Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Written for the Battlefield Wars: Battle #6 - The Inquisitorial Squad (Front Line Cadet #1)
Headlining Character: Minerva McGonagall
Secondary Character: Eileen Prince
Prompts:
(Word) Exotic
(Object) Diamond
(Emotion) Happiness
Word Count: 1005 ish
Credit for this goes mostly to Jessica (glazedwater) who wrote the basis for this, I simply tidied it up a little and am posting it for the deadline.
"This is so... exotic!" Minerva exclaimed looking around at the collection of flowers in front of her. She so rarely visited the florists in Hogsmeade, but her Herbology assignment called for some independent research into a fantastic plant.
Her best friend, Amanda nodded her head and said, "I know". But she suddenly grinned and said "This is supposed to be exotic!"
Minerva ignored her and craned her neck, spotting some more flowers at the back. She looked down at her parchment, where the assignment was detailed.
Write a report on any exotic magical flower describing the different charms that could be done on that flower. Bring a sample plant to our next lesson.
She looked around. None of the flowers on display caught her eye... she could probably check in the rose section. There was something so perfect about roses, they were by far her favourite flowers.
"Do you know where the rose collection is?" she asked Amanda.
"At the back" Amanda said, turning away as she was distracted by a beautiful bouquet of cobra lilies.
"You wait here, I'll be back in a while." Minerva walked off, hoping that she could quickly find something so that they could have time for lunch in the Three Broomsticks.
"Beautiful..." she murmured. Minerva had found herself in the rose section of the florists, surrounded by both magical and muggle flowers. Usually she didn't have time for such frivolities, but roses really were the exception to that rule. Here, it was peaceful, and she felt a sense of happiness overcome her.
The flowers were amazing. A black rose, starkly contrasting the bright colours around it caught her eye. Most people would assume that roses weren't exotic, being the symbolic 'flower of England', however she knew that many were in fact found only overseas. She picked one up, cast an ever-living charm on it and tucked it in her satchel. Later, she would try different charms on it, experimenting to attempt to discern its magical properties. Sitting down, Minerva took out her charms text book, parchment, ink bottle and quill and started writing.
She opened up her charms text book and began to read the relevant passage.
Different flowers, muggle and magical both can be vulnerable to some spells. Different spells can be applied to different coloured flowers. Colours and spells are listed below:
Something was glinting, annoying Minerva to no end. It was a diamond! Minerva looked up as a shadow fell onto her books.
"Eileen Prince?" she asked. A sallow faced girl looked down at her, a sneer on her face.
"What are you doing here?"
Eileen sneered. "What does it matter to you McGonagall?" she asked. Minerva laughed humorously.
"It does not matter to me. Did you drop a diamond? Although I would have thought that was quite unlikely..." For the first time in her life, Minerva saw a look of hurt pass the girl's face, and she felt a twinge of guilt. She wasn't usually cruel to anyone, but Eileen made it very difficult for anyone to be nice to her. The look of hurt was quickly covered up though, and Eileen's face rearranged itself in the usual downturned sneer.
"That's mine" Eileen whispered urgently, grabbing the diamond. Minerva was shocked. The other girl protectively held the jewel and Minerva found herself wondering whether she was quite sane. Clearly living in dungeons had really affected her head.
"I can't believe I am standing here at a flower garden having a conversation with you" she said.
"Well maybe you should get over yourself then" Eileen muttered. "You're not the only one who has that stupid assignment.
"You know, I was having a really nice time before I met you"
"You're not the only one McGonagall."
"So just leave!"
"Getting on your nerves, am I?"
"Are you stupid?!"
"At least I'm not a Gryffindor!"
"Argh!" Minerva stomped her foot angrily. She took a deep breath. "If only I didn't have to write a report on these flowers and observe them then I wouldn't talk to you"
"Can't ignore me?" Eileen asked running her fingers over the soft petals of a dark coloured flower.
"You are not an easy person to ignore"
"Touche McGonagall"
Silence. To Minerva's enormous surprise, Eileen broke the silence. Sighing in irritation at yet another disruption she listened to the girl's self absorbed prattle.
"Aren't you going to ask me about the diamond?"
"Why should I?"
"You were curious"
"I was" Minerva took a deep breath and thought "Control Minerva control. Just write about the black flower and walk away."
But easier thought than done! As the other girl kept babbling on Minerva tried to block out the noise and focus on her work, but sadly it seemed that she would be unsuccessful.
"All of this is making me thirsty" Eileen said and picked up another flower.
"Can't you just keep your mouth shut?" Minerva fumed.
"Can't" Eileen said, a smug grin on her face.
Suddenly her temper snapped. Minerva had had enough! She spun around and walked away leaving a smirking Eileen Prince behind. Amanda was standing outside, tapping her foot impatiently, but when she saw Minerva she broke into a grin.
"What took you so long?" she asked.
"Took forever to find a flower. Anyway, let's just get out of here. I'm starving" Minerva said, hoping to just put the unfortunate meeting behind her.
"Fancy seeing you here" a voice said. The two girls turned behind and saw Eileen Prince standing there. "The nerve of that woman!" Minerva thought angrily.
"What are you doing here Prince?" Amanda asked.
"Ah. I see you didn't tell your friend about our meeting. Embarrassed that you had to soil your perfect self by talking to me?"
"Prince for Merlin's sake just go away!" Minerva exclaimed.
Eileen simply smirked and walked away, leaving them both bewildered and infuriated.
"Bloody Slytherins." Minerva muttered.