I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

The dark lord

Set summer before order of the Phoenix

The train ride back I sat with my back against the window and my legs on top of Neville's lap. I chose not to return to the Beauxbatons school to collect my things. The head mistress said she would apparate my things to Malfoy Manor for me. Despite Dumbledores warnings I chose to return there this summer. Harry had begged me not to return saying I could stay with the Order or even the Weasleys. I refused all the offers, even the one Neville offered staying in the spare room at his Grandmother's house. Only Harry knew the real reason i shouldn't go back to the Manor so Neville thankfully hadn't  thought much of me turning down his offer. Just as I'm adding the finishing touches to my sketch of Neville the compartment door gently opens.

Draco stands in the entrance.
"Draco, everything ok?" I ask.
"I need to speak with you." He says. I start to get up. "Not you, Longbottom." He says nodding his head towards Neville. Neville looks at me confused and I just shrug at him. He gets up and follows Draco into the walkway.

I gently close the compartment door behind me and follow Draco into an empty compartment nearby. He closes the door behind him and adds the Muffliato charm for good measure. Then he turns towards me. "Neville I don't have much time and I can't give you much information but I need your help and your word on something." He says with a serious look in his eyes.
"Yeah, sure what is it?" I say.
"Things aren't going to be very good here on out for Leaf and I, I can't tell you why but I can assure you things back at home aren't the best." I'm about to says something but he cuts me off and continues talking.
"Look Neville, you can't ask any questions ok and don't bug Serenity about this either. But I need you to promise me that you will stay by her side no matter what ok? No matter what she does, or how she acts, or if she pushes you away. I need you to promise you will love her unconditionally. Do you understand?" He asks. I nod.

"Good, and one more thing, if I say the word, you get her far away, no questions asked. You take her and you run."

I look at him with a blank stare.
He shoves his wand into my throat, he is close enough for me to see tears in his eyes.
"Do you understand!?!?" He yells
"YES yes! Draco, geez." I put my hands up in defense.
"And next time when you kiss her, mean it." He says, And with that he turns and leaves without another word.

Draco returns back without Neville, he grabs my arm and drags me out towards the Slytherin compartments. I catch Neville in passing and all we do is look at each other in silence as Draco continues to pull me away.

We finally arrive back at the cold mansion. I make my way to my old room, it looks as if I had never left. I half thought my plants would all be dead but to my surprise they are all thriving.
"I took care of em best I could, mum helped of course." I hear Draco behind me.
"Thanks blondie." I say.
"Mum wants us down in 10 minutes for dinner. Dress nice, we apparently have guests." He says before walking out and closing the door behind him. I look at my bed and see a black lace dress already laid out for me.

I make my way down the stairs and see Draco waiting at the bottom, he quickly grabs my arm and leans into my ear.
"Do whatever he says. Don't do anything stupid.... please." He whispers. He pulls me behind him towards the dining room. I wonder why he is so worried. I'm not 11 anymore I can handle Lucious. When we enter the dinning room I stop in my tracks. It's now obvious to me now that Lucious isn't the one Draco was worried about. Sitting at the end of the table is none other than The Dark Lord himself.

Voldemort.

"My lord." Draco says with a bow.
"Leave us boy." The dark lord spits.
"Yes sir." Draco then leaves, he looks into my eyes before closing the door behind him.

I turn back towards the Dark lord.
"My lord?" I say, with a curtsy. Following the lead Draco set.
"Your manners are much better than what Lucious previously spoke of, perhaps the two years spent at Beauxbatons wasn't wasted after all." He says.
"It is a very prestigious school sir, I hope I represent them well while attending Hogwarts next year." I say with confidence.
"Good, good, there is important business I require you to attend to while you are there." He says with a smile. He motions to the chair next to him. I take the seat.
"Anything my Lord." These words burn on my tongue, how could I pretend to respect a man that has done such evil?

"I hear you are very close to Harry Potter." He says. Worry flashes on my face.
"Don't worry girl, this is a good thing. I'll need you to hold his trust. There is something you will have to persuade him to do next year, a place you have to get him to go to. Can you do this for me?" He asks. Like I have much choice.
"Yes my Lord, anything." I reply.
"Good, and one last thing." He pulls his wand out.

"So I know where your loyalties lie."

I should have warned Serenity sooner, but I couldn't allow her to get enough courage to do anything stupid. She cared about doing good but none of that mattered if she wasn't alive. A few minutes go by, then my thoughts are interrupted by a scream from inside the room. I quickly push myself off the wall I was leaning on and stare at the door deciding wether I should rush in or not, thankfully the door opens moments later. Serenity opens the door and I hear the crack of the dark lord apparating away. She falls into my arms and sobs into my jumper. She is holding her left forearm tightly against her chest.