Chapter Three: The Classes, Part Two
Herbology Classroom, Hogwarts Castle
4 September 1890
Thursday Morning
Quickly, the Student lowered his Mandrake into its new pot to stop the screaming despite wearing ear protection. Rose, Alexandra, and the other students did the same and finally, the screaming ended in the Herbology greenhouse classroom. Their Herbology professor, Mirabel Garlick, smiled widely and joyfully told them they did wonderful… before taking out her wand and using the Mending Charm to fix the greenhouse windows with a light blue glow…
Rose, Alexandra, and him simply shared a glance…
The professor then made her way to them. She had white skin, long ginger hair braided into two long pigtails, and brown eyes. He had to admit, her positive outlook and attitude was infectious. Even Alexandra had trouble staying annoyed at the professor because of the screaming Mandrakes.
"Firstly, well done with your Mandrakes. They can be rather difficult to… get a grasp of." Professor Garlick said with a small smile.
"I'll say. I nearly went deaf." Alexandra muttered.
"Well, yes. Of course, the cry of a mature Mandragora can be fatal. So remember to keep those ears protected, Miss Malfoy. " Professor Garlick said, still smiling.
"Actually, I enjoyed it. I couldn't help but catch your enthusiasm." Rose said with a small smile. He nodded his head in agreement with a small smile of his own.
"How kind of you, Miss Potter. It seems you're already taking to Herbology like a Mandrake to fresh soil. But remarkable plants, aren't they? I hope they weren't too much trouble… Don't see any bite marks or… missing digits…" Professor Garlick muttered the last part to herself.
Once again, Rose, Alexandra, and him shared a glance…
"And good… as you three seem to be quite green-fingered. I'm eager to see your skills in the soil continue to blossom." Professor Garlick said happily with a smile.
"As am I. Plants offer so much. I'm eager to learn more." Rose said shyly and he nodded his head in agreement which made Professor Garlick beam.
"Thank you, Professor, but looking after plants isn't all that thrilling to me." Alexandra said diplomatically. Professor Garlick's smile only widened.
"I think you'll come to see that the fruit is well worth the labor. As we Herbologists like to say - 'tend to your plants and they'll tend to you.' Professor Garlick said.
"Hm, I suppose that's true…" Alexandra said thoughtfully. Rose and him nodded their heads in agreement.
"I'm glad I could change your mind, even if only a bit, Miss Malfoy… I say give it time and I'll change your mind completely… And oh, I'm so excited for you three to learn about the Venomous Tentacula next week." Professor Garlick added gleefully.
"T-the w-what?" Alexandra stammered with wide fearful eyes…
"Oh, the Venomous Tentacula! Very deadly planets, I'm afraid… They tend to shoot acid when threatened… But I know the class, and you three included, will do very well! Oh, I'm so excited for you all! Do come for a chat some time. I so enjoy checking in with my new students." Professor Garlick said happily before going to another group of students.
…
The very pale and wide fearful eyed Student, Rose, and Alexandra shared another panicked glance…
Potions Classroom, Hogwarts Castle
4 September 1890
Thursday Morning
The Student, Rose, and Alexandra stood in front of their shared cauldron in the dungeon that was the Potions Classroom. It was cold and quite creepy, a sentiment both Rose and Alexandra agreed with but the latter had revealed the coldness was necessary for the art of potion making. As for the creepiness of the cobwebbed corners of the ceiling and jars filled with weird ingredients…
Alexandra simply exclaimed it helped set the mood.
Both Rose and him shared a glance at that but let it go when their Potions professor, Aesop Sharp, appeared from his office. He had white skin, long brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a dark stubble beard. He was also an intimidating man despite the limp he walked with as he had a long scar down the left side of his face over his left eye…
"Ex-Auror…" Alexandra whispered to Rose and him. Rose simply nodded but at his questioning look, she clarified with another whisper. "Magical law enforcement." He nodded his understanding.
Class began after a very short lecture from Professor Sharp. Admittedly, he seemed to be an intimidating man only by appearance as his expectations for his class were quite reasonable and the nervousness from Rose and him disappeared after a bit. They were then told to brew the healing potion - the Wiggenweld Potion.
"Our newer students…" Professor Sharp greeted them. They stood a bit straighter but he spoke gently… "I'm aware of your… unique situation so you'll continue to share this cauldron but I only want one Wiggenweld Potion. Each of you will carry out a step to make one to complete your tasks. Carry on."
They then began to brew the Wiggenweld Potion and Alexandra quickly proved to be more efficient and have more experience in potion making. She taught him how to crush one of the ingredients - Dittany Leaves. She taught Rose how much to pour another one of the ingredients - Horklump Juice. And finally, as she stirred the bubbling cauldron, she taught them what to look out for. Truthfully, she was skillful in potion making to him and he told her exactly that.
"Thank you…" Alexandra said with a small blush while keeping her eyes on the cauldron… "Potion making is one of the few things I enjoy learning about…"
"What else do you enjoy?" Rose asked… Surprisingly, without her usual shy behavior… Alexandra appeared shocked momentarily before answering her question.
"Defence…" Alexandra said simply.
"I enjoy Defence too." Rose said quietly. He nodded his head in agreement too. Alexandra simply hummed before she stopped stirring.
Before any of them could speak, Professor Sharp appeared over his shoulder to inspect the cauldron… It took every bit of self control to stop himself from jumping but he caught the look of shock on Rose's face and the look of surprise on Alexandra's face… None of them even heard him approach their table… After a few seconds he spoke…
"I'm curious… Which of you has experience in potion making?" Professor Sharp asked gently.
"I do, Sir…" Alexandra answered nervously… He regarded her for only a moment…
"Well done, Miss Malfoy… Points to each of you but more points to Slytherin for making an exceptional Wiggenweld Potion… Everyone will keep theirs as long as it comes out decent… As for you three, I'll bring three bottles for each of you… The healing potion you've made should heal any of you far better than the average healing potion."
The Professor then limped away from their table to his office… Just as silently as he came… They then shared a glance… As Garreth's cauldron exploded… He smiled, Rose giggled, and Alexandra simply sighed. And Professor Sharp?
He took points away from Gryffindor.
A shorter chapter as I had to edit out a lot and make up for what was cut. I wanted to show more of their classes with a more humorous conversation in one class and a short bonding conversation in the other class. I also liked the differences between the professors. Garlick being completely unaware or uncaring of the true horrors of plants in the Wizarding World while keeping a positive outlook and Sharp who appears intimidating but is surprising gently with his students. The next two chapters will take the main trio to Hogsmeade and that will be the end of what I would call the prologue which will see the end of late summer and move into the fall season... But more on that later.
BUT... time for an update on my other stories.
Firstly, I've rewritten this story several times but this story will be finished this time. I will fight tooth and nail to get to the ending. It also helps that I've been replaying Hogwarts Legacy after 100% the game months ago. So this story takes priority as well as my Shin Godzilla fic which I've enjoyed writing so far. Unfortunately, I've lost a bit of interest in my Evil Dead fic. For now, that story will be paused but I will try to return to it soon. Secondly, I have a possible rewrite of one of my more popular stories on FanFicNet coming soon which was my first COMPLETE fanfic... I had hoped for it to be the beginning of a set of stories I would continue to write but they have always been difficult to write... until now. I'm still drafting two or three stories with the same idea but those will wait. For now. As for the story that will be rewritten, I'll give a hint...
Dedicate your heart.