章節 9: Neville Longbottom ✔ Beguiling
"Isn't he cute?" I mumbled out, biting my lower lip as I gaze at the Gryffindor table.
"What? Who are you talking about?" asked Draco.
"Neville Longbottom. Isn't he cute?"
"Is she out of her mind, Draco?"
I quickly glare at Parkinson and raise a brow in her direction.
"Did anyone ask for your opinion, bitch?" She gawked at me as if I just mumbled out a killing curse.
"What did you say?!" she bellowed, earning a few stares from the other students around the hall.
"I called you bitch, any problem with that? Everyone knows what kind of things you had been doing to get Draco's attention. He had already rejected you countless times but you won't leave him alone. Aren't you an annoying bitch for that?"
"You–"
"Shut up, Parkinson. My sister was just telling the truth. Now, mind your own business."
I can't help but snigger at Parkinson's humiliated face after Draco told her that. Scoffing at her, I get my attention back to the Gryffindor table and once again stare at Neville's back.
"Not that I'm calling you crazy, but have you lost your mind?"
I rolled my eyes at Draco and hit him in the back of his head. Being older by three minutes allows me to do that.
"You just implied that I was crazy. Just another way to say it."
"How can't I? You're calling loser Longbottom, cute. Have you hit your head or something? Don't tell me you like him?"
"Not because you're my twin brother and I love your selfish bastard prick of an ass, it doesn't mean you can just go around and spoil everything I like. And don't call Neville a loser."
I roll my eyes at his overdramatic sighing and choose to ignore his calculating stares. I glance back at the Gryffindor table, but Neville was gone. Probably, back in their dorms or he went into the library. Sighing to myself, I finish my meal and leave Draco at the table.
I walk and walk until I reach the vast field outside the school. I don't have anything to do for now, so I decided to roam around and that's when I saw him, near the Quidditch field. I wander my eyes to check if he's with someone, but he's standing alone.
Grinning at myself, I silently make my way towards him and smile when he turned around as if he saw me already. Pouting that I didn't get to surprise him, I just smile at him.
"Hi." He frowned down on me, since he's taller, and run a gaze on my face.
"Do you need anything?"
"No. I just wanted to say hi. Is there anything wrong with that?"
"Why would you say hi?" My brows furrowed.
"Maybe, because that's how you start a conversation? Why do you look at me like I just offended you?"
He ignored my question and walk past me. To say that I was surprised was an understatement. I didn't do anything wrong and he just walked past me?
"What's wrong with you? I just wanted to talk."
Again, he ignored me. He didn't even turn around to look at me and just keep walking away. Furious at his action, I pick up a small rock under my foot and throw it at him. It hit his head. Bullseye.
He grabs the back of his head and quickly turned around, so fast I thought he just broken his neck. Glaring at me, he starts walking away again.
I stomp my foot on the ground like a child having a fit, and let out a frustrated scream.
I didn't saw him after that and I was frustrated that even Draco won't get near me, fearing I might explode out of anger. Even Parkinson, who was still glaring at me by the way, had kept her mouth shut all the time I was with them.
I was determined to talk to Neville that I even chose to sit with them at the Gryffindor table that night of dinner in the Great Hall. It was awkward because everyone was staring at me like I just sprouted another head. Even Neville frowned down at me the entire time.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Told you I just wanted to talk, remember?"
"And I think, I gave you my answer earlier when I left you alone in the field."
A scowl is finally settling down on my face when he said that.
"Did I do anything wrong to you?"
"No."
"Then why are you acting like this?"
"Maybe because we're not close and I don't like you hanging around with me."
I stare at him and let out a sarcastic scoff. How dare he said that in front of his friends? Did he want to embarrass me in front of them all this time?
Yes, I am a Malfoy, and my father was one of the reasons there had been a war. He was an avid follower of Voldemort, but that was months ago. He's in Azkaban now and I am not like him. Hell, I even fought on their side.
Forcing a smile on my lips, I push myself up off the seat and stare at him.
"Well, sorry Longbottom if I annoyed you. I just didn't know you hate me that much. But thank you. Because, you're just being honest and that helps me realize that I can't fall in love with you, deeper than I do now. It'll only hurt me. Thank you, again."
I hastily wipe a tear that rolls down my cheeks and find my way back at the Slytherin table.
One look at Draco and I know he already figured out what happened. He stands up off his seat and hugs me. He didn't ask anything and just let me cry on his shoulder. We didn't stay long and I let him pull me out of the Great Hall.
I cried and cried that night. Yeah. Stupid of me to do so, but it's still a surprise on my side. I never cried in my life, well aside from the time I was born, and when I scrape my knees when I was three years old. Father bore it in our heads that crying is only for weak people. But like I said, he's in Azkaban now. I'm free to cry my eyes out.
§
Draco never left my side the next day. He won't even bat his eye away from mine. I don't know if he's worried about my current state, or he's just trying to prevent a fight from ever breaking out if I get annoyed.
We had classes with Gryffindor that day, but I did all my best to ignore Neville even though my swollen eyes from too much crying, was clear and anyone can see it.
"Will, you just eat?"
"I'm doing my homework, Draco."
"Don't give me such crap. Are you gonna eat or I'll beat loser Longbottom in front of you?"
"Blimey, Draco! The person did nothing wrong with you. Why are you like that with him?"
"He did nothing wrong with me, but he did something wrong with you."
"The guy just stated a fact, Draco."
"And it hurts you!"
"It wasn't his intention!"
"Why are you defending him?!"
"Because I love him!"
We both didn't notice that we had already gathered everyone's attention without planning to, and I felt like I just got expelled when I saw Neville staring right at me.
I quickly look away and grab all my things from the table, and run out of the hall. I didn't stop even though I feel like suffocating from lack of oxygen. I only did, when I realize where I was. The Quidditch field.
Letting out a huff of breath, I let my things scattered on the grassy ground and starts crying. I lay down on the ground and cover my eyes with my arm as I let the tears roll down my cheeks. Not caring if someone saw me balling my eyes out.
"What was that all about?" I stiffened.
It is him. He had found me, of all the people, he had found me.
I bit my lower lip and face my body on the other side, opposite from where I heard his voice.
"I'm sorry."
I didn't say anything.
"Are you going to ignore me this time?"
Again, I didn't say anything.
"I can't blame you. I practically push you away–"
"Why?!"
His eyes widen when I suddenly sit up and stare at him dead in the eyes. He leans back a bit and scratches the back of his head.
"Well, everyone knows how much of a clumsy and forgetful person I am. But no one knows... That I like you."
My forehead creased for a moment as I try to figure out what he was saying, even though it was so easy to understand. There's no hidden meaning, just straight to the point, but I can't help it. A grin settled down on my lips when he said he likes me.
"You do?" he smiled sheepishly at me and nod his head.
"I do. No one figure that out, because, well, it's shocking news for me too. I mean, I like a bold and popular Slytherin student, aside from the fact that she's a Malfoy and the sister of none other than Draco Malfoy."
"What's so shocking about that?" I curiously asked, wondering why's that even a shocking thing. Am I unlikable?
"Have you seen your face in the mirror?!"
"Yes, of course, I do. What's with it?"
"My god. You're smart, but you can be slow most of the time."
"Hey!" I exclaimed, pouting at his response.
"Nevertheless, you're beautiful and I am... Well, I am–"
"Don't you dare say any word that'll insult yourself! You're cute, Neville. You're brave, strong, and courageous. You're a Gryffindor, for goodness sake!"
He stares at me bewilderedly and chuckles.
"You like me that much, don't you?" I nodded.
He smiles at me and slowly reach my face with his hands, and run his thumb across my cheeks to wipe the tears off.
"So... Are you going to tell me why you ignored me, and practically push me away?"
"You're not going to let that go, will you?" I grin at him and shake my head.
Sighing to himself, he grabs my hand and caresses the back of it, before looking back at me.
"I saw you yesterday with your brother. You were both glancing at me while talking in hush voices. Then after that, you talked to me. So, I thought it was planned between you two. You know, to play with me."
"What?!"
"Yes, I know. I'm sorry. It's just... I got used to Draco's bullying."
Rolling my eyes, I wipe my tears this time and fix myself, before sitting right beside him.
"You're worth twelve of him, Neville. Don't let my brother just bully you around." I grin when I saw his forehead creased for a moment before his eyes widen after realizing something.
"How did you know that?! Ron told me that and only Hermione and Harry were the ones around that time."
"Maybe, because I was there when you said it to my brother. I watch you help Ron beat Draco, and end up getting knocked out after singlehandedly fighting Crabbe and Goyle. Mind you, you were cool that day."
"You called getting knocked out, cool?"
"Well, you should've known by now that I'm not your typical type of girl. I can get crazy most of the time."
"Of course I know that. I've been watching you most of the time since we were in third grade."
I lift my head and beam at him.
"Did you just admitted that you've been crushing on me all this time?!"
Neville's eyes widen and he quickly covers his face. I chuckled and grab his hands to pull his cover out, but he won't budge. Grinning at myself, I lean and kiss the back of his hand.
I cross my arms over my chest and watch in amusement as Neville's ears redden in an instant. He slowly put his hands down and stare at me.
"I love you, Neville."
If there's a way that his eyes can widen more, I think it just did. A tinge of blush cover his cheeks and there was this stupidly adorable grin on his lips.
"I... I thought you only like me."
"And I thought you heard me shout back in the Great Hall."
"Wait... You're talking about me at that time?" I gawked at him, and it made me think of those times where I wonder what I saw with him to end up getting this head over heels.
"You know what Neville, just kiss me."
I playfully roll my eyes, when his grin turns into a full pledge adorable smile. I know I'm making it sounds like, Neville is a puppy, but hell if you disagree with me. He is the epitome of Adorableness.
"This would be my first, so, I'm telling you... I'm not a good–"
"Oh, for goodness sake, Neville! Just kiss me! That's all I ask for!"
Neville cup my neck with shaking hands and lean forward. Leaning forward at the same time, not quite long and we're both enjoying our first shared kiss.
I can feel Neville's hesitation as if he's scared that it'll turn me off, but this only turns me on more than anything.
I fist on his robe and lean deeper into his kiss. It was tender and full of sincerity.
His touch was tight and an assurance that he'll never hurt me. I hold tight on that assurance.
☪
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