Team: Puddlemere United

Position: Seeker

Prompt: Write about a character forming a blossoming friendship with someone they wouldn't normally associate with.

Word Count: 1,054

Hestia Carrow absolutely hated Herbology. Really, it was just a bunch of plants and greens, nothing important, nothing valuable. And the fact that the subject pretty much required her to get dirt on her hands didn't really help.

Except knowing the properties of those things and their effects would help her cut down time in Potions class, as she wouldn't have to look up what the best way to achieve the desired result would be. And these precious seconds would enable her act more precisely in other eras.

In other words, as much as Hestia despised, she would have to improve. After all, she needed to be the best in Potions if she wanted to pursue her dream of becoming a potioneer.

Which she did and totally would, thank you very much.

For that to happen, she needed to have a NEWT in Herbology and that required getting an OWL first.

And that was why fifth-year Hestia Carrow was sitting in the Library, surrounded by numerous books of her most hated subjects.

No, she wasn't enjoying herself at all. What kind of weird question was that?

If Hestia wasn't a Slytherin, she would likely have pulled her hair in frustration several times already, but her upbringing prevented her from doing it.

Still, she would rather be doing absolutely anything else right now. And that was affecting her attempt at studying as well. Hestia couldn't focus at all.

Luckily, that managed to work in her favour, as she was able to spot Longbottom enter the section of library she had been in for the last couple of hours or so. The Gryffindor was not only, well, a Gryffindor from a Light family, but was a year below her at that.

Only, according to the gossip Pansy Parkinson, among others, had out so much work into discovering and spreading, Neville Longbottom was quite possibly the most knowledgeable student in the school at the moment when it came to Herbology. That usually wouldn't have cancelled out his numerous faults, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Longbottom," she called.

The boy turned around with a puzzled expression. Likely he didn't recognize Hestia's voice and was looking for someone from a House other than Slytherin as the origin of the call.

She gave a small wave, careful to keep her expression neutral with a hint of annoyance. "You're looking for me," she informed him.

"Forgive me if I don't believe you," the Gryffindor replied, his voice full of doubt and his eyebrow raised high.

Which was already more reasonable thinking than Hestia had expected of him. If he repeated this, than her whole plan might even work out.

"It is reasonable for you to think that, yes," she agrees, giving him a small nod before motioning towards all of her books. "Unfortunately, I require your help."

Cautiously, Longbottom stepped closer towards her table. His right hand was bent, probably so that he would be able to take the wand from the holster Hestia suspected his wand was in. After all, that was by far the most logical explanation for this motion and Dowager Longbottom seemed sensible enough to insist on a hoster.

"You need help in Herbology," Longbottom concluded after a few seconds of scanning the various books and notes.

"Exactly." Hestia moved her hair out of her face with a swift motion. "Word is, that you are the best to ask for that."
"Why can't your sister help you?" Longbottom questioned, but he made another step in her direction. "Or any other Slytherin for that matter."

"I only accept the best," Hestia explained. It wasn't exactly a lie, but she did omit a few things Longbottom had no business of knowing.

The Gryffindor angled his head to the side and hums. "Sure. But tell me one thing: why should I help you?"

Hestia smiled. It was a real smile, which didn't really happen often for her. However, Longbottom had managed to impress her twice within the span of minutes. That deserved some recognition.

Raising an eyebrow, she questioned, "You need help in Potions, don't you?" She paused for a moment, until he nodded. "Well, that's my best subject. So what I propose is: you help me and in turn I help you. A quid pro quo, so to say. What do you think?"

"I'd say that that sounds reasonable," he replied with a nod, but he didn't move any closer. In fact, he turned towards the shelves again.

Hestia waited a minute before she prompted. "Well?"

"I am not going to start doing it right now, am I?" Longbottom chuckled.

"Of course you're not." She shook her head, a smile on her lips that wasn't even close to as real as the previous one. in fact, she was fighting of a frown for a reason even she herself didn't know. "Nevertheless, Longbottom, we would need to agree on a time."

Longbottom turned back towards her and stepped closer. "Call me Neville," he said in an authoritative tone. At least for him it was one. "I just need to get an essay done, then we can start, if you want to."

So soon? "You do that," she replied accompanying it with a shrug. "I'll be right here. As I've been for the entire day."

"You should take a break, Hestia."

The way he drew out her name clearly suggested that he was guessing as well as requesting permission, so she confirmed it with a nod before she argued that she needed to get this done.

"Since when are you a Ravenclaw?" He chuckled. "I thought only they, Hermione, and Percy Weasley did that to themselves."

"Well, you know, I am a Slytherin," Hestia replied.

"Yes, but choosing ambition over basic self-preservation? Staying in the library all day and going hungry?" Neville shook his head. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but that doesn't sound very Slytherin to me."

"You may have a point there." Hestia pointed her quill in the Gryffindor's direction as her stomach agreed. "I think I'll go to the kitchen while you write that essay. Maybe see the sun for a few minutes," she added as she saw out of the window. Somehow she had completely missed the fact that it was a really nice day outside.

"You do that," Neville quoted. "I'll be right here."