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Disclaimer : I don't own HP
"Back again, Mr. Longbottom?"
"I'll keep coming every evening as long as you have your lovely assistant, Tom, "Neville answered with a grin.
Tom, the barman, flashed the young man a toothless smile. "She'll soon be owner her. Then, she'll throw you out and not let you visit during her working hours."
"Ah, you know she's too kind to do that," said Neville, his words slightly slurred.
"Drunk already, are we?" Hannah Abbott asked, raising an eyebrow as her boyfriend stumbled his way to the bar.
"I haven't touched a single drink. I'm just really tired," he replied.
Hannah reached out to stroke Neville's cheek and gasped. "Neville Longbottom! You're burning up! How did your Gran let you out of bed with a fever like that?"
"I…er…might have…er..sneaked out the back…" Neville muttered sheepishly.
"And what was so important that you had to sneak out when you're sick? You could have just sent me an owl!"
"I know, but my new Venomous Tentacula was teething and I had to see the Flutterby bush and collect its seeds," he trailed off as Hannah glared at him.
"You love your plants far too much. You stay right here until I get you some ice and a cloth," she ordered, her eyes full of worry at the young man's tired demeanour. She bustled off behind the bar.
Neville put his hot, aching head on the cool counter, watching the beads of condensation travel down the glass of Butterbeer the old man beside him was sulking over. The caramel colour reminded him of aconite, one of the many plants in his greenhouse…
"Neville. Oh, Nevilleeee," trilled a voice. He sat up with a start. The lady behind the bar was far too slender and wiry to be Hannah. Besides, Hannah was blonde. This lady had red hair.
"Who're you?" he asked. She turned around and Neville jumped off his stool, backing away from the bar.
"Don't you recognize me, Neville? I am one of your favourite plants. I'm your beloved Tentacula," she pouted. She climbed over the bar with plant like grace and agility – almost as if she was growing over the counter. She stroked his hair with a leafy hand. "You are so hot. Why don't you sit down for a drink?"
She thrust a glass into his hand. Neville took a cautious sip and spat it our. "Ugh! What is this?"
"Fermented Bubotuber pus of course! Your favourite, silly," the Tentacula giggled.
Neville backed away, getting scared now. "You shouldn't be talking. Plants can't talk."
"Of course we can," a squeaky voice said. He looked around to find three Mandrakes sitting at the bar. "You've told us how much you love us so many times. Now we can tell you too!" squeaked one of the Mandrakes.
The Tentacula wrapped herself around him, clinging to his body. "You make me feel so alive, Neville. When you stroke me and talk to me, it makes me feel so wanted," she breathed seductively. "Let's run away and get married. Then we can eat dragon dung and drink Bubotuber pus and be happy for the rest of our lives."
"Get away from me!" Neville yelled, pulling himself away. "I have to get out of here."
"Yeah, get away from him, you big hussy. He obviously wants me," cooed another voice.
Neville spun around to find a short, plump female with unnaturally long eyelashes behind him. She batted her lashes, "You prefer your cute little Flutterby, don't you Nevvy-poo?"
"No he doesn't, he loves me best!" cried another voice. Neville spun around yet again to find a woman with multicoloured hair beside the Tentacula. "He's always had a soft spot for Puffapods," the new lady declared.
"Ha, you're an eyesore! He's coming with me!" yelled Flutterby.
"You're both mad! He's obviously in love with me!" screeched Tentacula.
"Go away, all of you! None of you should be here. Where's Hannah?" Neville shouted.
All three plant-women stopped, identical, evil expressions of hatred on their face. "You mean the dotty, unattractive, girl?" Tentacula said, her voice dripping with venom as she pointed at the bar.
Neville looked over her shoulder and his heart leapt into his throat. "Hannah!"
"Neville! Help me!" she screamed, struggling against the Devil's Snare that had trapped her.
"Forget her, Neville. You have us. You know you live for us," Puffapod hissed, her voice enticing.
"You love us more than anything else," said Flutterby, batting those long eyelashes.
Neville glanced from them to the suffocating Hannah. His eyes burned with determination as he Conjured up a pair of sharp shears and snapped them threateningly at the plants. "Let go of my girlfriend!" he yelled, running at the Devil's Snare.
"Oh no you don't!" shrieked Tentacula. She jumped at Hannah, using her vines to choke the girl faster.
"Neville!" Hannah screamed, trying to fight off the crazed plant.
"I'm coming Hannah!" Neville chopped off Flutterby's eyelashes and jumped over Puffapod, batting away the seeds she launched at him. He dodged Tentacula's vines, hacking away with his shears.
"Neville!" came Hannah's voice.
He attacked Tentacula, cutting away the vines and chopping at the Devil's Snare.
"Neville!"
Suddenly, one of the Tentacula's vines wrapped around his shoulders.
"Neville!"
She was shaking him hard…
"Neville, stop thrashing about! Wake up!"
Neville's eyes flew open. "Hannah!" he yelled, looking around wildly.
The shaking stopped and Hannah let go of Neville's shoulders. "Finally, you're awake," she said, her eyes concerned as she took in Neville's sweaty, pale face.
He looked panicked. "Hannah! The Devil's Snare didn't get you? I was coming to help but those numpties – the plant women – were attacking me and then the Tentacula got me and – "
"Neville, you're alright. You fell asleep on the counter. It was just a dream,. What do you expect when you're so feverish that you get delirious?" said Hannah, soothingly.
"It was just a dream?"
"That's right."
He suddenly kissed her and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'll never let my plants take you away. You're far prettier and more precious than any of them!" he announced passionately.
"Hey, let go you big numpty. Let's get you home and into bed with a nice goblet of Pepper-Up potion and a hot water bottle," Hannah said with a smile.
"Will you stay over at my house tonight?"
Hannah couldn't refuse those big, pleading eyes. "Alright. And don't worry, I won't get kidnapped by your plants."
"I love you, Hannah. I love you more than any of my plants. They're insignificant weeds and you're my big, beautiful sunflower," Neville said as she supported him towards the fireplace.
She laughed, a big, happy, goofy smile permanently adorning her face now. "I love you too, Neville."
Please read:
Okay, so far, these are the couples I've managed to find for this story :
Remus-Tonks
Luna-Rolf
Rise-Scorpius
Fred/George-Angelina
Bill-Fleur
Teddy-Victoire
Percy-Audrey
Filch-Pince (unless everyone thinks that's too weird)
Draco-Astoria
Harry-Ginny
Ron-Hermione
It won't be in that order except for the last two. I might also do a Snape-Lily and Draco-Hermione...
If anyone has any other couples or story ideas for the above, please do let me know!
Please review!
