I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

The first trial ✓

The goblet of Fire

Serenity

Neville let's me off his back and stares straight at Cedric.
"What do you want? Neville says clenching his fists "Uhm Serenity? Could we maybe talk?" Cedric finally says, trying to ignore the angry look Neville is giving him.
"Down boy." I jokingly say to Neville as I pat his head like a dog.
"I'll meet you in the common room?" I ask with a smile.
"Sure." He finally says, not breaking eye contact with Cedric as he walks away. I watch Neville make his way up the stairs until I can't see him anymore. then I turn back towards Cedric, my smile disappears off my face.

"Look, I like you, ok?" He bluntly says. I cross my arms and nod.
"Go on." I say.
"Well, that's it... I guess." He says awkwardly.
"Oh, that's it? I'm sorry was that supposed to be romantic? Am I supposed to just melt for pretty boy Diggory? What the hell? The whole school thinks we are dating and it didn't seem like you were working hard on denying any of the rumors. Last I checked you hadn't asked me out yet." I say angrily.
"Well, want to go out with me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't like you like that Cedric."

It was quick and cold, but from what I've learned over the past day was that I needed to be very clear in my feelings.
"Is this about him?" Cedric says, motioning towards the direction Neville left the corridor earlier.
"Maybe it is, but that doesn't matter right now, what matters is the whole school creates nasty rumors about me and you go around fueling them. What matters is I trusted you and cared for you like an older brother and you broke that trust. The problem is that maybe we shouldn't talk for awhile." I finally say.
"Oh." He says.
"Yeah." And with that last word I leave.

Draco

Serenity leaves and Cedric is left there alone, and defeated. Draco reveals himself from behind a nearby staircase.
"Ow that's gotta hurt." He says with a smirk.
"What the hell Malfoy, creepy much?" Cedric says. "Hey I obviously couldn't help but over hear your growing hatred towards the Gryffindors, maybe I can help you with that."

Serenity

I finally make it to the Gryffindor common room, it's Friday night and no one is going to miss me in my own dorm so I decide to spend the night with Ginny and Hermione. Ginny lends me some comfy pjs and I throw my hair up into a pony tail before we head down the stairs. The night is spent joking around with my friends, laughing, eating sweets, and playing games. I climb off the floor and sit on the couch behind me. Ron is in front of me trying desperately to teach Hermione wizards chess but to no avail. "No! You can't move that piece like that!" He yells. "Well then how else is he supposed to move!?!?" Hermione yells back. I laugh the the two of them.

"they sound like an old married couple when they bicker like that." I hear a voice say behind me. Neville climbs over the back of the couch and slides into the space next to me.
"They should just get married already if you ask me." I whisper into his ear. This sends shivers down Neville's spine and he wiggles them off.
"Did I just give you the chills?" I giggle.
"A little" he says with a blush. I laugh and continue watching Ron and Hermione bicker.

The next few days go by fast, I'm still ignoring Cedric and I'm not regretting it after seeing the buttons being worn by everyone in school. It has a picture of Harry and the words "Potter stinks." On it but they magically change to a picture of Cedric and it reads "support the real champion." Even Hannah was wearing one. She definitely changed since I saw her first year, we haven't been very close since I've gotten back. Cedric swore he had nothing to do with it, I sorta believe him because I never did see him wearing one and I had noticed Draco was far too happy for his own good since the buttons became a thing. I was still mad about the rumors though, everyone in Beauxbatons hated me even more now, the word Slut was even thrown around a few times.

The day of the first trial is finally here and I'm standing next to Neville in the Hogwarts stands ready to cheer on Harry. Hermione finally comes back from wishing him good luck.
"That evil woman!" She sighs.
"What happened Mione?" I ask
"That evil press woman was there waiting to pounce on us when we weren't ready." She exclaims "I hate to think what she is going to put in that next article" she says with a pout.

Cedric is first and I try not to worry but I can't help it, he still means a lot to me deep down. I watch as the dragon corners him and all hope seems lost. I grab Neville's hand in response and squeeze it hard. Cedric waves his wand towards the dragon and its fire recoils back into the dragon's throat and he is able to quickly run and grab the egg. Everyone cheers and my hand relaxes. I start to pull my hand away from Neville's but he quickly grabs it and holds it there so I can't pull it away. I look up at him but he doesn't look at me, he just keeps looking forward. His face is completely red. I feel a smile creep on my face.

Harry returns after what feels like forever, and he is able to retrieve the egg. Everyone cheers and we all make our way to the Gryffindor common room to celebrate. Neville and I stopped holding hands and part of me was disappointed, I can't remember who pulled away first. Everyone is gathered around the twins lifting Harry high up, after some back and forth Harry opens the egg and a glass breaking scream escapes it causing the twins to drop him so to the floor and everyone to cover their ears. Harry quickly closes the top.

"What in the bloody hell was that?" Ron says.