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*Holmesian Feline* · #1 (**permalink**) 04-03-2025, 02:48 AM

The Greenhouses of Hogwarts are a collaborative wonder straddling the architecture of the castle and the great outdoors that surround it. Many plants had found permanent residence within, added by various professors over the years especially after the renovations several years back. Recently an additional two greenhouses have been uncovered and repaired, allowing Professor Cole to adjust the space to his own liking to allow for more specialized uses.

OOC: Here's a basic guide of what you might find in each greenhouse; please remember to play realistically based on your character's age and skill level!
Credit for the layout of the Greenhouses go to previous Herbology Professors: BanaBatGirl, kayquilz, Shanners, Samia, and MadAlice…with a couple of tweaks

Greenhouse 1 – Harmless Plants & Beginner Classroom

Any and all mundane flowers
Bouncing Bulbs
Fanged Geraniums
Flutterbies
Honking Daffodils
Trilling Tulips
Puffapods
Color Changing Roses

Greenhouse 2 – Plants Commonly Used for Potions

Abyssinian Shrivelfigs
Bubotubers
Chinese Chomping Cabbage
Gurdyroot
Various Mundane Herbs & Fungi

Greenhouse 3 – Intermediate Classroom

Flesh-Eating Fir
Mandrakes
Mimbulus Mimbletonia
Screechsnap
Stubby Purple Coral
Gravity Resistant Trees

Greenhouse 4 – Restricted (Do Not Enter Without Permission!)

Devil's Snare
Flitterbloom
Venomous Tentacula
Numerous Mundane "Carnivorous" Plants/Vines

Greenhouse 5 – NEWT Classroom

Greenhouse 6 – Student Projects

Greenhouse 7 – Storage and Overflow

Professor Cole’s Office - Thread can be found here

sweetpinkpixie · 05-07-2025, 06:41 AM

It was broad daylight, which was both a relief and a curse. On the one hand, it meant there was no risk of detention-worthy rule-breaking and the crisp autumn air this time of day was nothing short of perfection. On the other, Iris couldn’t exactly blame poor lighting for how obvious it probably was that she had put actual thought into her outfit. Not overly done, but… efforted. Hair brushed. Favorite cardigan. Clean boots. The good satchel. Just in case. Glasses most definitely on.

JT had asked if she wanted to walk with him to Greenhouse Seven after lunch. It was a casual question and yet vague enough to drive her to mental exhaustion before she even made it down the slope from the castle. She didn’t know why they were going. That wasn’t unusual for him, she supposed, but Greenhouse Seven wasn’t typically a place one just popped into without reason. Still, she said yes.

And now here they were, heading across the gravel path that led to the Herbology greenhouses, the glass domes glinting in the midday sun. Iris matched her pace to his, feeling the sway of her satchel bumping lightly at her hip and resisting the urge to pick at the sleeve of her jumper. Her thoughts had spiraled all morning, improbable Victorian daydreams crashing into botanical facts and more reasonable guesses. Maybe he needed help identifying a leaf. Maybe he lost something. Maybe he needed a spade or pruners. Maybe it had absolutely nothing to do with her and she was just the closest person available when the idea struck. Maybe Professor Cole had asked him to do something and JT just wanted some moral support. She cast him a sideways glance (just a quick one, trying not to be obvious) and then cleared her throat.

"So," she said, tone light and arms swinging loosely at her sides ― doing the absolute most not to pick at any hems, "you going to tell me what we’re walking into? Or is this one of those mysterious, trust-the-process sort of excursions?"

Her smile flickered as she spoke, just enough to hide the tiny war waging between curiosity and self-consciousness in her chest. The greenhouse loomed ahead and suddenly she was wondering if she should have packed her dragonhide gloves n her satchel as well.

*Nordic Witch* · 05-08-2025, 03:58 PM

It was after lunch, and the weather was brisk, but not unpleast for autumn. JT had noticed that Iris had taken extra care with her appearance, and outfit which he thought was cute, but maybe not very suitable for what they were doing in greenhouse 7. JT was immensly glad that Iris was coming with him to the cleaning out task he had signed himself up for without much thought.

"You look very cute Iris," JT murmured as they walked across the gravel path towards the greenhouses and the glass domes sparkling in the midday sun. Adjusting the band of his satchel that was scratching at his neck uncomfortably with that done he turned his gaze to Iris with gratitude. "Thanks for being on my side after the feast fiasco with my new rat. I thought Calliope was going to drop it, but clearly not..." Sometimes trying to understand girls was just exhausting.

Reaching out to grab Iris left hand with his right JT said truthfully "I'm not sure exactly what we are walking into per say. I just volunteered to clean out the storage, and overflowing plants in greenhouse 7, and thought it'd be nice to do it together with you. I hope you have your dragonhide gloves with you? I don't know if any of the plants in there bites..." At least Iris could take an apology from her hopefull boyfriend to be if things turned sideways.

sweetpinkpixie · 05-12-2025, 08:43 AM

She hadn’t expected that. She really should have considering how forthright he always was with his words and compliments, and yet she was left flustered and flabbergasted. Therefore JT’s compliment landed squarely in the middle of her ribcage and echoed there like a dropped pebble in a still pond. Iris blinked, momentarily at a loss for words — not because she didn’t have any, but because the exact right ones were suddenly impossible to choose from the pileup forming on her tongue

"Cute?" she echoed, her voice a little higher than intended. Cute was for baby animals. For fluffy kneazles in baskets and puffskeins that sneezed glitter. It was for the older girls with glossy hair and effortless charm, the ones who looked like they'd walked straight out of a Witch Weekly fashion spread, all dewy complexions and perfect posture. Not for someone who overthought cardigan choices and carried around annotated runic scripture for fun. For as certain as she was in herself, she honestly felt more like a library cart with legs and glasses than she did cute. "I — well, thank you. That’s — um. Very kind."

She recovered just in time to catch the rest of what he was saying, her lips pressing together at the mention of Calliope and the rat incident. Her spine straightened slightly as her indignation flickered back to life. "You don’t have to thank me for that," she stated flatly. "She was causing a scene and I would’ve hexed someone if you hadn’t looked so completely crushed." Phobia or not, there were just some ways that you did not treat others. Fear wasn't an excuse to be cruel. She hadn’t, of course, hexed anyone, she certainly did not want her dueling privileges revokes, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t considered a few quiet retaliations. She was still debating the merits of temporarily dyeing someone’s eyebrows and hair by adding something to shampoos or charming a certain Slytherin’s pillow to smell faintly of brussels sprouts...but she hadn't quite sorted out the logistics of how to accomplish these without raising too much suspicion.

His fingers were warm against hers, and that small, uncomplicated gesture managed to ground her better than any breath-counting exercise she’d ever attempted. She did, however, give him a side-eye when he admitted he had no idea what they were walking into.

"How suspiciously chivalrous of you," she said dryly. "A mystery plant-cleaning mission with the vague threat of limb loss." But she was smiling again quickly and genuinely. "I did bring my gloves. And a pencil. And a labeled index for invasive magical growths, just in case. Which, now that I think about it, may have been incredibly optimistic of me." She paused, eyes narrowing in mock suspicion. "You didn’t lure me out here just to be muscle, did you?"

And she squeezed his hand lightly, despite herself. Iris then allowed herself a long deep breath, the kind that steadied both nerves and daydreams, and held on to the small strange comfort that she wasn’t walking into whatever-this-was alone.

*Nordic Witch* · 05-24-2025, 06:49 AM

Stupid. Stupid. JT knew when the word cute left his lips and judging by Iris's flustered and flabbergasted reaction that he had said the very wrong thing. Perfect ,how did he repair this misstep with his potential girlfriend without making it an ever bigger thing? JT was clueless but he knew he had to say something to apologize didn't he? The hundred galleon question was what possibly could he say that Iris wouldn't take the wrong way? A truthful and heartfelt apology was a start right? Tugging at Iris hand to stop her JT looked into her eyes and said stumbling over his words "I'm sorry Iris. I meant to say you look very pretty today not cute. Can you forgive me? I'll do anything to make it up to you..."

Interlocking their fingers again JT continued walking stopping only when they came to the greenhouse door sporting a seven and said with a sudden grin, sure of himself that Iris was glad to be there with him. "It will be fun I promise. A mystery plant cleaning out mission has curious possibilites and hopefully not dangerous or lethal. I promise to protect you, and no I didn't bring you along to be muscle. I wanted you to come along because I like spending time with you more than with anyone else in the castle, and you're much better at identifying plants than I am." The last exam they had gotten back from Professor Cole had showed him as much. He needed to study MUCH more herbology if he wanted a passing grade at the end of the year.

sweetpinkpixie · 06-03-2025, 04:50 AM

It shouldn’t have mattered. It really shouldn’t have mattered.

But it did.

The moment JT corrected himself—not cute, pretty—Iris’s thoughts spun so violently it was a miracle she didn’t trip on her own feet. So… not cute. Not even cute. Cute had been bad enough (that strange, impossible word meant for wide-eyed girls with dimpled cheeks or effortless charm that looked like they belonged on the cover of Witch Weekly, tossing their glossy hair over their shoulders and smiling like they’d just invented it), but pretty?

He didn’t mean it like that. He couldn’t have. Or maybe he did, but only because he had read into her lack of composure and now he was trying to course-correct. Which meant he didn’t think either word applied to her, really. He was just saying things. Making it up as he went. At least that was immediately how her instincts decided to defend herself.

And she hated that she cared. That her chest ached just a little. That she felt suddenly hyper-aware of the cardigan she’d chosen, the way her glasses slid a millimeter down her nose, the creak of her boots over the gravel, the way her freckles stood out against her pale skin.

He tugged at her hand, fingers warm and grounding, and yet she had to forced herself to meet his eyes and offer a smile that barely flickered across her lips. "Fine," she said. The word escaped before she could stop it, clipped and quick. "It’s fine, JT. Nothing to forgive." She turned from him almost immediately, ducking her head and pushing open the greenhouse door with more purpose than was necessary.

The air inside was warmer, greener somehow, like the earth itself had exhaled into the space. Sunlight scattered through panes speckled with moss and watermarks and rows of plants sat in varying stages of overgrowth and entanglement―Nyle would absolutely lose his mind with glee if he were here. And at the center of it all and balanced atop an overturned crate, was what appeared to be a moss-covered golden snitch. A single one with bits of gold peeking out from the green and glinting in the light and steam gently rising from where the wings would appear like it had just finished a long roll through some enchanted swamp.

Iris blinked and pulled away to approach the tiny little golden ball. "Um." It didn’t seem sentient... but it also didn’t not seem sentient somehow. "I think… we found something," she murmured, leaning in warily, grateful—so grateful—for the distraction.

Kolyander · 06-06-2025, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holmesian Feline

Marcus couldn’t help the slightly raised eyebrow as he listened to the girl…young woman…explain the reason for the call. It wasn’t everyday and everyone that attempted the level of skill that Ms. Paton was talking on. It definitely required dedication. And granted while transfiguration wasn’t a top subject of his, for the very reason given he was familiar with certain matters. Keeping a mandrake leaf in one’s mouth for an extended period of time…even the curious Ravenclaw nature within the herbologist hadn’t been enough to have him experiment with that task just to see what it did without the animangus skill.

“Well I admire your search for knowledge…” he mused with a slight nod of his head, his rest of his face relaxed. “And I thank you for seeking permission.” Not that he didn’t allow students to work on their own projects within the greenhouses within reason. Marcus just approved of not taking without consideration. “I certainly believe we can manage that,” he replied with a smile. It wasn’t like mandrake leaf pruning dea;t with the more dangerous aspects of the plants in question. The professor moving to lead Briony to Greenhouse 3 for the task at hand.

Indeed. Bryony had been studying and working hard at this training since before she was even officially allowed to begin by Hogwarts rules. This was something she very very much wanted since she was a tiny little girl. No? Well...there really wasn't much need in keeping a Mandrake's leaf in ones mouth if it weren't for a greater purpose, was there? Truthfully speaking, this Slytherin had never even considered it. And she had thought about many many things!

"Thank you Professor." Bry smiled lightly, eyes still bright with the anticipation in moving forward with her training. "Of course. The Mandrake's aren't my own." Therefore she didn't have any reason to come and remove leaves from them on her own accord. "That would be spectacular and very gratefully appreciated." Nod nod. Turning on her heel she happily followed the professor out and towards Greenhouse three where the Mandrake's were housed.

Once inside, Bry remained in step with Professor Cole. "Sir, you wouldn't happen to have any ideas on how to go upon keeping the lead in my mouth safely for so long, would you?" Yes, she had written many research papers on this and even asked Professor Stone, her parents and her big sister BUT that didn't mean the man standing before her wouldn't have an opinion of his own that could prove useful!

*Holmesian Feline* · 06-16-2025, 01:38 AM

Ah that was an interesting question posed as they moved towards the mandrakes. The herbology professor had to think about that for sure. “Hmm…well I supposed it would be best to keep the leaf somewhere less likely to be accidentally swallowed," he mused on the first thought that crossed his mind. One could full intend to keep it in their mouth the entire time with no real trouble, but accidents did happen. You certainly wouldn’t want to have a coughing fit or choking to risk it. “And the moisture in your mouth will make it clingy. Which could work to your advantage if you used it properly.”

Stopping and turning back to the Slytherin girl in front of the plants in question, Marcus rounded out his ideas. “Maybe keep it your cheek or on the outside of your back teeth. Less likely to come in contact with your tongue.” Just don’t let it annoy you and go to pick it out of your teeth like a stubborn bit of spinach caught between your molars. That would be a moment where you could ‘accidentally’ remove the leaf and risk ruining the procedure. “Oh and find a leaf that’s not too big to be an imposition or too small that it’s not mature enough.” Less of an imposition that way without negating possible effects by the status of the leaf during the process.

There was a brief moment of wonder if this was something he could and should study, absently shaking his head to clear it. No…no…enough to do at the moment. And not enough samples to work with at a time. Bummer.

Kolyander · 06-17-2025, 04:03 PM

Seeing the clear thought about what she had asked in the Professors eyes was exactly what she had hoped for. For her this didn't at all mean that Marcus didn't know the answer, it meant that he wanted to explain his own thoughts in a way that she could understand. Hopefully in a way that she would be able to take what was being said and use it to her own advantage. Which is exactly what she was doing. Every single word was heard and absorbed deeply into her mind.

"I think I like the idea of keeping it against the inside of my cheek." All she needed was to forgot it was there for a brief second and think she had something in her teeth! At least with it up against her cheek she would know it was there at all times. So you don't feel that a sticking charm or anything should be used? It will stick in place all on its own?" Bryony asked in all seriousness. While she wanted to make no mistakes with the Mandrake leaf, she also didn't want to overdo the process with anything unnecessary. If she was able to keep things simple then that's what she would be doing.

As for choosing the correct leaf, this was incredibly important. Despite being loud for her size, Bry actually did have a smaller mouth. Therefore a smaller mature leaf is what she needed to find. Bright blue eyes nodded in clear understanding as she turned her attention to the Mandrake plants before them. "There's a few that look like they would do the job... Like this one here..." Without touching the plant, she used her pointer finger to indicate a smaller sized leaf right at the top of the plant that appeared to be perfectly mature and ready to be used when the next full moon came around in a few days time.

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