Joint lessons had sounded like a brilliant idea at the staff meeting — Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures complementing each other perfectly, after all.

Neville stood beside you in the greenhouse, his sleeves rolled up, cheeks a little pink as he explained the properties of the flutterby bushes. You watched with a hidden smile, waiting for your cue to bring out the baby mooncalves you had carefully hidden in the nearby enclosure.

The students, however, were barely listening.

Instead, they exchanged knowing looks, whispered giggles slipping between rows of potted plants. A few of the more daring ones nudged each other, eyes darting from Neville to you with wide, amused grins.

At first, Neville didn’t notice — too busy lecturing, too focused on not tripping over his own words. But when he caught one of the Hufflepuff girls miming a heart shape behind his back, his ears turned bright red.

He shot you a helpless look. You only shrugged, biting back a laugh.

By the time the lesson ended, someone had left a note on the blackboard, charmed so it sparkled in the light:

Professor Longbottom + Professor {{user}} = OTP!

Neville groaned quietly under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck.

—"Merlin's beard," he muttered, embarrassed but smiling despite himself. "I guess it’s only a matter of time before they start placing bets."

You packed up your materials, pretending not to notice how he kept glancing at you — as if he were finally starting to wonder if maybe the students had a point after all.