Sorry for taking so long to upload! The farther we get, the harder it is to write! Here's the next chapter, though it's a short one. The next one will make up for it, I promise! DFTBA!
The next day was the time the students were obligated to play tour guides and show their guests to classes. Harry, albeit reluctantly, woke Dudley and brought him down to breakfast. Ron and Kyle walked with them, and after they were seated Hermione and Daisy joined them. Dudley was given a wide berth.
"What class will we be going to first?" Daisy asked.
Hermione answered. "I've got Ancient Runes first, and they both have Herbology. So we'll split up and then regroup for Defense Against The Dark Arts. After that it's History of Magic and after THAT is Potions. Then we all have Care of Magical Creatures and Charms, and I go from Charms to Astrology while they both have Transfiguration."
Daisy nodded in understanding. Kyle looked at Ron and said, "Repeat, please?"
"We'll tell you as the day goes on." Ron reassured him. He relaxed. Dudley wasn't even listening, instead choosing to stuff his face with scrambled eggs.
"...Right, we better be off." Harry said after they had all finished eating, except for Dudley. The muggle protested as everybody stood up, but was forced to follow or be left behind.
Hermione and Daisy waved as they left the group. The boys waved back, and then Ron and Harry led the way to the greenhouses. Professor Sprout had magically lengthened the tables to fit double the number of students.
"Right then!" She hollered down the row. "Today we'll be learning about the intoxicating effects if the herbs mallowsweet and sage! I had a more exciting lesson planned, but our guests have not been properly trained to handle it, so the herbs it is." She flicked her wand, and several dried plants levitated in front of each person. "Centaurs use these to enhance their ability to read the stars. I want each of you to do a test on the herbs first. The incantation "Jujullees" will tell you whether the herbs are dried out properly enough to burn. Try it now, go on! Muggles, you will observe your host and watch the herbs. If they start to smoke, they're too dry. If they start to fizzle, they're not dry enough."
The room was filled with choruses of "Jujullees!" and "I think it's still wet," and "Seamus, STOP!" The boy in question had somehow caught his on fire. The smoke was rising, causing everyone near him to cough and splutter.
Professor Sprout hurried over. "My goodness! Finnegan, every time? Children, out of the way! These herbs can have an... enlightening effect on those who were not raised to smell them!"
It was too late. Several of the students were blinking their eyes and staggering around in a state of confusion. It was like they were high, the effects of the herbs were making them see things. Dudley, unfortunately, was one of these children.
"Harry! The plants are talking to me!" He gasped, stumbling. Harry and Ron burst out laughing. Kyle tried to help Dudley stand, but the large boy fell over. Seamus was the same, hallucinating and speaking a strange language. Professor Sprout sighed.
"Ms. Lovegood, Mr. Longbottom, would you and your guests please take these ones up to the Hospital Wing? I'm sure the treatment won't take long. They should be fine in an hour or two." She said. Luna and Neville, and their muggle friends, corralled the hallucinating students and led them out of the room.
The class was in a fit of giggles after that. Harry was grinning widely, free of Dudley at least for an hour, and he, Ron and Kyle were joking around until Sprout glared at them all.
"Okay, no more herbs. Put on your earmuffs. We're going to be working with Mandrakes again!"
The students moaned while the muggles got an unexplained chill.
"Well, that was horrible." Kyle complained as he rubbed his ears. Harry and Ron were doing the same as they walked to their next class, Defense. Bemoaning their rotten luck, they told their pathetic story to the girls, who were already in their seats.
Hermione and Daisy exchanged glances. "Should we tell them?" Daisy whispered. Hermione shook her head. "Not yet!"
"Tell us what?" Harry asked, suspicious. He suspected it had something to do with Malfoy, who he noticed sitting a bit aways, Marcus next to him.
"Nothing!' Hermione said. "At least, nothing important. Besides, the professor's here."
It was true, Moody was just walking in. This was no imposter, of course. Mad-Eye had been their DADA professor since the start of the year. He was slightly crazy and the students enjoyed his lessons, especially the way he would always know when someone would be late. It was his false eye. It could sense it. He would suddenly grow very quite in his lesson, sneak to the back of the class, and press himself next to the door. The tardy student would rush in, flustered, with an excuse on their tongue, and he would launch hinself, tackling them, howling, "BE PREPARED!"
Today, the students who had been in Herbology first class were anticipating this for when the hospitalized students returned. There were several who had Defense next.
Marcus caught Harry's eye as Moody entered and waved. Harry waved back. Draco looked to see what the commotion was and caught Harry's eye. To Harry's (minor) horror, he saw Draco blush slightly. He wrenched his gaze away, cursing himself for feeling his own face heat up.
Moody went straight to the front board and wrote several words in chalk.
"Muggle Plants Famous For Being Poisons"
He turned around. "I'm aware that we have visitors today. Since nobody in this class should be bored, I will teach you some things that even Muggles can do to protect themselves."
He wrote some more words on the board.
"Monkshood" "Belladonna" "Nettle" "Pomegranate" "Wormwood"
As he explained the importance of each common plant, Hermione and Daisy kept kooking at each other and exchanging meaningful glances. Harry wondered what they were thinking about, while at the same time aware that Malfoy was sitting slightly hunched in his chair, as if ashamed of sonething. No one else in the class was paying him the slightest bit of odd attention except for the two girls, who gave him knowing grins behind his back and silently giggling. Hermione caught Harry giving her a pleading glance, and she mouthed, "I'll tell you after class."
Moody pointed at her. "Miss Granger. What is the significance of Monkshood in poisons?"
Hermione looked up. "In muggle lore, it was said that Monkshood combined with Belladonna could make a witch fly. However, both are incredibly poisonous plants, the oil of which is extremely deadly and could kill if it touches the skin."
"Glad you were paying attention." Moody continued his lecture.
Suddenly he stopped. The class grew fidgety, aware of what came next. Moody creeped to the back of the classroom, flattening himself against the wall. Drawing his wand, he grinned at the students, who covered their mouths to keep from laughing.
Several students raced in, Dean Thomas, his muggle guest, and Dudley. They stopped inside, apologizing for their lateness, when they realized the teacher wasn't their. Dean, being the only wizard student, froze, remembering what happened last time. He slowly turned around-
-to be met with a jet of water that hit all three of the latecomers. They hollered, trying to dry themselves off. The class exploded into laughter. Moody came up, snickering, then dried them off with a wave of his wand.
"Take your seats, children, take your seats. And remember, be prepared!" He winked with his good eyes and continued to explain the plants and functions. The three took seats in the back of the class, Dudley glaring at Harry as he passed him. Harry only grinned.
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