He waved both students out and nodded to Marco. "That's right. There are many plants like this one that do such a thing. It's why I find them so interesting. I was never just interested in what they do, but why they do it."

Amelia had been busy with her plant, that she hardly noticed the batter between Marco and Erikson. However, whether it was the two girls leaving or just boredom, the sixth year couldn't help but hear was Erikson just said: never just interested in what they do, but why they do it. Odd. That was why she found arithmancy fascinating; because just being able to see futures solely based on numbers was kind of cool.

Glancing over the top of her plant, she eyed Erikson and contemplated him for a moment.

Cassandra walked into the Lab and sat by her Lily of the Valley. She touched it with her fingers and felt how firm the stem was. Her fingers touched the soil, and she used an aguamenti charm to water it.

She crossed her arms and leaned on the table and resting her chin on her hands. She then tilted her head so her cheek was on her hand while she watched the plant. She quietly sang to it in Italian. Her voice was soft, sweet, gentle... it was unlike the tough exterior she put on for the school.

ooc: the song she sings

It may have been weeks before Amelia broke her gaze from the herbology professor, had it not been for the soft and gentle singing voice coming from the table next to her. Cassandra Trelawney? Nah, that couldn't be her. She blinked a few times to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Sweet Merlin! Praise the animals!

"Wow Trelawney. You sing? I am quite impressed," the hufflepuff said quietly, smiling at the Slytherin. She just hoped this wouldn't be cause for the girl to snap at her, like things usually were.

Cassandra turned and saw the Hufflepuff prefect... Great... "Do you need something? Are you killing your plant?" She asked with a smirk. Turned over to the plant the professor had picked for her. It was doing really well, thriving.

Of course, more attitude.. should she really have expected anything less? Amelia tilted her head thoughtfully for a moment, just looking at the Slytherin. "Oh no, I guess not. I just... uh, wanted to compliment your singing talents. But if you don't want the nice comments, I'll take them back," she told the girl, smirking back at her. Turning her back on the Slytherin, she looked back at her own plant, seeing that it actually seemed to be alive was quite the accomplishment.

He heard the tiff behind him of Cassandra and Amelia, then sighed heavily. "Cassandra..."

She nodded, taking in the information-- she hadn't known that especially the bit about budding off.
"Well, I don't know about all that-- though I would swear I've heard rose bushes scream when I have pruned them... Mundane ones, not magical." she smiled, as though she knew what she was saying sounded rather silly. "It introduces a new aspect to herbology; I wish I'd know about that months ago. I'll have to see if I can cultivate an ear for the plants... can you do it? Can you hear them?"
She nodded- she had lived in a monastery the summer before Hogwarts and knew of these practices, but found herself unsure if their way was what she ascribed to. She smiled at him. "Thank you... you've given me much to think on." She returned to her journal as he approached Marco, who looked in need of some help.

Camira walked dejectedly into the lab. All that worry and no doing her homework. Not Good. She hoped this lab would help make up for at least some of it. She took an empty seat and just sat there, slumped, for a minute before she realized she had no idea what to do.

Claudian entered the Herbology labs all but dragging his feet. Herbology gave him the blues, or maybe it was Golightly's mean reds, as it didn't always cease immediately after class. Nonetheless, he was making an effort. He checked in on his gardenia, it's strong fragrance willing him to sneeze, which he did, and wiped his nose with a tissue.

"Excuse me." He said, as he then took the plant from it's spot and carried it over to a table to inspect it further. Taking a sample of the soil out, he placed it aside and started by simply checking he leaves and blossoms for any obvious clues to its state.

"Camira? Where's your plant?" He leaned over and whispered to the girl.

Camira was pulled out of her stupor by the sound of Claudian's voice. She looked up at him, eyes red and puffy. "Plant? Oh...um... I don't even know what I'm doing. I was going to try and catch up... I haven't been going to classes...but....I don't know. Maybe I should just go back to the common room and go to sleep." That said, she put her head on the table none too gently, f the harsh thud was anything to go by.

Camira was going to need help. He looked over to Erikson who was holding a conversation with Xana? He shook his head and turned back to Camira. "Yes, during a class we were to chose and monitor a plant, keeping notes of it in a journal. Perhaps, if it's not too late, you could ask the Profess..." and at that moment Camira's melon hit the surface of the table. "Miss, Yaxley!" He wasn't sure what to do next, so he blurted out. "I'll help you!" But, Herbology + Claudian = None too good. "You could observe some of what I do and then talk to the Professor about getting a plant and use some of the things that I've done on your plant. You may not get to get your full two weeks in of observation, but at least you'll have learned something and you can use that for when you return to Hogwarts next term." He offered. Camira was a bright student and he didn't want to see her give up. He flipped open his Herbology journal and took out a quill. "Would that be alright?"

Ahh... to be complemented by a Hufflepuff... it's like being told you are good at magic by a muggle... She thought to herself, rolling her eyes inwardly. "You may take it back if you wish..." she said with an eyebrow raised, "but, thank you Prefect Rose. My singing voice I take from my mother's side of the family." What did this Hufflepuff want with her, why was she always-

-talking to her. Crud. She quickly looked at the plant... "Yes Professor?" What did she do wrong now? The lily of the valley was fine.

It was not challenging to see that this Slytherin wanted nothing to do with her or her house. But that certainly didn't stop her from trying - because even if they did have their differences, she was still a Hufflpuff. A loyal and hardworking Hufflepuff, and a friend. A smile came across her face as she heard those two words she was looking for and then... she said where it came from too? That was - oh boy! It was more than she could have hoped for!

"You're welcome, Tr- Prefect Trelawney," she said, much more gleefully than she intended. But then Erikson interrupted their batter, which was not surprising. Nodding towards Trelawney respectfully, then Erikson, she turned around at the sound of a loud noise. "Whodunit?!"

Apparently a student had had enough of Herbology. Smiling she walked over to the girl who's head was down on the table, with the older boy looking over her. "I-is she alright?"

Xana looked up from where she had been taking notes on her seedling at the sound of a thump and the words, "Is she alright?" accompanied by the deep voice of her own boyfriend in apparent alarm. She turned to see Camira with her head on the desk and Claudian looking alarmed, speaking to the girl. She got up and walked over to the other students, nodding in greeting to Claudian and Mia.

"Camira?" she said with concern, looking at Claudian and Mia. "What happened; is she okay?"

"You can say the same about people. Watching children playing is fascinating. Because you never know why they do what they are doing," Marco said, "I used to watch my father's friend's son, while they 'talked'. He is 5-ish years younger than me. So when I started Hogwarts he was 6. He was interesting to watch."

Erikson excused himself from both Xana and Marco and made his way over to Cassandra, pulling her aside for a bit. "Cassandra, it was a simple and sincere compliment, which should be taken with honor and grace. Goodness, childe, you are a pureblood, are you not? Have some elegance, piccola."

He made his way over, thinking on Xana's question, having been somewhat grateful for the break in conversation. Finally, reluctantly, he answered. "I may have... been known to..."

He nodded to her, happy to have helped, then turned back to Marco.

"Children and elders both, actually. You'd be amazed." He smiled softly. "You can learn much about the nature of a person if you only take the time to watch them. You know, without being a stalker."

"I have never taken the time to watch old people. I do not spend alot of time around them. I only got to see the young when Father's friends came round," Marco smiled, "I am not a stalker. The person I watch knows I am watching them. Unless, erm...nothing." He shook off that thought.

Cassandra's eyes widened. Great, Now he thinks bad of me... This was all Amelia's fault! "I did..." she whispered to herself mostly, and then turned to her Hufflepuff counterpart, and in the most sincere way she could muster. she stated. "Thank you, Amelia. I appreciate the compliment."

She turned to Erikson and smiled. That was the best she could do.

As he talked with Marco he kept an ear out for Cassandra. He heard as she spoke and glanced over. Seeing her looking to him he gave a small smile and nodded. He looked back to Marco, looking rather amused. "Unless?"

"Unless nothing Sir," Marco said, a pink tint appearing on his cheeks. "I...um...think Cassandra may need your help," he said, trying to avoid the conversation, and hopefully the Professor.

Good at least she salvaged the situation... She eyed the Hufflepuff prefect... camouflaging the pure unadulterated loathing she felt for the girl.

"I did not!" She said pulling the lilly pot and showing it to the professor, "I'm fine here... I've got new pips." She told him proudly.

He chuckled softly. "Whatever you say, Marco. Don't be stalking young girls now." He winked and made his way back over to Cassandra, looking at her pips. "Very nice, piccola mia. Well done." Though he still looked fairly cheerful (however cheerful was defined in his state) his voice became more serious. "I would speak with you privately when we are done here. Choose one companion to be with you."

She nodded. "May I ask what about?" she put her plant back down and turned back to him, "It may play a part in deciding which companion I would bring."

"I don't stalk young girls at all Sir. There are none worthy to be after all," Marco smiled. It was good to see Erikson being so nice. There was he saying that piccolo thing again. What did it mean?