Why go to any other greenhouse (other than the one containing Devils Snare, which Cela didn't really mind) when you could simply go enjoy some pretty flowers?

She wandered inside, glad to see it was empty though some of the flowers felt sad to her. She greeted the puffapods and flutterbies first, then honked back at that daffodils as they greeted her.

She had a few bulbs of her own with her, the first plant she'd ever experimented with. Once mundane hyacinths, now they hummed. She'd given Plymouth some a few years before.

Celandine gathered everything she'd need to plant a few bulbs. The best thing about the Humming Hyacinths? Was that if you planted them together, they hummed in tune.

Phoebus wandered down to Greenhouse one, thinking maybe a little bit of time outside the school and away from everyone would help him to think about what he should do. He didn't have anything particular in mind, just wanted to dig around and maybe prune a few plants here and there.

So he was kind of surprised to see Cela. He still felt...odd around her, but it was a rather neutral environment so he decided to see what she was up to. " What's that there?"he asked, hoping he didn't startle her too badly.

"Oh!" Celandine looked up, clearly startled. She smiled slowly and waved a bulb at Phoebus.

"I'm planting some of these bulbs in a pot." Celandine explained. She had three of them there. "They're for a gift."

Yes in fact, they were.

She smiled cheerfully.

"Are you busy? Want to help?"

Phoebus' glance caught a bulby thing being waved at him, and as Cela spoke, he nodded. " I can help," He smiled, glad to have something to distract him from everything else.


Coming to stand closer to her, he took a closer look at the bulbs. " So...who is the present for?" he asked as he looked around for some gloves and tools to use.

"For the new healer." Celandine answered. "The humming is really soothing and stuff." She realised that didn't explain much and she giggled. "These are Hyacinths. Humming Hyacinths. First developed them at the end of my third year, I'm still sort of working on them, breeding the charms right you know? But anyway, when you plant them together and they grow together, they hum in harmony."

Cela placed the bulb down and pulled her hair into a messy bun, using her wand to spear it in place.

She wasn't one for gloves unless it was necessary and these weren't at all dangerous.

"You know much about planting bulbs?"

Phoebus nodded." Ohhh yeah,that's right. New Healer. She looks nice," He commented. " Humming?" he listened to her as she continued, explaining why they hummed. He blinked once and then smiled at Cela. " Wow. You're like...kind of amazing. With the charm work and stuff." He said, realizing there were no gloves. Oh well.

Nodding, Phoebus picked up a bulb carefully. " Yeah, the basics. My mom likes to plant stuff. She likes perennials. I think her favorites are um..amaryllis and dahlias," He placed the bulb carefully back down. " She would think humming ones were out of this world," he chuckled a bit. " Just tell me where you want them," he said, ready to embark on a bulb planting adventure with Cela, of all people.

"I haven't met her properly, just said hi at the feast. I thought it would be a nice way of welcoming her." Celandine answered. Cela nodded at him. "I'm good at spellwork. I've told you that before I'm sure."

She smiled at him, eyeing his gentle handling of the bulb approvingly.

"Those are pretty flowers. Dahlias come in soo many varieties. Did you know another name for the amaryllis is naked ladies? Isn't that weird?"

Celandine fetched some potting mix and placed it on the work bench and started to sort through the pots for one of a good size for the three bubs. Not too big though, she didn't want it to take up too much space in the hospital wing.

"I can get some more if you'd like to give her some." Cela suggested, giving Phoebus a small smile.

Hmm. Now Phoebus remembered. The new healer was pretty, definitely pretty. " Yeah, I just kinda saw her up a the table. And I've seen you in class, I know you're like a charms prodigy." He teased her a bit and then listened as she spoke about flowers.

" That's another name for amaryllis flowers? I just thought it meant sparkling in Greek." he paused a moment and cleared histhroat. " Um.. no, I did not know that... and yeah, it's kinda weird." he was glad that now she was going for the potting mix and all that jazz. It would give him time to get over that random and...well, just random fact.


After a few moments spend composing himself, he turned around and got up to go help her find a pot for the Humming bulbs. " Sure, I could use a little project." He said, picking up a random pot. " You think this one might work?" he said, holdind up a mediumish pot.

"I wish I could one day... never mind, its silly. I'll never be able to." Celandine made a wistful face. She wanted to get into experimental spellwork so bad but... she was only supposed to get married and be a good hostess and have babies and stuff. Though... it really depended on her eventual husband whether she could get away with doing stuff or not.

Sigh.

"It does!" She was impressed that Phoebus knew that. "But in places where people don't speak greek, it stands to reason they get another name." Cela dug her fingers into the potting mix and sighed happily. It felt good. Good healthy soil.

"Oh yes that one looks good." She agreed and patted the work station table. She gave him a little look, wondering if he knew what the first step was.

Teehee.

Phoebus was made curious by Cela's cryptic response to his praise. " What do you wish you could do one day?" He eyed her as he came to the work bench. " I think you could do anything you wanted someday. You're just one of those people." He told her.

A slight grin was his response to her excitement at his knowledge of Greek influence on the English language. " Yeah, I could see it. But I really like the name Amaryllis. It's just...really kinda nice. I have an aunt named that too, Auntie Ama for short." He explained. Then he laughed, thinking of the other less appropriate name for the flowers. His aunt would have a fit.


Now, down to business he thought. He'd gardened enough with his mum to know the basics. Probably why Herbology wasn't hard for him to grasp. Aside from some of the more magical plants. " So now that you've uh...figured out it's good soil," Judging from her reaction to it, it was," We can put some in there. I also remember my mum telling me that if you plant the bulbs closer, you can get more flowers to bloom." He started picking up some good sized handfuls of soil, putting it in the pot.

"Experimental spells." Cela answered in a near whisper. She gave Phoebus a shining smile for his compliment. It wasn't precisely true, ability wasn't the only factor in what someone could do with their life after all. It was sweet of him to say though.

"Ama is a pretty name." Celandine agreed. Her favourite girl name though? Charlotte.

She let out a little squeak.

"Nooo!" Cela gave his hand a little smack. "There's no drainage materials in there yet! We need gravel or broken pot shards." She smacked at his hand again. Naughty Phoebus!

Phoebus nodded, impressed. " See? That's not so far fetched. You're already doing that with these." He gestured toward the bulbs. " I'd like to think I could get a job doing only experimental potions, really." He said. " I do think you should do it. Do what you want to do." He thought about that...he should really really follow his own advice. Yes.

He smiled a little when she said Ama was a nice name. " It is, simple you know?" He was then busy thinking he would know what to do...when she slapped his hand. TWICE.


He paused, looking at her. She had squeaked too. It all came together and he laughed. " No you're right. Must have...slipped my mind." He said, chuckling a bit. She had seemed so horribly offended at his transgression that he had to laugh. So he kept laughing, trying to make himself stop. " I'm sorry...it's...just...I"m sorry. Sorry," he took a breath and looked at her, pressing his lips together so he wouldn't laugh anymore.

"Can't. Have to get married and stuff." Cela answered. "Maybe as a hobby though, that would be okay." She gave Phoebus a look. "You know, I could totally get you a job? My brother and... do you remember Anna Greingoth? They work together in experimental potions and researchy stuff. If you wanted."

Cela made a pouty face. Evolette style. She pointed at the pot. "You need to empty that out." She commanded him, wagging her finger.

Naughty Phoebus. Ravenclaws did things the RIGHT way.

She had to get married? Like it was a requirement, at least that was the way Phoebus took it. That was weird. " You don't...have to, do you?" he said as thethought of marriage right now quite frankly scared the hell out of him.

Then she told him something that got his attention in second. " Really?" He tried to think back and then nodded. " I remember Anna. Really nice girl,"He said, because...well she was. Nice and pretty awesome, from what he remembered. " Yeah, if you could like..put in a word for me. That would be fantastic." He said. Potions researchy stuff. Totally up his alley.

He grinned at her a bit and nodded. " Yes. Of course, right away," he said, finding her entirely amusing. He emptied it out and then brought it back to the table. " So. Tell me why you 'have' to get married. What if you don't love them?" he said, looking aside at her a moment.

Cela nodded.

"When I graduate. I have... five suitors so far." She made a face. Only one of them.... mattered.

"It doesn't matter." Celandine told Phoebus brightly. Lalalala. Easier not to think about it.

"Anna is nice." Cela agreed. "And even though I don't really like potionsy stuff? I do think some of the stuff they do is interesting. Nico mostly does poisons and antidotes and stuff." She chattered. "I'lll ask about it."

Oh yes that was better. Now hmmm... should they use pot shards or gravel? The gravel was closer to hand and that was what Professor Bunbury usually instructed them to use, so she fetched some and covered the bottom of the pot.

"Hows that, do you think? Now you can put the soil in. About three quarters and then we'll water and put the bulbs in." She instructed him.

Phoebus listened to Cela, only speaking after she had said she would ask about the job for him. " Thanks it's...really awesome of you to put in a good word for me. And I like the poisons and antidotes too. Always interested me." He said, nodding a little. " Five suitors...I don't think I've heard that term outside of novels." He remarked ashe watched her put the gravel into the pot.


He shrugged." I think it's fine," He meant the gravel of course, what else would he be talking about? He smiled as she gave him permission to put the soil in. " Alright, lemme just get some..."He gathered it up and started piling it in. " It's kinda weird. Now I have a...plan for next year. After I graduate." He said, looking at her as he piled soil in the pot." Well, nothing definite, I understand but it's an opportunity." he explained, not wanting to sound like he expected her to definitely get him a job.

"I have his old potions textbook, it has lots of notes in it that he added. It helps me a lot in class." She picked up one of the bulbs and examined it.

Phoebus was lucky he didn't have to worry about stuff like charity balls and debuts and stuff like that.

"Lucky for you." Celandine answered with a little shrug and smile combo. "The novels usually have a happy ending though. I hope I get one too." Celandine fixed her eyes on the pot.

"A Gryffindor, a Slytherin and potentially a Ravenclaw." Celandine answered, brightening and smiling at Phoebus. "I think they'd like you. I'll write a letter tonight."

Phoebus glanced sideways at Cela when she told him about her secret potions weapon. " Cheater," He accused playfully. " That's cool though that he would let you keep it. Seeing as he's really adept at it and all obviously." He commented.

He thought a moment. " Yeah I'm pretty lucky I dont have suitors. Or I would have to question...a lot of things." he said, laughing after he said it. " I hope you do too. Because...I don't know. You're one of those people who seems like they should get one. Just saying," He looked back at the potted plant.

When she spoke again, making a joke sort of, he chuckled. " Now we just need a Hufflepuff, right?" he said, eying her. " Awesome," He said, smiling back at her. " Thanks, again. So. How long do you think it'll be before these bloom?" He asked her, picking up another bulb again and holding it carefully in his hand.

Frown.

"Cheater? I... its... It isn't... is it?" She frowned again. "Well he has other notes and some of the notes he made are kind of like edits of the text, improvements and stuff."

Cela smiled wistfully, tipping her head to one side. Thinking of Copernicus of course. She only got that particular light in her eyes when she thought of him. "Cross your fingers for me." She whispered and looked at Phoebus with a small smile.

"A Hufflepuff? I don't think so. If it wasn't Anna, pretty sure Nico wouldn't have even considered working with a Gryffindor even." Totes true. Nicholai Toussaint wasn't a fan either of those houses.

"Well, these ones are a little different. Since they're enchanted and all. So about a month if I leave them to grow naturally. Straight away if I cast Herbivicus. I'll leave it up to the healer which she prefers." Celandine used her wand to conjure just enough water to dampen the soil, then she placed the bulb she held in, leaving space for the other two.

"Good amount of soil." She announced approvingly, the bulbs were at a good height.

Phoebus grinned at Cela. " No, I was just messing with you," He said, chuckling. " I don't think you would cheat. I think you like to know things and be good at them all on your own."

Then she was looking all googly eyed which gave him pause. He watched a moment, finding her really...adorable but not in a romantic sense. This conversation was making him see Cela in a new and improved light and he was suddenly struck with the realization that he'd miss her when he graduated. As a friend, for sure. " I will,"he said, crossing them for effect as he made the promise.

" So no Huffies. The only one I"m really close to anyway is Chloe Sullivan," He shrugged and went about his business with the dirt, looking up as she explained the bulbs more in depth. " I see. Hmm. Sometimes I think letting them grow is better. It's more...I don't know. I think I just like it more because it's what I"m used to. " he said, meaning being Muggleborn.

He tilted his head as he obvserved the soil. " I'd say so too," he said and then he looked at her. " Hmm. So now what?" He asked, looking back to her.

Cela blinked at him a few times, her eyes zeroing in on his crossed fingers. She had to smile at that.

"I like letting them grow too. I like seeing them bloom like they're finally ready to embrace the world. Who are we to judge the speed that feels right for them?" She reached out and fit the other bulbs in too, adjusting them slightly.

"Now... more soil." Just a bit. Enough to mostly cover the bulbs though the tips would stick out quite a bit. "Then.... a little more water and then moss."

She looked around. Surely there was some sphagnum moss around here?

Phoebus glanced around. Moss. She wanted moss, well darn it Celandine Toussaint would get some moss. " I see it," he announced, getting up on still slightly thin limbs to go get it. " I'm just going to...bring some." He said to her from the short distance.

Then he came back with it, settling next to her again. " Now. Back to deciding what we should and shouldn't do with these bulbs?" He said, noticing them poking above the soil. " Show me how to cover these, because I think you're an even better at Herbology than I am." He smiled a bit as he spoke and then looked at the bulbs. Hmm. He wondered what color they woul dbe, and what they would hum. " I'm kinda excited to see what these come out like, if I"m honest." He said.

"Oh thank you Phoebus." Celandine smiled at him and gave him a quick little squeeze!hug when he returned to her side.

"Well for our purposes its mostly decorative, but it also contains a lot of nutrients and holds a lot of moisture which is ideal for this particular plant and most flowers in pots really." Cela answered, examining the moss. It had already been separated and was quite ready to use so she started to take some and cover all but the tips of the Hyacinth bulbs.

"Looks pretty see?" She spread it out more and tucked it down a bit too. "The moss is kind of clever you know? It only releases as much water and nutrients as is needed by the soil and the plant. You could use coconut fibre instead if you wanted to, it isn't quite as effective and I think the sphagnum moss looks prettier. Its the same stuff that is used for a lot of hanging baskets, see?" She pointed at an empty, nearby one.

She smiled again and nodded.

"Well, I'm sure the healer won't mind you coming in to have a look and see how they progress. Maybe you could come with me to give them to her?"

Phoebus was quite pleased to receive a hug, quite pleased indeed yes. He was also pleased to get a mini-lesson from Miss Toussaint, during which he was terribly impressed with her green thumb knowledge. " So the moss is just like a sponge basically for the rest of the plant. Nutrients and stuff." He said.

Upon listening more, he began to see why the moss was so plentiful in gardening centers his mum liked to frequent. " I see," He said, looking to the other hanging plants. " I like the moss better too. It seems to have more benefits, being smart and all. " he looked at her and then maybe adjusted the moss a bit more. " You think so?" He was looking at the moss now. " Hm. I think I will. We can talk more about moss," He announced, chuckling slightly.