The next morning, being the good big brother figure he was, Jack Frost said he would lead all the first years down to the Great Hall for breakfast going the long way so he could point out where the class rooms were too.

"Here we are," he said as they entered it and went over to the table sitting down just as the post arrived.

Looking up to see if there was anything for him, Jack spotted a tawny owl with about four packages coming towards their table letting go of them making them drop into Neville Longbottom's lap.

"Not as many as last year Nev, I'm proud," Jack said picking out a few feathers from his cereal.

"Thanks Jack," Neville said smiling taking them and heading upstairs to place them in his room.

Jack was just about to start his cereal when Archie came to see him, again same as last year, with Baby Tooth on his back.

"Couldn't you have waited a couple of days Baby?"

Buzzing her wings happily she smiled and shook her head.

"Hello little fairy..." a dreamy young girls voice said making Jack look next to him to see Luna.

Shy around new people, and always being told by Tooth not to be seen if she could help it, Baby Tooth zipped up Jack's sleeve.

"It's ok Baby, this is Luna," Jack said calmly, carefully pulling her out "She help Perry and Sugar a few years ago, I told you about her remember?"

Luna took a seat next to Jack and held out a hand for Baby to land on, a gentle smile on her face.

Unsure but trusting Jack, Baby landed into it and looked up at Luna.

"It's good to see you again Jack," Luna said gently as Baby was giving the blonde girl a good look over.

"Thanks," Jack said finally getting started on his rather soggy corn flakes "It's nice to be seen."

Just as Jack was finishing, Baby Tooth stopped examining Luna and came back to him nodding her acceptance about Luna Lovegood.

"Thank you Miss Baby Tooth," Luna said smiling handing the fairy a sugar cube in gratitude. "Jack. Where's the Charm's class room that's what I have first but I don't know where to go."

The boy was about to give directions when Baby zipped up and pointing to herself.

"Looks like Baby will show you," Jack said looking at his own time table "Which is good because my first class is Herbology and that's outside.

Saying goodbye they parted ways and Jack caught up with the other second year Gryffindors on their way to the greenhouses.

o0o

They had just walked past the vegetable patch and nearing the greenhouses spotting the Hufflepuffs waiting outside for Professor Sprout when she came over unfortunately followed by a talkative Lockhart.

Quickly Jack pulled out Harry's Invisibility Cloak from his own bag and threw it over the black haired boy.

"Jack this is mine why do you have it?" Harry's voice came from where he was standing.

"What, so you 'want' Lockhart to see you and use you for popularity then do you? Well I'll just take it back it?" he said smirking knowing that Harry did not want that.

Before anymore arguing could happen the teachers were there.

"I'm just saying Professor Sprout," Lockhart said throwing his voice so the students heard as well, Harry, Ron and Jack rolling their eyes, "That if you 'ever' need a substitute teacher for your classes I will gladly step in. I know all about magical plants and their abilities from my travels."

"I assure you Professor Lockhart you will be the first person I come to if I ever need a substitute teacher," Professor Sprout said in a sarcastic voice.

Grinning Jack stuck up his hand wanting to test Lockhart.

"Sir, Sir I have a question on magical plants. Can you answer it for me?" he asked stepping forward.

"Why certainly Mr Frost." Lockhart said smiling showing off his teeth, his eyes looking for supposedly Harry. "Whatever can it be?"

"Well Sir," Jack said clearing his throat "Last year I came across a very weird plant that liked to hug you so much it did so until you died because it squeezed the life out of you, I know this because as I came across it so did a mouse was running a long and the plant in question killed it and made its eye pop out. Anyway..." Jack carried on rambling not even caring the Lockhart looked like he would be sick.

"It turned out that unlike most plants, wither they are magical or not, sir, that this plant seemed to like the cold and the damp and didn't like sunlight or warmth. Please sir, can you tell me what plant it was, so I know not to go near any of the same type of plant in future?" Jack asked looking all innocent and smiling sweetly looking at Lockhart who had everyone's eyes upon him.

"Err, well," he said sounding a hint nervous "Off the top of my head my boy, no I cannot say what the plant in question was, I would need to look over my books to find the answer."

"But sir!" Ron said wanting in on this "You wrote these books didn't you, so you obviously should know what you put into them."

"And were you not just telling me of all the magical plants you have seen on your travels Gilderoy?" Professor Sprout asked grinning a little as well. "Surely this plant in question Mr Frost came across must have turned up in there somewhere."

"Oh-ho, look at the time," Lockhart said looking at his watch free wrist "Well I mustn't keep your class held up any longer Professor. Or mine in fact, so I will see you later and I will get back to you on your question Mr Frost."

With that he turned and left.

Harry waited until he was out of sight before pulling his clock off.

"Out of curiosity Frost, what was this plant. I'm am sure at least you should know it." Sprout asked.

"It was Devil's Snare, Professor," Jack said grinning.

"Well then 10 points to Gryffindor for an excellent description of the plant, and another 10 for getting rid of that... man." she said seeming to try and not say any swears "And 10 for Mr Weasley too I suppose. Now everyone into Greenhouse 3 please."

This confused a few of the students since they had only ever worked in Greenhouse 1 before - Greenhouse 3 held the slightly more dangerous plants.

Professor Sprout took a large key from her belt and unlocked the door.

Jack suspected, just like him, everyone caught the scent of damp earth and fertilizer, mingling with the heavy perfume of some giant, umbrella-sized flowers dangling from the ceiling.

Confused at all the different pairs of earmuffs Jack just came up to the trestle bench that was in the center of the greenhouse.

"Mandrakes..." Neville, who was next to him, said in a small whisper recognizing the plants.

"That's right Longbottom," Professor Sprout said waiting for everyone to come around the bench "We will be re-potting Mandrakes today. So first things first. Who can tell me the properties of a Mandrake?"

To nobody's surprise Hermione's and was first into the air.

"Mandrake or Mandragora, is a powerful restorative," she said sounding as usual as if she had swallowed the text book. It is used to return those who have been transfigured, cursed or injured to their original state."

"Excellent. 10 points to Gryffindor," Professor Sprout said "The Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes. However it is also highly dangerous. Who can tell me why?"

Again Hermione put her hand up and so did Neville and Jack who had an idea of what these plants were now and remembered Bunny had some in his Warren.

Professor Sprout pointed to Neville who said "The cry of the Mandrake is fatal to anyone who hears it." he said firmly, Herbology was his best subject.

"Precisely. Another 10 points to Gryffindor." said Professor Sprout then addressed everyone "Now, the Mandrake we have here are still very young."

She pointed to a row of deep tray as she spoke and everyone shuffled nearer for a better look. A hundred or so tufty little plants, purplish green in colour, were growing there in rows.

"Everyone take a pair of earmuffs," said Professor Sprout.

There was a slight scurry as everyone tried to avoid ones that were pink and fluffy, but, being the man Jack was, they were the first pair he reached for – although he would have like blue more.

"Take what you can get and be happy with it guys," he said when the scurry was still going on a minute later.

This snapped everyone out of it and they settled down.

"Thank you Mr Frost," Professor Sprout said giving him 5 more points to his house.

"Now, when I tell you to put them on, make sure the your ears are completely covered," said Professor Sprout "When it is safe for you to take them off again, I will give you a thumbs up. Right - earmuff's on."

Jack had never worn earmuffs before. He found the fluffyness feeling rather strange.

He shuffled them a little to get them in the right place with the flaps right down so they covered his ears and then turned to Professor Sprout who had a pair of fluffy pink ones on.

Then she rolled up her sleeves, grasped one of the tufty plants firmly, and pulled hard.

Jack was surprised at what he saw, because instead of roots, a small, muddy and ugly looking baby came out of the earth, the leaves growing right out of its head. And he was clearly crying at the top of its lungs.

Professor Sprout took a larger plant pot from under the table and plunged the Mandrake into it burying him in damp compost until only the leaves were showing. Next she dusted off her hands and gave everyone the thumbs up and took off her own earmuffs.

"As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, their cries won't kill yet," she said calmly as though she had just done nothing more exciting than water a begonia. "However, they will knock you out for several hours, and as I am sure none of you wish to miss your first day back, make sure your earmuffs are securely in place while you work. I shall attract your attention when it is time to leave."

With that Professor Sprout told them where everything was and that it was four people per tray.

Collecting what he needed Jack went back to his friends but saw a Hufflepuff was there already introducing himself (loudly) as Justin Finch-Fletchly.

Rolling his eyes, Jack went to try and find Neville who was with Hannah Abbott, and Susan Bones.

"Least these earmuff's will be good for something," Jack said to himself as he could still heat Justin yapping on about how great Lockhart was, even though they were three trays away "His he always like that?" he asked the girls.

"Oh yes," Hannah said sighing "You get used to it after a while."

"Really?" Susan asked surprised "Because I haven't and we had all year last year to 'Get used to it'."

"You could try using 'Silenscio' on him," Neville said beside Jack putting a little bit of compost into the bigger pot first so the Mandrake had a nice warm base. "It will wear off after couple of hours but it might teach him to be less talkative."

Liking that idea, the girls said they'll try it next time they were in their common room thanking Neville.

Jack was about to congratulate Neville on his cunningly-evil-and-yet-funny plan, but didn't get a chance because everyone had to put their earmuff's back on and concentrate.

Jack found it a lot harder than he thought it would be from seeing Professor Sprout do it.

Finally he managed to get his one out of the small pot, the force shaking his earmuffs a little, which he quickly put back on over his ears before placing the plant into the bigger pot.

Neville had seen Jack's earmuffs get dislodged and was surprised to see his friend was still standing.

Worried, he got Jacks attention and using his hands pointed towards him and then gave him a thumbs up and a questioning look.

Jack nodded and gave a thumbs up as well to show it.

By the end of the lesson, Jack was sweaty, aching, and covered in earth, so they all headed back to the castle where they had a quick wash before going to transfiguration.

"You sure you're ok Jack?" Neville asked worried "Just even a few seconds of a Mandrake cry is enough to knock people or kill them."

"Neville, I am pleased you are so concerned about me, but I am totally fine, I promise," Jack said welcoming Baby Tooth who flitted over to him giving his face a hug.

From there Neville dropped the subject and they set out to Professor McGonagall's class.