Chalondra breathed in the heavy perfumed air of greenhouse number three. Even though she wasn't so great at the subject, she loved coming into the greenhouse. Though it was humid, and sometimes it seemed like it was hard to breathe, she loved the smell of soil and water and plants all mixed into one exotic scent.

"All right, all right, everyone settle down." Plump Professor Sprout came in from the back room, where some plant was sending out a loud screeching howl. The class clamped their hands to their ears, and Professor Sprout waved a gloved hand at them. "It's all right, just the baby Mandrakes…" She had put on earmuffs and was now securely locking the door. The screeching now only sounded like some wild dog scraping that door. Everyone gave a relieved sigh and sat down at the tables where all sorts of plants stood in their way.

"Today class, we will be examining the Fanged Geranium."

"Er-Professor Sprout?" A plump girl by the name if Emilia Johnson had raised her hand.

"Yes?" Sprout asked while busying herself collecting the geraniums from the desk behind her.

"We looked at those in 5th year. They were on our O.W.L's—"

"Yes, yes, I know." Sprout muttered something about 'insolence.' "But it doesn't matter. Okay everyone, come pick a plant!"

As Chalondra went up with the other Ravenclaws (thank goodness it was just them and no Slytherin's), Sprout coughed from behind her. "Chalondra, I realize that you're unhappy with your Herbology mark?"

Chalondra nodded slowly, wondering what was going on inside of her teacher's head.

"Well, come here at the end of the school day. I've got something that should help you."

Chalondra gave her a grin and a 'thank you', wondering all the while what it could be. A potion? A master at Herbology that would teach her the arts of the subject?

As she grabbed her geranium (which was wildly swinging around and looking for something to bite), Chalondra thought that it wouldn't be too bad, having someone else other than Sprout teaching her.

As long as they knew what they were doing.

xxx

Kadric hummed as he grabbed his broom from the shed outside of the school. He was terribly glad school was over today. No potions, thank the Lord. In fact, there had been Herbology, which was quite nice.

Not just quite. It was really nice. Kadric thought, checking over his broom. Yes, it was true. Kadric, though not the best in potions, was awesome in Herbology. Even when he got one hundred percent he knew he deserved more. After all, it came to him in such a breeze.

But there was a bad side to it. If the Slytherin's didn't get enough out of teasing him for being terrible in potions, they teased him for excelling in Herbology. They were never happy with what he did. But he didn't really care. Well, he did, but he wasn't about to stop doing his best in Herbology just to stop being teased. He'd be out getting a good job while those bums were working for Voldemort.

"Marsters!" Kadric whirled around, about to tell Sandry why he was late coming to practice on the team. But it wasn't Sandry, Slytherin Chaser. It was Professor Sprout.

How could I possibly think it was Sandry! He asked himself, quickly running over to his Herbology teacher.

"Yea Professor Sprout?" He asked, clutching his broom. Kadric quickly checked his watch. He didn't want to be any later for practice…

"No practice for you today Mr. Marsters."

His jaw dropped. Not play Quidditch today? Not practice? He needed to become a better beater, all though he was already excellent…

"There are more pressing matters. Follow me and I'll explain."

Kadric still stood there, dumbfounded for a few moments before he snapped out of it and ran after his teacher. "But Professor, the Coach—"

"Knows that I'm taking you out of practice today."

Great. Kadric thought dully. Now he'll join in on teasing me. 'Sprout wanted him to help her plants grow a bit larger!' or something stupid like that…

"Now, Mr. Marsters, you know I'm proud of your excellent Herbology mark, correct?"

Kadric glowed under this compliment. "Sure."

"Well, there are some people who desperately want a mark like yours." Sprout was starting to slow her pace, and Kadric did as well. It looked like she was troubled.

"Okay…and?" Kadric prompted her.

"Oh yes. And I thought it might be nice if you could help a student out."

Kadric felt his stomach turn over. Help someone? Oh no! That'd be even worse! Kadric the Teacher or Professor in Training. He would be teased for years to come, even though it was his last year at Hogwarts.

"But Professor, I can't possibly—"

"Of course, if you help me you'll get no detentions for two months and a daily amount of 15 points to your homeroom."

Kadric immediately shut his mouth. "I think I can handle it." He managed meekly. There. The mention of no detentions and helping his house get the house cup had definitely changed his mind. Teachers knew how to persuade him. If he helped get points, they couldn't possibly tease him! Especially if he kept it a secret.

The two had reached the greenhouse. Sprout turned to look him in the eye. "Now Kadric, you know you can't back out now, right? You know you are going to help this person learn Herbology until they are comfortable?"

He looked down at his teacher (yes down), and nodded slowly. "Yea…"

"All right." Sprout walked in and turned the corner and began mumbling to someone. She then poked her head around the corner. "Come in, Mr. Marsters."

xxx

"Chalondra, meet your new tutor, Kadric!" Sprout clapped her hands together happily as Kadric turned the corner. Both of them stared at each other, mouths open wide and eyes bulging in shock.

Sprout smiled. "Yes, yes, please contain your excitement. Now, Kadric, you and Chalondra will come here twice a week, preferably Tuesdays and Thursdays, for an hour each. Extra days would also be helpful. Remember to wait until the school day is over, or else you may miss a class. Have fun with your first lesson!" Sprout winked and the exited the room.

Now it was completely silent. Chalondra whirled around and set her books down on the desk—hard. Her hands were shaking, she realized. Why did Kadric have to tutor her? HER? HIM. It was too unreal. Too stupid. Something would have to be changed…

"So." Kadric said, giving her a smirk and sliding into the chair beside her. "Chalondra, Genius of Hogwarts, is having difficulty with a subject."

Chalondra glowered at him. "You're one to talk." She said, sitting down as well. He lifted his hands up in an apologetic type of way though she knew he wasn't sorry in the least.

"Hey, I'm not the one who got the mark as a genius! For me, failing a class isn't that big a of a deal."

"You were singing a completely different tune yesterday." Chalondra reminded him, and Kadric realized it was true. He shrugged.

"Things change."

Chalondra nodded. "This'll have to change too."

Kadric shrugged. "Why?" Clearly he wanted the two months free detention and points terribly. But Chalondra didn't need to know that.

"Because I won't be able to stand you teasing me around every corner! I can't tell you what I'm having trouble with because I'll be afraid you'll laugh out loud! I'll just fail Herbology." She muttered miserably.

"Okay, okay, I won't tease you. And hey, I seriously doubt you're near failing."

Chalondra shrugged.

"What are you getting? Ninety? Ninety-one?" He questioned in a mock serious tone. Chalondra rolled her eyes.

"An eighty."

"EIGHTY!" Kadric stood up, a look of shock in his eyes. "Dear Lord Woman! Get out of my sight this instant! That's—shocking!"

Chalondra couldn't help but let out a feeble grin. "And what are you getting in potions? Sixty? Seventy?"

Kadric sat back down abruptly at her question. "Er-well-" He ran a hand through his hair nervously. "Look, it's not potions, this is Herbology. So let's talk Herbology and get it over with."

"I thought you wanted to do it." Chalondra said, grinning. He shrugged.

"I would if I were with someone else."

Chalondra immediately threw the textbook at him. He yelled and held up his arms to soften the blow of the thick book.

"You said you wouldn't tease me!" Chalondra felt very angry all of a sudden, and Kadric nodded slowly.

"All right, all right, calm down…" He threw the textbook on the table. "No need to freak out."

Chalondra just 'hmphed' and started flipping through the book. "I don't know why I'm stuck with you."

"Because I'm utterly gorgeous and even teachers such as Sprout fall for my charms and good looks." He rested his elbow on the table and grinned at her. Chalondra snorted.

"Please."

Well. Kadric thought. Perhaps I was mistaken all these years.

"Let's just make this hour over with, all right?" He looked through her notes. "What're you having trouble with?"

"The properties of a Flitterbloom. I know they look like Devil's Snare, but other than that…"

"Well, they're not deathly, first of all." Kadric said, realizing this would be easy. All he did was recite the notes in his head. "They're perfectly harmless. But it can be tricky, because people often use Devil's Snare as Flitterbloom to get dirty deeds done." He shrugged. "All you really have to know is that it won't hurt you."

Chalondra added this to her list of notes. "Okay…"

Kadric glanced down. "Why do you always write notes?"

Chalondra looked up. "Huh?"

"Why do you always write notes?" He repeated. "I mean, don't you think hands on experience is better?"

Chalondra shrugged. "I've never really thought about it. I write notes for everything."

"Come on, you're a student not a secretary." Kadric joked. "Come on. Sprout has some Flitterbloom in the back, I'll show you it."

"But—But it could be Devil's Snare!" Chalondra called.

Kadric was already up and heading to the back. "Pshaw." He said, turning around to face her. "Are you too scared for a little one-on-one with a stupid plant?"

Chalondra hesitated. She hated going near plants that could kill her. After all, it could very well be Devil's Snare! Kadric didn't know everything.

But then again, she really wanted to get better at Herbology. But notes had ALWAYS helped her!

Not in this subject. A voice said in her mind. Chalondra grudgingly agreed. "Fine. "Just hurry up, plants like that make me nervous."

Kadric grinned and led her down a narrow hallway into a large room. Something moaned from the back, and other plants twittered and swayed. Ones leaf started to each out for Chalondra's shoulder, but Kadric slapped it back. "You have to be pretty bossy with the plants back here." He said, giving her a smirk. "Come on."

"How come you know so much about them?" Chalondra asked, inching away from a plant that almost seemed to be sniffing the air for meat.

"Oh, Sprout lets me back here a lot." He said, shrugging.

Chalondra just gaped at him. "Wow. You must be really good at Herbology!"

Kadric let out another shrug. "Okay. Here it is. Flitterbloom." Kadric stuck his hand out to the plant, palm down. Chalondra glanced at warily, occasionally looking at the other plants surrounding her. Despite the wonderful smell of the greenhouse, this part of it sounded like a zoo: not to mention the plants acted like wild animals.

The plants vines slowly started to creep up Kadric's hand. He just grinned nonchalantly as Chalondra let out a little gasp. "It's going to kill you!" She hissed viciously, but Kadric just snorted as more vines started to wrap around his arm.

"It's just huggin' me, no need to—WHOAA!" He let out a strangled sort of gasp as the plants hold on his arm tightened. It started to push against his flesh so hard, the parts you could see were turning purple. But he stayed calm, only his wide eyes showed fear.

"It's—It's okay…you just gotta be rough with it—" He grunted and pulled at the vines, but they paid no attention. More were starting to creep towards his legs, and one was already slithering up his shoulder. Chalondra let out a little scream.

"Kadric! One's by your head!" But he couldn't do anything about it, because now both of his arms were wrapped tightly together. One slithered over his mouth and around his head so he wouldn't make any noise.

Chalondra only stared with horror until Kadric mumbled something that sounded like it would have been shouted if not for the vine. Immediately she found her wand grasped in her hand. "Okay…okay…"

She didn't know if this was actually Devil's Snare, or just a Flitterbloom gone mad. She had no clue.

"I—I—" Something 'dinged' in her mind, and a knowing expression took over her face. But she couldn't waste time. Already Kadric was slowly starting to kneel, his eyes were closing…

"INCENDIO!" Chalondra cried, pointing her wand at the plant. It let out a little shriek and some of the vines pulled back as a shot of blue flame erupted from the end of her wand. She tried again. "INCENDIO!" It let out a hiss this time, and more vines were leaving Kadric's body, which was now lying on the floor. He let out a gasp for air as one of the vines unwillingly left his face. Chalondra repeated the spell over and over until the plant was shriveled up inside of its pot, muttering to itself.

Chalondra let out a shaky grin. "I did it." She whispered, pulling some hair away from her sweaty face.

Something grunted. Alarmed, Chal looked down to see Kadric grabbing onto the table for support. His clothes were dirty from the dirt floor, and his hair was askew. His robes were rumpled and his skin had pressure marks from where the vines had strangled his skin.

Chalondra looked at him tentively, afraid he might burst out sobbing or something.

Instead, he gave a relieved sort of sigh. "Well. That was fun, wasn't it?" He asked with a charming smile.

Chalondra couldn't help but roll her eyes in disgust.