Second Years, Lesson One

Landon stood at the door to the Herbology greenhouse with a box of earmuffs in his arms. It would be his first lesson today teaching the second years and he was very excited. He was so excited that he could barely sleep the night before and he hoped his students felt the same way. "Please, take a pair." Landon told the second years, passing them each a pair of earmuffs as they entered the room. The professor didn't want his students to pass out during their first lesson and would make it his duty to look after each and every one of them. The man was very prepared for today's lesson and decorated his classroom with still pictures of muggle plants to add some colour to the room and make it feel like his old home back in America. He also hoped that it would make his students feel comfortable which were his number one priority.

When he was sure that everyone had arrived and took a pair of earmuffs, Landon put down the box and walked to the front of his classroom, ready to begin. "Welcome to your second year of Herbology! For those who may not know, I'm Professor Carter." Landon paused and smiled around the classroom at all the familiar faces from the year before. "Your second year is a rather exciting year, yet can be quite difficult, and involves a lot of hands-on work with Mandrakes. Can anyone tell me what a mandrake is?" The man looked around the room and pointed to a student sitting at the front of the room. "A mandrake is an ugly plant that you can chop up and use in potions." they said confidently, making the professor laugh. He already loved his class and they weren't even halfway through the lesson yet. "Yes, a mandrake is pretty ugly indeed! 5 Points to your house for making me laugh.

"Mandrake, or Mandragora, are not in fact plants but are roots. They have special magical healing properties and are used a lot in hospitals like St. Mungos." Landon tapped the board behind him with his wand and a piece of chalk began to draw a detailed picture of a mandrake. "They look a bit like a mutated baby, and are definitely not the prettiest to look at, but we'll be dealing with them a lot this year, hence the earmuffs I have handed you all. The mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone that hears it and without the earmuffs you'll all be passing out one by one. You will be bringing these earmuffs to every lesson. If ever you forget them, it's alright because I'll always have spares." The man looked around at his students, some of which were getting quite bored with the lecture. Looking at his wristwatch, he noticed it was almost time for them to leave. "That will be all for today." he said, hoping his students had enjoyed his first lesson with them. "Next lesson we will be doing a lot more than sitting around and listening to me talk. You may all go. Don't forget the earmuffs."

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Assignment: An attendance post is all that is needed. First poster, please answer the question. Please also take some time to check out the Herbology Classroom Policy.

 

[Rose Edogawa]

Rose slid into the Herbology greenhouse behind her sister Sayuri, cltching her earmuffs like they were a lifeline she needed to survive. The sight of the bustling classroom filled her with instant dread and a familiar pang of unease worked its way up into the pit of her chest, though she tried to focus instead on the flicker of calm she'd been working on with the counsellor. Sitting beside Sayuri, who always seemed so effortlessly composed, helped to ground her at least. She was far more composed that Rose could ever hope to be probably. She was only ever truly comfortable when she was in the air. The greenhouse was crowded, the chatter of other students a persistent buzz that made her stomach twist. She wasn’t particularly invested in Herbology - plants weren’t her thing - but she didn’t hate it either, and she was determined to push through her discomfort. The more enthusiastic Professor Carter seemed to get, the more exasperated it made Rose. When the chalk began sketching the grotesque mandrake on the board, Rose wrinkled her nose but forced herself to focus, her sister’s calm demeanour beside her a steadying influence. "Mutated baby plants," she muttered under her breath, glancing sideways at Sayuri with a faint smirk, managing to find some humour in the peculiar lesson.​

 

[Amory Raven]

Herbology, most definitely not Amory's favourite lesson if he was being honest he had zoned out most of his first year, but he supposed he ought to do better this year. Currently his only driving force was the fact that it was a lesson which he'd be having with Gryffindors, there was no particular reason or person that made this fact important for his attendance. Nope, Amory entered the lesson and was instantly met with the cheery looking Professor, hesitantly taking a pair of earmuffs the second year found a place to sit and settled down. He had chosen his spot wisely, somewhere in the back, where he could easily see everyone and if need be the Professor too he supposed. Amory grimaced at the description of the plant they'd be working with, a mutated baby? "Have you ever heard one of those plants, is the scream really that bad?" He whispered to @Lumos Walden-Cade . For what reason did such plant even exist and what had brought someone into a conclusion studying such plant was a good idea, surely the sound wasn't that bad then? As the lesson came to an end Amory stretched his arms and took his earmuffs before getting up and leaving the room, one down Merlin knew how many more to go.

 

[Victoria de Lacey]

Tori trudged into the greenhouse, her usual eagerness for Herbology dulled by the weight of her thoughts. She accepted the earmuffs from Professor Carter with a polite nod, trying to push aide the dark cloud that had settled over her during the holidays. Her dad's new twins - her half siblings - had been the centre of attention, and not for the first time in her life, Tori had felt invisible. Worse, she’d realised she didn’t just feel neglected - she felt something sharp and bitter she couldn’t shake. Jealousy? Hate? The emotions churned, leaving her ashamed and confused. She focused on the lesson, her hands gripping the earmuffs tightly, as if their solidity could anchor her swirling mind. When Professor Carter asked about mandrakes, she listened absently and then raised her hand to answer the question. "A mandrake is an ugly plant that you can chop up and use in potions." The faint echo of guilt colouring her thoughts even as she managed a small, distracted smile at his joke. She was glad when the lesson ended, eager to escape and sort through the mess inside her head.​

 

[Lumos Walden-Cade]

Lumos entered the Herbology green house, immediately being greeted by Professor Carter handing out earmuffs. He accepted his pair with a slight smile before quickly scanning the room, spotting his roommate Amory already seated toward the back. Sliding into the seat next to him, Lumos glanced around at the pictures of Muggle plants lining the walls, a touch he found oddly comforting. As the professor launched into his explanation about Mandrakes, Lumos found himself alternating between fascination and mild horror at the idea of the plant resembling a baby, mutated or otherwise. Suddenly he found himself thinking about baby James like that and he couldn't shake the image of his new baby brother in the place of the baby mandrake, and so he found the lesson difficult to really concentrate on, because every picture of a mandrake suddenly turned into a picture of his baby brother James sitting in a pot being poked by the professor. He managed to stifle a laugh when Amory leaned over, whispering about the plant's scream. "I've never heard one, or we wouldn't be talking, but I once had a Great Uncle Mortimer who died of hearing a mandrake scream!" He whispered back with a grin, though the idea sent a shiver down his spine, if they were really so dangerous, he didn't want to think about it. Also why learn about it as second years when they were clearly still too stupid to be fully trusted. By the end of the class, Lumos was already looking forward to the hands-on lessons ahead, even if it involved something as unsettling as Mandrakes. With earmuffs in hand, he followed Amory out of the greenhouse, chatting about how weird yet exciting the year was shaping up to be.

@Amory Raven ​

 

[Sayuri Edogawa]

Sayuri supposed she didn't mind Herbology all that much. It was a new school year and there was so much that needed to be done and to think about now that they were out of the house once again. Sayuri had always thought she had too many siblings - being the ninth out of ten twelve kids could do that. And on top of that change, she now had a nephew since her sister was actually stupid enough to get pregnant. It had been pure chaos at home thanks to that. And now they were back in school and it didn't even seem like they had much of a break. At least this year the professors would start diving into the material instead of doing those stupid get-to-know lessons. While Sayuri had minimal interest in Herbology, she did find some aspects of it interesting. Mandrakes were one, if only because of several uses and properties they had. And add to the fact that it was a possibly fatal plant that they were discussing this year. Oh well. She took note, ignoring the professor's enthusiasm and just picking out the bits she needed. She did snort though at her sister's muttering right beside her, giving her a roll of the eyes and an exasperated sigh at their professor. As the lesson came to an end, the Slytherin gathered her things and told herself to always make sure her earmuffs were in her bag.​

@Rose Edogawa

 

[Winnie Calida]

Winnie was determined to do better. The question would be how much better could a person do when they’d already achieved O’s in the classes, but she knew she needed to do better. She needed to work harder, smarter. She needed to be better, her parents hadn’t been completely disappointed, but they also just hadn’t really been pleased with her. She knew she had to do better, in whatever way she could. Winnie was working hard already as the first week was just starting. She grabbed her books and notes and put them into her bag and then headed out of the dorm room and to her first class of the day.

Winnie walked into the herbology greenhouse. She took the earmuffs that were handed to her and she knew exactly what they’d be doing in this semester. Mandrakes were gross and horrible to look at it, but they were a pivotal piece of magical education, a pivotal piece that they needed to learn about. She rolled her eyes at the answer one of the other students gave. It didn’t matter that she agreed. Instead she just pulled her notes towards her and began writing down what the professor then told them about the mandrakes and the lesson was wrapped up soon after and she was able to pack up and head out of the room.

 

[William Potter-Cade]

William grabbed a pair of earmuffs as he walked into the greenhouse, not looking at what he picked and ending up with fluffy pink ones, maybe he could convince Felix or Amory to swap with him if either of them could stop staring at their girlfriends for five minutes. Professor Carter promised an exciting year with lots of hands on work. William wasn’t sure the two things went together but he was happy to be proven wrong, though Professor Carter had yet to do so, perhaps this would be the year the Herbology professor finally won him over. William was sure the man had lost many hours of sleep over the young Gryffindors lack of approval.

The kick off to the exciting new year of hands on work seemed to be a lesson of Professor Carter explaining what they’d be doing. He was nothing if not consistent. They’d be working on mandrakes that year, William didn’t know much about mandrakes other than the story his mum told about his uncle James and aunt Maddie from when they were at school. It was always weird hearing about an aunt whom he’d never met, he couldn’t tell if it was a shame or not. William listened as Professor Carter explained more about mandrakes, what they were used for, their deadly scream (said far too casually for his liking) and some of how they would be expected to care for them. It did sound like a lot of work. When the lesson was over William grabbed his bag and his earmuffs and made his way out of the classroom.

 

[Kanako Kurosawa]

Kanako didn't like herbology one bit but she showed up to class despite this. Her father had been disappointed in her grades last year (like she cared about measuring up to her brother, ugh) which made her feel conflicted. She wanted to rebel, do badly on purpose, but she didn't want people thinking she was stupid.

It turned out this year they'd be taking care of some ugly plant called a mandrake. No, an ugly root. Like the distinction mattered. Kanako couldn't wait for it to be cut up into little pieces. She listened to the lecture with little enthusiasm and made a note to remember earmuffs for next lesson.

 

[Esme Styx-Cade]

Esme didn’t like Herbology, she didn’t like getting her hands dirty and had given some serious thought to just not going to class. But she didn’t want that letter being sent home so she dragged herself to the greenhouse for the start of another year with Professor Carter. The professor seemed to think they would enjoy their second year, that it was an exciting one, Esme would be the judge of that. She played with the pair of earmuffs she had picked up as she listened to Professor Carter discuss mandrakes, they would be raising them during the semester, she didn’t like the idea of a plant that could kill you with a scream. While it would be some time before their mandrakes would be that dangerous, it would still be something she had to worry about down the line.

Once the lesson was over Esme packed away her earmuffs and notes into her bag and then made her way out of the greenhouse. She didn’t share in the excited and curious mumblings from her classmates. She really didn’t like herbology.

 

[Asher Styx-Potter]

School seemed to be going fine for the Gryffindor. Asher Styx-Potter was now a second year, and entering a whole new term. Next time though, another year, they would be combined versus this whole house separation. At least no matter what, he would be seated near or with his sisters. Or cousins. He got ready in his dorm, putting on his Gryffindor robes quickly. His hair was combed and neat. As neat as one could get it. He wondered how some of the Potters ended up blonde. He and a few of his siblings were blonde. Asher looked in the mirror at his hair and wondered if his hair would darken over the next couple of years. It was possible. He dismissed the thought and hurried out of the Gryffindor house to go to class.

He walked in the greenhouse and saw Professor Carter handing out earmuffs. Asher grabbed his set and held them as he went to the same area he was at the previously. They would be handling mandrakes this year. That would explain the earmuffs. Mandrakes could kill when they were crying, and since they looked like infants, they'd be crying all of the time. So they were roots. He would remember to bring the earmuffs. He got up and left the greenhouse to get ready for the next time. He was not exactly looking forward to this.​

 

[Ravage Zhefarovich]

The Slytherin knew that today was not going to be an enjoyable day. Ravage Zhefarovich had everything ready in his room and in his bag. He just needed to get up and go to the classroom that he needed to go to that day. He was just waiting for the moment so that he would not be too early, and he would not be too late either. He liked being on time. Never tardy. The last thing he wanted was a letter to his parents. Ravage did not want to deal with that drama. He was sure that his older twin brothers brought them enough pain on their own. Ravage checked the time once more, and decided that it was now or never. He grabbed his bag and left the Slytherin house to head on to his lesson.

Ravage walked in the greenhouse, still a little blinded by the sunlight. He grabbed the earmuffs that the professor was generous enough to provide them with. Professor Carter soon started the lesson. They would be working on Mandrakes this time. He wondered what to name his. He could name it Horror or Terror. Or maybe after someone else here. @Eurydice Nightray perhaps. She was a bit of a princess, and would not mind it named after her. After the professor let them know what to expect, they were free to leave with a reminder of what to bring next time. He got up and left the greenhouse.​

 

[Imogen Styx-Cade]

The blonde was very much ready to be among the prettiest girls in the classroom. Imogen Styx-Cade felt that she had everything she ever needed. She needed good grades to do well in her life after she left here. Imogen knew that her name would only carry her so far. The rest she would have to do on her own. The Slytherin girl brushed her hair once more, and grabbed her backpack. She left the Slytherin house to head out to continue her day. Imogen walked in the Herbology Greenhouse after a bit of walking. She tied her hair back in a clean, neat ponytail because she did not want to get all sweaty and gross. She smiled politely at the Hufflepuff Head of House when he handed out earmuffs. Oh no, she knew what this was. She did not want to do it. Professor Carter confirmed her worst nightmare. They would be growing and caring for ugly roots - aka mandrakes. So gross. Imogen wrinkled her nose at the very thought. But at least she had a bit to prepare for it. She grabbed her muffs, put them inside of her backpack, and left. She wondered if there was a way to make them cuter. She would figure something out.​