Daphne Greengrass & Neville Longbottom Who: Daphne Greengrass & Neville Longbottom What: A run-in at the greenhouses When: Saturday afternoon, 8 January 1998. Where: The greenhouses, I say! Rating: Low for likely awkward and faltering conversation.
The first week of class already behind her, Daphne couldn't believe how quickly it had passed. Was this what the rest of the year was going to feel like? She remembered how, during her first year, things couldn't have moved more slowly. Now she felt like it had been the beginning of September only yesterday. September it certainly was not - she was cruelly reminded of this upon stepping out of the castle as a sharp winter wind whipped through her hair and against her face. Fastening her scarf more securely around her neck did little to alleviate this, but Daphne felt a little more ready to face the weather.
It was sunny, at least, for all that the air was frigid. She always preferred to study outdoors, even in winter. Generally it was always quieter and conducive to concentration. In this sort of weather it was almost guaranteed. The only thing she didn't like very much about it was that the grounds were comparatively bleak. There was very little green to be found in January, there was no getting around that fact, and Daphne had to admit that she liked her study space to be as scenic as possible. Combating this had become a simple matter - head to the greenhouses.
Daphne usually had to be careful about this. Although she'd never had any run-ins with Professor Sprout, she wasn't very sure that the woman would be exactly pleased to find a random student, on not even taking Herbology, poking around the plants. She supposed she could always ask permission but then there was the risk that Sprout would want her to do something and she had work of her own to do. It just wouldn't do to be seen. As always, Daphne scanned the area with her eyes as she neared the main greenhouse. All seemed well, but as she rounded a corner to reach the door, she very nearly crashed into another student.
"Oh!" Daphne looked alarmed, briefly, and tugged the strap of her bag higher onto her shoulder. "Oh. I'm sorry." It was Longbottom. Something of a joke in her house, usually. "Are you..."