Written in response to the IG prompt by @kerosenehoney: Friends to Lovers, “It’s always been you," < 250 words total
Neville/Hermione | Rated G | romantic fluff | WC 249
Pickled vegetables as a housewarming gift for her new flat. Fresh mint for her tea.
Then, Hermione took up gardening. She consulted Neville, of course. Consulting turned into entire days spent together, elbows deep in soil.
“It’s Friday.” She bit her lip.
He paused, hand above the Floo jar. “So it is.”
“Do you have any, um, plans for tonight?”
He’d wanted to get an early start on grading exams so he could spend all of Saturday outside. It wasn’t often that he wasn’t otherwise busy chaperoning students or helping other professors.
“I enjoy spending time with you, and…” She faltered, flushing.
Neville closed the gap between them with two long steps. “I enjoy our time together, as well.”
“D-Do you–would you like–”
That earned him a disbelieving laugh, tension lifting as she peered up at him. “Neville, I haven’t even explained–”
He grinned, tickled at her baffled expression.
“Hermione, if you didn’t already know, it’s always been you.”
Snagging one of her curls–Merlin, it’s soft–he nodded. “You could ask me to completely redo your garden or chop you a year’s worth of firewood. I’d do it, no questions asked.”
She matched his grin with one of her own. Her hand snuck in to trap his where it still tugged at her hair.
“And if I said I wished to kiss you?”
True to his word, no questions were asked.