Chapter 13- a quiet escape

Veronica then found herself alone, leaning against the railing of the stairs, laughing to herself, an almost romantic, silly smile playing on her face. She shook her head at how easily Cedric had gotten under her skin. But her smile faltered slightly when she noticed a long-haired Ravenclaw boy staring at her from across the hall. His gaze was almost flirtatious, and for a moment, she wondered if he thought her smile had been for him. How creepy, she thought, quickly deciding that the greenhouse sounded like a calmer destination.

Navigating the castle wasn't as simple as it looked, and after taking one or two wrong turns through maze-like corridors, she finally found the Central Hall. As soon as she saw the worn green gate with intricate carvings, she knew she'd found the greenhouse.

She entered, and suddenly all the noise from the heart of Hogwarts seemed to fade behind her. It was quiet, serene. She descended a large stone staircase, breathing in the fresh scent of water, wet earth, and rain. Passing through a second door, she stepped into a massive room filled with plants, doors, and staircases leading in every direction. Right at the entrance stood an enormous tree with pink leaves and roots as thick as a person. It was breathtaking.

Veronica paused, mesmerized by the tree as its branches swayed ever so gently, almost as if it were alive.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a voice broke the silence, startling her.

She hadn't noticed anyone else was there. Veronica looked around and soon spotted a tall, thin boy with rosy cheeks and an awkward smile shyly emerging from behind the tree.

"It definitely is," she replied, a bit more at ease now, offering him a small smile.

"I like coming here when there aren't any classes," the boy continued, his gaze returning to the tree. "It feels like a world apart, away from all the hubbub and stares of Hogwarts."

Veronica smiled, understanding him better now. "I think I came here for the same reason," she said softly, studying him a little more closely now.

They stood in a comfortable silence for a moment, the peaceful air between them undisturbed. After a while, the boy spoke again, gathering his courage. "It must be tough... being the center of attention, with all the gossip and eyes suddenly on you. I can't imagine what that's like."

His voice was kind, gentle. Veronica crossed her arms and took a few steps closer, still looking at the majestic tree. "Well... as long as there are places like this to hide, I think I'll be fine," she replied, her voice calm and steady.

She glanced sideways at him, sharing a quiet, understanding moment as they both gazed toward the softly swaying branches.

"Well," Veronica paused for a moment, her gaze shifting back to him expectantly. She was clearly waiting for something.

"Neville," he blurted out, almost as if he had forgotten his own name in the moment. "Neville Longbottom."

Veronica smiled. "Well, Neville, are you a Hufflepuff?" She could only guess from his gentle demeanor.

"Oh no, no…" Neville stammered, suddenly nervous. "I'm a Gryffindor."

"Gryffindor?" she repeated, a teasing glint in her eyes. "It seems I have a knack for making friends with lions."

Neville smiled shyly, clearly flattered. Her easygoing friendliness surprised him—she was already calling him a friend. Perhaps Harry had been right when he mentioned her earlier at lunch.

"Well, if you want," he said, his voice faltering a bit, "I can show you around the greenhouse… There are some interesting plants that most people don't know about." He avoided her gaze as he spoke, his nerves getting the best of him. In his mind, Veronica was too pretty, and he didn't want to embarrass himself.

Veronica's smile widened. She appreciated the gesture, and the fact that despite his shyness, Neville was kind and clearly knowledgeable. "I'd like that," she said, stepping closer. "I've always been curious about the plants at Hogwarts."

Neville brightened a bit at her response. "Well, there's a Venomous Tentacula over there," he pointed to a large, writhing plant in the corner. "But don't get too close—it tends to snap at anyone who doesn't know how to handle it."

Veronica raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A challenge, then?"

Neville chuckled nervously, glancing back at her. "More like… a reminder to be careful," he said, still not meeting her eyes.

Veronica watched as Neville's initial shyness began to fade slightly as he led her deeper into the greenhouse. His eyes brightened as they passed by a group of smaller plants that seemed to shimmer faintly under the soft light.

"These are Moondew blooms," Neville explained, his voice steadying as he spoke about something he clearly loved. "They only open at night and glow under moonlight. Pretty harmless compared to the Tentacula," he added with a shy chuckle.

Veronica leaned closer to examine the delicate flowers, impressed by the variety. "They're beautiful."

"Well, that's just the start," Neville said, his confidence slowly building as they walked further along. "See those vines over there? They're Whispering Ivy. If you listen closely, you can actually hear them. They say it's how the plants communicate."

Veronica tilted her head, leaning in to listen, but Neville's voice soon grabbed her attention. He continued with more passion now, pointing out each plant, describing their uses, dangers, and quirks. The nervous boy from before was replaced by someone who was clearly in his element.

As they paused by a patch of Flutterby bushes, Neville suddenly turned to her, his cheeks slightly flushed. "You know, I've been wanting to talk to you since I first heard you were from Castelobruxo," he admitted, his voice speeding up with excitement. "I mean, studying in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest? I can't even imagine how incredible that must've been!"

Veronica smiled warmly, a bit surprised by Neville's sudden eagerness. "It definitely had its moments. You'd be amazed at the kind of plants we had growing in the rainforest."

"I can only imagine!" Neville's shyness seemed to melt away as he continued, his eyes wide with interest. "I've read about the kinds of herbs and magical plants found in South America, but to actually live there and see them every day? That's incredible! I've always wanted to see a Piranha Blossom in person. I heard they can eat through an entire tree in minutes if they're not handled properly."

Veronica's grin widened, enjoying how animated he'd become. "I've seen a few. And trust me, you don't want to get too close. But I'm sure you'd know exactly how to handle them"

Neville chuckled nervously, but his excitement didn't waver. "I hope so! And Castelobruxo itself—it must've been so different from Hogwarts. I've heard the castle there blends into the forest, almost like it's part of nature."

"It does," Veronica confirmed, nodding. "It's incredible how the magic there is connected to the environment. The whole place feels alive in a way."

Neville's eyes gleamed. "That's… amazing. I always thought Hogwarts was special, but Castelobruxo sounds like a whole other world. I bet the Herbology lessons there are way more advanced than what we do."

Veronica laughed lightly. "They can be pretty intense, but I'm sure you'd love it. You'd probably fit right in."

Neville blushed slightly at the compliment, his confidence faltering just a little as he realized how much he'd been talking. He glanced away briefly, but then smiled back at her. "Sorry, I… I got a bit carried away. I've just never met anyone who's actually been to Castelobruxo before. It sounds like a dream."

Veronica shook her head, still smiling. "Don't apologize. I like hearing you talk about it. It's nice to meet someone who appreciates plants as much as I do."

Veronica smiled, feeling the curiosity build. "You know," she began, leaning in slightly, "you seem to know a lot about plants, and you're really good at explaining things. Have you always been into herbology?"

Neville's cheeks flushed slightly, but there was a hint of pride in his voice. "Well, yeah. It's one of the few things I feel like I'm really good at," he admitted. "I used to struggle with a lot of my other classes, but plants… they make sense to me. I like how they grow and change, even when you don't expect them to. They're sort of… peaceful."

Veronica's eyes lit up with interest. "That's amazing. I wish I had a connection like that with something here. What got you into it? Was there something that sparked your love for plants?"

Neville's face brightened. "My gran—she used to grow all sorts of plants at home. I guess I picked it up from her. And Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff, she's been a huge influence too. She's always encouraged me, even when I wasn't doing so well in other subjects."

Veronica nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like you've found your thing. And Hogwarts has so many plants and greenhouses—it must feel like paradise."

Neville chuckled, more relaxed now. "Yeah, it does. I know I'm not the bravest or the smartest, but out here in the greenhouses, I feel like I belong."

Veronica softened at his honesty. "You're brave in your own way, Neville. Not everyone can face the unknown with the patience and care you have. It's kind of like… you help things grow, and that's its own kind of magic."

Neville's shyness returned with a bashful smile. "Thanks, Veronica. That means a lot."

Veronica tilted her head. "So… do you have any plans beyond Hogwarts? Are you going to continue working with herbology?"

Neville shrugged, but there was a glint of excitement in his eyes. "I hope so. Maybe even work in one of the big wizarding gardens or a magical herbology research center. I've always thought it would be great to help discover new uses for magical plants, things that could really make a difference.

Veronica smiled warmly, impressed by his passion. "I think you'll do great. Imagine—'Neville, the great herbologist, returns from his groundbreaking discovery in the deep Colombian forests,'" she said, her voice filled with playful drama. "It sounds like something straight out of a Jules Verne novel."

Neville chuckled, his eyes widening at the thought. "Me? In a book like that? I don't know…"

"Why not?" Veronica teased, nudging him lightly. "Maybe you'll get so rich from your plant discoveries that one day you'll have your own magical Garden of Eden."

Neville blushed, but there was a shy smile on his face. "That's a bit of a stretch… but I like the idea." He looked at her with a newfound sense of confidence. "Thanks, Veronica. That really means a lot."

"Well, I didn't do anything," Veronica said confidently, giving him a friendly wink. "Just supporting a new friend in his ideas of discoveries and future adventures."

Neville paused for a moment, a small smile forming as he briefly imagined himself dressed as an explorer on a grand adventure. He quickly snapped back to reality, his nerves returning. "Well, you know… I'm not really into parties…" he began nervously, fumbling for the right words. "But… it wouldn't be bad if you wanted to show up today at the back-to-school party that Gryffindor's planning to throw, and, well…"

Veronica raised an eyebrow, intrigued by where this was going, but waited patiently for him to continue.

Maybe… I could show you my Bowtruckle," Neville said, his voice soft but hopeful.

Veronica couldn't help but smile at his sincerity, appreciating how much effort it must have taken for him to ask. "Oh, you can bet I'll be there, Neville," she replied warmly, even though she knew Ginny and her friends had already invited her.

And then she stopped, a sudden realization hitting her that the hours were slipping away. "Speaking of parties…" she said, glancing at the fading light filtering through the greenhouse's windows. "I better keep going. I wanted to stop by the library and a few other places first. We'll meet later, okay?"

Neville just nodded, watching as Veronica hurried up the stairs and out of the greenhouse.