Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“It’s like a forest in here!”

The drunk witch spun around in the middle of Neville’s flat, taking it all in.

Neville smiled, gripping the back of his neck.

“Yeah, it’s gotten a bit out of hand hasn’t it?”

She beamed at him still twirling in circles, her purse swinging ominously close to a couple wayward vines. Neville carefully stepped into the bags path to stop it from colliding with anything.

“I love it. Are they in every room?”

“Most, yeah. Spared the kitchen.”

She turned suddenly- pointing a finger into his chest.

“I think I’ve got you all figured out.”

Her eye lids were heavy, the alcohol weighing them down.

“Do you now?”

She pulled her finger away from his chest and tapped her head in a way that was supposed to be convincing of her assertions. He laughed,

“Well go on then, this I’ve got to hear.”

“You do all this-“she gestured widely “-for the girls. You take them to your flat- show them your big green thumb and then...”She raised her eyebrows suggestively. “I bet it works every time. It’s fool proof- what girl doesn’t love plants?”

“A fair few, but that sounds like an awful lot of work to just get laid, don’t you think?”

“I ‘spose you’re right…When was the last time?”

“The last time what?”

“The last time you had sex, obviously. Don’t be daft.”

“Erm…well-“ Neville shifted a bit. He wondered if it was better to be honest or lie. He settled on the former.

“It’s been…a while.”

“Like days? Weeks?”

“Ha, months more like. Maybe a year or more.”

She stared at him in horror.

“Are you a virgin?”

He laughed. “No.”

“Inexperienced.” She said narrowing her eyes which had taken on a mischievous glint.

“Out of practice.”

“Is it like a Catholic guilt thing?”

“No. I’m not Catholic.”

She dropped to her knees playfully and crawled towards him on all fours.

He flinched, covering his mouth with his hands,

“Merlin- what are you doing?”

“What do you suppose I’m doing?” She said in a teasing voice with a smile. She slid her arms up his legs suggestively. He took half step backwards.

“You really don’t have to do any of that. Have you lost your mind?”

His tone was friendly but with an undercurrent of concern. His back bumped into the bookshelf behind him, hands combing through his hair.

She laughed and shrugged following him backwards.

“I’m going to have fun with you. Should I not then? Is that you telling me no?”

“Well, certainly not but-“

“Then quit your whinging why don’t you?”

She giggled while she pulled at his trousers,

“You’d better not go falling in love. Since I’m going to be your first ever shag.”

“You’re not…”

She winked.

Neville rolled his eyes.

She pulled at the zipper to his trousers with her teeth.

Neville put a hand to his chest, his heart beating against his fingers so hard it might escape.

“Was it the plants that did it for you then?”
He asked conversationally.

She giggled, working his trousers down his legs. He looked up at his flat, cringing as the more curious of his plants perked up, silently watching. He glowered at a carnivorous snapper that was wriggling its petals suggestively at him.

“Mind your business. Dirty bastard..” he mouthed at it.

“You say something love?” She asked looking up at him

“Erm- No, sorry.”

He looked back up at one of the plants on the shelf threateningly before glancing back down.

“Oh fuck-“

————

“Well, how was it?”

The pub was crowded with regulars and some out-of-towners celebrating the holiday weekend.

“Can I be honest, Seamus?”

“‘Course you can.”

“No good.”

“No good?” His mouth opened in shock,“You’re joking. She was gorgeous. And absolutely all over you. How’d you managed to cock that up then?”

Neville shrugged, taking a deep drink of his Guinness.

“That bad aye?”

Neville nodded, his cheeks flushing.

“Couldn’t keep it up. Not for a lack of trying either. She pulled all the stops.”

Neville winced at the memory, pressing his palms to his eyes.

“Ah- don’t be hard on yourself, happens to the best of us, it’s nothing to be ashamed about. Too much whiskey is all.”

“I was practically sober.”

Seamus sucked air through his teeth disapprovingly. The Barkeep delivered his next round and he split the G on his Guinness with practiced ease.

“Well...That’s no good.”

“No good at all.”

“Just not your cup of tea, or..?”

Neville took another draw from his brew,

“A bit forward? No hesitation at all... Seamus- She crawled on all fours to me. I swear to god I was scared she might start meowing. Literal sex kitten.”

Seamus snorted, “Jesus Joseph and Mary… I wish someone would do that to me.”

“Call her up, I hear she’s recently been disappointed by some knobhead.”

“I might do.”

“She’s a fine girl, but as soon as the pressure was on…I folded.”

“Well you brought her back to your place, didn’t you? Surely you knew where that was going.”

“She asked to see my plants.”

“Well..”Seamus shrugged in pretend defeat,
“What’s a guy to do? If a woman asks to see his plants…”

“Seemed selfish to say no to be fair.”

“Merlin, It’s too easy for you. Everytime we go out you’re turning girls away. I tell you what- I’d hate you if you weren’t one of my best mates. You don’t even go to the gym do you?”

“Nah. My jobs physical enough.”

Neville reached into his pocket, grabbing a case of hand rolled fags. He’d grown the tobacco himself. He picked one and held it in his hands putting away the case.

“If it’s any consolation, I don’t enjoy it.”

“Oh piss off, makes it worse. What lad doesn’t dream of becoming a bloody sky scraper out of school with the build of a bull? All that without the desire to do a thing with it…”

“The way you’re talking- sounds like you’d like to come by and see my plants as well-“

“Oi! None of that in here!” The barkeep swatted a towel at him, pointing at the unlit fag.

“Sorry ma’am. Seamus you fancy a ciggy?”

“I’m alright, thanks.”

“Suit yourself.”

———

Neville rounded the corner, away from the pub. The dark alleyways lurched a bit under his feet and he paused to catch his balance.

He fished around in his pockets for his cigarette clip, having already forgotten the one he’d tucked behind his ear when a noise startled him.

He raised his wand looking around.

Two figures stood a ways down the alley tucked behind a pillar. He froze, barely breathing as he watched. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as he tried to understand what it was he was looking at.

“No, don’t-” a voice he recognized but couldn’t immediately place whined.

His grip on his wand tightened and the beginnings of expeliarmus were on his tongue when he heard her giggle.

“-someone might see us!”

He lowered his wand, exhaling and suddenly feeling embarrassed. He found a new fag and brought it to his lips.

He shouldn’t watch. The figures stood so close to each other. It was confusing to determine what it was he was even looking at. He couldn’t stop himself from staring.

“Oh-“ the female voice gasped, clutching a dark cloaked arm so hard her knuckles turned white.

Neville finally remembered himself and turned to leave, his ears flushed red. But as he turned his movement was caught by a flash of silver eyes and they both froze.

“Surely that’s not Longbottom?”

The air was so still they could have heard a pin drop. After a beat Neville replied,

“Erm- it is actually.”

Neville pivoted away and lit his fag, taking a deep draw. There was shuffling and then a very put together Draco Malfoy emerged from the shadows. Followed by a disheveled looking girl. Neville averted his gaze as she was quickly putting herself together.

“Malfoy. Fancy seeing you here.”

Neville looked down a couple inches at him, it was odd to see his old bully suddenly shorter than him. But everyone was now.

To his surprise Malfoy reached out his hand. Neville clasped it amicably.

“I almost didn’t recognize you.” Malfoy said thoughtfully, his eyebrows knitted together.

Neville smiled vaguely and shrugged,

“I get that a lot.”

“I imagine you do...” Draco’s eyes seemed to be cataloguing the changes.

“Um, hi Neville.” The girl said in a clearly embarrassed voice, clearing her throat. Neville finally looked down, his brows lifted in astonishment.

“Oh my god. Hermione.”

Hermione fidgeted with her skirt guiltily before opening her arms to him,

“My God Neville, you’re massive. Come here.”

He accepted the embrace with one arm, the other keeping his still lit cigarette away from her.

“You come here often?” Draco asked,

“Seamus and I do, yeah. When we can. Have been for a while now.”

“I’m surprised we haven’t crossed paths before then.”

“You regulars here too or just in for the holiday?”

Draco glanced down at Hermione, his hand low on her back.

“We’re here fairly often actually, with a group of my old mates from school. Maybe we’ll see you around sometime.”

“Right.” Neville said, clearing this throat. He tried to keep his face blank and his hands steady.

“Right. Well, good seeing you...” Draco turned to leave, Hermione following.

“Yeah…Hermione, always a pleasure.” Neville nodded to her.

“Erm, bye Neville! Maybe we’ll catch up sometime?”

“Alright, cheers.”

Neville watched them walk a few paces away until they apperated away into the night.

“What the bloody hell was that?!” Neville hissed to no one, clasping his hands over his face.

He took a deep draw from his cigarette before flicking the butt away breathing hard.

“Good seeing you” He spit out Draco’s words as in a mocking voice.

He slumped against the brick wall behind him. He treated himself to another cigarette with shaking fingers.

“Bloody hell…” he murmured again and rubbed his eyes as if the action would clear the whole conversation from his mind. “Seamus you’re going to regret missing that…”

When he’d calmed he reentered the pub, eager to find his friend, but he spotted him on the other side of the pub chatting animatedly to a girl.

Seamus met his eyes and wriggled his brows. Neville nodded and gestured to the door to say he’d be headed out. Seamus waved.

Back at home Neville kicked off his boots and pulled off his shirt and trousers before slumping heavily onto the sofa. He leaned over and started chatting to a plant on the side table.

“Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger were shagging in an alleyway. Can you believe it? Apparently they’re regulars at the pub Seamus go to- if he’s to be believed. What a joke. Malfoy was chatting me up like he didn’t wish I was dead just a few years ago- completely threw me off.”

He brushed a hand through his hair in disgust and found the cigarette he’d stashed there earlier looking at it with interest. There was a flutter of leaves and a quiet hissing noise.

“Oh don’t work yourselves up I won’t smoke in here.”

The tussling diminished slightly.

“I’ll tell you what makes no fucking sense- I grew a few inches and gained a stone or two and now my entire life is unfamiliar. Everyone treats me differently. Even Draco Malfoy. Either he’s gone completely mad or she’s had him neutered- maybe both honestly, fuck if I know.”

He was silent for a moment.

“It’s still just me in here. The outsides different I guess but...What was so wrong with me before?”

He cracked his neck and absentmindedly put the cigarette to his lips. A large seed flew through the air knocking him on the nose. He jumped and nearly fell off the sofa.

“Argh! I said I wouldn’t smoke and I won’t- bloody hell. It’s not even lit!”

Chapter Text

“That’s the sixth order this morning, and it’s not even 9am. It’s going to be a long one.”

Neville levitated pallets of potion ingredients delicately onto the platform, then reloaded sprouts onto the lorry for transfer.

“15 more pallets of the micro-greens. Edwin- have you got a steady hand?”

“I think so.” Edwin furrowed his brow in concentration, looking overwhelmed.

“Right, no glass for you today until i’m sure..” Neville directed his intern to the stack of greens.

The air was filled with pallets that zipped by, avoiding collisions by the thinnest margins.

“I’ve just got to check the reports to see where they’d like the Moonwort…”

Neville turned his back, wiping the sweat off his brow with a dirty arm and summoning the report.

A sickening crunch echoed through the platform.

The sudden silence was deafening.

Neville puffed a sigh and murmured “Better not have been my intern…”

He turned, and saw Edwin looking down at a pallet of shattered glass vials.

“Fucking hell. Did I not just tell you to avoid moving glass?” Neville walked over to the mess.

The pallets resumed their flights through the sky as nosy onlookers stopped gawking.

Edwin looked up at him then down at the mess with a baffled expression as if it were as much of a surprise to him as to Neville.

“Sorry sir.”

Neville sighed.

“We’ve all done it, me especially. Let’s see what we’re working with here.” He flicked his wand and a diagnostic of the damage pulled up.

“You’re lucky this time, not a terribly expensive mistake. I’ll need to file for the discrepancy though.” He flicked his wand and the unbroken vials flew off to new pallets, he tallied the destroyed ones on a piece of parchment then vanished the mess.

“Come with me.”

As they left the shipping area the air grew calmer and quieter.

“Right, this is Greenhouse 5- I’ll have you start with the watering. You can used this spell” He showed him, “This will show you the water and nitrogen content of the soil, cross reference that with the database to determine the needs of any given plant-“

There was a crack of apperation. Neville flinched at the sound. A petite witch in Saint Mungo robes stood before them.

“Oh. Good morning Hannah.” Neville gave a tense smile, his cheeks were flushed.

“Neville! I’m so glad I found you!”

She reached out and grabbed his arm.

“We’re short on Dittany in my ward at Saint Mungos-“.

“How much do you need?”

Her blue eyes seemed to brighten.

“As much as you can spare. Just charge it to the Mungo’s account.”

“You need it now?”

Her blonde hair bounced playfully in contrast to the serious look on her face as she nodded. He glanced down surreptitiously at where she was still holding him.

She dropped her hand and he leaned towards hers involuntarily at the lost contact.

“Alright, just give me a moment- My god Edwin, stop waterboarding the Artemisia!”

“Sorry sir.”

——————

“So, was that your girlfriend?”

Neville glanced up at Edwin with a perplexed expression then back down at his parchment.

“No.”

“Really? Something’s gone on between you two then..”

Neville sighed, setting his quill down and fishing his cigarette case out of his pocket.

“What gave you that impression?”

Edwin made his wrist limp and touched Neville arm in an exaggeratedly dainty manner saying in a thick Welsh falsetto “Oh Neville I’m SO glad I found you!”

Neville shook him off with a smirk putting his cigarette in his mouth and returned to his paperwork.

“Nah, nothing of the sort. I’ve just know her for ages. She was in my year back at Hogwarts.”

“I didn’t think she looked THAT old.”

Neville snorted and pointed a finger at Edwin who was sporting a cheeky grin.

“Less of that. These perennials aren’t going to split themselves.”

“Neville-“ a middle aged woman walked into the greenhouse carrying a briefcase. “I’ll borrow Edwin for a moment- can you verify the quality on these and get them to the curriers office?”

“Of course.”

She handed him the case and parchment for him to sign off.

“Is that a cigarette? Not in here young man. That’s a terrible habit you’ve picked up.”

Neville put it away in his pocket.

“You hear that Edwin- ‘young man’. She says I’m young.” Neville look at him pointedly.

“Tell yourself what you need to, old boy.”

“Oh Edwin, when you grow a few more whiskers you’ll realize that your life’s barely started when you hit thirty.” Mrs Grenswollow warbled.

“I’m only 28!” Neville corrected indignantly.
Edwin snorted.

“Ah. Well, might be all those death sticks you’re smoking then. At any rate you’re old enough to know you can’t do that in here, that much is for certain!” She chastised.

“I was about to nip outside. Wouldn’t have lit it in front of the plants.”

“You care for them more than you do yourself, Longbottom.” She said somberly. “Anyways- Edwin with me please, we have a small gilded beetle infestation in 2 that I’d like you to learn how to apprehend. We’ll only be a minute.”

Neville waved and picked up the case.

Double locked, finger print register spell…no tamper proof spell.

He stared mutely for a moment blinking.

No tamper proof spell...

He unlocked it easily and performed the diagnostics.

Felix Felicis.
Fresh brewed.

Quality: Excellent.
Clarity: Excellent.
Potency: Excellent.

No tamper proof spell….

Ten vials in total.

They’re probably just going to some stupid rich bastard who’s using it to cheat at cricket…

He unstopped the first bottle with a shaking hand.

Have you lost your bloody head… ? Putting your job in jeopardy for a bit of luck potion..?

Two drops from each into an empty vial. Two drops of neutral solution added to each.

Quickly, quickly. No time for error..

Diagnostic cast.

Quality: Great.
Potency: Good.
Clarity: Excellent.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. They’ll know.

The door to the green house swung open, his heart stuttered. Short bloke with blonde hair looking windswept. Not Mrs Grenswallow. He waved in what he hoped was a casual way.

“Alright Archie?”

“Yeah, you mind if I borrow your Wellies? Bit of a situation in 8.”

“No worries.”

“Cheers.”

He watched him leave, pocketing the vial. He wrote down his findings.

They won’t know it was me.

He cast a tamper proof spell.

As far as they know it’s always been there.

He stared down at the case, drumming his fingers nervously.

But what if they find out?

He pushed his palms into his eyes.

I’ll just say I was distracted, must have made a silly error somehow. My intern has been causing any number of problems…

No. That’s no good at all. I won’t lie and drag him into this like a coward. Besides, obviously he’s not here. Mrs Grenswollow would vouch for it.

He sighed heavily, shoulders slumping forward.

No turning back now.

He straightened, recast the locks and adhered the signed copy of his findings. He pulled his cigarette from his pocket and hurried to the curriers office.

Chapter Text

Neville lay paralyzed on the floor staring up at the ceiling of a dark room. A shadow shifted and his eyes darted to the movement, straining to see.

A young Neville Longbottom looked down at him. He was wearing pajamas, his face doughy and innocent, eyes concerned.

“You know…You used to care about doing the right thing.”

Neville woke with a gasp. His chest heaved as he felt around in the darkness for his wand. A cold sweat pricked down his back.

homenum revelio he murmured, watching only himself light up on a map of his flat.

He stood and paced his home. Windows, one, two, three, locked, locked, locked. Front door, locked.

He dug through his entry way drawer pulling out his sneakoscope. It was silent and still.

“Finite Incantatem.”

Nothing changed. It hadn’t been tampered with.

He checked the one in his bedroom.

Finally he got a nearly empty bottle of fire whiskey from the kitchen and returned to bed.

He stared into the darkness for a long while, checking his bedside drawer for the vial he’d stolen from work. He clutched it to his chest.

“Yeah. Well.. People change.”

He watched the sun rise over the horizon through his window.

The vial had just enough for two lucky days. He sighed, and drank exactly half.

———————-

At work Neville kept his head down.

“Don’t you look cheery.” Edwin nudged him.

He ignored him, and finished signing off on a parcel.

“Can you drop this off at the curriers for me? It’s fragile so don’t be careless-“

“Can’t.” Edwin smiled cheekily.

Neville frowned, his agitation plain on his face. Edwins smile dipped,

“What, haven’t you heard? Currier department’s currently being ravaged by dragon pox. They’re all called out til this weeks end. Yesterday’s post has been delayed as well.” He said seriously.

Neville stared at him eyes wide then smiled.

“Right….I hadn’t heard. I’ll…send my condolences.”

I have time.

“What’s that smile for?” Edwin ribbed him laughing, “Never took you for the sort to relish another man’s misery..!”

I’m not losing my job today.

“Right, sorry” Neville said still grinning.

Edwin looked genuinely confused but didn’t press the issue and Neville spent the rest of the day in a far better temper.

Business was uncharacteristically slow, and when he’d finished his rounds in the green houses and ran out of orders to fill Mrs Grenswollow sent him home early.

Neville got home and shucked off his work robes and ran the shower.

He stared at himself in the mirror for a minute as he towel off his hair. Tensing isolated muscles, watching the way they moved critically.

His dark blue eyes were shadowed. They looked a little haunted. He blinked and looked away.

“I’m going out tonight.” He announced to his plants. “Nobody eat each other while I’m gone...” he glared pointedly at the snapper which twisted away from his attention guiltily.

“Right.” He nodded, checked his cigarette clip and was gone.

————————

“Neville!”

He been walking head down with a lit fag when he looked up and saw Hermione.

“God, you again? You’re stalking me.”

She laughed opening her arms for a hug, which he obliged.

“I promise I’m not-“

“I’m just taking the piss-Twice in one week after 10 years. Wild, that.”

“Must be fate. What are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing really.”

“Come have drinks with us- it’d be nice to catch up.”

“Who’s all here- Harry and Ron?” He asked hopefully. Her smile faltered.

“Erm, no actually…it’s Draco, Blaise and Pansy.”

What the fuck?

“Oh.” Neville frowned, finishing his cigarette and banishing it.

“I’m not sure-“

“Just come. They’re actually terribly nice, I think you’d get on with them. We’re all adults now, it’s not like when we were kids-“

“You and Malfoy…is that a thing?”

“Erm, well…we’re sort of seeing each other. For a while now, actually..”

“Huh.” Neville’s fingers twitched for another cigarette.

Granger was turning out to be bad for his little habit.

“Just come with, I promise they won’t bite. Besides, you’re not one to back down from an adventure now, are you?”

He rolled his eyes and allowed himself to be dragged into the pub.

——

“Look who I found.” Hermione said with a grin, dragging Neville by the sleeve.

Malfoy and Blaise stood by the bar, both with whiskey in hand. Malfoy nodded in greeting. Blaise smiled,

“Longbottom- long time no see, how are you lad?” Blaise offering him a hand to shake, he took it.

“I’m well, thanks.”

“I think Hermione said you’re working in Herbology these days?” Blaise asked.

“Yeah, I’m at Gilly’s Greenhouse Export.”

He wondered vaguely when Hermione would have been talking about him.

“What’s it you do there?”

“Bit of this, bit of that. Operations, shipping, quality checks. Mostly I tend to the plants. I like to get my hands dirty.”

“I bet you do.” Pansy said in a teasing tone, she had joined the circle next to Blaise with a drink in hand. She gave him an appraising look.

Neville smiled faintly. “Parkinson- You’re at the papers now, aren’t you? I think I’ve seen some of your work.”

“I am.”

Neville had been shocked when he read a scathing article about former death eaters who had failed to make reparations in the Prophet written by none other than Pansy Parkinson.

“Quite fiery. I’ll be honest I was a bit surprised to see your name on the by line.”

“Good. I like to keep everyone on their toes.”

“Do you now?” It was Neville’s turn to give her an appraising look.

Draco leaned in suddenly, whispering urgently.

“Fuck-That’s Marcus Flint, just there.”

Blaise’s head shot up looking around,

“Where?”

“There by the door. He’s just come in.”

“This’ll be no good..” Pansy said, taking a drink with a grimace.

“You think he’s seen us?” Hermione backed up behind Pansy, worrying her lip between her teeth.

“Must have, he’s headed over. Didn’t know it was a bloody Hogwarts reunion at the pub today.” Malfoy said, frowning.

Blaise took a deep drink and muttered “Here we go..”

Neville took a step back, leaning against the bar near the girls.

“Malfoy, Zabini.” Flint sauntered over hand outstretched.

“Flint.”

“Been a long time.” Flint said, snapping at the barkeep “Three whiskeys.”

Pansy scoffed quietly into her drink, not looking up. Marcus didn’t look her way in the slightest.

“What brings you boys out tonight then? On the prowl?”

“Blaise might be. I’m just here with my missus.”

He inclined his head to the side in Hermione’s direction.

“I see.” The disgust in Flints face was undisguised.

Malfoy’s expression was carefully blank.

Marcus lowered his voice leaning in, “You need to be careful who you’re associating with Malfoy. Pure bloods are under attack by Potter’s lot- pushing to erase our families legacy’s from history. Blaming all of You-know-who’s stuff on the Pure bloods.”

“Diving right in, are we?” Malfoy said dryly, eyeing Blaise. Flint continued unimpeded.

“It’s dangerous times. You can’t trust what you read the Prophet- they’ve got their claws deep in it.” Marcus’s eyes had a dull lifeless quality that made Neville’s hair stand on end.

Draco shifted very subtlety putting his body more firmly between Flint and Granger.

“Hmm. You remember Pans of course-“ He gestured lazily to Pansy who had finished her drink. Her mouth set in a thin line. “-she’s recently been promoted to a head writer position for the Prophet. An exceptionally talented writer, I’m told. ”

“I was aware.” Marcus didn’t even glance at her. “Malfoy, listen to me-“ He inched even closer, crooked teeth bared, “I’ve heard all sorts of horror stories. Muggle born girls throwing themselves at men like us” his eyes shifted over Malfoy shoulder pointedly, “trying to lure us in and sully our line-.”

“That’s enough, Flint.” Parkinson cut in, she was holding Hermione’s hand so tight her knuckles were white.

Marcus just looked down at her with empty eyes.

“Was I talking to you?” He asked, his tone icy.

She stiffened but held his gaze.

He crinkled his nose at her and muttered,

“Dumb ugly slut…”

Neville moved like a viper that had been waiting to strike, Marcus’s face showed the tiniest hint of terror before-

Crack

Several girls nearby shrieked and all around them commotion broke out as people ran to get away.

Marcus fell like a stone, crumpled in a pile on the floor.

“Oh shit!” Blaise didn’t bother to conceal the excited smile that bloomed across his face.

“Alleyway by our usual pub in Brighton!” Hermione shouted over the din and grabbed Marcus by the collar and Neville by the hand and apparated away.

Neville stumbled as he appeared in an unfamiliar place with Hermione by his side and Flint in a heap at their feet. Around him the three other Slytherins appeared.

He shook out his knuckles and pulled out a cigarette lighting it immediately.

“Hell of a right hook, Neville!” Blaise praised, clapping him on the back. “Remind me not to get on your bad side. Pans- did you see how he fell? Boneless as a doll. One and done.”

Blaise mimed punching in the air.

Hermione was glowering at Draco, and he was carefully avoiding her gaze looking down at Flint.

“Bloody hell Neville. Should we leave him here or drop him off at St. Mungos?” Pansy asked staring down at the crumpled body at their feet.

Neville gave an unapologetic shrug, exhaling a cloud of smoke and lightly kicking at Flints lifeless arm.

Hermione suddenly rounded on Malfoy, raw fury in her voice.

“Why didn’t you stand up for me? For any of us?”

Draco sighed, looking defeated.

“Do we have to do this here..?”

“Oh sorry am I embarrassing you in front of your friends? I’ve never been so humiliated- sully your bloodline? He thinks I’m out to sully your fucking bloodline?” She pointed an accusatory finger into his chest.—

“Fancy a ciggy?” Neville asked, handing Pansy an unlit fag.

“Yeah, cheers- You haven’t got a spliff have you?”

Neville rolled his eyes and scoffed,

“Have I got a spliff-“ he teased in an ironic tone and immediately pulled one from a different pocket.

—“Hermione, he was talking rubbish, you know I don’t believe that for a moment-“

“Well you certainly didn’t feel the need to set the record straight!”

“Why would I tell anything to Flint? What good would that do?” —

Neville lit the spliff and Pansy took a drag. She coughed, tears forming in her eyes.

“Jesus Christ Neville. That’s…” she coughed again, “-strong.”

Neville grinned, flashing his teeth in pride.

“Grew it myself.”

—“Clearly Flint sees you as an equal so you could have set him straight, planted a new idea or at the very least grown a bloody spine and told him off-“

“And made that whole unbearable conversation ten times longer? More heated? More volatile with a man who is visibly not in his right mind..?” —

“You can’t just leave a brother out cold like this…” Blaise teased reaching a hand out to Neville expectantly for the spliff.

“Go on then.” Neville passed it to him.

—“How will he ever change his point of view if he doesn’t receive any kind of opposition? He’s was using you as a sounding board and you lulled him into a false sense of security with his moronic, completely unfounded-“

“I didn’t lull him into anything-“

“You didn’t argue either!”—

Blaise coughed violently “-it’s good.” He choked.

—“Hermione,” Draco sighed, pulling her into his arms. She allowed it but didn’t hug him back, a sour expression on her face as she looked up at him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t speak up. He was wrong, obviously. But the odds of me getting through to him in that situation were too low to warrant the attempt. That kind of mentality can’t be fixed by one pub conversation. If he still wants to talk to me- which after tonight I rather doubt- I can try to talk some sense into him, but it’s a delicate thing. He’s so far gone.”

Hermione buried her head his chest.

“He was just so horrible. I felt so embarrassed.” She whispered angrily.

“I know. I’m sorry.” Malfoy rested his head on top of hers and stroked her hair soothingly.

Pansy elbowed Neville stifling a giggle pointing at Flint.

“He looks like a dead rat.” She buckled over fighting off a peal of laughter. Blaise started laughing uncontrollably then abruptly became serious. Neville’s lips twitched into a small knowing smile as he watched them. 

“He’s not actually dead is he? Oh my god, what if he’s dead?”

Neville rolled his eyes, “He’s fine.” He cast a diagnostic over Flint that showed he was overall in good condition, a bit bruised and fully unconscious.

“Phew- thank Merlin… wait… you’re sure he’s not dead? Maybe we could check again-“

“Quite sure, Blaise.” Neville snorted and shook his head. “Couple of lightweights...”

Blaise and Pansy were tittering to themselves about something and Malfoy and Hermione had started making out.

Neville was silent for a moment, flexing his hand, cracking the bones in his wrist. He gazed off into the alleyway eyes unfocused.

“I’m going to bring him to Saint Mungos.” He said quietly, picking up Flints arm.

“You reckon?” Blaise asked

“Yeah. You all enjoy your night-“

“No, you have to come back after-!” Pansy said, grabbing his arm firmly and stepping towards him.

She was so close to him. Her eyes locked on his and held his gaze. He blinked in surprise but didn’t back up.

Intense dark eyes. Long dark eyelashes. Face framed by glossy black hair. Skin so pale in contrast…

She was so close. He’d never seen her this close up. His eyes traveled down to her lips, a soft pink, the soft bounce of her cupids bow..

He caught himself imagining for a moment what it might feel like to just lean in.

“If you’d like.” He said quietly, frowning slightly and furrowing his brow.

Pansy blushed, her eyes wide as if she’d only just noticed how close they were. 

“We’ll stay here and wait for you.” She let him go and pulled away, her hand playing with the tips of her hair.

Hermione pulled away from Malfoy, looking flushed.

“Oh, yes Neville, please come back. Let’s go do something fun. Right Draco?”

Malfoy smirked at her, adjusting his collar,

“Right.”

“I’ll meet you lot somewhere once I’ve got him sorted. Where are we going?”

Pansy’s eyes lit up as a smile spread across her face,

“Let’s go dancing!”

Chapter Text

The music pounded so loud he felt the beat heavy in his chest.

Lights danced across the floor, playing with pillars of smoke.

Neville lost himself in the onslaught of sensation, every defining feature of himself dissolving into the collective group.

They jumped until their bodies ached, and screamed to music he’d never heard.

Strange to find peace in such chaos, but it was there- Nothing could bother him, nothing could touch him.

———

“I’m going to get some air.” Pansy shouted and started cutting through the mosh pit of bodies. Everyone else nodded and stayed where they were dancing but Neville moved to follow her.

They wove their way out onto the smokers patio, Neville was slightly unsteady on his feet. The night air was cool against their sweaty skin.

“This was a good idea.” Pansy said relaxing onto a bench and putting her head back to look at the sky. It was dark and overcast, the wind pushing around low hanging mist.

Neville eyed the long exposed line of her pale neck, and the way it curved elegantly down to her chest. He pulled out his last spliff of the night with a sigh, taking the green hit. His eye lids felt heavy.

Pansy perked up and reached out and wiggled her fingers at him, grinning expectantly.

He rolled his eyes and handed over the spliff.

“Never dreamed I’d be passing a spliff with you.” He teased.

“Start having better dreams then.”

He smiled, shaking his head. She handed it back to him and he took a hit before saying,

“You’re quick. Good sense of humor. I appreciate that.”

“When you keep the company I do,” she took back the spliff and breathed in, “You have to.”

“Yeah Malfoy and them- didn’t you two use to..?”

“Back at school, yeah.”

“Isn’t that kind of…weird?”

“No, not if you don’t make it weird. It’s been over a decade.”

“He’s not exactly shy about PDA.” He breathed out, watching the smoke drift skyward. “Every time I’ve seen him he’s practically shagging Hermione.”

“He’s a bit like a dog with a toy. Showing it off to everyone.”

Neville let out a startled laughed and started coughing.

“That’s one way to put it.” He said wiping his eyes. “Doesn’t paint a very flattering picture.”

“Flattery is for people who you don’t know. When you really know someone you can just be candid.”

“Hmm. Suppose that’s true. I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

There was a silence. Neville leaned against the balcony of the patio and Pansy stood up and came over to lean on it next to him.

He looked over at her. She was silently watching him with such unleveled intensity that he frowned slightly. He passed back the spliff, breaking the silence.

“What are you thinking about?”

“You look like the kind of guy who talks to his plants.”

The corner of his mouth quirked.

“Why do you say that?”

“Dunno. Do you?”

He pursed his lips, squinting critically and said nothing. Pansy laughed.

“I knew it.”

He held up his hand showing only a little space between his thumb and pointer finger.

“What do you say to them then?”

“Not much.”

She leaned in, with a mischievous smile, “Do you creep over the little tomato sprouts like ‘grow big and juicy little ones’.” She made her voice frail like that of an old witch.

“Eugh. Merlin. No.” He said batting his hand away as if he could clear the air of her words.

Pansy cackled, completely unconcerned. He continued,

“I’m not talking to my plants like I’m trying to bloody groom them.”

“Mmmm. What do you say to them then, go on.”

“Mind your business.”

“Don’t be boring.”

She took a small drag then blew the smoke in his face, her eyes taunting.

He furrowed his eyebrows and frowned wrinkling his nose and batting it away.

He moved closer to her, brushing against her body, his hand moved to hold the back of her neck, her eyes grew wide.

He leaned in like he might kiss her and took the spliff. He took a deep pull from it, finishing it and tossed it away.

He held her jaw with his free hand, and blew the smoke into her mouth watching the curls of white smoke against her lips.

She breathed in.

His eyes lifted from her mouth to her eyes. They were dark, heavy lidded.

She watched him closely.

He moved to step back but her arms caught him around the neck and she pulled him to her.

Soft.

So soft.

Her lips, her skin, her body. He held a commanding grip at the back of her neck, holding her so she wouldn’t move unless he made her.

Her lips were softer than he could have expected, the kiss so organic, two drums beating in perfect tempo, a lovers dance.

So soft, so warm.

The temperature of her, the feel of her pressed against him…

More

His hands pushed down her back, pushing her harder against him.

Closer- Not close enough-

His hands felt course as sandpaper in comparison to her, how could anyone feel like this?

She was touching him, feeling his arms, squeezing, gripping, hanging on like a he was the tether holding her up.

Their movements against each other worked down from running to walking. Slowed urgency, a detour, a scenic route.

He pulled away, coming back for one, two more delicate kisses that felt final.

They looked at each other for a moment. Neville’s eyes were blank, his eyebrows furrowed and his lips turned slightly down in a frown. Pansy blinked and stepped back.

“Sorry, I-“ She held her hand up absentmindedly touching her lips as she backed up. “I think…I’m just really high.”

She shooker her head, and looked back up at him. Dark eyes wide, searching his.

He nodded and ran a hand through his hair looking away into the darkness, expressionless.

She stepped towards him again cautiously. Her hand lifted to his face, fingers running along the curve of his jaw, her thumb running a soothing pattern across his cheek.

He closed his eyes and leaned into the touch, then abruptly straightened.

“I better be off.” He pulled at his coat, checking his pockets for his things.

Pansy crossed her arms across her body and said nothing.

He stopped patting his pockets then swallowed, not looking at her.

“Right.” He finally looked up. He looked at her for a moment. She stood still. Guarded.

He leaned in slowly. Experimentally. She watched him and didn’t back down.

He kissed her softly. A kiss that asked a question, and she kissed him in a way that answered it.

He nodded to himself, then rested his forehead against hers, holding her face delicately between his hands before letting her go and disapperating into the night.

She stared at the place he’d been for a long time, hugging her arms to herself, before returning inside.

——

Seamus sat down on the chair beside him in the visitor observation room, sighing and cracking his neck.

Neville nodded slightly in greeting and continued staring through the one way glass.

The woman on the other side was thin. Pale. She was standing looking down at a small Mimosa Pudica fern sat on the table before her. Her hands lifted to her chest which could almost be mistaken for being in prayer, if not for the way she wrung them over and over.

Her gray hair had been carefully braided down her back by a nurse. Her lips were moving, but Neville couldn’t hear what she was saying through the glass. There was no one in the room who she might be addressing.

“How’d you know I was here?” Neville asked finally.

“Bit of luck, really. I was just finishing up my shift when Mona mentioned she’d seen you headed into the Janus Thickey Ward.”

“Hmm.”

They sat in silence for a long time, both watching Alice through the glass. She moved very little, just staring, wringing her hands.

“I kissed Pansy Parkinson tonight.”

“You did bloody what-?!”

Seamus stared at him, his mouth open.

Neville said nothing, watching as Alice reached out one cautious finger hesitantly towards the fern. When the soft pad of her finger met the leaf the plant shuddered shyly, retreating. It’s petals folding inward.

Neville and Seamus stayed sat this way watching for another half hour in silence until Neville finally rose and clapped Seamus on the shoulder.

“Pub this week? Same time?”

“Only if I have nothing better to do.” Seamus grinned.

“Cheers.” Neville fixed his coat to leave.

“Take care of yourself, Neville.” Seamus said, suddenly serious. “It’s no disrespect to anyone for you to be okay, you know? You’re allowed.”

Neville winced. “I do know it.”

“Course you do. Just thought I’d say it.”

“Right.”

Neville disapperated without another word.

——————

Chapter Text

Neville startled awake.
The room was unusually bright.

“Shit.” He threw off the covers.

“Shit shit shit, I’m late to work.”

He tore out of bed, slipped on a discarded leaf and fell hard.

“Mother fucker-“

He pulled himself back up holding his hip and ran to the bathroom yanking open the medicine cabinet.

No sobriety potions. No pepper-up potions.

He dragged his hands down his face and swore.

He pulled on a pair of sunglasses, his work robes and apparated to the Greenhouse.

“…we will be implementing hydroponics in the 4th greenhouse as a three month trial-“

He’d apparated directly into a meeting.

A group of nearly all his coworkers turned to look at him as he shuffled to the back, running a hand through his hair, which he realized suddenly he hadn’t bothered to brush. The speaker cleared his voice in irritation and continued,

“As I was saying….. a three month trial should be more than enough time to establish-“ —

Edwin scooted in next to Neville.

“You look like shit.”

“Thanks.”

—“…and if anyone else would like to pioneer a new strategy we are open to suggestions“ —

“You also smell like shit.”

Neville sighed

“Cheers.”

“..Temporary grant. After the initial trial additional funding would need to be secured-“ —

“Late one last night?”

“Just overslept.”

“Yeah right you dog-“

The speaker cleared his throat,

“Quiet please in the back….”

Neville glared at Edwin and he gave an apologetic shrug.

After the meeting Neville sprinted to the bathroom and scorgified himself. He did his best to tame his hair.

It wasn’t good, but a bit better.

His downed a glass of water to try to stop the pounding in his head.

He got back to the greenhouse and began doing his rounds.
He was pulling up the diagnostics for a plant when Mrs Grenswollow came in looking somber.

He swallowed, suddenly feeling queasy.

“Longbottom- Join me in my office for a chat?”

He stood, brushing his hands off on his robes.

They walked in silence. She didn’t look at him. He stared forward, eyes blank.

I didn’t even think about the plants- Edwin doesn’t know even half of my assignments and there’s hardly anyone else who has time to provide the proper care-

Mrs Grenswollow pulled out a chair for him as they arrived in her office and sat herself down behind her desk.

…only halfway through the course of pesticide on the welwitschia mirabilis, if they don’t follow the schedule-

He cleared his throat anxiously,

“I’m sorry I was late this morning. I over slept.”

“Oh. Yes, well, don’t make a habit of it.”

“Of course.”

She cleared her throat and looked uncomfortable. Neville was still, barely breathing.

“We’ve had a bit of news this morning I’m afraid.” She said quietly, rummaging in a drawer.

“This job means so much to me so if I’ve done something wrong, please give me a chance to-“

“No.” She said quickly- reaching out and  patting his hand. “It’s not about your work.”

Neville blinked

“We received notice from St. Mungos this morning for you. I’m sorry I have to be the one to tell you Neville, but… your mom has passed.”

Mrs Grenswollow handed him a small noice with a St Mungos crest.

It was no larger than a business card.

He took it from her and looked at it for a moment then looked back up.

Mrs Grenswollow was looking at him with sorrowful eyes.

“Go home, Neville. Take some time off. A week or two.”

“The welwitschia mirabilis is only halfway through its course of pesticide-“

“I’ll make sure it’s taken care of.”

“Edwin doesn’t know how to do it properly-“

“I’ll personally take care of it.”

There was a silence.

He looked down at the card again.

“I was just there visiting her last night and she seemed…the same as usual- how could I have known it would be the last time-“

When he looked up there was something like pity in her expression. The sight of it immediately silenced him, his feelings retreating to the private corners of his mind.

She paused for what felt like an eternity before sighing.

“I’m sorry Neville.”

He nodded and stood to leave.

——————

He walked along the fields beyond the green houses.

The sun was out, the birds were singing. The tall blades of grass, thick and luscious from recent rain, blew in the wind.

He pulled out the notice from St Mungos again, turning it over and over in his hands.

He pulled out his wand and transfigured the card into a dragonfly.

It sat perched on his finger, eyeing him curiously, lifting its wings and legs experimentally.

It stayed perched there for sometime, watching him until finally it lifted off, hovering for a moment, then darting up and away.

He watched it go in silence.

——————

Four months later

——————

“We will have a reporter here from the Prophet this morning so please do your best to explain the process in an accessible, attractive manner- we can use all the good publicity we can get to secure for sponsors for the research-“

Mrs Grenswollow was explaining to Neville as he carefully pinned up vines onto a lattice, his wand between his teeth.

“Right.” He mumbled around his wand.

Mrs Grenswollow paced, glancing at him.

“Maybe refresh yourself a bit. In case there are photos.”

Neville turned to frown at her then looked down at his clothes, which were smeared with dirt.

“The authentic experience…” he mumbled.

He heard Mrs Grenswollow sigh and began muttering cleaning spells at him. His shirt suddenly felt soft and warm.

When it was just him alone again he checked his clock repeatedly, tapping a foot impatiently as he waited for the reporter to show. He leaned on a table picking at a bit of dirt that had lodged itself under his nail.

There was a crack and before him stood Pansy Parkinson.

He stayed perfectly still, as though if he didn’t move she wouldn’t see him. His heart hammered loudly in his chest. She turned and nodded, not meeting his eyes and digging out parchment and a quill.

“Longbottom.”

“Parkinson.”

“Thank you for allowing the Prophet access to your research. We are looking forward to collaborating on this story together with you. Where can we go to speak today?”

She looked at him expectantly. He sighed and nodded gesturing for her to follow him.

“You look nice today Parkinson, it’s good to see you again.”

“Thank you.” She adjusted her robes with an agitated sigh, “So, am I correct in understanding that Gilly’s is transitioning from traditional ways of growing into a new system?”

“Yeah.” He watched her closely, he thought she looked a little pale, like she hadn’t slept well.

“And you are responsible for these changes?”

The formality of her voice drew a line very clearly in the sand.

“Several of them, yeah.” He sighed, “I’ll show you- just in here..Then we can talk.”

He opened the door into the experimental greenhouse, holding it open for her. Her mouth pressed into a thin line as she walked through. Her shoulder brushed Neville’s chest. He shuddered.

A rush of lush perfumed air ruffled Pansy’s dark hair as she stepped into the atrium.

Birds were chirping, and several quail skittered away from them.
It looked nothing like a typical green house, but instead an elaborate botanical garden.
It was built in terraces climbing upwards, stretching to either side of a cobblestone staircase. Each tier containing a mix of different vegetation.
Pollinators whizzed about happily, hard at work. A small artificial stream bubbled down the far side into a pool with lily pads and a very fat looking toad.
Several gardening tools and items were scattered about, but for the most part it was tidy.

They started up the stairs together.

“This looks…very different than I expected.” Pansy said, eyes wandering. She gazed at the view with a serene expression.

“Yeah, I wanted to create something less sterile.”

“What was the motivation behind that change?”

He matched her stride up the steps,

“Plants are social. More social than most people could even begin to believe. Conversational, even.”

He looked at her pointedly. Her lips quirked, and she met his eyes. He smiled.

She took out her parchment and began taking notes.

“And these conversations…help the plants be more productive?” There was a hint of teasing in her voice.

“That was what I set out to prove. I became obsessed with the idea that the containers we used were hindering the plants from reaching their full potential.”

He stared off for a moment, rubbing a leaf between his thumb and pointer finger gently as a memory of empty containers being thrown and shattered in a fit of rage played behind his eyes.

“And what were your findings?”

He blinked, eyes refocusing.

“Better yields, stronger plants, more resistant to disease, and more potent potions. Higher quality across the board.”

“What do you attribute that to?”

“Plants survive better in communities. And with the introduction of mycorrhizal fungal networks they are able to self sustain and regulate better...”

“Mycorrhizal…What?”

“It’s a symbiotic fungi that interacts with plant root systems and allow plants to share resources, communicate, coordinate blooming and fruiting cycles…the young are supported by the old, resources are shared and distributed… it’s an incredible nuanced natural system not unlike a human economy.”

“Hmm. What gave you the idea to implement it?”

He wrung his hands quietly, looking down.

She eyed him critically. His hands dropped to his sides and clenched into fists. Their eyes met and he studied her face before continuing,

“Just…an idea I had.”

“From a person experience or..?”

He crossed his arms.

“…informed by my knowledge of mycorrhizal fungal networks.”

She nodded and pursed her lips. His eyes flicked to them then away.

They’d come closer together, standing on the same step. Neville’s shoulder nearly brushing against Pansy’s. Her eyes dipped down to his chest for a second then back up and she took a slightly shaking breath.

“If it’s so important that plants engage with this -mycro-za- whatever it was- why is it uncommon for it to be prioritized?”

“It’s not strictly necessary for survival. And creating elaborate root systems indoors…a tricky prospect.”

“Expensive too, I’d imagine.”

“Yes. And labor intensive.”

“You couldn’t add the fungi to just one potted plant?”

“You could.”

“But?”

“But… while the plant might have some benefits like water regulation and nutrients absorption it would still miss out on all of the numerous social benefits of being connected to a network…”

“I see.”

“Sunlight, nutrients, water… all will keep you alive. Surviving, sure. But thriving..requires something more.”

An empty look had returned to his face. A flower petal had fallen into Pansy’s hair, he picked it out. She held her breath.

“No one does well in isolation.” He added, finally. He released the petal and watched it flutter to the ground.

Her pen stilled. They regarded each other silently.

“And what about you?” Pansy asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing.

Neville frowned, confused,

“Are you thriving? Or merely surviving?”

“I’m - I’m positive that isn’t the Prophets line of interest in this project-“

“Off the record.”

She looked at him pointedly putting down her quill. He held her gaze, studying her, his eyebrows furrowed, a frown playing on his lips.

“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished for them, it gives me great personal satisfaction to give them everything within my ability to thrive-“

“Neville- you know that doesn’t really answer-“

The door to the Greenhouse opened.

“Neville, you in here-?” A little blonde witch stepped in carrying a crate of something.

“We’re just over here.”

Pansy’s professional mask slipped back into place but not before she looked at him with a bitter burning intensity. Neville frowned as Hannah approached.

“You remember Parkinson-“ he said to Hannah, “She’s in charge of this story for the Prophet.”

Neville gave her a small smile and subtly took a few steps back from Pansy. He turned to address Pansy.

“And this is Hannah of course- from our year at school? She works at Saint Mungos, and…she’s my girlfriend.”

Chapter Text

“Well, I just didn’t like how close you two were standing- that’s all!”

Hannah folded a towel forcefully, taking out her frustration.

They were back at his flat getting ready to go out. Hannah had scheduled a dinner to introduce Neville to some of her friends.

“Okay.” Neville was looking in the mirror, fixing the collar of his shirt.

She glared and put her hands on her hips.

“Okay? That’s all you’ve got to say?”

He turned to her and put his hands up in surrender.

“I hear you. I shouldn’t have been so close, and I won’t again.”

“Again? What do you mean again?”

He turned back to the mirror and satisfied with his work, bent down to wash his hands and splash water on his face.

“She’ll be back in tomorrow to work on the article, Han. Should be done after tomorrow”

“Great! That’s great.”

Hannah marched off into the bedroom and began ruffling around. Neville mumbled to himself,

“How’d the interview go, Neville? Oh I thought it went well Hannah, thanks for asking. I was a bit anxious if I’m honest…”

Hannah popped into the doorway her face irritated,

“Anxious because it was her?”

Neville sighed.

“It’s an important project for me. I care a lot about it and good publicity could secure a grant so I can do more..”

Hannah huffed and began putting on an earring. She gestured emphatically as she spoke.

“I just can’t believe it had to be her of all people. You know what? She’s done this on purpose.”

“Oh for Christ’s sake- …don’t you think you’ve blow this a bit out of proportion...?”

Neville brushed past her, letting his hand rest on her shoulder. She brushed it off.

“I have not Neville-!”

“I don’t know what you’re dragging up history for. She’s been perfectly professional. A drunken kiss months ago before you and I were even seeing each other isn’t something to get this fussed over.”

He looked at her and she glared back.

“I’m not fussed. I’m not. You know what? Im done with this conversation.”

She stormed off, grabbing her coat.

“What, you’re leaving? Just like that? But we’ve got to get going to that dinner thing with your friend-”

“I’m too angry to speak with you right now. I’ll be back when I’ve cooled.”

She slammed the door on her way out.

Neville stared at the door to his flat clenching and unclenching his jaw. He turned to a vine that had begun to twist around a lock of his hair.

“Bit of a temper on that one.”

He held out his hand and let it curl around his finger.

“If I’d known she’d be so bothered…I just figured telling her the truth was better than lying..”

He untangled himself and dug through a few drawers until he found a hand rolled cigarette and headed down the stairs to the front stoop.

He lit the fag and took a deep breath in, finally feeling his shoulders drop for the first time that day when an angry voice shouted at him.

“I knew it!”

Hannah was walking towards him from across the street, her face scrunched up in anger. Neville winced,

“Jesus woman, I thought you’d gone-“

She climbed the steps and pulled the cigarette from him tossing it to the ground.

“I knew you were sneaking fags- you told me you’d stopped.”

“I’m stressed- It’s not a personal attack on you I’m just- Ah..Hullo Mrs Carol.”

Neville waved sheepishly at his elderly neighbor who had hobbled up the steps and was putting the key in her lock watching them with interest.

“Evening Neville dear- She’s right you know love, you really aught to stop.”

She pointed a crooked finger between him and Hannah.

“Listen to your missus, she’ll steer you straight.”

“Yes of course ma’am, have a nice night.”

They paused until Mrs Carol had disappeared into her flat.

“See?” Hannah hissed, her rage subsiding.

Neville didn’t look at her, just hung his head and kicked at the pavers.

“Yeah. I know you’re right. It’s just been a fucking day-“

“I really don’t care for your excuses right now.” Hannah interrupted.

“Right.” He frowned, furrowing his brows.

“That’s all you’ve got to say then?”

“Was there something more you were wanting? I don’t know what you want from me, Han.”

He looked up at her, eyes blank. Hers began to fill with tears and she covered her face with her hands, taking a shaky breath. 

“I just- I’m not trying to be an ass, Nev, and I know I am, and I’m sorry-“

“Hannah come here. It’s not worth all that love, it’s not.”

Neville sighed and put his arms around her, her face pressed to his chest.

She started to cry, hiccoughing.

“I just don’t want you- hic- I just keep thinking- hic- everywhere you go people-girls- are looking at you and it’s only a matter of time before- hic.”

He held her shoulders and pushed her out to arm’s length so he could look her in the eyes. Her nose was red and crying had made her light blue eyes more piercingly blue than usual.

“I haven’t betrayed you and I won’t. I can’t change what I’ve done when we weren’t  together, but for the record you seem to think it was a hell of a lot worse than it ever was. I’m not that kind of bloke.” He said seriously.

“But you lied about smoking- so what else have you lied about?”

“I like smoking. I fucking love it-But I’m trying to quit for you woman.” He shook her playfully.

Neville winced a little glancing at Mrs Carol’s door, “Now will you come inside? You know I hate airing our dirty laundry out where all the neighbors can hear.”

Hannah rolled her eyes.

“Oh who cares about them..”

“I do.”

“Well. You shouldn’t.”

She frowned and he frowned too.

“I do though.”

“Well I don’t.”

He sighed, shaking his head.

“I know you don’t.”

Neville patted her shoulder and dropped his hands.

“Finish getting ready we’re already late.”

He went back up the stairs to his flat.

——————

They arrived at the restaurant a few minutes past respectably late.

In the entryway to the restaurant Hannah craned her neck to see if she could see them.

“There they are-“ she pulled his sleeve and pointed. Neville tried to see where she was pointing and his stomach churned.

“What- the woman in the purple jumper?”

“Yeah that’s-“

He sucked in a breath, suddenly clammy. He recognized her.

“Oh…. No. No no no..shit.”

The memory of that girl crawling to him across the floor on all fours months ago flooded his memory and he cringed.

“What? See- they’re waving now- That’s Layla. And sat next to her’s my friend Thomas from work-“

He gripped her arm and she turned to look at him.

“Hannah, I need to tell you something and I need you to not freak out.”

“What, now? They’re waiting-“

She looked back at them anxiously. He sighed, pinching his eyes shut,

“I…might have…sort of-“

He paused. She turned her full attention to him, eyes searching him.

“Out with it Neville, what is it?”

“I slept with Lola a few months ago.”

“Layla?”

He waved his hand, as if the name was a frivolous detail.

“Yeah, whatever.”

Her face fell.

“…..You’ve got to be fucking joking.”

“Genuinely, I wish more than anything in the world that I was.”

Her hands went up into her hair.

“Oh my god…I can’t believe this…you’re sure?”

He glanced back at them.

“Pretty…-“

He leaned forward trying to get a better view. Layla was watching them now and clapped a hand over her mouth when she saw him and turned to furiously whisper to Thomas.

“-…Yeah. Very sure.”

Hannah gave a strangled sob and buried her face in her hands. He reached out, unsure where to hold her.

“Oh, Hannah- Please don’t cry, I’m sorry.”

He rubbed her back hesitantly.

“I can’t catch a fucking break-“

She hissed, clutching at herself.

“I know. Please don’t cry-“

She snapped, pointing a finger into his chest and raising her voice,

“I will fucking cry if I want to Neville. Just because you’re too emotionally stunted to cry even when your own mum dies-“

The restaurant volume dropped significantly as people turned to stare. Neville’s ears grew hot. He whispered back angrily,

“There’s no need for that-“

She cut him off,

“It’s been months and - nothing! And now you’re telling ME not to cry? Like you’re somehow better? Whoring yourself at every girl in Britain just to feel something-“

She was still speaking so loudly that anyone who wanted to could hear now. Neville whispered back furiously,

“I’ve not whored myself- how dare you?”

He looked around, his face red with anger and humiliation.

“Oh, grow up Neville!”

“Stop making a scene-“

“I’ll bloody do what I want-“

He turned pushing his hand out like he could will her away-

“I’m done. I can’t do this.”

He turned to go. She finally lowered her voice, speaking urgently,

“Wait- Just…wait. We can talk this out when I’m not so angry-“

She grabbed his arm but he shook her off raising his hands to emphasize his point.

“No. I’m…I’ve had enough.”

She grabbed at him again, desperately trying to turn him to face her but he wouldn’t.

“Neville I don’t even know what I said- Please don’t go. Please don’t leave-”

“I’m sorry Hannah. I really wish it didn’t go down like this.”

“You can’t just abandon me because I’ve said the wrong thing when you just admitted to shagging one of my best friends-“

“I can, actually. I’m done.”

His voice was quiet but white hot rage boiled just beneath the surface. 

There was a cold still moment.

Nobody made a sound.

Then in a shaky voice she muttered,

“Fuck you Neville Longbottom.”

He turned just in time to see her to grab a drink off the nearest table and throw it in his face as the whole restaurant watched.

He gasped from the cold liquid, and brushed it from his eyes before glaring at her and hurrying out the door.

Chapter Text

“Good things come to those who wait but I ain’t in a patient phase-“ Froot, Marina and the Diamonds

Neville was so angry he felt dizzy.

The world had taken on a strange threatening quality- it was him against everything. The air, the sky, the sidewalk beneath his feet, he was sick of it- all of it.

He kicked a stone as hard as he could and watched it ricochet off a bin, denting it.

“Neville!”

He didn’t turn back, walking faster. Hell would freeze over before he spoke to her again-

“Neville, wait!” The female voice called again, then a deeper voice, male this time, called his name too.

Confused, he turned.

Hermione, Draco, Blaise and Pansy were all running to follow him out of the restaurant looking concerned.

“Oh for fucks sake-“

Her cursed, kicking a brick wall then leaning against it and letting it scrape his back all the way down as he sat against it.

Hermione reached him first, panting a little from running.

“Oh Neville…”

“I don’t need your pity Hermione.” He snapped, running his hands through his still damp hair, willing his temper to cool.

Blaise cast a drying spell, removing the liquid from his shirt and hair.

“It’s alright mate, we’ve all been there.” He sat next to him and pulled out a cigarette offering it to him apologetically,
“It’s not as nice as yours but…figured-“

Neville took it and lit it taking a deep draw, sighing bitterly.

“Yeah, cheers.”

Blaise clapped him on the back by way of response.

Pansy came around to his other side and sat next to him on the ground.

“It’s done then, with her? Fully?”

“Fully.”

She wrapped her hand around his arm and rested her head on his shoulder.

He finished his cigarette and banished it.

“Fuck.” He ran a hand through his hair. It crackled a little, rage poring off of him in waves.

He rested his head on Pansy’s and breathed in the flowery smell of her hair with a shaky breath.

There was a commotion coming from the restaurant, which was still easily in view. A staff member was escorting Hannah out. She was followed by her friends.

Pansy stiffened and lifted her head, pulling her arm back, but Neville grabbed it, holding her firmly in place.

Hannah pointed at them and made a devastated sound and started crying again.

“I told you! I bloody knew it-“

Neville winced, his arm was trembling.

Layla shouted at Neville “You’re a no good prick Neville-“

“That’s enough out of you. Move along.” Draco spoke up before Neville could, his tone was so icy it made Neville’s skin prickle.

Hannah and her friends flinched and apperated away.

Blaise offered him another cigarette and he accepted it gratefully intending to savor it more slowly this time.

Hermione looked back where they had vanished from and sighed, looking down at Neville.

“Are you alright?”

He buried his face in his hands.

“I just muck everything up. I’ve got good intentions but I don’t know what I’m meant to do…or what the proper way to go about things is… ” Neville trailed off.

He stared off down the streets his eyes dull and empty.

“I slept with Hannah’s friend before I got with Hannah- I didn’t even know they knew each other- it was just a one night thing. I thought if I told her sooner rather than later…nip it in the bud…but she was fuming. Right or wrong, she’s always fuming…but I was wrong for doing that, I just…how could I have known-“

“No good way to deal with something like that, that’s just bad luck. I’ve been there a few dozen times myself.” Blaise said nodding.

Draco snorted and Hermione scoffed with a smile,

“Blaise…”

“What?”

“Dozens?”

The corner of Neville’s mouth quirked up in spite of himself.

He looked over at Blaise who just gave a cheeky grin and raised his eyebrows.

“Small island, you know… and the best birds fly in flocks…”

“Eugh, gross.” Hermione smacked the back of his head. He laughed but held his head like it hurt.

“I appreciate the help guys, really, but honestly- I’d just… rather like to be alone right now.” Neville said, pressing his palms into his eyes.

“Alright. If you’re sure…just…take care of yourself. You didn’t deserve all that.” Hermione said as she backed off.

Everyone aparated away, but Pansy stayed, watching him.

“Should I-?”

“No- you…can stay.”

He was angry, it radiated off of him, he was drunk on it. He stood.

He pushed her against the wall pinning her there and kissed her hard- pouring himself into her, emotion overflowing from him in ways that scared him-

She pulled away in surprise gasping for breath, he moved to her throat kissing down the beautiful lines of her neck, nipping at the soft skin, sucking.

“Oh fu-“ She gasped-
He moved- hands exploring-
Lips kissing a path down her collar bones

He pulled apart her shirt- she gave a startled yelp, covering herself-

“Neville!”

He slipped his hands under hers and palmed her breasts hard.

“Tell me to stop.”

“Don’t stop, but not here-“

He apperated into his flat, she stumbled from the force of it and he let her fall onto the bed, before following her down.

His hands were in her hair, tightly holding her down- inky black against his stark white sheets-

More
Not enough
Not fucking enough

“Jesus-“ she whimpered, he ripped open the rest of her shirt,

She looked down to see what he’d done but his hand clamped around her neck and pushed her into the mattress, she gave a choked whimper- eyes wide then he was pinning her down with his lips.

“Tell me to stop-“

“Don’t stop-“

More
Not enough

He kissed her like a fever, ravishing her. Burning heat, relentless, wild, needy-

He was between her legs, his hands running up her thighs pulling her legs up, hooking her knees over his shoulders,

“Oh-“ she moaned into his mouth.

He was so fucking angry, he just needed to put the feeling somewhere - bury it where it couldn’t be found- burn it off into nothing-

He pulled away, letting her gasp for air-

“Tell me to stop-“ he warned, pushing her panties to the side-

“Mm…Don’t stop-..!”

He was inside her, his hands on her hips, pulling her deep onto him-

She threw her head back, her arms covering her eyes, her teeth clenched from the sensation-

“Don’t stop, don’t stop-“ she whimpered.

Her breasts bounced from the force of him, her breathing pulling the skin tight across her ribs.

More

His released her hip with one hand and began adding friction at her core to take her somewhere higher -

“Oh my god—“ she cried, reaching her hands out for him, he brought himself down for her, not slowing his movements, kissing her chest, working up her neck back to her mouth-

“Ahhh- I’m going to-“ her voice cracked,

Her face crumpled, her hands in his hair pulling hard-

“Oh fuck-“ he groaned watching her coming apart because of him

She threw her head back in a silent scream, her legs trembling violently on his shoulders-

More
Not enough

He pounded into her, watching it take her higher, feeling her spasm, drawing it on and on…

He held her hair tightly, exposing her neck and pulling her upwards-

He bit down hard, marking her, using her, chasing his own pleasure with her body-

He groaned, he was climbing, climbing, climbing-

He could see the edge of it, he was sprinting towards it and then-

-

-

Free fall..

“Fuck-“ he moaned against her throat-

“Oh fuck-“ she was gasping, her ribcage rapidly expanding and contracting against him.

He pressed his face into the soft skin of her neck, breathing her in, feeling the rush of her pulse against the tip of his nose-

“Fuck-“ He found her mouth again, kissing slowly, gently, adoringly-

So good, so fucking good

He let her catch her breath, then kissed her harder, searching for her, pulling her to him

Her legs lowered from his shoulders wrapping around his hips, caging him in.

He moaned into her mouth, pressing into her again savoring the feeling before pulling away.

He turned from her, running his hands through his hair and fixing his clothing.

He was out of cigarettes so he snatched up a tin of loose tobacco and began rolling one with practiced hands. He watched her as he licked the paper to seal it.

She looked so thoroughly fucked.

She was laying with her hair spread across his bed, her arms open, breasts exposed in the soft light…

He feasted on this vision of her- burning it into his memory so he would never forget.

She was watching him with such intensity, he didn’t know what to make of it.

She sat up partially on her elbows, her hair cascading down.

He set down the cigarette and his feet moved on their own back to her. His hand cupped her jaw and he kissed her, pressing her back down into the bed, pressing every inch of his body against hers. His fingers ran down her sides feeling the curves of her, squeezing the softest places hungrily.
She wrapped her arms and legs around him, holding him to her.

He kissed her slowly, pulling away, savoring the soft bounce of her lips against his as he peppered her with kisses.

“Again?” He whispered, smiling against her skin and pinning her down-

“Christ-“

Chapter Text

“You need to focus harder on the reasons why average people should care-“

Pansy was standing with him in the experimental greenhouse. He was holding her, his arms wrapped around her body, swaying slightly as if to music. His head rested on top of hers.

“What? How could they not-“

Pansy snorted.

“People can be barely arsed to care how livestock are treated- happy plants are really only a selling point for you-“

He leaned down, punctuating each word with a kiss,

“Better quality….
Better yield…..
More self sustaining over time-“

The door to the greenhouse opened, Neville and Pansy jumped apart-

“Oh sorry I-“ Edwin muttered as he swung the door back shut.

“Oh for fucks sake...” Neville stared at the door, a frown on his lips.

“Who was that?”

“Edwin, my intern. I’ll speak with him.”

Pansy started gathering her things,

“I need to go. I don’t know what I was thinking- I need to maintain some degree of professionalism.“

She paused, looking up to him. He smiled at her and she frowned.

“-I’ll send the draft over to you before it goes to press-“ she pushed her finger into his chest, “-that’s special treatment, mind you-“

She adjusted herself, straightening her dress and brushing off imagined wrinkles. She turned.

“For some reason that escapes me, want to see you and your little hippy-dippy plants succeed.”

The door opened again just a crack,

“…is the coast clear? Can I come in yet?” Edwin peaked around the door. Neville started down the stairs swiftly.

“Merlin- Have you just been stood outside the door this whole time?”

“Well, yeah. I needed the-“

“I’m going.” Pansy said, and with crack she was gone.

“I’ll see you-“ Neville looked back to where she had been his hand reaching out to wave but then slowly dropped back to his side.

He stared for a moment before turning to Edwin.

“Look…Edwin-“

Edwin was smiling wolfishly, his arms crossed.

“Sleeping with the press are we? That’s one way to get publicity- Ow.”

Neville smacked him over the head hard with a bit of parchment. He pointed a finger at him, his face suddenly serious.

“Not a word from you. Parkinson and I knew each other before. It hasn’t a thing to do with the story.”

Edwin rolled his eyes and pushed the accusing finger away.

“Relax, as if I would say anything. I thought you were with that little blonde nurse? What happened with that?”

Neville paled a bit.

“Erm. Broke up.”

Edwin’s eyes narrowed.

“When?”

They watched each other for a minute before Neville sighed, running a hand through his hair sheepishly.

“….yesterday.”

Edwin’s eyes flashed and he started laughing.

“Oh don’t…I know it’s not a good look.”

——————

“It’s not a good look at all, Neville”

Seamus said over his pint. They were catching up in the pub after work.

Seamus took a drink and continued,

“But for what it’s worth I never cared for Hannah. She was-“

Neville lifted his head slightly from where it had been resting on the bar,

“Seamus..don’t. I don’t want to hear a word against her right now.”

Seamus frowned,

“What, you’re not having regrets are you? Thinking of taking her back?”

Neville sat up and took a drink.

“No. But of course I regret the roll I played in it all. How could I not? I regret the timing. I regret…if I could go back and stop myself from sleeping with her friend- Lola- Layla- whatever-“

Seamus interrupted, “How could you have known? And besides- I was at the pub with yous- she was all over you, not the other way around. If memory serves it was practically a pity fuck on your part.“

“Yeah, well.” Neville finished his brew and flagged down the barkeep for another. “It sucks to know I’m just another man to let Hannah down when I swore I wouldn’t.”

“She threw your Mums death in your face.”

Neville ground his teeth but said nothing.
Seamus grimaced, cracking his knuckles.

“She must have known how private you are with your grief, for her to still drag it up-“

“Enough…it’s” Neville sighed shakily, “it’s done. There’s no need to rehash- Lord knows I’ve said plenty I didn’t mean in anger… I’m the one who wound her up in the first place- I can practically hear what she’s got to be saying about me now-“

“Neville. Listen to me-“ Seamus cut him off, face suddenly serious, “You’re not going to be the good guy in everyone’s story. You just won’t. And if you are then it just means you’re letting yourself down. Do you hear me?”

Neville watched him for a moment, processing before smiling sadly.

“Merlin, you going to start charging me an hourly?”

Seamus grinned.

“What, you think? Proper good advice if I do say so myself. What was it I said again..?”

Neville laughed,

“Maybe the Guinness was the one talking.”

“Oh piss off… Right, I’ve had enough talking about Hannah, what’s with Parkinson then?”

Neville’s head was back on the bar again but he smiled.

“Ooooh, he’s blushing! Got a little crush, have you?”

Neville lifted his head, looking around to reassure himself no one was listening. He smiled at Seamus and said nothing.

Seamus shook a knowing finger at him,

“See, I haven’t seen you look that thrilled about anyone before. If you hadn’t ended things with Hannah you couldn’t have had that.”

“Suppose you’re right.” Neville’s next round of Guinness arrived and he was still smiling when he started to drink.

The barkeep watched him with a funny look on her face, like she was trying to remember where she’d seen him before. Neville held her gaze, his smile slipping off his face.

She pulled a copy of Witch Weekly from behind the bar for where she’d been reading it.

“This you, innit?”

Neville snatched up the paper, bumping his Guinness- Seamus caught it, stabilizing the glass,

“Steady on- what’s this then?”

“It’s just come out. Creating quite the buzz you know.“

Neville wasn’t listening, his eyes scanning the paper quickly.

Prophet writer, [Redacted], seen having a public affair with Neville Longbottom, former Order of The Phoenix soldier, following a public split from his partner-

There was a close up photo of Neville glowering, sat against a brick wall, his hands in his hair. Then a photo of him pressing a girl against the same wall, passionately kissing her. Pansy was, mercifully, mostly obscured from view, just her dark hair and a pale leg visible.

Neville’s hand started to tremble as he read on.

Our source, who identified himself as Marcus Flint, says that he suspects the interaction may have been relating to a recent collaboration between the Prophet and Longbottom pertaining to his work at Gilly’s Greenhouse Export, and said “it’s obvious that Longbottom is using his personal connections with [Redacted] to gain publicity for his work-“ Quotes have been edited for quality and clarity. We reached out to The Prophet for comment and they declined. The writer in question’s identity has been redacted for legal purposes -

Neville slammed the paper down swearing.

“No good.” Seamus said, he’d been reading over his shoulder, but picked up the paper to finish. “Bloody hell, you do look properly fit here though, the girls will be queued up at your door after this one-“

“Seamus. Not now.”

“And bloody hell Neville- I’d pay good money to get snogged like that-“

“Seamus! I said-“

“Right you are, apologies-“

Neville rested his head heavily back on the bar and pinched his eyes shut, willing himself to disappear.

Chapter Text

Neville paced his flat, checking the locks on windows, and the door. He checked his sneakoscopes. Twice for good measure.

He checked the kitchen for liquor but found only empty bottles. The fridge was empty. He cursed and rummaged for around for a cigarette.

He pulled on a pair of trousers and headed outside to smoke.

When the fresh air touched his bare chest he shuddered, casting a warming charm. The streetlights cast intermittent circles on the dark quiet street.

He smoked in silence sat on the stairs.

He stared up at the moon for a time before turning to go back inside.

——————

“Here’s another good one- ‘Use her for publicity? I’d let him use me any way he wants’.”

“Edwin.”

Edwin was sat on a table reading letters to the editor in the newest issue of Witch Weekly while Neville stood waste deep in a hole, periodically chucking dirt.

“Oooh- Listen to this- they’re calling you ‘Plant Daddy’. That’s lush-“

Neville gave an irritated groan,

“This bird’s volunteering to have your baby-“

“Edwin, I swear to God. Put the papers down.”

Edwin flipped down the periodical, a cheeky grin on his face.

Neville looked entirely spent. His eyes empty, emphasizing the dark circles beneath. He was caked in dirt, his wand between his teeth again.

“Hand me the worms.” He brushed his face against his shoulder trying to push his hair back out of his eyes.

Edwin levitated a bucket to him.
Neville took it, cursing under his breath,

“Go find Archie and tell him we need more perlite ordered for the mimbulus mimbletonia, it’s in the beginning stages of root rot because some blithering idiot overwatered-“

“Can do. Bit harsh, that.” He conjured a memo that flew out through an open skylight.

Neville sighed.

“Sorry. Just on edge. I shouldn’t-“ he started to stand, brushing himself off, “-take it out on you, s’not your fault.”

“Relax Neville, a bit of ribbing never hurt me. I don’t live in a glass house..”

He paused, a smile on his face. Neville held out a threatening finger,

“Don’t-“

“-just a Greenhouse.”

“Bloody hell Edwin, swear to god-“ Neville cursed walking away while Edwin cackled to himself.

“Neville?”

He flinched at Mrs Grenswollow voice. She had come in the greenhouse and was beckoning him to follow.

“A word?”

He exhaled shakily then turned to follow her.

When they reached her office she had a small bemused smile.

“Have they told you yet?”

Neville paused, swallowing.

“Erm, told me what exactly?”

“You’ve been funded. In excess.”

Neville blinked.

“I have?”

“Apparently between your appearance in The Prophet last week and becoming-” She put her readers on and looked at a copy of the newest Witch Weekly’s article “‘Britain’s Hottest New Plant Boy’” He cringed, covering his face with his hands while she continued, “…you’ve really hit the sweet spot for funding. Moneys been pouring in like a sinking ship.”

“Great…that’s…just great.”

“Is it?”

He looked up, surprised by her change in tone.

“Sorry, of course it is. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful-“

She sighed.

“Neville, I’m pleased that we get to move forward with your project,” she leaned forward, taking her glasses back off, “I know how much it means to you, but I can’t help but notice you don’t seem..well.”

Neville rolled his neck, cracking it. “Been a long week. That’s all.”

“You can’t forget what’s most important-“

“The plants are what’s most important to me Mrs Grenswollow.“

She nodded frowning,

“Exactly my point. They are not.” He blinked, furrowing his brow. She folded her arms.

“I’ve always said you take better care of them than you do yourself, have I not? And yet, here you are doing just that once again.”

Neville sat stiffly.

“But…that’s my job isn’t it?”

“What use are you if you’re whittled down to nothing? When you first pitched the growing program you said ‘a plant well cared for is a plant that will out perform all others. Invest in the garden so the garden will invest back in you.’”

Neville was silent. He looked down at his shoes.

“You told me plants need community, a network. They need to thrive, not simply survive. I don’t think-“

“- Mrs Grenswollow, that was just about plants- I’m not -“

“I think you and I both know that it’s never just been about the plants for you.”

He was still. He swallowed hard, blinking. She sighed and softened her voice,

“You’re burning the candle at both ends, dear. You’ve been through a lot this year-”

“Please- don’t-“ he lifted a hand, pressing it against his forehead as if he had a headache.

She paused, eyeing him warily, waiting for him to speak. When he didn’t she cleared her throat,

“Take care of yourself first Neville or I’ll have to reassign you from the experimental greenhouse.”

He didn’t move. She watched him in silence before standing to go.

——————

Neville decided to walk home, the sun was out and there was a cool breeze. When he turned onto his street he saw a figure sat on his front steps waiting for him.

“Parkinson?”

She gave a wave as he jogged to meet her.

“Are you okay?” He asked, slightly out of breath.

She rolled her eyes and waved a hand as if to dispel his concern.

“I’m fine.”

“Good, I was just- I’ve actually been so worried...and I hadn’t heard from you-“

“There’s nothing to be worried about.” Her lips were pressed to a tight smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“You’re not in trouble with your work?”

“No. The article did…unexpectedly well.” She ran a hand through her long black hair, playing with the ends. “Controversy is good for our bottom line at the end of the day.”

His eyes watched her hands play with her hair, she noticed and let the hair drop back down. He met her eyes.

“We decided to pulled my name from the by line, a few people made the connection anyways, but it’ll die down.”

She shrugged, cringing a little.

“Oh, right. Of course.” He shifted uncomfortably. “I’m glad you were able to keep your name out of it.”

“Thankfully, I have a good lawyer.” She smiled at him as if they were sharing a joke. “You should get in touch.”

Neville frowned.

“Who’s your lawyer?”

Her smile fell and she frowned.

“Who do you think?”

“Erm…not a clue if I’m honest. Is Draco-?”

She stared at him incredulously,

“Hermione. Obviously.”

“Oh. Sorry, I-“

Neville’s ears had turned slightly red.

“Hermione works in the legal department in the Ministry. And she does some private practice on the side. Draco works for the Aurors department also at the Ministry...”

Neville snorted and a mischievous grin spread across his face. Pansy’s lips quirked,

“What’s that about?”

“We smoked a spliff in front of an Auror..?”

She huffed a small laugh,

“Suppose we did. But he mostly hunts down murderers, he’s not going to be fussed over a spliff. How’d you not know what Hermione does for work? She’s your friend from back in school, is she not?”

“To tell the truth we barely kept in touch, the only person I talk to with any regularity from Hogwarts is Seamus. Hermione and I for whatever reason just kept running into each other this year.”

“Hmm.”

She was eyeing him curiously. He gestured to the door,

“Do you want to come up-? I could get you something to drink?”

She sighed, standing.

“I don’t mean to take up your time, I just wanted to stop by…you know, make sure…”

Neville smiled, his eyes softening.

“Were you worried about me, Parkinson?”

She flushed slightly and gave him a playful poke in the chest with her finger.

“Oh don’t flatter yourself…” She bit her lip, a serious look crossing her face. “-a bit, though, yeah.”

He clasped the hand that she had used to poke him, softening the tension in the fingers until he could slide his hand between them.

“It’s good to see you. You’ve been on my mind.”

“Have I?” She said blandly, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Nearly non-stop.” He said earnestly.

She studied him for a moment then rolled her eyes and sighed. She couldn’t quite stop the smile that played on her features.

“Maybe I will take you up on that drink.”

Chapter Text

“I’m no good at… I don’t-“

They were sat on the floor, both mildly drunk. Leftover curry takeaway and empty bottles discarded around them. Pansy sat in front of him her legs crossed. Neville was sat with his legs pulled up to his chest, his arms and head leaning heavily on his knees. Her hand rested on his arm, her thumb lightly tracing patterns on his skin.

“- talk about things properly or know what to say. I’m no good with feelings and the like.” He scrunched his face disapprovingly, a hand rubbing his temples as if to ease a headache.

“I know.” She said quietly.

“I say the wrong things. I know I will, I always do-“

“So what?” Pansy’s eyebrows knitted together, a frown forming. “I’ve said plenty I regret- some hardly forgivable. Neville, I don’t care if you’re not perfect, It’s endearing-“

“-You don’t now, but you will.” He gestured in a defeated way, “It’s not an ‘if’ I’ll disappoint you, it’s a ‘when’ and I’m just not sure I can go through all that again.”

She rolled her eyes and took a swig from a bottle they’d been sharing.

“Stop being so dramatic. You’re acting like it’s a forgone conclusion, when it’s not. Far from.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, it is.” He leveled his gaze at her, his face stern.
“If I’m good at anything it’s fucking up a good thing.”

She sighed, watching him.

“I think you’re quite caring, actually.”

He looked as if he’d been struck.

She looked down at her hand on his arm, and continued to speak.

“You’re passionate. You work hard. It’s blatantly obvious to me that you have loads of good qualities-“

“Please stop.” His dark blue eyes were shadowed. They looked vacant.

She was still for a moment, watching him. Finally she gave a small laugh shook her head.

“Merlin, you are a mess aren’t you?” She said quietly.

He nodded emphatically at her as if she was finally seeing reason.

“I’ve been trying to tell you-“

“-When did that all start, then?”

Pansy interrupted, tilting her head. Neville blinked.

“What?”

Pansy gestured at him vaguely and took another drink before speaking.

“You’re so comfortable being accused of something or insulted but a compliment makes you practically squirm out of your skin.”

He said nothing, his lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes growing cold.

“When did that-“ she started to ask again.

“You can’t fix me Pans. Don’t try.” He said firmly. There was an edge of something like anger in his tone.

She sighed, a small smile still playing on her lips.

“What if I-“

“You can’t.”

There was an uncomfortable silence. She let out a shaky breath.

“No. I don’t suppose I can.”

She leaned in then. His eyes were suspicious, but he moved his legs out of her way to allow her closer. She held his jaw in her soft fingers for a moment, her face a breath away from his. Smooth almond nails delicately running lines over the stubble on his jaw.

Her lips ghosted over his.

“Can I..?” She breathed against his lips. He sighed, caving.

“I can’t say no to you.”

She kissed him softly. A slow delicate exploration. A kiss like a soft knock on a thick door long sealed shut, asking if anyone was home.

His hands found her face, trailing down her body. They grew hungrier along their descent, gripping and pulling her to him, but she pulled away breaking the kiss to slow him. He stilled, dropping his hands obediently to rest chastely on her back. She leaned back in, taking her time. Learning the way he moved at a leisurely pace. He fell into step with her, matching her tempo, letting her lead.

The tension in his body dropped away slowly as he relaxed into the kiss. He pulled her closer as if he needed to envelop her body within his, but without the urgency to take things further.

She pulled away just enough to speak,

“This is good, don’t you think?”

He nodded, murmuring his approval against her skin as he kissed down her neck. She gripped his chin pulling his face up to meet her gaze.

“So don’t be an idiot and sabotage it before we’ve given it a chance.” She said, shaking him a little. He blinked, wide eyes watching her.

There was an openness to him that hadn’t been there before as he nodded slowly. He leaned in.

“Call me an idiot again.”

She laughed against his lips.

“You’re an idiot.”

“Mmm”

“Dramatic. Self-sabotaging. Idiot.”

His movements became needy, he kissed her deeply, pulling her to him like the space between them was too great for him to bear.

“Fuck I don’t know why that turns me on so much.”

She snorted and pushed away, his eyes were dark and his hands lingered on her as she pulled away.

“Weirdo. I should go.” She said, standing up and stretching. Her hand brushed a plant and it coiled playfully around her wrist, small vibrant flowers popping into bloom against her pale arm. She eyed it curiously unsure how to maneuver away.

“You could stay..” Neville offered quietly.

“Not tonight.” Pansy said, gently untangling herself. She smiled at him and leaned in one last time. “I’ll be back though.”

“Okay.” Neville agreed, staring at her with heavy lidded eyes.

When she was gone Neville slumped heavily into the couch to pass out, a small smile lingering on his lips.

Chapter Text

Neville sat heavily at his usual seat next to Seamus in the pub.

“Well….look who it is…Not everyday a man gets graced by the company of The Plant Daddy himself-“

“-if you could just do me a favor and fuck right off? Cheers.” Neville cut him off, raising his hands like a barrier, “I will walk straight back out that door, you know I will.”

He looked longingly back at the exit, scanning around the pub for prying eyes. He fussed with his coat, pulling at it as if it could disguise him.

Seamus either didn’t seem to notice or care swirling the last of his pint and finishing it.

“My mate, our local budding heartthrob...You think I can land more birds if I tell them I know you?”

“God, you sound like my intern. I think you’ll get more birds if you stop being such a knobhead.”

Neville looked pointedly at him and Seamus laughed.

“Probably true, to be fair.” Seamus gestured to the barkeep for two more. Neville sighed.

“If I ever see Flint again I’ll land myself in Azkaban.”

“For what it’s worth I can practically guarantee he’s proper fuming about the response you got. That numpty used his whole legal name too. Now everyone knows him for the squealer he is.”

Two pints of Guinness arrived. The barkeep winked at Neville and he gave a tight smile back, his ears flushed crimson. When she turned to leave he sighed, digging in his pockets.

“Have something for you.”

“What? Have you? For me? What’s the occasion?”

“Well I was just thinking I’d be nice, but you’re doing a good job of making me reconsider-“

He pulled a small vial from his pocket, looking around again to check no one was watching before handing it to him.

“Are you mad? What are you doing giving this to me for?”

Seamus lifted it to the light.

“Is this what I bloody think it is?”

“If you think it’s one dose of Felix Felicis-“

Seamus grabbed Neville by the face with both hands giving his a loud wet kiss on the cheek.

“You beautiful man-!”
“Uck, disgusting prick-“

“You know how much I needed this?” Seamus looked like he might cry.

“Oh pull it together, it’s nothing. I did know, and now you’ve got it. So don’t mention it.”

“Why are you not using it for yourself? Are you mad-? ”

“I had two doses and mine pushed me into the path of Pansy so, I figured…you know…I’d share the wealth a bit- just don’t mention it, really.”

Seamus turned it over and over in this hands before pocketing it.

“You know? You’re a good friend, Neville. Best I have.”

“Alright, alright.”

“I’m dead serious.”

Seamus clapped him on the shoulder and wiped at his eyes, which had started to leak profusely. Neville watched him quietly, shifting uncomfortably before he sighed, and wrapped an arm around his friend.

“I love you too, Seamus.”

——————

“Alright I’m stepping out, care for a ciggy Longbottom?”

Blaise asked as he walked away from their corner of the pub. It was the weekend and Pansy had invited him to join her friends at the pub in Brighton.

“I’m fine, cheers. Trying to quit.”

“Suit yourself.”

Pansy wrapped her arms around Neville drunkenly, pressing her face into his chest.

“Mmmm…smell good.” She muttered against his chest. He snorted, stroking her hair affectionately.

“You’re pissed.”

She just groaned in response, holding him tighter. He scanned the room briefly before letting his head rest on top of hers, closing his eyes as he relaxed into her embrace.

“Do you want to get out of here?” He asked quietly, breathing in the fresh smell of her hair.

“And abandon Blaise with those two?” Pansy lifted her head and grimaced in Draco and Hermione’s direction were they were currently sharing a kiss that felt too intimate for the setting.

Neville wrinkled his nose, looking away quickly.

“I’m sure he’ll manage. No shortage of women for him to amuse himself with here tonight..”

He glanced around the pub briefly, catching more than one stare, as people watched him then turned to speak to their friends. His neck started to feel clammy.

“Don’t look at them” Pansy grumbled, watching him. He looked down at her with a puzzled smile.

“I’d rather gouge my eyes out than watch whatever Draco’s currently doing to Hermione-“

“No not them. The other girls..”

He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face.

“Didn’t know you could be a jealous drunk.”

She pouted slightly, but her eyes looked sad.

He smiled shaking his head and leaned down to kissed her softly.

“Better than an insecure drunk.” She said pointedly when they broke away. He flushed.

“Alright, hold your punches.”

“It was kind of cute.”

“Hmmm.” His mouth flattened into a thin line watching her. She reached up and cupped her hand along his jaw. He leaned into it, closing his eyes and sighing.

When he opened his eyes they had darkened.

“Come home with me.”

She pretended to think about it for a minute then rolled her eyes and nodded.

“Alright.”

Pansy had barely been able to keep her eyes open when they got to his flat. He helped her into bed and sat on the edge of the mattress, running his hands through her hair gently. Her long black glossy hair cascaded down, stark against her pale complexion.

She looked so peaceful asleep.

He studied her for a while with an amused smile before climbing into the other side of the bed, holding her gently against his chest. He could feel her steady heartbeat and the gentle rise and fall of her breath. He sighed, the tension leaving his face as his eyelids drooped and sleep claimed him too.

The sun was streaming through the window when Neville woke with a start to a pounding sound. He bolted upright in bed his heart hammering in his chest. Pansy groaned next to him, jostled awake.

“What the fuck Longbottom-“

The pounding sound started again loudly and they both froze, eyes wide as they looked at each other.

Neville grabbed his wand and before sprinting towards the stairs. He didn’t notice an over grown vine and snagged his foot on it, crashing to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Mother Fucker- Every time…“ He clamored up, gripping his side.

“Neville! Wake up you lazy geezer!”

Neville lowered his wand and exhaled shakily running his hands over his face as he recognized the voice. He brushed himself off, and cracked his neck before yanking open the front door.

“You’ve just about put me into cardiac arrest you absolute mental case-“

He stopped short when he saw the look of pure elation on Seamus’s face. His hair was every which way, his clothes wrinkled and Neville could almost make out a love bite on his neck.

“I’ve just had the best bloody night of my life!” Seamus said ecstatically.

The end

Chapter Text

Neville cracked open the door with a hand caked in soil,

“Mrs Grenswollow? You requested to see me?”

“Yes. Come in Neville. Thanks for being prompt. I wanted to get your opinion on something.”

Neville sat across from her as he had so many times before waiting for her to speak.

“Tell me- What do you think of Edwin?”

“Edwin? Erm…well-“

He’s a nosy, chatty, pain in the ass who has never once given a plant the correct about of water no matter how many times-

“Hes a good kid. Eager.”

“Good. I think so too. I’ve been thinking I’d like to bring him on in a more permanent roll.”

Neville blinked. He could practically hear Edwin’s screams of excitement.

“Yeah, good. Whose department?”

“Yours.”

Bollocks.

“Alright.”

“Excellent. Also we’ve got a new intern for you to train, her names Eva. Word of warning, she’s rumored to be a bit of a klutz.”

Sigh.

“Brilliant.”