Name: Do Not Run in the Greenhouse

Colour: Dark green

Pairing: Neville Longbottom/Barty Crouch Jr

Summary: Neville couldn't say no when he was asked to look after former Death Eater and Azkaban resident Barty Crouch Jr. Life really could be a lot easier if someone didn't ignore the warning signs.

A/N: Very short BartyNeville one-shot. I had the idea for this fic months ago and now I'm so disappointed in this. Pre-slash. One-sided? Fifth Year AU. This is also for the 'Rare Pairings Challenge' at HPFC.

This is the lesser of two evils. It was either this or Azkaban, and I'm not going back.

DO NOT RUN IN THE GREENHOUSE

It's a simple command and yet some people don't manage to grasp the concept.

"Okay, if you could just be still…"

"Easier said than done, Longbottom," Barty hisses when Neville brings a pair of tweezers close to his arm. "I'm the one looking like a hedgehog. Ouch! Careful!"

Neville drops the dark green thorn he had pulled out into the small container and sigh. The broken pot and remains of a Stinger Bush lay on the greenhouse floor.

Sometimes Neville wishes it isn't always him who gets the short end of the stick. But of course – because Neville appreciates Professor Sprout very much and the greenhouses are his only private sanctuary – life is always the hardest for the kindest ones.

It is Hogwarts, after all. What can possibly go wrong when you get to watch over a former Azkaban resident?

Neville refrains from frowning. Barty Crouch Jr had proved that he can be more than a bit difficult to deal with. He is whiny and demanding, like a petulant child. Nothing like when he was impersonating Professor Moody. That's something what Neville had learned during the past week. But there has to be something good in the former Death Eater, Neville thinks as Barty glares at him. Somewhere. Maybe.

"I go fetch Professor Sprout to remove the rest of the thorns," Neville says and places the container and the tweezers to the nearest table.

It's useless to try to get along. Neville doesn't really like fighting with Barty – it's quite opposite, actually – but Barty doesn't seem to appreciate his company. Whatever Neville does, Barty finds a way to complain about it. But for Neville's surprise, this time Barty grabs Neville's sleeve and stops the younger man from leaving.

"No thanks," Barty snarls. "I'm already on Sprout's black list. Just get the job done and I'll stop whining."

Neville blinks in surprise. "Okay." He isn't sure does his delight shine through his attempted calmness.

Without any further complains from Barty, Neville – one by one – removes the thorns. Slowly, painfully slowly, almost waiting for a complaint. But Barty keeps his word and sits silently on the edge of the gardening table.

"There. You're good to go." Neville pats Barty's arm after the last one is pulled out. The small thorn-filled container rests on the side table. Maybe Professor Snape can use them in Potions? "No more being hedgehog-y," Neville adds.

"You're a dork, Longbottom," Barty says with the smallest hint of a genuine smile on his face and Neville chuckles. "But thanks. I guess I'll survive."

"Just don't run inside the greenhouse and you'll survive a way longer," Neville says.

"Stop lecturing me," Barty retorts almost playfully. "I'm not a child. Unlike you."

"Oh, so you're such an old man, aren't you?"

Neville grins but Barty's smile disappears instantly. Neville wants to say something. Anything. But nothing comes out. Barty stands up and mutters something under his breath:

"I'll go show my arm to Pomfrey. Don't expect me to come back here."

Neville doesn't stop Barty when he's leaving the greenhouse but the room feels suddenly a lot colder. The warmth he felt is gone.

The pot shards are still on the floor. The Stinger Bush isn't going to make it. It's so hard to breath.

"It's never going to happen, is it?"

Maybe he's the one ignoring the warning signs.