Sunshine: A Short Story

It's a quiet night in the dormitories. Everybody else in your room is out somewhere, and you take this rare opportunity to enjoy being alone with a good book. Moonlight fills most the room, and a peaceful silence envelopes the room. You hear quiet footsteps approach the door, and it slowly creaks open. You can make out a man's silhouette in the darkened corner. Quiet, stifled sobs come from him. Your heart freezes a little.

"Nev," you whisper, "is that you?"

He steps into the room. You can see glistening tears trailing down his face, illuminated by the moon's shine.

"Hey, sunshine," he whispers shakily. "I was wondering if maybe you could... hold me? I- I haven't really had a good day and," he takes a shuddering breath, "and... you always make everything feel right again."

"Oh- of course, Nev," you whisper. You open your arms to him as he crosses the room to you. He lays his head across your chest and you start to play with his hair and rub his back shaking with sobs.

"Are you all right, love?" you ask. "What happened? You don't have to tell me right now, you know, if you d- I mean, if you'd rather not talk about it. I- I'd just wondered." He tilted his head to look up at you.

"I- I'm not really ready to talk about it yet... but... will you just stay with me? Please, flower." His voice breaks a little as he lays his head back down. You place a soft kiss on the top of his head.

"Always, love. I'm always here for you," you say quietly. As you pull him closer to you, and feel him still shaking, tears start to form in your eyes. This wasn't right. As much as Neville loved to call you "his sunshine," it always seemed wrong because in truth, he was usually the bright and sunny one cheering you up. He just... was. It feels wrong, seeing your usually-happy Neville reduced to tears. It hurts you deeply, and you start to cry with him. Neville feels you start to tremble and raises his head to look at you.

"Oh- no, no, no, what's wrong, flower? You're crying."

"I'm fine, Nev," you say. "It's just... I hate seeing you like this. So... sad. I hate seeing you in pain. It feels a bit... backwards, don't y'think? Usually you're the one to comfort me." Your eyes widen as you realize how that might've come off. "Not that I don't want to be here for you! I will always be here for you, no questions asked, whenever you need me, to be your sunshine and brighten your day, I promise love. The world just feels... upside-down if you're not okay," you trail off quietly.

Neville pushes himself upright and sits to face you, and gently wipes away your tears with his thumb before pressing soft kisses to your nose and forehead. He takes both of your hands in his, and looks you in the eye.

"Well... I suppose that's love, innit? I protect you, you protect me, we comfort each other, feel each other's pain, and move through life... together." He lifts your hands and presses them to your lips.

"Together," you echo softly.

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You sit there in silence for what seems like an eternity, occasionally squeezing each others hands, or wiping away the other's tears in wordless expressions of love and comfort, all the while appreciating the beauty of the moment you were in. Finally, Neville moves.

"Come here, love," he whispers, tapping his hand to his chest.

"Huh?" you mumble, a little tired.

"It's late, and we've got that exam for Professor McGonagall tomorrow. We need our sleep." He lies down and pulls you over him, snuggling you close to his chest. He places a soft kiss to the top of your head, just as you had done to him.

"Are you... you going to be okay?" He asks softly.

"I'll be okay. Don't worry," you reply. After a pause, you ask tentatively, "... are you going to be okay, Nev?"

He takes a deep sigh, lifting your head up and down with the rise and fall of his chest.

"I'll get through anything, as long as I've got you by my side, sunshine." He stroked your arm with his thumb. "You're the best thing that's happened to me, y'know that?" You smile into his chest.

"So're you, and please don't you forget it." you say softly. "G'night, love."

"G'night, sunshine."

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