Neville had taken years to summon up this courage. Yes, he was finally going to ask out Hermione Granger. She's out of your league, his self esteem sniped. If I can make her happy this will all be worth it, and shouldn't I get some happiness anyway? I think I've earned it he sniped back.

Of course, it was only proper to get her something as a gift, a token. That's what you did when asking someone out, right? You give them a gift? He'd ask one of the other lads but they might just laugh at him, and he didn't want his friends to laugh at him. Parvati and Lavender? They were nice but he didn't want them to get the wrong lesson. Ask one of the teachers? Right, like they needed another reason to sigh at him. He wanted to impress. And that needed to take that chance.

Candy? Well, she'd like that, but they'd just gone, and he'd already eaten his chocs. Stupid mistake. Completely forgot about his plan then.

Besides, his second plan was something that meant a lot of him.

The school greenhouse wasn't for the use outside classes, but there were plants around the school….but it was autumn in Scotland. Not much in the way of options there. He wanted to give her a flower that meant something-he'd read a book on the language of flowers, and Hermione would almost certainly know that.

Baby's Breath? Forget Me Not? Those would be perfect, but none were in bloom. A rose was the most obvious, and he was used to working around thorns and enduring the stings, but the bushes were barren. Daffodil? Tulip? Not even in Hogwarts. A Visacaria would be too much to ask for, wouldn't it? Not even a carnation or primrose. Nothing was in bloom.

He really would be this stupid to expect flowers in November, wouldn't he? Stupid time too; too late for her birthday, too early for Christmas. You're a catastrophe, Longbottom. His pride fired back-Look, better now than never before you can talk me out of it. Hermione deserves better, better than anything he could give her, but just something, anything. And if you botch this, you can try again for Christmas. She'll appreciate it, even if it's just as a friend. Isn't that worth it? You're not going to be beat by Krum this time.

Then it hit him. It wasn't much, but it was something.

Hermione had just finished dropping off her books in her bed, had fed Crookshanks and had returned to the Gryffindor common room. As usual there was a lot of work to do, but it was nice to take a break once in a while. Harry and Ron were usually good to be around, but this time she felt like she needed a break. The Common Room was surprisingly quiet; most of the students were either in the dormitories or were reading. Seamus was sleeping in the corner chair. Ginny had a magazine. The Creeveys had just left. Being a prefect meant going around looking for students, but a breather was what she needed. Parvati had left the kettle on but it was slow to cook-the spell wasn't a very strong one since she was out at the time.

Soft footprints caught her attention.

"Hermione?" She turned, only to have to push her curly bangs out of her face-she had been so busy she hadn't made the time to try to work on her hair. Not important.

"Oh, hello Neville. What's going on?"

"Nothing. I mean, nothing that's that important-I mean to school. " He shuffled from one foot or another, his hands behind his back.

"What's behind your back?" It came out as more of a demand than a curiosity. Bad habit of hers; she hated to see Neville flinch. Fortunately, he didn't, but instead took a deep breath.

"For you"

She took the small ceramic pot he held to her, peering at the plant within. It was a small Mimbletus, the offspring of the one he had received.

Hermione became aware of her jaw dropping, blood flushing to her cheeks, and her heart racing.

"I'm sorry, it's not much. " He was blushing, but had a hopeful smile on his face., "It's not exactly flowers, but it's something special. It means a lot to me, like you do. I mean, you mean to me more than my Mimbletus."

The witch regained her composure, but the flush didn't go away. The heartbeat didn't slow down. How did he know? Why now? How now?

She wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Neville….this is…" for once she was at a loss for words.

"I know, it's not much. I'm not much, but I want to make you happy. And I hope this makes you happy"

"It does." She interjected. It was Neville's turn to flush and his smile turned into surprise.

"I know how much this means to you, and I was hoping you felt about me….the same way I feel about you. This is a part of you, and that's what a gift is. And that's what love is supposed to be, I suppose. I haven't done the research yet"

"Something you haven't researched?"

"I need a study partner for this. Would you be available?"

"I'd love to help. Study sessions?" Neville's smile returned, but this time a happy surprise, joyful, triumphant.

"Oh, quite a few. Indefinite. "

"I can't wait to get started"

Not even the sprout coughing up pus could ruin the moment. It wasn't exactly flowers. It was much better.