i need a cure (there's no escaping your love)

Part 7

The thing Josie enjoys the most about Hogwarts' greenhouse is the peace and quiet she gets there. She can tend to the plants for hours without hearing a single voice. She can put music on and forget that the world around her exists. She definitely loves Hogwarts and the magical world it introduced her to but, sometimes, she needs a little break from it. Sometimes, just being Josie is enough for her.

That's why when that peace and quiet is suddenly disturbed, Josie thinks she might have a heart attack. The brunette student quickly places a hand over her heart, as if to keep it from jumping out of her chest. Her eyes quickly found the source of the noise that almost scared her to death. Hope Mikaelson is walking to her with a sheepish smile. Josie can't stop herself from smiling when she sees Hope, but she still rolls her eyes. Just for show.

"Sorry." Hope comes to a stop fairly close to Josie. "I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you would be expecting me since we were supposed to meet here."

The brunette's whole face softens as realization hits her. "Oh, I completely forgot. I tend to get lost in my own world whenever I step foot here."

"I could see that. Would you rather have me here another day?"

"No!" Josie feels her cheeks heat up. Her response might have been a little too quick. "Please, stay. I have so much to show you."

Hope's soft smile definitely doesn't help Josie's cheeks to regain a normal color.

Josie patiently waits as Hope takes off her winter coat, leaving her in her usual Durmstrang attire. As the Slytherin lets her eyes take in Hope's clothes, a frown appears on her face.

"Do you mind getting those clothes dirty? We're gonna be playing with dirt as well as plants."

Hope quickly looks down at herself before looking back up at Josie and shrugging. "Nothing a quick spell can't fix."

"Or a washing machine." Josie rolls her eyes as she turns back to her plants.

Hope stands next to her. "What a muggle way of thinking." She teases. "You have a wand, you should use it." When all Josie does is glaring at Hope, the Mikaelson witch clears her throat. "So, the plants..."

"Right."

For the next hour or so, Josie happily rambles about the numerous plants in the greenhouse. She takes the time to explain what they can be used for and how to tend to them. Hope gives her her full attention, barely interrupting the Slytherin student. Whenever Josie tells her to do something, Hope takes her time to do it right.

As they work together side by side, Josie can't stop herself from stealing numerous glances at the Durmstrang champion. Hope is so focused on her task, that her brows are creased, making her face look harder than it usually is.

"That's not the right tool."

Josie's voice startles Hope, making the auburn haired girl drop the jar she has in her hands. The jar shatters as soon as it hits the ground, spilling the dirt it was holding before. Josie doesn't even have time to react before Hope drops to her knees to try and collect the pieces of the broken jar.

"I'm sorry!"

The brunette quickly kneels to help Hope. "It's okay. It happened to me before."

Josie's words make Hope look up at her. With the broken pieces in her hands and the innocent guilt on her face, Hope looks like a child who just broke their mom's favorite vase. Josie gently takes the pieces from Hope, giving her a soft smile to hopefully make the quidditch player feel better. After a couple of seconds, Hope shyly smiles back.