Herbology (Slytherin & Hufflepuff)

[Professor Pomona Sprout]

Pomona moved quickly across the Hogwarts lawn towards Greenhouse 4, her short strides making her faded brown robes swish back and forth and she hurried along. September had come and was now nearing is close and the air was getting rather chilly—something she never looked forward to. It was always so hard on the plants. The small leather bound book she had safely tucked under her arm had a growing list of plants that would need to be brought in from outdoors before the weather turned any colder. Most of them were very important for both potions and healing. She was responsible of keeping both the Poppy and Severus in full supply!

Stepping inside the greenhouse she moved along side the table that ran down the middle of it as a proper working space for the students. She kept a small desk at the end she used for her own work space, though it was normally far to cluttered to leave her much space, and a blackboard hung above it where she could write instructions for classes. After she had placed her small leather bound book on her desk, pausing a moment to make sure it did not topple a pile of papers she had placed there already, she pulled out her wand and with a casual whisk in front of her blackboard, the word ‘Horehound’ appeared. She paused for a moment, then agreed with herself that horehound was a perfectly good topic for today she turned around and gave a few more whisks resulting in rather large pots to be moved from the floor along the edge of the room up onto the table, there were four of them, and they were spread out down the center of the table. After nodding in approval to her first task in preparation for today’s lesson her wand whisked back and fourth a few more times, resulting in a large number of small pots, to be placed along the table, spread out so they would be just about every other student.

Pleased with her work, Pomona settled down to read through a few scribbled notes while she waited for the arrival of her students.

[pandora]

The sun danced merrily across the glass panes that served as a roof for the greenhouses of Hogwarts. Pandora moved swiftly down the stone steps leading from the castle and headed towards her next class, Herbology, one of many classes Pandora would be taking for the first time today. She sighed heavily at the thought of all the homework she would have to do tonight and swallowed several less than pleasant curses aimed at Professor Flitwick and his stupid ‘circle-flicks’. Pandora wasn’t overly happy about the idea of getting dirty in Herbology and looked down forlornly at her soft kid-leather gloves with the decorative silver snake on the wrists. Soon, she figured they would be filthy. Pandora swallowed her irritation and tried to think of some positive reason for the class.

While she thought of the collection of herbs and the growing of plants as the work of lesser people who didn’t mind getting dirty, she also knew the importance of learning how to harvest the ingredients for her potions in the event that she had no alternative. Pandora wasn’t certain what ghastly circumstances would ever lead to her having to root through plants for her own components but she shuddered to think of that day ever coming.

Finally, her quick strides had brought her to the greenhouse door and she looked up to double check the number on her sheet with the great verdigris brass number above the entryway. Satisfied that she wasn’t walking into the wrong greenhouse, Pandora pushed on the door and was met with a waft of overly warm air, scented with the heady perfume of fresh soil and green growing things. She slipped in and shut the door behind her, shedding her green and white scarf as she did so. The heat trapped by the glass panes above her held the sun’s warmth in and she felt the need to shed a few articles of clothing. Her cloak was soon off and draped casually over one arm as she inspected the building. The long table that was set in the center of the room was well worn with time and held on its surface four large terra cotta pots. Spread around these four large ones, were many smaller pots, their warm orange color set apart form the verdant green that lined the walls and the cooler dull brown of the table.

Pandora decided on a spot near the front of the class where she wouldn’t have to look past anyone else’s head to see the blackboard behind the teacher’s desk. As Pandora set her things down on the table in front of her, she cast a look up at the rather frumpy looking woman seated behind mounds of paper and books. This was their teacher? Pandora turned back to her book bag and pulled out the Herbology book, she really shouldn’t be surprised by now at who was teaching classes and after a second glance she decided that the woman rather seemed suited to her job digging among dirt. Someone had to do it after all, she supposed and she certainly shouldn’t expect the woman to be dressed in anything that would get easily ruined. Pandora noted a bit sourly that there were no seats and she certainly hoped this woman would not expect her to just set her book bag on the ground. She left her things on the table and waited for the other students to file in, taking note of the only other girl currently in the room.

[rowen]

He made his way along the Hogwarts lawn toward the Greenhouse class was suppose to be held in. He knew he was leaning on the side of being early for class--again. Something he never thought would become habit for him, but here he was. It was even his own head of house's class. She would probably be proud to see a Hufflepuff being so prompt. She seemed that type. The type that gets excited to see what she considered 'her students' doing well.

He pushed the door of the greenhouse opened and saw that only two girls had come to class before him. One he didn't know, and didn't care to, and Pandora, a girl he had some encounter with already. He walked toward Pandora, letting his books land heavily on the table beside her own bag. "Looks like we meet again."

[pandora]

Pandora had stood silently waiting for everyone else to arrive and was rewarded when Rowen swept in to stand next her at the table. She was rather surprised he had sought out her company again but she couldn’t say in the least that she was disappointed. He dropped his books heavily onto the table and Pandora only just kept herself from wincing. If he was to be around her more often, which surprisingly, Pandora found she didn’t mind, then she would have to find a more productive way for him to vent his anger and frustration.

She folded her arms neatly in front of her and allowed herself to lean a bit on them as she turned to look at Rowen. “Indeed.” She whispered softly. She certainly didn’t want the teacher to be given any excuse to take points from her house and talking while a teacher was preparing for class may very well give this frumpy little woman a chance to do just that. Pandora cast Rowen a polite smile, reserved but pleasant enough and more than Pandora usually gave to most. She had already decided to take Rowen on as a sort of a surrogate Slytherin even if that stupid hat had placed him in a less deserving house. She saw some potential in him, and as ever, pure blood was a sad thing to waste. This boy showed promise if steered in the right direction.

[aubree]

Aubree had woken up at her usual hour that morning. She had received all the beauty sleep she needed. Aubree then set out on brushing her hair properly. She checked her image in the mirror and she was as pretty as ever. Her face was blemish free and had a glow to it. Aubree smiled at her image and put on her usual robes. They of course were pressed and spotless. She had another quick appearance check before leaving her dorm and of course she was satisfied. Aubree picked up her green, silk handbag before leaving. She checked the contents inside it to make sure everything she needed was present. She picked it up and headed out the door.

After leaving the Dungeons, Aubree made her way out of the large castle doors. She gingerly made her way to the green house and went inside. Aubree looked around to see if she knew anyone. She saw Pandora with some Hufflepuff. There also was a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor. She decided to sit alone in the back. Aubree wanted to be alone in case anyone worth her while showed up. Pandora was worthy, but she was with a Hufflepuff. "Hello, Professor." She said patiently. She didn't care for professor Sprout, but she had to be polite. She then took her seat.

[payton]

Herbology was was not always his best class. He liked plants well enough, he was told that he was actually quite the cook, though he didn't remember much of that anymore, but he had soon learned that he had no talent for growing things. He could follow instructions perfectly, and still nothing would come of it. He just hoped that perhaps forgetting everything would help him somehow gain a green thing that he seemed to be lacking.

Professor Sprout was a rather nice woman, and had been rather helpful since the attacks in Diagon Alley this summer, especially with his memory being in the state it was. He entered Greenhouse 4, and smiled at her, saying hello before he walked toward one of the tables and took out his book, looking to the board for a moment to see what was the topic for the day.

[Sadie Rivers H6]

Sadie walked quickly across the grounds to the Herbology greenhouses. She wondered what the first lesson would be about. She was trying her best to not be late, so she made sure not to stop and talk to anyone along the way. Sadie tugged at the neck line of her robes, she always felt as if they were choking her.

As Sadie got near the greenhouses, she noticed that some other students had already gotten there. Although no one that she knew was there, that just left the opportunity to make new friends in this class, like it did while she was in charms together.

Sadie walked up to the group of kids standing around waiting for class to start. " Hi everyone." Sadie said somewhat more cheerfully then what she had meant too.

[Flo Murvac H4]

Flo had woken up early that day. She put on her uniform, and then parted her hair, and made two french braids. She was really happy as, she could necver do them, before her mother taught her. She knew that day, she had Herbology that morning, so she was all set and ready. After having a lttle bit of breakfast,(She wasnt that hungry, after her brother started to chew his food and then show her.) She hopped her way to Greenhouse 4.

"Morning Professor." Flo greeted Professor Sprout, as she enterd the room. Or house, rather. She then saw Sadie, a younger Hufflepuff. "Hey, Sadie." Flo mouthed and waved. She walked over to her, and sat down, to keep her company.

[quidditchgirl]

Emma sweeped her robes behind her, and rose from the chair in her dorm. Herbology was next-Emma didn't mind the subject, she new quite a few plant names but was't the best at handling the biting ones! tying her hair into a long black plait with practised moves, Emma snapped the blueish sliver band in place, grasped her book bag in her hand, and walked out of the room to the greenhouses.
Once by Greenhouse 4, Emma poked her head inside. A few people were inside-she noticed Pandora with a hufflepuff, and got momentarily confused. Never mind. Then Emma saw some of her new friends. There was Sadie, who she knew roughly, with one of Emma's good friends Flo. On another side of the room was Maryn, with someone Emma recognised as Illiya. Waving at Maryn, Emma went over to Flo.
"Hey Flo, Sadie. You ok?"
Then Emma glanced at the board, where the Professor had written in fine writing- Horehound. Emma was sure her mother had given her some parchment about this, and it rang a small bell in her mind.

[Rosaliz Hernandez G6]

Rosaliz walked on the hogwarts ground with her bag on her shoulders, but her hands were to busy clentching on her robes, since the weather seemed to get very cold. She let her feet swoosh on the ground. Another year back to this class. She loved it mostly since the plants smelled nice and fresh. She made her way into the green house and looked around. She spotted Flo immediately how had been next to Sadie. She remembered the last time she seen Sadie. They were looking for her aunt instead they found her father. Immediately she shook her head from the the flash back of that night. She didn't want to remember the horrible tragedy. She swiftly made her way up to them and asked "Hey, Sadie and Flo!!! Mind if I join with you?"
Rosaliz smiled at them waiting for a reply.

[rowen]

He shook his head at her whispered reply and her perfectly appropriate behavior for a girl thinking she was the class of some medieval noble. He let his focus leave her for a moment to glance over at Sprout, who glanced up on occasion to give some sort of happy hopeful smile at the incoming students before glancing back down at the chaos she seemed to think was a work area. "Your not trembling, but I think I've found something to intimidate you." He smiled, rather pleased with himself before he pulled out his Herbology book, then proceeded to push the faded bag off the table and land on the ground at his feet. Perfect location for a quick kick to give it its final placement underneath the table. "Its Sprout. The biggest pushover at Hogwarts."
As if to prove his point, he glanced over Pandora's shoulder a gave a completely fake smile toward the head of Hufflepuff.

[Monica Henshaw S5]

Monica walked on the grass, towards her way to her next class. She was disappointed that it was a mixture of year levels, so they weren't such a steady pace in learning new material trying to have the first years keep up with the information given. She sneered in disappointment. Once she made her way towards the old houses she walked in. There was only two girls from her house. One a first year and Aubree in her same year. Monica walked by the professor not caring and said "Hi Aubree! Mind if I join? Since your the only person I know." Monica looked at the girl and hoped she said yes since she didn't want to sit next to another first year or something.

[Fiona O'Reilly S5]

Fiona pulled her bag up off the ground and looked down the hill toward the green houses. She wasn't interested in going. She hated Herbology. She wasn't good at it and she didn't care about it. She turned to look back at the castle. She was seriously debating on skipping class, but she wasn't sure how well that would look after all it was the first day. Fiona huffed to herself as she looked back down the hill. She would have to go. She didn't want to, but she knew she should. What would her parents think? Fiona stopped for a second as she thought about her parents. What would they think of her now? Would her father finally be proud that she was willing to follow in his footsteps? She sighed as she looked down at her feet and her hand went to her mother's pearl necklace. She felt the little pearl and fought back the tears that were close to the surface. She would not allow herself to cry not here and not now. She would never let herself cry. She had showed weakness to only two people. One of them had been a Gryffindor, but she was as good as a Slytherin. And the other had been Jack. When they had meet in Florida, she had showed weakness then, but back then she didn't have the same beliefs. She had fought to be free of her father's past. Now she wanted more than anything to dig up his past and follow the Dark Lord. 'How ironic,' Fiona thought to herself.

Fiona looked down the hill and sighed. She began a slow walk down the hill. She didn't want to seem eager to get to the class. In fact she wanted to look like she regretted every minute of the walk to the mudblood and half-breed invested classroom. Stepping inside the classroom she looked around. There were a ton of mudbloods. Fiona cringed at the thought of them. She saw a few Slytherins and walked toward them. "Aubree, right? We're dorm mates," Fiona said as she turned to the Slytherin girl. She knew they if she was in Slytherin she would definitely be worthy enough to sit and talk with.

[Seth Wright]

Zach groaned and started down the hill to herbology. He hated herbology. Who would want to sit around and stare at plants all day? He didn't. It was such a mudblood's class. Just take a look at the people that were gifted in the pathetic class---Longbottom, for one. He scowled and stomped into the green house. It was disgusting. Loads os plants and some people. Zachary spotted Pandora and nodded to her, but that was as far as his greeting went at the moment. He needed to find a table that wasn't crawling with half-breed filth.

'Fat chance of that.' Zachary snorted and dumped his bag next to a stool at an empty table closest to any other Slytherins he could find, Pandora included. Still scowling, Zachary glanced around. An older Slytherin girl was talking to another girl, probably trying to sit with her. He pulled out his notebook and a quill, glaring around the room. Gods, how he loathed herbology....

[aubree]

Aubree watched as Monica sat next to her. "Hello, Monica. Of course you may sit." She said politely. Monica seemed rather cheerfully which was rare for her. She usually seemed isolated, but today she seemed like nice company. Aubree liked Monica even though she didn't act like the other fourth year Slytherins. She did however come from a pure family and Aubree liked how she treated younger students. Aubree was glad Monica tried to control their stupid behavior. Aubree then got out her hair brush. She quickly put her hair in a pony-tail. Aubree usually didn't like to wear her hair up, but she didn't want it to get dirty. Aubree fixed the strands so that they looked somewhat presentable.

She watched as Fiona walked up to the two. "Yes, I'm Aubree. You're Fiona, right?" Aubree said. She and Fiona were in the same dorm, but Aubree had never had a real conversation with the girl. Aubree had heard about her before and she seemed worthy enough. But, Aubree had found that children from pure families weren't always worthy. Aubree then focused her attention on Fiona and Monica. "Why is this class all years? I hate the younger students." Aubree sneered at all the filth around her as she talked.

[pandora]

Pandora watched with a small measure of distaste as Rowen tossed his bookbag on the ground and kicked it under the table. She shuddered at the thought of having to put her soft leather bag down on the dirt and she raised one slightly disapproving eyebrow at Rowen’s behavior. She had a long way to go with teaching him proper manners. When Rowen turned and offered the fake greeting to his head of house, Pandora allowed herself to scoff a bit and let out a low derisive chuckle at the pathetic woman at the head of the class. Pandora turned her head towards Rowen and subtly covered her mouth with one hand to muffle her words as she replied, “She certainly looks like she’s sprouting something. Does she ever wash those clothes at all?” The comment was followed with a soft mocking chuckle under her breath meant only for Rowen’s ears.

Pandora’s gaze drifted up and soon found Aubree and several other Slytherins Pandora did not know, all older students. She made eye contact with Aubree and offered the older girl a polite nod of greeting and deference to show she had made note of the older student’s presence and was offering her the proper respect a student of her standing deserved. Next, Pandora looked over at Zach who had situated himself at a small distance away. She waited to see if he would look up at her.

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy drew her black and yellow robes around her to keep herself warm as she walked across the lawn to Herbology. She had the piece of parchment which contained a copy of her timetable, which she hadn't completely familiarised herself with yet considering that she hadn't had it for long. According to that Ivy's next class was in Greenhouse 4, and that was where she was heading now, through the Grounds where the air had a distinct chill feeling to it which she only ever associated with September. It was sunny enough, but there was a rather biting wind which was determined to bite through her robes, and Ivy was glad for her thick woollen jumper and even more glad when she stepped into the greenhouse set up for the class, which was warm as always and in which all the plants looked well tended for. Professor Sprout was a very caring person in that respect.

Ivy risked a quick nervous glance at Professor Sprout, all too aware of the last instance that she had been talked to by her. It was something she would like to forget but never would do, and never should do either. She settled for giving the Professor as quick a smile as she could manage, not sure whether it was even noticed or not. It wasn't really her sentiment at the moment, but she didn't want a teacher to be worried about her when she was sure they had enough other things to be worried about. Ivy looked around the greenhouse for someone, anyone that she knew. All the other fourth years that she could see were Slytherins, and she had no desire whatsoever to engage in conversation with them, but she smiled as she spotted Sadie, who unfortunately also seemed to be talking to rather a few people. Ivy worked her way over to where Sadie was standing and put her bag carefully on the floor, greeting her good friend with a smile and a "Hey." She turned her attention to the other people who she was now standing waiting with. One of them, who looked about Sadie's age, seemed to ring a bell, and while it took a moment to remember, she did manage to dredge the name up out of the memory of last summer which seemed so long ago now. "Hello again Rosaliz," she said, giving the best friendly smile she could muster, and then smiled at the other two, one of whom she did not recognise at all, the other a Hufflepuff she was fairly sure was in the year below her but did not have a clue of the name of. "I'm Ivy," she said, feeling slightly embarassed that that was all she had to offer. She was able to hold a good conversation with her friends, and with other people too, but she felt strangely awkward now with so many younger students. She was all right with Sadie, but she didn't really know any of the others and so she looked up at the board to gage some idea of what they would be studying that lesson, untalented at Herbology though she was.

[Flo Murvac H4]

Emma had walked up to Flo and Sadie. "Hey Emma!!" Flo cried. The she saw Rosaliz walking over to them. "Sure!! Rosaliz sit!!" Flo orderd, standing up and putting Rosaliz in a chair. Then she giggled. This was going to be a fun class. "Hi Ivy." Flo said, after another girl had come up to where they were all sitting. "Im Flo."

[Professor Pomona Sprout]

Pomona looked up from her desk every few moments, casting warm smiles at the incoming students. She had decided to give them a rather easy lesson for the day, she always liked to start the school year with some simple things to help let the students get use to getting their hands dirty, and the Horehound had to be taken care of for winter anyway. It was working out just perfectly. She sat at her desk, sorting through assignments from her previous class, until it seemed like everyone was in class. She then pushed herself up from her desk and looked out across the room at her students, giving them all a bright warm smile. The fall weather always made her feel full of life, which was a very good thing considering how much needed to be done!

“All right now, it seems like were all here so how about we get started. We are going to be replanting Horehound today. Horehound is a very important herb, with some very useful healing properties. Now, we are only going to touch on this briefly, but are any of you familiar with one of the uses for Horehound?”

[Sita Mehadi H7]

Sita wore the Hufflepuff crest badge on her chest with pride as she made her way to Greenhouse 4. Professor Sprout, as she was aptly named, was the head of her new house, Hufflepuff, to which she was delighted to belong. She smiled happily, looked up at the chilly blue sky. She didn't like this early time of autumn all that much, especially not when it decided to be cold. She much preferred the summer holidays to having to go back to school anyway, even though this year she was here at a whole new school, experiencing a whole new adventure. But the sky never seemed to have much definition to it at this time of year. Never particularly dark, even though it could be thoroughly miserable, but never the bright, piercing blue of summer she loved so much either. She preferred it much better when they reached October and the skies started to turn steel grey, and if the sun came out, it made the outline of everything wonderfully sharp and defined.

But in October it wouldn't be September and she wouldn't be going to her first Herbology class! So she would approach it with just as much enthusiasm as she had all the months before, and October she would approach with just a bit more. The greenhouse was certainly something. Sita was rather green-fingered herself, and although most of her experience was with Muggle plants since they did try to integrate as fully into the Muggle society as possible to learn its ways, she'd talked to her dad about the plants which wizards had. It had turned out to be one of the subjects he knew a lot about, and where he was knowledgable, he usually knew about every quirky fact there was to know, if not the most up to date ones. So Sita looked around the greenhouse with great interest, her eyes and her nose taking everything in with pleasure.

While she could see lots of interesting plants in the greenhouse, the people in it were a bit of a let-down as far as she was concerned. Professor Sprout looked like just the right sort of person to be caring for all these wonderful plants, but Sita couldn't see anyone she knew. Well, they were having to take Herbology with the Slytherins, and Sita had thought in the feast they had after they were sorted that all of those Slytherins looked as though they needed a bit of something to cheer them up and get them down to earth. They probably wouldn't enjoy getting down to earth, but with any luck that was what they would be doing today in Herbology. Ingrid wasn't in there, and neither was anyone that she'd ever talked to before, but Sita could see a boy she was pretty sure had been sorted into the same house as her not so long before she had tried on the Sorting Hat sitting next to another girl she didn't know at all. Sita decided to approach them and gave both a friendly smile. "Hello, I'm Sita." she said boldly. "I have a feeling I'm in your house," she added to the other boy. "Anyway, I hope you don't mind too much if I join you," she said, adding the stress on the word 'too' as she looked curiously at the girl, who appeared to have a Slytherin badge on. She gave her a quick smile and feel quiet as Professor Sprout started the lesson, glancing at the word written on the board with interest. She wrinkled her nose at what she recalled from when her dad had taken her to a wizarding botanical society show where they had all their plants on display. She had a feeling this one had been a rather smelly plant. As Professor Sprout asked about the uses for the plant, Sita looked around to see that she would not be the only one raising her hand, since she didn't want to appear overkeen, and put her arm gently but confidently into the air, holding it still and straight so that if Professor Sprout wanted to call on her, she wouldn't be overlooked.