I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

Hogwarts without Serenity ✓

Set during the chamber of secrets

Neville

Sitting on the train next to Seamus was fine, but he didn't know me like Serenity did. He talked about fireworks the weasley twins had given him and he figured out how to blow things up, on command that is. The trio had also gotten a letter from Ren over summer, I know because they have all 3 been staring at me like my toad died or something. I decided to get up and take a walk to avoid the stares. "Where ye going?" Seamus asks, but I'm already down the hall out of earshot.

I walk by a compartment with Cedric Diggory inside, I can tell he is slightly disappointed as well. I know him and Serenity had become close friends last year. I keep walking and accidentally make eye contact with the one person I didn't want to see. Draco Malfoy. He finally notices me but doesn't change his slightly depressed expression.

"Longbottom, don't start with me, you know I can't do anything to you. So just bug off" he says as he bumps my shoulder trying to pass.
"Wait" he says as I start to walk forward again. "Can you tell her "I miss ya leaf" for me?" He says, almost in a whisper.
"What?" I ask as I turn around to look at him.
"Don't make me repeat it." He says embarrassed. "You know I'm not allowed to owl her you git." He says, then he stomps off toward the Slytherin compartments. I never knew Draco to have such a soft side, but who wouldn't for Serenity. I really don't want to help him but I know it would make her happy to hear from him. So I decided I will include it in my next letter to her.

The year goes by so slow, I was stupid and forgot what Ren said about the earmuffs and I passed out in Herbology. I was carried off by Cornish pixies in dada class. The only thing that helps this year is becoming good friends with Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood. It was their first year this year, Luna is extremely kind and understanding while Ginny is Brave and tough.

I owl Serenity 3 times a week telling her all the things happening at Hogwarts, she was extremely worried when Ginny went missing but thankfully the trio saved the day again. I told her that she would have probably been able to figure it out sooner than they did if she had been here but she disagreed with that notion. Draco meets with me every now and again to read the letters and hand me parchments of things he wants me to ask her or tell her. I suspect he was the one to warn the trio of the basilisk because the paper Hermione had in her hand when she was petrified was part of a letter Serenity had sent to him. As time goes on I'm starting to get a soft spot for Draco and I hate it, but she tells me to stop being dramatic. I thought missing her would get easier as time went on. But I was dead wrong. If anything, I missed her more every day that went by.

Set during prisoner of Azkaban

I was having a conversation with my mates as we were making our way to care of magical creatures.
"Serenity would have loved this class" I say to Hermione.
"You should tell her about it in your next letter then, I'm sure she would enjoy hearing about it." Hermione replies. I attempt to open my book but it attacks me. Shit, Ren told me to stroke the spine first.

I'm an idiot.

"Ok there Loserbottom?" Draco asks offering his hand. I hated this new nick name. I reach for it but he pulls away quick causing me to fall again. "Hahaha loserbottom" he laughs with his friends. He'll pay for that one. No letter privileges for a month. He sees that look in my eyes that tell him what I was thinking but he doesn't care, he just smirks and strokes the spine on his book, boasting that he remembered what Serenity had said to him and I hadn't. He winks at me.

What a git.

This year goes by slower. Serenity and I send less letters each month that goes by. She apologizes every time she gets a letter to me saying she is just focused on studying. I hope it's true but I also know we each have our own lives and friends. I tell her Draco caused Buckbeak to be put down and she was livid, she sent Draco a howler in the middle of lunch and it was quite hilarious. Draco didn't find it comical however, he grabbed the envelope before it could tear itself apart, shoved it in his cloak pocket and stormed out of the great hall with the reddest face I have ever seen the pale boy get.

That summer Serenity sent me a photo of me and herself at 11 years old cheering on the Gryffindor quidditch team our first year. On the back it reads 'my greatest friend and I' I hold it close and smile before opening a box which I believe to be my birthday gift, Ren never forgets my birthday. I open it to find a knit sweater that reps the name Beauxbaton's school of magic on the back. It looks to be my size. I'm confused on why she would send this and I'm even more confused when I read the letter

My dearest Nev,

You'll need this.

Love,
Your closest friend,
Ren.

What did this mean? I contemplate for a long time before I finally decide to owl Draco.

A week later I receive a letter back from him that states

Loserbottom,

It's a surprise.

-DM

How am I even more confused? And now she won't reply to my letters, I wonder why that is? I push the thoughts aside and focus on my packing to return to Hogwarts the next day.