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*squidnie* · #1 (**permalink**) 05-22-2026, 03:14 PM

Though the November chill is strong outside, Greenhouse 2 looks and feels just as it always does when you enter it: warm and covered in plants. There are two plants on the table at the front of the room. The first is a Bubotuber plant, the second is a Fanged Geranium. Their name tags label them as Garfield and Toby, respectively. On each of the long student tables are also one of each plant. They all have their own name tags as well.

Professor Hawkins is leaning against the blackboard, watching the goings-on in the room. Please have a seat and be sure to not touch the plants on the tables before instructed. If you do, she will know.

OOC: Welcome to Herbology! Please refresh yourselves on the class rules if you haven’t already. Don’t forget to title at least your first post with your student’s name and house! And remember; though this is our first RPed class of the term, there would have been many IC classes before this.

~~I am getting this up while SS behaves! Class will begin *crosses fingers* in a little over 24 hours from this post.~~

Class has started! Please join in whenever - just pretend you've been here all along.

Class Progression
Question 1
Question 2
Mini Activity
Question 3

FearlessLeader19 · 05-22-2026, 09:13 PM

Levi was always reminded of how grateful he was for Heating Charms whenever winter came around. Imagine trying to focus on learning but one got constantly distracted by the cold. Entering the Greenhouses, he breathed in the warm, earthy air. Naturally, it reminded him of the Hufflepuff Common Room.

Then there was that table where two plants were kept. Being decent enough when it came to Herbology, they were instantly recognised. And upon a closer inspection, saw that they were actually given names. He chuckled, thinking that they both were cute. Oh! There was the very busy and important professor Hawkins. Knowing that there would be more students arriving shortly, Levi offered her a quick greeting. “Hallo, professor! I love the names you’ve given these two.” There was a gesture to them before heading off to take a seat. As he sat, the third year took time to admire the plants on the table he chose.

AlwaysSnapesGirl · 05-22-2026, 11:27 PM

The chill in the air was refreshing, at least to Apollo. Of course, he enjoyed the many seasons of the year - though perhaps he was less inclined to enjoy the extremely hot temperatures that came with the summer. But there was something about the temperature dropping over the course of autumn into winter that he found particularly revitalizing.

The cold immediately vanished when he crossed the threshold into the greenhouse, but that wasn't unexpected. It was understandable, given the environment required for these plants to thrive. His eyes were immediately drawn to the Bubotuber and the Fanged Geranium specifically set out - and named. That was...charming.

"Hello, Professor Hawkins," Apollo said politely, inclining his head in greeting. Then he moved to select a table.

A polite nod was given to a younger Hufflepuff, Levi, who was already seated as Apollo passed by. He stopped at an empty table, noting the pair of plants also placed there. He watched them carefully, his eyes scanning every inch, but he would wait for further instructions before attempting to make any contact with them.

sweetpinkpixie · 05-23-2026, 01:13 AM

Nyle arrived to Greenhouse 2 earlier than he had wanted to, shoulders drawing a little tighter as he crossed the threshold with a body in conflict with his internal dialogue. There had been a lot of that when it came to lessons, had been since last term, and the sixth year chalked it all up to still struggling with routine.

Professor Hawkins should have felt like a clean slate ― especially this much into term and with how... colorful and wonderfully eccentric a personality the woman had. A chance to simply be another student again rather than the boy associated with whispered conversations, missed lessons, and an incident people still carefully stepped around in conversation. Yet his mind kept snagging on the possibility that someone had warned Professor Hawkins before term had even begun about...well... him.

Difficult student. Unstable judgment. Skipped Herbology often enough to be concerning. Nearly destroyed his own common room with dangerous plantlife and drove a ghost into retirement.

None of it helped that this was Herbology of all subjects. The one place he used to feel most certain of himself.

The warm air and the scent of damp soil that greeted him as he stepped fully inside had helped a little, enough that some of the tension in his posture eased and he looked a little less like a giant trying to squeeze through the average door. His gaze moved instinctively toward the plants first rather than the people gathered around them: Bubotubers. Fanged Geraniums. Healthy and thriving specimens too. That lifted his spirits a little.

"Good day, Professor Hawkins. Garfield. Toby," he greeted politely as he stepped timidly about.

A handful of his housemates had already arrived as well, but Nyle hesitated before drifting toward a a vacant table further in the back and all the way off to the side. Not out of dislike. Merlin, no. The opposite, perhaps, if you understood the mental gymnastics the blond performed. But he was in a losing battle as of late with the persistent feeling that he had somehow been grafted incorrectly back onto the wrong branch. Still attached, technically, and still alive... but not settling the way he ought to.

Except for Gobstones mentoring. Outside of playing classical and jazz music for his plants, helping his younger peers ― whether they were aspiring or just curious ― engage with the sport in a low pressure environment nurtured something inside him. Or perhaps it was simply that, during those moments, he could pour his attention into something careful and precise that existed entirely beyond himself. Professor Amstern continued to be a beacon of sorts as well, steady enough that, eventually, he’d found the courage to press his hands back into the soil in the first place.

Everything, and everyone, else though... he kept a little distance. Maybe more than a little.

As he slid into his seat, something small slipped from the pocket of his robes and hit the greenhouse floor with a soft clatter and dull dragging sound as it rolled away. Nyle blinked, then bent awkwardly beneath the table to retrieve it, nearly knocking his knee against the bench in the process, only to find that whatever it had been was long gone and likely somewhere near the flowerbed in front of him. "Brilliant," he muttered under his breath as his long fingers felt inside is pockets for a hint of what it may have been ― though he was now suspecting it to be a particularly picturesque acorn he had collected the other day. "Let's hope that doesn’t turn into a Kobus Hendrik situation."

The words left him automatically before he properly thought about them. He still didn't entirely know what the phrase actually meant ― which should have been his first clue not to use them so willy nilly. Someone in the common room had muttered it weeks ago while looking at him like he was something liable to just shrivel up due to poor watering habits. He had never asked for clarification. Partly because nobody had sounded particularly eager to explain it, and partly because he suspected understanding it fully might somehow make thing worse.

Straightening again, surrendered the search and settled into the seat, long limbs adjusting twice before finding something marginally comfortable. His attention drifted immediately to the plants settled on his table. The restraint to not touch them still came more easily than it once might have.

"Good day to you, Christofern. Piper."

Not a fern but he could appreciate a good plant pun.

*Nordic Witch* · 05-23-2026, 01:57 PM

The november chill had put its mark on Tiana, which was noted by how cold the first year felt and looked by the time she entered greenhouse 2 for herbology class. She liked many parts of the winter months sure, but not the cold. Tiana disliked freezing so much.

"Good day Professor Hawkins!" Tiana greeted with the sunniest smile she could muster up as she passed by her professors desk and then the tables of Levi, Apollo and Nyle. Going over to an empty table to sit down, Tiana was immediatly distracted by the two plants on her table, a bubotuber plant, and a fanged geranium with name tags attached. Staring at the plants, and feeling the itch to touch wouldn't get her supplies up on the table. Shaking her head the young lioness got her writing supplies, and dragonhide gloves up on the table while she waited for class to begin. Could she pretty please just touch that fanged geranium a little?

*squidnie* · 05-23-2026, 06:34 PM

Text Cut: Mr. Singh-Phora

The chuckle didn’t escape Lillian’s notice. She smiled in response to the boy. “Hello, Mr. Singh-Phora. And thank you. I do take suggestions, you know.” Naming plants was an important business, and she felt that students were often more engaged when they had personal connections to the plants.

Text Cut: Mr. Finch-Selwyn

On the contrary, this other Hufflepuff appeared more reserved. “Good to see you, Mr. Finch-Selwyn.” She watched him inspect the plants on his table from a safe distance. Pride surged softly in her chest at the class thus far; no one was touching what they shouldn’t. That was a rare success in many classes.

Text Cut: Mr. Harden

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Nyle arrived to Greenhouse 2 earlier than he had wanted to, shoulders drawing a little tighter as he crossed the threshold with a body in conflict with his internal dialogue. There had been a lot of that when it came to lessons, had been since last term, and the sixth year chalked it all up to still struggling with routine.

Professor Hawkins should have felt like a clean slate ― especially this much into term and with how... colorful and wonderfully eccentric a personality the woman had. A chance to simply be another student again rather than the boy associated with whispered conversations, missed lessons, and an incident people still carefully stepped around in conversation. Yet his mind kept snagging on the possibility that someone had warned Professor Hawkins before term had even begun about...well... him.

Difficult student. Unstable judgment. Skipped Herbology often enough to be concerning. Nearly destroyed his own common room with dangerous plantlife and drove a ghost into retirement.

None of it helped that this was Herbology of all subjects. The one place he used to feel most certain of himself.

The warm air and the scent of damp soil that greeted him as he stepped fully inside had helped a little, enough that some of the tension in his posture eased and he looked a little less like a giant trying to squeeze through the average door. His gaze moved instinctively toward the plants first rather than the people gathered around them: Bubotubers. Fanged Geraniums. Healthy and thriving specimens too. That lifted his spirits a little.

"Good day, Professor Hawkins. Garfield. Toby," he greeted politely as he stepped timidly about.

A handful of his housemates had already arrived as well, but Nyle hesitated before drifting toward a a vacant table further in the back and all the way off to the side. Not out of dislike. Merlin, no. The opposite, perhaps, if you understood the mental gymnastics the blond performed. But he was in a losing battle as of late with the persistent feeling that he had somehow been grafted incorrectly back onto the wrong branch. Still attached, technically, and still alive... but not settling the way he ought to.

Except for Gobstones mentoring. Outside of playing classical and jazz music for his plants, helping his younger peers ― whether they were aspiring or just curious ― engage with the sport in a low pressure environment nurtured something inside him. Or perhaps it was simply that, during those moments, he could pour his attention into something careful and precise that existed entirely beyond himself. Professor Amstern continued to be a beacon of sorts as well, steady enough that, eventually, he’d found the courage to press his hands back into the soil in the first place.

Everything, and everyone, else though... he kept a little distance. Maybe more than a little.

As he slid into his seat, something small slipped from the pocket of his robes and hit the greenhouse floor with a soft clatter and dull dragging sound as it rolled away. Nyle blinked, then bent awkwardly beneath the table to retrieve it, nearly knocking his knee against the bench in the process, only to find that whatever it had been was long gone and likely somewhere near the flowerbed in front of him. "Brilliant," he muttered under his breath as his long fingers felt inside is pockets for a hint of what it may have been ― though he was now suspecting it to be a particularly picturesque acorn he had collected the other day. "Let's hope that doesn’t turn into a Kobus Hendrik situation."

The words left him automatically before he properly thought about them. He still didn't entirely know what the phrase actually meant ― which should have been his first clue not to use them so willy nilly. Someone in the common room had muttered it weeks ago while looking at him like he was something liable to just shrivel up due to poor watering habits. He had never asked for clarification. Partly because nobody had sounded particularly eager to explain it, and partly because he suspected understanding it fully might somehow make thing worse.

Straightening again, surrendered the search and settled into the seat, long limbs adjusting twice before finding something marginally comfortable. His attention drifted immediately to the plants settled on his table. The restraint to not touch them still came more easily than it once might have.

"Good day to you, Christofern. Piper."

Not a fern but he could appreciate a good plant pun.

Then there was Mr. Harden. He was difficult to miss, with the way that he moved through the world like he was perpetually taking up too much space and trying to correct it. He was especially hard to overlook, though, because he greeted each plant by name.

If there was one way to get on Lillian’s good side, it was greeting the plants by name.

So, she was smiling when she said, “Welcome to class, Mr. Harden. Was that an acorn that just fell from your pocket?” It was curiosity more than anything in her tone, though she fully expected the errant seed to be collected at an appropriate time.

Text Cut: Miss Patterson

“Good day to you, Miss Patterson,” Lillian responded cheerfully, her tone echoed in the way her earrings jingled brightly as she turned her head. Her gaze lingered on the girl as she placed various items on the table. A prepared Gryffindor. Impressive.

Once the students were adequately settled, Lillian determined that it was time to begin the lesson. “Alright!” she called, clapping her hands once and stepping forward to assure that all attention was on her. This was one of her favorite parts of every class. “Welcome to Greenhouse Two.” She paused, taking a moment to look out over the greenhouse and take in each student looking up at her.

“Now, we’re several months into the school year, and several years into school for most of you.” She gave pointed looks toward the older students. “I’m sure you’ve all heard the adage that you need to go slow to go fast. Today, we’re going back to the basics in order to go a bit further.” She began a slow walk toward the other side of the room, placing one foot deliberately in front of the next as she spoke. Her robes fanned out behind her with more flair than would be expected in a draftless greenhouse. “So, I’d like to ask you all. What are the basics? That is to say, what is it that you believe is the most important tool or component in the practice of Herbology?”

OOC: Hello, all! Class has officially started! If you’re just joining, please pretend like you’ve been here all along. IC tardiness will be handled with IC consequences.

Assuming SS cooperation, class will continue in about 22 hours from this post.

FearlessLeader19 · 05-23-2026, 11:19 PM

Levi acknowledged the greeting of everyone who sent him one. If he seemed a little distracted, please forgive him. He was busy brainstorming names for Professor Hawkins’ precious plants. It was the boy’s intention to submit a short list of unique names to her; perhaps some punny ones in the mix. He had already written a couple on a slip of parchment.

However, the task would have to wait as the lesson was now underway. Ah yes. Greenhouse two, which housed some of the more tame plants. Of course, Levi didn’t mind this; he certainly did not feel ready to deal with the advanced kinds. He rested an elbow on the table, leaning forward slightly as Hawkins’ question was considered. A few seconds later, he raised a hand.

“Compassion,’’ he volunteered. “A lot of it is needed to care for plants if we want them to grow happy and healthy.”

renmarie · 05-23-2026, 11:22 PM

Wesley was actually excited for Herbology. It wasn't his strongest subject, but he enjoyed being surrounded by plants, and the warmth of the greenhouse was a welcome reprieve from the bitter winter chill outside. The air smelled of damp soil, moss, and something faintly floral, and for once, the constant tension sitting in his shoulders had eased slightly.

There was something calming about being in here.

Unlike Potions, Herbology felt patient. Plants didn’t care if you stumbled over your words or forgot a date in History of Magic. As long as you paid attention and treated them properly, they usually responded well.

Listening to Professor Hawkins was soothing, too. Wesley found himself leaning forward slightly as the professor spoke, absently turning a loose thread around his finger while taking in the lesson. It was nice to go back to basics for once and not spend the entire class worrying about whether he was ruining his marks.

After a moment, he awkwardly raised his hand.

"The quality of the soil, surely," Wesley suggested. "Making sure it has adequate nutrients for the plants."

He hesitated briefly before adding, "Different plants probably need different conditions too, right? Like... moisture levels or drainage and stuff." Wesley lowered his hand again, looking mildly uncertain despite the fact that he actually sounded reasonably confident for once.

sweetpinkpixie · 05-23-2026, 11:50 PM

Nyle visibly startled at hearing his name, his hand instinctively patting at the overstuffed pockets of his robes well after the fact. Even after the moment had passed, his fingers kept fussing there restlessly, patting the loose bits of clutter he already knew were present. Heat crept up the back of his neck almost immediately after. It was ridiculous, really. Professor Hawkins was only greeting him, only doing precisely what professors were meant to do: notice students, speak to them, remember their names.

"Oh—" His gaze darted briefly toward the ground somewhere beneath the tables where the acorn absolutely was not, mild embarrassment flickering across his face. "I―suspect so, yes." A faint flush crept into the tips of his ears while he rubbed the back of his neck, tugging a bit on his nearly shoulder width blond hair. "I can — erm — retrieve it properly after the lesson concludes so I'm not disrupting things," he added quickly, posture drawing a little straighter like he was trying to compensate for the fact that he apparently shed seeds through the castle like some sort of migrating woodland creature.

At least nothing in his pockets had been handed to him by a hooded figure.

Still, the fact that Professor Hawkins sounded curious rather than irritated eased something small and taut in his shoulders.

As the lesson began, Nyle's attention settled with far more certainty on the subject matter than it ever did on people. The warmth of the greenhouse, the familiar scent of soil and greenery, the quiet rustle of leaves shifting faintly in the humid air — all of it steadied the noise in his head enough for him to focus.

Go slow to go fast.

The phrase lingered with him a moment longer than it probably should have, and certainly not in the way the professor had meant. Well… he certainly seemed to have mastered the slow part.

His thumb brushed absently against the edge of the table before he finally raised his hand to speak ― his thoughts somewhat piggy backing off what had already been shared, or rather conceptually adjacent, in a way.

"Observation," he said after a moment. "Or… patience, maybe. I think they become synonymous after a while." His gaze drifted briefly toward the Bubotuber, Christofern, nearest him. "Like how the leaves on a tomato plant will curl from heat stress or inconsistent watering. Snake plants wrinkle or soften when severely underwatered, but become mushy and yellow if overwatered. Hydrangeas are especially communicative through environmental response with their flowers changing color based largely on soil pH and aluminum availability."

He paused, his thumb brushing along the edge of the table once again.

"Plants tell you what they need long before they actually begin to wilt. The difficult part is slowing down enough to notice the signs for what they are instead of only reacting once something already looks... bad. I think Herbology is… mostly learning how to pay attention properly."

love-for-HP · 05-24-2026, 01:04 AM

Greer was already tired of 7th year. Her mind had been drifting since day 1 to just be done with the year. She was ready to graduate. Or at least she thought she was. And then to go slow to go fast? Ugh ... it took every fiber of her being to to roll her eyes. Maybe she should have skipped today's lesson.

Taking a deep breath and raising her hand. "Soil quality and sun verus shadow. I guess overall knowledge of what plants you are working with, both magical and non." She added realzing her answer was rather long and encompasses everything.

*Samia* · 05-24-2026, 03:34 AM

Marina had chosen her seat with great strategic care.

Which was to say: as far away from certain loud Gryffindors as physically possible while still technically remaining inside Greenhouse Two. Usually, Marina liked Herbology. Plants made sense to her. Plants were dramatic, occasionally violent, and required very specific handling instructions or they would absolutely ruin your day. Understandable behavior, honestly.

She sat with one knee bouncing faintly beneath the table, fingers curled around the edge of it while her eyes drifted over the two plants at the front. Garfield looked disgusting in a fascinating way. Toby looked like he had opinions about murder.

Naturally, she liked Toby better.

At Professor Hawkins’ question, Marina straightened slightly in her seat, attention snapping back into focus. There was something about Herbology that made participation feel easier than usual. Maybe because the answers were rarely hidden behind riddles or complicated theory. Plants told you what they needed eventually. You just had to pay attention enough to notice.

“Attentiveness,” she answered after a moment, voice steadier than she actually felt. One corner of her mouth twitched upward faintly despite herself. “Like if you miss signs that a Venomous Tentacula is stressed, then suddenly you’re getting strangled. Or if a plant changes color or smell or starts reacting differently and you don’t notice, then you can hurt it without meaning to.”

*squidnie* · 05-24-2026, 09:05 PM

Text Cut: Mr. Singh-Phora

Lillian smiled at the first boy’s answer. She was, quite honestly, surprised by the direction he took with the question. “That is correct. Compassion is, in my opinion, an undervalued skill in many arenas. And it is most necessary in Herbology.”

Text Cut: Mr. Blackwell

The next boy took the route Lillian had been expecting; concrete things. She gave him a nod. “Yes, yes, yes. Soil quality can make or break a healthy plant. Though, I once witnessed Devil’s Snare growing through a brick wall and it was positively thriving. So, there are exceptions to everything.

Text Cut: Mr. Harden

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Nyle visibly startled at hearing his name, his hand instinctively patting at the overstuffed pockets of his robes well after the fact. Even after the moment had passed, his fingers kept fussing there restlessly, patting the loose bits of clutter he already knew were present. Heat crept up the back of his neck almost immediately after. It was ridiculous, really. Professor Hawkins was only greeting him, only doing precisely what professors were meant to do: notice students, speak to them, remember their names.

"Oh—" His gaze darted briefly toward the ground somewhere beneath the tables where the acorn absolutely was not, mild embarrassment flickering across his face. "I―suspect so, yes." A faint flush crept into the tips of his ears while he rubbed the back of his neck, tugging a bit on his nearly shoulder width blond hair. "I can — erm — retrieve it properly after the lesson concludes so I'm not disrupting things," he added quickly, posture drawing a little straighter like he was trying to compensate for the fact that he apparently shed seeds through the castle like some sort of migrating woodland creature.

At least nothing in his pockets had been handed to him by a hooded figure.

Still, the fact that Professor Hawkins sounded curious rather than irritated eased something small and taut in his shoulders.

As the lesson began, Nyle's attention settled with far more certainty on the subject matter than it ever did on people. The warmth of the greenhouse, the familiar scent of soil and greenery, the quiet rustle of leaves shifting faintly in the humid air — all of it steadied the noise in his head enough for him to focus.

Go slow to go fast.

The phrase lingered with him a moment longer than it probably should have, and certainly not in the way the professor had meant. Well… he certainly seemed to have mastered the slow part.

His thumb brushed absently against the edge of the table before he finally raised his hand to speak ― his thoughts somewhat piggy backing off what had already been shared, or rather conceptually adjacent, in a way.

"Observation," he said after a moment. "Or… patience, maybe. I think they become synonymous after a while." His gaze drifted briefly toward the Bubotuber, Christofern, nearest him. "Like how the leaves on a tomato plant will curl from heat stress or inconsistent watering. Snake plants wrinkle or soften when severely underwatered, but become mushy and yellow if overwatered. Hydrangeas are especially communicative through environmental response with their flowers changing color based largely on soil pH and aluminum availability."

He paused, his thumb brushing along the edge of the table once again.

"Plants tell you what they need long before they actually begin to wilt. The difficult part is slowing down enough to notice the signs for what they are instead of only reacting once something already looks... bad. I think Herbology is… mostly learning how to pay attention properly."

Lillian tried to rein in her amusement with the Hufflepuff’s worry. Not that she was enjoying the worry itself, of course, but she appreciated the thoughtfulness behind it. And she wasn’t at all worried about the rogue acorn. There were surely worse things lost in the greenhouses over the years. “Observation and patience,” she repeated. “And perfect examples, Mr. Harden. You are completely correct.”

Text Cut: Miss Murray

Another more literal answer came next and, just like the first, Lillian nodded. “Precisely. Knowledge of the plant you’re working with is crucial.” Examples of how this was true could be found in quite literally any Herbology classroom Lillian had ever been in.

Text Cut: Miss Garcia Massey

This next answer made Lillian laugh softly, the sound catching Toby’s opinion. The plant swayed, its teeth gnashing in Lillian’s direction as she side-stepped more deftly than her appearance would suggest she was capable of. A perfect illustration of the girl’s point. “Excellent answer, Miss Garcia Massey. Attentiveness will be most important in today’s work.”

She let silence fill the room for a brief moment after the last answer before turning toward the front of the room. She pointed her first two fingers at the blackboard. Looping writing appeared, unfolding almost lazily, as if it had all the time in the world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboard

Compassion
Soil Quality
Moisture and drainage
Observation
Patience
Sunlight
Attentiveness

“Excellent ideas!” Lillian exclaimed, jewelry tinkling musically as she clapped her hands again. “Wonderful answers. I think this-” She gestured toward the list on the board, “Is a wonderful example of how much ground work is in the subject of Herbology.” Yes, pun very much intended. Lillian side-stepped past Toby again, waving a hand gently. The plant shifted its attention away from her. “I noticed that many of you cited qualities necessary in the Herbologist themselves. The way that we interact with the plants is most definitely part of how our work will eventually play out. Compassion and patience are just as important to plants as soil quality and sunlight.”

She turned to face the room again with a flourish of her robes. “While each of these answers have merit, and you could - and have - argued their importance, we only have time to focus on one for today. And it is, interestingly enough, a tool that has not yet been mentioned. Though, everything named already will have a part to play for each individual plant.” She would, if she could, keep them all here for hours and dive into the nitty-gritty Herbological works. Alas, she had a time limit.

“That being said,” she smiled, holding her arms out, palms facing forward invitingly, “Who can tell me a part of the life cycle of a plant? I’d like you to think outside the box here, if you may.”

OOC: Apologies for the delay! Class will move forward again in roughly 20-22 hours. *crosses fingers*

Due to the site being down, I’m extending this! Hoping to post about 30 hours from the time of this post.

FearlessLeader19 · 05-24-2026, 09:29 PM

Levi wasn’t sure what made him take that route when it came to his answer. Compassion had been the first thing that came to mind because he had seen firsthand the degree of it had been put into the plants that lived within the Hufflepuff common room. Not to mention in the Greenhouses themselves. So, he was glad that Professor Hawkins liked his reply; not that his classmates gave bad ones. Nope, those other contributions were quite meaningful as well!

With that tinkling playing like soothing music to his ears, Levi seized an opportunity to polish off writing the list from the board. But what was the tool none of the students mentioned? Oh well. They’d soon find out.

This time around, the third year’s hand went up almost immediately. “There’s germination. This is where the seed would have received all the necessary components in the right amounts - water, the right temperature, love.” Because plants needed it too! “Roots grow and the new life begins making its way upward through the soil.” He paused thoughtfully. “I would say that it’s full of curiosity at this point, to see the outside world.” There was a bit of whimsy to that answer, because Levi loved whimsy.

sweetpinkpixie · 05-24-2026, 11:40 PM

Nyle visibly relaxed further at Professor Hawkins' response, some of the tightly wound apprehension in his posture easing now that neither the acorn nor his answer seemed to have earned any sort of quiet scrutiny. Not that the professor had given indication she had done so in the past either... and yet he couldn't help but brace for it like an inevitability. The affirmation settled awkwardly yet warmly in his chest, unfamiliar enough these days that he almost did not know where to place it and couldn't find it in himself to deflect either.

His gaze lifted toward the blackboard as the looping script unfurled itself across the surface. The words sat there with a strange sort of weight to them when some were coincidentally grouped together like that. Less like instructions and more like... dispositions, requirements not only for Herbology, but for tending to anything living properly. Including the self.

Nyle's brushed along the edge of the table some more as Professor Hawkins continued, his attention fixed carefully on her explanation. There was an ease to the way she spoke about the work — not simplifying it, but honoring the quieter parts of it most people overlooked in favor of dramatic blooms or dangerous magical properties. Groundwork. The pun ― intentional or not ― earned the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

The Hufflepuff's thoughts immediately began turning over possibilities the moment Professor Hawkins mentioned the focus being a tool they had not yet listed yet. Not sunlight. Not water. Not patience or observation or any of the softer skills already written across the board. His gaze drifted instinctively toward the equipment scattered throughout the greenhouse before dismissing most of it almost immediately. Gloves, shears, dragonhide aprons — too literal. Too simple for the way she'd framed the question and discussed the follow-up.

A technique, perhaps.

His thoughts regrouped as the lesson moved along, and he hesitated only briefly before lifting a hand again, though this time there was less uncertainty in his tone as confidence slowly began slipping back in, squaring his shoulders more as well.

"Senescence," he offered. "Which I think people sometimes have the tendency overlook because they associate it entirely with dying, but it's actually a very active and necessary stage of a plant's life cycle." His gaze drifted briefly toward the greenhouse windows, thumb really working the edge of the table, as he organized the thought. "Leaves changing color in autumn, for example, is partially the plant breaking down chlorophyll and redistributing nutrients inward before dormancy. Some flowers also become more fragrant during senescence to attract late pollinators before seed production concludes. And certain plants can only germinate properly after exposure to decay, smoke, or fire conditions. So even deterioration ends up participating in renewal eventually."

Which was a rather comforting thought.

"And ― erm ― would Toby, perhaps, like something to gnaw on, professor?" he inquired with a gentle nod towards the snapping plant. He also hadn't quite realized how spritely Professor Hawkins was... more so than himself. He likely would have ended up with a bunch of his robes caught in Toby's mouth.

love-for-HP · 05-25-2026, 08:18 PM

Why did her final year at Hogwarst annoy her so much? Every lesson, every day, was just tiresome and she was ready to move on. She even mumbled under her breath "They are putting us through the gauntlet with the workload this year" And then grimaced a bit, and clamped her mouth shut. She didn't mean to say it out loud and really hoped the Professor had not heard her. She didn't mean it really ... or maybe she did but didn't mean to say it out loud.

Taking a deep breath and steadying herself. Greer raised her hand again. Pollination or seed dispersal" She said. "It's toward the end of of the planets life."

*squidnie* · 05-26-2026, 08:35 PM

Text Cut: Mr. Singh-Phora

Lillian loved a good personification moment. She smiled in response to the Hufflepuff’s answer. “Curiosity. Perhaps that’s why we say planting a seed when we talk about forming new ideas.”

Text Cut: Mr. Harden

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Nyle visibly relaxed further at Professor Hawkins' response, some of the tightly wound apprehension in his posture easing now that neither the acorn nor his answer seemed to have earned any sort of quiet scrutiny. Not that the professor had given indication she had done so in the past either... and yet he couldn't help but brace for it like an inevitability. The affirmation settled awkwardly yet warmly in his chest, unfamiliar enough these days that he almost did not know where to place it and couldn't find it in himself to deflect either.

His gaze lifted toward the blackboard as the looping script unfurled itself across the surface. The words sat there with a strange sort of weight to them when some were coincidentally grouped together like that. Less like instructions and more like... dispositions, requirements not only for Herbology, but for tending to anything living properly. Including the self.

Nyle's brushed along the edge of the table some more as Professor Hawkins continued, his attention fixed carefully on her explanation. There was an ease to the way she spoke about the work — not simplifying it, but honoring the quieter parts of it most people overlooked in favor of dramatic blooms or dangerous magical properties. Groundwork. The pun ― intentional or not ― earned the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth.

The Hufflepuff's thoughts immediately began turning over possibilities the moment Professor Hawkins mentioned the focus being a tool they had not yet listed yet. Not sunlight. Not water. Not patience or observation or any of the softer skills already written across the board. His gaze drifted instinctively toward the equipment scattered throughout the greenhouse before dismissing most of it almost immediately. Gloves, shears, dragonhide aprons — too literal. Too simple for the way she'd framed the question and discussed the follow-up.

A technique, perhaps.

His thoughts regrouped as the lesson moved along, and he hesitated only briefly before lifting a hand again, though this time there was less uncertainty in his tone as confidence slowly began slipping back in, squaring his shoulders more as well.

"Senescence," he offered. "Which I think people sometimes have the tendency overlook because they associate it entirely with dying, but it's actually a very active and necessary stage of a plant's life cycle." His gaze drifted briefly toward the greenhouse windows, thumb really working the edge of the table, as he organized the thought. "Leaves changing color in autumn, for example, is partially the plant breaking down chlorophyll and redistributing nutrients inward before dormancy. Some flowers also become more fragrant during senescence to attract late pollinators before seed production concludes. And certain plants can only germinate properly after exposure to decay, smoke, or fire conditions. So even deterioration ends up participating in renewal eventually."

Which was a rather comforting thought.

"And ― erm ― would Toby, perhaps, like something to gnaw on, professor?" he inquired with a gentle nod towards the snapping plant. He also hadn't quite realized how spritely Professor Hawkins was... more so than himself. He likely would have ended up with a bunch of his robes caught in Toby's mouth.

And she was really beginning to look forward to the Harden boy’s answers. “Lovely point. Very, very lovely.” She paused, letting the praise land. “Senescence, just like the other parts of the life cycle, is a necessary and, if we’re still being whimsical, beautiful part of the cycle.”

As for Toby… “I’m sure he would, yes. I’m afraid I took him away from his ball of clay for this.” She glanced at the plant once more, this time staying an appropriate distance from it.

Text Cut: Miss Murray

As for the seventh year Ravenclaw… Lillian definitely heard the mumble that the girl likely didn’t want her to hear. She raised her eyebrows the slightest bit, giving an indication that she had heard, but decided not to comment.

“Pollination and seed dispersal,” She repeated cheerfully.[b] “An excellent example as to why it is called a life cycle.”[b] No, she would not be explaining herself further.

"Wonderful, wonderful answers," Lillian exclaimed cheerfully. She pointed a hand at the blackboard again, barely pausing for the writing to update before moving on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboard

Seed
Germination
Root and shoot growth
Growth to adult plant
Flower production
Pollination/seed dispersal
Senescence
Use (for potions, compost, etc.)

She continued, "Now, unfortunately I cannot keep you all here long enough to watch a plant's life cycle all in one go. Naturally, that is. So, that brings us back to the first question. The tool that no one mentioned - and that is quite alright, given that you all had other thoughtful answers to share - is the Herbivicus Charm. With the help of the Herbivicus Charm, we can experience the life cycle of a plant within the constraints of the class." Wasn't that exciting?

"The Herbivicus Charm simply accelerates the growth of a plant. It is used often on flowering plants, but can be used on many healthy plants at any point in their life cycle. For example, we'll be starting with either seeds or cuttings." She paused, looking around the classroom again. "Though, I'm getting ahead of myself here. We'll practice now before using this on actual plants. The incantation is simple: her-BIV-i-cuss. You'll pair this with the wand movement shown on the board. You will also want to envision your desired life cycle stage, which will be easier when you know what plant you'll be working with." Examples, of course, were located in four separate areas of the room.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackboard

OOC: Time for the mini activity! This should only take 1-2 posts, but feel free to use whatever time you have to be as creative as you'd like. There will be one more question after this before the main activity. Please also feel free to do any catch-up you'd like. I know that life plus SS downtime makes it difficult to get posts in with a time limit, so Lillian and I are not going to be strict here.

Class will continue in about 28-30 hours from this post. Probably.

*Nordic Witch* · Yesterday, 04:04 AM

Go slow to go fast.

Tiana said the phrase in her head silently but came up with nothing. Did it mean that in herbology you needed to be slow and let plants grow in its own pace? She'd have to ask Tyler later. When the first question popped up, the young lioness let the older students go first with their answers before she raised her hand, and said thoughtfully. "All plants need water, and sunlight to grow happily. Also caring with a gentle, but firm and steady hand, and with the right plant tools like dragon hide gloves is important.

The next question Professor Hawkins asked caused her to pause. What did she know about a plant lifes cycle? Everyone seemed to say what popped up in her Tiana's head but she offered up an answer anyway. "Flowering is a plant stage as well as seedling when a plant seed places down its roots somewhere in the soil, grass or pot to start growing.

Then it was time for the mini activity. They were going to get to accelarate a plants growth to see it's whole life cycle from seeds with the aid of the herbivicus charm. A charm Tiana thought was useful, interesting and, but didn't it take away the fun of watching a plant grow over time? She'd ask that later. "Her-BIV-i-cuss, her-BIV-i-cuss, her-BIV-i-cuss." Tiana began chanting to herself in a quiet tone over and over again to not disturb anyone sitting on a table near her. The incantation felt like a proper tongue wringer. Next she began practicing the flowey up and down wand movement in the air, several times.

sweetpinkpixie · Yesterday, 04:28 AM

Nyle's attention sharpened almost immediately at the mention of the Herbivicus Charm, curiosity quietly overtaking the lingering nerves. Of course. A growth acceleration charm. Not merely observing the cycle, but guiding a plant through it deliberately enough to study the transitions themselves. That did fit the way Professor Hawkins had framed things — less about forcing growth and more about understanding how to support it responsibly. He always viewed Herbology as something to do with his hands, so magical applications ― even Trimming Charms ― were often far from his thoughts.

His eyes tracked toward the examples arranged around the greenhouse, thoughts already beginning to splinter into practical considerations almost against his will. Growth accelerated too aggressively without proper root establishment could weaken the structure of certain plants entirely. Others became nutrient starved midway through development if the soil composition wasn't adjusted alongside magical intervention. Even magical cultivation still required balance. Magic could encourage growth, certainly, but it could not replace the groundwork beneath it.

Once practice began, Nyle rose from his seat and absently dipped a hand into one of his pockets while he made his way over to Toby — the same botanical abyss that had already produced an acorn earlier — brows lifting faintly when his fingers brushed against a sturdy bit of bark he must have collected at some point without thinking. Probably from one of his walks along the edge of the Forbidden Forest, if the color of the wood was any indication. He carefully offered it toward the Fanged Geranium.

"Here you are," he murmured under his breath, like one might soothe a particularly temperamental dog rather than an aggressively bitey plant. "It's no clay but...it's better than robes and people."

Only once Toby seemed sufficiently distracted did the Hufflepuff return to his station and drew his wand. His wrist subtly mirrored the movement several times in the air without casting, committing the memory the flow of this particular spell before attempting to do so in tandem with the incantation ― it had been a while since he had cast it, after all.

"...her-BIV-i-cuss...her-BIV-i-cuss..."

Slow to go fast.

Right. That part again.

FearlessLeader19 · Yesterday, 06:17 PM

Oh, Levi had not thought of that! But now, after a couple seconds of reflection, he nodded to Professor Hawkins. “I think you may be right, professor.” And now, he would never use that phrase again without thinking about this lesson. As the board updated, he took his time in adding to his notes while simultaneously following along to words being said by his classmates or professor. Multitasking at its best was happening here, folks!

The Herbivicus Charm.

The Hufflepuff knew of the Charm though he didn’t think he had ever seen it in action. What a nifty spell it sounded like, however! With the way it accelerated the growth of plants, he just knew he was going to enjoy watching the spell in action. But first… practise.

“Her-BIV-i-cuss… Her-BIV-i-cuss… Her-BIV-i-cuss. Herbivicuss.” Very simple, in Levi’s opinion.

The wand movement was the same, once he got used to it and was able to make it flow: it was kind of like a sideways S with an extra long tail. He made sure to trace out the movement as many times as he possibly could.

love-for-HP · Yesterday, 11:51 PM

Greer blushed ever so slightly by the Professor's side eye, it was clear that she had in fact heard Greer's comment, but nothing futher was said and Greer was very grateful for that. Whew.. no need to get on anyone's bad side so close to the end of her Hogwarts run.

"her-BIV-i-cuss" Greer said getting the spell out. Seemed simple enough. "her-BIV-i-cuss .....her-BIV-i-cuss .....her-BIV-i-cuss" She said it out loud a few times and then praticed the wand movement. Sort of like a sidewise s right? Yeah, at least that was the visual that Greer was going to use to help get through one.

Greer felt ready - she could do this, she was certain of it.

*squidnie* · Today, 02:42 AM

Lillian smiled as she watched each student practice the charm. Of course, the real test would be with the real plants, but she felt that it was best to practice first, lest someone make a mistake and hurt a plant. She strolled down a row between tables, then back up the next aisle, eyes swiveling slowly between students as they practiced. Her gaze lingered softly on the Harden boy as he took a chew toy to Toby. Thoughtful boy, he was. She also nodded to the small Gryffindor girl's answers. "Dragonhide gloves are a perfect example of a necessary tool in much of Herbology. You will all be needing them today." If they didn't know that already.

She walked again to the front of the classroom to stand behind the table with the two plants. Standing as tall as her small frame would allow, she held up her hands to claim everyone’s attention once again. “Great job, great job,” She said with a smile. “We have just one more question before we can get our hands dirty, so I won’t dilly dally.” She was, quite honestly, looking forward to the students’ answers to this question, as she often was, due to the creativity and thoughtfulness they exhibited throughout class.

Regardless, she also knew from experience that many of the teenagers tended to tune out or try to rush through the discussion part of class to get to the hands-on work. So, with that in mind, Lillian gestured to the two plants in front of her. “Here we have Toby and Garfield. What can you tell me about either of their species of plant? Or, even better, something about each!”

OOC: We've done it! This is the last question before the main activity. Class will move forward again in about 24 hours.

sweetpinkpixie · Today, 06:23 AM

Nyle adjusted his grip slightly on his wand as Professor Hawkins spoke again, attention lifting almost immediately back toward the front of the greenhouse. His gaze moved between Garfield and Toby for several moments before shifting his attention the Bubotuber and the Fanged Geranium settled on his own table ― both of which were considerably docile.

For now, at least.

"I think the Fanged Geranium and Bubotuber plants are somewhat similar... in the sense that both become more hazardous when stressed or improperly handled. Bubotuber pus destabilizes and the plant itself could retaliate with some, er, unfortunate popping if harvested carelessly, and Fanged Geraniums grow more aggressive when understimulated, overcrowded, or, likewise, handled without thoughtful finesse. Neither is really dangerous without context. And it sort of just so happens that Fanged Geraniums are… considerably more expressive about discomfort."

They were both somewhat good examples of why careful, empathetic observation matters.

His gaze drifted briefly between Christofern and Piper again, thoughts continuing to turn over quietly. Both required extraction processes that punished impatience almost immediately. Bubotuber pus, for instance, had to be collected with careful pressure and proper drainage technique or the outer membrane could rupture unevenly, contaminating the substance or irritating the plant itself ― not to mention squirt you right in the face, speaking from experience. Too rough a hand and what was medicinal became hazardous remarkably quickly. Fang extraction required timing more than force — ideally during natural shedding periods or while the plant was sufficiently stimulated elsewhere to avoid unnecessary distress. Attempting to simply restrain often escalated the aggression instead and treating the process like an exercise in dominance usually ended up bitten for their trouble.

Also why having a chew toy or two ready on hand was a must.

Charely Potter · Today, 07:35 AM

Diego was taking his time through the lesson, drinking in all the knowledge (but not the plants, literally, of course). Herbology seemed to have comforted him over his typical feelings of missing his Papa and youngest brother after all these years. When it came time to learn the charm, he began to practice the incantation, her-BIV-i-cuss, and the wand movement separately until it was comfortable for him to execute.

Diego observed the Bubotuber plant, Garfield, and the Fanged Geranium named Toby. They were interesting names for plants. When they asked to share something they knew, he spoke when it was his turn. "The Bubotober plants don't like to be squeezed otherwise their pus can shoot out an unpleasant odour."

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