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“Why are you dying?” Pansy asked the succulent that had shrivelled in on itself. She gently touched a leaf and gasped when it fell off. Theo and Harry had gifted her the plant when she moved into her new shop and apartment that sat above it.
It had been fine for a while, she was assured it was low maintenance. Impossible to kill had been the words Theo used.
“What a bloody lie that was.” Pansy murmured, it felt like the succulent was representing the sad state of her love life. Alone and shrivelling to death, the only bright side was her dress shop was going well. It wasn’t a raving success yet, but her customer base was growing every day and her designs were getting good reviews.
“You know, staring at that plant isn’t going to make it better.” Astra said, Pansy looked up from her desk to her work colleague and friend Astra. The woman was a genius with pattern making and construction of Pansy’s designs.
“I just don’t get it. I water it, it gets plenty of sun. Draco and Hermione’s plant hasn’t died.” Pansy complained as she gestured to the plant the couple had gifted her. It was thriving in comparison.
“It’s fake.” Astra reminded her.
“Oh yeah.” Pansy said slowly, she had forgotten that pertinent fact. She inwardly frowned as she also realised she had been wasting water on the thing.
“You should take it to the Plant Healer.” Astra told her.
“The Plant Healer? Is that a joke?” Pansy asked dryly.
“No, he’s an expert at saving dying plants. My Mum is so thirsty for him but he apparently is only interested in saving plants. Looks like you need him with that thing.” Astra told her, she looked at the plant like it had no hope.
“Don’t be so mean to her, she’s just unwell.” Pansy said, protective of her little succulent.
“She? We’re personifying dead plants now?” Astra asked in amusement.
“Astra, don’t you have some patterns to make, fabric to cut?” Pansy asked, Astra chuckled as she picked up her scissors and chopped them to emphasise she was returning to her work.
“Hey, do you know how I go about finding this Plant Healer?” Pansy asked her.
“Nev, you got another dead plant to save.” Peter said when he ducked his head into the Greenhouse.
“I’ll be out in 5, let me just finish up here.” he said.
“I would be quick, she’s quite the looker.” Peter said before he left the storeroom. Neville quickly finished writing up the last of his notes on the items they needed to restock before he headed out.
Neville loved his job, sure he’d love to run his own nursery one day but for now he was content. He got to work with plants, his true passion and frankly the only thing in his life that he felt confident in. He wasn’t the smartest kid to graduate from Hogwarts, but he currently held the highest NEWT scores for Herbology after beating Bill Weasley’s score. It just solidified that he made the right choice when he branched into Horticultural studies and got a job at ‘Urban Nursery’.
He left the storeroom and headed into the main shop, he smiled and waved at regular customers who dropped by to see their new stock. He reached the main help desk and stopped as Pansy Parkinson stood on the other side.
She took his breath away with how beautiful she was. She looked so effortless in her tan coloured slacks with rolled hems and emerald green boat neck top with three quarter sleeves. Of course she wore those ridiculous stiletto heels. He’d had many fantasies about them, but right now, he was worried she’d snap a heel and break her ankle given the rough terrain of the nursery. But he curbed and warnings on his lips as it was not his place.
“Pansy.” Neville said, he sidled up to the counter and smiled at her. She lifted her large sunglasses and looked at him in surprise.
“Neville, what are you doing here?” she asked, the last time they spoke was about a year ago. The nursery had been under another name at the time. He’d also been in a relationship with Hannah Abbott. How times had changed.
“I work here. My boss said you are having problems with a plant.” he said. Pansy wore a chagrin as she gestured to the dying plant on the desk.
“So, you’re the plant healer?” she asked.
“My boss is pushing that agenda, not me.” Neville said as he picked up the poor plant. It only took a second to know what was wrong with it. But he decided to drag out the consult so he could have more time with Pansy.
“You look well, how’s Hannah?” she asked.
“She’s great, she’s pregnant.” Neville replied.
“Oh, wow, congratulations.” Pansy said. He didn’t miss the flicker of disappointment in her expression before she plastered on a brilliant smile.
“I’m not the father, we broke up last year. She hooked up with a guy at her work.” he said with a shrug.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She said, he smiled.
“I’m not.” he replied, he placed the plant on the table between them. “Your plant is not getting enough water,” he told her.
“But I water it.” Pansy told him.
“It’s obviously not enough.” Neville said, Pansy’s jaw dropped at the audacity of his accusation. She had half a mind to ask him what made him so sure after a few minutes of looking at it and sticking his finger in the pot for a hot second.
"It's not enough? Are you kidding me?! I practically drown it every week with water. You're telling me it's not enough?" Pansy asked incredulously.
"Every week? Are you sure?" Neville asked gently.
"Yes...." Pansy drawled, Neville raised an eyebrow, it was rude he looked so good while questioning the validity of her answer. "Ok every other week." she confessed, her cheeks warmed with embarrassment.
"With water?" he asked, he knew Herbology hadn't been her best subject in school. Pansy gave him a dark look.
"Of course, with only the best water money can buy. I’ll have you know, I'm a great plant mum, I just have an ungrateful child plant." she huffed in frustration. Neville wore a closed lip smile.
"Plants can live on rain water or tap water is fine." he informed her, she wore a scandalised expression.
"How dare you, my succulent is not some common house plant." she said in a hushed voice. Neville smiled as he didn't have the heart to tell her the truth.
"Ok, well, why don't you leave it with me for a couple days and I'll let you know what the next steps are." Neville told her.
“Fine, how much do I owe you?” she asked.
“It’s on the house.” he told her, he could fix her plant in a heartbeat. He just needed an excuse to see her again.
“No, I insist that I pay you for your time.” Pansy said. She didn’t take charity nor did she like to owe people favours if she could help it.
“You could take me out to dinner sometime.” he offered.
“Ok, but just for the record, I won’t be putting out after the dinner because you’re saving my plant.” Pansy informed him in a light teasing manner. She couldn’t help but smile at the direction of this conversation.
“Noted, and just for the record. I don’t put out on the first date.” He told her. Pansy smiled as pulled her sunglasses back down her face.
“Good to know, I’ll owl you with time and place.” Pansy said.
“I look forward to it.” Neville replied, he watched her walk away with a grin on his face.