The sweet and earthy aroma of fresh soil permeated the warm air, inciting a relaxed sigh from twenty-year-old Aurore Cerise-Greenwood the moment she sauntered into the greenhouse at 'Calanthe Gardens'.
The shop was 6 decades old; a stone brick structure with a Flemish bond and a tiled cross-hipped roof. It was built for Ines Cerise, Aurore's grandmother, and served as a flower shop, then passed down to her daughter Deja, who reinvented it.
A storefront with wide open windows was constructed to allow onlookers roaming Diagon Alley a view into the shop floor, selling vibrant flowers, seeds, and fertilizers. Then the massive flat arch greenhouse, where Aurore was currently standing, was added onto the back.
She took a brief moment to enjoy the flora, being struck by a sense of nostalgia as she was reminded of the greenhouses in Hogwarts before she shook it off and sauntered down the left row past the Mandrakes that slumber beneath the dirt, nearly ripe. A large Venomous Tentacula rattled at Aurore as she walked by, earning a tut of disapproval from her; it was moody since it started teething.
At the far end of the row, on an elongated table, was a series of terracotta pots, each with various plants rooted in them. Aurore had left them overnight with a mini Nimbostratus cloud over them. Each had grown accordingly; she was pleased; the new Herbology professor would be too, she hoped.
"Good morning, petit (little one)," she spoke sweetly to a Puffapod. Its gorgeous purple and pink flowers incited a smile from her. The large seedpods were ready to pluck, containing shining beans that were used in common potions. "You have a long and important day ahead of you."
Several magical plants in her garden were being taken to Hogwarts for the new school year. Aurore was more than happy to help; the galleons offered to her were a bonus. She had been given a heads-up from the Herbology professor a month ago and today was the due date; he was coming to pick them up soon. This is why, despite it being a gorgeous morning, she was indoors. The forecast had predicted clear skies, perfect for leisurely outdoor activities, though honestly, she'd much rather work in her shop.
Gently, so as not to startle it, Aurore picked up a pot with a set of young Bouncing Bulbs in it. She stared at the purple bulbs, making sure the leaves growing on the top were not wilted. They were far from being mature, but this was the requirement the new professor gave her; some of the ones she had already stored away were meant to be used in potion making and the ones like this were meant to be used as a teaching exercise to the 4th years.
"Steady, my little friend. Behave for the students," Aurore ordered sternly.
She knew how startled the sentient plant could be, and how volatile. A distant memory of one breaking free of Harry Potter's grasp during fourth-year Herbology popped into her head and she snorted. He was struck in the face, which was concerning at the time, but now, Aurore was certain even he would get a laugh out of it.
A chime as beautiful as a nightingale's voice echoed from the shop floor, indicating that someone had entered 'Calanthe Gardens'; the new professor, Aurore assumed. She sat the pot with the Bouncing Bulbs down on the table, but as she was hastily turning, her elbow struck one of the bulbs. She didn't realize it until it happened, but it wriggled from the stem and bounced upwards, knocking her on the side of the head.
"Merde (shit)!" She cursed in shock, grabbing her throbbing head.
The bulb bounced down from the table and out of her sight. Quickly searching for it, Aurore heard haste footsteps and glanced over to the doorway to see Neville Longbottom rush in. His brown eyes were wide in concern.
"Aurore––"
"Be careful," the said woman warned, interrupting him. "There is a Bouncing Bulb on the run."
Neville took out his cherry wood wand and held it tight as he helped Aurore search the ground and nearby plots for the plant.
"Are you alright?" He asked under his breath.
Aurore hummed in agreement, kneeling near the Venomous Tentacula to check beneath its leaves; her maple wand at the ready.
"It got me good… But it's nothing. Believe what you want about her, but Parkinson hits much harder. She's three on my list."
Her backhand at the Yule Ball stung Aroure's cheek for hours. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
"There's a list?" Neville asked in disbelief.
"It's something a friend and I used to do," Aurore uttered. She'd rather leave it at that. "Where did that bulb bounce off too?"
Standing with a grunt, she searched around the tabletops, but to no avail.
"Merde (shit)-"
"Found it!" Neville announced suddenly.
Aurore turned her eyes to him, observing the round-faced man as he kneeled beside the Mallosweet bushes; no wonder she didn't see the bulb.
Rushing to grab a pot of fresh soil, she gave Neville a brief nod to confirm that she was ready. The said man reached down to grab the purple bulb, but it bounced from his reach and into the air. Flicking his wand, he cast a knockback jinx that emitted a loud bang, sending it flying back into the nearest counter.
Aurore rushed to its aid, scooping the stunned bulb up.
"You're alright, mon cher (my dear). I've got you."
She sat it in the pot and gently covered all but the leaves with soil. Aurore took a deep breath and stood. What an entertaining morning. Her joyful eyes turned to Neville.
"That was magnifique (wonderful), professor. Your wand work is getting better," she stated.
His round cheeks turned red.
"Cherry wood suits me better than maple; the latter is temperamental."
Aurore knew; her wand had been known to give her trouble in the past too, refusing to cast spells and throwing tantrums.
Setting the pot down, she cast a rain cloud over it and sauntered over to the new Herbology professor.
"Besides the one, the plants you asked for are ready for transport."
"Thank you, Aurore," Neville retorted with a grin. "This year is looking to be a fun one."
She certainly hoped so. Her seven years were fun, but also extremely dangerous. Every year there was a new evil lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce. Resting her hand on the crude D-shaped scar on her stomach, she took an uneasy breath.
"I'm glad."
A warm hand rested on her shoulder, comforting her.
"Are you OK? I can stay a bit longer," Neville suggested.
"I'm fine, vieil ami (old friend)," Aurore assured him. It was nothing more than a bad memory now anyway. "Besides, you have a carriage waiting on you. I'll assist you."
Neville wasn't content with her answer, but he agreed nonetheless.
For the next thirty minutes, both moved the plants that were meant to go to the school from the greenhouse; the coachman tended to the Thestrals as they loaded the carriage, creatures that were now visible to Aurore.
She ignored them and continued to help until the last plant was loaded.
"Thank you," Nivelle expressed, standing in the doorway of 'Calanthe Gardens'.
"It was no issue at all," Aurore stated with a smile. "Please come back and see me when you have the time."
It did her good to catch up with old friends. Ezra and occasionally Hermione were the only classmates to come visit her; she was sure more would come if they could. Her bottom lip trembled in grief as she waved to Neville, returning to the counter once he was gone.
Leaning on her forearms she took a moment to compose herself, then put on a cheerful smile. The soft patter of paws drew her hazy attention to an old light brown tabby as she walked leisurely on her toes toward Aurore. She wondered where her familiar had run off to.
"Hello, Fleur. I bet you're hungry, aren't you?"
The tabby meowed insistently in response.
"Just a moment then," Aurore stated with a grin. She stroked her soft short fur, then sauntered into the storeroom where she kept Fleur's food.
As she was searching the cabinets stocked with fertilizers and empty pots a familiar chime alerted her that someone had entered the shop. Did Neville forget something? It was a little early for customers, though not unheard of.
Aurore filled a cup with dry food and returned to the counter. As she noticed the customer, an air of recognition washed over her and her eyes grew wide in disbelief.
What were the odds?
It had been 3 years since she had seen him, but there was no mistaking it. Draco looked the same as Aurore had remembered, aging like fine wine. Her heart hammered in her chest as she watched him saunter around the shop floor.
"H-how may I help you, monsieur (sir)?"
Aurore was curious about why he was in 'Calanthe Gardens'. She felt like she was reaching, thinking for a moment that he knew the shop belonged to her family. But how could he have? She never mentioned it. This visit was merely a coincidence.
Draco turned to her, gauging Aurore with his icy silver eyes, a curious look that made her feel uncomfortable then approached the counter.
"Belladonna."
Aurore was so awestruck that she hardly comprehended his words; four syllables that sounded saccharine to her ears.
"Excusez-moi (pardon me)," she uttered after a moment of awkward silence.
Draco raised a brow.
"Belladonna. Do you have any?"
Aurore had to think for a moment. She was certain that she had just given Neville the only seeds she had in stock.
"I'm extremely sorry, monsieur (sir). A colleague took the majority of my stock to Hogwarts for the new year. Have you perhaps tried Slug & Jiggers?"
"And the Apothecary on the North Side," Draco added with an annoyed tone.
It was not certain, but he seemed like the same Draco, but perhaps he had been searching for a while. Aurore understood how tedious it could be when things didn't go the way one wanted.
You truly are a good-natured Hufflepuff, always looking for the light in people.
Given her past with him, it was a shock that Aurore hadn't turned him away upon seeing him. She took an uneasy breath.
"I can order them from a contact in Hogsmeade but it may take 3 days to get them," she explained.
"That will have to do," Draco mentioned with a sigh.
There wasn't much else she could do for him today. Either way, he was going to walk away empty-handed, at least Aurore was offering another solution, more than some would do for him.
There was much talk about the Malfoy family, even nowadays, years after the war. One question, in particular, was whether they could be trusted despite their defect from the Death Eaters.
Did Draco still have the Dark Mark? Her eyes trailed up his arm, but with his sleeve pulled down it was hard to tell.
Aurore imagined some shopkeepers were reluctant to sell to him, because of this. Her past with him was not unicorns and rainbows as the muggles would say, but because she had seen herself how frightened Draco was back then, how manipulated, she could not help but offer her hand to him.
It was more than he had ever done for her.
"The seeds will be in soon, though if they come in before then, I'll send a message via owl to your estate," Aurore mentioned.
Draco nodded.
"Very well."
"Thank you for your patience, monsieur (mister) Malfoy. Être bien (Be well)," Aurore uttered with a smile.
It wasn't the fact she knew him by name that sparked a memory, but the word she used. Be well. He had heard this before and in the same sweet tone.
"Do I know you?" Draco asked with a brow raised.
Aurore swallowed hard. Did he remember her? How could he not? She considered lying, but it wasn't in her nature to do so.
"We, uh... Attended Hogwarts the same year. Though I don't blame you for forgetting," Aurore answered.
She could never forget Draco. He was her first kiss, even if it was an accident, and for a short time, Aurore thought their love-hate relationship meant something.
His eyes brightened to a color of sterling that she found mesmerizing.
"Greenwood?"
"It's a small world, non (no)?" Aurore asked with a snort.
Draco hummed, unsure of what to say. He had no idea he'd see her again. The last he heard, she moved to France. But this was certainly a surprise. She looked the same as he remembered, albeit older. Her light brown hair once curly was now straight, and her honey-colored eyes held cheer that he thought was not possible given the terrible circumstance that befell her during her 7th year.
"You look–"
He paused to run his fingers through his hair. Honestly, he didn't know where he was going with this sentence. Or what to say to her; someone who he had wronged.
"3 days you said," Draco repeated.
Aurore gave a nod in reply. She watched curiously as he turned and walked toward the door. What was he going to say?
Turning, Draco gave her one last look, then walked out, disappearing from her sight.
"Nice seeing you too," Aurore uttered. She reached up and touched her heated face; the other hand was still clutching the cup with the dry cat food in it.
That was awkward.
An insistent meow brought her from her thoughts and she widened her eyes in realization, having forgotten about Fleur.
"Désolé pour ça (sorry about that)."
Locating her bowl, Aurore leaned down and poured the food into it, watching with a smile as the tabby ate. She ran her fingers through Fleur's fur, getting lost in her thoughts.
Seeing Draco brought back fond and tragic memories of the past; of friendship, love, and loss. Aurore rested her free hand over the scar on her stomach.
Of pain.
So much pain.