Chapter 12

Sitting quietly at her desk, Rosemary studied the papers before her with critical eyes. So absorbed in her work was she that she almost didn't hear the loud, insistent knock at her door.

"Yes?" she called. "Come in!"

The door creaked open, the old hinges squealing shrilly. A small, round face poked inside the room and peered about.

"Neville!" exclaimed Rosemary. "What a pleasant surprise, I wasn't expecting to see you until sometime next week. How was your break?" she added, beckoning him further into the room.

"It was fine," said Neville with a shy smile.

"Good; how's your Gran doing?"

"She's fine; she's very happy with my improvement in potions. She even said that if I keep my marks up, then she might be able to get me my own broomstick!"

Rosemary smiled at his youthful delight. "That's wonderful, Neville; I guess that just means we're going to have to work even harder this semester, right?"

Neville nodded and began to fidget nervously. "This is for you!" he blurted out suddenly. He thrust forward a small, leafy green plant. Rosemary smiled and accepted it.

"It's an Everbloom," Neville explained. "Once the flowers begin to bloom, they won't stop unless the plant dies."

"Neville, this was so thoughtful of you; thank you." Setting down the plant, she gave him a warm hug. "You're such a kind boy. You're going to make some girl very happy."

He flushed a deep scarlet, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He opened his mouth to speak, but found himself cut off by the wintery voice of Professor Snape.

"I do hope that I am not interrupting anything," he said dryly. His black eyes swept over Neville with careful scrutiny, noting the new plant on Rosemary's desk.

Rosemary smiled gently at him. "Neville and I were just talking about his holiday; weren't we Neville? It seems that his Gran is quite pleased with his progress in your class, Professor."

Neville quivered under Severus's acidic stare; when he attempted to speak, e found that he could manage nothing more than an undignified squeak.

"I see," intoned Severus disinterestedly.

"Neville, if you'll excuse me, I have a previous appointment with Professor Snape. I'll see you sometime next week, all right?"

Neville nodded weakly, his shoulders slumped with defeated as he trudged out of the room. Severus watched him go, intrigued (if only for a moment). Rosemary situated the Everbloom on her desk, and joined Severus at the door. She resisted the urge to take his hand, knowing both that it would be inappropriate, and that he most likely would tense up and pull away. She was learning very quickly that he was damn near phobic of intimacy.

They left the class room behind and made it to the front hall just in time to slip out before the students left dinner.