#herbology

[cl0ckworkpuppet]

fun new game!

https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

go to a random page on WikiSpecies (link above). look up the scientific name. what did you get?

a species i actually recognize

microscopic Thing

weird fucking bug

plant

animal that is bigger than a bug

fungus

name of a person

i cannot find any information on the thing i got

other / not listed here

Voting ended onFeb 9

[daughter-of-fae-and-doe]

[nysathewriter]

Hello, did you take request ? I have an idea for fic. Severus Snape x professor reader. They have been friends for a very long time. Severus is in love with her and he goes to Minerva for few dating advice.

Hello! Requests are totally fine! It took me a little while to get to this but I hope you enjoy it! I actually really enjoyed writing this, I've never written Minerva before so this was fun.

A/N: Just in case someone may be interested, this story was written while listening to "As The Years Go Passing By" by Gary Moore. I may or may not have alluded to that song towards the end ;)

I've mostly proof-read and did a once-over on this story so pls forgive any typos lol T-T

s. snape ⇢ a matter for the deputy

Pairing: Severus Snape x Professor!Reader

Word Count: 2.2k

Tags: No warnings! POV Shift

Summary: Minerva notices something a little out of the ordinary with Professor Snape. Mere curiosity turns into surprise as her suspicions are confirmed.

--------------

Hogwarts always managed to feel a touch claustrophobic in the first semester, its corridors crowded with students in every stage of hurry. The youngest drifted through with the meandering steps of half-dazed toddlers, overwhelmed by the castle’s unpredictable nature, while the older years moved past them with ease, long accustomed to striding through its winding hallways.

Minerva, herself, was all too familiar with weaving through the sea of students as she made her way toward the Great Hall, her steps unbothered. Robes swished around her in a constant tide as she rounded the corner into the courtyard, her thoughts already shifting to the list of tasks waiting before her next Transfiguration class.

Her eyes drifted across the leaf-strewn courtyard—autumn had always been her favored season—when her gaze caught on a familiar, dark silhouette cutting through the crowd.

Ah, Severus. Good time to follow up with his decision on implementing the Draught of Living Death in his seventh-year curriculum.

The transfiguration professor gathered her robes in one hand as she began to cut across the courtyard, angling toward Severus with the determination of someone who had seemingly witnessed an unattended classroom. She intended to catch him before he disappeared into the dungeons; who knew when the man would decide to surface again.

She quickened her stride, but halfway across the courtyard, her steps faltered.

Someone was walking beside him.

You.

Minerva slowed just enough for the moment to register in her brain. She had seen the two of you together before—passing conversation in staff meetings, an occasional shared table in the teachers’ lounge, she had once even witnessed a walk shared between the two of you early on the grounds one Sunday morning. However, none of that raised her brow quite like this.

Because Severus wasn’t simply walking beside you.

He was listening to you.

If anyone was as observant about body language, it was the Deputy Headmistress. She noticed how his head was tipped slightly in your direction, a gesture she had seen him refuse even the friendliest of colleagues. His face was tight with concentration, though absent of the usual scowl or irritation that accompanied it. There was no pinched scowl, no quiver of disdain threatening to slip from his tongue. He was incredibly focused. As though he were memorizing every word coming out of your mouth and filing it away in that labyrinth of a mind he tried so hard to keep locked.

His long strides—those impatient sweeps of his coat that usually sent students scrambling out of his path—were noticeably slower. He adjusted his pace to match yours without seeming to realize it, the two of you falling into a balanced rhythm that looked practiced.

Then Minerva spotted the books in his arms.

Textbooks on your subject. A stack of them tucked neatly under his elbow. Severus Snape carrying another professor’s materials was not something she had ever expected to see in the daylight, much less without coercion or complaint.

She let herself drift closer, keeping her footsteps light, careful not to disturb whatever rare alignment of stars was making Severus behave like a civilized human being in public. Minerva couldn’t help but notice every little thing.

The slight angle of his shoulders toward you.

The faint lowering of his guard.

The way his eyes, normally cold and indifferent, softened by a fraction when you spoke.

Minerva’s lips twitched, just barely.

Well now.

Without breaking the flow of conversation or making any particular show of it, he shifted the textbooks in his arms and pushed the door open with his other, holding it just wide enough for you to slip through.

You offered a quiet thanks.

He answered with an equally quiet hum—more acknowledgment than dismissal—before following after you.

Minerva slipped through the closing door just as it swung shut, the quiet echo of her heels joining the low murmur of students shuffling between classes. Ahead, she watched you veer off down the right-hand corridor in confident stride, textbooks now tucked under your arm as you disappeared around a bend.

Severus, however, remained.

Quickly catching up to him just beyond the entrance hall, Minerva’s heels clacked louder against the aged stones.

“Professor Snape,” she lilted evenly. “May I have a word with you?”

He stopped at once. There was no irritation in it, nor cutting remark, only a brief assessment before he gave a curt nod and turned to follow her. Whatever else that could be said of him, Severus Snape did not shirk professional summons.

They walked in silence through the corridors, the castle humming faintly around them. Minerva did not rush to fill it. By the time they reached her office, the stillness felt deliberate rather than awkward.

She shut the door behind them and turned.

“You were unusually conversational today,” she remarked lightly, a glint of amusement cast upon her face.

Severus’ expression shuttered immediately. “If you’ve summoned me to comment on my conduct in the corridors,” he replied coolly, “I find it—”

“I haven’t,” she interrupted, unbothered. “Sit.”

He did, folding himself into the chair with his usual severity. “Then what is it you wished to discuss?”

“The Draught of Living Death,” Minerva said. “Specifically, its placement in the seventh-year curriculum.”

His gaze sharpened. “It is well within their capabilities.”

“I don’t doubt that,” she replied smoothly. “But capability is not the same as capacity. NEWT’s approach, Severus. Every department is demanding excellence. I want to ensure we are not asking them to sprint when a measured pace would serve them better.”

“They are not children,” he said flatly.

“Some of them still are, but they are all students on the brink of exhaustion.”

A thoughtful silence followed. Severus considered her words, fingers steepled, expression unreadable.

“I will not dilute the instruction,” he said at last.

“I would never ask you to,” she countered. “Only to consider timing. Excellence requires clarity. A mind pushed too hard is careless.”

A pause. Then, his chin dipped.

“I will adjust the schedule,” he said.

Minerva smiled, just slightly.

After a few seconds, she gathered the parchments on her desk, aligning their edges neatly before laying them back down. The matter of the Draught had been settled quickly and cleanly, exactly as Severus preferred.

“There’s one more thing,” she said, almost as an afterthought.

He looked up.

“You’ve been more accommodating lately,” she continued, tone even, observational rather than pointed. “It’s noticeable.”

She did not elaborate. Did not explain herself. She simply moved on, reaching for her quill.

Severus felt the faintest flare of irritation, sharp and unwelcome. “If that is meant as a criticism—”

“It isn’t,” Minerva said, cutting in once again, not looking at him. “Merely an observation.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

He said nothing further, because there was nothing to refute. Accommodating was not an accusation. It was not even inaccurate. That, perhaps, was what unsettled him.

As Minerva’s attention shifted back to her paperwork, his thoughts drifted to earlier in the day. To the courtyard. To the conversation he had engaged in longer than necessary, with more patience he cares to show any of the other staff. He had listened instead of redirecting. Had answered your questions without being dismissive. Even adjusted his pace without realizing he had done so at the time.

None of it had been deliberate.

And yet, all of it together formed a picture he did not care to face, that he hasn’t faced no matter how many years have gone passing by.

He had been aware of the gradual shift long before Minerva ever spoke of it. A closeness that had grown quietly. Shared routines. Conversations that lingered past their original purpose. A familiarity he allowed because it felt earned, safe even, until it didn’t.

He had told himself it was habit. Collegial respect. Nothing more.

Minerva’s voice drew him back.

“You needn’t look so defensive,” she said calmly. “I’m not suggesting you to have done anything improper.”

“I haven’t,” he replied at once.

“I know,” she said simply. “If I thought otherwise, this would be a very different conversation.”

That, more than anything, gave him pause.

She studied him for a moment, then continued. “But you are not as inscrutable as you believe, Severus. You never have been. You simply rely on the assumption that most people aren’t looking closely.”

His jaw tightened. “And you are?”

“I’m observant,” she corrected. “It comes with the position.”

The silence stretched once more. He found, to his irritation, that he did not feel accused—only seen. And that was far worse.

“If my conduct has become conspicuous,” he said carefully, “then what, precisely, are you implying?”

Minerva tilted her head slightly. “I’m not implying anything. I’m merely acknowledging that something has changed.”

He exhaled through his nose. Years of restraint pressed in on him all at once—the careful distance he’d always maintained, the rules he’d written for himself and followed to the letter. He stowed them away.

“And what do you suggest I might do?” He asked lowly.

The question hung in the air.

Minerva blinked.

It was a subtle shift—a fraction of a second where her composure broke—but it was there. She had expected more deflection. Dismissal. Irritation.

“Do?” she repeated.

“Yes,” he said, voice steady despite the tension coiled beneath it.

For the first time since the conversation began, Minerva looked genuinely surprised.

“I hadn’t thought you were looking to fix anything,” she admitted.

Severus did not look away.

“On the contrary,” he said. “If I am being…careless, I would prefer to know how to proceed without compounding the error.”

Minerva regarded him for a long moment, something softer entering her expression.

“Well,” she said at last, folding her hands together, “that depends entirely on whether you believe it is an error at all.”

“If I believed my actions to be a mistake,” Severus said evenly, “I would not have allowed them in the first place.”

Severus was quiet for a long moment after that. The admission hanging between them, heavier than he had intended.

Minerva watched him carefully. “How long?”

He stiffened. “I beg your pardon?”

“How long have you been…allowing this?” She wasn’t being cruel. Simply curious.

His fingers curled against the armrest. He didn’t want to answer. Didn’t want to hand her ammunition to dissect him further. But Minerva had always had a way of pulling truths from people, no matter how much they wanted to keep it buried.

“Years,” he said finally.

Her eyebrows rose slightly. “Years?”

“Three.” He exhaled, the sound sharp through his nose. “Perhaps longer. I stopped keeping track.”

The silence that followed was uncomfortable, exactly, but still managed to press against him all the same.

“I convinced myself it was nothing,” he continued, voice low. “Professional respect. An appreciation for competent conversation.” His jaw tightened once more. “It became…increasingly difficult to maintain that particular delusion.”

“And yet you tried anyway,” Minerva offered.

“Of course I did.” There was no hesitation there.

“Why?”

Severus looked at her then, something flickering behind his dark eyes.

“Because wanting something doesn’t entitle you to act on it. Because there are rules. Boundaries that exist for good reason.”

“Boundaries,” Minerva repeated slowly. “Or walls you’ve built?”

He said nothing.

She leaned back in her chair, studying him with that same sharp gaze she’d used when he was still a student sitting across from her. “You do realize, Severus, that your actions have been telling a story all along, whether you’ve meant them to or not?”

His throat worked. “I have not acted inappropriately.”

“No,” she agreed. “But you’ve acted like someone who cares deeply and is terrified of what that means.”

The words struck like stones.

Severus looked away, his gaze fixed somewhere past her shoulder. His hands were still.

Minerva let the silence stretch, just long enough for the weight to settle. Then, she leaned forward, folding her hands on the desk.

“Maybe it is time to do something,” she said. “Not some grand romantic gesture—we know that’s not who you are. But through intention. Through choosing to act instead of waiting for coincidence to do it for you.”

Severus’ expression shifted.

“You’re suggesting I should be more…” He trailed off.

“Direct,” Minerva supplied. “Stop waiting for the right moment and start making one.”

He was quiet for a beat. “And if I’m—”

“Wrong?” She finished. “Severus. You’ve spent three years waiting. Do you truly believe you’ve misread this?”

His mouth pressed into a thin line. He wanted to argue. Wanted to list all the reasons why he could be wrong, why this could go poorly, why it was safer to do nothing.

But he couldn’t.

Minerva tilted her head slightly, considering him. “Surely there’s something you’ve noticed. Some detail you could act on. Be more direct with.”

Severus frowned, his gaze dropping to the desk as his mind turned over the suggestion. Years of passing through observation—he had plenty of details. Too many, perhaps. The way you took your tea. The subjects that made your eyes light up. The routes you walked.

He stopped.

A flicker of realization, there and gone in an instant.

“Yes,” he said quietly. Almost to himself.

Minerva’s lips twitched.

He stood and moved toward the door, his hand already on the handle when he paused. Turning back, just slightly.

“Thank you, Minerva,” he said, voice low. Then, after the briefest beat: “Though in the future, I would prefer you to keep your observations—and your nose— firmly planted in someone else’s affairs.”

There was no bite in it. Just enough edge to feel like himself.

Minerva smiled. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

He left without another word, the door clicking shut behind him.

[glitterandwitchcraft]

🌱🌿ALL ABOUT MINT🌿🌱

Mint is an easy to source and easy to grow herb, making it amazing for witchcraft! You can use it in foods, drinks, decorations, scent pouches, and it can even be found in personal products like hair and skin care and cosmetics. It comes in many different varieties as well and they're all fairly hardy making them a perfect starting herb for people as well!

Mint brings many properties into workings, most notably a boost in energy. It's very lively and has a strong, uplifting, energetic scent to it. This also makes it great to cleanse the mind and space as well and call forth more positive energies.

Its vigor also makes it great for bringing in healing and protective energies as well. The roots of mint plants are very durable and some even say that it can completely take over an area if you're not careful. When I transplant mint, I am not the most delicate with bound roots because it will flourish regardless.

Being associated with the air element, it also makes it great to include in any workings dealing with communication. It can help stimulate better communication and give strength to your communication. Being associated with air also lends it a helping energy for travel workings and spells as well.

Even for the mundane, mint is very useful when sick or anxious. It is believed that mint can help calm anxiety and help ease brain fog. Mint tea is also a popular drink for colds and sore throats. Mint extracts are even used in medicines for all sorts of purposes.

Certain people should not consume various types of mint though. People who have GERD or organ transplants for example are advised to not ingest mint. As with everything, always consult medical professionals if you are unsure of any drug interactions, even if they seem harmless. Coming from personal experience of almost putting myself in a coma due to interactions with a common anti-depressant and common pain relievers, always double check!

Happy witching!!

[shadesofgaunt]

[coven-of-genesis]

Top 20 Healing Plants in Nature 🔮🌿

The Earth has always offered medicine to those who walk gently with her. From forest trails to kitchen cabinets, plants carry ancient wisdom and healing frequencies that support body, mind, and spirit.

Here’s a breakdown of 20 powerful herbs and botanicals ~ their magickal uses, metaphysical properties, and traditional healing benefits 🌙

🍃 ALOE VERA – Skin Soothing

💫 Magickal Use: Healing, protection, and beauty spells

🧪 Herbal Use: Treats burns, skin irritation, and dryness. Hydrating and cooling ~ a literal balm.

🌾 ASHWAGANDHA – Stress Reduction

💫 Magickal Use: Grounding, resilience, inner peace

🧪 Herbal Use: An adaptogen that helps the body cope with stress. Balances cortisol and restores energy.

🌼 CHAMOMILE – Calms the Nervous System

💫 Magickal Use: Dreamwork, sleep magic, protection

🧪 Herbal Use: Soothes anxiety, helps with insomnia, gentle on the stomach. Great in teas before bed.

🌲 CONIFER TREES – Forest Therapy, Air Purifier

💫 Magickal Use: Grounding, banishing negativity, protection

🧪 Herbal Use: Their essential oils (pine, fir, spruce) are cleansing, uplifting, and antibacterial.

🌸 ECHINACEA – Immune Boosting

💫 Magickal Use: Strength, resilience, longevity

🧪 Herbal Use: Used during colds and flus to strengthen immune response. Can be taken as tincture or tea.

🌬 EUCALYPTUS – Respiratory Support

💫 Magickal Use: Purification, road opening, uncrossing

🧪 Herbal Use: Clears sinuses, soothes coughs, and supports breathing. Use in steams, oils, or rubs.

🧠 GINKGO BILOBA – Cognitive Support

💫 Magickal Use: Mental clarity, memory recall, focus spells

🧪 Herbal Use: Improves brain function and circulation. Often used for focus and memory in older adults.

🔥 GINGER – Anti-Inflammatory, Nausea Relief

💫 Magickal Use: Speed, passion, success, energy boosting

🧪 Herbal Use: Great for digestion, menstrual cramps, and motion sickness. Heats up the body and spirit.

⚡️ GINSENG – Energy Booster

💫 Magickal Use: Strength, stamina, masculine energy

🧪 Herbal Use: Adaptogenic, increases vitality, stamina, and stress resistance.

🌿 HOLY BASIL (TULSI) – Adaptogenic Herb

💫 Magickal Use: Spiritual clarity, harmony, divine protection

🧪 Herbal Use: Balances mood, regulates stress, enhances digestion, and supports immunity.

💜 LAVENDER – Relaxation Aid

💫 Magickal Use: Peace, sleep, self-love, gentle protection

🧪 Herbal Use: Calms anxiety, soothes the nervous system, used in oils, baths, and teas.

🍋 LEMON BALM – Anxiety Relief

💫 Magickal Use: Joy, attraction, heart healing

🧪 Herbal Use: A calming nervine that helps lift moods, reduce stress, and soothe tension headaches.

🍃 NETTLE – Allergy Relief

💫 Magickal Use: Protection, strength, boundary setting

🧪 Herbal Use: Iron-rich, supports kidney health, and helps regulate seasonal allergies.

☘️ OREGANO – Antioxidant, Immune Support

💫 Magickal Use: Warding, cleansing, prosperity

🧪 Herbal Use: Antibacterial, antifungal, and immune-supporting. Great in oils and tinctures.

💐 PASSIONFLOWER – Anxiety Reduction

💫 Magickal Use: Love, peace, dreamwork

🧪 Herbal Use: Calms the nervous system and aids sleep without grogginess. Often found in herbal sleep blends.

🌱 PEPPERMINT – Digestive Aid, Tension Relief

💫 Magickal Use: Healing, strength, money-drawing

🧪 Herbal Use: Relieves bloating, cramps, and nausea. Uplifts mood and clears mental fog.

🌲 ROSEMARY – Cognitive + Memory Enhancement

💫 Magickal Use: Protection, remembrance, mental clarity

🧪 Herbal Use: Improves concentration, circulation, and memory. Often used in hair and scalp care too.

🌞 ST. JOHN’S WORT – Mood Stabilizing

💫 Magickal Use: Solar energy, light in dark places, banishing depression

🧪 Herbal Use: Naturally supports serotonin levels. Not for use with certain medications — do your research.

🧡 TURMERIC – Anti-Inflammatory

💫 Magickal Use: Purification, courage, radiant energy

🧪 Herbal Use: Potent anti-inflammatory, supports joint and digestive health. Always pair with black pepper.

🌙 VALERIAN – Sleep Aid

💫 Magickal Use: Peaceful sleep, astral travel, dream recall

🧪 Herbal Use: Strong sedative herb. Helps those with insomnia or nighttime anxiety. Powerful, earthy scent

Reminder: Always do your own research before using herbs, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medications. Not all herbs are suitable for everyone ~ and some are toxic to pets! 🌸

[ambitiouspotions]

PETAL AND KEEPER | NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM

summary — you are between a woman and a plant which sprouted from what was once a sapling. neville has taken on the responsibility of caring for you and tonight he has to prune your leaves and tidy your hair.

word count — 4.1k

warnings — 18+ MDNI, smut (oral f receiving, unprotected pinv sex, power imbalance, humanoid creature x human), paring (caretakerneville x magicalsproutedplantreader), neville is in his late thirties, wholesome but horny, established relationship

author’s note — anyways…yep, thanks for waiting so long for me to get my shit together

taglist: @imhersworld , @probablybleedscoffee

you started in the tiniest clay pot on neville's store counter, though that didn't last long because the pot cracked and you were moved to a new location—a slightly bigger pot on his kitchen counter. no, that was no good either because the more neville tended to you the larger you got. oh, and neville tended to you greatly—so greatly in fact that the more he doted on you the quicker you grew.

eventually, you couldn't be contained. you were taken out of the large terracotta pot that sat on the porch and were uprooted. he placed you in a clearing just near the greenhouse next to his home so he could watch you flourish even more.

he would return from his day at longbottom’s second soil, his bustling shop for all things magical plants and related items, and immediately sit under your branches. he would talk for hours, and he didn't know why he did, but he would. nonsense was the majority of his talk, but when he was sitting upon your roots, it was comforting.

one day, you sprouted from the tree, dropping onto the soft, pillowy grass like you were meant to be there. confusing at first—a little disorienting if anything—but once neville found you it was meant to be.

even upon taking a human form, you were still neville’s favorite thing that he had ever grown. beautiful and full of life, no longer a something, but a someone. you were attached to him even when your roots were in the ground because you knew he cared for you. your consciousness had not only developed but your full body that was now dedicated to giving neville longbottom a true test of his skills—patience, kindness, and empathy.

tonight was cold, the trees around the field shuddered while you picked at chickweed on the ground to munch upon. you were ignoring neville’s call to gather your shawl from the enclosed porch for long enough, because when he finally said it was time to come inside you were dragging your feet and huffing.

winter was among the list of things you despised—not hated—neville never let you say hate. with the snow flurries whipping outside and your refusal to put on an extra layer of those dreaded clothes, neville made you come inside for the evening. spring and summer were different; you were able to run freely until the night settled in without socks or a knitted jumper. winter and autumn were the seasons that brought more backtalk and more complaints.

he ran a warm bath, stripping off your dirty socks and untying your stained crocheted slip dress much to your dismay. although the warm water was a refreshing break from the cold, you were longing to go back outside despite the unfortunate weather. even having to wear clothes was better than being forced to stay indoors. although both options should’ve been considered forms of torture to a magically sprouted plant.

the heated washroom was fogging the icy windows. the wall radiator was cranked on high to entice you to relax, and it worked; neville knew the tricks of the trade. plants were not all the same, and neville took great pride in ensuring the comfort of all of them—especially you, petal.

undressing and washing up were the easy parts. you had no shame in your natural skin or any embarrassment to nakedness. it was nothing out of the ordinary, and neville did as any caretaker would—let you be as long as you weren’t unhappy or in any danger. a bare naked sprout through the spring and summer became normal. some battles weren’t meant to be fought, but on a particularly cold day like today, neville had to put his foot down.

his steady hands worked across your green-tinted body with a soapy rag. you were sitting crisscrossed in the bath water letting him wash your upper half before your lower. neville never let you do it yourself anymore because the last time he left you alone in the bathtub he had to replace the floors from the miniature flood you managed to create.

“lay back, petal,” he instructed, and so you did.

you shrugged your shoulders downwards to immerse yourself more in the warm water, cupping the water from your hands and letting it flow onto your exposed chest. you wiggled your toes to try and cover them more. the warmth was just too appealing after your stint in the cold. keeper tended to be right, although on some days you couldn't help but test his every last nerve to try and succeed in getting what you wanted.

even after seeing you naked it never seemed to be taken for granted. neville was appreciative of your locally grown body.

the moment you seemed to be comfortably situated, neville was digging out a caddy from under the bathroom sink. a caddy full of things that you would have to sit still for.

“no, keeper, no,” you protested with a groan, immediately looking at the overgrown leaves sprouting from your arm. you had barely paid attention to the overgrowth until you had seen that dreaded tool holder.

“petal, you've got to keep tidy,” he insisted, rifling through his items to get organized. you were already trying to pluck the leaves yourself. the shriveled leaves crumpled to the washroom’s ground and a few flecks floated in the clear bathwater. “that means a bath and pruning.”

“but i don't want you to do it,” you mumbled before using your teeth to remove a leaf that wouldn't come loose. “i can do it easier.”

neville turned his head, giving a look that already said enough. this was not his first trip around the sun in regards to you incorrectly pruning yourself.

“petal, you can't tear at them,” he reminded you, inching his stool a bit closer to the worn clawfoot bathtub.

“those ones were done,” you began inspecting your other arm for the aged leaves, about to pull another when he gently shooed your hand away. you stopped, flicking the final piece of browning foliage that was stuck to your palm over the side of the tub.

he rolled up his flannel sleeves that were damp at the edges from washing you then fished into the water to grab the arm you haphazardly plucked. “i decide when they are done.”

his eyes steadily raked over your arm, feeling for unevenness your unorganized plucking had caused. his shears were resting in his lap unless he felt any discrepancies.

“takes too long, keeper,” you complained as he snipped a leaf. he paid no attention to your whinging, only grabbing your other arm to snip. he had heard it all before, in fact, it was each time he clipped your dying growth that he heard your protests and mostly ignored them. he knew he wasn't causing you any pain—more frustration than anything.

one by one neville collected your old leaves in a neat pile, unlike the ones you had strewn about on the tile floor.

“you never liked to sit still,” neville teased as he lifted one of your legs to rest on the ledge of the porcelain tub. his hands roamed your leg just as they did with your upper extremities, snipping only the slightest bit of tangled vine on your thighs and calves.

“i like to run,” you huffed, jumping slightly as he steadied your left foot to inspect your chipped nail lacquer and the dirt shoved under your nails.

“well, petal, i can see that,” neville laughed again, scrubbing your ticklish feet until the dirt released from the nail enclosure. “i suppose i should comb your hair—”

“absolutely not!” you tugged your legs back into the fragrant water, immediately trying to paw through your hair yourself. on neville’s account, this action was hilarious, seeing as your fingers immediately would not run through your curls smoothly. “i’ll keep it natural, see, you love my curls!” you protested, swatting at his hand when he went to release your fingers from your dense coils.

“certainly not, especially when you don't care for it,” neville lifted your chin so your eyes would meet him. little flecks of pollen were present in your eyes as the light caught them.

“i do,” you lied, gently tugging the end of your curls to see how long they would extend.

“oh, sure, like when you got into the cabbage patch and had a chinese chomping cabbage—” neville was already raking through your pillowy, damp hair with a handful of leave-in conditioner mixed with water.

“no, that was your fault,” you huffed, taking away the section he was working with. “you singed my hair with your wand.”

keeper would never manage to live that moment down, although it was fair game. he saw a hungry petal about to eat an even hungrier chomping cabbage and sprang into action. it just so happened that a small piece of her hair was a casualty in the battle of the dangerous garden.

“next time i’ll let the cabbage have petal for dinner,” neville shrugged, tilting your head back to see the crooked part of your head. his hands were gently bunching the curls, knowing he’d soon hear you complain more the moment he started parting and plaiting them.

neville had a grin on his face as he rinsed his hands in your bath water to rid the slick conditioner from his hands. “up,” he motioned as he moved his stool away from the tub to leave more space for you. his sitting spot was soon taken over by the plush towel he had laid out for you.

“you wouldn’t dare,” you tensed, rising from the tub ever so skeptically, your hands gripping his sturdy forearms as he guided you.

“i would, especially if you keep up with your whinging.” neville could never mean that—never in his heart of hearts would he trade his petal.

wrapped in the cotton bath towel you sat criss-crossed on the bed, neville was parting your hair down the middle with the back of the comb.

it took a bit of coaxing, but of course, in the end, he won. he may have played the negotiation card which meant you'd be having a sweet while he braided your hair, but that was worth not having to hear any more complaints, or so he hoped.

your had your head leaned back, letting him untangle the damp mass of hair you had sprouting from your head. a honey and vanilla lolly was hanging from your lips to keep you quiet. it was your favorite little treat, and just enough to stuff in your mouth to occupy you.

neville had braided floral wire, rope, and the very vines of the giant pumpkins that became unruly, but your hair was its own challenge entirely. the challenge did not come from how hard it was to plait, detangle, or wash, but because of the opinionated sprout who had said hair attached to their head.

in the spring and summer your coils not only become tangled, but the factor of flowering buds made them even more gentle. in the autumn and winter, your hair was more sensitive and brittle, requiring extra moisture to lay the foundation of the buds that would sprout in the warm months. as keeper always said, you were a fickle little petal.

you pulled the sweet from your mouth inspecting the round sugar treat that had a bright sheen from your saliva.

neville began at the crown of your head, splitting a section into three parts. he was going to do his signature french plaits down each half of your head.

“how’s your lolly?” neville asked softly, lacing his fingers into your detangled curls and beginning his plait.

“mm,” you hummed, almost dazed as his gentle but seasoned hands worked on your head. “good.”

“worth letting me fix your hair?”

you shrugged, stubborn as ever, not wanting to admit it wasn't as bad as you had made it out to be. however, it seemed to work in your favor. your tongue rolled over the sweet as your fingers fiddled with the white paper stick.

“mm,” you thought again, just momentarily. “no.”

“bloody hell, petal,” neville chuckled, tying the end of one braid. “maybe if you keep sitting still i’ll give you something else.”

the moment his hands released the elastic band on the end of the plait you turned your head to look at him. your curious self couldn't help but wonder what it might be, with big begging eyes fixated on your keeper you knew he could barely resist—

“nope,” neville disagreed immediately, turning those sweet little eyes away from himself. “you'll just have to be patient while i finish this plait.”

“a hint?” you petitioned, letting your eyes fall back to your lap. your lolly was tucked into the inner of your cheek as you spoke.

“i think you’ll like it.” neville was purposely being vague to keep your mind occupied.

“more sweets—ouch,” you flinched as his knuckle became entangled in your curls. his repetitive over and under motion halted, to inspect the snag of your hair. a quick detangle and it was like nothing happened.

neville leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on the back of your head. his hands were holding his position on the strands of hair. his unspoken apology was enough to settle your upset grumble even with sugar flooding your senses.

“and no, no more lollies, petal. it’s something else.” neville was finishing the last stretch of the plait, making sure each side was even. with the second elastic in his hand, he tied the second side.

“then what is it?” you asked, letting the towel fall from around your body so you could face neville. his hand caressed one side of your face, a faint smirk lighting his face as your bare body made itself comfortable in his lap. he pulled your braids to the front across your shoulders.

his thumb brushed against your bottom lip, making the sucker stick in your mouth twitch.

“wouldn’t you like to know?” he teased, wiggling the lolly stick.

you rolled your eyes, removing the half-eaten sweet from your mouth and placing it on the wax wrapper neville had discarded on the nightstand.

“well, yes,” you murmured, letting your hands dip into his waffle top shirt underneath his open flannel. warmth was radiating off of his body—in his lap and against his chest was always the safest place to be.

neville stubbly face brushed against your cheek as he got closer to your ear. his hand was brushing down the flyaways on the opposite side of your face, whispering, “you think you could sit for just a bit longer?”

your brows furrowed, plucking at the back of his shirt unhappily. “no, keeper—”

“mm, not even if i pulled you on top of my face?”

yes, you could certainly sit for that, especially because keeper never expected you to sit still for that.

a soft gasp left your mouth, pulling away from his whispering to look him in his eyes. his crow’s feet around his eyes wrinkled with mischief.

neville’s hands wandered to your hips, dragging them slowly and intentionally down from your face to meet that sweet spot he loved to hold. he leaned forward to capture your lips in a kiss. the remnants of honey and vanilla sat upon your lips and only brought neville in closer, not like he could ever get enough of you anyway.

his thumbs rubbed into your hips, appreciating the plushness of the chub that sat atop your bones. you were a sproutling that had been very well tended. he began to lean back on the bed, one hand guiding you down with him as he deepened the kiss.

your palms splayed against his chest, anchoring yourself in your seat more not to slip while you bracketed him with your legs. his weight combined with yours sank the mattress with a creak from the old bedspring coils. his bottom lip brushed against yours as he pulled away from the kiss.

“go on then, get where you need to be.”

you straddled his face, always knowing what to expect, but no matter what you were wet with anticipation while seated above him. the crooked edge of his nose slid against the most inner part of your thigh as he breathed in your earthy scent. his lips dragged teasingly against the outermost folds of your cunt.

“bloomin’ gorgeous, petal,” he praised before extending his tongue and tasting your nectar in one long, slow stripe up your center. you shuddered, one hand pawing at his hair and the other steadying yourself against the metal bedpost.

cliche to say the least, opening your blooming flower with his tongue and tasting the syrupy sweetness you produced, but dear merlin, it never became repetitive—not even in the slightest.

his mouth enveloped your pussy, open and hungry as you were displayed above him. he had to keep you seated as you rocked against his tongue. his working arms respectively took each thigh to grasp.

he was avoiding your clit purposely, liking how whiny you got the closer in proximity he edged to it. one flick caused you to bear down, causing the bridge of his nose to nudge against your bud more.

his sunday slacks were tight in the crotch. his belt was bulging from the tension in his pants. it was too much to be contained, but it would have to wait until he finished unveiling his surprise to you—working for your climax.

you were so undeniably aroused by him. his touch was one of his best qualities, knowing just how to satisfy you. he was the right commander of your aching body.

neville pulled apart your asscheeks, trying to take a larger breath before finding your pussy again. he panted against your inner thigh briefly before using his leverage on your bottom to bring you back again.

he was tonguing at your clit while letting the wetness that pooled at your entrance drip onto his chin. this was a treat for him just as much as it was for you. along with your moans came neville's each time you would clench and unclench your fist in his hair.

“keeper,” you murmured breathlessly as your eyelids fluttered shut.

his fingers were assisting his tongue in spreading your folds apart; he could work his mouth more easily through your cunt. he widened his mouth to taste more of you. his bottom lip dragged against your sopping core.

repeatedly going between sucking your clit and flattening his tongue to lap against it you only got closer to the feeling of ecstasy. your toes curled and tingled as your pelvis tightened.

the grip on his locks tightened in your hand. your center so fixed, and yet so wobbly as you unraveled on top of him. your mouth was parted and your eyes were completely closed as your orgasm surged through you. neville was settling you, nudging your sweaty forehead to your inner thigh and gently kissing it.

your stomach heaved, thighs shaking as he panted softly from being smothered in your core. he pushed you back gently, letting you move to his chest. his jaw ached but it was so worth it to let that glassy sheen take over your eyes and your pussy to be so open and ready for his hardened cock.

his next order of business was laying you on your side while wiping his mouth against the inner part of his bicep. he shrugged off his flannel and pulled over his shirt, clearing his throat as a verbal warning as he unclasped his belt.

you were ready; you were interested anytime he dropped his trousers. you caressed his small patch of stomach hair and helped him tug down his briefs. your eyes gave the same look of interest from the first time neville had helped himself out of his slacks.

with one hand wrapped around his cock you supported his balls, leaning on one of your elbows to pay more attention to his erection than anything. still needy, still desperate—that was his good petal.

you were chewing your bottom lip as he parted your legs, hoisting one over his shoulder and edging his reddened tip at your entrance. he toyed with you just for a tick, watching you uncomfortably shift on the bed when he didn’t enter right away.

slow and steady—that was keeper’s way of making sure his throbbing member would slip inside of you easily. while gathering your wetness he inched inside, sliding one hand up your chest as he did so. he caressed the curve of your breast as his thumb grazed your hardened nipple.

he was filling the gap between your legs so purposely and effortlessly; his cock proudly being buried inside of you. he leaned down to shush in your ear softly while still cupping the side of your breast. his other hand was flat against your cheek and the edge of your hairline.

his huffed a bit, feeling his shaft twitch in your pulsing walls. he panted softly into your pointed ear. your arms brought him close, digging your stubby nails into his back.

“oh, petal, that's a good girl,” keeper sighed, kissing your earlobe.

his hips got into a steady thrusting rhythm as you moaned under him.

“that’s my petal,” he praised in between kissing the column of your neck.

you were one orgasm in and working towards another. neville made sure you would be well taken care of the thought of neglecting you hadn't even remotely ever crossed his mind because you were in such a perfect state of not wanting to be helped but needing to be helped.

“all yours, keeper,” you whined, rutting your hips upward as his humps became a bit longer and more exaggerated. your face buried against his taking in a whiff of his woodsy cologne.

your walls gripped him, unwilling to let him do for even a second. he never knew how you expected him to last with the way your cunt held his cock. it wouldn't matter if he had you every minute of the day, he would still be just as weak.

the first time he had you pinned in bed was the beginning of a never-ending story. you were so inclined to earn true pleasure with your steady-handed caretaker. neville was clumsily fumbling the first time only because of his nervousness not because of his inability to tend to you.

the heat between you was palpable. his touch was not the only thing providing sexual gratification but his very being was enough to have you melting.

your cunt squelched as his cock exited and re-entered. his tip glided against your g-spot. his brawny thighs cushioned your blow as he thudded against him with a quick snapping noise.

“yes,” you panted, falling limp into his rougher thrusts. “keeper, yes!” your legs buckled, slipping off his shoulder as he drove his final movements forward.

he was right with you. his creamy seed coating your walls as you rose quicker to your climax. his dick was so devilishly hardened as he came which hit your pleasure center just right. louder and louder you became as his thrusts went from rhythmic to rickety.

your grip around him was constraining, but he didn't pull away. he placed pecks along your jawline as he slowed himself while still buried in your pussy.

absolutely divine, being completely and utterly at his will. being cared for in the most intimate setting while now being cradled by your keeper. his weight pressed into your sweaty chest, still kissing your face. he was whispering praises while grabbing your discarded bath towel to not only clean you but also himself.

he stood to collect his briefs and a thin jumper hanging out of the dresser. both were for him but he snagged an extra quilt for you when he pulled the bedding over your body. he slid in next to you gently, not wanting to disturb the comfortable spot you had made for yourself after the innards of your legs had been wiped clean.

neville dragged his arm over you. he nudged his nose against the back of your neck and sighed softly into your fragrant hair. the quilt covered you both in the flickering bedside lantern light. satisfied, tended to perfection, and very well grounded were all good things to finally end the day.

well, until tomorrow when you would rise before the sun and begin your daily mischief while neville tended the shop. then when he returned home he would slip back into his role of caretaker and remind you that you always need extra nurturing to flourish.

“i love you, petal.”

the light was extinguished. your backside was pressed more firmly into neville, not only for warmth but security.

“i love you too, keeper.”

his fingers grazed your fresh plait, and that was enough to settle you for the evening.

[unfinishedhowl]

all wizarding exam quizzes masterpost ⋆⭒˚.⋆

★ O.W.L.'s:

Potions Charms Care of Magical Creatures Herbology History of Magic Divination Study of Ancient Runes Astronomy Muggle Studies (coming soon)

★ N.E.W.T.'s:

Potions Charms Transfiguration Herbology Care of Magical Creatures Defense Against the Dark Arts History of Magic Divination Study of Ancient Runes Astronomy Muggle Studies (coming soon)

Transfiguration and D.A.D.A. are only part of the N.E.W.T.'s because of a lack of source material. Have fun and let me know your results in the comments ❤️