Neville X Reader: Protecting My Friend

You were one of the few well-known Hufflepuffs in Hogwarts. While the others were nice and calm, you were just a bit different. You were weird. In every sense of the word. Your voice was almost far-out, but it was soft and sweet all at once. You loved to smile, and make others smile, and did it often. You were ultimately friends with everyone. Even a few Slytherins. But, what really made you stand out: You were never put down. You didn’t care if every single student in the school hated you, you would still smile. You were sarcastic at times and gave the best witty comments. But, at the same time, you were kind and sweet about it. It often took people a moment to realize what you actually said. They just figured with your smile and sweet tone, they were being complimented. The exact opposite, actually. You knew how to stand up for yourself. You knew how to stand up for others, too. Like Neville Longbottom. Neville wasn’t exactly Mr. Friendly. Nor Mr. Popular. Everyone picked on the poor guy. He never had a good chance, honestly. But, that was why you were his friend. And you were glad you were.

*~~*

It was a Saturday. Your favorite day. It allowed you to explore Hogwarts and its grounds. There was always something new behind some corner. You had explored so much these past four years, you even found the secret passageways the Weasley twins often used. You knew because of the dead and used fireworks lying around. Everyone was either at Hogsmeade or out and about. Leaving you and Neville to roam the halls. You were smiling, your arm linked with his, going on about some crazy subject. He was barely listening though, too intrigued by you. Your (h/l), (h/c) hair was tied in a messy ponytail. Your (e/c) eyes glittered with content and amusement. Like always. Your (s/c) skin gleamed under the light. You were beautiful. Maybe not completely sane, but beautiful none the less.

“You know?”

The boy shook his head a bit, shoving those thoughts to the back of his mind.

“Yes! Yes, of course…”

You shot that warm smile at him before you walked off to the broom-closet a little ways up the hall. Neville stopped walking and watched as you searched for something you most likely hid in there.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Longbottom.”

He was so focused on you, he barely even noticed Malfoy and his two tag-alongs approach him from behind. The boy cowered a bit. He was never good with insults.

“What’s the matter, Longbottom? Afraid Professor Snape is going to get you?”

Neville slightly whimpered at the words, the three boys laughing. Draco walked a circle around him, his two ‘friends’ following, before he stopped in front of him.

“What’s a coward like you doing in Gryffindor? You pathetic blood traitor.”

Draco and his friends laughed as Neville’s face fell. Why were they so keen to pick on him? Draco’s laughs were cut short, however, as he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning to look at you, you gave him a small smile. You handed Neville the apple in your hand before looking back at Draco, still smiling sweetly. The boy scoffed, glaring you down. He was taller, of course.

“What do you want, Mudblood?”

You didn’t even flinch. Your smile didn’t falter. In fact, it grew. You just smiled sweetly at him. Until you suddenly raised a fist, punching him right in the face. Draco gasped as he clutched his nose, blood spewing from it as he stumbled. You knocked his legs out from under him, watching as he cradled his face on the floor.

“Leave him alone!”

Neville, Crabbe and Goyle watched in shock. Nobody had ever seen you like that. Your smile was gone and you almost looked mad.

“What is going on here?”

You all turned to see Professor Snape, looking at the situation. Your sweet smile returned as you looked up at him, not intimidated in the slightest. You never were.

“Hi Professor.”

He didn’t so much as give you a glance, walking over to Draco.

“Get up, Malfoy.”

Grabbing the back of his robes, he pulled Draco to his feet. The boy was still clutching his nose, looking rather pissed now as blood ran through the slits between his flingers.

“She hit me!!”

Snape looked over at you, still showing no emotion.

“Is this true, (l/n)?”

You still just smiled.

“Yes sir. I did.”

You sounded sincere and almost proud. However, before Snape could take away points from Hufflepuff and give you detention, you cut him off.

“But, I had a right to. He was hurting my friend.”

You looked Snape in the eye, something nobody ever did. He didn’t scare you. He was a person like you. Like your friends. Like everyone. Why should he?

“Was this physical or emotional battery, (l/n)?”

You simply smiled a bit more, your tone calm and a bit out-of-it. As always.

“That doesn’t matter. He was still hurting him. So, before you go taking away points and giving me detention, know that I was protecting my friend. And I’m not going to apologize. Because it was worth it.”

Neville watched you in awe. Partly because you had really done it for him, and not out of anger. But mostly because you were saying all this to Professor Snape. Said man simply huffed a bit.

“Well, I hope it was worth the 20 points taken from Hufflepuff, (l/n). Now, come along Malfoy. We’ll get your nose fixed.”

You watched as they walked off, Crabbe and Goyle following. You looked back and Neville, holding out a hand.

“May I have my apple back?”

The boy didn’t even remember the object, still in awe. He placed it in your palm, watching as you happily took a bite of the shiny red fruit.

“Now, where were we? Oh yes. So, Harry came up to me with the most ridiculous look on his face.”

Neville tuned you out as you locked your arm with his, still in shock. Did you really care about him that much?

*~~*

Word spread like a wildfire that you had not only broken Draco’s nose, but you stood up to Snape. People left and right congratulated you, Dumbledore even praising you for sticking up for Neville. You just smiled and replied, ‘It was for him. But thank you.’ Before you went on to be strange. It was Sunday, and everyone was dreading the day after. Except you, of course. You walked down to the Herbology lab, looking for Neville. Sure enough, he was there.

“Hi Neville.”

The boy jumped a bit at your sudden entrance, looking over at you from the plant in front of him. He smiled a bit.

“Oh. Hi (y/n).”

You smiled back, standing beside him as you looked down at the plant.

“The Yule Ball is in a few weeks. Wanna go with me?”

You looked up at him, watching as his cheeks tinted with a blush.

“Y-You want to go with m-me..?”

You nodded a bit, watching as he stared at you in awe for the twentieth time in those past two days.

“W-Why me..?”

You shrugged a bit, tracing the lines on one of the plant’s leaves, causing it to shudder.

“Because I like you. And I think you’re cute. And smart. And brilliant. And I want to dance with you.”

You looked back at him to see the blush on his face had grown, still smiling.

“That’s why.”

Neville nodded a bit, stuttering as he tried to place his words. Merlin, you were truthful and straight forward.

“S-Sure, (y/n)… I’d love t-to…”

Your smile grew a bit as you pecked him on the cheek.

“Okay. See you at dance practice. I have Weasley twins to follow and observe.”

With a small wave, you walked off, Neville watching as the door shut behind you. He looked back at his plant, letting your words sink in. He traced the leaves of the plant, smiling slightly as he shook his head.

“Merlin, she is bloody strange.”

The plant seemed to nod, shuddering again as he still stroked its leaves.