AU! NO WAR.

Written for Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

House: Thunderbird

Class: Magical Theory

Task: 1. Wand: someone preparing for an event

Bonus Prompts:

2. (event) exams

3. (emotion) exhaustion

5. (character) Neville

Word Count: 1443/4500

Exam Preparations

"It's Neville…" Harry trailed off when he saw the worried look in Hermione's eyes. "No, don't worry, he's alright — he's not in any immediate danger. It's just that he's pulling all-nighters to study for the OWLs, and we're worried he's under a lot of stress."

"He's not studying — he's turning into you. Just check up on him, will you? Maybe he'll listen to you."

The words swam in front of his eyes, and Neville squinted as he attempted to make sense of what was in front of him. He couldn't understand a word of what he was reading, but he knew he needed to finish the chapter in the next hour or so.

"Nev, have you been up all night?" Harry called out from his bed, but Neville didn't glance up, too busy reading the effects of the Draught of Peace. "Merlin, it's four in the morning! Get some sleep."

"Can't. I need to prepare for the OWLs — I can't fail anything," Neville muttered, flicking through the pages of his Potions textbook.

"Neville, I know even Mione doesn't stay up all night to study," Harry said gently. "Take a page out of her book and get some rest."

"Can't. I need to finish this chapter first," Neville said, still not looking up at him.

Harry sighed and got off his bed. He waddled over to Neville's side and placed his hand on his shoulder. "Hey, mate, studying can wait till morning. Do you want to fall asleep in Potions class? You know Snape will rip your head off."

Neville groaned and rubbed his temples. "I know… but I need to finish this chapter. I promise I'll go to sleep after that, Mother."

Harry mock-glared at him before he grinned. "Alright, you do that." He walked back to his bed and slid under the covers, letting out a soft sigh of contentment.

When the boys woke up in the morning, they found Neville's head buried in his Charms book. "Neville," Harry whined, "you're still up?"

Neville shrugged sheepishly, not looking up from his book. He hadn't managed to understand the theory behind the Colour Change Charm and wanted to finish it before breakfast. "I'm fine, guys. Really."

"No, you're not. Believe me, I've seen Percy studying for his exams too — he always tries to cram as much as he could, but it ends up badly for him," Ron said, buttoning his shirt up. "You need to stop studying so much, Nev. It's still January — not June."

"I'm fine," Neville repeated as he stood up, his book still in hand. "I just want to finish learning this charm before breakfast."

The boys watched as Neville bumped into the corner of the bed and muttered an expletive. They knew he was under a lot of stress due to the upcoming exams, but they had no idea how to make him stop and take care of himself. For the time being, they shrugged it off and went down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

They sat down beside Hermione, who was pouring tea in her cup. "Hey, Mione," Harry said, "could you help us with something?"

"What is it, Harry? Please don't tell me it's your Transfiguration homework." She looked at him pointedly.

"We had homework?" Ron cried, stunned.

"It's due tomorrow," Hermione pointed out, and he relaxed.

"Oh, plenty of time, then," he said, plucking some toast from Hermione's plate and taking a large bite out of it.

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Harry. "So, what is it?"

"It's Neville…" Harry trailed off when he saw the worried look in her eyes. "No, don't worry, he's alright — he's not in any immediate danger. It's just that he's pulling all-nighters to study for the OWLs, and we're worried he's under a lot of stress."

Hermione nibbled on her lower lip as she thought for a few moments. "He's studying? And that's a bad thing?"

"No, Mione, he's not studying — he's turning into you." Ron corrected her as he chewed on a large sausage. "Just check up on him, will you? Maybe he'll listen to you."

Hermione nodded, still thinking what they meant by that. Just then, Neville entered the Great Hall, his nose buried in his Charms textbook, and Hermione immediately understood what the boys meant. She watched him stumble into a few students as he kept reading, wincing when he almost tripped over a bag thrown haphazardly on the ground.

Harry nudged her and murmured, "You see? He's gone bonkers!"

"Just because he's studying, that doesn't mean he's crazy," Hermione muttered, her eyes still trained on Neville, who had sat down a few seats away from them.

The boys rolled their eyes and let Hermione come to her own conclusions. They knew she cared for Neville and would help him out in any way she could.

"Hey, Nevile," Hermione said, sitting down beside him on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. "What are you studying?"

"Vanishing spell," he said, not looking up at her. His eyes were red due to lack of sleep, and Hermione winced when she saw the jug full of coffee on the floor near his feet.

"Neville, when was the last time you actually slept?" she inquired, picking up the coffee jug and inspecting it. It smelt stale, and Hermione frowned. "Since when have you been drinking this?"

"I don't know… maybe after dinner," he muttered, trying not to close his eyes. He knew the moment he closed his eyes, he would nod off, and he couldn't do that. He still needed to practise the Vanishing Spell.

"It's almost midnight!" Hermione cried, clutching onto his arm. "Neville, Harry and Ron said you didn't go to sleep last night either."

"I'm fine, Hermione, I just need to practise this spell before I go to sleep."

Neville's eyes were half-lidded and his cheeks were flushed, a clear sign that he was on the verge of collapsing. Hermione knew he was about to reach the end of his tether soon, so instead of leaving him alone, she Accioed her Transfiguration essay and started to work on it.

Neville didn't notice Hermione was still beside him until he picked up his wand to practise the Vanishing spell. "Hermione, what are you doing?"

"Studying," she said lightly, her books spread out in front of her.

"It's"–Neville glanced at the clock above the fireplace–"two in the morning!"

"So? You're up, too," she pointed out calmly.

"I…" Neville noticed her skin looked sallow and pitted in the dim light of the fire, and he felt guilty all of a sudden. He knew what she was trying to do. "Hermione, you can't stay up all night like this… It's not good for you."

"And it's good for you?"

"I need to study — you're so brilliant you could pass your OWLs without studying!"

"No, I won't. I know you need to study, Neville, but you're doing this the wrong way. You won't benefit from pulling all-nighters when you can't even sit straight." Neville suddenly realized he was slightly swaying to and fro and tried to steady himself.

"But —"

"Either you go to sleep, Neville, or I'll stay up with you," Hermione demanded, crossing her arms over her chest.

Despite her peakish complexion, red eyes and unruly curls, Neville thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world. She had stayed up beside him just to prove a point, and he couldn't help but smile adoringly at her. She was a wonderful friend, but Neville was suddenly hit with the realization that he wanted more.

It may have been due to his exhaustion, or maybe it was the romantic backdrop of the warm fire and stillness of the night, but Neville couldn't help but lean towards her and cup her face in his hands.

Hermione's eyes widened at his gentle touch, and she asked, "Nev… what are you doing?"

"I don't know," he admitted shyly, still leaning towards her. Hermione remained silent as she waited for him to do something. He pressed his forehead against hers and whispered, "I'm so tired…"

"I know… Why don't you go to sleep?" she murmured, her eyes half-lidded.

"What about the Vanishing spell?" he whispered. The soothing scent of vanilla and sandalwood permeated his nose, and he couldn't help but want to drown himself in the aroma. "Merlin, you smell good."

Hermione chuckled softly and tugged him down, placing his head on her lap. "Go to sleep, Neville. I promise I'll help you learn the spell tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay," he whispered, his eyes already falling shut. "Night, Hermione."

"Goodnight, Neville." Hermione leaned back against the couch and began to absentmindedly run her fingers through his thick hair. Harry and Ron wouldn't study until exams were almost on top of them, so Hermione decided she would study with Neville instead. She decided on making a colour-coded schedule for the two of them to study properly, but first, she needed to get some much-needed sleep. No more all-nighters, Nev.

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