Not Letting Up On Professor Longbottom
Gaby Kirkwood
The next day, Herbology was once again our first lesson, and I had an absolutely amazing plan.
The previous evening, I had spent most of my time making cookies.
But they weren't ordinary cookies. In no way were they ordinary cookies.
I came into Herbology a few minutes early, beaming apologetically.
"Gaby," said Professor Longbottom unenthusiastically.
"Hi, Professor," I said quietly. "Look, I just really wanted to apologize for yesterday. I was being really stupid, and I'm sorry."
Professor Longbottom smiled. "That's fine, Gaby."
"Oh," I added, glad that he had accepted my apology so readily, "I made some cookies. To say sorry."
Smiling, I held the box out to him, and he looked a little unnerved.
"Er… alright," said Professor Longbottom, taking one and biting into it.
I gave him another smile and went outside to stand with the others.
21) Be suspicious/creepy
Only a moment later, Professor Longbottom stuck his head out the door, and called us in.
I giggled to myself, but didn't let on to anyone.
A few minutes into the lesson, Professor Longbottom was explaining something to the class when an odd look came over his face.
He shook his head slightly, swallowed and carried on, his face pale.
I inwardly-giggled even harder.
"Professor, are you alright?" asked Jennifer, her face creased.
Professor Longbottom wiped a hand across his face and nodded.
He carried on explaining, and, somewhere out of the corner of my eye, I saw James give me a slightly suspicious glance.
I was about to send a giggling glance back at him, when Professor Longbottom suddenly convulsed and started throwing up in a plant pot.
The class groaned quietly.
"I'll go and get Madam Peters," said Jennifer, looking vaguely triumphant.
I watched in vague amusement.
"Maybe it's his time of month," I said brightly, and, even through his sick, Professor Longbottom scowled.
22) Suggest that it's Professor Longbottom's time of the month
The class rolled their eyes, and Rachel, the resident wannabe-healer approached him cautiously.
"You look like you've got food poisoning," she commented. "What was the last thing you ate?"
Realising that I'd soon be found out, I decided to speak up.
"Oops."
In unison, the class sighed, and turned to look at me.
"Gaby," said Rachel, turning to me, hands on hips. "What did you do?"
I pretended to take offence. "Nothing! It's just that the last thing he ate was my cookies…"
23) "Accidently" give Professor Longbottom food poisoning.
James was no longer the only one suppressing a smile when Madam Peters came in, and handed Professor Longbottom a basin, before hustling him out of the room, still throwing up.
"You're dismissed early," said Madam Peters grimly when she was at the door.
24) Cause a class to be dismissed early.
I think the class were all secretly happy, as well as nauseated.
James came up behind me and slipped an arm around my shoulders.
"Hey," he whispered. "We've got no homework."
I nodded, blushing slightly.
Grinning, James steered me over to a tree under the lake, where we lay down next to each other, hands entwined.
"What'd you use in the cookies?" he asked lazily.
"Delayed Puking Pastilles," I said proudly. "Got them in the post."
James laughed. "Right, course."
There was a pause, as we both looked up through the branches and into the cloudy sky.
"Can I borrow your cookies?" asked James suddenly.
I turned and grinned at him. "Not going to get up to mischief, are you?"
James looked offended. "Of course not! I just have an excellent being good idea."
"And this involves poisoned cookies how?"
"You'll see," said James cryptically. "You'll see."
"What on earth are you two doing?"
25) Lie in the grass when you should be in a lesson, and get caught by Professor Finnigan.
