This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Word Count: 1571
Title: Aurora Flowers
Note: slight OCC perhaps
Warnings:
Beta: Aya Diefair, Claude Amelia Song
Hogwarts
Assignment 3: Floral Design: Task Four: Bouquet - Write about a romantic gesture
"So, why did you want me to go with you, Neville?" Ron asked curiously.
He knew about his friend's fascination with Herbology, but, personally, he didn't see the point. Ron wasn't very clued up on the subject himself.
"I could use a friend," Neville said, blushing slightly. "Harry mentioned you have had experience with Devil's Snare before."
"Yeah, an experience I don't really want to repeat," Ron said with a shudder. "Also, it's been years, we were like, twelve years old or something."
"Oh please," Neville asked, giving Ron puppy-dog eyes. "And I think you were eleven."
"Alright then, but if we get captured and die, it's all your fault."
Neville laughed. "We won't die. Besides, I know exactly how to go around the area, anyway. I asked, so, you know, I'd have some company."
Ron looked curiously at Neville, and then nodded. "Alright, then."
It wasn't as if the two hadn't been hanging out a lot since they both graduated, and despite Neville becoming a professor, it seemed he was out exploring forests and fascinating plants more often than he was around the school, especially over weekends.
Neville checked the map and led the way, smiling back at Ron encouragingly. Suddenly, a gust of wind pulled the map from Neville's hands, but it was caught by none other than Professor Malfoy, who looked them over with a smirk.
With everything that happened, it turned out that Malfoy had been struggling to get a job, and as McGonagall needed a potions professor, she turned to him, and Neville knew despite his complaining that he loved being back at Hogwarts.
"What are you doing here, Weasley?" he said, not spotting Neville at first.
"I can ask you the same thing, Malfoy," Neville replied, relatively calmly.
"Oh, Longbottom," Malfoy said. "Two of you looking for a honeymoon spot?"
Neville flushed furiously, and Ron couldn't help but make a scathing remark back.
"Go to hell," Ron said.
"I vacation there," Malfoy retorted as fast as a Golden Snitch.
"Just give me back my map, come on, we don't want trouble," Neville insisted.
Malfoy scoffed, tossing the piece of paper back at them, and then turned. He didn't tell them what he was doing in the forest, but Neville reasoned he must have been looking for potions ingredients or something.
"I know he saved Harry and everything, but I still hate him," Ron said, his face still red.
"Yeah, he tends to take the mickey out of me for everything," Neville replied with a sign. "Thank you so much for standing up for me, I get so tongue tied around him."
Ron smiled, "No problem."
"Oh no!" Nevile shouted, stopping abruptly.
"I don't like the sound of that."
"So, Ron, you know how I had it all planned so we would avoid the Devil's Snare?"
"Yeah?"
"I miscalculated," Neville whispered a second before Ron began to feel the tentacles of it reaching his feet.
"Oh Merlin, no!" Ron cried, panicking as soon as the vines wrapped around his feet.
"Ron, calm down," Neville said, "You're not helping me think."
"I can't believe I am going to die already, I made it through a war, damn it!" Ron cried, flaring helplessly.
"Ron, we will be okay!" Neville insisted, but it was like Ron was beyond reasoning at this point, and Neville sighed.
He suddenly wished he had not decided on a romantic confession in the middle of a potentially deadly forest.
"Neville, in case we die, can you just hold my hand?" Ron said, and despite everything, Neville smiled.
Until now, Neville didn't dare believe that Ron returned his feelings. He couldn't understand how someone as great as Ron would fall in love with him. He took hold of Ron's hand, trying to contain the bubble of happiness filling up inside him.
"Lumos Maxima!" Neville cast with his other hand, making the vines retreat from them both, and to Neville's delight, Ron didn't let go of the hand he had been offered.
"It's okay now," Neville added.
Ron was still rattled, and Neville realised it must have been because of his first year, because he had reacted just like Hermione had told him he would. Hermione had been one of the friends to help him make the map, so that he could avoid the Devil's Snare. He wanted to take take Ron to his favourite spot in the middle of the forest that held a field of white flowers, called Aurora flowers, because when the sun hit them just right, it was like watching the Aurora Borealis, millions of colours reflect across the field, and Neville had always found it the most magical sight.
That was why he had dragged Ron through the woods to confess his feelings in that spot, and perhaps one day, he would propose there as well. He wondered if Malfoy really knew where they had been heading. Surely, he couldn't be the only one who knew of this spot. But then, did Malfoy mean what he'd said as teasing? Or did he know how Neville really felt? Neville was brought from his musings to Ron's voice.
"So, uh, can we head back now?" Ron asked. To Neville's delight, he had yet to let go of his hand.
"We are almost there, Ron, please, just a little further."
"You know, not for anyone else, Neville," Ron muttered, and Neville felt his smile wrapping around his entire face. It was only a couple of minutes until they reached the clearing.
"Wow, this is amazing!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes spotting the flowers for the first time. The two of them stood in silence for a few minutes, just watching the lights.
"They are called Aurora flowers," Neville explained. "Well, you see what they do."
Then Neville turned around, clearing his throat nervously.
"So, Ron," Neville started, with the backdrop of the Aurora flowers casting their light over the horizon. "Today hasn't gone quite according to plan."
Ron laughed, but said nothing. Neville wondered if he suspected a confession of some kind.
"Well, I'm sure it's clear now that I didn't just intend to bring anyone here with me," Neville said, clearing his throat. "Since this is the most beautiful spot in the world to me, and there is nobody I want to share it with, except you."
"You're not, I mean, are you asking me out?" Ron asked, a slight blush tinting his red cheeks.
"Yeah, I—I mean, I understand if you're not interested in me like that," Neville mumbled.
"I am totally interested in you, you dork," Ron replied, grinning at him. "This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me."
"Oh, well, um, good," Neville said, and Ron kissed him.
TWO YEARS LATER…
"Where are we going?" Ron asked, following his boyfriend.
Neville just grinned at him. "That's for me to know, and for you to find out."
"Nev, you worry me sometimes," Ron said. His eyes were covered with a red blindfold that clashed horribly with his hair, and he was holding on to Neville's hand as he was guided along.
"No need to worry, you will like this, trust me."
"Do I need to remind you what happened last time you told me to trust you?" Ron asked, and Neville laughed.
"Oh come on, I get us poisoned by a flower once and now you don't trust me," Neville said, still walking despite Ron's objections.
"Love, once is more than enough, thank you," Ron insisted, but still followed along obediently.
This time, Neville managed to bypass the Devil's Snare, and he didn't even see it on the path he followed down to the Aurora flowers, the place where he had finally plucked up the courage to confess his feelings for the man that was currently following him, wearing a blindfold.
As he saw the lights starting to appear through the trees, Neville knew he had found the place again, and his heart began to race.
"Just wait here, don't take it off yet," Neville said, once they reached the edge of the field where the lights filled the horizon. Neville walked towards the field, carefully plucking a single flower up from its roots. He placed a small black box inside, and watched the colours dance across the petals as he walked back over to his boyfriend, who was waiting, slightly impatiently.
"Okay, you can remove it," Neville said.
When Ron opened his eyes, he was once again in the field of Aurora flowers where he and Neville had started their romance, and now, here was Neville, holding a flower out with a small box inside it, Neville opened the box, and Ron gasped.
"Ron Weasley, despite our love still being so new, I finally know what I want, and what I want is to spend the rest of my lifetime loving you. Life is too short to wait when you know. So, will you marry me?"
Ron seemed to have forgotten how to speak for a minute, and Neville was worried he had taken things too far.
"I—" Ron stuttered. "Yes!"
"You will?" Neville beamed.
"Of course I will, I love you so much."
"I love you too, Ron." With that, he slid the titanium band onto Ron's finger. They were starting a new chapter in their lives, and the only witness to their elation was the field of white flowers. That is, for now, of course.