I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

A warning

Goblet of Fire

After the second task Neville and I were on speaking terms again, but things were still awkward. He still hadn't figured out what I was mad about. I told Draco the day after the Ball and had to basically hold him down so he couldn't immediately go and beat the hell out of Nev. Draco and I had become even more close over the past weeks, but only in a platonic way. He even confided in me about a crush he had on a Slytherin girl. He admitted it was a little strange because she was the little sister of one of his friends so I had been the only one he could talk to about it.

Just as Draco and I were making our way to Potions I hear Dumbledore.
"Miss Locks, would you please join me for a word?" He requests.
"Only if it has nothing to do with being in a freezing cold lake." I say, only half joking. Draco laughs at this but is silenced by the look Dumbledore gives him.
"See ya later Leaf." he says before quickly leaving the situation.

I'm sitting in Dumbledore's office waiting for him to speak.
"I'll make this quick Miss Locks. You must not return to the Malfoys this year." He says bluntly. "What?"
"You must not return to Malfoy manor Serenity. It is important you trust me on this request." He repeats.
"But what about Draco? You said I could help him in some way? If there is something going on at the Manor I can't just leave him there alone." I exclaim.
"You must not return to Malfoy manor Serenity Locks." He says. Making it sound more like an order than a request.
"And where would I go then? An orphanage?" I spit. "No you will be protected." He says.
"So there is something dangerous that I would need protecting from?" I ask.
"Yes." He puts simply.
"That means that Draco would be in danger too?" I add.
"Somewhat." He says.
I stand from my seat in a huff, throwing my chair backwards. It falls onto its back with a loud crash.
I leave the room without another word.

So many secrets. So much manipulation. Why can't Dumbledore just be straight forward and truthful?

The last task is here and I'm sitting in the Hogwarts stands again, at this point I don't even think the Beauxbatons girls would let me sit with them. Neville plops down in the seat next to mine, he grabs my legs and placed them on his lap and begins to fiddle with my she laces.
"Thank god this is going to be over soon, this is too much for my nerves." He finally says.
"agree." I say. I watch as Mr Diggory gives his son a hug and smile at the display of affection between the father and son.
"Do you miss him at all?" Neville says, noticing where I hold my gaze.
"A little, but he never did apologize." I finally say. Neville shrugs at this. Luna, Hermione, and Ginny find their way over to us and take their seats. Seamus is forced to sit behind us.

"Cmon Serenity, just sit on Neville's lap! That way I can have the seat next to you guys!" He says.
"No way, I'd crush him to death!" I laugh.
"No you won't, here, look." Neville says as he positions me so I'm sitting on the small space of seat in between his legs, he wraps his arms around my front.
"There, the win win." He exclaims.
"Yes!" Seamus yells and he jumps into the seat I was just in moments before.

Neville braids small strands of my hair while we wait for the task to begin.
"Hey I heard you went to the headmaster's office the other day, what was that about?" Neville asks. My whole body goes stiff and he seems to notice.
"Ren? What did he say?" He asks again.
"Nothing, just wanted to talk to me about some of my classes." I lie.
"Ren no secrets remember?" He leans around to meet my gaze.
"Well...." and then I think of the perfect thing to say. "He just wanted to ask me about returning to Hogwarts next year." I say.

This technically wasn't a lie, Narcissa did owl me months prior asking me to return to the manor and start back at Hogwarts again. I was excited at the idea until Dumbledore had brought up the dangers of returning. I was hoping to save the surprise for the last day of school but I needed a good distraction in this moment.
"What!??" Everyone asks loudly in unison.
"That's great!!" Ginny says punching my arm. Neville wraps his arms around me tightly.
"Thank Merlin." He says into my back.
"Thank Merlin is right, I won't have to deal with your obsessive owling." Seamus complains. Hermione slaps the back of his head.

The task finally starts but because we can't see into the maze, we are left waiting again. 20 minutes in Fluer quits the Tournament. I wasn't too surprised she didn't win but I did feel a little sad the only girl ended up in last place. Krum is pulled from the maze 45 mins in, he looked as if he was possessed. The worry then starts to kick in. Neville's arms tighten slightly, it helps a little but not much. An hour goes by and with a loud crack Harry Potter returns with the cup. Everyone cheers and the music starts playing. Harry brought back Cedric whom looks to be passed out, but as I hear screaming I look closer and see his eyes are wide open and his face is pale. The music stops and I stand from my seat.

"HE IS BACK! VOLDEMORT IS BACK!"

Harry yells.
"No" I whisper, I feel tears gushing from my eyes. I hear Cho Chang screaming beside me and her friends holding her back from running towards Cedric.

He still didn't apologize. I think to myself. And now I'd never get to say sorry for ignoring him. I'd never hear him call me 'Nerd' again. No more Ced. No more pretty boy Cedric Diggory.

The last days of school everyone is mourning. I'm left feeling numb and full of regret. Neville and Draco have been nothing but kind and caring to me but nothing helps. Someone who cared for me deeply is dead now and I had spent most of the year ignoring him. I'm walking to the Great Lake for some alone time when I see Harry sitting at the groups usual tree.
"Hey." I say, sliding into the space next to him. "Hey." He says.
"I'm sorry." He adds
"No no Harry. I'm sorry you went through that, must have been hard." I say.
"Serenity I have to tell you something, I have to tell you about someone I saw." He exclaims.
"Ok." He finally meets my worried gaze.

"I saw Lucius." He finally says.