~~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 begins cold, but bright. Our timetable says double Herbology first thing, so the whole of Hufflepuff moves together toward the greenhouses. Jack walks beside me, rubbing his hands together for warmth. Corin and Brookshire follow behind us, still half asleep.
The path is lined with soft grass and small stones that crunch under our shoes. The greenhouses shine in the sunlight. I can already smell soil, leaves, and something sharp that I hope is not dangerous.
Professor Sprout stands at the entrance, short and sturdy, her hair tucked under a patched hat. She beams when she sees us.
"Morning, class! Come along, don't dawdle. Plants wait for no one."
Her voice is warm; it feels like being welcomed into someone's garden. She waves us inside Greenhouse One, the safest one, she says. The more dangerous plants live farther back.
Inside, the air is humid. Rows of pots sit on long wooden tables. Some plants look harmless, others twitch when we walk past.
Professor Sprout claps her hands. "Today, we begin with something friendly - Flutterseed Fern. They help new students learn the basics. No danger, unless you insult them."
Brookshire frowns. "You can insult a plant?"
"You can insult anything if you try hard enough," Sprout says cheerfully.
She shows us a small fern with leaves that quiver whenever she touches 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 blink. "Drift?"
She pats the fern. It rises three inches into the air, floats sideways, then settles back into the pot.
Jack whispers, "Oh."
We begin working in pairs. Corin and I share a table. The fern trembles when I lift it, and a few leaves brush against my sleeve like nervous fingers. Corin holds the new pot steady.
"Easy," he says. "Don't scare it."
"I'm not," I say, though I'm not sure.
The fern suddenly bobs upward. Corin catches it before it floats too far.
Professor Sprout notices and laughs. "Good reflexes! That one likes to wander. Hold it firmly, but kindly."
She moves down the row, giving tips and sharing stories. She tells 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 says proudly. "Happened years before your time."
Jack, at the next table, tries to move his fern. It immediately drifts upward and hovers over his head like a leafy hat. His partner, Gabriel, tries to grab it.
Jack mutters, "Stay. Stay. Stay."
The fern does not listen.
Sprout taps it with her wand, and it drifts back down. "Some plants are stubborn," she says. "Much like certain students."
We finish the first part of the lesson covered in a thin layer of soil. Sprout sends us to wash our hands before beginning the next exercise which is identifying baby Puffshrooms.
"These little fellows puff out harmless smoke when startled," she explains. "Harmless, unless you breathe too much of it. Then you'll giggle for an hour."
Jack stares at his pot. "This school is dangerous."
Corin laughs. "More fun than dangerous."
By the end of the second period, we have repotted Flutterseeds, identified Puffshrooms, and heard five new stories from Professor Sprout, three of which I'm sure she exaggerated, but they make the class lively.
When the bell rings, she waves us off. "Excellent work today. I'm proud of all of you."
We head back toward the castle for lunch, smelling like soil and warm leaves.
-
After lunch, we go to History of Magic. The room is cold, and the chairs are stiff. Ghost Professor Binns floats through the blackboard halfway through attendance, as if he has forgotten it is there.
He starts lecturing before everyone sits. His voice is thin and drifting, like old parchment rubbing together.
"Welcome… to the history… of magical development… in ancient times…"
Jack yawns instantly.
Twenty minutes later, half the class is blinking slowly. Corin leans sideways, eyelids heavy. Even some Ravenclaws look defeated.
Professor Binns describes a long list of old treaties, goblin uprisings, and wizard councils. All in the same tone. No pause. No breath. No change.
Brookshire whispers, "Is this class always like this?"
"Yes," I say. "I think so."
Binns floats through the desk as he turns. His notes fall through the wood, but he seems not to notice.
He says, "In the year twelve-seventy-five…" and my mind slips like it has stepped on soap. I fight to stay awake. It feels like trying to stare at rain for an hour without blinking.
Jack's head droops forward. He jerks awake with a small snort. A few students giggle softly.
By the time the hour ends, my eyes ache from staying open. When Binns dismisses us, half the class stumbles into the corridor like sleepy ghosts themselves.
"I survived," Jack mutters.
"Barely," Corin says.
We head 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.
---
Friday morning begins with double Charms again. Professor Flitwick is cheerful, bright, and full of tiny bursts of excitement. He teaches us the basics of levitation today, though we do not get to try the spell yet.
He says, "We will build the foundation, my young scholars. Posture first, wand grip next, breath control third!"
His enthusiasm spreads quickly. Jack tries to mimic his wand movements with too much energy and knocks his ink bottle over.
Flitwick helps him clean it and says kindly, "A little less bounce, Mr Young. Save it for the actual spell."
After Charms, we hurry back outside for another Herbology lesson. Professor Sprout is again cheerful and bright despite the morning chill.
She places a tray of strange plants before us- small, round, and covered in soft fur. "These are Moonmoss Pods," she says. "They grow in cold, quiet places. When handled correctly, they light up with a silver glow."
Gabriel whispers, "They look like puffballs."
Sprout smiles. "They are puffballs. Magical ones."
We gently press the pods like she shows us. The one in my hand glows a pale white. The one in Jack's hand glows too brightly and then sputters out.
"It dislikes you," Gabriel says.
"It's mutual," Jack replies.
Sprout walks by, encouraging everyone. She gives tips, corrects hand movements, and shares a short story about a Moonmoss Pod that once lit up the entire greenhouse during a surprise birthday celebration for a former student.
Her class is warm and cheerful. The plants behave today. No drifting, no puffing, no sneezing. Only glowing.
When the period ends, Sprout says, "Well done, all of you. This has been a fine first week. You are settling in nicely."
We gather our things and walk toward the castle together.
---
When dinner ends, we sit in the Hufflepuff common room and look back on the week. We have had Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Defence, Herbology, and History of Magic. Only Flying is 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 seems to answer questions before they are asked.
Jack says, "We survived."
Corin nods. "And learned."
Brookshire adds, "And stayed awake. Mostly."
I laugh. "It was a good week."
End of Chapter 28 — Herbology, History and the First Week