I Love Plants {a Neville Longbottom story}

secrets ✓

Goblet of Fire

Serenity

Classes went by slowly that day, At lunch time I make my way over to the Hufflepuff table and take a seat next to Hannah and across from Cedric.

"I'm putting my name in today, after classes, can you come?" Cedric asks while putting together a sandwich.
"I'm sorry Ced, I need to meet with Nev after school, I have something to talk to him about." I say while rummaging through my book bag looking for my art book. I continue this for awhile till I hear Cedric clear his throat loudly to grab my attention.

I look up at Hannah and Cedric who are now looking at me with surprised looks. Hannah then wiggles her eyebrows at me and it hits me how suspicious my sentence sounded. I throw my hands up in defense "no no not like that I swear! I just need to tell him something... that... well it's a secret but it's not like that!" I exclaim, only further adding to their suspicions.

"Ugh whatever" I say while going back to searching for my art book.
"It's not here, I've looked 5 times now." I exclaim.

"what isn't there?" Cedric asks
"My sketchbook, I had it in charms but it's not here now." I start to rub my temples in frustration, trying to think back to where I could have left it.

I quickly make my way to the Beauxbatons dorm so I can change into a jumper before meeting Neville. I slip on an oversized white knit sweater over top my uniform and switch my uni hat out for a white beanie with an over the top fluffy ball on it that Neville got me for my birthday 2 years back. Before I rush out the door I grab a fresh new sketchbook.

Neville

I wait for Serenity by the lake like she asked, I rest my back on a nearby tree and flip the pages of this years Herbology textbook. I sit there wondering if she already read through it, of course she has. I hear leaves crunch behind me and look up to see Serenity making her way down to wear I was sitting. I'm reminded again how beautiful she really has become, even underneath her oversized sweater and over the top hat. Her hair is dark and wavy and frames her face perfectly. Somehow her eyes are even more green than I remember. Most girls her age have started wearing makeup but I can tell she can't be bothered to put any on. She doesn't need to. She is perfect.

She takes a seat next to me so close that we are touching shoulders.
"Have you seen my sketchbook anywhere?" She finally says
"no, you had it when you left Herbology, why is it lost?"
"Yeah, I know I had it in charms with Slytherin but I can't find it anywhere." She says
"I'll keep an eye out." I say with a smile "so, don't keep me in anticipation, what's this secret you have to tell me." She winces at my words and I see worry in her eyes, she looks away.

Serenity

I look away, I can't look him in the eyes when I tell him about our parents. I've only spoken to Neville about 3 times about his parents. They aren't an extremely sore subject but it's not something he wants to talk about all the time. I know he visits them every holiday at the hospital, he would tell me about each visit in my letters. They would never get better and he knew that, he would always tell Serenity how thankful he was that they were alive though.

"Well you know how my parents were killed by you know who right?"
He nods
"And I told you that they were killed because they wouldn't torture people, people that were their friends?"
"Yeah..." he says
"Well, it turns out those people were your parents. My parents refused to torture them, they were double agents and were a part of The Order like yours were. They were ordered to torture your parents Neville" I start tearing up but still don't look at him
"Neville I'm so sorry, I'm sorry that happened to them, maybe if my parents refused to be double agents things could have been different, I'm so sorry."

I feel Neville pull me into a tight hug.

"Aren't you upset?" I ask
"no quite the opposite, I wish I could thank them." He says. He pulls away and tucks some loose hairs behind my ear.
"Do you want to go look for your sketchbook?" He asks
"OH! Actually, can we go and try to catch the last bit of students entering the tournament?"

Neville had lifted me onto his back into a piggy back ride by the time we get to the hall.
"Faster" I yell with giggles as he runs faster. We spot Hermione and Neville drops me on the seat next to her
"ow!" I yell.
"Sorry not sorry" he says with a smirk and sits in front of me and I start braiding pieces of his hair. "Mione, did I miss Ced?" I lean over and ask.
"I don't think so, but I haven't been paying much attention to be honest." She admits "you guys seem peachy" she says, motioning towards Neville and I. My legs were now wrapped around him and he was holding my feet together.
"Your feet stink." He said while fake gagging
"oh shove off" I say while kicking him playfully. I look back to Hermione who is smirking like she knows a dirty secret and I roll my eyes at her.