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hp_smutless gift for inell Her
Aug. 5th, 2006 12:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
acquiescenceAnd here is my submission for the hp_smutless exchange. For some reason I am always assigned inell in these sorts of things, it's a bit odd.
Gift for:inell
Author:acquiescence_
Title: Changes
Pairing: Hermione/Neville
Rating: G
Summary: Hermione meets Neville at a wedding and quickly realizes he’s changed a lot since she’s seen him last.
Word Count: 2083
Notes: This is my first time writing this pairing, but I think they’re really cute together. I hope you enjoy it,inell. Thank you to the mods for being so patient with me, as well.
He caught sight of her the moment she stepped in the room. He shouldn’t have been surprised to see her; it was her best friend’s wedding, after all. And yet, the sight of her stirred something in him which he hadn’t felt in years, not since the last time he’d seen her. He’d been a different person then.
Neville watched Hermione as she laughed brightly, enjoying herself. She was a different person now. The years had been kind to her; she had grown into a beautiful woman. She wasn’t the same bossy bookworm she’d been when they were in school. Now she was sophisticated, intelligent without being pushy, with an understated natural beauty that escaped most women.
He resolved himself to just watch her for now; if the opportunity presented itself perhaps he would re-introduce himself. Neville had changed much over the years as well. Gone was the self-conscious, unsure, chubby teenager, instead he was downright handsome. He was tall, smart, and the head of the Department of Herbology Research, almost completely unrecognizable from the boy he’d once been.
-----
“Um excuse me…” Neville blushed as he approached the wild-haired girl who had joined him in his compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express. “Do you think you could help me find my toad?” He shrugged sheepishly.
“Oh, of course. My name is Hermione Granger.” She extended her hand.
“Neville Longbottom.” He mumbled as he shook her proffered hand. Then promptly stuck his hands right back in his pockets.
“Well let’s start looking, shall we? Where did you last see your toad?” Hermione had a determined look on her face as she pushed her sleeves up.
And so they spent the remainder of the trip searching the train and each of its compartments for the lost toad. Eventually Trevor showed up, without being found by either Neville or Hermione.
She would come to help him again and again throughout their years at Hogwarts, looking for Trevor, writing History essays, brewing potions, and finding a part of him he was completely unaware of.
-----
“Neville? Neville, is that you?” Hermione had finally made her way to the other side of the room, and looked shocked when she recognized him.
“Nice to see you again, Ms. Granger.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “It’s been too long, I’d say. You look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you,” She blushed slightly and smiled. “Yes it has been too long, you look so han— I mean you look good too, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
To say that Hermione was surprised to see Neville was an understatement. He looked so good, not anything like she remembered. And he was so charming as well; could this really be the same boy she’d met on the train all those years ago?
They talked for a few minutes, catching up on each other's lives. She had spent the last few years working her way up in the Ministry, and was now the head of the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. It was a fun and exciting job which kept her busy, but it also meant she had little time for any romantic relationships.
She was impressed when she had heard some months ago that Neville was also head of a ministry department. He had always loved Herbology at Hogwarts, so she wasn’t surprised that he’d chosen it as a career field. She loved that he was as dedicated to his job as she was, something Harry and Ron could never understand.
“Would you care to dance?” Neville extended his hand towards her and tilted his head towards the dance floor.
-----
“Honestly, Neville, you can’t seriously enjoy this dancing stuff? I mean, really?” Ron stared at him aghast as he danced around their dorm with his imaginary partner for the hundredth time after the Yule Ball.
Neville blushed and quickly put his arms down after Ron had come barging into the dormitory. It’s true he wasn’t the most graceful of dancers but he did enjoy it, and maybe he had trod on Ginny’s feet a few too many times at the ball, but they had both had a good time.
“Well, the girls seem to like it,” Neville mumbled.
“Yeah, well, what so you know about that?” Ron scowled.
He hadn’t had the best of times at the ball Apparently he had spent most of his time sitting off in a corner with Harry and staring at Hermione. Neville shook his head; after almost four years of living with the moody red-head he knew better than to argue over something so trivial.
After that he decided he’d cast a charm on the dormitory door, to warn him when someone was coming so he could stop before making a complete fool of himself once more. He rather liked dancing, though not when anyone was watching.
-----
“Are you sure? I’m not very good.” Hermione hesitated a moment, but his smile was too charming to resist, and she put her hand in his.
“Of course, I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t. Don’t worry, you just need a good leader.” He gave her a slight wink and escorted her to the floor.
He grinned; all those years of dancing in the dorms at school had paid off. He put his hand on Hermione’s waist and began to move to the music, a waltz playing. In his mind he counted the beats and saw each motion come before he’d completed the last. He spun Hermione around the dance floor with practiced ease.
They moved perfectly together, his large hand fitting nicely on her hip, and her hand on his shoulder as they moved through the sea of others on the floor. Hermione felt surprisingly safe in his arms, pressing herself against his broad chest as they moved together.
She still couldn’t believe that this was the same boy she’d gone to school with; he was so different, and yet there was something in him that was still the same. He was unmistakably Neville Longbottom, the same boy who found more joy in magical plants and properties than he ever did in potions making and wand waving.
---
“Oh wow, I can’t believe this. It’s incredible!”
“What is it this time, Neville?” Hermione grinned, looking up from her book to see him inspecting a large leaf his uncle had sent him.
“Don’t you know, Hermione? This leaf contains a property which can help to cure sea-sickness?”
She just grinned, knowing he just wanted someone to talk at for a while. Turning the page, she watched him over the top of her book. He was completely focused on the leaf in front of him; she doubted very much that he noticed anything else in the world around him. It was nice to see him take so eagerly to something like this; after all the trouble he’d had in potions she was sure it was a relief for him to find something he excelled at.
Neville watched Hermione read out of the corner of his eye, fighting back the urge to blush as she watched him over her book. The exotic leaf his uncle had sent really was fascinating, and yet he couldn’t keep his attention from drifting to the bright-eyed girl sitting across from him.
She often sat with him to study, and he found he rather enjoyed her company. They didn’t talk much, but sat in companionable silence, both keeping to their work, occasionally pointing out something interesting to the other. Neville had rather come to enjoy these times that Hermione spent with him.
He liked to watch her read, her eyes moving quickly back and forth over each page, devouring its contents. When she was particularly fascinated by something she would mouth the words as she read them. He liked to watch her lips form each word as she read quickly. Sometimes he would try to read her lips.
When she licked her lips something stirred in him, which he hadn’t expected. It was the same something that filled him when he had asked Ginny to the Yule Ball. A quivering in his stomach, a clenching of every muscle in his body; it was inexplicable. Hermione was his friend, his potions partner, his late night tutor, the first person he’d met at his arrival to Hogwarts.
He didn’t understand this clenching, tugging feeling deep inside him, and yet he couldn’t stand the thought of never having it again.
-----
As Hermione pushed herself against his chest as they danced, that familiar tug in the pit of his stomach returned. He had to stifle a groan as his grip on her waist tightened. After all these years apart she still managed to stir within him feelings he couldn’t understand. This time, though, he knew he couldn’t let her go without telling her of the feelings she caused within him.
“Perhaps we should take a break?” he suggested as the song ended.
Hermione’s cheeks were red from the dancing as he guided her off the floor and to a table. Neville pulled a chair out for her and helped her sit.
“Would you like something to drink, Ms. Granger?”
“Oh yes, that would be very nice.” She smiled warmly; her eyes were still as bright as he remembered them.
Neville smiled and turned to get them both something to drink.
Hermione’s face was flushed; she pressed her hand to her cheeks feeling the warmth of her skin. She didn’t understand how Neville could make her feel like this. Everything in her ached to be in his arms again. He was so different.
She watched his back as he went to get their drinks. She caught other women glancing at him as well. He was very attractive; she almost couldn’t believe he had grown into such an attractive man.
Soon he returned with drinks and took up the chair beside her. She watched him as he sipped his drink, over the rim of her own glass. The cool liquid seared down her throat, but did nothing to cool her off.
“Thank you for the dance, Ms. Granger, it was very nice.” He had put down his glass and was watching her now, but not in a way that made her uncomfortable or self-conscious.
“Oh I wish you’d stop calling me that, Neville. You do still remember my name, don’t you?” She licked her lips, tasting the remains of her drink there.
“Yes I do, Hermione, it’s just been so long since I’ve seen you, and I’d hate to be anything but polite.” She saw his eyes drop to her lip for a moment before returning to hers.
“You’ve been so very polite; it’s almost hard to believe you’re the same person I knew in school.”
“Was I that rude?”
“Oh no, nothing like that, it’s just well you’re so different now. You’re tall, confident, a marvelous dancer; it’s just hard to imagine you as the boy I knew.” She felt her cheeks flushing deeper as she spoke.
“You’re cheeks are so red, Hermione, would you like to step outside for some air?” He looked concerned.
“Yes, I think I would.”
She took his hand and let herself be guided through the room and out on to the patio. It was a beautiful night; the stars shone brightly. Neville led her out into the garden and let her sit.
“It was rather warm in there, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was.” She was thankful they had moved away from the ballroom; the light wasn’t as bright here and she could hide her blush better.
They sat together in silence watching the stars.
Hermione bit her lower lip, and then leaned against Neville, resting her head on his shoulder. He was surprised at first but quickly warmed to the idea of her leaning against him. She listened to the steady beat of his heart, and felt the rise and fall of his chest as she leaned against him.
“Neville?”
“Hmm..”
“Do you think we might be able to get together sometime? After work or maybe for lunch?”
He smiled and nodded.
“Yes, I think I’d like that.”
Hermione sighed, releasing the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, and smiled brightly.
“Good, I think I would like to get to know you again.”
They sat together like that the remainder of the night, wrapped up in each other, neither feeling the need to speak, just enjoying the company of the other.
hp_smutless exchange. For some reason I am always assigned inell in these sorts of things, it's a bit odd.Gift for:
inellAuthor:
acquiescence_Title: Changes
Pairing: Hermione/Neville
Rating: G
Summary: Hermione meets Neville at a wedding and quickly realizes he’s changed a lot since she’s seen him last.
Word Count: 2083
Notes: This is my first time writing this pairing, but I think they’re really cute together. I hope you enjoy it,
inell. Thank you to the mods for being so patient with me, as well.He caught sight of her the moment she stepped in the room. He shouldn’t have been surprised to see her; it was her best friend’s wedding, after all. And yet, the sight of her stirred something in him which he hadn’t felt in years, not since the last time he’d seen her. He’d been a different person then.
Neville watched Hermione as she laughed brightly, enjoying herself. She was a different person now. The years had been kind to her; she had grown into a beautiful woman. She wasn’t the same bossy bookworm she’d been when they were in school. Now she was sophisticated, intelligent without being pushy, with an understated natural beauty that escaped most women.
He resolved himself to just watch her for now; if the opportunity presented itself perhaps he would re-introduce himself. Neville had changed much over the years as well. Gone was the self-conscious, unsure, chubby teenager, instead he was downright handsome. He was tall, smart, and the head of the Department of Herbology Research, almost completely unrecognizable from the boy he’d once been.
-----
“Um excuse me…” Neville blushed as he approached the wild-haired girl who had joined him in his compartment aboard the Hogwarts Express. “Do you think you could help me find my toad?” He shrugged sheepishly.
“Oh, of course. My name is Hermione Granger.” She extended her hand.
“Neville Longbottom.” He mumbled as he shook her proffered hand. Then promptly stuck his hands right back in his pockets.
“Well let’s start looking, shall we? Where did you last see your toad?” Hermione had a determined look on her face as she pushed her sleeves up.
And so they spent the remainder of the trip searching the train and each of its compartments for the lost toad. Eventually Trevor showed up, without being found by either Neville or Hermione.
She would come to help him again and again throughout their years at Hogwarts, looking for Trevor, writing History essays, brewing potions, and finding a part of him he was completely unaware of.
-----
“Neville? Neville, is that you?” Hermione had finally made her way to the other side of the room, and looked shocked when she recognized him.
“Nice to see you again, Ms. Granger.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “It’s been too long, I’d say. You look lovely tonight.”
“Thank you,” She blushed slightly and smiled. “Yes it has been too long, you look so han— I mean you look good too, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
To say that Hermione was surprised to see Neville was an understatement. He looked so good, not anything like she remembered. And he was so charming as well; could this really be the same boy she’d met on the train all those years ago?
They talked for a few minutes, catching up on each other's lives. She had spent the last few years working her way up in the Ministry, and was now the head of the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. It was a fun and exciting job which kept her busy, but it also meant she had little time for any romantic relationships.
She was impressed when she had heard some months ago that Neville was also head of a ministry department. He had always loved Herbology at Hogwarts, so she wasn’t surprised that he’d chosen it as a career field. She loved that he was as dedicated to his job as she was, something Harry and Ron could never understand.
“Would you care to dance?” Neville extended his hand towards her and tilted his head towards the dance floor.
-----
“Honestly, Neville, you can’t seriously enjoy this dancing stuff? I mean, really?” Ron stared at him aghast as he danced around their dorm with his imaginary partner for the hundredth time after the Yule Ball.
Neville blushed and quickly put his arms down after Ron had come barging into the dormitory. It’s true he wasn’t the most graceful of dancers but he did enjoy it, and maybe he had trod on Ginny’s feet a few too many times at the ball, but they had both had a good time.
“Well, the girls seem to like it,” Neville mumbled.
“Yeah, well, what so you know about that?” Ron scowled.
He hadn’t had the best of times at the ball Apparently he had spent most of his time sitting off in a corner with Harry and staring at Hermione. Neville shook his head; after almost four years of living with the moody red-head he knew better than to argue over something so trivial.
After that he decided he’d cast a charm on the dormitory door, to warn him when someone was coming so he could stop before making a complete fool of himself once more. He rather liked dancing, though not when anyone was watching.
-----
“Are you sure? I’m not very good.” Hermione hesitated a moment, but his smile was too charming to resist, and she put her hand in his.
“Of course, I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t. Don’t worry, you just need a good leader.” He gave her a slight wink and escorted her to the floor.
He grinned; all those years of dancing in the dorms at school had paid off. He put his hand on Hermione’s waist and began to move to the music, a waltz playing. In his mind he counted the beats and saw each motion come before he’d completed the last. He spun Hermione around the dance floor with practiced ease.
They moved perfectly together, his large hand fitting nicely on her hip, and her hand on his shoulder as they moved through the sea of others on the floor. Hermione felt surprisingly safe in his arms, pressing herself against his broad chest as they moved together.
She still couldn’t believe that this was the same boy she’d gone to school with; he was so different, and yet there was something in him that was still the same. He was unmistakably Neville Longbottom, the same boy who found more joy in magical plants and properties than he ever did in potions making and wand waving.
---
“Oh wow, I can’t believe this. It’s incredible!”
“What is it this time, Neville?” Hermione grinned, looking up from her book to see him inspecting a large leaf his uncle had sent him.
“Don’t you know, Hermione? This leaf contains a property which can help to cure sea-sickness?”
She just grinned, knowing he just wanted someone to talk at for a while. Turning the page, she watched him over the top of her book. He was completely focused on the leaf in front of him; she doubted very much that he noticed anything else in the world around him. It was nice to see him take so eagerly to something like this; after all the trouble he’d had in potions she was sure it was a relief for him to find something he excelled at.
Neville watched Hermione read out of the corner of his eye, fighting back the urge to blush as she watched him over her book. The exotic leaf his uncle had sent really was fascinating, and yet he couldn’t keep his attention from drifting to the bright-eyed girl sitting across from him.
She often sat with him to study, and he found he rather enjoyed her company. They didn’t talk much, but sat in companionable silence, both keeping to their work, occasionally pointing out something interesting to the other. Neville had rather come to enjoy these times that Hermione spent with him.
He liked to watch her read, her eyes moving quickly back and forth over each page, devouring its contents. When she was particularly fascinated by something she would mouth the words as she read them. He liked to watch her lips form each word as she read quickly. Sometimes he would try to read her lips.
When she licked her lips something stirred in him, which he hadn’t expected. It was the same something that filled him when he had asked Ginny to the Yule Ball. A quivering in his stomach, a clenching of every muscle in his body; it was inexplicable. Hermione was his friend, his potions partner, his late night tutor, the first person he’d met at his arrival to Hogwarts.
He didn’t understand this clenching, tugging feeling deep inside him, and yet he couldn’t stand the thought of never having it again.
-----
As Hermione pushed herself against his chest as they danced, that familiar tug in the pit of his stomach returned. He had to stifle a groan as his grip on her waist tightened. After all these years apart she still managed to stir within him feelings he couldn’t understand. This time, though, he knew he couldn’t let her go without telling her of the feelings she caused within him.
“Perhaps we should take a break?” he suggested as the song ended.
Hermione’s cheeks were red from the dancing as he guided her off the floor and to a table. Neville pulled a chair out for her and helped her sit.
“Would you like something to drink, Ms. Granger?”
“Oh yes, that would be very nice.” She smiled warmly; her eyes were still as bright as he remembered them.
Neville smiled and turned to get them both something to drink.
Hermione’s face was flushed; she pressed her hand to her cheeks feeling the warmth of her skin. She didn’t understand how Neville could make her feel like this. Everything in her ached to be in his arms again. He was so different.
She watched his back as he went to get their drinks. She caught other women glancing at him as well. He was very attractive; she almost couldn’t believe he had grown into such an attractive man.
Soon he returned with drinks and took up the chair beside her. She watched him as he sipped his drink, over the rim of her own glass. The cool liquid seared down her throat, but did nothing to cool her off.
“Thank you for the dance, Ms. Granger, it was very nice.” He had put down his glass and was watching her now, but not in a way that made her uncomfortable or self-conscious.
“Oh I wish you’d stop calling me that, Neville. You do still remember my name, don’t you?” She licked her lips, tasting the remains of her drink there.
“Yes I do, Hermione, it’s just been so long since I’ve seen you, and I’d hate to be anything but polite.” She saw his eyes drop to her lip for a moment before returning to hers.
“You’ve been so very polite; it’s almost hard to believe you’re the same person I knew in school.”
“Was I that rude?”
“Oh no, nothing like that, it’s just well you’re so different now. You’re tall, confident, a marvelous dancer; it’s just hard to imagine you as the boy I knew.” She felt her cheeks flushing deeper as she spoke.
“You’re cheeks are so red, Hermione, would you like to step outside for some air?” He looked concerned.
“Yes, I think I would.”
She took his hand and let herself be guided through the room and out on to the patio. It was a beautiful night; the stars shone brightly. Neville led her out into the garden and let her sit.
“It was rather warm in there, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was.” She was thankful they had moved away from the ballroom; the light wasn’t as bright here and she could hide her blush better.
They sat together in silence watching the stars.
Hermione bit her lower lip, and then leaned against Neville, resting her head on his shoulder. He was surprised at first but quickly warmed to the idea of her leaning against him. She listened to the steady beat of his heart, and felt the rise and fall of his chest as she leaned against him.
“Neville?”
“Hmm..”
“Do you think we might be able to get together sometime? After work or maybe for lunch?”
He smiled and nodded.
“Yes, I think I’d like that.”
Hermione sighed, releasing the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding, and smiled brightly.
“Good, I think I would like to get to know you again.”
They sat together like that the remainder of the night, wrapped up in each other, neither feeling the need to speak, just enjoying the company of the other.