'Mmmmmh, what is it ?' Lavender sighed, closing the gigantic book that rested on her lap. Shadows of fire danced on her cheeks as she looked at Neville.

'Lavender ?' He asked her, almost whispering. He shot a glance to the other side of the room, as to check if no one could hear them talking. Harry and Hermione were sitting in a corner, laughing and giggling, and Ron was playing chess with Seamus, who was clearly losing the game.

'Do you want to come with me for a while ?' He asked her.

Lavender shuffled the book under the chair, and he could manage to see the title : Witchy Cosmetics Through The Ages. He smiled, and continued to look at her. She sighed once more.

'Why, Neville ?' She asked him, not whispering as much as he wanted her to.

Anxiously, he saw Dean shooting a glance at them, but a moment later, he had returned to read his Potions manual.

'I wanted to tell you something.'

'Then tell it here.' She demanded fiercely.

'I can't.' He whispered, closing his eyes. The darkness that surrounded him felt like a welcome glow. The fire burned on his eyelids, and the damp air of the room made him feel dizzy.

'Okay. Just for a couple of minutes.' She said, sliding her pale hand through her hair, and stood up. Neville watched her movements, her elegance.

She is beautiful.

He lead her towards the portrait hole, jumping out, Lavender up his sleeve. Silently he continued to walk through the corridors, unable to look at her. He heard her humming, an old wizarding song his Gran used to sing for him when he was little ; and he closed his eyes once more, concentrated on his memories.

They walked down the stairs, crossed the Hallway, and entered the darkness of the night. The chill air was being forced into their lungs, but the sight of the moon being reflected on the gigantic lake was beautiful. He could hear Lavender stir, and smiled. He knew this was something she would like. After all, which girl didn't love a midnight stroll around the lake ?

He felt Lavender's gaze burn into his cheek, and didn't resist to watch back at her. He studied her magnificent eyes, chocolate brown and the strands of hair that covered her right eye. He felt the sudden urge to touch it, to put the strand back behind her ear and feel her flesh burn onto his fingertips.

But he didn't.

He pointed his gaze upon his feet ; chubby and cold, and he sniffed his nose. He felt cold ; inside and outide, and wanted nothing more than to return to the Gryffindor Common Room, turn back time like nothing had happened. His courage seemed to fade, but his housemate interrupted his thoughts with a whisper : 'What did you wanted to tell me ?'

'I...' He began his sentence, but couldn't finish. A gulp escaped his mouth, and he looked at her with an anxious expression on his face.

He saw her lips curl into a magnificent smile, pure, white. With a blink, he continued : ' I just had this question... Snape...er ...yeah...asked us to do that essay...in pairs... and-'

Her lip tensed, her angelic smile faded mercilessly.

'No, um, if you don't want to I'll-' He stuttered, damning the day he was born and everthing that had followed. 'I'll just...'

Neville didn't get the chance to mumble anything more, as he saw her lips crossing distance, felt them being pressed onto his with soft crash, and he knew he would faint soon.

But not before they finished their kiss.

Lavender folded her arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. Neville took in the air of warmth and affection that surrounded her ; probbing his tongue against her cherry-flavoured lips, and found entrance. Lavender could feel his smile on her lips as they kissed for an eternity.

When they broke apart, all too sudden for Neville's taste, Lavender stated : 'Of course I want to work on that essay with you.'