It all started when Gabrielle found a small potted flower on her favourite table in the coffee shop she used to write.
Unsurprisingly, she had believed it to be someone else's forgotten belonging, and pushed it towards the other end of the table as she pushed open her laptop to start working. No one came to claim it in the three hours she spent there, and she ended up taking it home after leaving a note with the barista on where to find her if someone asks for it.
It took a week for someone to turn up for the plant, and it was a pale blonde woman who looked slightly embarrassed as she stood at Gabrielle's door.
The plant had definitely seen better days, and Gabrielle wondered why she didn't just let someone else take care of it as the woman – who introduced herself as Daphne – rushed towards the plant in worry.
"I'm not very good at taking care of plants, I'm sorry," Gabrielle apologised, as Daphne examined the plant.
"You didn't do too bad a job. I think I can get her healthy again in a week or two. Thank you so much for taking her with you though! I've forgotten plants at that café before, and they were not salvageable by the time I went back to fetch them," Daphne frowned, "but their coffee is still the best in the area so I keep going back."
Gabrielle peered at the yellowing leaves of the small plant again, and wondered how in the world anyone could get that healthy again.
"Anyway, I have to treat you as thanks!" Gabrielle exclaimed. "I'll also have to ask you to keep an eye out for any other plants I may forget, if you frequent that café often. I don't want to lose more of my babies than I have to."
"Ah, there's no need. I nearly killed the plant myself," Gabrielle instantly replied, hoping to never have such a stressful job.
"I insist," Daphne replied. "If you're open to it, I could help teach you how to take care of plants too. I think your apartment could use one or two. Or we could get you a few vegetable plants, and they'll be useful too!"
Gabrielle found that however she tried to reject Daphne, the woman kept finding other ideas that were more outrageous.
Was there regret? Definitely! A lot of regret!
Gabrielle didn't want dead plants around her apartment to show her failure in something as simple as watering plants!
But the very next day, Gabrielle had three plants lining her windows and Daphne sitting next to her, telling her how to take care of all three plants. The instructions weren't even a simple 'water x amount every morning' either!
Besides, it was a brand new way of procrastinating on her writing! She didn't need any more of those.
"Are you sure I can do this?" Gabrielle repeated, staring at the lists of instructions – one for each plant.
"Sure! It's pretty simple. You have everything you need on these pages, and if you need anything you can call me."
Daphne definitely wouldn't be as optimistic if she knew of the time Gabrielle had managed to kill the cactus that Fleur had jokingly given to her for her birthday.
True to form, Daphne was frowning over those exact plants less than a week later.
"And you followed the instructions exactly?" Daphne asked for the hundredth time.
Gabrielle hid her face in her hands. She had thought she had, but she probably missed a step or two now and then. Maybe she watered them too much on occasion.
"They're still redeemable, but I'd hate to take back gifts that I've already given," Daphne said finally. She'd flipped leaves and poked at the soil for at least fifteen minutes. Gabrielle hadn't the slightest clue what she had been looking for.
"I'll come by every day to look at them, if you don't mind? I would prefer twice a day, but I think I'd be intruding if I did that." Daphne laughed guiltily.
Gabrielle stared at Daphne for a long moment, knowing she didn't want the embarrassment of more dead plants, and also not wanting to admit she had grown used to their interactions over the last week. On some level, she even welcomed it.
She grabbed the spare key from the pocket in her doormat – if there was one thing she was good at, it was making small hiding places – and placed it into Daphne's hand.
"You can come by whenever you want."
Written for [760 words]
Hogwarts Assignment 6: Healer Studies: Task 9 – Write about someone with a green thumb (metaphorical or literal).
Spring Quarterly: Leaving on a Plane: Los Angeles – (Character) Daphne Greengrass
Spring Funfair: Cherry Blossoms: Okame Cherry – (rare pair) your ship must have 30 or less tagged fics
Spring Funfair: Urban Safari Checklist: Impala – (character) Gabrielle Delacour
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