A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters.
This is for THC/The Houses Competition
House: Hufflepuff
Class: Muggle Studies
Category: Standard
Prompt(s): Neville Longbottom
Greenhouse Number 5
Word Count: 1100
Neville enjoyed the solitude of the greenhouses. When there wasn't a class in session, they were usually completely empty save for the plants they housed. His favorite was Greenhouse Number Five, not because it was the biggest, no that honor belonged to Greenhouse Number Seven. It was reserved only for those who were pursuing a career in herbology. Neville knew he would be spending a lot of time there in the future. He had finally had an epiphany about what he wanted to do with his life, if the survived the war anyway.
He hadn't told anyone, especially not his gran. He knew she wouldn't approve. She wanted him to be an auror, same as his father before him. He hadn't the grades for it, having not gotten the potions mark he needed. He was actually thankful of this fact, at least he had an excuse why he couldn't follow her dreams.
No, he was going to a professor, a herbology professor to be specific. He hoped he would be able to apprentice Professor Sprout and take over her position here at Hogwarts, but he was also working on his French to have Beauxbatons as a backup.
No, the reason he loved Greenhouse Number Five was the large plant in the center of the greenhouse. It was the main thing the house housed. The amorphophallus titaum was nicknamed as the corpse flower and was a muggle plant. It did have some properties that could be used in various potions, but for the most part, the whole appeal of the plant was how rarely it bloomed.
It took anywhere from seven to ten years for the plant to preserve enough energy to bloom. The bloom, a large cone surrounded by reddish petals in the middle let out a pudgent scent like rotting flesh hence the plant's nickname. Neville had been watching it since his first year, peering through the glass of the greenhouse. He'd watched the plant start forming its flower cone, watched it growing and growing. Now, in his sixth year, he was certain it would finally do it, that it would finally bloom.
"You're beautiful," he told the plant, sitting on the floor in front of it. He had his history of magic book in his lap. He often came here here to study. The plant was good company, despite not being able to speak.
"Professor Sprout agrees with me, that you will most likely bloom this year. I hope you do. I'm worried about the war, about how things are going to go. I decided I'd like to teach, I mean, I don't know if people will listen to me, but I love plants and I want to share that," Neville said. Talking to the plant helped him get thoughts out of his head. Sometimes just hearing his own thoughts out loud helped him put things in order.
"I don't know how I'm going to tell Gran. She won't understand, it's not a brave profession, not something that will make me rich or bring fame to my name, the family name. You don't have to worry about any of that, being a plant. You just have to worry about getting enough nutrients, about getting water, and gathering your energy."
The plant didn't respond, it never did, but Neville smiled. He had to head to class now, but he knew he'd be back sooner rather than later.
His plans changed slightly, having managed to get detention yet again. He'd hoped that he wouldn't have class with Professor Snape anymore now that he wasn't taking potions, but no, the dour man had switched subjects and now taught Defense. Neville knew he wasn't the best, but he'd very much improved since Harry had taught them all in secret last year. He could even almost make a patronus!
It was almost two weeks before he found time to slip into Greenhouse Number Five again.
"I'm back. Remember the first time I saw you? How I got caught sneaking in by Professor Sprout. I thought for sure she'd give me detention, that she'd ban me from being in here. That was only my second year. She made me write an essay about you. I think that was a good punishment, I learned something from it. I don't learn much from scrubbing cauldrons or writing lines. When I'm a professor, I think I'll make the punishments useful," Neville stated. He was sure the bloom stalk was larger, that it was starting to part at the top.
"Maybe I could practice what I'm going to tell Gran on you? I mean, I know you aren't her, that you don't care what I do with my life. But, I already know she's going to be disappointed. She's always disappointed in me. I wonder if the first people who saw you were the same? The fact you don't smell like other flowers, all sweet and perfumey," Neville commented.
"I'm going to give it a try. Gran, I know you wanted me to be an auror, but I'm not my father. I know I was put in Gryffindor like him, but the hat considered putting me in Hufflepuff. I think it might have been right about that. I know aurors are important, but teaching is important too. I want to be a professor. I've already talked to Professor Sprout," Neville paused. He hadn't done that yet, but he would before he actually talked to his gran. He wanted to make sure he had everything set up, everything lined up, so she couldn't find a problem with his plan.
"I'm going to go do that, talk to her, that is," he said, giving the plant a smile. He knew she'd be in her office.
The smell of rotten flesh greeted Neville as he walked into Greenhouse Number Five. At first, he wrinkled his nose, but then smiled realizing what had finally happened. It was blooming! He rushed inside. The corpse flower was open. The whole greenhouse smelled horrible, but Neville couldn't help but smile. Everything he had ever dreamed of was finally happened. He'd talked to Professor Sprout, told her his new career plan.
She'd been thrilled and happily agreed to take him her wing, to teach him everything he would need to know to take her place when she was ready to retire. Now, the flower was blooming, and he had a front row seat to see it in all its stinking glory. He'd tell Gran his plans over the summer holiday, he knew now, standing here before the large plant, that it would all work out.