Jack knocked two times.KNOCK...KNOCK.Jack walked up to the desk.When will classes start?

Juniper briskly knocked three times on the door of the Herbology professor’s office. She was excited to meet this professor, since she expected that she would enjoy Herbology the most of all her classes. After all, it was the class that worked with plants.

As she waited for the professor to come, Juniper considered exactly what she would say to him. ‘Hi, I’m Juniper and I like plants’? No, that was too childish for her to say. She did want to make a good impression, after all. Perhaps she could simply introduce herself as a Ravenclaw first year and say that she was looking forward to the class? Juniper bit her lip. Yes, that sounded right. At least, it sounded fairly respectable inside her head. Whether it would sound reasonable or not when she actually spoke aloud was another matter altogether, and one that she did not want to waste energy worrying about.

Juniper tapped her foot mindlessly as she waited. She did not mind waiting, for she had learned that nature required a lot of waiting. Especially with ants.

"Come in!" Erikson called out, turning down the music in his office. Ah, first students of the term.

Juniper stepped through the door into the professor’s office and did a double-take. Classical music in a room full of plants? That was unexpected. The plants themselves drew her attention, for the only plants she was well acquainted with were the plants in her mother’s garden.

She remembered that she had come to see the professor, not his plants, and looked at the tall man. He looked nice enough, at least for a professor, Juniper supposed. A slight frown creased her face as she realized that she should probably say something. And she did not know how to address him, which could be a problem. Sir. She could always call a man sir, it was true.

“Hello, sir,” Juniper said. She was fairly certain that her nervousness was not obvious in her voice. “My…my name’s Juniper Goodwin. I’m a Ravenclaw first year.” There. She had said it, and not sounded like a complete idiot. True, she may have sounded like a slightly odd eleven-year-old, but she had not sounded like a complete idiot. It was an accomplishment.

He smiled at the nervousness. It almost reminded him of Jasmine when he'd first met her. Almost. "Juniper, welcome to Hogwarts." He held out a hand. "I am Armand Erikson, as I'm sure you already know. Welcome to my office, as well."

Juniper smiled back at the professor. He did seem nice. For a professor, at least. But then he held out his hand. He was a professor, and she was supposed to shake his hand!? Juniper bit her lip and shook his hand.

“Thank you, Professor Erikson,” she said. Now what was she supposed to say. Juniper was awful at conversations with adults. She supposed that she should have thought over what to say before she came, but Juniper was bad at thinking ahead. Oh, well.

Alexandra was excited about wanting to take Herbology. Its on my list of classes that I want to take. I noticed the teacher was around here last evening. I am sorry that I missed Professor Erickson.
I'll try again later..

Armand chuckled and sat back. "A little shy are you? Well, are you looking forward to the class, then? I don't seem to get students in here otherwise."

Juniper nodded. Not at the shy comment, but at the comment about the class. She tended to ignore comments about her being shy, as she was only shy around people she did not know. “Yes, sir,” she said. “I expect Herbology to be my favorite class.” She would not mention that she doubted if any other class would compete with Herbology at all. Sitting in a classroom simply was not something she excelled at.

But why did the professor say that only students who liked herbology came to his office? Surely there were at least some students who did not like herbology but wished to do well regardless. Juniper herself had classes she was positive she would not enjoy, but she would try her hardest no matter what. "What sort of plants do first years get to work with?" she asked. She doubted first years worked with anything that was too challenging, but all plants were interesting. Except for pea plants, of course.

"I actually hold classes for all years together, though if you wish to spend extra time in the greenhouses or gardens I would request that you tend the more mundane plants. My classes very rarely focus on a particular plant unless there is something to gain from them about plant care itself." He gestured to a plant to the right of him, a glorious-looking one with golden blossoms. "This plant was used to demonstrate how to breed certain traits, for example. One last term covered plant legends and why it is important to learn them." He smiled at the golden plant fondly and fingered his wedding ring before turning back to the girl. "Aside from any advanced classes I decide to hold, I think that focusing on the basics of plant care allows students of all ages and experience work together in class and on assignments. The specifics of caring for individual plants will come along in the process."

Cassandra made her way to the to professor Erikson's office. She'd received his owl and was a little confused to why he wanted to see her... whatever it was couldn't Venefica take care of it?

She arrived at his door and gave it two firm knocks. She then sat on the bench by the door waiting for him to come call on her.

Juniper nodded. So each class was for everybody. Somehow, that did make more sense than everyone having their own class. It was simpler. And simpler was better. She looked at the golden-flowered plant. She supposed that it had been bred specially to get blossoms of its color. That was the only logical explanation she could fathom of how it could be used to demonstrate something of that sort.

“So students are allowed to… tend… plants when classes aren’t in session?” she said. That was assuring, the idea that she would be able to come work with plants whenever she had free time to do so.

He heard a knock on the door and checked something inside a drawer of his desk. He closed the drawer again and looked to Juniper. "That is correct. Moreso, I have a garden specifically for the students, if you so wish. There are quite a few planters, pots, and open spaces for plants. I keep an eye on things to make sure that the plants do not die, but for the most part it is meant to be managed by you and your peers." He sighed, wishing he could continue this conversation. "And now I am afraid there is someone waiting for me outside by my own request. I should not keep her waiting. If you would like to come back later we can continue this discussion freely."

Juniper grinned. She was excited to be able to help care for the plants. Perhaps she would even make some friends and recruit their help. Or, perhaps she would make friends while helping to care for the plants. Then Juniper realized that she had been dismissed.

“Thank you, professor,” she said. She would come back later. She was almost certain that Professor Erikson had more to say about what the students did in the greenhouses. “I’ll come back later. Good-bye.” She turned and left his office, barely noticing the girl who waited outside.

He smiled and nodded a goodbye to the girl, who dashed from his office before he could tell her to ask Cassandra to come in. Ah well. He stood and walked over to the door, opening it. "Sorry about the wait, Cassandra. Please, come in."

Sahrina opened the door and went to find a seat. Herbology sounded fun, Sahrina always liked plants.

She looked up at him. She nodded and stood up. His voice that used to feel so soft, as if rose petals showered over her skin, was now just a handsome voice.

Cassandra looked at the girl. Who in unholy hades was this little Ravenclaw girl who just walked in ahead of her. This wouldn't do.

She entered the open door and made her way to the chair in front of his desk where Sahrina was sat. "Professor Erikson has personally invited me to come in. I suggest you learn some manners and leave the professor's office, before I get angry and decide to use a banishment charm to get you out." She glared at the girl.

Erikson eyed the presumptuous young Ravenclaw who had entered his office and was relieved when Cassandra said something. A polite way to tell her to get out just hadn't been coming to mind, and he didn't want to scare off another first year like his first term. "Cassandra is right, my dear," he said, addressing the girl. "Please have a seat on the bench outside and wait your turn."

Cassandra closed the door behind the girl. She sighed... what a great way to start this meeting. She turned and leaned on the closed door. She moved a lock of hair out of her face and without meeting his eyes she said "You wanted to see me, professor?"

"Yes, actually. I'd been hoping to see you earlier than this, but you hadn't done your usual meet and greet." He chuckled and took a seat, offering her one. "I was just checking to see how things have been going. I never got the chance to speak to you at the end of last term. Not really speak to you, that is."

"Yes, well..." she said taking a seat. Her face was apathetic. "What did you want to talk to me about professor?" She crossed her legs, placed her hand n her knee and waited for the Erikson to speak.

He raised a brow. "What's with the formality? I admit I'm appreciative if you no longer have affections for me, especially as it must make your life easier, though I didn't think you'd begin to treat me as a stranger."

She felt as if she was just slapped in the face... he was appreciative that she no longer had feelings for him. She looked up in those blue eyes she had yearned to have look back at her in the same way they looked to his wife and she smiled. "I was merely am giving you the respect a professor of your stature deserves. I don't recall us ever being on a first name basis."

He sighed. "Being a professor doesn't mean I can't still be your friend. Though, I suppose if that is how you prefer it... Anyhow, I was also wondering what you thought of the... meetings last term."