~Sequentia~ (Harry Potter Characters x Reader)

Defying Expectations [Neville Longbottom]

Neville Longbottom x Reader

[Theme: Student]

Requested by: TheSpoon

The Sacred Twenty-Eight: a so-called status granted in a book named Pure-Blood Directory and written by an anonymous source. This person, thanks to them, gave greater importance to the families listed in the directory. Our recognition as being 'truly pure-blood' was set in stone for the wizarding world to be envious of. 

Or so that's what Father loved to spout, and those were the ideologies he expected me to follow. As the sole heir to this lineage of Avery, I had to marry another member of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. He would accept no other person for fear that they would taint our bloodline. 

I cared not for that sort of fanatic. How many times have I had to sit in the front room and he lectured over and over about the scum that are 'Mudbloods'? What a pathetic man. He pretends like he's the tallest crop in the field but when strong winds blow, he's the first to be ripped from the ground. No wonder Mother left him. 

It was thanks to him and his misdeeds that people were afraid of me- at least those who had only heard of my father. To the unknowing Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, I was a menace. To the Slytherins, my kind, I was nothing more than pathetic. My father, the one who screamed and pled to his master for sweet mercy when he brought failure... was a laughingstock. 

Because of him, I had nothing. No friends, no sense of security. I was awaiting the day I'd receive a letter by owl saying that the Dark Lord had killed him. That would be a time of sweet relief. Perhaps I'd celebrate. It was only a matter of time since that Harry Potter boy said that He was back. Father had been going crazy trying to do everything right, only to come back with another burn or bruise on his body. 

With nothing left to hope for, I lived each day as they came. Some days blurred together with each irrelevant and forgettable incident. Others... hurt. The terrified looks of first years when they'd see me... I doubt they even knew I was an Avery; they likely were scared of all Slytherins. That didn't mean my heart ached any less. If I could choose, I'd be born different. 

In a sick way, that may be why I enjoyed Herbology. The ability to care for a seedling, nurture it, and watch it grow into something beautiful... it was something that I envied. I wished that I could have the love plants receive and the courage to open my petals wide to the world. Instead, I stray away into the darkness that others have placed me in. 

Out of pure boredom and not wanting to deal with another one of Malfoy's speeches in the common room, I pulled myself to the greenhouse to get a head start on practising for exams. They weren't for months but who knew what Sprout would have up her sleeves, especially now we were doing NEWT-level. 

Fortunately, this time of day, the castle was relatively quiet and Snape wouldn't care too much if I was back an hour or so late... Well, what he didn't know won't kill him. 

The inside of the greenhouse was dimly lit by the lantern I had brought with me. I placed it on the counter behind me and went to collect a pot of aconite that I had been caring for as part of an additional credit activity. Before I did so, I made sure to have my dragonhide gloves on. The leaves of aconite were incredibly poisonous and the last thing I wanted was an unnecessary trip to the Hospital Wing.

Against the orange hue of the lantern, the strong violet petals of the aconite were vibrant and full of life. This plant was my pride and joy and should anything happen to it, I'd be distraught. After giving it a thorough look, I decided that it was time to replace the pot it had settled as its home. 

I gathered a new clean pot and made a hole in the centre of the freshly potted soil. With nimble hands, I unrooted the aconite and placed it into its new bed to rest.