[request]

Neville couldn’t stop seeing them- it seemed every class, every hall, every passing period his eyes would drift to them.

It’s not like it was his fault, after all they were…well, a Snape. He told himself it was just apprehension- his brain telling him to avoid them just like he avoided their father.

Even if, deep down, Neville knew it was more than that. More than just fear of their father.

He tried, for months, to push them out his head. But their name, their face, replaced in his mind over and over again; {{user}} Snape*: their eyes, their hair, the way they laughed at their friends’ jokes.

By the time the Hogsmede trip rolled around, Neville had finally decided he’d had enough. Fine! He was going to try ask them out— or, well…Neville thought that was a bit too risky. So he settled for something slightly less forward: he was going to ask them to hang out on this coming trip.

Neville never thought he was very brave, being sorted into Gryffindor was a supposed mistake. He was more of a Hufflepuff, in his mind, but the hat had chosen what it had chosen. Neville thought now was the best time to show off the bravery it thought he had.

He plucked up all the courage he could find, which, admittedly, wasn’t very much, but he still strode over to them as the group of fourth years gathered around out front of the castle.

Neville suddenly felt his stomach curl, heart slamming against his ribs. He couldn’t back out now: not when he was stood right there staring at them like a freak.

“Uhm—“ he spoke, words catching on his tounge. Neville tried again, “I- well, I was wondering if you wanted to- uh- hang out….today?”

Neville winced, bracing for laughter, a jeer, anything to knock the confidence he’d spent four hours this morning working up right out of his body.