I had this idea today, and I just couldn't get it out of my head.

So, imagine a patronus made of dark/bad memories instead of happy ones...

Nell'acqua cristallina del lago

Si riflette l'anima pura della natura

I pensieri cupi sono scacciati

Come l'expecto patronum

Scaccia i dissenatori

La pace regna incontrastata

Le anime sono più leggere

Come ali di aquile

"The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible. Your defences must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the Arts you seek to undo."

-Severus Snape

Character: Neville Longbottom

Fandom: Harry Potter

Tags: Emotional hurt / comfort, fluff, hand holding, cuddling

Warnings: Slight angst

Word Count: 1,7k words

Summary: With everything that is happening due to the return of Voldemort, a scary storm is the last straw for Y/N. Luckily, Neville is there to comfort them and make them forget all their fears.

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Originally posted by multibadassfandomimagines

Found RANDOMFANDOMIMAGINE

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Neville Longbottom x Gender Neutral Reader

You were so tired that your eyes stung, but even then you didn’t close them. The distant sound of thunder startled you, causing you to shrink under the thick blanket that didn’t manage to ease your shaking.

“Y/N…” A hoarse voice suddenly called you. Terrified, you held your breath and listened, hoping you had imagined it. However, the voice called again. “Y/N”

To accompany the voice, a hand had heavily fallen on your shoulder. Throwing the blanket off you with a violent jump, you turned to see Neville stand there behind the couch you were sitting in.

“Neville…” You sighed, clutching your chest as your heart recovered. “You scared me…”

“Sorry!” He apologized, sobering up even though he was rubbing his half-lidded eyes. “Are you alright?”

“I can’t sleep…” Was your response as you wrapped the blanket over yourself and faced the fire again.

“The storm?” Neville asked, sitting next to you. “It woke me up and now I can’t fall back asleep”

You absently nodded your head, although your eyes were fixed on the crackling flames without actually watching them.

“It isn’t the storm, is it?” His once hoarse voice, prey of the remnants of sleep, now became soft as you were used to hear it.

“No” You admitted in a hushed whisper. “Not just that”

Just in cue, another thunder startled you again and you jumped in the seat. Neville’s eyes were focused on you, but you refused to meet his gaze.

“I’m scared too…” He admitted, and with the corner of your eye you caught how he hesitantly lifted a hand up. In the end, and after several more seconds of doubt, he finally pressed it against your arm. “Now that he’s back”

Neville didn’t need to specify a name, or even a euphemism of that feared name. In any case, you shuddered just at the thought of him. You felt Neville stare at you worriedly.

“Are you cold?” He lifted his arm, hovering over you, but hesitated and put it back down.

“No” You replied, instead throwing yourself closer to him and wondering in his warmth.

“Y/N…” Neville muttered, surprised but happy. Lifting his arm again after several seconds of shocked stillness, he allowed you to press yourself against his side. The wool of his sweater was soft, just like his embrace. “You’re shaking…”

You didn’t say anything, only shielding yourself in the comfort of his closeness. Nuzzling his chest, you closed your eyes and pretended like he was the only thing that existed at the moment. His warmth enveloped you, and for a moment it was enough. Only for a moment.

Another thunder broke out, startling you and causing you to yelp and jump in the seat again. Neville twitched a little himself, but he kindly tightened his arm over you and even put his other arm around you too.

An awfully loud silence settled in the Common Room. The harsh pitter-patter of the rain against the windows resonated around you. The crackling of the fire seemed to battle with the storm, failing in its attempt to reassure you that it was stronger than the threat outside.

“Hang on…” Neville pulled out his wand, holding it in the air for a moment.

“What are you doing?” You whispered, looking up to meet with his eyes. They were closed in concentration. He didn’t respond either.

Watching in expectation, you waited to see what he was trying to do. Then, after several more seconds, a spur of light came out from the end of his wand. You observed it, trying to make out its form. A sort of non-corporeal shape made out of pure white smoke floated in the air.

“Is that… a patronus?” You finally said, understanding his intentions.

“I can never get it to take a form” Neville replied, sadly eyeing the patronus.

“I-I told you I’m not cold” You gently reminded him, patting his chest. “And I don’t think there are dementors around”

“I know” He shrugged a little, suddenly blushing and doing his best not to look you in the eye. “I just… thought it could make you feel better… it could protect you”

Against all odds, you smiled. The thought filled you with a warmth that had nothing to do with the fire burning in the hearth. It was a wave of affection that made you want to snuggle closer against him and hold him tight.

“Here, let me show you” Your hands were still shaking a bit as you pulled out your wand. “Expecto… patronum”

Your wand produced a thin wisp of silver that floated in the air, not quite taking form either. Closing your eyes, you focused on the charm. You were having trouble with it just like Neville, despite having accomplished it during the DA meetings.

The theory was easy, you just think of a happy memory and say the spell, which should be enough to conjure a patronus. Putting it on practice, though, wasn’t as easy, especially not when your heart was full of uncertainty and anguish.

“Think of a happy memory” Neville reminded you, trying to help you. “Focus on it”

At that moment, it was hard to think of something happy. That uneasy emptiness that filled your chest, the one you usually linked with dementors, was very present at the moment.  It was cold, heavy and overwhelming.

Another thunder broke out in the sky, this one sounding slightly more distant than the others. This time you only reacted a little bit, but your eyes remained closed in concentration.

“Relax” Neville reassured you, further pressing you against his side. “Breathe”

You took a deep breath, only then realizing you were holding it. That helped a little, and a happy memory was suddenly emerging in your mind. A calm smile appeared on your lips. It gave you strength, and you felt your wand feel sturdier against your fingers.

You opened your eyes, watching the silver mist that floated in the air before you. Very slowly, it began to take form. Neville gasped in awe, and when you looked at him you saw how the light of your patronus illuminated his features. His eyes seemed to hold that pure light inside them with the reflection.

“It’s… beautiful” Neville smiled as your patronus floated before the fire.

It was a small puppy, acting very timid and insecure but gathering enough courage to move around. Soon it became confident enough to walk, spry and lively, as you moved your wand. The sight made you smile, a fleeting glee reflected in Neville’s expression when he chuckled in awe.

Your gazes met, but he frowned and averted his eyes. Feeling insecure, Neville stared at his wand and apathetically tried again. The formless wisp of silver magic floated still, twisting and turning as it fought to take a shape. It couldn’t.

“Relax” You whispered with a small smile, seeing that Neville’s brow was furrowed in strain. “Breathe”

“Okay…” He sighed, easing his shoulders and turning his exertion into a calm focus.

“Lift your hand a bit” You wrapped yours around it, moving his hand up to demonstrate.

Feeling his skin under your fingers brought you warmth, one that you thought he reveled in as well. The corner of Neville’s lips twitched in a bashful and restrained smile. Before you could make a fond comment about it, whoever, something distracted you.

“Neville!” You gasped, staring at the fluid wisp of magic coming out of his wand.

“I did it…” He uttered in awe, watching how the smoke-like ethereal substance slowly formed a shape.

“It’s…” You paused, needing a moment to ensure you were seeing correctly. “It’s a dog…”

Another puppy, this one slightly bigger, joined your dog shaped patronus. The two fondly butted heads and ran around together, playfully chasing each other and gleefully prancing together.

Your eyes met again, and this time none of you looked away. Neville’s face became brighter, now illuminated by the glow of the two patronus, who continued to run and play together. He smiled at you, completely filling you with comfort with that simple gesture.

Needing to express yourself, you urgently put your head on his shoulder, nuzzling his soft sweater and holding on to his arm with your free hand. The other still held the wand, letting your patronus protect you both.

Neville leaned back on the seat, gingerly pressing his cheek against your head. His hand, although hesitantly, also found its way to yours on his arm. With the other, he was maintaining his own patronus.

You thought of something to say. A way to thank him for his comfort, for his concern and for his kindness. Perhaps a comment of relief, of the fact that you had realized not everything was lost. The storm continued outside, but it was further than ever. The thunder, even if still somewhat loud, couldn’t affect you any more.

Your fingers played with his in a delicate caress that attempted to express all of those thoughts that you didn’t really need to voice out. In return, Neville gently rubbed his thumb against your hand, like a silent promise that he would always be there for you like he was now.

That way, drowsiness finally reached you. Exhausted after hours of tension and worry, all your muscles relaxed. You finally felt safe enough to abandon yourself to an enveloping rest. Neville’s soft breathing lulled you further into the doors of slumber.

“We… We should probably say goodnight” Neville uttered, barely loud enough for you to hear. “Go back to bed…”

“Yeah…” You mumbled, not bothering in opening your eyes. “We should…”

The two of you sleepily giggled. Neither you or him moved a muscle, treasuring that comforting closeness of your embrace. His touch was healing, warming the ice cold fear clinging on to your heart. Both your patronus hung in the air above our heads, becoming stronger with every second that passed in which you leaned against each other.