Chapter 2

The next day Natalie didn't know what she was going to do. She tried not to seem nervous or anxious during breakfast and focused her eyes on her oatmeal and nothing else. Even when the rest of her peers were staring at her and whispering, she didn't pay them any mind. Only once did she look to Terry Boot, who in turn, gave her a cheeky wink. Natalie groaned and looked down once more. It was none of his business who she liked and she certainly did not want the whole school finding out about her crush on Neville. She couldn't help herself, she wanted to kiss him. More than anything. She was just too terrified. What if he didn't like her back? What if things didn't work out? She would never be able to live with herself. This secret had stayed with her forever and she had always hoped to keep it that way. However, she seemed to have no choice but to give him that one kiss.

As the bell rang to cue the start of classes, Natalie scampered out of the Great Hall and down to the Herbology greenhouses. Her blue and bronze scarf was pulled up to her nose; it had snowed about four inches the night before. She began thinking about Neville. Her hands began to shake as she held her scarf tightly to her face. She nervously looked behind her to see if she could spot him coming out of the castle. She found him trudging his way through the snow and looking through his Herbology textbook. He seemed to be having a hard time picking his feet up with every step. He looked up from his studies suddenly and saw Natalie looking at him. He waved to her happily, almost freeing the heavy book from his grasp. Natalie blushed and then gave him a quick wave in return before turning her attention back to the greenhouses. How could she possibly get Neville alone after class? She remembered that he usually stayed behind to talk to Professor Sprout which would give her the perfect chance. How would she be able to kiss him? He was almost a foot taller than she was and that was a whole other obstacle in itself.

The greenhouse was mercifully warm. When Natalie opened the screened door a waft of steamy air met her face. She sighed happily and tore her scarf from her face. She unwrapped herself from the garment as she made her way over to her seat. She placed it in a neat pile behind her and took off her thick cloak. She folded that and placed it on top of her scarf. The rest of the students had done the same. Natalie then noticed that all the Ravenclaws in the class were standing in a corner, talking in hushed voices. Natalie couldn't help but feel as if they were talking about her and what she was supposed to do in an hour. Padma looked over at her and gave her the thumbs up. Natalie looked down at the floor, beginning to feel her cheeks turning pink. Her face shot up when she heard a bang from the door of the greenhouse. Neville had burst in and dropped his books. Papers had scattered all around him. A few quills had found their way under the many tables in front of him. The whole class sniggered. Natalie was the only one who walked over to help him. She and Neville had that sort of relationship. They were both outcasts of their Houses to some extent. The outcasts had to stick together. Natalie picked up some papers that were strewn about the floor. She ordered them in a neat pile and handed them back to Neville.

"Thanks, Nat," Neville said, trying to catch his breath. "I'm not late, am I?"

"No, you're fine," Natalie replied just as Professor Sprout walked into the greenhouse.

"What're you two doing?" she asked merrily and sidled her way into the room. She pointed her stubby wand at the door behind her and it closed with a snap.

"Just picking up my books," Neville said, trying to get a good grip on them as they threatened to fall out of his arms again. Natalie grabbed a loose piece of parchment and put it at the top of Neville's pile of books.

"Well make your way to your seats. Class is about to start," Professor Sprout told them. Natalie nodded and walked over to her seat. She glanced over at Neville as he sat down across from her and couldn't help but take note at how cute he looked in his scarf and earmuffs.

The whole class passed by in a blur. It seemed like one minute they were taking out their pots, and the next they were stowing them away again. Natalie's hands kept shaking whenever she would add soil into her old pot, which caused for a huge mess by the end of class. Professor Sprout asked her to stay after a few minutes once the rest of the class had gone so that she could clean up her seat without magic. Natalie sighed and thought about what would happen to her now that she couldn't go through with her dare. Was there an exception for excuses? She grabbed a rag from the storage cupboard at the front of the room and began clearing off her workplace. She was surprised when she spotted Neville began talking to Professor Sprout.

She picked up the pace of her cleaning, always keeping an eye on him. She would not let this stupid dirt and manure pile get in the way of her dare. Natalie glanced over at Professor Sprout, hoping that she was fully immersed in the conversation. Natalie hastily picked up her wand, waved it, and the mess was gone from the table. Neville said goodbye to her just as Natalie placed her wand back into her pocket. She rushed from her table, tossed the towel back in the cupboard, flung her scarf around her neck, threw her cloak over her shoulders without even bothering to button it, and waved goodbye to Professor Sprout before she completely booked it out of the greenhouse.

"Neville!" she called after Neville, who was already halfway to the castle. He turned around.

"What's wrong, Nat?" he asked once she caught up with him.

"Oh, nothing," Natalie said. She looked behind her to make sure that no one was near them. Everyone had apparently made their way inside the castle for lunch, their footprints leaving heavy trails in the deep snow.

"I just," Natalie stuttered. She began to nervously tug on her scarf. She looked down at it and took note at how well navy blue goes with bronze. "I just...wanted to thank you for...you know. Helping me with Herbology for these past 5 years." What a stupid thing to say.

"Oh, yeah," Neville smiled. "And thank you for helping me with Potions. I wouldn't have been able to pass without you." Natalie returned his smile.

"Neville, there's something I want to give you," she finally blurted out. It was now or never.

"Give me?" Neville said, obviously confused. "Why?"

"I've wanted to for a while," Natalie admitted. She looked into his eyes, not really knowing what she was doing. She grabbed the front of his cloak and pulled him down towards her. She then closed her eyes and pressed her lips softly to his. His lips were slightly chapped, but she loved the feeling they sent down her spine. She pulled away slightly only to feel Neville place his cold hand on her cheek. He pulled her back to him and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. His hand slid off of her face and they stood up straight. Neville awkwardly scratched his back and Nat resumed playing with her scarf.

"I'll uh...see you later, Neville," she grinned and turned away from him, beginning to walk to the castle.

"Yeah. See you, Nat," Neville mumbled and stayed glued to where he was standing, not believing what had just happened.