Chapter Two
Herbology
It was just before lunch when I was timetabled for Herbology with Professor Sprout. Several people had regarded me with interest all morning, due to my pale face and lifeless personality. It had been a long night of worry, turning things over in my mind and looking at them from other people's perspectives. I'd drawn the curtains around my bed, but had looked up in as many books as I could about distress. I couldn't find any mention of the Labor herb. Professor Sprout had the Slytherins and Ravenclaws working on Gaudium berries. Gaudium berries are used to create a drink that sinks the drinker into great happiness for about an hour or more, depending on the strength. There are strict regulations on the brewing of such drinks, and it wasn't surprising that Professor Sprout warned us that eating the raw berries was potentially dangerous. The warning put an idea into a fellow Slytherin's head, and I saw him brush a berry into his pocket when he thought no one was looking. I didn't think much of it, at the time, not wanting to betray my house, although I've been suspected before, with a father from Gryffindor. The end of the lesson came surprisingly quickly following my observation. As my classmates left the greenhouse, I approached Professor Sprout.
"Excuse me Professor, can I ask you something?" Sprout was busy counting the berries, and my conscience took a lurch. The Herbology professor signaled for silence until she had finished, and I didn't fail to notice her frown as she muttered about one missing.
"Yes Miss Amethyst?"
"I'm asking about a herb, not one that we've done in lessons, or that I could find in any of my books. Can you tell me anything about the Labor herb?" Sprout seemed to look at me in a suspicious way.
"Now why would such an optimistic young witch like you be asking about that particular herb?" I swallowed, and I feared it was visible.
"Professor Snape is helping me with an advanced potion, I just noticed it was an ingredient of another potion. I'm interested in the career of field mediwizard, that's all." Still, even with my innocent looking face, the Professor seemed to wonder.
"You'll find it in here… Accio Advanced Herbology in Medicine!" A heavy book flew off the top shelf and onto the table beside the berries. It landed with a heavy thud.
"Reperio Labor herb." Sprout ordered. She pointed to the page that opened.
"I think you'll find more than enough here Miss Amethyst." I stepped forwards and saw a picture of the plant in perfect detail. What Snape had said was true.
I hurried from Herbology to the great hall for lunch. Just as I was going to open the door a hand grabbed me by the shoulder. I spun round to face Professor Snape.
"Sir?" I asked, surprised that he'd even touched me.
"Gaudium berries." He said in a hushed voice.
"Give it up." He held out his hand. I did my best to look confused.
"I don't have any Sir, we gave them all to Professor Sprout at the end of the lesson."
"All but one." Snape spat his words at me.
"Sir, I don't have it. I wouldn't dare attempt to do something so stupid as to use one."
"Unless you thought it would remedy whatever caused the happening last night." I fell silent. The thought had crossed my mind in the lesson, but I had dismissed it. It was not something I was prepared to risk.
"If you are lying to me, I will find out Elixa." He sneered and walked away past me. I had trouble remembering why I was so pleased to get an extra lesson from him suddenly.
I sat down at the Slytherin table with my fellow Slytherins, casting a glance towards the teacher's table. Snape shot a glare at me, and then exchanged looks with Professor Sprout. I sighed and started to serve food onto my plate. It wasn't too long until there was an explosion of laughter from the Gryffindor table. Snape and Sprout were both alerted to this, their eyes darting quickly. Ron Weasley, a best friend to Harry Potter, was red faced, laughing wildly. It looked apparent that no one around him understood what he was laughing about and would rather he shut up. The two teachers exchanged a look, and Sprout got up. When she reached Ron, who was now unable to stop laughing, and had fallen from where he was sitting into the aisle between the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables, she looked back at Snape and nodded. I felt his eyes burn into me. I continued to watch Professor Sprout struggle with Ron. Dumbledore seemed amused by the commotion slightly, but his face changed to a much more serious expression when Snape put a word in his ear. I shot a look down the table towards the person who I'd seen take the berry. He was laughing away with the rest of the Slytherins around him, and the Ravenclaws. Dumbledore stood up, and the room slowly silenced.
"I think," He began, "that the Ravenclaws and Slytherins, who were with Professor Sprout before lunch, should return immediately to greenhouse three with Professor Snape."