🌱 Greenhouse No. 3 Drama
It was a Monday morning — cold, foggy, and far too early for loud screeching.
Professor Sprout clapped her hands cheerfully. "Today, class, we'll be repotting Mandrakes!"
The moment she said it, the entire class groaned — especially Ron, who was still recovering from the last time a Mandrake screamed and made his left ear twitch for a week.
Even Aarav looked mildly annoyed.
"I thought we agreed Hogwarts doesn't do horror movies before breakfast," he muttered, sipping his now lukewarm chai. A floating kettle quickly reheated it.
Neville was already sweating. "Last time, one of them tried to bite me."
Sprout handed out protective earmuffs. "Now remember, Mandrake cries are fatal to the unprotected."
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "Fatal? Or just dramatic?"
---
🎧 Aarav's Approach: No Earmuffs Needed
As the rest of the students bent over their pots and braced for chaos, Aarav just… sat down, cross-legged, bare ears, and gently placed his hand over the soil.
"Mandrake ji," he whispered in Sanskrit, "come forth in peace. No screaming, just breathing."
Hermione gasped. "Aarav! Are you mad?! Put on the—"
Too late.
A Mandrake popped out.
And instead of screaming… it blinked. Then yawned.
The room froze.
Sprout nearly dropped her pruning shears. "W-What did you just do?"
Aarav smiled. "Vedic plant meditation. Works on overdramatic flora. Trust me."
---
🧘♂️ Desi Plant Therapy
While other students struggled with shrieking roots and flying pots, Aarav lit a single stick of sandalwood incense.
The smoke curled gently through the greenhouse, calming the air.
Then, he chanted softly:
> "Shantiḥ pādāpānām. Shantiḥ jīvānām."
(Peace to the plants. Peace to the living.)
One by one, the Mandrakes in his area relaxed. Their little limbs stopped flailing. Their screeching turned into gentle sighs. One even started snoring.
"Are they… sleeping?" Dean asked, confused.
"Deep tissue-root relaxation," Aarav replied.
---
🌿 Professor Sprout's Reaction
Professor Sprout walked over slowly, mouth open in shock. "Mr. Aarav… I've studied Herbology for thirty years, and I've never seen this kind of response."
"That's because you've never offered them inner peace," Aarav said with a grin. "Mandrakes are dramatic. They want attention. But what they really need… is therapy."
Sprout looked around at the unusually calm plants. One Mandrake had even curled into a lotus pose. Another was sipping on enchanted rose water.
"I don't know whether to give you an 'O' or ask you to teach the next class."
Aarav sipped his chai. "Do both."
---
📚 Hermione Gets Curious
After class, Hermione cornered Aarav. "Okay, I need to know — how exactly did you do that?"
Aarav shrugged. "Mandrakes respond to vibration. Sanskrit chants carry ancient frequencies. Mix that with calm intent, sandalwood, and a little divine chill? Works every time."
Hermione frowned. "But that's not in Magical Botany: Volume Three."
"That's because British magical books are about control. Desi magic is about connection."
Hermione's eyes sparkled. "Teach me."
"Only if you stop interrupting my naps."
"Deal."
---
🍀 Neville's Moment
Aarav noticed Neville fumbling with his terrified Mandrake.
"Here," Aarav said, kneeling beside him. "Talk to it. Use your heart, not your fear."
Neville looked unsure. "But it hates me."
"It doesn't even know you. Try this — chant with me."
Together, they softly repeated:
> "Hari om. Shāntiḥ. Shāntiḥ. Shāntiḥ."
Neville's Mandrake blinked. Then — miracle of miracles — it wiggled happily and gave a tiny thumbs-up.
Neville looked like he might cry. "I… I didn't mess it up."
Aarav patted his shoulder. "You're not a mess-up. You just needed the right language."
---
🎶 Bonus: Mandrake Karaoke
Later that evening, Aarav returned to the greenhouse with a sitar and his floating record player.
He played soft classical tunes — Raag Malhar, Raag Bhairavi — and the Mandrakes began humming along. Their leaves swayed in rhythm, their eyes sparkled with joy.
Sprout, peeking from behind the door, wiped a tear.
"Who knew Mandrakes liked Lata Mangeshkar," she whispered.
Aarav grinned. "Everyone likes Lata ji."
---
📝 Rumors and Revelations
By next morning, the Daily Prophet had this headline:
> "Hogwarts Student Tames Mandrakes with Music and Mantras — Ministry Baffled"
Rita Skeeter wrote:
> "Some say Aarav is a plant-whisperer. Others say he's a reincarnated druid. Sources say he once made a cactus cry tears of joy."
Aarav didn't read it.
He was too busy brewing rosewater tea for the next Herbology session.
---
📜 What the Mandrakes Whispered
That night, as he left the greenhouse, one of the older Mandrakes whispered something only he could hear:
> "You… remind us of someone. A gardener of stars. A friend of Shiva."
Aarav paused, eyes distant. "Maybe. Or maybe I'm just vibing my way through the cosmos."
The Mandrake chuckled and waved goodbye.