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 Kody Ashworth on Mar 18, 2023 6:53:25 GMT 10
Why did he feel nervous all of a sudden?
Kody hugged his pot closer to his chest once more. He hadn't rushed from Hagrid's like he normally would -- he had been too scared to lose any of the soil inside the pot. No, this was too precious to mess up with his careliness.
But that didn't explain why he was nervous.
Standing outside of any teacher's office was never a fun experience, in his books. Even if he knew it wasn't for a bad reason, he just assumed the worst was going to happen. That he would magically (ha) catch Professor Sprout at a bad time or in a bad mood. Kody shifted from foot to foot as he thought about it.
Well, nothing else for it but to knock!
He rapped on the door a few times and waited to be summoned inside -- if the Herbology Professor was in. If not, would he have to try the Staff Room? Or would he just trek out to the Student Greenhouse instead? Kody didn't know which option was best.
As if swept by a gentle breeze, the door opened on its own to reveal the cosy office.
Professor Sprout was at her desk, taking notes and cataloguing a range of unusual-looking seeds. She smiled upon glancing at the doorway, and moved around the desk to give her undivided attention -- waiting patiently to hear why she'd been sought out.
Post by Amber Lloyd on Mar 19, 2023 19:51:30 GMT 10
The way back to the castle through the forest path had been nice as well but also quite challenging, because they had to be careful about their pots.
"So, any new inventions over the summer despite your key chain?", Amber asked Joshua curiously while they were on their way. Now it was his time to tell some stories! She always found it interesting, with what new ideas he came up with.
As they arrived in front of Professor Sprouts office, the boy, who was at Hagrid's before as well, was already there. And it seems, he already knocked at the door, because it was already open.
Amber peeked inside and spotted the Professor, seeming to wait for a reply. She looked at Kody and his pot, glanced at Joshua, as to determine, if she could ask. She wouldn't want to cut in line, but it looked to her as if Kody was for the same reason here as they were.
"Hello, Professor! We would like to grow our own plants at school", she waved to Joshua and herself, but then looked at Kody. "I guess, you too?"
Post by Kody Ashworth on Mar 19, 2023 20:07:16 GMT 10
Kody didn't really like the way this girl was butting in -- he had just been about to talk to Professor Sprout!
"Yup." He answered her before hefting up his pot to show it to Professor Sprout.
"I got a pot from Mister Hagrid just now, Professor. I was hoping to use the Student Greenhouse so I could learn more about Herbology in my free time." Plants may not have been his special interest but he still enjoyed them. Especially now they had such a nice garden at home.
If he could learn more about taking care of plants, then he could help tend their garden!
And maybe even grow some stuff that would be useful for... He glanced at the girl and boy, suddenly worried they could read minds or something since they had followed him to Hagrid's and now here.
He stood politely and waited for Professor Sprout's answer.
[Proceeded for all three, since Joshua gave permission.]
'I only grant access to those willing to put the work in,' Sprout said. 'Having access to the Student Greenhouse and making use of it in you free time... that's quite a commitment. Before giving you access, I'd like each of you to prove yourself to show you're willing to put the work in,'
She aimed her wand at a plant on a counter near a cleared space by a wall of her office, seemingly set up for this exact purpose, and spouted from the tip like a hose.
'The Water-Making Charm,' she explained. 'Watering cans also do the job, but this spell is how it's done here. If you'd like to grow your own plants and use the Student Greenhouse, you'll need to know this spell.'
She made a gesture, teaching them the wand motion. She took her time, making sure each got a fair chance to see the demonstration.
'Concentrate carefully,' Sprout said. 'Consider the need for water, and say the incantation: aquamenti.' She moved aside to give them easy access to the row of plants on the counter. It would take a few attempts, but she was confident they could do it.
Free-RP is allowed; success and progress are determined by you.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Mar 19, 2023 20:57:35 GMT 10
Kody nodded -- of course, this wasn't something to be taken lightly!
He watched as Professor Sprout showed them each the wand movement, copying her movements with his own wand a few times as well. It seemed like he could manage this!
A frowned appeared on his face as he concentrated on the spell, visualizing sprinkling water covering a plant. A gentle shower, nothing too drastic. Just enough to help a plant grow!
Once he felt ready to attempt it, Kody aimed his wand at one of the plants on the counter.
"Aquamenti!" A splash of water missed the plant and landed on the counter. Kody grimaced and hoped Professor Sprout wouldn't think he had done it on purpose.
He cleared his throat and aimed his wand again -- "Aquamenti!"
This time he managed to hit his target though his water wasn't as elegant nor as sprinkle-y as he would have liked. It was more like he had dumped a cup of water over the plant rather than aimed a watering can at it.
Kody frowned and wondered what he was doing wrong. He practised the wand movement again, this time going a bit slower (since he did have a habit of rushing through movements). He wondered if this would make a difference.
Well, third time lucky! He didn't want to completely drown the plant after all, "Aquamenti!"
This time it worked!
Kody was amazed to see his wand produce a pleasant, light shower of water this time. It even landed on the plant!
Post by Joshua Twiggs on Mar 20, 2023 3:58:54 GMT 10
"Been working on some earrings and started to make some bracelets", was his cheerful respnse to Amber's inquiry. "I could get a pair of earrings from my dorm and show it to you later, if you'd like?
When they arrived at Sprout's office, he was not surprised to see the Ashworth boy again.
Joshua smiled brightly at his head of house. He always found she had something motherly about herself, despite being a professor. Not remotely comparable to his own mother, of course, but still. He wondered if that was the reason Sprout was the Herbology professor, or if it was the other way around and her profession had made her a more nurturing person in general.
Either way, he happily followed her, yet had to hold back a grin when she told them her conditions for using the student greenhouse: The Water-Making Charm.
He already knew that one. When working with drills and other fast moving equipment in his father's shed, he would sometimes use it as cooling on tool and material. But of course, watering plants was likely its intended use.
Clearing his throat, he got out his wand and pointed it at the pot in front of him.
"Aquamenti!", he produced a clean ray of water into the soil around the plant and grinned cheekishly.
"Ahh, yes. Looks like I'm a natural," he said in a rather theatrical tone.
"Nah, I'm just joshin' around," he added quickly as he turned towards Sprout. Not telling her felt like cheating. "I've actually known that spell before. Is there anything I could do instead to prove my commitment?"
Post by Amber Lloyd on Mar 20, 2023 5:22:05 GMT 10
„I’d love to see them!”, Amber had answered as Joshua suggested showing her the earrings. Maybe she needed new ones…
“Of course!”, she replied with a serious nod. She liked helping her mom at home with the little garden and especially loved to learn, how herbs could help sick animals and creatures. She hoped, growing plants here herself could improve her knowledge about them.
Amber watched Professor Sprout closely as she showed them the water-making spell, but also watched both the boys giving it a go. She was a little bit nervous, as it would soon be her turn.
She was a little bit envious that Joshua already seemed so good at it, but hearing he could already do it beforehand, gave her a bit of relief. And she got more relaxed as she heard one of his favorite sayings. She even had to hold in a giggle.
Amber then tried to focus for the task at hand. She aimed with the wand at the plant and said: “Aquamenti!”
But all that was coming out of the wand were merely some drops. She frowned and made a new attempt. - “Aquamenti!”
This time, there was more water splashing out of the wand, but not like the stream Professor Sprout made earlier.
Amber focused now more on remembering the correct pronunciation and form of the wand motion.
“Aquamenti!” – Still not enough, even if in her mind she had done it correctly.
Seeing the drops of water near the plant, it then came to her. She really could have smacked her forehead for not remebering that part! Of course it was not only the word and wand motion important, she also needed to think about how much water the plant needed!
Determined she tried it again, “Aquamenti!”
This time, there was a nice stream coming out of the wand, watering the plant. Amber smiled contentedly, her ambition paid off.
Last Edit: Mar 21, 2023 14:52:55 GMT 10 by Amber Lloyd
'Well done,' Sprout praised. 'Eight points each to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. I'd say you're ready.'
She then gathered supplies to get them started, which included some seeds. Sprout didn't respond to Joshua's words, though was clearly amused by his words -- the fact he'd offered to further prove himself, simply for already knowing the spell, showed enough of his commitment. He'd always been a hard worker, and that was enough for her.
'You may use the Student Greenhouse any time during the day, unless it's mealtime,' she said. 'It'll be locked at night, so don't get any ideas.' Sprout gave them a stern yet warm look.
Post by Joshua Twiggs on Mar 23, 2023 7:31:52 GMT 10
Feeling the familiar warmth when his joke was well-received as apparent by Amber‘s giggle and Sprout‘s expression, Joshua smiled to himself and leaned back as he watched Amber and Kody learn get the hang of the water-making charm.
They picked it up rather quickly and he tried to think back to how he had learned it himself. Felt like he had known it for as long as he had his wand.
His Head of House did not offer up any other task for him to do in the meantime. That paired with the housepoints to Hufflepuff was enough confirmation for him that he was allowed to use the Student Greenhouse.
He gladly accepted the green seeds Sprout handed to him.
“Thank you, professor!“, he gave her a bright smile. “Hope you have a nice start of term. Now, let’s get gardening!“
Joshua looked at Amber to come him, but with a smile towards Ashworth extended the invitation to him as well.
Post by Amber Lloyd on Mar 24, 2023 0:43:48 GMT 10
Amber was glad, Professor Sprout was content with their spell performance and gave them access to the green house
"Yes, Professor!" she responded to Sprout regarding the rules for using it.
With a "Thank you!" and a smile, Amber gladly accepted the supplies.
"Sounds good!" She nodded in agreement to Joshua, excited to use her newly acquired seeds, and followed him, but also ooked back to Kody, if he would also like to get gardening right away.
Post by Kody Ashworth on Mar 24, 2023 3:57:18 GMT 10
Kody took the seeds offered to him and looked them over. Of course, he had no idea what they would grow and quickly nodded at the warning they were all given, "Thanks, Professor."
Whether or not he listened was another story.
He pocketed all the things offered to him and grinned. He had done it! Kody couldn't wait to tell his siblings about it later.
After the older students left, Kody smiled politely at Professor Sprout and exited her office. Once he was safety far away (about five steps), he took off running to his next destination.
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