Fourth Seed; [Action]

[nearlychosen]

[This morning isn't terribly different from any other morning near House 26. The lawn there is a little bit greener than the neighboring homes, and the multicolored plantlife is as healthy as ever, fed a steady diet of the best quality dung Neville can get his hands on. The gardener is even mostly the same, a boy of average height spending far too much time on his hands and knees in the mud getting filthy in the care of things that can't talk back. It's not even very strange to hear him chatting with the vines and petals surrounding him, though this particular morning he seems to be hissing at his garden rather than rambling on in English. For those who recognize it, the language is Parseltongue.]

...And I haven't found a single lead anywhere in this place. I think there just aren't any Horcruxes to be found here. I should talk to Harry or Luna about this, shouldn't I? ...No, you're probably right. It's supposed to be a secret. What's that? Your leaves are getting dry? Well don't worry, I'll fix that.


[Later in the afternoon, after he's had a shower at least, he'll venture into town, rifling pointedly through the rebuilt item shop for something very specific and emerging empty-handed. It's okay to miss him as he moves among the people in mid-town, though; he avoids eye contact like the plague. Still, he won't be unfriendly if approached. Feel free to gape at the lightningbolt scar just barely visible under his fringe. He's used to it.]

[OOC: AU Cheatsheat is here.]

Comments

[hisdarkmark]

[Hey Neville, it's your favorite person ever! Sorta. But see there might be something wrong with the way his favorite person ever appears.

For one thing, he looks about two or three years younger than he should be. There's also the fact that he's dressed a lot more casually than any Malfoy should be. He isn't quite sure where he's going, he's just sort of wandering when he stumbles upon the garden and a much-different Neville Longbottom. Still covered in dirt, but larger.]

...why are you hissing?

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

[Neville doesn't really care much about the wrapping. That voice is enough to send a prickling down his spine. It's mostly in an instinctive reaction that he pulls his wand out in a single fluid motion and has it trained firmly at Malfoy's middle.] Flipendo!

[He absolutely refuses to speak to a Draco Malfoy that hasn't at least been sent to the ground once. Malfoys are less harmful when one has a vertical advantage.]

[hisdarkmark]

[There's a yelp that's much higher pitched than it should be as he suddenly finds himself landing on his back in the dirt.] What the hell was that for!?

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

[That was what happens to someone who's learned how to hex before he can be hexed himself. He stalks closer to Draco while still maintaining a few paces' distance out of arm's reach.] What the bloody hell do you want, Malfoy? You know you're not welcome here. [No matter what Harry says. Harry Potter needs to learn how to be more serious about things anyway.]

[hisdarkmark]

[Draco's only on the ground for a little bit before he sits up to glare at him. Unlike his Slytherin self, this one's not one to cry much when hit.] So you've mentioned for the last four and a half years. Come up with something original already, preferably something that doesn't end with me in the mud.

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Have you gone daft, Malfoy? If this has anything to do with that heir of Slytherin nonsense again, you're four and a half years too late. If you're ready to have a humane conversation for once, I suggest you set your wand down first.

[hisdarkmark]

...why would I care about that of all things now? [He's sitting up on his knees and getting in a crouched position to stand.] Like hell I'm doing that, you're the one who just attacked me!

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

You're the one bringing up second year -- as if any of that even matters anymore -- and don't you even try getting up. [He's going to try a jelly-legs jinx next to keep Draco horizontal, though his aim isn't quite spectacular and veers off mostly to the ground beside Draco.]

[hisdarkmark]

Who said anything about second year? I know you're not that brilliant sometimes, but I thought even you could do simple maths. It's not that har--[He doesn't bother finishing his sentence though because he's rolling out of the way.] Honestly!

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Put your wand down, Malfoy. [There's a nervous little tremble creeping into the edge of his voice.]

[hisdarkmark]

[...sitting up again :|] Make me. [Because in every universe ever, Neville's a chicken.]

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

[IS NOT. It's just that his wand-hand gets a little quivery when he's stressed out. Draco stresses him out.] Expelliarmus! [He's not entirely sure it would even work with Draco already in a defensive position, but he's damn sure going to try.]

[hisdarkmark]

[Draco stresses everyone ever out. He's totally ready for that too though.] Protego! [He's hoping that shield will bounce the Expelliarmus off] Explain yourself!

I just realized I have no icons of Neville being legitimately angry

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

I don't have anything to explain to you, Malfoy! You can go out romping with HArry later but you won't enter this house! [Does he need to fetch the Devil's Snare? Because he totally will. >|]

it's because neville's a chill bro with little screentime :|

[hisdarkmark]

[Wait. Rewind.] I can what?!

Stupid chill-ness. :|

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to repeat myself. It's your own fault if you've decided to be too self-absorbed to properly listen.

blame jkr :|

[hisdarkmark]

You're failing to make sense. ...not that that's unusual, but at least try to for once, will you?

I went through my OotP caps again and found ONE MORE. /uses.

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Stop trying to talk to me like we're friends. Bugger off already. There must be someone else here you can annoy. Don't you have an interview to give to the Prophet?

...well every little bit helps :|b

[hisdarkmark]

No? I hate the Prophet, or at least Rita Skeeter. Talking to her last year was more than enough for me, thanks.

Well thank you <3

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Was your photograph not large enough when the article was printed? Ought she have mentioned you in the headline instead of running with "Boy Who Lived is a Magical Menace"? [Haaaaaaaaaaaaaate.]

<3 also there's a chibi v-mon waiting for you whenever I find decent chibicons :|b

[hisdarkmark]

You're a bit touched in the head, aren't you?

<3 That's because Ty's the BESTEST. :D

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Some people seem to think so lately. [But it's okay. His garden gets him. Screw everyone else. :|]

<3 D'awww. You can thank a few people for the idea. ALSO you namefailed in your HP log tag btw >>;

[hisdarkmark]

Ever consider the fact that maybe it's true then? [Well Draco thinks your garden's kind of stupid, so there.]

<3 ...WHOOPS. Thank you for noticing. XD

[nearlychosen.livejournal.com]

Not in the slightest. They think the way they do because they don't bother taking the time to get to know me. They're going to think what they want whether or not it's true.

<3 I notice a lot of things :o like tai's typo last night

[hisdarkmark]

Don't bother tak--[Pause. Cueee staring.] What the hell is that on your forehead?