Title: 40ºC Is The Temperature Of Love
Pairing: Neville x Astoria
Words: 1.4k
Dedicated to @merflk <3
Neville opened his eyes and had to stifle a gasp. For a while during the night he had thought that what had happened the evening before had all been a dream, but apparently it wasn’t, because Astoria was there, sleeping soundly next to him with her dark hair covering most of her face messily as her hands clung to the sheets.
Perhaps this was the dream.
It took him a while to remember that he had actually been on four dates with her so far, and this was the second time he woke up next to her. Sometimes he focused so much in the present and how strange it was to be completely satisfied with it that he forgot how he got there in the first place.
Astoria stirred and rolled onto her back and Neville’s felt shivers running down his spine. He covered himself more with the sheets but continued looking at her. Every small movement that she made had his heart beating wildly and he couldn’t help but stare, however creepy he feared it might seem, he couldn’t help it. She was just ridiculously beautiful to the point where Neville was certain she had ruined him for all other people out there. To boot, she was one of the nicest people he had ever known, but also so sharp and clever that it was a little scary. And unbelievably exciting.
Astoria started waking up, with slow little stretches that looked so mundane, so her that Neville wanted to burn them into his memory to forever remember what it’s like in a normal day with Astoria. More chills ran down his body.
She finally noticed him and smiled. Neville felt suddenly dizzy; she was even more beautiful than he remembered.
“Hello,” she said groggily, pulling some of the sheets away to she could stretch her arms out. “Did you sleep well?”
Neville nodded, but he found it difficult to speak, as if something was bothering him but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. Perhaps he was just too overwhelmed with feelings, and it’s not as if he was ever particularly good with words.
Astoria frowned, her dark eyebrows furrowing with confusion. She looked lovely. “Are you cold?”
Neville nodded again and felt himself shiver once more. He didn’t think he had ever felt so strongly for someone that his body physically reacted to it, but now even though his throat was protesting him speaking, he had an overwhelming urge to tell her exactly how he felt about her.
Before he could do anything, though, Astoria reached a hand towards him and placed her palm over his forehead. She was very soft and delicate, but also very cold. He didn’t care, though, he was just happy she wanted to touch him.
“Dear Merlin, you’re burning up!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening slightly.
Astoria sat up, and it reminded Neville that she was wearing one of his t-shirts and nothing else. His heart hammered even more now and Neville attempted to sit up too, but his back felt stiff and weirdly heavy.
“Don’t,” she said and pushed him back down gently. “You’re running a fever, Neville. Don’t you feel bad?”
Neville wasn’t sure that he understood her. How could he feel bad? He was waking up in bed with her after spending one of the most memorable evening of his life. However, he did feel sort of odd and his head was swimming now, but he wouldn’t be surprised if this was just the effect she had on him.
“I’m okay,” he managed through a voice that didn’t sound like his own. And then he coughed.
Astoria smiled again, and even though Neville was seeing through a haze that he thought was due to falling in love with her, he could see the affection in her eyes.
“You’re not. But that’s okay because conveniently, I’m a Healer.” She ran a hand softly through his hair and Neville closed his eyes with how good it felt.
When he opened his eyes again, Astoria was getting to her feet and walking away. He didn’t want her to leave the bed, but he knew she’d come back. He trusted her.
“Let’s see how bad it is,” he heard her say as she approached again, holding something strange in her hand. She waved the clock-like instrument over Neville's body and then looked at it. Her eyebrows rose. “Oh Neville… With this temperature you might even start to hallucinate.”
Neville was sure that wouldn't happen. There was nothing that his brain- however disturbed by sickness- would want to see.
Astoria started rummaging through the sheets and pillows on her side of the bed. “Where's my wand?”
Neville reached under his pillow where he knew his wand was, and he held it out to her. “You can use mine,” he said weakly to her, and Astoria stared at him, her big dark eyes shining with surprise. Neville realized that it was a gesture of extreme trust to offer someone your wand, but it didn't feel strange at all. Four dates wasn't much, but Neville thought that he would have offered her his wand the second after he walked in St Mungo’s emergency room and met her last month.
“Thank you,” she said earnestly, her hand covering his for a second before she took a hold of his wand. “No one's offered me their wand before.”
“That's because you're a Slytherin,” Neville said with the cheekiest smile he could manage. He remembered all the teasing about Slytherins and Gryffindors they had done the night before after two glasses of wine.
Astoria narrowed her eyes and smirked.
“You Gryffindors trust anyone. Even a snake like me.” She pointed Neville's wand towards the living room “Accio purse.”
Her purse came flying rapidly into the room and Astoria caught it before she started looking through it. “I think I have something for the fever here. But I'll need to go and buy something for your sore throat.”
“If you're a snake, you're the prettiest snake I've ever seen,” Neville rasped before coughing again. He hoped he didn't sound as pathetic as he thought.
“Well, now you're definitely hallucinating,” she said, but Neville saw the blush on her cheeks. “Will you be okay while I buy he potions? I can also get us breakfast.”
Neville nodded. “I survived a Venomous Tentacula before. As long as you come back like you did then, I'll be alright.”
Astoria laughed and the sound made Neville feel again as if he was dreaming. “I count that as our first date, you know.”
“That means last night was our fifth.” Neville closed his eyes and sighed. He liked the sound of that.
“That's right.” Astoria trailed her fingers down his temple. “You still have time to back out of this.”
Neville eyes snapped opened. They hurt a little. “Back out? Do you want to back out?”
Astoria's answer was the way she leaned down, her hand cradling his face. Neville's heart felt lighter than ever, and he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, but he stopped her before that happened. Her eyes showed the tiniest bit of hurt that made Neville's insides squirm with guilt.
“I don't want you to get sick,” he said quickly and her expression softened.
“You should,” she whispered, her breath tickling his skin. “That way I can stay in bed with you all week instead of going back to work.”
Neville couldn't resist, he closed the distance between them and finally remembered what her lips felt like, and it was as if nothing could ever compare. Just like with everything else, she was soft but with an edge that made Neville's mind spin, and she knew how yo demand more from him while also understanding him like no one else had.
When she pulled away slightly, she took his breath with her. But Neville didn't need much breath anyway. “You're a damn good-looking lion.” She held up a small vial with a pink liquid sloshing inside. “Now open up.”
Neville did as he was told and tilted his head back slightly as Astoria brought the vial to his mouth. It tasted absolutely revolting compared to her lips, but then again, everything would.
As soon as he swallowed the potion, he shivered and his eyelids started feeling unusually heavy. He heard Astoria huffing a small laugh.
“You can handle your liquor, but not your medications.”
Neville tried to come up with something witty to say, thinking that Astoria would be used to some pretty clever banter, but his brain was quickly shutting off, drowning in a sea of warmth, comfort, and her.
He heard himself utter something that would later embarrass him immensely, but that would also become a milestone in their week-long, flu-ridden sixth date.
“I love you, snake.”
