Shiloe: Just the Two of Us

“Rowena can’t come out here herself anymore, and she wanted me to ask you to tend to her potions ingredients.” Shiloe told Neville proudly. “She knows how good you are at Herbology. I agreed that you might like the challenge. HERE we are!” He finished, indicating the overgrown garden.

Neville winced. “It’s going to be a tough job to get it organized, but I think I can. MERLIN.” He whispered in awe, kneeling next to a shrub that grew teardrop-shaped light blue blossoms. “I think this is Dragon’s Sorrow!” He said softly. “But that’s not POSSIBLE! It’s been extinct for three hundred years!”

Shiloe smirked. “I take you’ll take the job?”

Neville grinned. “With immense pleasure! Look, this is the Cry Pansy! It’s supposed to be extinct, too!” He exclaimed in excitement. “I can get it weeded  and do some pruning, but I’ll need to study the proper care of some of these plants!”

Shiloe chuckled. “Do you want help?”

Neville nodded. “Sure. Pull up everything in this area that looks like… THIS!” He announced, ripping up a mass of leaves and roots, sending dirt flying everywhere.

Shiloe grinned. “So… This one?” He asked, gripping a plant at the base.

Neville checked, then nodded. “Yep. Rip it out straight up so the roots come out, too.”

Shiloe pulled, grabbed, and pulled again, the work becoming mindless as he learned to recognize undesirable Flora and set about eradicating it.

After a few minutes, Neville hummed. “And what are YOU doing here, little ladybug?” He asked, holding up a hand. The ladybug was heading toward his wrist.

Shiloe recoiled.

Neville turned shocked eyes to him. “Shi? What’s up?”

“I hate ALL beetles.” Shiloe admitted.

Neville covered his mouth with his free hand, stifling a chuckle.

Shiloe glared at him, venomously.

Neville recovered, shaking his head. “Ladybugs won’t hurt you.” He said patiently, then cocked his head. “Well, unless you EAT them.”

“THAT is DISGUSTING.” Was Shiloe’s honest opinion.

Neville’s laughter filled the garden as the ladybug took flight.