The Memorial Garden

[alt_neville]

Professor Sprout and I and a few other volunteers have been getting our boots mucky, walking through the area planned for the Memorial Garden, and using charms and transfiguration spells to lay the walkways and set up the beds. We were a bit anxious at first that the soil was too alkaline for many of the plants we had planned to put in, so we've been working in peat moss, down to a depth of six inches. The soil quality is very good otherwise: excellent drainage, nice and rich--lots of additional compost helped. We turn up worms every time we turn a spade. I always get so happy whenever I see them; they're perfect for aeration.

So now we're ready to start planting, and the plants are beginning to arrive! The ones I've ordered, I mean, aside from the ones that Professor Sprout has to spare from the Greenhouses. It's really exciting to see the plans I've sketched out begin to take shape. One of the commercial greenhouses we'd ordered from had a shipping delay, so some of the trees won't be coming in when we expect them, but we should have most of the shrubs put in on schedule. Of course, there won't be as much colour this first year, since the bulbs that really liven up the palette won't get planted until next autumn. Still, I think there will be enough in the ground by the time the students go home that everyone will have a pretty good idea of what it's supposed to look like.

Comments

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_justin]

Neville,

I say, that seems a frightfully cruel thing to do to an innocent tree, what? I thought you had a jolly great affinity for growing things.

Does Professor Sprout know what you intend? I shouldn't think it would appeal to her sensibilities, even for someone like Carrow.

I suppose, if it were my design, I should rather choose the most florid and fragrant tree possible--a cherry blossom, perhaps, or a lilac--that could never be mistaken as a representation of them, what, but that would contribute as much beauty and peace into the world as ever they bally well took away from it.

-Justin

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

I see your point, Justin, really I do, but...he killed Hannah. And he tried to kill Terry.

He doesn't get a tree. Hannah's the one who deserves one.

And yes. Professor Sprout knows.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_justin]

No disrepect to Hannah, Neville, old man, but a stone is already dead. It can be pried up, defaced, even smashed to rubble some day, when this is over.

But what you're doing makes no sense. It's dashed bad form and to what end? I say, you'll be destroying a patch of earth, ruining it for years to come. And you're killing a tree. Is that tree actually a representation of Carrow? Of course it isn't--it has nothing to do with Carrow except for her claim that it's his memorial, what?

I say, if that's truly what you wish to do, old chap, there's nothing to stop you. Perhaps I've been thinking too much of Harry's dilemma, what, but it's bally well the same sort of thing, isn't it? The choice to build or the choice to kill. The choice to resolve our problems by lethal force or to change minds and hearts by example and through kindness.

Let me put it another way: Years from now, you'll come back to Hogwarts and you'll see a blasted, stunted tree, that never had a chance to flower and grow. Would that make you happy to see? Would you look on it with pride, to realise that you've done to that tree what he did to your Hannah? Or would you rather look at something alive and blooming, flourishing in a way that reminds you of her goodness?

It's your choice, of course. And it's not always going to be possible, what. But wherever one can avoid ugliness, one should do.

-Justin

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_neville]

But I am doing that, you know, Justin. That's what the whole rest of the garden will be. I didn't want to do it. But I've put my very best work into making it as beautiful as possible.

As for the Carrows....as I see it, I'm giving them the most fitting, appropriate memorial I can think of, one that reflects the lives they lived. It's not something that I'm doing lightly, especially considering how much I really do love making things grow.

I've thought this through very carefully, and I've made my decision.

Let it be.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: private message to Neville Longbottom

[alt_terry]

Well, I'm really glad you decided to do it that way. It is the most fitting memorial possible for the pair of them.

Hannah's tree is flourishing. It's starting to bud out leaves now. When summer's come, and it's safe for you to get owls again, Colin will send you a sketch.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: private message to Neville Longbottom

[alt_neville]

Thanks, Terry.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh Justin, what does it matter? It's just a tree, not something with feelings.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good

[alt_justin]

Sally-Anne,

Before I learned about magic, I might have agreed with you, what? But I think it's clear that plants do feel and in some cases think and behave. Mandrakes, for example. Perhaps it's necessary to butcher them but I don't think one takes glee in the act or finds it to be a tremendously clever thing to do.

Look, I don't want to sound like a bally old girl's blouse about it. I just.... Neville's too good a chap to do something like this. But his mind's obviously made up.

-Justin

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

By the way, is your hand okay? She didn't spot you going to the hidden room and make you carve yourself up again, did she? I have some murtlap in my bracelet today if you need more.

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private message to Justin

[alt_justin]

It's better; thank you for asking. I expect I shall want more murtlap this afternoon, what. Hurts like blazes. I say, it's dashed amazing how a small wound can sting far worse than it looks.

I rather thought she might object to my popping up to Ravenclaw Tower Sunday and it's not that I wasn't willing to accept whatever she decided to dish out, if you follow me, but that hardly means I'd like a permanent scar reading 'I will stay where I belong' either!

-Justin

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up to No Good: Private message to Justin

[alt_sally_anne]

I think the quill is designed to make it hurt more, but I'd have to get a closer look to know for sure. Not something I'm eager for. Not least because I'm not sure she wouldn't find something worse, you just never know with her.

Anyway I'll give you murtlap when I see you.