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**Wilber Winterbottom** · #1 (**permalink**) 12-27-2022, 12:45 AM

Graphic credit: sweetpinkpixie

Lying off the path between Hogwarts castle and the Greenhouses lays a quaint little garden for students and staff alike to enjoy. Like many magical things, it seems smaller on the outside than it is on the inside. It's surrounded by yew hedges which stretch all around the boundaries, opening into one arch-like opening in the center of one wall.

Once inside, winding paths will take you through many different habitats containing both local and cultivated plants, each growing in its season. There's the Meadow, with grasses, flowers, and the pollinator garden, which at the right times of the year is filled with butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. The Woodland area has all sorts of raised wooden walkways and platforms which let you reach right up into the shady tree canopies. A boardwalk maze made of split logs threads throughout the Mars, which is filled with its own mysterious plants growing on the shoreline and in the murky water. And then there are the water gardens, with fountains, waterfalls, and several convenient benches in case you get tired.

Among the many small gardens dotted here and there is the Culinary Garden, which is filled with various edible and medicinal plants, each with its own little plaque describing what it is and what it's used for. Don't be afraid to take a sample of something that strikes your fancy--there's nothing dangerous growing here. And then there's the Sensory Garden, with sections of plants designed to tickle your five senses--sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Go ahead and take a sniff, touch a petal, or break off a leaf to taste--that's what this garden is for.

Some grassy, shady areas here and there along the boundary line are just perfect for a rest, a picnic, or to sit and catch up on your reading. Feel free to enjoy this fascinating space in whatever way you wish! (without breaking any school rules, of course).

*Samia* · 05-11-2026, 11:45 AM

Lorna had not meant to wander this far.

That had been true about at least six different places in Hogwarts already.

At some point after lunch, she’d taken a wrong turn trying to find a staircase she swore had been there five minutes earlier, followed a group of students who looked confident enough to trust, lost them almost immediately, and somehow ended up outside with sunlight warming her shoulders and absolutely no idea how long she’d been walking.

Honestly?

Best possible outcome.

The garden opened up slowly around her, bigger than it had any right to be, all winding paths and shifting pockets of green that made the whole place feel half hidden even while standing in the middle of it. Every turn looked like it led into somewhere else entirely. It felt less like a school garden and more like someone had accidentally charmed several different worlds together.

Lorna loved it instantly.

“Oh, how lovely,” she said to herself, already drifting off the main path without hesitation. Her tie hung loose already, sleeves rolled lazily to her elbows despite the mild weather, blonde hair braided over one shoulder with pieces escaping in the humidity. Bracelets shifted softly against her wrist every time she reached out to touch something, which was often.

Because apparently this garden encouraged that.

The sensory section alone nearly took her out.

“They just let people eat leaves here?” she said under her breath, deeply entertained by the concept as she leaned down to read another tiny plaque. “That feels fake.”

Kimothy · 05-12-2026, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samia

Lorna had not meant to wander this far.

That had been true about at least six different places in Hogwarts already.

At some point after lunch, she’d taken a wrong turn trying to find a staircase she swore had been there five minutes earlier, followed a group of students who looked confident enough to trust, lost them almost immediately, and somehow ended up outside with sunlight warming her shoulders and absolutely no idea how long she’d been walking.

Honestly?

Best possible outcome.

The garden opened up slowly around her, bigger than it had any right to be, all winding paths and shifting pockets of green that made the whole place feel half hidden even while standing in the middle of it. Every turn looked like it led into somewhere else entirely. It felt less like a school garden and more like someone had accidentally charmed several different worlds together.

Lorna loved it instantly.

“Oh, how lovely,” she said to herself, already drifting off the main path without hesitation. Her tie hung loose already, sleeves rolled lazily to her elbows despite the mild weather, blonde hair braided over one shoulder with pieces escaping in the humidity. Bracelets shifted softly against her wrist every time she reached out to touch something, which was often.

Because apparently this garden encouraged that.

The sensory section alone nearly took her out.

“They just let people eat leaves here?” she said under her breath, deeply entertained by the concept as she leaned down to read another tiny plaque. “That feels fake.”

As long as the winter wasn't harsh enough to smother everyone in snow or to cause frostbite, it was always a safe assumption to make that Miles Andrew Charlton would be out in the grounds. The grounds, in general, were his favourite place in school, but he gravitated often to the garden or the greenhouses. Miles was more than a lover of nature and greenery - he equally had a fascination for bugs.

Of course, he did.

It didn't matter that his clothes got soiled in the process. There's a reason why laundry was a manmade concept. Some specks of dirt on his white buttoned shirt that was part of his uniform wouldn't discourage him. At the moment, he was there, behind a cluster of bushes and tall grass, bent down on his knees as he carefully placed the pesky caterpillars nomming on some leaves into a jar. He'd gotten better with his non-verbal levitating charm, which he was using to facilitate the transfer. The caterpillars would have to be rehomed.

Although he was at present preoccupied, Miles was aware when he wasn't alone anymore. He could hear footsteps and voices. Well, a voice, that is. He made sure to drop his levitating caterpillar into the jar before looking up to observe his fellow garden visitor. He was a pair of blue eyes and a headful of messy brown hair floating over the bushes.

He watched her wander near the sensory section. Admittedly, Miles didn't visit that part of the garden often. And did the girl just call it fake? Surprised by her outspokenness, the Ravenclaw blinked and pondered a moment, finding himself even more curious. "You could give it a try." Miles finally spoke, his voice almost soft and tentative. Had he ever tried the leaves in the sensory section? No. Was he interested in the authenticity of its claim? Yes.

*Samia* · 05-30-2026, 07:33 AM

Lorna had just finished deciding that Hogwarts might secretly be designed to keep people pleasantly lost forever when a voice drifted out from somewhere inside the greenery.

She startled, not wildly so - just enough that the leaf she'd been examining nearly escaped her fingers. Her head snapped up. For a brief second, all she could see was a pair of blue eyes and a mess of brown hair floating above a bush.

Lorna blinked.

Then blinked again.

"...Merlin." A grin immediately tugged at her mouth. "I thought the garden was talking to me." Without any real concern whatsoever, she wandered closer, curiosity winning instantly. As the rest of him gradually appeared from behind the foliage, she caught sight of the jar in his hands and the collection of caterpillars inside.

"Oh."

Her attention abandoned the mysterious boy entirely. "Caterpillars." She crouched down a little to get a better look, blonde braid slipping over her shoulder. "Are they prisoners?" she asked seriously, "Or is this a relocation program?"

Because those felt like very different things.

Still crouched, she finally remembered the mint leaf she'd been holding and glanced between it and him. And just as easily, she popped the leaf into her mouth. "....hmmm, tastes like mint"

Kimothy · 06-04-2026, 06:15 PM

Right. Miles probably should have proceeded more cautiously. The girl probably thought she was alone. That was his fault, sorry.

And he probably also looked like a lost wild boy among the foliage, dirty browns powdered his white shirt from the ground. Most people would find this a strange way to meet anyone, but this didn't bother him one bit. "Sorry to interrupt," he replied, a small crooked smile on his face, sheepish. "Talking plants would be the least strange thing at Hogwarts." Anything was possible. Sometimes the castle would surprise him, too, and he'd been here for the previous four years.

His attention went back down to his jar of caterpillars, now that the blond had pointed it out to him. "Yes." A confirmation that they were indeed caterpillars. He wiggled his nose a bit. "Relocation. They were eating up the bramble leaves." Miles would never consider himself a warden of imprisoned bugs. He did keep a few of them sometimes, but never for too long. He was currently housing a newly cocooned butterfly in his dorm and would release it once it's spread its wings... which would be any time soon.

Miles watched her and the leaf between her fingers, waiting, expecting. Would she really eat it? It would be irresponsible of the staff to leave inedible plants in the sensory garden, so he wasn't worried about the leaf being poisonous. Once the girl did, he observed her some more - his bright blue eyes filled with curiosity. "Like... mint toothpaste?"

*Samia* · 06-05-2026, 04:57 AM

Lorna looked between him and the jar again, as if carefully evaluating whether he was lying or not. Eventually she nodded. “Okay, good. Because if you'd said prisoners, I was going to have some follow-up questions.” Her eyes drifted back to the caterpillars, watching them inch slowly over one another.

“Do they know they're being relocated?” The question was asked with complete sincerity. “Or is this one of those situations where they wake up one day and suddenly everything's different?”

She tilted her head.

“New leaves. New surroundings. New everything.” A small laugh escaped her. “Because if so, tell them I can relate” There was a flicker of something thoughtful there before it disappeared just as quickly.

The mint leaf had barely disappeared before he asked his own question, and Lorna immediately laughed. “Not toothpaste mint.” That would've been tragic. She pushed herself upright from her crouch, brushing a little dirt from her knees.

“Actual mint.” she paused thoughtfully. “Though now that you've said toothpaste, I can't stop thinking about toothpaste.”

Then her gaze caught on the dirt streaked across his uniform, the bushes behind him, the jar of caterpillars, and the general fact that he looked perfectly at home kneeling in a patch of greenery talking about insect relocation programs.

Lorna smiled.

“You do this a lot, don't you?” She gestured vaguely at all of him. “The bug collecting. The bush lurking.” She glanced again toward the caterpillars. “The highly organized insect migration efforts.” Her grin widened. “Because you seem very comfortable for someone who emerged from a hedge five minutes ago.”

Kimothy · 06-06-2026, 10:24 AM

Miles can understand that the optics weren't that good. He could easily be ripping the insects away from their homes. He was, at least, grateful to not be subject to an intensive cross examination, which would have been expected but uncomfortable. "I assure that I am following a bug-friendly protocol here." Finding one more caterpillar nomming on a hidden leaf - caught you, Mr. Bug - he levitates said insect towards his jar with another nonverbal charm and plops it into his pile of critters.

But she does raise an excellent question. "I told them earlier. Whether or not they understood me is a different thing, probably," Miles replied with a crooked half smile. He wishes there was a way to communicate with creatures, but he did the best thing he could think of in terms of consent. "It won't be too drastic a change for them. At least, I hope." He'd found a bunch of brambles bordering the Forbidden Forest before, so his plan was to relocate them there.

It would be a different plant, sure, but it will still be bramble. Some familiarity is always helpful.

Miles chuckled softly at her sentiment, and he wiggled his nose again. "You can tell them yourself. They're right here." Carefully, he gets on his knees and sits up better, moving the jar closer to the girl. "Maybe they could use some words of encouragement. Or bravery." The Ravenclaw had honestly not caught the girl's name before - sometimes his brain floated around in class, could you really blame him? - but he was observant. He could tell she was a transfer. He'd been here since his first year, so any new addition to the classroom was easily spotted, and he'd only noticed her this term during a select joint Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff classes.

"Would you say that mint toothpaste is anything like the real mint leaf? Or are we victims of false advertising?" Miles asked, all curious, his eyes would show it. There was a range of mint leaves too. There's peppermint and spearmint, and perhaps more. And if toothpaste manufacturers said they sold spearmint flavour, how accurate were their claims?

Oh, and he'd been caught red-handed. Read like a book with bull's eye precision. "I like it here, and in the greenhouses. The castle gets stuffy." And he was a big plant and insect nerd, this one, if that hadn't already been established. He wasn't going to deny anything she said, because she was correct.

Miles finds himself wanting to ask, though. "How are you finding Hogwarts so far?" Her open admission about her new everything from earlier didn't escape his attention.

WhittyBitty · 06-07-2026, 10:10 PM

It didn't matter that it was now December and the grounds was covered with a thick blanket of snow, Aurora had wanted to come outside and spend some time in the discovery garden. She could still enjoy it there, even though it wouldn't be until spring that a lot of the plants would recrudesce. That was always an exciting time, and one of her favourite things about the spring; so many things woke up after hibernating all winter.

Oreo snuggled into her jacket, she made her way over towards one of the more grassy areas. If she had brought food, it would have been the perfect place for a picnic. Her mind instantly wandered to the time that she, Ary, and Bry had a winter picnic at the great lake. It had been a great day. One of the best times she had at the lake along with when she had met Bartholomew Henry and became his friend.

Reaching into her bag, Aurora pulled out a blanket and laid it out on the snow. After performing a warming charm, she set Oreo down and got comfortable herself. She put on the flower crown she had made earlier, hoping that it wouldn't clash with her red hair.

Reaching into her bag again, she took out a toy for Oreo and a book for herself. She wasn't worried about her cat wandering off at any point. He would be happy with his toy for a while. Besides, he was very good and liked to stay near her.

sweetpinkpixie · 06-10-2026, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhittyBitty

It didn't matter that it was now December and the grounds was covered with a thick blanket of snow, Aurora had wanted to come outside and spend some time in the discovery garden. She could still enjoy it there, even though it wouldn't be until spring that a lot of the plants would recrudesce. That was always an exciting time, and one of her favourite things about the spring; so many things woke up after hibernating all winter.

Oreo snuggled into her jacket, she made her way over towards one of the more grassy areas. If she had brought food, it would have been the perfect place for a picnic. Her mind instantly wandered to the time that she, Ary, and Bry had a winter picnic at the great lake. It had been a great day. One of the best times she had at the lake along with when she had met Bartholomew Henry and became his friend.

Reaching into her bag, Aurora pulled out a blanket and laid it out on the snow. After performing a warming charm, she set Oreo down and got comfortable herself. She put on the flower crown she had made earlier, hoping that it wouldn't clash with her red hair.

Reaching into her bag again, she took out a toy for Oreo and a book for herself. She wasn't worried about her cat wandering off at any point. He would be happy with his toy for a while. Besides, he was very good and liked to stay near her.

The Discovery Garden had become one of the few places Nyle could reliably expect a degree of solitude. Not complete solitude, of course. Hogwarts did not particularly believe in such things as complete solitude ― which was, perhaps, a good thing in the sixth year's case. The Discovery Garden provided enough of it that he could usually occupy a quiet corner amongst the flower beds with the winter-hardened greenery of it without needing to think too much about other people.

The snow muffled much of the usual castle noise as he followed one of the winding paths deeper into the garden, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. A few dried seed heads protruded stubbornly from the frost-covered earth, and his attention drifted instinctively toward them as he walked. "Those should probably be harvested before the next heavy snowfall," he mumbled to himself, the thought occupied him right up until a familiar flash of red hair appeared across the garden.

His stomach promptly attempted to relocate itself.

For a brief, absurd moment, he considered the possibility that if he stood perfectly still she might somehow fail to notice a six-foot-something Hufflepuff standing in the middle of a snowy path. That his sturdy silhouette and dark robes would blend in to the expanse of white around him.

It was not a particularly strong plan... and the alternative was equally difficult.

It had been a... while.

His gaze flicked briefly toward another path as retreating looked increasingly attractive. Constant vigilance, he thought dryly. A philosophy that seemed considerably less useful when the danger in question was a conversation.

Carefully, Nyle began to pivot on his heel with every intention of quietly taking the long route around the garden when his shin collided squarely with the corner of a wooden planter. The resulting clatter ― and strangled yelp ― severed the winter quiet like a hot knife through butter. He immediately doubled over, one hand flying to the throbbing area while the planter rattled loudly against its metal supports from the impact.

For several long seconds he simply stood there in silent anguish, eyes squeezed shut as he reconsidered every life choice that had led him to this exact moment.

So much for stealth.

His lengthy form straightened slowly, lifting his gaze toward Aurora ― red hair and living warmth against the winter landscape, a poppy against a blanket of snow.

WhittyBitty · Today, 07:42 AM

After watching Oreo for a few moments, Aurora turned her attention to her book.

She found peace and comfort reading about nature, and it would help her with her upcoming NEWTs. Currently she was reading about sylvan fungi, and naturally her thoughts turned to Nyle. She was met with the now familiar ache that brought. Since the start of term she hadn’t really spoken to him at all. She really missed him. And was very worried. She knew he was being reclusive, which meant something was wrong, but she was never able to check in with him to see what the issue was. So she ended up doing what she tended to in these situations; she tried to keep her mind on other things. To find distractions.

Like plants.

Sighing, she turned the page and was about to get back her reading when she heard a yelp accompanied by a really loud noise.

It felt like she had manifested him. There he was, looking right at her. Aurora was ecstatic to see him, but at the moment her concern was taking over. Clearly Nyle had hit one of the planters, they were really solid, so it would definitely hurt to hit one. She immediately got up, knowing that Oreo would follow and quickly made her way over to him.

”Nyle, are you okay???”

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