Chapter Text
The party in the 8th year’s common room was pumping, with loud music blaring over the gramophone, something Hermione didn’t recognise, and with most attendees holding firewhisky or butterbeer in their hands, causing the partygoers to get louder each passing minute.
A grating sound cut through the noise and reached her ears, a high feminine laugh.
“Oh Merlin, Neville, that is so funny! Tell me more?” Hermione’s eyes zeroed in on Lavender Brown simpering over Neville Longbottom, touching his forearm and batting her enhanced eyelashes. This had been happening more and more ever since everyone had returned for their 8th year at Hogwarts after the war. All the women had finally discovered that Neville - her Neville - was a catch. His steady leadership under the Carrow’s reign and his bravery in the Battle of Hogwarts - not to mention his slaying of Nagini with the Sword of Gryffindor had opened the wizarding world’s eyes to what Hermione had always known.
She was proud of him, and happy he was finally getting the respect he deserved, but she just wished it didn’t come with all the attention of the female persuasion. She fiddled with the ring that sat on her left hand, a slender band of moon-silver, lightly etched with a vine motif so faint it can only be felt, not seen, set with a small, uncut blue spinel that looked like a radiant sapphire that was not overly large and ostentatious. It was the piece he gave her after the battle of Hogwarts. He had led her to their spot in the library and gotten down on his knee, asking her to be with him forever, to build and grow all their lives. She had teared up and accepted the beautiful ring, which just so happened to match the bracelet he had gifted her in 5th year when he had officially asked to ‘court her’.
Hermione sighed and turned away from the scene with a small shake of her head, heading to the bar to grab a butterbeer for herself. She trusted Neville completely, and knew that he hadn’t actually noticed the increased interest from the women of Hogwarts. Instead, he was most likely passionately regaling Lavender of the drying effects of shrivelfig. Hermione hoped it dried out Lavender as well. She snorted at her own thoughts as she reached for the bottle opener for her butterbeer, both of which were promptly snatched out of her hands by a grinning Neville who had somehow snuck up behind her at the bar while she was amusing herself with her double entendres.
“What's so funny darling?” he said as he deftly opened a bottle of butterbeer and handed it to her, then reaching for one of his own and opening that as well.
“Just thinking,” she replied, smiling in thanks. They turned away from the bar and settled against a wall nearby, watching the partygoers. “You seemed to be having a good chat with Lavender,” she said.
“Yeah, she was talking about how twilight is her favourite time of day, that she wanted to go outside in a bit to watch it in privacy, so I was telling her about the medicinal applications of bubotuber pus and how twilight is the best time to extract the pus. Hope she has fun out there and enjoys herself” Hermione giggled at her sweet, oblivious, Herbology obsessed man.
“What? Did I say something funny?” he asked.
“Nev, she was hitting on you.” Hermione told her fiance, whose face was utterly disbelieving.
“No way, she was just - “
Hermione interrupted him with a placating hand to his arm. “Nev, she was giggling and twirling her hair and batting her eyelashes and touching your arm. Plus she was inviting you out for some romantic time at twilight.”
“Oh. I didn't realise. I’m so sorry Mi, I swear I didn’t know. I’m just not used to-” He apologised.
“Nev, it’s fine, I know you didn't realise, and I trust you completely. That’s why it was a little funny, you know, knowing she had no shot and that you didn’t even register it.” she interrupted his ramblings to calm him down.
Neville sighed in relief at his incredibly cool and secure fiance. “Ok, but I promise I will try to be better at seeing these things so I don’t make you feel uncomfortable at all. I love you, Mi.”
They shared a chaste but affectionate kiss. “Love you too, Nev.”
-
It was only half an hour later that Neville had an opportunity to put his previous promise into action. Lavender had sidled back up to him when he was chatting quidditch with Seamus, Dean, Harry and Ron, and had said in what she thought was a sultry voice
“Oh Neville, I’m going to head outside and get some privacy now.” Neville frowned, why was she telling him? Oh yes, Mi said this would happen.
“Okay, Lav, have fun.” He hoped this dismissal would be enough, not wanting to embarrass her in front of everyone. She didnt take the hint, however, and touched his forearm while leaning towards his ear to whisper.
“Won’t you come out with me? I would love to have some privacy with you, away from prying eyes seeing what we will get up to.”
Neville frowned upon hearing this, and detached her arm while leaning away from her.
“I don’t think so Lav, I don’t think about you that way. My fiance wouldn’t like you asking me either.” he said coldly and firmly.
Lavender was not the only person to gasp or look up at the Gryffindor at this statement, with Ron was chastising him for wasting his new celebrity by being tied down, while Lavender was starting on some crazy statement about controlling women and how he shouldn’t have to put up with all of that, as well Dean and Harry congratulating him and clapping him on the back, asking him who the lucky lady was.
Neville was confused, how did they not all know? It’s not like they had kept it a secret through the years that they were together, and he had kissed her earlier at this very party! Luckily, his brilliant fiance had heard the commotion and, as the brightest witch of her age, she solved his problem by coming up and took his hand, draping it over herself whilst showing off her ring to the crowd.
“Guys, calm down, you know we’ve been together for years, he wouldn’t go and get engaged to someone else!”
Neville and Hermione looked at the gaping faces around them. Seamus recovered from his shock first.
“Since when were you guys even dating?!”