Prompt: Connect your fics by having the same main character(Lavender Brown)

Position: Seeker

Word Count: 2,592

Whirlwind of Petals

Lavender sighs as she stares off into the distance. March is almost over, thank goodness. It has been a rough month. First, her boyfriend...well, ex-boyfriend now, is poisoned. And then, he chooses the company of Hermione Freaking Granger, of all people, over her.

So she breaks up with him; she has self-respect after all. But that doesn't mean she still doesn't love him. She still longs for him to be hers and hers alone. Lavender sighs once again, wishing to have her Won-Won back in her arms. She knows he will eventually come back to his senses.

She frowns as her throat starts to itch. She covers her mouth as a small coughing fit starts up. After a few seconds, Lavender stops coughing and removes her hand from her mouth. She then looks at her hand to find a lavender-colored flower petal in it.

"Weird," she mutters, shrugging her shoulders.

It is nothing important. Just a little petal. Just a little cough.

Lavender then turns and heads back inside of the castle. The wind blows, making Lavender's hair flow backwards. The lavender-colored flower petal floats up with the wind and is taken far away from Hogwarts.

Lavender covers her mouth as another coughing fit takes over her. It's the third one that she's had that day. The seventh one in the week.

"Are you sure you don't want to go see Madame Pomfrey? She might have something that could help you," Parvati says as she looks at Lavender with concern.

"No, I'll be fine. It's just a pesky cough. It'll go away," Lavender says as she brushes her hand on her leg.

"Ok. If you say so," Parvati says, trusting her friend.

They continue to walk towards their next class, both oblivious to the lavender-colored flower petals that fall away from Lavender's hand when she brushes it against her leg.

They reach the Charms classroom. Entering, Lavender and Parvati walk over to their usual seating. Lavender coughs again as they wait for class to start. Parvati looks at her friend in concern. She decides against bringing it up again, knowing that Lavender will just say the same thing. Instead, Parvati decides to ask Lavender something else.

"So, are you done pining over Ron Weasley yet?" Parvati asks. "It's been close to a week since you broke up with him."

"So what if I broke up with him? It can't stop me from wanting him," Lavender says.

"Then why did you break up with him in the first place?"

"Because I could! Besides, it won't be long before he's begging to have me back as his girlfriend," Lavender says.

A smug smile tugs at the corners of her lips, as she imagines Ron walking into class, doting on her like he used to do. Instead, she is met with dismay as Harry and Ron walk in with Hermione. Ron laughs at something Hermione says, and Lavender's smile turns into a frown.

"Alright. But if you need anything, don't be afraid to ask for my help. I'm here for you Lavender," Parvati says, watching Lavender's sudden change in expression.

She smiles at her best friend, and places her hand over Lavender's. Professor Flitwick then walks into the room from his office. Everyone stops talking and turns towards him as he starts the lesson.

"Thanks, Parvati," Lavender says, trying her hardest to focus on Professor Flitwick and not her Won-Won.

"Why are there flower petals in here?" Hermione asks as she picks up one of the petals she finds in the girls dormitory.

"I don't know. Come to think of it, they started showing up near the end of March," one of the other girls in the room replies.

"Why does it matter?" Lavender says from her bed as she continues to paint her nails. Why are these people yapping about flower petals of all things? Don't they have anything else to talk about?

"Because we should find out where these morning glory petals are coming from. They aren't in bloom, so someone must be bringing them in here," Hermione says in a tone of urgency.

"Morning glory? What's that?" Stella —Lavender doesn't talk to her— asks Hermione.

"Morning glory is a type of flower. They usually bloom around September. They are also one of the two birth flowers for the month of September," Hermione tells her.

"Oh gee, thanks for telling us some useless information about a totally random flower, Granger. Really helpful," Lavender says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Fine! Be that way. Guess we'll have to wait and see if these are from the Hanahaki Disease or not," Hermione says, turning to leave.

"Oh yes! Just run along boyfriend thief," Lavender spits out, glaring at Hermione, who wheels around to face her.

"At least he enjoys my company. Unlike yours," Hemione says as she storms out of the sixth year dorm room.

Lavender rolls her eyes at Granger's pitiful comeback, only to cover her mouth as another coughing fit comes around. After she settles down, she runs her hand through her hair. A morning glory petal falls from her hair and lands lightly next to her. She goes back to painting her nails, oblivious to the petal on her bed. Briefly, she thinks about her birthday, which is in September, but it is too soon to start planning something for it, so she lets it go.

Lavender curls up in a tight ball as she continues to cough. Parvati looks over at her best friend, worry clear on her face.

"Are you absolutely sure you don't want to see Madame Pomfrey? You've had this cough for close to a month now," Parvati says, dabbing a wet cloth over Lavender's forehead.

"I'm fi—" Lavender starts to say only to be cut off by another coughing fit.

She closes her eyes as tears appear at the corner of them. Her throat tightens as she continues to cough. It takes a few minutes for the coughing to die down. Lavender removes her hand from her mouth. She then hears Parvati gasp in shock.

"Lavender, your hand! There's blood and petals on it," Parvati cries out in alarm.

"What?" Lavender groans as she looks at her hand.

She finds a bunch of lavender-colored petals in her hand, covered in blood. Her hand starts to shake, and tears well up in her eyes.

"I'll go get Professor McGonagall. Don't go anywhere," Parvati orders her friend as she heads out to get McGonagall, leaving Lavender in a state of shock and fear.

Hanahaki Disease. She's never heard of it. Apparently, it's an illness caused by unrequited love. Not only that, but deadly as well. There are only two known cures. Either confess and hope that the person loves you back — romantically — or have surgery to remove the flowers. The only downside to the surgery is that removing the flowers removes the feelings for said person, forever.

Of course, she has the disease that Granger mentioned two weeks ago. And of course, it's all Granger's fault. She took her Won-Won away and cursed her! Lavender ignores McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey as they talk in hushed voices.

She starts coughing again. Luckily, it doesn't hurt like last time. Lavender removes her hand from her mouth to see some petals and tiny droplets of blood. Footsteps approach her bed. She looks up to see that it's just Madame Pomfrey.

"Miss Brown, how long has this been happening?" Madam Pomfrey asks.

"How should I know? I'd never heard of this disease until Granger mentioned it two weeks ago, because some random flower petals appeared in our dorm."

"Was this the first time that you coughed up blood?"

"Yes."

"Good. That means we have time," Pomfrey says. "Now then, what do you want to do?"

"With what?"

"Well, are you going to confess or are you going to do the surgery? We aren't going to force you one way or another," Pomfrey explains.

"Can I — can I think about it? I have a lot to take in right now," Lavender says.

"Of course. Anyways, you'll be staying here for some time. Professor McGonagall is going to talk to Professor Dumbledore and they'll figure out a way for you to continue your studies from here. Most victims of the Hanahaki Disease don't want others to know. If there is anyone you would like to tell, just let me know and I'll send for them," Madame Pomfrey says as she smiles kindly at Lavender.

"Please tell Parvati. And...my parents, will anyone tell them?"

"Would you like them to know?"

"Yes."

"Alright. I'll let McGonagall know so that she can contact them. If you need anything just ring the bell," Madame Pomfrey says as she walks away.

Lavender sighs as she lays back in the bed. Now then, what exactly is she going to do to keep herself occupied?

"WHAT?!"

Lavender opens her eyes, glancing towards the door. It opens up and her parents hurry in, followed by Professor McGonagall. Lavender smiles weakly as they make it to her bedside.

"Oh Lavender sweetie, are you ok?" Her mother asks as she gently lays her hand on Lavender's cheek.

"I'm fine," Lavender mutters. "Can I have some water?"

"Of course. I'll get you some," Professor McGonagall says as she leaves the Brown family be.

"How did this happen? When did it happen? Will you get better?" Lavender's mother asks as she looks at her daughter.

"Apparently this has to do with one-sided love. But I promise that I'll get better," Lavender tells her parents.

"One-sided love? Who did this? What's his name?" Her mum asks, her eyes narrowing.

Lavender feels like burying herself under the blankets. It had only been a few months since she'd seen her parents at Christmas, and she misses them dearly, but having them here now is too much. Maybe it was a bad idea to tell them. I've forgotten their overprotective tendencies whenever I'm hurt in some way.

"Mum, no! Don't be so overprotective," Lavender cries out. "He doesn't even know. Please don't do anything."

Her father is silent the entire time. He cuts an imposing figure at her bedside, and she hopes his reaction won't be as dire as her mum's. He puts a hand around her mum's shoulders to calm her down, before taking the chair next to her bed, which Parvati usually sits in when she visits.

"What do you plan on doing?" her father asks.

Lavender looks up at the ceiling as she thinks. What is she going to do? Probably confess to Won-Won, he deserves to know how much she loves him. But what if he doesn't love her back? She was confident he would reciprocate her affections a week after she had broken up with him, but he didn't so much as glance in her direction. He seemed perfectly content without her. Should she wait and hope he'll change his mind, or will she manage to move on?

"I'll...probably confess and then see where that leads," Lavender tells her parents truthfully.

"Well, whatever you decide, we'll be by your side," her mother tells her, squeezing her hand.

She's not threatening to kill Won-Won, which is a good sign. McGonagall then appears, with a glass of water in hand.

"Thanks." Lavender takes a sip, glancing at the clock on the far wall.

Now then, when will I tell him?

Lavender looks up from her books as the door to the Hospital Wing opens. Standing there is Ron Weasley, the boy who's responsible for her current sickness. The door closes behind him.

"Glad you could make it," Lavender says.

Ron looks up as he spots her.

"Lavender? What are you doing here?"

"It's a long and interesting story."

Lavender immediately sits upright, trying to fix her hair as nonchalantly as possible. Her heart starts to beat a little faster and she licks her lips. This could be her fairytale moment.

"I'm guessing you wanted to see me. Professor McGonagall didn't tell me who wanted me to visit in the Hospital Wing."

"Yes. Listen Ron," Lavender starts as she takes a deep breath. "I have Hanahaki Disease."

"Er...what?" Ron asks, confused.

Sighing, Lavender starts to explain everything to Ron. She tells him what Hanahaki Disease is, how she got it, and why she requested for him to meet her in the Hospital Wing.

"I still love you," Lavender says as she finishes the story. "I still want to be with you."

"Lavender," Ron mutters as she looks at him.

Hope swells up in her chest. Hope that Ron still loves her. That they can be together again. Hope that is quickly quashed when Ron says his next words.

"I'm sorry, but I don't love you."

Tears prick as the corner of her eyes. A small sob escapes her as Ron shifts, a bit uneasy on his feet.

"I'm sorry. I truly am."

"It's alright."

No, no it's not.

"I'll be fine."

I'm not fine. Not fine at all.

"But…er...thanks for telling me."

Oh why, why did you have to tell me?

"Good luck."

Burn. In. Hell.

With a quick goodbye and good luck, Ron leaves the Hospital Wing. The door closes. Silence falls.

And then the coughing starts.

"I want to do the surgery."

"Are you sure? Once it happens, the feelings will never return. You'll never love him again," Madame Pomfrey says as she looks at Lavender.

"I'm sure. After all, he'll never love me back. I'm not going to die because of something as stupid as Hanahaki Disease. I'd rather die by a — a Hippogriff attack or a werewolf rather than by suffocating on some flowers."

"Alright. I'll let the Healers at St. Mungo's know, so that they can prepare for the surgery. They would proceed with the surgery immediately, but you'll probably be in recovery for a week or two. Would you like me to get some parchment, ink, and a quill so that you can tell your parents your decision?"

"Yes. That would be wonderful. Thanks," Lavender mumbles as Madame Pomfrey nods her head.

She then walks towards her office to get the supplies, leaving Lavender to her thoughts.

Is this the right call? My heart says no, but my mind says yes. Will I regret this decision later on? What if he loves me back years in the future? I won't be able to love him back. Never again.

Deep down, Lavender knows that this is the right —the only— choice. She's going to survive. She'll go down in history as a Hanahaki Disease survivor. Lavender starts coughing, once again. Petals and blood cover her hand as she waits for it to end. She's grown sick of this, this sickness. She just wants it to be all over.

Madame Pomfrey returns with the supplies. Lavender smiles as she sits up. Once she gets everything ready, she starts the letter.

Yes. This is the right choice.