watched as Neville stopped to speak to Seamus and Dean, twirling her hair self-consciously.
Ginny had noticed Hermione staring almost hungrily at Neville. She grinned. This was quite unlike the usual, reserved Hermione. "Ooh, Hermione. You fancy him, don't you?" Ginny teased. Hermione turned bright red and turned quickly to stare out the window.
"I—well, he's our friend," she muttered, still looking sideways as the boys returned. They were talking loudly about Quidditch as they slid the compartment door open and tumbled in. Harry and Ron sat next to Ginny while Neville slid in next to Hermione.
"A-are you okay, Hermione? You look a bit feverish," Neville said quietly. This made Hermione turn red all over again. Ginny snickered and Neville looked startled. "Here, let's crack the window," Neville said as he reached over Hermione to the window. He smelled of toothpaste and cut grass, but more than that, he smelled muskier. More like a man. He was bigger, too. In the short minute it took Neville to open the window, Hermione saw how his body engulfed hers. She let out a squeak that only Ginny and Neville heard.
"I-I'm fine, Neville. Thank you. It still is quite warm for September, isn't it?" Hermione rambled.
"No, it was rather cool this morning," Ginny said. She was fighting to keep from smirking at Hermione's feeble attempt to brush off her embarrassment. Neville gave them both a confused look.
"Oh no, Hermione! Maybe you need a Pepper-Up potion. Or I have some willow bark to chew on. You know it's great for fevers," Neville said shyly. "Shall I—"
"Please don't worry Neville, I feel fine! Much better with the window open," Hemione said, trying to soothe his worries. She really didn't feel better at all. Hermione felt rather hot and could do nothing for it. No one could really, except, perhaps Neville.
As they settled into their seats for the long ride, Hermione turned again to the window, lost in thought. When had she noticed the changes in Neville? He had grown taller by the end of last year and had really settled into his studies when the OWLs came around. This change was the most impressive to Hermione. A boy was very attractive to Hermione if he studied hard and valued knowledge the way she did. Looks didn't matter so much, but Neville was now both handsome and studious.
Hermione did not know what to do. Since the age of eleven, she and Neville had been good friends. He was a sweet, sincere boy who always required help, especially in Potions. But now he had become a more independent young man. He was still very sweet. Even now he was fussing over her "fever" while Ginny tried to tell him that sometimes girls just overheated. It was not entirely untrue and Hermione was glad that Neville had missed Ginny's little double entendre. "She thinks she's so clever," Hermione thought.
Soon enough, the trolley came and they all loaded up on sweets. It was now tradition to pile everything in the middle and share. Hermione and Neville reached for the last Cauldron Cake at the same time. Their hands brushed and both pulled back abruptly, blushing.
"Oh, you have it Neville," Hermione said.
"Oh, I couldn't," he said. "Let's split it, shall we?"
"Yes, let's. I'm almost full anyway," she said, casting a glance at the large pile of sweet wrappers between them. "I've eaten almost as much as Ron."
Everyone laughed at this, even Ron. Hermione's joke helped break the tension. It was a very good trip. Hermione was still very aware of Neville's presence but calmed down enough to join the conversation and not turn pink every time Neville flashed her a lop-sided grin.
Once they had arrived at Hogwarts and filed into the Great Hall, Hermione found herself stuck between Ron and Neville. They all settled down to watch the Sorting Hat decide the placement of all the incoming students. Gryffindor received ten new additions, making the benches slightly crowded. Neville scooted closer to Hermione to let a small brown-haired boy slide in next to him. He didn't seem to have noticed his leg pressing next to Hermione's, or perhaps he didn't care. Neville smiled at the boy and turned to Hermione. She had turned red again and scooted over into Ron, almost knocking his thankfully empty glass over.
"You really need to get to bed after we eat, Hermione. You still look feverish," said Neville.
"Yes, I will," Hermione said vaguely. Her leg was still hot where his had pressed into her.
After a very delicious and very filling feast, the Gryffindors made their way to the tower that housed their dorms and common room.
"Password!" barked the Fat Lady.
"Quid Agis," said Hermione, who was still a prefect.
"Very well, and yourself?" replied the Fat Lady as she swung open.
The students clambered in and settled themselves in their dorms and the common room. They were enjoying their last night before the homework piled on.
