I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

Something Familiar

One month post war

The dinner with the Malfoys had gone beyond well. They weren't my blood family but they were as close as such. They were the only thing I had growing up and without Lucius around it was really starting to feel like we could be that happy tight knit family Narcissa always wanted.

Draco was still a moody git most of the time but I could tell Astoria had continued to soften him and heal his black heart. I'm excited to get even closer to her as years go on. It would be like having a sister.

It took the Malfoys some time to get used to having Neville around. Although he was a million times more confident now, he was raised different and that was hard to get passed. Augusta had done well teaching him manners though, so Narcissa always enjoyed having a chat with him.

After returning home to the cottage I was passed ready for sleep. Neville walked me up to our room that we now shared and tucked me in.
"How late is it?"
"It's only about 7pm" Neville replies laughing.

"Seriously? It feels later. I can barely keep my eyes open." I reply. He wears a worried look on his face before he brushes some hair out of my face. I see his eyes move and study my face intently.
"What is it?" I ask confused by his new concern.
"Nothing, you just look ill, are you sure you are alright?" He asks.

"Just tired I promise dear. Now go, I know that you are meeting Harry tonight."
Neville's eyes widen after I let those words slip.
"Oh save it Nev, you are the worst at hiding letters! Plus his new owl isn't exactly discreet." I add.

Neville chuckles and kisses my forehead goodbye. I can't see him but I feel him lingering at the door watching me for a moment. Then I hear the door latch. I finally let my eyelids fall and I'm immediately sent to a dream.

The walls I see are familiar but how did I get here? Suddenly a burst of people come through, doors open and I hear laughing and chatting of children and teens. I look closely to see that I'm in Hogwarts, each student is wearing their house colors. Everyone looks so different though. Is this a dream or a memory I had?

"JUDE!" I hear a young girl yell. I see a boy tall, pale, messy black hair. I freeze for a moment as I watch him turn to the voice behind me and send whoever spoke a genuine smile.

This boy looks like-

The girl walks right through me. Not around me, doesn't bump into me, but walks right through me as if I'm not there.

"Jude Hellenberg, skipping class again?" The girl exclaims as she wacks her book onto his arm playfully. He chuckles and messes up her hair in return.
"You sound like Rose!" The Boy I know now as Jude replies.

"I am nothing like Weasley! How dare you say such a thing!"

Weasley? There isn't anyone I know that's named Rose Weasley? I take a closer look at the girl, she seems familiar but not like I've met her before. And Hellenberg? Was this a relative of Hubar? He didn't say he had siblings.

"James was looking for me wasn't he?" The girl questions. The boy rolls his eyes and looks slightly upset at these words.
"I hate when you do that creepy knowing everything crap. Yes, Potter was looking for you." Jude scoffs "stop leading him on." He continues.

"I'm not! I swear! Our families are just close is all, plus you know I like older guys." She replies while smirking up at him. He looks down at her with a genuine smile, not cocky after what he just said, but loving. A caring smile only one can give to someone they truly love.

I wake up in a cold sweat and sit straight up. I try catching my breath and look out the window to see that it is late night.
"Nightmare again?" I hear Neville grumble from his side of the bed. I lay back down and face him. He still has his eyes closed and I can tell he could fall asleep the minute I say I'm fine.
"Yeah, just a nightmare." I reply. I kiss his nose and I feel him drift back into a slumber.

What a weird dream. It almost felt real. Like a vision, but how could it be? There were no other Potters other than Harry. Rose Weasley certainly didn't exist? And who was Jude Hellenberg? I brushed it all off as me trying to cope with the death of my dear friend. The girl did look extremely similar to me so maybe I was just imagining a world that was happier. Maybe.

...

After that weird dream I was feeling slightly more irritable than I do most days. Knowing I'm a grumpy pregnant lady already, that meant I was basically a sleeping dragon waiting to get poked.

I dressed myself in a comfy sundress that didn't hug my body as much. I knew we were meeting for tea at a shop so I wanted to look a little more presentable than I normally do.

"Wow you look lovely!" Neville exclaims from the doorway.
"As opposed to?" I jokingly question.
"Oh shove off! Lemme compliment my gorgeous pregnant fiancé without you being sassy for once!" He replies.
"I am NOT sassy!!" I yell back in return.

Neville walks towards me and wraps his arms around me from behind. He seats me back and forth while resting his chin on my shoulder.
"We should name her after a plant." He finally says.

I let out a snort.
"A plant? Really? I love plants too Neville, but I don't think many plant names sound pretty for a little girl." I reply. He chuckles.
"Ok ok then a flower, that's still a plant right? Flower names are pretty!" He says between laughs.

I pause for a minute thinking about the name Rose from my dream, It didn't feel right and the Rose wasn't a flower Neville or I ever talked about or enjoyed in any way. Then I thought about how I wanted the name to be special, to represent someone in some way.

"You know that flower we used to help Hubar break his Imperius bind?" I question.
"Yeah, the Moly plant, but Ron's mom is named Molly, that might be weird." Neville replies. We both are deep in thought again.
"Oh!" He exclaims.

He turns me around and smiles all goofy.
"The Muggles have stories of the Moly plant in their mythologies but they don't actually believe it's a real plant, they have a different name for it though, and we could use that!" He explains.

"Oh well what is it?"

"Rue." He replies.