Plants in the Moonlight (open)

Carefully Neville prodded the plant in front of him; he needed the tender inner flesh of the plant to remain unscathed and the particular plant when it was being harvested would often times release a poison into itself to kill the tender meat so that it was rendered unusable for potions. Next to him his table mate was viciously stabbing his plant and Neville winced, an imagined cry emitting from the plant as the thick creamy substance that the plant emitted slipped sluggishly down it's greenish-grey skin.

Somewhere across the room Professor Sprout was keeping watch on those that didn't have the slightest idea on what they were doing but because of his proficiency in the class he was often left in charge of those at his table and more often than not was call upon to do tutoring for the OWLS. Neville didn't mind, he loved Herbology and planned on one day taking over the class, but for right now he was happy just being the star pupil.

All too soon the class was over and he was cleaning up, lovingly adding water to his plant and placing it on a shelf that was getting plenty of sunlight. As he headed back to the table he spotted the mangled mess of the plant his table and he sighed, picking up the pieces and emptying the pot out behind the greenhouse; there was no way that the plant was going to bounce back and he felt silly as he shed a tear.

Gathering his books headed back into the school, it was time for lunch and he was looking forward to just relaxing before potions.

Draco sneered as he watched from the doorway, Neville take the plant that Malfoy had mangled out back to dispose of it. He didn't care about the damned things, and the class was particularly boring to him. He should have probably taken it more seriously, but they were only plants and he hardly saw what was so horrible about entertaining himself with one once in a while--leaving it in shreds if he so wished. They were just plants, it wasn't as if they felt anything anyway.

The blond headed to the Great Hall for lunch with the rest of the students, and sat himself in his usual chair at the Slytherin table. He was mimicking Neville, boo-hooing in an exaggerated way which he and most of the Slytherin table found to be amusing.

"Do you know what Neville did after Herbology today? He took his plant out behind the greenhouse and gave it a good snog. The poor thing wilted and died of fright!" Draco and his two thuggish bodyguards laughed merrily at Draco's joke. "I'm Neville Longbottom, but if you ask me in five minutes, I might have forgotten. And don't hurt my pretty flower or I'll cry about it--booo hoooo."

The Slytherin table errupted into more laughter, and Draco took a self-congratulatory bow at his own genius and wit.

Neville heard the laughter from the other table nand judging from the looks he was getting it was probably at his expense. It was nothing new for him to be the butt of every Slytherin's joke but it still didn't take the sting away. He took another few bites of his meal before pushing it away and standing, straightening his robes and gathering his books.

Looking at the large hour glass on the wall he seen that he still had around twenty mintues before potions class started. With a sigh he left the hall, heading down to the dungeons to wait for class to start. He sat down indian style on the floor and opened his herbology book, reading about the different uses for the plant he'd harvested in class and how they impacted potion making.

Draco made his way to Potions class by himself, having looked around for Goyle and Crabb later and finding them nowhere. He had told them specifically to wait for him, but they were obviously too stupid to comprehend even a simple instruction. Annoyed at having been left alone Draco slumped against the opposite wall in the hallway, looking pouty. There was no one there yet but Neville, sitting on the floor with his nose stuck in his Herbology book. Draco watched him quietly, looking through his lashes in a way which he hoped was discrete.

After a few moments, Draco glanced up and down the hallway, scanning it multiple times to make sure no one was approaching from either way or ready to pop out of a classroom. He was considering speaking to Neville, though the thought alone made him feel awkward. He had planned at some point in the near future to bully Neville into doing his Herbology homework for him, as he was doing poorly in that class and did not wish to disappoint his father with poor marks. However, his usual sidekicks were nowhere around, and so the bullying of Neville Longbottom would have to wait. Without his beefy protection he was too afraid to do so. He wasn't specifically afraid of Neville, that would have been silly. Draco was afraid that on his own, the students he regularly picked on would become brave and lash out at him--and humiliation and physical pain were two things that Draco did not take well at all.

The moments until Potions ticked away, and Draco knew that at any moment, more students would be waiting outside the door, not as if they were eager to attend Professor Snape's class, but because few dared to be late to it as they would receive strict consequences from the Head of Slytherin House.

Draco pushed off of the wall, took a step towards Neville, and then looked once more around to make for certain he and Neville were alone. He crossed the hallway and stood near Neville, looking down at him and feeling awkward. Was Draco actually going to ask nicely for Neville to help him in Herbology? The thought of such a thing made Draco's lip curl and his gray eyes narrow. He couldn't, it would completely ruin his reputation.

"N-Neville?" Draco forced a sneer, but it looked anything but natural or threatening. It simply looked like he was trying too hard, which was usually the case anyway, but with Crabb and Goyle at his side, his ruse came easier to him. Without them he lacked the confidence to pull it off as well as he would have liked. He even had used Neville's first name, not a snipped 'Longbottom' with a hint of jeering laughter behind it. It had come out 'Neville' and stuttered and horrible.

He'd heard the sound of footfalls on the ancient stone flooring and had peeked up from his book. Inwardly Neville sighed, was he never going to catch a break from the constant bullying and put downs. As if being a Slytherin is soo much better than a Griffyndor. He muttered to himself. My bloodlines are just as pure as Malfoy's he needs to go take a long walk off a short pier. At least Goyle and Crabbe aren't with him, so I guess someone somewhere must like me even a little bit. Quietly Neville lowered his head and waited for Draco to say something, anything at all to him.

When no jeers or jabs or any snarky comments reached him Neville turned a page in his book and when he did he chanced a look up; his eyes falling back to the freshly turned page when he seen that Draco was looking at him and not throwing any rude taunts. Something inside of Neville immediately went on the alert; this was out of Draco's character and as such was to be treated with high skepticism. He was sure that somewhere Draco's goons were waiting to pounce on him and make his face a bloody mess if he dared to speak to the darling of Slytherin house.

"N-Neville?"

The stuttering of his name had him looking up at the standing blonde with wide, owlish eyes. He'd thought that his ears had deceived him, the sound was so different from what he was used to hearing that he had to shake his head and close his book as he continued to look up.

"Yes?" It was the only word he could muster and yet it sounded loaded and wary as it left his lips.

Draco tried to look as menacing as he could, but he didn't really feel it without his back up.

"It's rather surprising to know that you're good for much anything, N--Longbottom, but it hasn't escaped my attention that you do well with all those boring plants." Draco wanted to chew on his lower lip, but forced himself not to. He flicked a strand of platinum hair off of his forehead, and knelt so he was face to face with Neville, still attempting to sneer at him, although it was really nothing more than a small frown. "We have a parchment due for next class on the structure of..."

Draco glanced to his left, having heard some approaching footsteps. It was Crabb and Goyle, and a few other Slytherins. Draco didn't finish. Instead, he grabbed Neville book and stood up, using his wand to levitate the book just inches below the tall ceiling.

"But you won't be able to do it without your book, will you? Can't be top at anything anymore if I shred it to pieces."

Crabb and Goyle now flanked Draco's sides, looking smug and amused by Draco's sudden antics.

Neville looked up at his levitating book and then back down at Draco. He'd finally had enough, he'd put with Draco's foul taunting and bullying for four long years and it finally hit a head. He cocked back his fist and landed it square to Draco's family jewels.

It gave him some satisfaction to watch the blonde double over and he reached out in time to catch the book before it dropped on Draco's head. At Draco's side the goon twins were looking at him as if they couldn't make out what he'd done and for the moment he was glad, it meant that until Draco started screaming that he'd be safe.

He'd intended to run but at that time the door to the potions room swung open and Snape stood in the doorway. Looking down Neville hurried past him and took his usual table in the back and waited for the class to start; certain that it was only a matter of time before points were taken from Griffyndor for the way he'd acted.

Draco collapsed to the floor, his hands clutching his damaged goods as tears streamed down his face, which had gone even paler than usual. A choked sob escaped him, and he would have loved to scream at Crabb and Goyle for standing there like a couple of good for nothing lumps of dung--but he couldn't cough out any words. All he could do was curl up on the floor and look up at Snape through watering eyes.

Snape shooed the rest of students into his classroom, scowling after Neville. He then looked down to Draco.

"When you're able, I suggest you peel yourself off of the floor, and take your seat in my classroom." Snape stated, and then swept into said room snapping at Neville, spouting off something degrading about Neville's potion skills, and then deducting points from Gryffindor.

Draco took his time, slowly sitting up and wincing at the pain. He wiped the tears off of his face, humiliated about all of what had just happened. He really didn't want to walk into potions now. Everyone had seen and watched him crumple into a whining, injured heap onto the floor--at the hands of Neville Longbottom none the less.

With a deep breath, Draco gingerly got to his feet. He moved carefully towards the door, brushing his robes. He entered the classroom and looked around for an empty seat. He was further annoyed to see that the only remaining seat was next to Neville. No one wanted to share a table with Neville in potions, as he always managed to do something hideous to their assignments. Draco ground his teeth together to keep from mumbling curses as he sat down next to Neville, and threw open his potions book in a huff. The cover made a loud 'slap' sound against the table. Draco sniffed and wiped at his eyes once more, a few tears left clinging to his whitish lashes.

Neville couldn't contain the head desk that happened; his forehead striking the scarred with enough force to leave a red imprint on the smooth skin. Why do you hate me so much? What have I ever done to deserve this?

The sound of the slap from Draco's book made him jump a bit and he looked over to see the proud boy wiping at his eyes. A dark voice inside of him laughed, said it served him right. However that voice was extremely small and Neville opened his mouth to apologize but never got the chance to as Snap started firing off the directions for that day's potion.

Neville paled and scrambled for his paper and pencil, hastily writing them down in the hopes of getting his potion right this time. In his haste he knocked over his ink pot and he groaned as it left inky fingers across the desk trailing towards him and dripping down to stain his pants.

"Great.." He mumbled as he used his robe to sop up most of the mess.

Draco decided to pay no attention to Neville for the rest of the class, even if his cauldron exploded. He heard the rattle of Neville's ink bottle against the desk and from the sound of Neville's mumbling voice he assumed the ink had been spilled. He chanced a glance over, and saw the black pool spreading over the desk towards Draco's things, some of it dripping off the table and onto the dungeon floor.

With a glare Draco scooted himself and his things as close to the end of the table that he could get, which also meant as far away from Neville and the spreading ink as possible. Draco hardly wanted his things printed and smeared, nor did he want to be made victim to whatever other dunder-headed bouts of clumsiness Neville would no doubt display throughout the entire class.

Draco said nothing to Neville as he began to prepare some of the ingredients for their potion, splitting open some sort of brown pod which oozed out a purple, foul smelling sort of goo. Draco hated it. Normally he'd sit with someone else whom he would make do the gross things that he didn't want to dirty his hands with, but right now that wasn't possible. If he forced Neville to cut open the pods, he would probably do it wrong and then they'd just have to start over...and besides, his earlier confrontation with Neville had gone severely wrong. For now it looked like Draco was going to have to settle on cutting his own pods and making disgusted faces at the odorous purple ooze.

With the worst of the mess contained Neville grabbed a pod and with his knife sliced into it; holding it over the cup and watching as it dripped down, the foul stench nothing to him as a few of the plants that Professor Sprout had him working with smelled similar. Soon he had three pods worth of goo collected and he set the cup to the side and started on the next task; finely chopping the iridescent root from the plant that the pods had come from.

It was still amazing to Neville that the the different parts of the plant could be used for different things and that each had their own magical properties. The next on the list was to crush the dried husks of locust; something that was easy easy enough to do. It wasn't the actual prep of the ingredients that gave Neville trouble it was the putting them together.

As the class wore on Neville finished his prep and stared at his cauldron; he didn't fear the inanimate object but his hand did shake as he reached for it. Once he almost dropped it and his face burned red as a couple people from other desks turned to look at the source of the noise. After a moment he managed to get his fire lit and very carefully started to add the ingredients just like the directions stated; his wooden spoon held at the ready so when the five minute mark hit he could stir.

He was so preoccupied with his work that he even managed to put Draco to the back of his mind and for the first time he felt as if he had the class under control and wouldn't be bringing any harm to those around him.

The rest of potions passed thankfully without any sort of mishap. In fact, the rest of the day was pretty uneventful. Draco hardly felt like jeering at anyone after having Neville's fist to his goods. He was still surprised that Longbottom had actually done it, he really didn't think Neville had a brave bone in his body, and yet Neville had proved that theory wrong in a very convincing way.

What else really burned Draco up about that whole incident, was that before Crabb and Goyle had showed up and ruined the moment, he had simply been going to make an arrangement with Neville to copy his parchment that was due next Herbology class, about the properties of bark from some stupid old tree, and how to properly harvest and use it. Now Draco was sitting in the library looking as pouty and annoyed as possible as he reluctantly flipped through a couple of books that were sure to put him to sleep instead of getting his homework completed.

Draco scribbled a few lines onto his blank roll of parchment, leafed through a few more books, and at some point fell asleep atop the stack. When Draco woke up, he was horrified to realize that he had slept the whole night through and it was now morning. No one had bothered to wake him and make him go to bed, no one had even bothered to look for him when he didn't turn up in the Slytherin dorm that night, not even Crabb and Goyle. Draco hastily gathered his things, and stormed out of the library. He rudely bumped into anyone in his way, snapping at a few terrified first-years, channeling the hurt and loneliness he felt into anger that lashed out at any target available. In his head he was half plotting the old fall-back: threaten with Daddy. Maybe after class he could stick behind and bully Sprout with threats of 'Don't you know who my Father is' and hope that it had the desired affect on his slumping Herbology grade.

He ran his fingers through his pale hair to straighten it and quickly made his way towards Herbology class. He'd slept so late he'd even missed breakfast, and now he'd be starving long before lunch rolled around. He day couldn't possibly get any worse. He pushed past the other students milling around outside the greenhouse, purposefully stepping on a few toes, and with a grumble took his usual spot with an expression on his face that was even more sour than usual.

After a good night's sleep Neville started Herbology with a ghost of a smile on his face. He stopped for a moment and chatted with a few of the other students that were milling around the entrance of the greenhouse before he entered; sighing when he seen Draco sulking over at their table; the look more twisted and sour than he could ever remember seeing it being before.

He looked around to see if he could find a better table mate but any of the open tables were with students that were as bad as he was in potions. Shaking his head he moved over and deposited his books on the table, laying his parchment on top of the stack before going and checking on his plant. The soil was a little dry so he added some water and then turned it so that the other side could get some sun.

He moved back over to his table and took his seat as Professor Sprout took her place in front of the class; clapping her hands and requesting the nights homework. He handed his to her and flipped his book open as he waited for the class to begin; ignoring the grumbling coming from besides him.

Draco grumbled and sneered his way through class. Neville's plant looked perfect, while he'd had to start off on a new one after he'd mutilated the one from last class. He hadn't the patience or interest for these damn things and he wanted more than anything to just swipe Neville's plant onto the floor and watch the bits of broken pottery, dirt, and uprooted plant spray over the greenhouse floor. He didn't do it, however.

The moment class was over Draco cornered Professor Sprout and made demands of her and threatened her with his Father but she would not be bullied by a spoiled student. Instead, she stopped Neville just as he made it to the door, and summoned him over.

"Neville, Mr. Malfoy is unimpressed with his grade in my class, as am I." She gave Draco a rather stern look which he frowned at. "Draco, you will not demand or threaten a mark out of me that you don't deserve. If you wish to improve your Herbology grade, then you may have use of the greenhouse after classes and complete extra assignments." And now she turned to Neville. "Perhaps Neville, my top student, would be willing to tutor you, but that is completely up to him. I'm sure Neville, that you would enjoy the extra time with the plants."

Draco looked like he had been slapped in the face. This was not exactly how he had wished things to go. Why would he want to spend any extra time with plants, or with Neville Longbottom?

Neville's face paled as he blinked a couple of times at Professor Sprout; the extra time with the plants did sound like a good deal, but only if he could feed Draco to one of the Snargaluff's.

"Uh...well..."

"Think of this as your way to help a fellow student Neville; to bolster them as you were bolstered not too long ago."

Professor Sprout took the wind from him with that low blow and Neville dropped his head. Even if he'd rather see Draco drowning in the Black Lake; failing the one teacher that he'd really had a bond with was tantamount to going and suddenly saying that he was Lord Voldemort's number one supporter.

He looked over at Draco and the affronted look was almost enough to make him say no but he swallowed the word down and nodded his head; speaking through gritted teeth.

"I'd be glad to help Professor Sprout. Besides I can get a start on repotting the Venomous Tentacula." He looked over at Draco, sighing as he spoke. "I'll be here tonight after dinner if you're serious."

Professor Sprout beamed and patted him on the shoulder. "That's wonderful. Fifty extra points to Griffyndor for improving interhouse relations and helping a fellow student."

Neville smiled weakly and mumbled his thanks before leaving the greenhouse and heading to lunch; screaming at himself mentally for taking on the challenge of tutoring Draco Malfoy. It spelt trouble and Neville had the feeling that he'd spend more time in the hospital wing with random hexes than actual tutoring but he'd at least try.

Lunch was a quiet affair, he listened to Ron and Harry joking around with Ron's brothers and answered a question for Hermione about the use of wolfsbane and even laughed a little with Ginny over something silly that she'd over heard in the halls. Soon however it was time for potions and he pushed away from the table; gathering his things and heading down to the dungeons.

Just before heading down the long hallway he changed his mind and headed back to towards the Library; one day with potions wouldn't kill him and he reasoned that he needed the time to mull over the tutoring plan he was going to put in place for Draco.

Draco whined around to Crabb and Goyle after potions, about being stuck with Neville and then took to criticizing Professor Sprout.

"I don't need anyones help, especially not Neville Longbottom." He said to the two, turning his nose up as the three of them lounged around in the Slytherin common room after dinner.

Goyle and Crabb of course agreed with Draco by nodding their heads, even though Draco clearly needed their help at least. He required them to be around to ward off anyone who might dare to give Draco Malfoy any trouble, or pop him in his big mouth, and if that wasn't 'needing help' then what was? But Draco chose not to think too much into that particular arrangement. It was only wise strategy, this way he rarely had to face the risk of having his face or his pride wrecked if he should try to jerk around the wrong person.

Draco pretended to blow off Neville and his tutoring, and even thought about it seriously for awhile. He took his time battling with himself on whether or not to go, but in the end he left the Slytherin common room citing that he wanted to go for a walk, a walk that just happened to lead him to the greenhouse. Draco lingered hesitantly by the door for a few moments. He might have already taken too long. Neville might have gotten tired of waiting for him and left. Draco nudged the door open, and stepped inside.

The greenhouse seemed sort of creepy at this time of the evening. The various plants were shadowed, some of their blooms were closed as if they were sleeping eyes attached to inhuman stalks. Draco shuddered. What was he doing, being scared by plants? What a load of rubbish.

But as stupid at is it was, Draco couldn't help but feel like this whole thing was eerie. He walked slowly down one isle, glancing to the plants on his left and right. The leaves moved and the rustling made the plants sound like they were whispering to each other, conspiring to do him in...he could almost feel a dark vine slither around his ankle and grip--probably a Devil's Snare--though he didn't even know if there were any Devil's Snare in the greenhouse. Just the same, he could seem to feel the horrible imaginary vine ensnaring his ankle, crawling up his leg--Draco gave a great shudder and stumbled back, whipping around and looking all around in a paranoid manner. He adjusted his cloak, and glared at each shadowy plant.

He moved towards one of the potted plants which had some sort of brightly colored, closed bloom which resembled an eye. He could have swore it twitched and moved; it was watching him. It was staring. But it simply couldn't be doing that. Draco inched slowly closer to it until his nose was mere inches away from it. This was brilliant, he was staring down a plant.

"What are you looking at, you stupid, ugly, plant--"

The eye-pod opened and the plant lashed out at Draco with a high pitched squeal and needle-like fangs. With a cry of shock and horror, Draco threw his arms up to shield his face and stumbled backwards tripping over his cloak in his haste to get away from the nightmarish vegetation. He landed with a thump on his back, staring up through the translucent roof of the greenhouse, the back of his head throbbing dully where it cracked against the ground. Draco sat up slowly, and gave his head a shake to clear it.

From his spot in the back of the greenhouse Neville heard the commotion and for a moment thought about ignoring it; after all if Draco got eaten by a fanged plant who--other than his father--would miss him. With a sigh he dusted off his pants and moved around to the front, watching as Draco got to his feet and rubbed at his head. He looked fine but as Neville turned to leave he seen a creeping vine of Devils Snare.

"Lumos!" The light burst forth from his wand and the vine shrunk back. "Malfoy. Don't you know better than to just creep around in a greenhouse? You about became a victim to the Devil Snare."

He couldn't help but glare at Draco, he still wasn't pleased with the set up but he'd made the commitment and he was going to go through with it until either Draco pulled out of the arrangement or Draco's grade came up.

"Come. It's time for the first lesson. Tonight is basic review over what we've learned so far. Mandrakes Malfoy. Why do you transplant them when they're younger and why do you have to wear protective ear coverings? Also Malfoy what potion are mandrakes used for?" Nevilles voice had evened out to a steady tone with a light gruff to it as he moved between the plants that the moon dappled.

Draco brushed at his clothing, half-listening to what Neville was saying. Mandrakes? Not those damned horrible creatures again.

"They're disgusting. One of the vile creatures bit me third year." He rubbed at his fingers frowning slightly, remembering it. "They scream. They...er...have to be transplanted because Sprout says so and she enjoys making us do boring, dirty things." He shrugged. "As for potions--something I do know about--it's used for a restorative draught and cures petrification."

Draco moved a bit closer to Neville, looking at the way the moon light fell onto the plants and Neville. He doesn't look so bad in the semi-darkness Draco thought, and would have almost laughed at his little joke...but he didn't. He shouldn't have been looking so closely at Neville anyway, or any of the other boys who often caught his eye. Draco shifted nervously. Sometimes he wondered if he had his image as under control as he liked to believe, or if people could see right through him--which he dreaded.

"You're not going to have me transplant one of them, are you?"

Neville smirked; an expression that he just couldn't contain as he pictured Draco fighting with a mandrake. "No Malfoy, I won't have transplant one. They're far too along right now, their screams can kill. But at least you got one part of the question right. They can cure petrification and they were needed when the Basilisk was running around the school. But no, Professor Sprout didn't have us do it because she enjoys making us do boring and dirty things..."

The words sounded wrong and Neville blushed as he looked at Draco and then away. He'd often heard others in house say that moonlight changed people and often lead to activities that ended with them being caught in broom closets snogging; but he didn't think that he'd actually have that ticklish feeling in the pit of his stomach because of it. With a head shake he moved over and lightly touched a leave of one of the Flutterby bushes.

"Anyway Draco. We were asked to do it because of the wide spread issue of the Basilisk. But since you at least remember what it was for then I suppose we can move on to the next plant. GillyWeed. Can you tell me what the plant is used for and the magical property that it does have, how long it last for?"

Neville kept his back turned to Draco as he spoke; he didn't think he could trust himself with the tricks that the moonlight seemed to be playing or the thoughts that the dappled silver light were invoking in him. He'd never really given it a thought--his orientation, mainly because no one showed an interest in him; and why would they, there were others in his house more suave and interesting than he--but suddenly he found himself thinking about what it would be like to press kisses to someone whose lips didn't taste waxy from too much flavored gloss.

"Gillyweed...er...something to do with gills. It gives people gills." Draco yawned, not answering the other parts of the question as he really didn't know or care. "How in Merlin's name do you find these things interesting?"

Draco sighed, completely bored with this. He waved his wand and levitated one of the plants up and off of the table. It wiggled in its pot, somehow seeming angry at Draco's playing around with it. He smirked and levitated it a bit higher, to which it showed him just how angry it was. One of the plants hand-like leaves reached into the dirt in the pot and threw it in Draco's face. Draco sputtered and the potted plant fell onto the floor with a crash, the pottery shattering, spreading dirt and the uprooted plant over the greenhouse floor.

Draco tried to wipe the dirt from his face and only made it worse, smearing great streaks of it over his skin. His eyes watered, feeling scratchy from the dirt in them, tiny grains clinging to his lashes and eyebrows. He spit some of the soil out, grimacing.

"They hate me--all of them do." He sneered, scowling down at the ruined plant on the floor.

Neville scowled as he moved to clean the plant up, murmuring to it lowly as he scooped up the roots and what little dirt was clinging to them. The plant for it's part started to stroke his skin with it's hand like leaf and Neville smiled down at it before scowling again at Draco.

"Plants. Animals. Humans. Is there anything in the world Draco that likes you? Other than those transparent gits you call friends. Half of them wouldn't give you the time of day if you weren't a Malfoy."

The plants leaf reached up and patted NevilleKs cheek and he turned back to array of pots that he had to choose from. He selected one that was a bit bigger than the original and after carefully transplanting it gave it an extra drink then turned back towards the dirt besmirched Draco.

"You know what Malfoy, this isn't going to work. You don't care about your grades or anything else. Why don't you go back to the dorms and just forget about it. Let daddy buy you your job once you graduate and leave me and the plants alone."

"I was only having some fun!" Draco spat again, the gritty taste in his mouth disgusting. He scrubbed his lips against his cloak, making them pink and puffy. He looked offended at Neville's words--and maybe even beneath that, hurt by them. "I wasn't hurting it, and it just THREW DIRT in my face. For NO reason!" Draco whined, being rather dramatic about the whole thing. He felt tears pricking at his eyes, and did his best to hold them back.

He almost turned and with a swish of his cloak would have been out the door, stomping back towards the castle and away from Neville and his damn plants, but something made him stay. At first it was the urge to drown Neville in a pot of soil--to just smash his head and his big ugly teeth into the dirt until he stopped thrashing--but Draco really knew he didn't have the heart to go that far. His bullying really ever ended with his words and his threats. The physicality was what Crabb and Goyle were around for.

"No one likes you either." Draco said lamely, crossing his arms over his chest for a moment, and staring at Neville under the moonlight. "I'm not leaving. Just because I'm...well off...doesn't mean I can't do things for myself."

Draco moved back over to the table, close to where Neville stood. What was he doing? He could have blown this off--could have stormed out rightly offended--but instead he was trying again to get through this and take something away from it even though he hated it. Who was he trying to impress anyway, Neville? Himself? Draco shooed the thoughts from his mind, and with a frown he wiped at his face with his cloak, the grime on his face making him feel even more disgusted. He pulled out a pair of white dragon hide gloves and slipped them onto his hands, wiggling his fingers into them in a very prissy sort of way.

"Sprouts often one for more hands-on sort of activities. Why don't you stop spouting questions at me, and show me how to do something useful--something Sprout might have us do as a test sort of thing. I'll try my best not to harm your precious plants. I'm sure they'll continue to do their best, however, to harm me." Draco crossed his arms back over his chest, looking displeased, but waiting for Neville's instructions.

Neville opened his mouth to say something to Draco but in the end just let his jaw click shut again. Draco had a point; Professor Sprout did like more hands on learning, but at the same time the knowledge needed to be in place for the OWLS and NEWTS.

"Well the most hands on thing that we have here tonight would to be skin the Abyssinian shrivelfig. Professor Snape is in need of the skins for his shrinking potions that he's going to teaching in the upcoming quarter."

Neville had to grudgingly give it to Draco; he'd been given a way out and yet the blonde boy stayed in the greenhouse--for what reason Neville didn't know and he if he was honest he probably didn't want to think about as it more than likely involved him being eaten by a fanged geranium or something else just as nasty. Neville slipped his hands into his royal purple dragon hide gloves and stuck the cuffs of his shirt inside to keep them from trailing in the dirt and to keep from letting the bugs that resided in the plants crawl on him.

"First we need to harvest the plants and then once we have what we need we're going to very carefully peel then shrivelfig. The outside is used to fertilize the plant while the tender inside is what's needed for the potions. One wrong cut and the entire fig is wasted. Watch me first Malfoy and then repeat."

Neville turned away from Draco and with prunes in hand he deftly snipped off a large fig; the heavy fruit landing hard in his palm. He then turned back to the table and placed it on a ceramic plate that he'd laid out and after retrieving his knife from his bag mad a precise cut down the center. The skin of fig started to peel back on it's own; exposing a pale pink flesh and gently Neville hooked his gloved fingers under the curled outer shell and slowly pulled back until the skin lay in an inside out heap on the table and the fig on the plate.

"Alright Malfoy. Your turn."

It couldn't be too hard, could it? Neville made it look fairly easy. Draco remembered the shrivelfigs from third year in potions class. Snape had taught the class a shrinking potion. The only problem was that Draco had not peeled his own figs, as his arm had been severely injured by that incompetent Hagrid and one of the many horrible, dangerous, creatures he had exposed his students to while being a poor excuse for a teacher--the Hippogriff. Thus, Snape had made Potter take care of Draco's figs and other potions ingredient, and Draco had indulged in the benefit of being Snape's favored student and the possible over-exaggeration of his injury.

Of course, now it would come back to haunt him. Since then Draco had not been confronted with another shrivelfig. He had never handled one, let alone to make some sort of precise cut like Neville said was necessary to keep from ruining the entire stupid thing.

Draco snipped off one of the figs and attempted to copy Neville's exact handling of it. He was careful about making the cut--but too careful. The knife didn't slice all the way through the skin. He pressed deeper with the next slice, only to find that the blade had cut into the flesh of the fig once the skin had pulled back. Draco heaved a groan of frustration. Why did such a simple thing have to be so hard? It wasn't fair. It was as if everything was taunting him, taking grand enjoyment in making him look incompetent.

"Is it ruined, then?" He snipped irritably, moving the fig towards Neville.

Neville picked the fig up and turned it over in his hand. The flesh was slightly damaged from the knife; not really Draco's fault, the knife appeared to have a dull edge to it. It happened to most of the student's knives as they didn't realize that they had to sharpen them regularly to keep them in good condition. He turned to the side and picked up a sharpening stone and after a few strikes against it he blew on the edge to dislodge the residue and then handed the knife back to Draco.

"No; it's not ruined. After all the fig itself has to braised to give a caramelization before it's added to the potion to boil down to nothingness. The main important thing is that the skin is removed. The skin itself is highly toxic if consumed and instead of shrinking a person it can kill if taken in high doses." Neville put the fig to the side after finishing peeling it and handed Draco another one as he took one too. "We have a few of these to get done tonight for Professor Snape's class tomorrow."

He gave Draco a slight grin before he turned back to his work, concentrating as he cut into the next one. His mind however wasn't still and while he was able to keep from butchering the figs in his preoccupation he couldn't help but take peeks at Draco out of the corner of his eye. The pale moonlight played off his fair skin and white hair and it was if he was glowing from within; as if he had been blessed by pixies and put on the earth to taunt and tease those around him.

Draco's airs left a lot to be desired but Neville had to admit that when he was quiet he wasn't so bad and even quite enjoyable to be around for the most part.