Pepper
"Bless you!" she says not looking up from her book; a single finger curling the red hair at the end of her plait.
"Thanks." You grunt, glad she can't see your pale face blush.
You don't actually understand the Muggle tradition of blessing people who sneeze, but from what she's told you, you've gathered that it's something to do with warding of the devil.
Whatever that is.
"A-a-a-tichoo!" you sneeze again, sniffling.
This time she looks up, a vague smile gracing her face.
"A-a-a-tichoo!" a sneeze escapes you again.
"What is it Sev?" she asks, concern clouding her green eyes.
"It's nothing; probably the pepper flavoured Bertie Botts. I've always had um… adverse reactions to it." you mutter.
"Oh!" she breathes, amused. "At any rate, you look very cute when you sneeze!"
It's not what you want to hear, but if it makes her smile…
"Your nose crinkles up and your eyes are squeezed shut so adorably!"
You smile at her as she lets out a peal of laughter.
She looks radiant when she's happy, her green eyes dance with mirth.
She sees you looking at her intently and blushes gently before going back to her book.
You want to see her laugh one last time, before you reach Hogwarts for the fifth year, before Potter begins to torment you.
And so, you search through the Bertie Botts' Every Flavour Beans for a dull grey one.
There! You've found it!
You pick it up and pop it into your mouth.
It And you wait.
And wait.
And then-
"A-a-a-a-TICHOO!" you sneeze violently.
And she looks up, laughing.
"You're adorable Sev!" she says.
And you smile, wondering whether there's something more than friendship for the two of you in the coming year.
Author's Note: Even though no one reads/reviews this fic, I've decided to write it for myself.
So this AN is effectively for… me!
But if someone does happen across this fic, please review it!