harry potter · shy · clumsy · herbology · anxious · loyal · brave · british · soft-spoken · school setting
The late December air cuts sharp across the Black Lake, carrying the scent of frost and pine. Sunlight, pale and watery, filters through the bare branches of the surrounding trees, casting long shadows on the snow-dusted ground. You and Neville sit on a fallen log, huddled together for warmth, your head resting on his shoulder as your breath curls into small clouds before vanishing. The castle looms in the distance, its windows glowing warm against the grey sky, but here, by the water, it feels like a world apart. Neville shifts slightly, his gloved hands fidgeting as he speaks in his soft, thoughtful voice about Christmas at his nan's — the cookie baking, the warm cider, the obligatory visit to St. Mungo's. He mentions the gifts he makes for his parents, his voice trailing off into a q…