~~Last chapter with class details. Story will pick up a little speed from here. Stay tuned and Thank You all for your support!~~
Chapter 28 - Herbology, History and the First Week
The next morning begun cold but bright. Our timetable listed double Herbology as the first thing, so the whole of Hufflepuff moved together toward the greenhouses. Jack walked beside me, rubbing his hands together for warmth. Corin and Brookshire followed behind us, still half asleep.
The path was lined with soft grass and small stones that crunched under our shoes. The greenhouses was shining in the sunlight. I could already smell soil and leaves.
Professor Sprout stood at the entrance, short and sturdy, her hair tucked under a patched hat. She beamed when she saw us coming.
"Morning, class! Come along, don't dawdle. Plants wait for no one."
Her voice was warm and felt like being welcomed into someone's garden. She waved us inside Greenhouse One, the safest one, according to her. The more dangerous plants were grown further back.
Inside, the air was humid. Rows of pots sat on long wooden tables. Some plants looked harmless, others twitched when we walked past.
Professor Sprout clapped her hands, "Today, we begin with something friendly - Flutterseed Fern. They help new students learn the basics. No danger, unless you insult them."
Brookshire frowned, "You can insult a plant?"
"You can insult anything if you try hard enough," Sprout replied cheerfully.
She showed us a small fern with leaves that quivered whenever she touched them. "These plants are shy. They react to sound and movement. Your task is simple. Repot them gently, speak softly, and do not let them drift away."
I blinked in question, "Drift?"
She patted the fern. It rose three inches into the air, floated sideways, then settled back into the pot.
Jack whispered in wonder, "Oh."
We began working in pairs. Corin and I shared a table. The fern trembled when I lift it, and a few leaves brushed against my sleeves like nervous fingers. Corin held the new pot steady.
"Easy. Don't scare it."
"I'm not," I said, though I was not sure.
The fern suddenly bobbed upward. Corin caught it before it floated too far.
Professor Sprout noticed and laughed, "Good reflexes! That one likes to wander. Hold it firmly, but kindly."
She moved down the row, giving tips and sharing stories. She told us about the time a third-year sneezed on a Flutterseed and the poor plant shot straight into the rafters. It took two hours to coax it down.
"That's from the original Herbology notes," she said proudly. "Happened years before your time."
Jack, at the next table, tried to move his fern. It immediately drifted upward and hovered over his head like a leafy hat. His partner, Gabriel, tried to grab it.
Jack muttered, "Stay. Stay. Stay."
The fern did not listen.
Sprout tapped it with her wand, and it drifted back down. "Some plants are stubborn," she explained, "much like certain students."
We finished the first part of the lesson and were covered in a thin layer of soil. Sprout sent us to wash our hands before beginning the next exercise which was identifying baby Puff-shrooms.
"These little fellows puff out harmless smoke when startled," she explained, "Harmless, unless you breathe too much of it. Then you will giggle for an hour."
Jack stared at his pot with caution, "This school is dangerous."
Corin laughed, "More fun than dangerous."
By the end of the second period, we had re-potted Flutter-seeds, identified Puff-shrooms, and heard five new stories from Professor Sprout, three of which I am sure she exaggerated, but they made the class lively.
When the bell rang, she waved us off. "Excellent work today. I'm proud of all of you."
We headed back toward the castle for lunch, smelling like soil and warm leaves.
After lunch, we went to attend History of Magic. The room was cold, and the chairs were stiff. Ghost Professor Binns floated through the blackboard halfway through attendance, as if he has forgotten it is there.
He started lecturing before everyone sat. His voice was thin and drifting, like old parchment rubbing together.
"Welcome… to the history… of magical development… in ancient times…"
Jack yawned instantly.
Twenty minutes later, half the class was blinking slowly. Corin leaned sideways, eyelids heavy. Even some Ravenclaws looked defeated.
Professor Binns described a long list of old treaties, goblin uprisings, and wizard councils. All in the same tone. No pause. No breath. No change.
Brookshire whispered, "Is this class always like this?"
"Yes," I replied, "I think so."
Binns floated through the desk as he turns. His notes fell through the wood, but he seemed not to notice.
He said, "In the year twelve-seventy-five…" and my mind slipped like it has stepped on soap. I fought hard to stay awake. It felt like trying to stare at rain for an hour without blinking.
Jack's head drooped forward. He jerked awake with a small snort. A few students giggled softly.
By the time the hour ended, my eyes ached from staying open. When Binns dismissed us, half the class stumbled into the corridor like sleepy ghosts themselves.
"I survived," Jack muttered.
"Barely," Corin said.
We headed back to the common room before dinner, all agreeing that History of Magic might be the hardest class, not because of difficulty, but because of staying conscious through it.
Friday morning began with double Charms again. Professor Flitwick wass cheerful, bright, and full of tiny bursts of excitement, as always. He taught us the basics of levitation today, though we did not get to try the spell yet.
He said, "We will build the foundation, my young scholars. Posture first, wand grip next, breath control third!"
His enthusiasm spread quickly. Jack tried to mimic his wand movements with too much energy and knocked his ink bottle over.
Flitwick helped him clean it and said kindly, "A little less bounce, Mr Young. Save it for the actual spell."
After Charms, we hurried back outside for another Herbology lesson. Professor Sprout was again cheerful and bright despite the chill.
She placed a tray of strange plants before us. They were small, round, and covered in soft fur. "These are Moon-moss Pods. They grow in cold, quiet places. When handled correctly, they light up with a silver glow."
Gabriel whispered, "They look like puffballs."
Sprout smiled, "They are puffballs. Magical ones."
We gently pressed the pods like she showed us. The one in my hand glowed a pale white. The one in Jack's hand glowed too brightly and then sputtered out.
"It dislikes you," Gabriel joked instantly.
"It's mutual," Jack replied without care.
Sprout walked by, encouraging everyone. She gave tips, corrected hand movements, and shared a short story about a Moon-moss Pod that once lit up the entire greenhouse during a surprise birthday celebration for a former student.
Her class was warm and cheerful. The plants behaved well today. No drifting, no puffing, no sneezing. Only glowing.
When the period ended, Sprout declared, "Well done, all of you. This has been a fine first week. You are settling in nicely."
We gathered our things and walked back toward the castle together.
When dinner ended, we all sat in the Hufflepuff common room and looked back on the week. We had Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defence, Herbology, and History of Magic. Only Flying classes were left, and that will come later.
Every professor was skilled. Every class felt full. I made friends not only with Jack, Corin, and Brookshire, but also with Gabriel, Louis, and others in Hufflepuff. I even noticed a boy from Ravenclaw, Sheldon Cooper, who seemed to answer questions before they are asked.
Jack said, "We survived."
Corin nodded, "And learned."
Brookshire added, "And stayed awake. Mostly."
I laughed, "It was a good week."
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End of Chapter 28 - Herbology, History and the First Week