Fire at the roots of the plants served two purposes: firstly, it was a sure way to distract the vines and secondly, it certainly weakened the will to cause destruction and most obviously, it weakened physically. The flailing vines saw a reduction in violent movements, instead merely dancing about harmlessly; they withdrew from any student they had a grip on.

The roots? Those erupted in a small fireball no time thanks to those meddling students. They curled and quivered, much like the legs of spiders when one cast the Cruciatus Curse upon them. As the tiny inferno continued, the vines continued to retract, pulling themselves back into the plants. It was quite the spectacle, something once so threatening being reduced to nothing.

Because that was exactly what was happening. The flames quickly ate away the roots, spreading upwards to the rest of the offending plants, consuming leaves and vines until there was nothing but a smouldering pile of ash remaining.

Threat neutralised. Congratulations, Hufflepuffs.