Prompt:
Demeter: Harvest, Agriculture, Nature.
Queenly Demeter, bringer of seasons and giver of good gifts, what god of heaven or what mortal man has rapt away Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart?
– Homer
Title: Vagina Vegetation
Rating: T
Word count: 500
Warnings: N/A
Draco glared across the workbench. Abbott simpered while Longbottom brandished the bright magenta fruit of his Tenera labra before her in triumph. Draco shifted his stare to his own stubborn plant and stroked the petal lips with his thumb again.
Nothing.
Who'd believe Longbottom could wield a sword as well as he handled this ridiculous labia flower?
Professor Sprout's admonishments about harvesting fruit and delicate openings resulted in non-stop tittering throughout the greenhouse. But a frustrated growl to his left drew his gaze. Granger wasn't having any luck coaxing open her vagina plant either.
Snake-killer-Longbottom glanced up, concerned. "You have to project happiness, Hermione. It knows you're angry and won't open."
"Thanks, Neville."
The irritated, clipped tone belied her gratitude. Pushing up her sleeves, she plastered a fake smile to her face and appeared to be counting to ten.
Granger was just as much a hero as Longbottom, if not more so, and yet she'd been outwardly bitter this whole year while he was in his element. Draco eyed the carved 'Mudblood' word on her skin and instantly felt terrible. Ignoring his fear of rejection, he turned to her.
"You saved my life."
Fingers paused above the flower petals, her eyes met his. She seemed to have forgotten he was sitting next to her.
"What?"
"Me. Longbottom. Abbott. This entire class. You saved us all. You deserve to be happy."
"Oh." Granger blinked, probably surprised he was talking to her. "I wish it were that simple."
She returned to the petals, delicately running her fingers along their soft folds. At first, the classwork was awkwardly humorous with the plant's similarity to female genitalia. But watching Granger's movements, a warm pressure spread from below. Draco turned away, embarrassed lest she notice.
Nervously, he pressed the folds again but pushed too hard. His thumb slipped through the petals, popped the fruit, and a sticky whitish fluid squirted his face.
"Gah!"
His irritation deflated the moment he heard Granger's laughter. Draco swiveled around to see her red-faced and clutching her stomach as her shoulders shook with big belly laughs. Her humor was contagious, and he smiled, despite the liquid dripping down his chin and onto his robes.
"I'm– I'm sorry Malfoy!" she sputtered. "I can't–" she wheezed and smacked the table. Draco watched her laugh, his chest expanding with something like pride. After realizing everyone was staring at them, Granger's guffaws died down. Sighing happily, she wiped her eyes. "I haven't laughed that hard in a long time."
He vanished the goo. "Glad to be of service."
Mouth still twitching, she stroked her Tenera labra. She watched with a triumphant grin as the flower shuddered and the petals unfurled.
He wanted to make her laugh again. Laughter couldn't fix everything, but it was something, wasn't it?
"This is a terrible metaphor."
Raising an eyebrow, Granger took his bait. "Your technique needs work."
"I need work on a lot of things."
Holding the fruit to her lips, she studied him thoughtfully. "Want a bite?"
Chapter end notes:
No murder in this one!
These drabbles really are difficult! I'm out of the comp now, and just writing from the prompt for fun. Next week is the last week. If anyone has any crits please let me know!