Neville Longbottom x Reader

[Theme: Student]

Requested by: TheSpoon

The Sacred Twenty-Eight: a so-called status granted in a book named Pure-Blood Directory and written by an anonymous source. This person, thanks to them, gave greater importance to the families listed in the directory. Our recognition as being 'truly pure-blood' was set in stone for the wizarding world to be envious of.

Or so that's what Father loved to spout, and those were the ideologies he expected me to follow. As the sole heir to this lineage of Avery, I had to marry another member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. He would accept no other person for fear that they would taint our bloodline.

I cared not for that sort of fanatic. How many times have I had to sit in the front room and he lectured over and over about the scum that are 'Mudbloods'? What a pathetic man. He pretends like he's the tallest crop in the field but when strong winds blow, he's the first to be ripped from the ground. No wonder Mother left him.

It was thanks to him and his misdeeds that people were afraid of me- at least those who had only heard of my father. To the unknowing Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, I was a menace. To the Slytherins, my kind, I was nothing more than pathetic. My father, the one who screamed and pled to his master for sweet mercy when he brought failure... was a laughingstock.

Because of him, I had nothing. No friends, no sense of security. I was awaiting the day I'd receive a letter by owl saying that the Dark Lord had killed him. That would be a time of sweet relief. Perhaps I'd celebrate. It was only a matter of time since that Harry Potter boy said that He was back. Father had been going crazy trying to do everything right, only to come back with another burn or bruise on his body.

With nothing left to hope for, I lived each day as they came. Some days blurred together with each irrelevant and forgettable incident. Others... hurt. The terrified looks of first years when they'd see me... I doubt they even knew I was an Avery; they likely were scared of all Slytherins. That didn't mean my heart ached any less. If I could choose, I'd be born different.

In a sick way, that may be why I enjoyed Herbology. The ability to care for a seedling, nurture it, and watch it grow into something beautiful... it was something that I envied. I wished that I could have the love plants receive and the courage to open my petals wide to the world. Instead, I stray away into the darkness that others have placed me in.

Out of pure boredom and not wanting to deal with another one of Malfoy's speeches in the common room, I pulled myself to the greenhouse to get a head start on practising for exams. They weren't for months but who knew what Sprout would have up her sleeves, especially now we were doing NEWT-level.

Fortunately, this time of day, the castle was relatively quiet and Snape wouldn't care too much if I was back an hour or so late... Well, what he didn't know won't kill him.

The inside of the greenhouse was dimly lit by the lantern I had brought with me. I placed it on the counter behind me and went to collect a pot of aconite that I had been caring for as part of an additional credit activity. Before I did so, I made sure to have my dragonhide gloves on. The leaves of aconite were incredibly poisonous and the last thing I wanted was an unnecessary trip to the Hospital Wing.

Against the orange hue of the lantern, the strong violet petals of the aconite were vibrant and full of life. This plant was my pride and joy and should anything happen to it, I'd be distraught. After giving it a thorough look, I decided that it was time to replace the pot it had settled as its home.

I gathered a new clean pot and made a hole in the centre of the freshly potted soil. With nimble hands, I unrooted the aconite and placed it into its new bed to rest.

"There you go." I said happily and patted down the dirt from my gloves. It didn't really do anything but it made me feel like there was less building grime.

With a lot of time left, I decided to go around and check some of the other plants. Sprout always was on top of everything but it was good to help around. Every few days, we'd come to the greenhouse and do some of the chores that Sprout was mostly too busy for, such as trimming the ivy around the edges of the window frames.

There was usually this meek Gryffindor boy. With how anxious he was, it was hard to believe he was in the right house... or that he was only a year younger than me. For the most part, he seemed more in his element when he was in the greenhouse and enjoyed asking Sprout numerous questions. It was like he was a completely different person.

Admittedly, I did have a bit of an eye for him. Perhaps not in a romantic way but he appeared endearing. In ways, he represented what I wanted in life: freedom. Like Avery, Longbottom was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight but that boy lived each day trying to get stronger. Sometimes it's the weakest of us that go on to do the most impressive things...

As those thoughts left my mind, I whimsically picked up my aconite and went to put it back in its place when the door of the greenhouse crept open and a black figure lurked inside. There was such a startle that the pot slipped from my hand and crashed onto the floor with bits of pottery and soil flying everywhere.

"I'm so sorry! I thought- I thought it'd be empty!" the figure yelled and I grabbed the lantern to hold it high. It was the trembling figure of that Gryffindor boy Neville Longbottom.

My heart was racing not at him, but at my aconite on the floor. If I wasn't quick- if I wasn't careful- I was going to lose it. I knelt down and began to try to pile the soil but I had nowhere to re-pot it. The one I used before had been put away. I knew I could grow another aconite plant but this one was special...

I was about to lose hope when Neville joined me, pot readied in his hands, and scooped my aconite into its third new home. Some of the flowers had lost several petals and the stem was bent but it looked like it would survive.

"I think we got it just in time." he remarked and handed it back to me. He gazed at my face and scratched his neck awkwardly. "Again, I'm so sorry."

I sighed and held it close to me. "It's... fine. It's safe is the main thing... but wait, did you just... handle aconite without gloves?" I pointed out and his hands were turning slightly red like a rash was forming.

"Um... I may have done. It was such a rush that I forgot..." he admitted and was alarmed as it continued to spread.

"Let's get you to the Hospital Wing before it gets any worse... Come on." I fussed, getting up and putting the aconite back in its rightful place at last, and led Neville to the Hospital Wing.

...

At once, Pomfrey applied a soothing ointment to Neville's hands and forced him to stay the night to ensure the rash had disappeared in the morning. He sat with bandaged hands in one of the plain white hospital beds with a hefty frown. The temptation to scratch the rash was gnawing at him.

I wanted to provide comfort but I wasn't sure if it was in my right. Not only was he younger than me, but he was also in a different house; my direct opposite, to be precise. He probably feared me as everyone else did as well.

Reluctantly, I turned to leave but stopped when he called out my name. There was a stark determination in his eyes. I had never seen him like this before.

"Um, Avery? Could you stay for a minute?" he asked quietly but there wasn't hesitation in his voice. Did he really want me here? Nobody... nobody usually wanted me around.

I came back and took the chair beside his bed. He smiled as I did so.

"What is it?" I asked, trying to keep a casual coolness so as not to seem offputting.

"I'm sorry about startling you." he said for the thousandth time.

It was enough for me to crack a smile. I couldn't remember how many of them I had done since Father started his mess again. "It was an accident, you don't need to keep saying sorry. Plus, I think those rashes more than make up for it." I chuckled.

Neville looked bashfully at his hands and mumbled something inaudible under his breath. He shook his head and faced me with a brave front. "I had a feeling the rumours about you weren't true."

"'Rumours'?" I questioned, a tight knot binding in my stomach. It wouldn't be the first or the last time rumours had spread around me. With nobody but yourself to provide defence, they spread like wildfire and get worse as they travel from ear to ear. I had learnt to ignore them over the years but it was no surprise they had become ripe again.

"They say that you're not a good person. That you'd hex the first Muggleborn you see if you could get away with it. That because your dad is one of them, you must be too." he muttered the last part quietly and fiddled with the bandages on his hands.

"What a load of rubbish..." I spat dismissively and folded my arms. "Unlike my dad, I don't care about blood supremacy or my spot in the Sacred Twenty-Eight. I'd happily marry a Muggle if it was for love. That sort of thing doesn't matter to me... and I'd rather die than worship Him."

He nodded like my words made sense to him. "I had a feeling that was the case. Nobody who treats plants so tenderly could be like that."

His words struck me. So there was someone out there who knew how to think for themselves. "You've been watching me?" I asked curiously.

His face flushed red and he peered down to try to hide it. "Um, a little. I wanted to talk to you for a while now but I wasn't able to build up the courage... until now, that is."

"It's funny you say that because I've been eyeing you too. That nervous but kind of sweet Gryffindor that somehow is really good at Herbology and acts like an entirely different person? Don't get me started. We both... kind of don't meet the expectations set for us, do we?" I relayed thoughtfully.

He tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

"Come on, think about it. You're a cowardly Gryffindor and I'm a Slytherin that isn't a supremacist who doesn't wish for nothing more than the Dark Lord to shake hands with me." I threw a hand to my head in a pretend faint. "So... I guess we're the abstract ones."

The clock in the room chimed for 11PM and I knew I had overstayed my welcome. If I didn't get back swiftly, Peeves might be in a haughty enough mood to siren my location directly to Filch. The ghost had no affinity for the castle caretaker, but he was willing to make a special exception if it made someone's life harder.

I brushed down my skirt and stood up. "I should probably go." I told him and he almost seemed disappointed.

"Are you going to help out tomorrow?" he asked quickly before I had a chance to even start walking.

I didn't have much else planned for the day... My routine was mostly going to consist of curling up in my dorm reading or sleeping. If going out meant getting to spend a bit more time with Neville, it wouldn't hurt to use my legs a bit more.

"If your hands are all better, then I might just see you there." I smiled and waved him goodbye before my departure.

...

After lunch the next day, I met up with Neville by the greenhouses. It was a bright sunny day and I knew the plants would be in a good mood. I could only hope the Venomous Tentacula was happy so it wouldn't grab me from behind again... Vicious thing.

Fortunately, Neville's hands were looking a lot better. He was able to remove the bandages under Pomfrey's orders this morning, although they were still slightly swollen and red. Together, we went inside and Sprout was inside preparing for her next lesson.

She perked up when she saw us. "Oh, Avery and Longbottom! Good to see both of you. Are you here to help?" she asked chipperly. Her motherly attitude was a comfort, especially when my own mother was so lacking.

I nodded, "Yep. Is there anything in particular that needs doing?" I asked.

Sprout got two watering cans and handed them to us. "A good water all around will do for today. Haven't had much time so you'll save me the hassle if you do so. Speaking of which, I must go speak to Professor Snape about what ingredients he needs grown. Take care, you two." she said and walked out, her large hat almost hitting the edges of the door.

The Venomous Tentacula was bearing its fangs at us and its vines were ready to grip tightly. It was most certainly not in the right mental state for a watering... but it needed to be done.

"We've covered how to deal with it already in class so I guess I'll be the one to water it." I said reluctantly and stepped forward.

Neville trusted his arm in front of me. "No, I've read a lot about it from a book I got last year, and Sprout showed me some things about it after class once."

It seemed neither of us was going to let the other do this alone. The Venomous Tentacula could expel venom from its shoots and getting bitten by one of the heads would end up with you in the Hospital Wing for at least a few weeks. Sometimes I wondered why Sprout grew these and then remembered how valuable the leaves were.

"Okay... we're at an impasse so I'm guessing we're doing this together." I looked around and found a small box of crab-like creatures known as Chizpurfles. "I'll feed it and you water it while it's distracted. Got it?"

"Alright." Neville replied and gulped. He held the watering can in his trembling grip but as the fear of seeing me hurt took over, he steadied.

Quickly, I gripped one of the Chizpurfles between my fingers and baited the Venomous Tentacula away from Neville. When it was about to snap its heads at me, I threw the Chizpurfle at it while Neville quickly dived with the watering can and moistened the soil it was planted in.

Once the deed was done, we backed away out of reach and I felt sweat forming on my forehead. If there was one thing I despised, it was handling that beast. I had to place a hand on the middle table to catch my breath. On the other hand, Neville seemed like he came to some realisation.

"They'd be really good for defences." he remarked thoughtfully as he observed the plant munch away.

"What?" I asked as I got back my breathing to normal and wiped the sweat away.

He pointed at the plant's vines and fangs. "If You-Know-Who ever attacks, we could set the Venomous Tentacula on them."

I blinked at him. How much had he been thinking about the inevitable war now that the Dark Lord was back? For someone like me, I was surrounded by it constantly to the point I was able to put it behind me. For others, this was something terrifying for them. At any point, everything that they knew could be washed away.

As much as I said that I wouldn't care about Father dying in the war, the thought of him being choked to death by the Venomous Tentacula made my skin crawl. "Um. Yeah. Good idea..." I mumbled distantly.

His eyes widened with the realisation of our circumstances. "I'm sorry- I didn't-"

"No, no, you're fine. It's- it's fine." I said with a heavy heart. It pained me to think about what was upcoming. "I get it. I'm a Slytherin and part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. It almost seems like I'm destined to go support Him. If you must know, I don't care about any of that, just like you. My father doesn't define me. Just because he follows the Dark Lord doesn't mean I do too."

That's right... I owe him nothing. Hogwarts has been more of a home to me than my true residence. I'm sure to Father I'm nothing more than a pawn, much like Malfoy. My value is my use, and if I have no use, I have no value.

I wanted to have use... just not to them. No, I wanted someone to accept me for who I was. I shouldn't have to change to stop being ostracised by both groups. I'll never support Him so long as I breathe, but I can't force others to not see me as one of them. My blood defines me. It sets expectations that can't be broken.

I can only hope that one day things can change.

Neville smiled. "You and I could be friends. I'm sure Ginny and Luna would like to see you too."

"You don't think they'll be afraid of me like everyone else?" I asked timidly.

"Ginny's headstrong but she has a good judge of character, usually. Luna's too carefree to worry about those sorts of things and she has a pure heart. I'm sure they'll give you a chance and I'll vouch for you." he said sweetly.

"Yeah... I think I'd like that."

...

Upon finishing watering all of the plants, we left the greenhouse and headed our way to the Great Hall for dinner when we were intercepted. A group of Slytherins blocked the corridor with folded arms and stern glares. Through all of them, Malfoy stepped forward with Crabble, Goyle and Parkinson at his sides.

"Well, well. If it isn't Avery and Longbottom." Malfoy sneered with his 'greater than thou' gleam.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" I said dismissively and wanting to end this as quickly as possible.

"Heard your dad got in a spot of trouble last night. My father would never be caught dead on his knees like that." he spat.

I clenched my fists. I couldn't show him that he was getting to me, even if I was the faintest bit concerned about Father. "And what of it?"

Parkinson stepped forward. "Show some respect, traitor! Malfoy is a thousand times the man you'll ever be."

I laughed at her meagre attempt to insult me. "Wow, Parkinson. I knew you were dimwitted but I thought you were smart enough to be able to tell that I'm a girl."

"Just leave us alone." Neville confronted and earned himself a series of 'oooo's from the Slytherins.

"Need your boyfriend to save you, huh Avery? I wonder what Daddy will think when he finds out that you're dating a Gryffindor coward." Malfoy retorted angrily.

"At least I don't have a girlfriend that I treat like a borderline guard hound. I suppose that's where the term 'bitch' comes from?"

My words made Parkinson snap. Malfoy dove his hands into his robe to grab his wand as she lunged for my throat. Neville blocked Malfoy's spell and Parkinson threw me to the ground, fingers tightening around my neck. The corners of my vision were going black and I could hear echoing chants in the distance.

I couldn't let things end like this. If I let her win, I let Malfoy and his cronies win. I was older than most of them and while my family may not have the Dark Lord's favour, this wasn't a situation where it mattered.

As she blocked out the last bits of oxygen to my lungs, I gave a last jolting stab at her armpit, fingers pointing directly upward. She yelped back with a wail long enough for me to kick her off me and return air to me.

Neville pulled me to my feet as I hacked up. He shielded me from harm's way as Malfoy prepared his wand again.

"And just what do you think you're all doing here?" a voice bellowed from behind. Authoritative and strong, I knew at once that was McGonagall before her swishing emerald robes came into view. "Put your wands down, all of you. Never have I seen such disgraceful gang-like behaviour."

If a glare could slice open wounds, McGonagall's would be the one to do it. Malfoy shakily put his wand away and all of them stepped back, including Parkinson when she stumbled to her feet again, rubbing her sore armpit.

"All of you will be having detention. No 'ifs' and no 'buts'. You all earnt it. Now, go to tea before I consider giving you something worse than detention." she threatened at the Slytherins and they all erred with their tails between their legs.

Then she turned to Neville and me. Were we goners like they were despite only acting in self-defence?

"I expected better from you, Longbottom." she said with disappointment. "You know the rules. Duelling in the corridor is strictly prohibited."

"Yes, Professor..." he replied downtrodden.

I wiped the building spit that had formed around my lips from coughing in preparation to talk. "Please, Professor, don't punish Neville. He was only trying to protect me from Malfoy. If it wasn't for him..." My neck felt constricted and sore from where her fingers were crushing. "I'm not sure I'd be in a very good state."

She sighed with sympathetic eyes. "I will speak to Miss Parkinson later about her behaviour. On this one occasion, I will let this slide. In future, do try to inform a teacher instead of taking things into your own hands. I may not be able to overlook it again." she informed and continued her way to her previous destination.

I slipped down onto one of the stone seats by the window. My neck was certainly going to be bruised tomorrow. They would make fun of me for it, I just knew they would. Words spread like a disease, hopping from one person to the next. I wish I could go back to a time before all of this nonsense... to a time I didn't know any better.

Neville sat beside me solemnly. "Are you okay?" he asked, trying to get a good look at my injuries.

"I... yeah. I'll be alright. Thanks for standing up for me. You really are a true Gryffindor." I told him and there was a sign of pride in him from my words.

"I'm not- not really. I was just protecting a friend is all." he denied with a fret.

"Protecting friends is a sign of loyalty and bravery. I'm sure you would've sent Malfoy packing if you had the chance. But... thank you- for giving me a chance."

My heart panged. This was supposed to be a happy feeling and yet all I felt was sadness. Why did I feel this way? What was causing this sense of loneliness and deprivation?

He was so innocent and pure. "Thank you for giving me a chance too."

...

Five Years Later

I pinched at my skin in anticipation. The remnants of the war left me with some nasty habits, many of which I wish I could discard. Biting my lip, throwing up food, waking up screaming from nightmares... I was torn between it all. I had no right to come off as good as I did. Most Slytherins were forced down to the Dungeons to prevent them from joining the battle or seeing their parents fight.

But I refused to stay idle. When nobody was looking, I snuck out to participate on the side of Hogwarts. Voldemort called for changed hearts and Malfoy stepped forward, everyone watched me. My father tried to make the same attempt. Neville grabbed my hand and settled my fate in stone. I would never join him.

After the battle, Father's fate was sealed behind the bars of Azkaban once more. It wasn't until I heard the Dementors had been replaced with Aurors that I realised how crooked he had become. Being forced to relive your worst memories over and over again would bring insanity to anyone. Frankly, he deserved it.

That didn't mean that I wanted to abandon everything. Once a year, I would travel to see him in Azkaban. Every instance I went alone until this time Neville said he wanted to go with me. For what reason, I couldn't decipher, but I was happy to have his support.

We handed our wands in at the reception and a tall Auror led us through the prison. Each cell held the souls of the damned that took place at the Battle of Hogwarts or were foolish enough to be captured previously. Many sat in the corner of their cells, wasting their lives away as they watched droplets of water drip from the ceiling. Others were clinging to their cell bars, screaming and pleading for help.

It was agony every time. I would have to close my eyes as we got halfway down when we passed most of Father's old friends. They would jeer at me and call me a 'Blood Traitor'. I cared not for their words. I made the right choice and they didn't.

Before we approached his cell, the Auror stopped us in our tracks. "I can let you speak to him in the meeting room or you can talk to him here. What's your preference?" he asked, fumbling for the keys in his pocket.

I'd always spoken to him from inside his cell. That way, I knew he wouldn't be able to hurt me. The hatred in his eyes never faded since I 'betrayed' him. With my annual visits, I hoped that he would be able to extinguish that flame against me, or I'd grow more confident to confront him.

Neville reached for my hand and gripped it tightly as he rubbed the ring on my finger. "I'm here." he reassured.

I realised why he had come along. He wanted to support me and speak to him about our engagement. It had been a recent spur-of-the-moment decision but I couldn't be happier. After all, he was my rock. I could rely on him as much as he relied on me.

I took a deep breath. "I think we can talk in the meeting room this time." I informed the Auror and they undid the lock on my Father's cell, ready to stop him should he try to do anything.

The Auror took him in chains and guided him toward the meeting room. It was a small box-like room, much like a cell but with even more restrictions on space. My father was chained to the table in the centre of the room and the Auror stood guard in the corner watching his every move.

We took the two chairs opposite and sat down. My father's hair had grown considerably since I last saw him. Since the Dementors left and Aurors took over, I knew they offered haircuts every now and then. To get to this length, he must have been rejecting them. He was getting thinner and thinner every year like he was hoping if he stopped eating, he'd waste away.

"It's good to see you again, Father." I half-lied. "How have you been doing?"

He looked up through his shaggy hair and spat at me, falling short by the edge of the table. "You're not my daughter."

His words would've stung more had I not heard them every time I came. Neville gave my hand a small squeeze.

"I, um, have some good news that I thought you'd want to hear." I began.

"What would I ever want to hear from you other than your death to make me happy?" he snapped.

Ignore him. He's just lashing out. Once it became clear to him that begging and wailing wouldn't free him, he allowed corruption to infiltrate his heart. He didn't mean it. Not truly.

"I brought someone special with me today. This is Neville Longbottom. He's my, uhm, my financé." I informed.

"Oh?" Father hummed and brushed the hair out of his face. "That name. Longbottom... one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight?"

"Yes, sir." Neville said, not proud of any part of his heritage.

Father started to laugh hysterically and wiped the spit from his mouth when he drooled. "You're engaged to a Longbottom. Thank Merlin, you're not going to taint the Avery bloodline. You're less useless than I thought. Looks like something did enter your thick skull about associating with Mudbloods."

Rage was boiling in me. After all he did, he has the audacity to still use that word. "If you'd kindly remember, I'm doing this out of love, not for you or for continuing your so-called legacy. I love Neville and if we do have children, they'll never know your name. I can swear that to you."

I got up and stormed out with Neville following me. The Auror stayed behind to handle my father. We collected our wands from the reception but before we could leave, I broke down. Neville wrapped his arm around my figure and brought me to sit down on one of the hard seats for visitors.

He rubbed my back gently and held me close while I cried. "It's alright." he soothed.

"I'm sorry you have to deal with him." I confessed through small sobs. "It's not fair on you."

He pulled me even closer and let me rest my head on his chest. "You know I don't mind it. Do you remember what I told you when I asked you to be my girlfriend?"

"That what anyone else thought of us didn't matter." I replied.

"Exactly." He kissed the top of my head. "I'll stand by that forever. I know the true you and that's the woman I fell in love with. Through thick and thin, I promise."

I wiped the tears from my eyes. "You're too good to me. You know... we may never have spoken had I not dropped my aconite."

He laughed with me. "It was a good thing we managed to save it. It does make a nice centrepiece."

Once we graduated, Sprout was more than happy to allow me to take the aconite home. Although I inherited the Avery estate once Father was incarcerated, I didn't want to live there. With the money we had, we bought a small house together in Hogsmeade. Since Neville worked as a professor at Hogwarts, it seemed most appropriate so that he could spend time at home with me while I was recovering.

"I think it was worth almost losing my prized possession to gain one of greater value." I said and gave him a quick kiss, forgetting that only beyond a gate were some of the wizarding world's most prolific killers. "I love you."

"I love you too, dear."

Several years later, Father did eventually pass on. The time had been coming for a while and I knew he was relieved when the chiming clock sang out his moment. For me, it was like a thick fog had been lifted from me. The lineage of Avery was long behind me as the sole heir and after taking Neville's last name, hardly anyone remembered me.

I much preferred it that way. Support from my husband was the relief I wanted knowing that although he knew the truth, he loved me for it. When we did have a child, we made sure that they never knew of their grandfather but knew everything about Neville's parents. Neville actually said that he thought they seemed more like their old selves when we visited.

While our child was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight and carried both Avery and Longbottom blood, we asked for the Avery line to be considered extinct by friends and family. It would be impossible to change what was in the directory but after the war, people cared less about that ideology.

At the end of the day, we were happy together. We defied the expectations set upon us by our peers.

The cowardly Gryffindor ended up being the bravest hero of them all.

The Slytherin with a withering father set her own path against the wishes of everyone around her.

One thing we did promise... was that our child would be able to grow up in a world without the hardships we suffered.