Drabble: Taming the Garden
Apr. 26th, 2014 02:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alisanneTitle: Taming the Garden
Author:alisanne
Pairings/Characters: Severus Snape/Harry Potter.
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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snape100's prompt #531: April Garden.
Word Count: 100 x 7
Warnings: None.
Betas:sevfan and emynn.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
Taming the Garden
~
The morning after Severus’ acquittal, he looked around Spinner’s End and, deciding the place no longer suited him, put it on the market.
Evidently the Muggle estate market was brisk, because it sold quickly and, money in hand, he purchased a cottage just west of Godric’s Hollow.
His efforts to find gainful employment bore less fruit, however, so, deciding to fall back on his old standby, potion making, he began offering specialty potions by mail.
When, that spring, he noticed his new garden was overgrown, he realised he hadn’t time to deal with it. So, he called in an expert.
~
“This is lovely, Severus.” Pomona looked around.
Severus hummed. “It’s rather...wild, however. It needs organisation.”
Pomona nodded. “Well yes, that’s certainly true. Were I but a few years younger I’d be happy to take it on, but I’ll be retiring in a few weeks.”
“Do you have an Herbology colleague who could assist me with this?”
Pomona smiled. “Neville Longbottom will be taking over for me at Hogwarts.”
Severus nodded. Longbottom, for all his faults, had seemed competent enough with plants. “He would be willing to tackle this?”
“I suspect he’d be quite pleased to be given the chance.”
~
“Professor Snape.” Longbottom’s handshake was firm.
Severus gestured towards the back garden. “This is where I require your assistance.”
Longbottom looked around, lips pursed. “This will take a while,” he finally said. “Although you’re doing it at the right time of the year. An April garden can be very resilient.”
“Indeed. How much do you charge?”
Terms sorted, Longbottom turned to leave. “Oh, just so you know, I’ve someone working with me. He’ll be doing most of the work. I hope that’s all right.”
“Yes, fine,” said Severus dismissively.
“Great.” Longbottom left and Severus hummed, staring out at his garden.
~
When Severus glanced out his window two days later, only to see Harry Potter strolling about his garden, he blinked. Throwing open the back door, he barked, “Potter!”
Potter smiled brazenly. “Hello, Snape.”
“You’re trespassing!”
Potter raised an eyebrow. “No...I’m evaluating your garden.”
“How dare--” Severus paused. “Salazar. Don’t tell me you’re Longbottom’s colleague.”
Potter gave a slight smile. “I won’t tell you if you prefer, but yes, I am.”
Severus’ eyes narrowed. “If you’re here to work, why are you faffing about?”
Potter hummed. “Because gardens take planning. Excuse me.”
Severus sighed. This was going to be interesting.
~
Potter proved...distracting. He arrived every morning carrying tools and seedlings and, by midday, was typically shirtless. It played havoc with Severus’ concentration.
He did prove competent, however, and soon, the garden was looking better. He also insisted on giving Severus daily updates. “...suggest this section for veg, unless you’d prefer the entire thing be decorative--”
“Fine,” Severus said, paying attention not to Potter’s words, but to his glistening bare chest.
“...dinner sometime?”
“Fine.” Severus blinked. “What?”
Potter grinned. “Just checking that you’re paying attention.”
Severus flushed. “Indeed.”
Potter hummed. “Good. So, once the job’s over, we’ll discuss our date.”
~
The garden was beautiful. Severus’d never been much of an outdoor person, but even he had to admit it was stunning.
“...hope you enjoy it,” said Longbottom.
Severus nodded. “Thank you.” Handing over the last instalment of his payment, he continued, “I understand you’ll be taking over Herbology at Hogwarts.”
“That’s right.” Longbottom sighed. “I hate giving up my business, but it’s time.”
“Indeed.” Reluctant to ask about Potter, Severus watched him go before turning away. Perhaps all that talk about dating was just small talk--
Two hours later Severus looked up to see Potter in his garden. He smiled.
~
Severus approached Potter slowly. It was dusk, and the stars were just coming out. “Longbottom said the job was complete.”
Potter turned, facing him. “The garden’s done. That wasn’t my only job here, however.”
“Oh?” Severus murmured. “What else did you hope to accomplish?”
Potter moved slowly, giving Severus ample opportunity to avoid him if he wished. That, however, was the last thing Severus wished.
When the kiss ended, Severus hummed. “What shall you do now that Longbottom’s gone?”
“I’m taking over the business.” Potter’s grin was teasing. “Will you recommend me to others?”
Pulling him close, Severus smiled. “Possibly.”
~
Author:
alisannePairings/Characters: Severus Snape/Harry Potter.
Rating: PG
Challenge: Written for
snape100/snape100/snape100's prompt #531: April Garden.Word Count: 100 x 7
Warnings: None.
Betas:
sevfan and emynn.Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
~
Taming the Garden
~
The morning after Severus’ acquittal, he looked around Spinner’s End and, deciding the place no longer suited him, put it on the market.
Evidently the Muggle estate market was brisk, because it sold quickly and, money in hand, he purchased a cottage just west of Godric’s Hollow.
His efforts to find gainful employment bore less fruit, however, so, deciding to fall back on his old standby, potion making, he began offering specialty potions by mail.
When, that spring, he noticed his new garden was overgrown, he realised he hadn’t time to deal with it. So, he called in an expert.
~
“This is lovely, Severus.” Pomona looked around.
Severus hummed. “It’s rather...wild, however. It needs organisation.”
Pomona nodded. “Well yes, that’s certainly true. Were I but a few years younger I’d be happy to take it on, but I’ll be retiring in a few weeks.”
“Do you have an Herbology colleague who could assist me with this?”
Pomona smiled. “Neville Longbottom will be taking over for me at Hogwarts.”
Severus nodded. Longbottom, for all his faults, had seemed competent enough with plants. “He would be willing to tackle this?”
“I suspect he’d be quite pleased to be given the chance.”
~
“Professor Snape.” Longbottom’s handshake was firm.
Severus gestured towards the back garden. “This is where I require your assistance.”
Longbottom looked around, lips pursed. “This will take a while,” he finally said. “Although you’re doing it at the right time of the year. An April garden can be very resilient.”
“Indeed. How much do you charge?”
Terms sorted, Longbottom turned to leave. “Oh, just so you know, I’ve someone working with me. He’ll be doing most of the work. I hope that’s all right.”
“Yes, fine,” said Severus dismissively.
“Great.” Longbottom left and Severus hummed, staring out at his garden.
~
When Severus glanced out his window two days later, only to see Harry Potter strolling about his garden, he blinked. Throwing open the back door, he barked, “Potter!”
Potter smiled brazenly. “Hello, Snape.”
“You’re trespassing!”
Potter raised an eyebrow. “No...I’m evaluating your garden.”
“How dare--” Severus paused. “Salazar. Don’t tell me you’re Longbottom’s colleague.”
Potter gave a slight smile. “I won’t tell you if you prefer, but yes, I am.”
Severus’ eyes narrowed. “If you’re here to work, why are you faffing about?”
Potter hummed. “Because gardens take planning. Excuse me.”
Severus sighed. This was going to be interesting.
~
Potter proved...distracting. He arrived every morning carrying tools and seedlings and, by midday, was typically shirtless. It played havoc with Severus’ concentration.
He did prove competent, however, and soon, the garden was looking better. He also insisted on giving Severus daily updates. “...suggest this section for veg, unless you’d prefer the entire thing be decorative--”
“Fine,” Severus said, paying attention not to Potter’s words, but to his glistening bare chest.
“...dinner sometime?”
“Fine.” Severus blinked. “What?”
Potter grinned. “Just checking that you’re paying attention.”
Severus flushed. “Indeed.”
Potter hummed. “Good. So, once the job’s over, we’ll discuss our date.”
~
The garden was beautiful. Severus’d never been much of an outdoor person, but even he had to admit it was stunning.
“...hope you enjoy it,” said Longbottom.
Severus nodded. “Thank you.” Handing over the last instalment of his payment, he continued, “I understand you’ll be taking over Herbology at Hogwarts.”
“That’s right.” Longbottom sighed. “I hate giving up my business, but it’s time.”
“Indeed.” Reluctant to ask about Potter, Severus watched him go before turning away. Perhaps all that talk about dating was just small talk--
Two hours later Severus looked up to see Potter in his garden. He smiled.
~
Severus approached Potter slowly. It was dusk, and the stars were just coming out. “Longbottom said the job was complete.”
Potter turned, facing him. “The garden’s done. That wasn’t my only job here, however.”
“Oh?” Severus murmured. “What else did you hope to accomplish?”
Potter moved slowly, giving Severus ample opportunity to avoid him if he wished. That, however, was the last thing Severus wished.
When the kiss ended, Severus hummed. “What shall you do now that Longbottom’s gone?”
“I’m taking over the business.” Potter’s grin was teasing. “Will you recommend me to others?”
Pulling him close, Severus smiled. “Possibly.”
~
