After Potions, the next class for second year students at Skyward School of Practical Sorcery on Wednesday mornings was Herbology.

Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah were all particularly looking forward to Herbology because Professor Sprout was one of the very few carry over teachers from Hogwarts and she had a great relationship with the Yellow Quartet.

She'd been a good Head of House to them when they were Hufflepuffs during their super brief stint as Hogwarts students and she'd babysat for them a few times at Abbott Manor when Heather had had to go out to do things and other adults were not yet living there.

Even recently, Professor Sprout had dropped in at Abbott Manor a few times over the summer to visit them and check in on them.

Professor Sprout was also a highly qualified Herbology teacher and their first second year lesson in Herbology was a great demonstration of why.

"Before we get started, " Professor Sprout addressed the second year students once they'd all entered the greenhouse, (At Skyward School of Practical Sorcery there was only greenhouse for Herbology classes and it was quite large), "I should tell you that not all plants are useful, beautiful, or irrelevant. Some are harmful or undesirable. There are some cases in which the best thing to do to a plant is to get rid of it. We are going to be dealing with one such plant today. Kindly follow me towards the back of the greenhouse."

They all walked to the very back of the greenhouse and Professor Sprout pointed to some brown rooted bushes with yellow thorns and spikes in them.

"So, Miss Patil?" Professor Sprout asked Parvati, "Do you know what these plants are called?"

"They are called spiky bushes," interjected Hermione Granger, "They're bushes with-"

"Miss Granger, I didn't ask you, I asked Miss Patil, " said Professor Sprout in an unusually stern voice, "If I meant it to be an open question for anyone to answer, then I would not have called on anyone specifically. If you speak out of turn again, it will mean detention. The very reason I DIDN'T choose you is because you were always the one to answer all the questions in my classes at Hogwarts last year. I realized upon reflecting back on the school year when it ended last year that I made a mistake in allowing you to dominate the questions. My job as Herbology teacher is to make sure ALL my students know and learn about magical plants. Having one student dominate the questions is also unhealthy as it can lead resentment towards the one doing all the answering from the other students, who may feel they never get a chance to shine."

Amy suddenly remembered when Harry had pulled her aside and given her this same speech after the introduction to the very first lesson they ever had at Abbott Manor, the Boggart lesson. Amy gave Harry a smile and nod, and Harry, knowing what Amy was acknowledging returned the smile and nod.

A very offended look come onto Hermione's face and she glared at Professor Sprout but a resolute Professor Sprout responded to this by saying bluntly, "The world does not revolve around you, Miss Granger."

There was a short pause and then Professor Sprout turned back to Parvati.

"Miss Patil, do you know what these plants are called and why?"

"They are called Spiky Bushes because they shoot their spikes at humans close to them," answered Parvati.

"Correct, Miss Patil, " replied Professor Sprout happily, "Mr. Longbottom, do you know how to destroy Spiky Bushes?"

Neville, whose favorite subject was Herbology, beamed at being called on by Professor Sprout.

"Spiky Bushes can be destroyed with the fire creating spell "Incendio!" said Neville eagerly and knowledgeably.

"Exactly, Mr. Longbottom, " responded Professor Sprout warmly, "Well, you did get an O in my class at Hogwarts last year."

"Herbology is both my best and favorite subject, " said Neville matter of factly.

Professor Sprout burst into a wide smile upon hearing this and nodded at Neville.

"And, " inquired Professor Sprout, "Mr. Macmillan, can you explain to us why it is better to destroy Spiky Bushes from a distance rather than up close?"

"The spikes will retaliate when the plant is attacked, and whomever is close nearby will undoubtedly be hit, " piped up Ernie pompously.

"Indeed, Mr. Macmillian, " said Professor Sprout cheerfully.

"Ae we going to be destroying them then?" mused Seamus Finnigan aloud.

"Yes," declared Professor Sprout, "Everybody stand at least a hundred feet back of the Spiky Bushes and wands out."

Everybody stood at least a hundred feet away from the Spiky Bushes and took out his or her wand and held it at the ready.

"One the count of three, perform Incendio!" instructed Professor Sprout, "One, two, three."

At that precise nanosecond, everybody pointed his or her wand at one of the Spiky Bushes.

"INCENDIO!" cried everyone.

Sure enough, when the Spiky Bushes went aflame many spikes shot out of them but because they were all standing sufficiently far back, no one got hit.

To her pleasure, Professor Sprout noticed in the aftermath of their Incendio spells that the Spiky Buhses were all reduced to ash, which she vanished with her own wand.

"What's the point of getting rid of them though?" questioned Justin Finch Fletchley, "They weren't hurting us?"

"They can shoot their spikes at people at any time without warning, " explained Professor Sprout patiently, "It's best to get rid of them when you realize you have them. The ONLY reason I didn't destroy this set when I found them was because I was saving them to teach my second years about them."

"It was a good lesson to start off our second year, " said Hannah approvingly. "Simple and age-appropriate while being something worth learning."

"it's also good that Professor Sprout recognizes that we need to know that some plants are bad and how to cope with the bad plants, " supplied Susan.

"Another way in which Professor Sprout really shined in this lesson was NOT letting Hermione take over the questions and admitting that she had been wrong to do so last year, " added Amy

"Professor Sprout is one teacher I'm glad was carried over from Hogwarts, " said Harry happily, "She knows her Herbology well."

As with Potions, Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah walked out of Herbology together at the end of the class happy with the lesson they'd just had.

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