I hope it's ok that I used my OC for this.
Random Word Prompt Challenge: Herbs
Hesperus liked school. He really did. He loved learning new things, things that could be useful to him in the future.
What he didn't like, though, was Herbology.
He didn't know how anyone could like that damn class. The whole lesson you were standing at a long table, pressed against each other, because there were simply too many students. And let it be said that Hesperus absolutlely loathed physical contact with strangers.
Sure, they weren't exactly strangers, but still. Hesperus liked his space and everyone in his house respected that, with the exeption being here. Here two girls were pressed against him, trying, and failing, to make him pay attention to them. They were lucky that he didn't want to serve detention today, or he would have hexed them as far away from him as he could.
No wonder he liked the company of birds more.
"Mr. Fawley."
He looked to Professor Sprout as his name was called and smiled one of his absolutley charming and fake smiles.
"Yes, Professor?"
"Could you please get a Mandrake from the other greenhouse? I would do it myself, but Mr. Smith here needs my help."
Oh god, please no.
"Of course, Professor." He said, forced another smile and walked swiftly out of the goddamn greenhouse. Once outside he stopped for a moment and wiped a few drops of sweat from his brow. His curl was sticking to his forehead and the feeling was entirely unpleasant, thank you very much.
He slowly started walking to the greenhouse where the Mandrakes are held. After all, there was no need to hurry. He wouldn't miss anything important.
His gaze landed on the pots with the horrendous creatures and he sighed silently, putting on a pair of gloves.
Because another thing that Hesperus hated is getting dirty. Which he does frequently in that class.
The next thing he put on is the pair of earmuffs. He really doesn't want to die. Not yet, at least. His eyes fell on a brown plant at the side and he blinked, having thought that only the Mandrakes were here.
The Dittany stood in the far corner and he slowly touched the brown leaves, an eyebrow slowly raising. He didn't think that the school had this plant in stock, they had a talented medi-witch after all. But, he mused, there were things that even she couldn't heal.
His concentration was broken as he saw a speck of white in the corner of his eye. He let the leaf go and walked to the beautiful white flower. That one he also knew. Asphodel, also known as Royal Staff, is mostly used in potion making, an example being the Draught of Living Death. It reminded him of home, as these plants are also growing in the garden of Fawley Manor.
Hm , he mused, his brother will like it here when his time comes.
Right next to the Asphodel was a plant that he recognised as Wormwood. A bitter herb, used in potion making, an example being, again, the Draught of Living Death. He wondered if someone would notice if a few of these herbs would suddenly go missing.
Right after that thought he wanted to slap himself. Of course Professor Sprout would notice! That woman probably counted every plant separately after classes were over. Maybe he should sleep early today, instead of writing with the Malfoy kid.
He sighed as his gaze fell back to the Mandrakes, his original reason for coming here. Well, he thought and gripped the top of the nearest one, Augen zu und durch. He ripped it out of the pot and sneered as it started screaming. Why did these things scream anyway?
He walked back to the entrance of the greenhouse, but suddenly stopped. If there were students out there right now, they would most probably die. He really couldn't care less, but he had to keep up an reputation. So he did the only logical thing to do: he put his finger in the things mouth and it bit down, successfully stopping the screams. He was already used to having his finger bitten like that, but he didn't think that the thing would be that strong.
His walk back to the Greenhouse his class was in was faster this time. He may be used to the pain, but it was still unpleasant. "Ah, Mr. Fawley-" Professor Sprout started to speak with a smile, but stopped as she saw him and that thing. "Mr. Fawley, what are you doing?"
He plastered a pained smile on his face and lied: "There were a few Gryfindor students out there, while I was walking back. And this was the first thing that came to my mind, before they could hear the scream, Professor."
"Oh! I should have told you to use a silencing spell on the Mandrake. I'm sorry, Mr. Fawley."
A silencing spell. Hesperus, you need sleep. You are practically close to useless right now.
"It was my fault, Professor. I should have come to that conclusion myself." He said, while stamping down the urge to slap himself. Professor Sprout took the thing with an apologetic smile, and ten housepoints for quick thinking, from him and he walked back to his place between the two girls again.
Only one more hour, Hesperus. He thought to himself, as he felt the sweat on his brow. Then you are free.
He actually did make it to the end, seeing Madam Pomfrey right after on Professor Sprout's orders. There he may have stolen a Aconite plant from a whole bunch that Professor Slughorn had brought. But, honestly, who would be so dumb and leave such toxic plants near students, while going to talk to the Madam. Professor Slughorn, his mind peovided, while he was walking back to the Ravenclaw tower. He was literally asking for it to be stolen.
He smirked slightly as he felt the leaves brushing against his hand and hummed a tune that he remembered from summer. His father would be delighted to have it, being a fan of herbs and plants. And Hesperus would suffer.