"So, you'll ask her for me then?" Neville asked Harry hopefully.
"I don't know why you can't just do it yourself. The worst she can do is say no," Harry responded with a shrug. "But, yeah" he continued as Neville started to protest. "Yeah, I'll ask her for you."
"Thanks Harry!" Neville sighed in relief.
-Later-
"Hi, Neville!" Hermione said as she slid into a chair next to Neville at the library. "What's new?"
"Nothing much. I'm just working on this stupid Potions essay. How are you?"
"Nothing new at all?" Hermione questioned with a sly smile.
"Err… no…" Neville said hesitantly.
"Are you sure?" Hermione persisted.
Neville started to blush and squirm under Hermione's intense gaze. 'She knows,' he thought to himself. 'She knows and she's going to toy with me before she turns me down,' he went on in a panic. He stared back at her smiling face as his mind continued to race. 'Maybe she doesn't know. I'm just overreacting.'
"No. Nothing's new." Neville said, trying to stop his blush.
"Hmm… Nothing you, uh, wanted to ask me?"
'Shit!' Neville thought as his stomach flipped over. Several seconds (which felt like hours) passed in a blind panic before Neville calmed enough to realize that Hermione would never tease him like this if she were only going to turn him down.
Neville's face turned as red as the Gryffindor banner as he fought to find to his tongue. "Well, err… yes," he started. "I just, uh… wanted to, err…"
Hermione smiled encouragingly at him and he went on in a rush. "Askyoutobemygirlfriend," he finished and looked down at his essay hoping she wouldn't laugh at him.
Hermione debated asking him to repeat himself a little slower but didn't think he'd be able to stand anymore teasing. "Only if you'll walk into Hogsmead with me this weekend," she replied with a grin.
Neville smiled happily and could only think of one thing to say, "Yes."