Vignette Six – Greenhouse 7

Harry breathed an intense sigh of relief as the common room door swung shut behind him. This whole situation with Cho was getting more and more out of hand. She certainly took his words to heart two months ago in the Room of Requirement. She sent him little gifts constantly and wherever he went, she was there most of the time. It impeded on the time he wanted to spend with Ron, Hermione and Neville. It was smothering and it was driving him nuts.

“Oh there you are Harry,”

He looked up to find Hermione and Ron sitting at the table, a chessboard in front of them.

“Lost your stalker?” Ron chuckled.

“Barely,” Harry replied wryly. “You’re actually playing wizard’s chess ‘Mione?”

“It’s good for developing new thinking skills. It might even help me study and learn more!” she said excitedly.

“Only you would suck all the fun out of wizard’s chess.” Ron said in a supremely disgusted tone before he looked back at Harry. “Neville was looking for you earlier on, mate.”

“He was?” Harry’s brow furrowed. “Did he say why?”

Ron shook his head. “But he said you’d know the spot outside and that’s where he’d be waiting if you managed to ditch the stalker.”

“Hm, sounds import –”

“Oh, just go,” Hermione said with a dismissive wave of her hand as she studied the board. “We’ll still be here when we get back. Now Ron, could you explain that move to me once more?”

When Harry left, Ron was in the process of banging his head against the table repeatedly. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he made his way out of the common room and down the stairs, constantly keeping a look out for Cho. Thankfully, the route he took was direct and Cho-free. He breathed a massive sigh of relief when he spied Neville's form sitting against the tree.

“Neville!” Harry beamed as he approached. “You have no idea how…” he fell short when he saw Cho sitting beside the other boy. He never thought he’d say it but Neville positively had a black look on his face.

“Hi Harry.” Cho looked up at him.

Harry swore he felt a small part inside him wither a tiny bit more. “Hey Cho. Um, ‘Mione and Ron said you wanted to talk to me Nev?”

“In private,” Neville glanced momentarily at Cho.

“Well, why don’t we head back inside and go to our dorm. We can talk about it there.”

“No we can’t,” Neville began but as when he looked up Harry could tell he was already back-pedalling quickly. “I think Seamus and Dean are working on something up there. But I’m sure we can find a spot in the common room where we can talk about it.” He rose.

“Yeah, sorry Cho. Important stuff. C’mon Nev.” He grabbed Neville’s hand and dragged him off before Cho could get a word in edgewise.

“Cripes Harry,” Neville gasped once they arrived in the main foyer. “What did you tell her that day? Do you realise this is the first time we’ve been alone since that day in the Room of Requirement. That was two months ago! Two!”

“Yeah, I know,” Harry was already looking around. “What room can we go to that we won’t be disturbed in?”

“Greenhouse 7. The seventh years finished in there an hour ago and no class is slated to be in there for another five hours.”

Harry paused. “There’s no… Devil’s Snare or Venomous Tentaculas in there? Basically anything that can kill or cause severe bodily harm?”

“Nope, just some hybrid plants,” Neville laughed. “It’s an interesting cross between an Abyssinian shrivelfig and a puffapod. We’re hoping that when the time is right and it matures –”

“Um Neville,” Harry began nervously, fidgeting a bit. “Don’t you think we should go to the greenhouse and continue this? I don’t want Cho to come bursting in here any moment.”

“Good point,” Neville looked around. “If we go through the courtyard it’ll take a bit longer, but I don’t think –”

“Lead the way. I’ve just about forgotten where the greenhouses are.”

Neville chuckled as they started down a side corridor, which eventually deposited them out in the courtyard. They remained silent as they hurried through the enclosed space, taking the left path at the fork. Harry didn’t think he’d be glad to see a greenhouse but so long as it kept him away from Cho, he was more than happy. He only really breathed in relief when Neville opened the door and ushered him in quickly, taking his schoolbag. The sound of the lock falling back into place was even better.

“This is actually a good spot,” Harry mused as he started walking up a row. “There’s so many plants that no one could possibly see inside.”

“I know. Professor Sprout says this is the best greenhouse to give exams in; no chance of cheating.”

Harry chuckled as he peered down at a plant that seemed to be suffering from an extremely mild case of dry skin. “Is this that hybrid plat you were telling me about?”

“Yeah, the shrivelfig puffapod hybrid,” Neville came and stood beside Harry. “See those tiny flaky bits?”

“Uh huh.”

“That’s actually a layer of the plant. As it looses those, it gets smaller and smaller until you’re left with the seed pod. What we’re hoping for is that it sloughs off enough pieces to be harvested; they could also be a bit bigger. Apparently Professor Snape’s been testing it in potions.”

“He has? No wonder he seems so preoccupied. He’s constantly going over something during classes. You know he’s been so absorbed in it he doesn’t even show favouritism to the Slytherins.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Other day Malfoy got stuck working with Cho. Now that was kind of amusing. I guess Malfoy kept insulting her or someone else because she was redfaced and angry. Snape caught him and docked twenty points for antagonising his lab partner.”

Neville chuckled. “I almost wish I could have seen the look on his face.”

Harry closed his eyes. “It was priceless,” he replied quietly. “The look of pure shock, outrage and not being able to do a damned thing because it was his own head of house… anyways; it proves for some very amusing classes.”

“I would imagine. Last I heard, when he added this to a potion, the whole thing exploded.”

“Exploded?”

“And he had to clean the gunk away by hand. No spell would work on it.”

Harry gave a momentary little laugh, while Neville chuckled away. After a moment, his died down and he looked at Harry curiously.

“Something wrong?”

“No, just thinking.”

“About?”

“You know, I think I’m doing a bit better in Potions because of you.”

Neville blinked. “Me?”

“Yeah. You actually explain the different plants in detail and it sticks in my mind for some reason. So when I go into the Potions classroom, I don’t feel so unprepared. And when I just have to add on a little bit more…it’s not so hard. Just adding in the things in a certain time… it seems easier with that approach. So I really should be thanking you for my Outstanding.”

“O-Outstanding?!” Neville choked. “You’ve got to be joking. Do you know how hard it is to get an Acceptable from him?”

“I know,” Harry grinned. “So, thank you Nev.”

Neville’s face went a violent red and he mumbled something while poking at the shrivelfig puffapod hybrid. Harry smiled and poked at it with him.

“How are you doing in Transfiguration? Did you do well on that essay I helped you with?”

“I got an Excellent.” Neville said quietly.

“Excellent?” Harry paused. “Is that in between something?”

Neville nodded. “In between an Acceptable and Outstanding.”

“That’s good. I can remember the Dreadful you used to get on your work.”

“Don’t remind me,” Neville shuddered. “At least Tranfigurative Risks with Animagus Transformations makes much more sense. I don’t think I’ll be trying that any time soon.”

Harry smiled and nudged Neville in the shoulder as he leaned in towards him more. “Who knows, it could be fun.”

“Ending up permanently stuck between human and animal sounds fun?” Neville gawked at him.

“Well, if there was some safer way to do it,” Harry chuckled seeing the expression on Neville’s face.

“I guess. Still wouldn’t really want to do that.”

“It sounds wonderful,” Harry whispered. “Being an animal. The forest is your whole world; it’s your home, your playground, your domain. You don’t have to answer to anyone or worry about anything, all you have to do is simply exist.” He paused. “Spend the days sleeping in if you want, eat when you’re hungry, prowl about all night, you know?”

He turned his head to look at Neville. The other boy was looking at him intently, eyes unblinking. Harry found the thought of any more words vanishing away as he looked back into Neville’s eyes. His throat and mouth suddenly felt dry and his tongue must have been in a thousand knots. He swallowed hard as he slowly moved one of his hands closer to Neville’s face. Neville started moving forward a little bit, angling his head slightly. Harry’s hand started trembling a bit as it touched Neville’s cheek, following the lines of the bone beneath. Neville swallowed hard, his lips parting slightly and Harry felt as if a dull burn had settled itself right where his chest was supposed to be.

“Harry,” Neville breathed. “If –”

“Neville?”

Harry looked up abruptly to see Professor Sprout’s short body appear at the end of the row.

“Oh there you are. Mr. Potter, what are you doing in here? You’re not taking Herbology.”

“I know,” he managed, suddenly finding his tongue. “Neville invited me to come along and look at the hybrids. He thinks a piece of dust got in his eye but I don’t see anything.”

“Budge along, let’s have a look.” Professor Sprout said as she came to their spot.

She took Neville’s face in her hands, turning it from side to side gently and Harry felt a peculiarly intense stabbing feeling in his gut. He managed to take a deep breath and stay calm when Professor Sprout finally let go of Neville’s face.

“Well, there’s nothing in there,” she proclaimed a moment later. “Must have been your imagination dear.”

“Guess so,” Neville said in a subdued voice. “It’s been a long day for me already.”

“I would imagine. Now, if you would run along Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom and I have some gillyweed to look after and some sneezewort to replant.”

Neville gave a pained groan. “Those? I thought we did them already.”

“We did. But they’ve managed to outgrow their pots already.”

“All right. I guess I’ll see you later then Harry.”

“Yeah,” Harry said after clearing his throat. “See you later.”

He hurried past Neville and Professor Sprout, reaching down blindly and grabbing a bag by the entrance door. He bolted back into the school, heading to his dorm room. He was pretty sure he bumped into Cho but he didn’t even bother; if anything, he ran even harder. He didn’t stop until he collapsed down on his bed, breathing heavily and staring up at the top of his bed. He did not just do that; Neville was his best friend and they’d almost just kissed.

He flung his bag off in frustration and snapped the curtains around his bed shut. He certainly had a way for messing things up horribly.

Vignette Five - Sneakoscopes & Kisses || Vignette Seven - Monday Morning