I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

Hogwarts ✓

Philosophers stone

Serenity

On the train ride to Hogwarts I'm learning that Draco is not keen on showing his kind side. He has already befriended two large goons, whom I presume to be Dracos version of body guards. He has tripped 3 students and called 5 mud bloods. Part of me is embarrassed to be seen with him because I don't want to be known as a school bully, but I don't have anyone else to sit with. I could sit with Nev but I'm too scared that Draco would say something that would scare him away. I'm deep in thought about Longbottom when Draco yells something at me and I'm reminded we were deep in a conversation. "Are you even listening leaf? It's like you don't even care."

"I'm sorry what were you saying?" I question, as if I were actually interested in his pompous lecturing.

"I was saying you need to remember to stick with us, you are a lil spacey. Oh and if anyone does anything mean to you tell me so I can beat them up for you."
He says proudly and Crabbe and Goyle laugh and nod in agreement.
   "Whatever Draco, just please try and be a little nicer why don't ya?" I beg
"Leaf I have a reputation to uphold, I can't just go around befriending mudbloods and blood traitors, and you won't either!" He yells as he points his finger at me. 

I slap it away

"you won't be telling me what to do while we are in Hogwarts blondie, I finally have a chance to be my own person. Please don't mess that up for me ok? I'm no Malfoy." I almost plead. Draco looks at me angry at first, but his expression softens when he remembers my parents and my past.

"Fine but just don't embarrass me Serenity." He says with a blushed face. He hasn't called me by my first name in years, I wonder why he did it now? I ignore it and finish my drawing that I was working on before I got distracted.

Time flies fast with pure adrenaline and anticipation, a nice woman leads us through the corridors and we stop at a large staircase in-front of the great hall. She starts announcing something about what houses we will be sorted in when I feel a light weight on my foot. I look down to see a familiar toad sitting there and I lift him up to my face with a smile.

"Hello little man." I say softly to the animal.

"TREVOR!" I hear Neville yell as he gently grabs the toad from my hands. We both blush as he yelled so loudly he interrupted the speech and we both look at our feet. "Sorry" Neville finally says and the woman continues her speech. When she exits to check on if we are ready to enter I look at Neville

"Trevor is a good name, I feel silly I never asked about it before when you asked my toad's name. Sorry about that Nev, and sorry I didn't sit with you on the train. I guess I'm not off to a good start on the whole friend thing." I apologized looking at my feet again guiltily.
"Ren it's ok! I understand, you were sitting with your friend right? I can't assume I'm going to be your only friend here at Hogwarts, we might even be put in different houses. But we will still be friends, right?" He rambles while putting his hand on my shoulder and trying to make eye contact. I smile and nod.

"SO it's true then? Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts?" I hear Dracos voice boom. All the students whisper and Nev looks at me and mouths the words "Harry Potter?" And I look at him and shrug, not knowing what's going on. Although part of me knows nothing good will come from Draco making a scene infront of all of the first years.
As soon as I see Draco introducing himself to the boy I assume must be Potter I duck out to the back of the line, not wanting to become any part of what Draco has planned.

Neville notices and follows me. I feel a tight grip on my wrist and hear Neville's voice in a worried whisper "Ren what's wrong?" He asks
"My friend, Draco, isn't the kindest of people. I just didn't want to be there if he chose to do something mean... I don't want people thinking I'm mean too."
"Your friend, the one with the owl? It's Draco Malfoy?" Neville says in shock.
"Yeah..."
"Oh" Neville whispers. I know he has probably heard things about the Malfoys, and I know some student's parents have probably had to work beside Lucius and that is enough to earn an opinion or two. I worry Neville will choose not to be friends with me now that he knows this much but I worry more when I say-

"I live with his family, I was orphaned at a young age and they have taken me in ever since. I promise I'm kinder than Draco though. Please believe me."
Neville now looks at me with even more shock but when he catches eye contact with me he understands that I'm looking at him with pain and worry in my eyes, pain from my past and worry for my future. Just as a tear is about to leave my eye Neville pulls me into a tight hug. I'm surprised to say the least, Nev is very nervous most of the time and I didn't expect him to be so quick to hug someone. I forget aside from everything, Neville is beyond kind.
"You don't have to worry Ren." He says, causing my muscles relax as I accept his embrace.

We make our way to the front of the great hall and my nerves have consumed me. The Malfoys want me in slytherin but do I want that? I'm not sure. My mind is running through a million thoughts when I hear "Malfoy, Draco"

Draco walks up to the sorting hat with what looks like no fear at all, the hat doesn't even touch his head when it yells
"SLYTHERIN!"

Draco beams proudly down at me and I give him a thumbs up. Neville, and Harry are both placed in Gryffindor and a few other students are sorted before I hear my name "Locks, Serenity" I hear some whispers coming from the teachers and students tables. My name had been all over the papers when I was younger but I assumed it was old news enough to forget about, I guess not. I make my way up to the hat and sit down nervously. The hat is placed gently on my head.

"Hmmm a Locks, haven't sorted one of you in a long while. I see Slytherin in you, just like your parents. You also have a strong connection to the house in present day don't you? Hmmm I see brains but most of all..... friendship. So it shall be."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"