"Ah—warm sunlight, gentle breeze, and fresh new seedlings…"
Professor Sprout tilted her head slightly, her round face bright with genuine joy as she spoke.
Instantly, every first-year wizard's attention snapped toward the short, plump witch standing at the front of Greenhouse One. Her robes were smudged with soil, her patched hat sat slightly askew, and stray strands of hair fluttered with her movements.
"I heard," Michael whispered conspiratorially beside Sean,
"Professor Sprout is one of the most beloved teachers at Hogwarts.
She's also Head of Hufflepuff. If you ever have a problem, going to her is never a bad idea."
The air carried the thick, earthy scent of damp soil and fertilizer, mixed with a strong fragrance of flowers. Professor Sprout raised her wand and continued warmly:
"Welcome, everyone, to Herbology.
Here, we cultivate magical plants and fungi—and learn how to use them properly."
She tapped one of the plump pink pods with her fingertip—
and a shiny bean popped out, bounced off the table, and instantly bloomed into a vivid flower.
A collective gasp rippled through the greenhouse.
"Is that… magic?" Michael breathed, eyes wide.
Then he nudged Sean abruptly. "Sean, you know—?"
"A magical plant called Bubotubers. Page sixty-two of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
They grow plump pink pods filled with sparkling beans.
If the beans touch a solid surface, they bloom immediately."
Anthony and Terry leaned in at once, frantically scribbling notes.
Michael cleared his throat and mumbled:
"Hmph. Yes. Exactly what I was going to say."
Professor Sprout's teaching went much the same as Sean's privately learned lessons.
But one thing stood out—in moments when no one volunteered answers, she always turned to Sean.
"Does anyone know what this plant is?
Hm… yes, you, Mr. Green."
"Dittany. A plant with powerful healing and restorative magical properties."
"Correct. One point to Ravenclaw.
And can anyone tell me how to process Dittany?
No? Very well—Mr. Green?"
"Distilled as an essence, it performs best; though eaten fresh, it can still heal shallow wounds."
"Perfect answer. Another point to Ravenclaw.
Final question—its use?
How should it be applied to treat a werewolf bite?
Think carefully, my sprouts—remember your Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson!"
But unfortunately she miscalculated:
no one had absorbed anything in Defence class,
and Professor Quirrell had stuttered through barely half a lesson.
"Oh dear… what a pity. Then—"
"Wizards once used a mixture of Dittany and powdered silver to treat werewolf bites, preventing victims from dying of blood loss."
Sean's voice was quiet and steady—and so fluent it hurt to hear.
"Flawless answer. Two points to Ravenclaw!"
Professor Sprout glanced at the drooping shoulders around the greenhouse,
but her warmth didn't fade. With undiminished enthusiasm, she led everyone through hands-on processing of the herb.
"Sean… you're not secretly Professor Sprout's long-lost nephew or something, right?"
Michael leaned in dramatically to whisper.
Sean shook his head.
"So you're definitely her private favori—mmmph—!!"
Anthony slapped a hand over Michael's mouth just in time.
Deprived of oxygen for a moment, Michael's sanity visibly rebooted.
He clasped his hands together apologetically.
Terrible imagination, Sean thought, wordlessly shaking his head.
After teaching Dittany preparation, Professor Sprout added more instruction on handling dried nettles.
Sean paused thoughtfully.
Perhaps the magical curriculum wasn't as chaotic as he once feared.
Defense Against the Dark Arts covered treating werewolf bites.
Herbology taught not only Dittany's healing properties, but also the handling and recognition of dried nettles—
both essential ingredients for brewing Boil-Cure Potion.
Looking at it this way… Hogwarts' structure was meticulously designed.
Sean continued processing herbs with careful precision.
[You have processed Dittany to apprentice standard — Proficiency +1]
[+1]
[+1]
Although still at an apprentice level, his technique far surpassed the other first-years—
much like the difference between him and Bruce had been when they first met.
After class, Professor Sprout assigned an open-ended task on distinguishing mature Dittany,
and as the students packed up, she even winked playfully at Sean.
Outside the greenhouse corridor
Sean paused beside a suit of armor.
In a portrait nearby, a lady in a formal gown smiled and nodded politely.
Sean returned the gesture, then opened his panel:
[Herbology Insight: Unlocked soon (80 / 90)]
He had gained 21 points from processing Dittany.
[Apprentice-level Herbology Insight: Can unlock Herbology Apprentice title]
With another Herbology class coming that afternoon, he would surely reach it.
And his Herbology talent?
He already knew what it would be.
Like checking an impossible exam—
the moment the paper lands in your hand, you already know the result.
Well… maybe there was a sliver of suspense.
Perhaps he wasn't white-rank trash, maybe he'd be green at least.
But from observing the greenhouse, he'd realized something else entirely:
Hogwarts was rich. Very rich.
And its professors were even wealthier than they looked.
Some dried nettles in the shade had already passed their prime, overdue to be processed—
yet no one had touched them. They sat unattended beneath a giant-leafed plant,
like lost umbrellas waiting for collection.
Sean suspected they were meant for sale,
and he vaguely recalled Bruce mentioning that Hufflepuffs handled the selling.
Perhaps he could ask Bruce who was in charge,
and maybe buy some early.
They would be expensive—
but nothing comes without cost.
The thought energized him.
He took out his notebook instinctively—
then shoved his quick-notes quill back away.
His footsteps to the Great Hall quickened.
But before he reached it, Justin intercepted him—wearing an expression full of mystery.
"Oh—Sean, I know. Not everything, just a little.
I swear I didn't read more than I should—but as it happens… I can help."
Justin's words made absolutely no sense to Sean.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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