366 prompt: Cut

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry - Task: According to the HP wiki, Air is the element that represents Ravenclaw. So write about a Ravenclaw student. Max 700 words.

The Valentine-Making Station - Moon: Write about Luna.

The Yellow Tulip

Neville/Luna

Luna hummed as she moved around her father's flower shop, checking the water of each of the plants. She was distracted by the bell on the door ringing, and moved behind the counter to see who had just come in.

Luna watched as the man pushed his hands into his pockets, his head bowed, not looking in her direction. He was someone who expected not to be noticed. Her gave followed him, watching as a hand withdrew reaching for the nearby roses.

Luna moved out from behind the counter.

"Can I help you?"

He turned, and she smiled warmly at him. There was something about his shy smile that captivated her.

"My mum - she's in hospital. I used to go to Rose's flowers but that closed down," the guy explained softly.

"What flowers does she like?"

He gave a small shrug, looking anywhere but at her. "She's been there a long time... she... she doesn't talk, she just looks happy no matter what I bring. I just want something special - something different."

Luna spun around, her gaze moving over the flowers. "Is there anything that catches your eye?"

He walked past her, his gaze on the plants. "I'd like a plant, but I'm not sure that she'd manage one," he muttered, more to himself.

"I have some beautiful Day Lilies, they mean mother," Luna said. "Some white heather for protection -"

"Protection?"

"Protection from whatever has her in there," Luna replied, softly. "Pnk roses are for thankfulness and grace."

"Do you know the meaning of all types of flowers?" the man asked.

Luna smiled. "I do."

"Well, I'll trust your judgement if you can make me something up. But tell me... is there... is there a flower that means /you have a beautiful smile/?"

"Yellow tulips," she promptly replied. "They mean 'there is sunshine in your smile'."

He picked one up and brought it to the counter, watching as Luna moved around, collecting flowers and expertly arranging them into an unusual but beautiful bouquet.

Finally Luna had it ready, reaching for her favourite off white ribbon. She cut a generous piece and wound it around the stems of the flowers, and presented them to her customer, with a smile.

...oOo...

"Can you make these up weekly for me? Should I pay in advance?"

"I'll make them up," she said. "Just pay on collection. I'll need your name."

"Neville," he said, holding out the tulip to her. "It's probably really stupid to buy a girl in a flower shop a flower," Neville muttered, blushing. "But you have a really pretty smile and I think sunshine describes it perfectly."

She took the tulip, winding the flower into her hair and fixing the stem with a hair-clip. "Thank you, Neville. My name is Luna. You know, no-one's ever given me flowers before," she admitted, blushing slightly.

"Well... maybe next time, I could buy you more?"

"Or we could meet for dinner?" She held out a card with the shop's phone number on.

Neville grinned. "Sure."

500 Words

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