Chapter 7
“Merlin, that is awful.” Minerva gasped.
“Sorry about that, after they die they sort of get that way,” Neville said with an apologetic smile.
“No worries mate, we’ll get it done,” Ron said, his nose wrinkled as he stepped into the greenhouse behind Neville, followed by Harry and Minerva.
By their combined powers the four of them magically lifted the massive mimbletonia, with all of its many fleshy limbs and shoots, all decaying rather rapidly now. They couldn’t have managed it out the door of the greenhouse, so Minerva just vanished the whole wall, and they carried it through. They slowly crossed the lawn and Harry was trying not to smile at the pageantry of it all, funerals were something he did not associate with plants, but he knew it was important to Neville, so he did his best to keep a straight face. They approached the compost bin, which was strewn now in the black crepe paper and looking properly funerary, and saw Hermione, Ginny, and Hagrid flinch from the smell. They heard baby Jame’s protestations in the form of whining into his mother’s shoulder. The process hastened as they managed the leaking mimbletonia into the compost bin, and Ron quickly waved the lid closed. Minerva summoned up a breeze to blow the unpleasant scent away and managed it for the most part.
Neville was smiling at his friends, “You guys are all a man could ask for, troopers one and all, and that goes for little James too,” Neville said with an affectionate look at Harry’s son.
“Well, this trooper would like to say a few words to mark the occasion,” Harry said, then dramatically clearing his throat and stepping up beside the compost bin, where the smell worsened.
He ignored it and his friends’ laughter and said, “This good plant and I have shared but a few wonderful moments. Terrible, sticky, smelly, horrible, no good, moments, yes, but wonderful. Our first encounter involved being sprayed with stink sap in the train car, many of you were here for that,” He gestured around dramatically, to the desired effect of eye rolls and smiles. “And all through the next years in the dormitory, having the constant fear that I would wake to the unpleasant smell in the middle of the night and be stuck to my pillow,” He was laying on the dramatics now, “And now, this final moment, sad, but wonderful. Why you might ask, is any of this wonderful? I’ll tell you, my friends, it is because of you. The friendships and the laughter that this plant has brought on through its smelly deeds will live into perpetuity, though its time has ended. Now we must commend this dear plant to that great greenhouse six in the sky. It is a fond farewell, surrounded by fonder friends. Thank you.” Harry let out a great laugh, that he had fought to control during his speech and the others applauded and laughed along, Neville more heartily than anyone else.
Minerva replaced the wall of the greenhouse, and after double-checking that everything was secure and cleaned up Neville said another thank you to his friends, who stood waiting for him to join them. “I really can’t thank you guys enough, this is all so great of you. I’ve been feeling a bit low lately, but you’ve all really picked up my spirits.”
“Like we said, Nev, that’s what friends are for. You’ve done the same for us too many times to count,” Hermione said, patting him on the shoulder. “Now do you suppose we might go in and have those cheering chocolates? It’s a bit chilly out here.” Harry noticed that the end of her nose was turning red.
“My office for tea?” Minerva asked the group at large, although they had all known that was where they would end up, that’s always where this group ended up.
“I can’t wait for you all to try the new flavours of cheering chocolates, they’re not up for sale yet in the shop, so you lot’ll be some of the first,” Ron said as they all turned back to the castle.
Minerva turned around, fixed Ron with a signature look, and said, “They are tested aren’t they, I’ll not partake in anything experimental.”