I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

Diagon Alley

Set during halfblood prince

George and Fred were very successful in their shop after they left Hogwarts. The store was absolutely packed despite most other shops in the alley being either closed or destroyed. Trevor croaked from my pocket. I pulled him out and placed him on my shoulder as I searched the shelves for something worth buying.
"Don't know how you and Locks deal with those things." Fred says from behind me. I turn around to see him gesturing towards Trevor.
"Quite nasty little creatures I think Fred." George says.
"Quite they are George." Fred says. I just turn and continue shopping silently.

Ginny stomps on the twins' feet with much force.
"Bloody hell sis!!" Says George.
"What was that for?" Says Fred.
"Don't bring up Serenity, he is super worried." Ginny exclaims.
"He hasn't seen her since what happened. And she hasn't sent an owl since either." She continues.

I leave the shop without finding anything to purchase. I see cloak disappear around a wall out of the corner of my eye. For a second, I thought it was Serenity.
"Cmon, let's follow them." I hear the voice of Harry whisper as he passes me with Ron and Hermione following close behind.
"Maybe uhm we should just leave it alone." I hear Hermione says as she passes me. Curiosity eats at me and I decide to follow them.
"Neville what are you doing here?" Ron asks when he notices me following them.
"I could ask you the same thing." I say. He just shrugs and we keep following what I can make out as three hooded figures. I squint to get a better look. "Mummy Malfoy and son." Ron whispers and we speed walk to keep up. The hooded figures disappear into a shop, the lights turn on.

We are now on the roof of an adjacent shop peering into the store the hooded figures went into. They remove the cloaks and I can now see clearly it is Draco, his mother, and Serenity. My heart breaks when I see her. She looks as if she has lost a lot of weight and her eye bags reveal she hasn't slept for awhile. She timidly hugs Draco, whispers something in his ear, and makes her way back out of the shop. I slide down the roof to follow but the trio stays behind to spy on Draco.

I wish Draco luck then turn to leave the shop. As I'm I exit I lift my hood back over my head and begin walking in the direction I came from. Just then someone grabs my wrist and the familiar smell of Vanilla fills the air. I turn quickly towards the boy. "Not here." I whisper. I throw my cloak over him and position the hood to cover his face. I grab his arm and lead him through the maze of shops till I find the deserted and destroyed shop that Was once Ollivanders.

"What were you doing down there!?! Are you daft!?! It's dangerous!" I say now gently pushing Neville. He pulls the hood off his face. I stare at him for a second. Somehow he has become even more handsome since the last time I saw him. My heart swells as I look into his eyes. Then I'm reminded of the last time I saw him. I quickly look away, as I'm now filled with guilt and regret. He is probably only here to tell me off, to officially leave me. There is no way he could still love me after the events that happened. Just then I feel two strong arms wrap around me.

"Serenity I was so worried, I missed you so much love." He whispers into my hair. I bury my face in his jumper and take in the aroma of Vanilla, potting soil, and chocolate I missed so much.
"I love you Ren." He says. I pull away and look at him.
"How?" I ask. "How could you still love me?" I repeat. "All I've done? All the lies. The pain I've caused." I say
"It wasn't you, it was them." Neville replies.
"If not you, it would have been someone else. I think we were pretty lucky getting such a beautiful caring girl to lure us into danger." He jokes. I immediately start to sob and he pulls me back into the bone crushing hug I love so much.

After a few moments I wipe away my tears and pull away from the boy I care for more than anything in the world.
"Darling I have to go back. I'm sorry." I say.
"Don't." Neville says. "Come back with me."
"In time my love, I promise." I grab his face and pull him into a kiss. "See you in school I smirk. Then I run out the door.