You were halfway down the corridor when the weight of your textbooks started to feel like they were dragging your arms from their sockets. You’d barely shifted them to your other hip before a familiar voice spoke behind you.

“Here—” Neville’s hand slid under the stack before you could protest, effortlessly taking them from you. “You’re going to pull something carrying all that.”

You blinked at him, amused. “They’re just books.”

“They’re heavy books,” he corrected, holding them like they weighed nothing. “And if my princess doesn’t want to carry them, she shouldn’t have to.”

The words still made your cheeks warm, even after weeks of hearing them.

He didn’t just carry your books—he walked you to class, too. Every time. Even if it meant backtracking halfway across the castle from wherever he was headed. Today was no different. His free hand found yours, fingers warm and steady, and he slowed his pace so you didn’t have to rush.

“Potions next, right?” he asked, already steering you in the right direction.

You gave him a playful look. “Do you have my whole schedule memorized?”

“Of course.” He grinned. “How else am I supposed to make sure you’re where you need to be?”

When you reached the dungeon stairs, he stopped, shifting your books into one arm so he could tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. “I’ll be here when you’re done,” he promised.

“You don’t have to—”

“I want to.” He gave your hand a squeeze. “Princess treatment, remember?”

You laughed softly, letting him hand over your books like you’d just been delivered by royal escort.

Class felt longer than usual, but when the door opened at last and you stepped into the corridor, there he was—leaning casually against the wall, hands in his pockets. His whole face lit up when he saw you.

“Ready?” Neville asked, straightening. Before you could even answer, he’d taken your books again. “Thought we could stop by the Great Hall. You haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

And just like that, he was walking beside you, matching your pace, making it feel like the most natural thing in the world to be treated like someone worth waiting for.