Unfortunately, the winning idea from the poll hasn't come together well yet. So, to avoid keeping everyone waiting, I'm posting the runner up in the poll as this chapter. This idea was originally submitted by Abstract01 in the chapter 8 reviews on September 12, 2023. I have to admit that I didn't realize this suggestion was that old.

"Pomona?" asked Dumbledore gravely, "How long until the Mandrakes are mature and can be used? Colin's petrification makes this issue more urgent. But, well, if we have to wait, then, that's the way the ball bounces sometimes."

"Indeed," said McGonagall matter of factly, "We're holding a sixteen and the dealer's up card is a ten. We have to hit and hope to draw a five, but the reality is that we are very likely to bust."

"Now," said Flitwick firmly, "Let's use our brains here. If Pomona's answer is too long term, we need to find an alternate solution."

"I can confirm," said Sprout sadly, "That my Mandrakes will not be ready for use until June. However, Filius is right about alternate solutions."

"It is what it is, and we just have to wait," said McGonagall simply.\

"Minerva, are you EVER proactive?" challenged Flitwick, "Seriously, your attitude towards anything and everything is to just accept things as they come without making any effort to deal with things."

"This will sort itself out in the long run," replied McGonagall.

"We don't have to wait the long run," insisted Sprout, "What we need to do is look outside at where we might be to purchase or acquire Mandrakes."

"Exactly, Pomona," said Flitwick in a crystal clear voice, "Colin's petrifaction has made this discussion urgent. Pomona, to her credit, has enough humility to know she doesn't have all the solutions.

"Well," sighed Sprout in a melancholy voice, "I do have the solutions, but I would not be able to provide them in the timely manner we need. We need to Colin unpetrified as soon possible, not in June when he's missed almost all of his second year education. "

"We also need," added Flitwick wisely, "To get a supply of Mandrakes on hand at Hogwarts so that any future issues of students being petrified can be addressed immediately."

"I know," added Sinistra, "That St. Mungo's always keeps a large supply of Mandrakes. However, they may be in serious need of them and be unable to share with us."

"We should not attempt to ask St. Mungo's," agreed Kettleburn, "They need Mandrake for certain very serious medical issues. We can't deplete their supply."

"I have an idea," piped up Hooch, "I have a friend named Estella Earth who owns a large magical plant shop named Earth's Existence. She offers all kinds of plants in her shop, ranging from the trivial to the beautiful to the useful to the very valuable. I will contact her and see if there is any possibility that she can sell us some Mandrakes."

Next nanosecond, Hooch removed a piece of parchment and quill from her left hand pocket with her left hand and sat them down on Dumbledore's desk.

Hooch then wrote:

Dear Estella:

We are in a very dire situation at Hogwarts. A student named Colin Creevey has been petrified. Unfortunately, Professor Sprout's Mandrake's will not be ready for use until June. While Professor McUseless insists we can just wait it out, Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout herself strongly object to this plan. They pointed out that by that time Colin would have missed almost all of his second year of education. Furthermore, they expressed a need for Hogwarts to obtain a supply of Mandrakes so that any future instances of petrified students can be dealt with the nanosecond they happen. We don't want to make a request of St. Mungo's because of how important their Mandrakes are for their own patients. So, my question is this: Does Earth's Existence sell Mandrakes? If so, what is the price and how soon could Hogwarts some.

Sincerely:

Rolanda.

"GLIDE!" cried Hooch, and at that, an averaged sized barn owl zoomed towards her faster than a cheetah chasing its prey.

"Glide?" said Hooch urgently, "You need to take this letter to Estella right now, do you understand?"

Glide hooted and allowed Hooch to tie the letter to his leg. He gave Madam Hooch a gentle affectionate peck on her cheek before immediately going off on his mission.

A few minutes and a few nanoseconds later, Estella Earth, an average sized average heighted woman with green eyes and dark brown hair entered the room carrying Glide and Hooch's letter in her left hand and a large earthy green round box in her right hand."

"Hi," said Estella kindly without prompting, "Rolanda, I got your letter and turned it into a Portkey to bring me here. The box contains a large supply of Mandrakes. I will donate this supply to Hogwarts free of charge owing to current circumstances. And Minerva, I'm very grateful I wasn't a Gryffindor while I was at Hogwarts. You just let your students swing through the breeze and never vouch for them. Filius and Pomona, thank you for actually caring about the students."

"I," said Sprout in a businesslike voice, "Will now go to the hospital wing. Estella, may I have one of the Mandrakes?"

"Yes, Madam Sprout," replied Estella gently.

Next nanosecond, Estella set the letter and Glide down on Dumbledore's desk and used her left hand to take the lid off the box in her right hand. Setting the lid down on the desk, Estella gently lifted a mature and ready Mandrake out the box and handed it to Sprout before replacing the lid.

"Albus?" asked Sprout, "Mr. Creevey is still in the hospital wing, right?"

"Yes," confirmed Dumbledore, "I think Poppy will be relieved this situation is over."

"I will come along to the hospital wing," offered Estella, "To bring the Mandrake supply, since that is where it should be stored."

"Thank you, Estella, " replied Dumbledore.

Sprout and Estella walked to the hospital wing together.

When Madam Pomfrey saw what they were carrying, she let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank goodness," piped up Pomfrey.

Madam Pomfrey relieved Sprout of the Mandrake she was carrying.

Pomfrey carefully opened a drawer on her desk and retrieved a vial and pair of surgical scissors.

Setting the vial down on a table, Pomfrey held the Mandrake in her left hand and surgical scissors in her right hand. She carefully cut the Mandrake into very small pieces that fell into the vial.

The nanosecond all of the Mandrake had been cut into the vial, Pomfrey set the surgical scissors down on the table and ejected her wand from her right hand pocket with her right hand.

Pointing her wand into the vial, Pomfrey declared, "Planticus Boliicus!"

At that, a stream of hot water appeared in the vial and boiled over quickly. The Mandrake simmered and then melted into the boiling water, forming a ready mixture.

Walking over to the bed where Colin lay still as a statue, Pomfrey forced Colin's mouth open and poured the Mandrake Juice down his throat.

Next nanosecond, Colin stirred.

"W-what?" wondered Colin.

"You were petrified," explained Pomfrey, "You have just been given Mandrake Juice to revive you."

Their plan had been successful. Colin had been revived.

"Poppy," said Estella sharply, "Keep this supply of Mandrakes at hand in case there is another incident like this."

Pomfrey carefully took the box of Mandrakes from Estella, opened a drawer on her desk, and put it inside the drawer before shutting it again.

Hogwarts was now equipped to deal with this situation going forward.

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Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all-Michael. :) ❤️