An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Oct 12, 2022 7:33:44 GMT 10
Herbology had never been Elizabeth's favourite subject, which is why it was also, in her opinion, one of the weaker ones. However, that didn't mean she didn't care about her grades in the class. If she wanted a nice set of OWL scores, hopefully mostly of the O variety, she would need to practice, and that involved dealing with plants.
She headed down to the Greenhouse after her History of Magic class, hoping that Professor Sprout would be around. Apparently there was some problem that required student assistance, something Elizabeth was proud to provide as a prefect, a status she hoped to retain going forward into her last years of school.
"Excuse me, Professor Sprout?" Elizabeth called out for the Herbology professor, trying not to distract anyone else who might be attempting to practice Herbology before the exams.
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 12, 2022 20:14:42 GMT 10
After class, Joe did not have a very long walk to get to the Student Greenhouse, yet he still seemed to have been beaten here by an older student.
He must have dawdled putting away his stuff.
He glanced at the Slytherin girl nervously but decided that she did not look mean like Seabrook and her lot and was likely no trouble when she was looking for Professor Sprout.
“Hello,“ he greeted her shyly, as they both seemed to be waiting for the same thing and he would feel rude if he didn’t say anything.
He then whipped up and down on his tip toes, hands crossed behind his back.
Professor Sprout was seated in an armchair in a spot least occupied by plants. The armchair was colourful and comfy-looking -- its pristine condition gave it away as something that was surely conjured, as it looked vastly out of place in such an area.
'Yes?' she asked, not looking up from her book on... well, who knows? It was in another language. Shockingly for Elizabeth, it wasn't one she at least recognised. 'How can I help?'
Sprout glanced up to give each student a warm smile.
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Oct 22, 2022 4:14:30 GMT 10
Elizabeth looked at the boy. A first year? "Hello." She responded, not quite sure what to do with him. At least with Charlotte they were sisters. Perhaps she should ask about Charlotte? The boy did seem like a Ravenclaw, but Elizabeth knew little of her sister's social relationships, if she had managed to form any. Elizabeth knew that it was difficult for herself.
She was grateful to see Professor Sprout, but curious about the book as she was when presented with academics or things related to academics that she hadn't seen before. She knew that if it was unfamiliar, it was unlikely to be on her OWLs, but just in case, she tried at least to get a glimpse of the letters for future research purposes.
"Actually, Professor, I was wondering if I might be able to help you. I heard that there was a plant that you would like some help with?" Elizabeth thought it would be easy enough. She had gloves, she was more or less prepared, she thought to deal with a plant. It would probably just be something Professor Sprout didn't think she needed to deal with herself.
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 22, 2022 18:07:20 GMT 10
Joe gave a slight smile when the older Slytherin greeted him back but did not have the nerve to initiate more conversation. He had no idea what to talk to her about anyway. And it was likely better not to test the waters too much, in case she was a bully like Seabrook after all.
He was glad when Sprout addressed them and trailed behind the older student, trying not to annoy her, just in case.
He glanced curiously at the book and after the older student had stated her business, he dared chime in.
"I would also like to help any way I can," he said. Pointing at the professor's book he added: "What language is that?"
He hadn't known there was a secret language for herbologists, so he was curious what other secrets he had not been led in on. Unless of course, it was no secret herbologist language after all and just a boring normal language he didn't speak.
Professor Sprout waved off Jonathan's question. Not usually one to ignore curiosity, she simply shrugged. Perhaps she considered it unimportant enough to mention, or that it was far beyond his educational reach regardless. She set the book aside, and it vanished in a puff of purple smoke.
At their explanations for their visit, she smiled -- nodding as she considered what to have them assist with. They were at varying levels, so she knew it would be differing tasks.
'Your brother was here not too long ago, to further his Herbology studies as well,' she added to Elizabeth. 'I'll set you the same task.'
She glanced at a giant plant in the corner of the Greenhouse. It ruffled its leaves rather threateningly, as if knowing it was the focus of the moment.
'You could assist me with this. Let's get to work,' she said. 'I'll need you to mix a special fertiliser for it.' Sprout then led Elizabeth to spare spot of counter near the corner, though safely out of reach of any plants.
There were some tools, containers, and sacks.
'Combine an even amount of manure, standard fertiliser potion, and powdered honey.' She pointed to two sacks, and a vial of brown potion. It was implied that Elizabeth would mix them together in the container, then bring them over when done.
Sprout returned to Jonathan, though kept an eye on the plant and Elizabeth's progress in preparation for their task involving it.
'You've already done battle with such a plant, but we'll let it rest for now,' she said to the Ravenclaw student. 'You can focus on learning the Pruning Charm -- used to combat plants band overgrowth by reducing, parting, or trimming them.'
She ushering him over to another corner of the greenhouse, though with clear view of the plant and Elizabeth.
'These feisty ones will do,' Sprout said.
There were three medium plants on a counter nearby, which thrashed their leafy branches towards the pair once they got too close. Their agitation seemed to be because they'd overgrown into each other's space, causing crowding and competitiveness. Yet they wouldn't let anyone get close enough to even consider sheers.
'The incantation is: Flordiscendo,' Sprout instructed, demonstrating the simple and direct wand movements. 'Once you've got it figured out, why don't you give it a go on the first one here?'
She wanted Jonathan to do this one at a time, to ensure the task was complete and each plant got the care it needed.
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 22, 2022 21:10:55 GMT 10
Joe pressed his lips together into a small pout when his question wasn't answered but he immediatly forgot about it when the book vanished in a puff of purple. That had looked very cool.
He trailed behind the professor and older student yet kept a polite distance as professor Sprout explained her task first. He could feel himself straighten when Sprout returned to him and lead him into a different corner of the greenhouse where three rather agitated plants were and he wondered what might have gotten them this worked up but once he had gotten some instruction he understood.
Those poor plants had overgrown and now were invading each others' space.
Joe almost dropped his wand as he pulled it out too eagerly and he fumbled for a fearful second before he got a firm grip on it. He could feel his face heat up with embarrassment and he tried to over play it by paying extra close attention to copying the direct wand motions.
"Flordiscendo," he repeated and nodded that he understood his task.
He approached the first plant that Sprout had indicated towards, making sure to stay out of its reach as he did not want to mess with a plant this agitated.
"What are they called?", he asked as he was not quite sure he could place them. They seemed far less fun than the Toptoe Herbs, that one was for sure.
But he shouldn't be too quick to judge. They would probably be a lot tamer once they were trimmed and had their own space again.
"Flordiscendo!" Joe tried to conjure the spell. Yet nothing happened, except maybe one of the branches on a nearby plant he had even targeted flinched back a little bit. He was sure he had gotten the movement right, as it was rather simple. So it must have been his pronunciation.
He was not one to get easily discouraged however. And he repeated the incantation until it sounded right to his ears.
Joe held out his wand like a musketeer would his rapier and with a direct motion he said: "Flordiscendo!"
He had targeted a branch on the side of the first plant that touched with the plant next to it and managed to trim it. With a big grin, Joe wiggled his arms as he had been taught by Sir Dancelot earlier in celebration of his new accomplishment.
Jonathan's spell did its job, though she had to correct his wand movement at first. The plant was then neatly trimmed faster than someone could ever accurately do with a pair of sheers. Leaves and branch bits shed to the counter, which Professor Sprout cleaned up with a wave of her own wand.
'Well done,' she praised Jonathan. Sprout indicated to the next plant, which shuddered then swung its branch in warning. The trimmed one gave a stretch and relaxed, pleased to have its own space and having been tended to.
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Oct 23, 2022 10:50:52 GMT 10
Elizabeth was would have preferred to be harvesting some type of plant rather than to be mixing fertiliser, but helping was helping and she supposed that if she was careful while she wore her gloves the mixture wouldn't be too bad. It wouldn't help the smell, but being both quick and precise would mean less time spent with manure.
With care and also some curiosity as to what the first year boy was doing, Elizabeth managed to make a mixture to Professor Sprout's specifications. She wrinkled her nose at the smell. Unfortunately, the powdered honey did not seem to be doing the mixture any favours. She picked up the container and approached Professor Sprout, but paused.
She seemed busy, and Elizabeth knew that it wasn't a good idea to interrupt adults when they were busy. It was best to just wait.
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 23, 2022 16:03:12 GMT 10
Stopping his celebratory wriggle, Joe looked up at the professor to smile at her. It had been so cool to see the plant trimmed down as quickly and neatly as it had happened, he could barely believe his magic had been the source of it.
He figured this was what it was like to grow into the role of a wizard. Magic and knowing how to use it was amazing! He wondered if his parents had felt the same about it. Perhaps he should write to them and ask.
Joe turned back towards the plants when Sprout indicated for him to trim the second one. It was bearing its branches at him warningly. But seeing how comfortable and content the first plant looked now, he did not feel bad about practicing his newly learned spell on it as well.
Remembering the way professor Sprout had adjusted his wand work, he pointed at the second plant and said: “Flordiscendo!“
Professor Sprout watched Jonathan's motions as he readied to cast the spell again.
The plant didn't want to give him the chance to do whatever he was doing, so it lashed out a branch like a whip. Sprout reacted fast by doing some weird wand movement, and the plant faltered. It gave Jonathan the chance to cast his spell, which trimmed the plant down just like the other one. It too seemed relieved and began to settle.
The third one, which Sprout indicated for him to go ahead with, wasn't as feisty but he'd have to keep his wits about him as it squirmed and moved as if to attack.
While he faced off against that, Sprout glanced over at Elizabeth. She went to assist her, though kept an eye on Jonathan as well. It was a risky idea, but she was confident that the Ravenclaw knew well enough of what he was doing now to handle it with minimal supervision.
It was rather impressive show of supervision skills on her part, but then again most of her students were constantly surrounded by potentially dangerous plants. Sprout had fine-tuned those instincts as well as Professor Snape had in Potions class, or Professor Fairburn in Care of Magical Creatures.
It came with the territory.
When Elizabeth showed the container to her, Sprout nodded in approval. She then moved to keep the plant's big bud distracted so it wasn't focused on the Slytherin who would otherwise be moderately defenseless against it. She gestured Elizabeth to proceed.
'Evenly place the mixture on the top soil,' Sprout said. 'Be careful not to draw attention to yourself.'
Post by Jonathan King on Oct 24, 2022 5:58:12 GMT 10
“Whoah,“ he made after realizing what had just happened - or could have happened.
“Thank you!“ he beamed up at the Herbology professor.
Facing the third plant, it seemed less agitated than the second one but Joe was feeling a lot more intimidated by it now. It was squirming and moving and Joe involuntarily took a step back.
And then one more on purpose as he tried to assess the situation.
Professor Sprout had left his side to assist the other student so if the plant struck out towards him he would be on his own. Yet he still had his task to fulfill and he knew the plant would feel a lot better once it was trimmed.
“Hey, hey. Come on,“ he cooed at it. “Can‘t you tell how good your siblings are feeling now? I‘m just trying to help you.“
Joe wondered from what distance he could accurately cast the spell. So far he had been standing rather close, not at all safe.
Hmm…
Shoving up his sleeves so they wouldn’t get caught on anything, he held out his wand and dashed forward like a fencer might in a duel while casting the spell:
“Flordiscendo!“
- And he jumped back again quickly, having given it his best to stay light and bouncy on his feet.
Post by Elizabeth Doren on Oct 24, 2022 12:31:30 GMT 10
"Yes, professor." Elizabeth said and quietly approached the plant. She was quite good at not drawing attention to herself, considering that most of her life was dedicated to that particular task. It made her a little nervous to be at the mercy of an eleven-year-old's spellcasting skills, but she trusted Professor Sprout to have her back.
Quietly, she began spreading the mixture, making sure that it stayed where Professor Sprout wanted it, on the top soil. She started by dumping the whole mixture in the middle and then moved on to spreading it out.
She winced occasionally at the voice of the younger student, but in her mind the words 'Professor Sprout knows what's going on' were much stronger than her urge to flee and get as far away from both the plant and the spellcasting child as she could. She really should ask Charlotte if she knew this one.
Professor Sprout kept the bud's attention while Elizabeth worked, though kept a close eye on her. The plant then gave a shudder, so Sprout indicated for the Slytherin step back. They moved a bit too quickly, which the plant did not take kindly to it -- but it gave up when she was out of reach. Sprout backed away as well.
The plant shuddered again, then it grew much taller than either of its company. It looked healthy and full of life, which was emphasized when the bud began to bloom into a beautiful flower.
'Well done, Doren,' Professor Sprout praised her. 'Very well done. Now, it needs to rest before it can grow again. If you'd like to assist me again sometime, I'd be happy to teach you a pruning charm to help you deal with some less agreeable plants. Whenever you're ready, just seek me out.' She nodded.
'Something Dutch,' Professor Sprout answered Jonathan from earlier, when he wondered what they were called. 'I'm still trying to work out it's exact species. It was a gift from a Cursebreaker who I helped deal with some Devil's Snare a while back.'
With the three plants trimmed and settled, Sprout gave the Ravenclaw a warm smile as she praised his completion of the task.
'Well, that's that,' she said, checking the time. 'There's not much else we can do today before lunch, but if you'd like another job sometime -- I believe the plant you assisted me with earlier can be harvested then. Whenever you're ready.'
With both students tended to, Professor Sprout gathered her things and tucked them away. With a wave of her wand, the armchair popped out of existence. She then headed to the door, and gave them a look to leave as well since lunch was about to begin and they needed to eat.
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