I do not own the rights to any harry Potter characters. This story is non-canon.
Chapter 1: Century Botanicals
Neville Longbottom strolled down Diagon Alley on a warm, muggy August afternoon. He would be returning to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in just a few short weeks. He may not have started with many talents while a student there, but he quickly developed a love and skill for Herbology. Of which he is now the professor of.
He had heard about the opening of a new shop that was said to be right up his alley. He found it just a short walk down from Flourish & Botts. He stood close to the door and looked up at the tiny abode's sign. It read Century Botanicals and contained hollies, lady's mantal, and laurel all of which gave the impression of waving in a cool, gentle breeze.
Upon entering, a tiny bell above the door sounded his arrival. From the back of the store, a feminine voice called, "Be with you in just a moment." Neville said nothing as a response as he made his way around the boutique. On shelves and in corners were every sort of herbaceous and flowering plant you could think of. While there were windows at the front of the store, even the plants in the back managed sunlight. Some sat in pots while others had been decorated into both simple and ornate floral arrangements. What Neville found to be the most unique were the number of purchases that could be made of plants from North America. New England aster, wild columbine, and northern maidenhair fern to name a few. The young professor found it fascinating.
A few minutes ticked by before an auburn-haired witch came to the front of the shop. Neville smiled and looked her over as she brushed dirt off her lavender apron and pushed her glasses further up her nose. She was neither very petite nor large. An average sized figure with blue-green eyes. She stood at Neville's shoulder in height. She finally looked up and smiled, "I'm sorry about the wait. Sorry about the clutter. I've just recently opened and I'm still arranging things the way I want them."
"Not to worry," replied Neville. "I was curious about your shop. I teach Herbology at Hogwarts. I couldn't pass up the chance to come in while in Diagon Alley."
"Well, professor, I hope we meet your approval," she said with a smile.
"Neville is perfectly fine. You don't have a local accent?"
"Nice to make your acquaintance. Annie McKee. And no. I'm not a local. I moved here from the States about a few years ago. I wanted to study the herbological world here. I fell in love with some of the No-Maj- I mean Muggle- botanical gardens. I hid out and lived in their world a short time as an intern at a few."
"The States, uh? And you decided to open your own shop?" he inquired.
Neville grinned, showing all his teeth. "Well, as you can guess… I feel the same way. Herbology was one class I had talent in. Do you cultivate everything in here yourself?"
"As much as I can. Follow me. I can show you." Annie led Neville through a back door. They walked into a small, but decently sized sunlit greenhouse. Around the nursery watering cans were sprinkling vegetation in various states of growth, clippers were nipping off dead ends, and two trowels were in the midst of filling small pots with soil. "It isn't much, but it works for me. My purpose is hopefully to get everything started for fellow witches and wizards to take home and enjoy tending themselves. The floral arrangements will keep for a few weeks if taken care of properly."
Amazed at what is being accomplished here, she went on, "I think it's marvelous. I would love to hear more about it. I know you have a business to run… Umm… Care to discuss it at the Leaky Cauldron after closing?" Neville hadn't felt this nervous in quite some time. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why; and he didn't like the feeling.
Annie looked him in the face with squinted eyes, sizing him up. After a long minute, she agreed, "That sounds great. Say… seven-ish?"
Nevell smiled. "I look forward to it."
