Title: Associates
Fandom: Harry Potter
Rating: PG
Length: 200
Content notes: Pairing: Neville/Charlie
Author notes: Unbetaed
Summary: Modern AU. Neville and Charlie work in the same office. Charlie has a crush on Neville.

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Neville learned to keep his head down at work. Answer emails. Water the office plants. Smile when spoken to. It usually worked.

It stopped working the day Theodore Nott leaned too close and said, "You should let me take you out sometime. You deserve someone who notices you."

Neville laughed because it felt safer than refusing. When he turned back to his screen, his reflection stared back at him, a flood of emotions crossing his face too fast to hide. Embarrassment. Discomfort. Something like fear.

Charlie saw all of it. And beneath the concern came jealousy, sharp and unwelcome. Not because Neville was interested, but because Nott had said the thing Charlie had never dared to say. If Nott kept going, Charlie might lose the chance to ever be brave about it.

Later, by the coffee machine, Charlie kept his voice light. "We try to keep things professional around here, Theo. Especially with people who work under us."

Nott’s smile tightened. "I was only being friendly."

"Right," Charlie said. "Let’s keep it that way."

After that, Nott kept his distance.

At lunch, Charlie took the chair beside Neville. Their elbows brushed. Neville glanced at him, uncertainty still lingering. "You okay?"

Neville nodded. "Better."

After work, Charlie waited by the lifts, heart thudding. "Do you want to get dinner?"

Neville’s smile came slow and genuine. "Yes. I would."

The jealousy faded then, replaced by something steadier: hope, and the sense that the timing might be right.