Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Herbology (1)
[Hogwarts Greenhouses]
The second class William had been able to take in his second school year, going through Snape just starting the year was already a big challenge, but that was no impediment for William to follow his school path for the day.
Heading to the Hogwarts greenhouses was not at all complicated, there the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students had their classes.
The students congregated at the door of the greenhouses waiting for Professor Sprout, who approached with a determined step across the esplanade, accompanied by none other than Gilderoy Lockhart himself. In Professor Sprout's arms was a pile of bandages, it didn't take a genius to figure out what had been done with the bandages. Harry and Ron's adventure ended with severe damage to the box willow that Professor Sprout had to deal with, but if that wasn't enough besides dealing with the box willow she had to endure Lockhart chattering incessantly around her, it was obvious she was annoyed.
"Hey, what's up!" Lockhart greeted the group of students with a big smile "I was just explaining to Professor Sprout how to perfectly cure the box willow . But this doesn't mean that I know more than her in the area of botany, but the complete opposite! It's just that my experience in my travels can support her in her treatment..."
William couldn't help but shake his head, listening to Lockhart's arrogant tone was simply a pain in the ass, just hearing him boast about his lies was enough to cause embarrassment to others.
Greenhouse three today, boys!" It was Professor Sprout's instruction that he went on his way, she was clearly displeased.
While Harry was caught by Lockhart, William was able to position himself in a good spot inside the greenhouse, to one side of Neville, meaning he was a little further away from the golden trio, it was the important thing at the moment.
"Mandrakes" mentioned William as he looked at the plants placed on the long table.
"Do you know them William?" asked Neville nervously, you could tell from his face that he still wasn't prepared to deal with mandrakes.
"I can tell by your face how terrifying these plants are, these are still babies and although their scream can cause damage to eardrums it is not totally lethal unlike their counterpart when mature. The screams of these plants can be compared to that of a Banshee, amazing don't you think?"
William explained calmly to the nervous Neville, but this only worsened the state of the poor boy who looked at the mandrakes as if they were the most disgusting being in the world.
"Still you have nothing to fear" William put his hand on one of the leaves near the mandrake's crown "there is a way to extract a baby mandrake without it screaming, at this stage it is still sensitive all around, but more sensitive on this leaf it only takes a tug to make the mandrake go to sleep for a while."
"A-are you sure it works?" asked Neville.
"It's a trick I learned while I was in Castelobruxo, my guardian was pretty smart and explained a lot of things to me that she figured out on her own, but it's best to show it to you in practice."
It was at that very moment that the door to the greenhouse opened, revealing a witch with short, gray, wavy hair. With clothes full of patches and tattered in several places, covered lightly with dirt, that was the head of Hufflepuff house, Professor Pomona Sprout.
"Good morning everyone" she greeted with clear enthusiasm as most of the students chatted among themselves, then she repeated once again with a more intense tone to get attention "Good morning!"
"Good morning Professor Sprout" said the students in unison responding to the teacher's greeting.
"Welcome to greenhouse three, second year students, gather round everyone" she motioned with her hands for everyone to approach the long central table that ran the length of the greenhouse, replete with planters, two for each student, one with a mandrake and one empty. All the students stepped forward until they were only inches from the table.
"Today we are going to replant mandrakes can anyone tell me the properties of mandrake root?"
At the teacher's question as expected it was Hermione who raised her hand for attention "Miss Granger" Professor Sprout called her name.
"Mandragula or mandrake is a very potent restorative" she used a tone that gave the impression, as usual, that she had swallowed the textbook "It is used to return people who have been transformed or enchanted to their natural state."
"Excellent, ten points for Gryffindor!" said Professor Sprout contentedly "Mandrake is an essential part in many antidotes. But, however, it is also dangerous Who can say why?"
Professor Sprout's eyes swept the entire room in less than a second, it was obvious Hermione would raise her hand but she wanted to see someone else actively participate in the class, then she could see it, the student she could least expect at the moment. Neville longbottom raised his hand above his own head.
"Longbottom," she called, ignoring Hermione.
The boy looked to William at his side who with a wave of his hand caused him to raise his arm falling for Professor Sprout's call,
"The cry of a mandrake can be lacking in some cases and can cause death if care is not taken when handling it" Neville replied sheepishly but nothing teasing to the young boy.
"Excellent Longbottom, ten more points for Gryffindor!" she exclaimed loudly raising the little boy's happiness a little.
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