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Hermione Granger ([info]trustingnature) wrote in [info]beyondthepages,
@ 2010-03-31 01:50:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:!complete, 2023 08, ariana silver, neville longbottom

RP: Last Minute Preparations
Characters: Neville, Ariana
Time/Date: Afternoon, August 31
Location: Greenhouse
Warnings/Rating: PGish for innuendo etc
Summary: Neville is making some last minute preparations in the greenhouse, and makes plans for a fake!date
Status: Closed, completed



The was a small part of him that knew that he had spent way too much time in these greenhouses this week. Heck, this month. Or really, who was he kidding, this year but there was another part of him that was really devoted to plants, and really wanted to make the year great for his students. Herbology usually wasn't the first subject people thought of when they picked a favourite, and while he was okay with that, he wasn't okay with it being a student's least favourite subject. He enjoyed it, and he wanted to give the new students (and the returning students, for that matter) every chance to love it too. Which is why he was still there, even on the last day before classes started, finishing up some final details.

He was dedicated. What could he say?

Even still, it wasn't like it required much of his thought to finish pruning and watering, and fixing things here or there, and his mind started to wandered to the returning dead. He'd been informed, of course, of those who'd be returning to classes again and he felt vague butterfly-esque sensations that he'd be teaching James Potter, Sirius Black, and - for that matter - Remus Lupin. Not only was it one of the strangest occurances of his life, it was also incredibly intimidating.

(Not to mention unfair. James Po- James Sirius Potter had just graduated. Clearly, the universe was playing some sort of cosmic joke on them. But he supposed that was neither here nor there)

Neville did wonder if that was the reason he had gone over his course outline for the week for the 14th time that morning, but he quickly brushed that aside. If he didn't focus too much on his worries and insecurities, he could usually make them go away. Drawing his attention back to the plants, he continued his sixth sweep of the greenhouse.

Everything had to be perfect.


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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-02 05:25 am UTC (link)
"Tried to hook her up with the new librarian. I sent her to the library for a book I wasn't actually holding down there." Ari grinned. "However, she didn't come into my office swinging her wand, so maybe it worked out and I finally made a match with all of you uncooperative professors."

Ari followed along after him, admiring his backside briefly and smiling to herself. "Have they? I suppose it makes sense. I wish they'd tell us for sure what sort of creatures they're bringing in for the first task. I heard dragons again, but I also heard they didn't want to repeat the tasks for fear of predictability."

She grinned at the comment about her being polyjuiced. "You should come up and talk to me later just to make sure I was me during this conversation." And of course if he followed through on that, she'd pretend to have no idea what he was talking about, because it was funnier that way.

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-02 05:59 am UTC (link)
"Uncooperative? I resent that," he said, before he frowned. "Did you try to set me up with someone?" it was entirely likely that she had and he was just completely oblivious. It was a bad habit with him. Though he didn't honestly remember any attempts on her part to set him up with someone. Maybe he didn't have the right personality for it.

He turned around, mildly concerned when she asked him if they had upped the safety regulations. "Well, I mean, I assumed they had. They upped them for the last one, and I just assumed with what went on..."

He didn't think he had to give any more explanation than that, really. Everyone had heard the story.

"I wouldn't mind seeing dragons again," he said thoughtfully. "Though I do have a bit of a soft spot for the lake challenge," he said with a small secret smile. He knew that Moody had only been a Death Eater in disguise, but the ability to help Harry out on a challenge had been a special privilege for him, and he still felt a vague sense of pride to think about it, even if it was a hollow sort of pride.

"Do we need a secret word, or phrase?" he asked. He didn't think he really wanted to get into the mechanics of how this was a silly idea, and what proof did he have that she wasn't already polyjuiced? It was an amusing topic.

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-02 06:04 am UTC (link)
Hm. She supposed she'd walked right into that one, hadn't she? With a casual shrug, she grinned to him. "Nah. Never tried to set you up with anyone. I was saving you for myself," she teased. Sort of teased. It was a teasing voice but it wasn't really teasing. Neville was the only one who'd been exempted from her attempted setups.

Well, Quoft, too, but she wouldn't wish him on anyone.

"Really? You'd want to see some scaly raging dragons out roaming around the grounds?" She grinned; she knew they wouldn't be roaming, but the image was amusing all the same.

"We do. You can invent it. The secret word. I'll have to tell it to you to prove it was me," she confirmed with a soft smile as she stepped up her pace to fall into step beside him.

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-02 06:56 am UTC (link)
He was surprised, and he glanced over, the word 'really' on his lips, but the teasing voice she used made him think there was another reason before he could ask the question. "Breaking me in?" he offered. "I appreciate it. I probably would have just been a bumbling mess if you had attempted anything."

He... had never really done well in romantic situations. The few times he'd tried, he'd painfully stumbled his way through dinner, and departed at the end of the night more grateful that it was over than hoping for something more.

Like he was grateful for the change in subject. "Well not roaming the grounds, no. But in a... controlled situation. Or, you know, as controlled as they can make it in a tournament. But with champions who are prepared for it, you know?"

He smiled a bit, looking over at her. "Should it be a common word, like, ah," he looked around the greenhouse. "Plant? Or more specific, like Puffapod?" he chuckled. "Or should I make up a new word entirely?"

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-02 02:16 pm UTC (link)
"It's not too late. I can try to hook you up with Ashley. She's quiet and gentle, probably wouldn't hurt too much," she teased with a wink. No, she would not be attempting to hook him up with Ashley, even if things didn't work out with Ben. Though if she wasn't trying to set him up, and wasn't making a move on him, things really were at a standstill. Truth be told, she was still skittish about relationships and somehow if she initiated one and it all went to hell, she wouldn't have it in her to try again.

She also had an idea he wasn't ever going to catch on, so that left her with this - these little teasing encounters. Somehow, that was fine by her, because it was better than being hurt again.

"Controlled dragons. Seems like something of an oxymoron, doesn't it?" Ari grinned lightly as she bumped him with her shoulder as they walked along.

"Plants a little general. Think I'd like to hear whatever word you're going to make up."

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 12:37 am UTC (link)
"I thought that was what you had to hide out here for in the first place?" he said with an amused side smirk. "If you tried to set me up with her, you wouldn't even have the greenhouses to use as a hiding place anymore."

He wondered if that was true, and suspected it wasn't. He probably would never be upset enough with her that she couldn't still come in here to torment him.

"Con... trolled, like..." he started to wave his hand, spilling water over onto the ground again before he frankly moved to put his wand back over the plants, looking sheepish. "You... you know what I mean," he said with a grin. He figured she did anyway.

When she asked him to make up a word, he paused thoughtfully. "L... ar... is... ter," he decided, stringing together a series of sounds at random. He flushed a bit, but nodded like that had been his intention all along. "Larister. I have no idea what it means. Does it need a definition?" Though he supposed now that he'd asked her, the answer was going to be yes, and he started to think of what a good definition would be for his new word.

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 12:58 am UTC (link)
"Well, no. I could still hide out here. Every time I've tried to set her up with someone, it's failed, so setting her up with you would fail as well, which means we'd be right where we are now."

She laughed softly, because she did know what he meant. Dragons in carefully maintained circumstances.

"Larister," she repeated with a nod. "No need to define it. It's just to confirm it's the real me, right?" She grinned playfully at him as they strolled along. The grin softened into a content smile, and she ran herself through the usual list of reasons she wasn't going to ask him out today, but she would the next time she saw him. Granted, the next time she saw him, she'd do the same; it was her personal little game.

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 02:34 am UTC (link)
"I suppose it's true that you wouldn't need to avoid me," he conceded. "It's not like I would be overly upset. Merely jittery. I may ask you over to help me pick out what to wear," he teased, though it wasn't like it was that far from the truth.

He was pleased, however, that he didn't have to come up with a definition for his word, though he did frown when she mentioned it would confirm she was the real her. "Or the fake you," he said, with a small frown. "I suppose it's a bit late for us to be implementing security measures, but it's probably a good thing to do anyway."

He paused, tilting his head suddenly and trying to do backwards math without being 100% clear on the numbers he needed to use for his equation before he finally came out with it. "Were you in school when they did the last one? I'm guessing it was way before your time, right?" He really didn't think she was as old as he was, but maybe she just looked really good for her age.

Really... amazing, really. Though he quickly turned his attention back to the plants before he could let his thoughts wander too far in that direction.

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 04:37 am UTC (link)
"I'm not that much younger than you," she protested. "Only four years, give or take." She nudged his side playfully as they walked along. "But you see, it'll work. Like I said, if you come up to my room later, and ask me if larister means anything to me, and I'm confused, then you'll know this me was a fake me.

"'course, by then it'll be too late to do anything about it, but at least you'll know."

She grinned over to him, her eyes drifting to the castle. It looked so quiet, so peaceful ... and she knew they didn't have much longer before it was filled with students. Then come the end of September ... there'd be another two dozen added to the fray.

It was bound to be an interesting year.

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 04:56 am UTC (link)
Neville chuckled. "Aside from all the chaos that surrounded there being four champions, it was a..." he paused, trying to find the words to describe it. "It really was unifying. Everyone gathering together to cheer for a common cause. And it wasn't like Durmstrang and Beauxbatons didn't have supporters from Hogwarts, either. There were pools, and bets..." he grinned. "I can see where it would have been a... a great thing, if it hadn't..." he trailed off awkwardly. "Well."

He shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to dwell on unpleasant memories. "I was just curious if you'd been here to experience it or if this would be the first time?"

He paused, and thought about their secret message between the two of them, his eyes crinkling slightly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were just coming up with an excuse to get me out of the greenhouse. I promise, I'm almost finish, I will eat and sleep soon."

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 05:23 am UTC (link)
She shook her head. "I just missed it. Heard about it, of course, but ... no, I didn't get to actually see it."

Tilting her head, she looked thoughtful. "Imagine there's going to be much of the same this year. Probably a bit more since they'll have those journals to get to know each other before hand." Should add an interesting twist to things, she thought.

"Actually, I was trying to find ways to lure you to my room so I could seduce you, but I'll settle for knowing you're coming in to eat and eventually sleep." Tease, tease, joke, joke. It was a good mask, and she wondered how long she'd keep wearing it.

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 05:42 am UTC (link)
He did wonder how serious she was about that, and imagined that she wasn't very serious, if only for the fact that he didn't think that she'd be interested in someone like him. No one else had ever seemed to be, and... he was okay with that, really.

"You'd have a tough time with that - I'm told I'm remarkably oblivious when it comes to seduction techniques," though now that he mentioned it, he wasn't sure if that was oblivious to them being used on him, or incapable of being seductive himself.

"I feel like I should bring my own food in case it's not The Real You when I show up, expecting to be fed," he teased back. Though he did wonder what this little joke was morphing in to.

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 06:07 am UTC (link)
There was a slight paused before she nodded. "So, even if I were flirting with you, you'd have no idea and it isn't a matter of lack of interest but lack of picking up on blatant flirting?" She paused a beat and nodded. "Good to know. I'll let any future prospective matches know about this."

Or she'd file it away for her personal use. Whichever. "Maybe I'll have to introduce you to a few common signals so when someone is attempting to seduce you, you'll catch on and not miss out."

Ariana laughed quietly at his teasing before she shook her head. "Oh no. The two statements weren't meant to be connected. I meant you could come to my room to be seduced, or go up to your own room or the Hall for food and sleep. Not in the same place, hopefully."

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 06:20 am UTC (link)
He frowned, not 100% sure what he was agreeing to. "Exactly," he decided. "No idea. Completely clueless. Dating needs to come with an instruction manual, because I am no good at it."

He grinned as the conversation wore on, essentially proving his point for him. "You see what I mean, though. Even in jokes I'm no good at this whole 'understanding what the other person is really saying' part of it." He paused to double check under the leaves of one of the plants he was watering. "Or maybe you're just deliberately vague on purpose to mess with me."

He was thoughtful for a moment. "Lessons in Dating? Is that a serious offer Professor Silver, because I may take you up on it if it is."

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 06:31 am UTC (link)
He was so ... completely adorable. Were women so easily turned off by a bit of naivety? "A little of column A ..." she began with a grin. But now that she knew ...

Well, maybe she'd change her tactics some. Not that she was going to ask him out, or anything ridiculous like that.

"I wouldn't mind. I could run you through a practice date, give you a demonstration of 'if a woman does this, she most likely means that' and so on," she offered. "We could head out to the Broomsticks next weekend if you were feeling up to a public venture, or I could set up something in my quarters."

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 06:45 am UTC (link)
He raised an eyebrow. Glancing down at the plants, he decided that - if this was his last sweep - he was mostly done out here for the day. He likely had some paperwork in his office that he could finish, or he could try that eating and sleeping thing, but he was pretty sure he was mostly finished in the greenhouses until tomorrow. Slipping his wand into his pocket, he turned to Ari and crossed his arms, smiling slightly.

"Are you sure you want to be seen practicing for a date with me in public?" he pointed out. "I've warned you a few times that I'm no good at this stuff, and believe me - that's not an exaggeration. Last time, there were tears."

He wasn't sure, exactly, why he was... practically boasting about it. But he'd come to accept over the years that dating was just something he was horrible at and never going to improve in. Like potions.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Really, whatever is more convenient for you. I could certainly use the guidance, but I wouldn't want to put you out."

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 07:11 am UTC (link)
"Yours or hers?" she inquired, brows elevating.

While she had no problem, at all, being seen in public with him, inviting him up to her quarters seemed ... preferable. It would be quieter, he'd probably be more relaxed, and ... who knew where things might go?

No where, most likely, but she could keep the options open, couldn't she?

"We'll give it a shot in my room. Quieter. Less distractions. No women coming to hit on you while I'm trying to explain to you how they're hitting on you," Ari teased. "I'll even cook you something," she promised him with a wink.

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 07:16 am UTC (link)
"I... would rather not admit that," he said, sheepishly rubbing at the back of his head. But his awkward smile, and the simple fact that he wasn't really the type to cause tears in others should be indicative enough of where the tears had been.

He nodded. "All right. This... weekend, did you say? Or next?" he paused, and he grinned a bit. "Is this the part where I say 'it's a date' or is that a bit premature?" His grin widened. "'It's a practice date'?"

He wondered if it was appropriate to laugh, or if he should be embarrassed that he was asking for date help. But in all honesty, he wasn't really taking it seriously. It was just an opportunity to spend some time with a friend. He was a hopeless cause when it came to dating, and while he could use the pointers, he doubted that they were going to help him any, so he was just going to have a nice meal with Ariana. There was nothing to complain about that.

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 07:22 am UTC (link)
"Poor Neville," she said as she reached out to pat his shoulder lightly. "We'll get you all fixed up and date ready." She paused thoughtfully. "I could even throw in snogging lessons for free if you thought you'd get that far?"

Yes, all right, that was pushing a little, and it was definitely not teasing, because she would be more than happy to spend hours snogging him under the guise of teaching him how to snog.

"Next weekend. After terms started and hopefully after the kids have settled in somewhat. Saturday evening, come up to my room and I'll make you dinner and teach you how to act and react to women."

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 07:43 am UTC (link)
He very quickly turned a rather violent shade of red, his eyed widening significantly when she mentioned that she'd throw in snogging lessons for free. It was all but impossible for him to even think about jokingly replying to that. Yes, he likely needed snogging lessons - not that he hadn't attempted snogging before, but attempted was the key word there. He did open his mouth to reply, but suspected she'd likely got the amusement from the reaction that she'd been looking for and managed a grin, shaking his head more at himself than anything.

"All right. Next weekend," he agreed, finding himself really looking forward to it quite suddenly. He was tempted to go mark it on his calendar, but he knew a few students who might ask him what he had planned on that day, and he didn't really want to answer any awkward questions on the subject.

He wondered why he was so comfortable talking with Ariana about this, and determined that it was because he didn't think there was any possible chance that Ari was doing this out of any other reason than friendship. So he really didn't need to try and pretend or put on a show for her - even if she turned him into the greatest dater in the country, she'd know where he came from, and she wasn't interested. At least, that's how he viewed it.

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 07:55 am UTC (link)
Ari did smile at his reaction. Utterly adorable. She wondered sometimes if a big part of the attraction to him was based heavily in the assumption he wouldn't cheat on her. He wouldn't screw her over. He was a genuinely nice guy, and she felt he was safe. If she ever did stop fluttering around the issue and ask him on a real date ... maybe she'd see if there was anything there.

If not ... then she'd simply spent the past few years pining after someone who didn't reciprocate her interest. Nothing lost, really. She did think about pushing a little, teasing to get confirmation whether that was a yes or no on snogging ... but she thought she'd leave it alone for now.

"So then, I'll leave you to your own devices, and see you next weekend."

Well, throughout the week as well, but ... definite that weekend.

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[info]trustingnature
2010-04-04 08:11 am UTC (link)
"Right," Neville said with a grin. "We'll deal with the little hell-raisers, and mourn the fact that just when we thought we had seen the last of James Potter we were graced with another one, get all of our lesson plans completely worked over because the foreign students are further ahead than ours and thus need different plans because they're answering all the questions and then... I can learn how to date?"

He laughed, outright, at the ridiculousness of it when he put it like that. But his eyes were shining, and he was definitely looking forward to it.

"Right, so, next weekend," he said, with a small half salute as though he were tipping an invisible hat. She had spoken as though she were leaving, after all. It was only right to let her go on her way, even if he was enjoying himself with some human interaction at the moment.

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[info]teases_muggles
2010-04-04 08:16 am UTC (link)
"Sounds like you've got quite the schedule lined up," she replied with a soft laugh. "Goodnight then, Neville," she offered to him before she turned to retreat.

So, all right, that hadn't gone any way she'd had planned, but she was a little intrigued to see how their fake date went. She couldn't imagine he'd be interested in pursuing it past fake date level, but she could pretend with the best of them, and it would give her some nice memories.

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