"My interest in herbs and related plants is strictly from a baking standpoint," she laughed, tossing her long black ponytail over her left shoulder. "Not that I think they don't serve other purposes, in potions for example." Just in case he was offended by her slight lack of enthusiasm for plants. "I do enjoy Herbology, just not when we have to deal with flesh eating plants." She was still having nightmares thanks to Professor Vindictus.

Kurumi wrinkled her nose. She minded...even if the creatures were already dead. "Arithmancy and Transfiguration too," she chirped. Kind of a mixed bag when it came to the subjects, not exactly with a clear cut theme running between the two.

"Your father was a spy?!" Wait, was it alright for Corey to be revealing this information? Didn't being a spy entail a lot of 'I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you' sort of thing?

She jumped a bit, not expecting him to snap his fingers and her eyes crossed when he pointed at her. Thankfully his stomach growl interrupted any thoughts she may have had about the Headmaster using Obliviate on her and her fellow prefects.

Surprisingly, she didn't mind their hands swinging back and forth in the air, but that didn't mean she didn't blush.

"Sometimes leaders need to be followers," she winked. She peered around Corey when they had once again stopped. "Moly? You mean the herb from Homer's Odyssey?"

Harvey entered the greenhouses to do what he had told Professor Bentley he would do, clean up the greenhouses.

First Harvey went and got a broom and swept up the leaves into one pile he left them to one side, he would ask what to do with them later. He then got a watering can and proceeded to water the plants, including the long tentacles ones that he was warned about.

Harvey was happy that he could help out the professor, especially one as nice that professor.

Tori had been meaning to get out to the greenhouses for ages now, and at last here she was. Only before starting to play with the plants, she had to do a little self-transfiguration. Thankfully, the walls of the greenhouses were well... glass, and therefore reflective enough that she could see her reflection.

Parking herself in front of one shiny pane, Tori started tapping her head. "Felintas," she commanded, concentrating so that her hair grew until it was at least halfway to her waist. She studied her reflection for a moment and then added a second tap. "Felintas!" There, now it was kinda curly. So cute!

Tori giggled to herself and then decided to see what she would look like with oh... bubblegum pink hair. "RISTARIS!" she bellowed, tapping her head again. OH. OH. This was just GORGEOUS. Now she could understand why that Lola Jones had such an attachment to her cotton-candy head. It was SO PRETTTTTTTTTTTTY.

"Well we're not in that greenhouse, so far as I can tell. No flesh eating in here." Corey assured her.

It was his turn to wrinkle his nose. "Arithmancy is alright I guess, you kinda sound like you pretty much are okay with everything." One of THOSE people. Corey himself wasn't convinced about what he did and didn't like at Hogwarts at least. He had a few thoughts in general.

"Yeah Moly! That's... well sort of. The ones in Homer's odyssey are the wild ones. You can tell the difference because wild Moly are white. Blue ones like this are the regular kind, that you can grow yourself. Do you know what they do?"

Well, as long as they were not in the greenhouse with the flesh eating plants she was alright. Probably. She nodded towards Corey nervously.

"Not...everything..." she said shaking her head. Potions and Flying certainly were not on her list of classes she was good at, but she was beginning to think that it had more to do with the professors than the actually subject. "I am more one of those people who studies. I always feel like I have to prove myself." Long complicated story there.

To be completely honest, Kurumi had thought that moly was something fictional and only in Homer's story. Perhaps another connection with wizarding history? Seemed very plausible considering how many magical elements were in the story. "Afraid I don't," she said shaking her head.

"Do you study for you, or for other people though? I mean, if you wanna do well and all thats one thing, but if you're doing it because someone else expects it of you, then you kinda have to ask yourself what the point is." Corey chattered even as he leaned forward to examine the Moly.

He smiled at Kurumi.

"Well they're pretty special little flowers. They help to protect you against dark magic." There were plenty, so Corey picked one and turned to Kurumi, offering it to her.

That was an interesting question. Neither of her parents ever told her that she HAD to study hard. In fact, her mother would have rather she put the books down and study flower arranging and the piano instead of history and mathematics. "Let's just say my mother would prefer I not study magic at all," she said with a nervous giggle. Her father would be proud of her for anything that she did. "I've never really done anything for others. Never had the opportunity really."

Kurumi blushed and took the flower. "Really?" She was rather surprised that something so small and delicate could do that. "How do they do that?"

"Yeah?" Corey looked surprised. "Mine too. She doesn't get magic and all. She's a muggle and she wouldn't let me come to Hogwarts before, but did let me have a tutor. Sort of. Had to go to regular school as well and some stuff was kind of hard to practice." So he was better at theory things, and potions and herbology were much more accessible at home like that. His mum could just pretend potions stuff was chemistry.

"Well in lots of ways. You can crush them up in potions, but it also helps to protect you just by wearing it. Like in a buttonhole or behind your ear. There's bunches of books about 'em."

"At least you are here now," Kurumi smiled with a slight blush to her cheeks. "My mother is too, deathly afraid of magic in fact. Not even allowed to have our wands in the home. I have to hide my fairy tale books as well. She'd probably burn them if she ever found them." Kurumi couldn't hep but notice similarities between her and Corey. It was...strangely comforting.

"I never knew," she mused, peering in closer to take a better look. "I haven't come across it in any of my readings yet. Obviously, I am not in the awesome vibes section of the library."

Alyssa turned around when she heard a familiar voice. It was her friend, Penny. "Hey there Penny, you're helping out too? That's cool. Yeah, I asked Professor Bentley whether I could help take care of the plants when I had the time. I figured that after the mess we all made, that I would come back and help clean up." Looking around her, she said,"We sure did leave a mess didn't we."Alyssa laughed. "I blame it on the pixies. If they hadn't caused such a riot, dirt wouldn't have been flying around."

"At least we're making headway with the cleaning." Alyssa smiled over at Penny who was working at her end. She looked like she was deep in thought.
"Is there something bothering you, Penny? You look lost in thought there. You don't have to tell me if you don't want me to. But just know that whatever you tell me will remain a secret."

Harvey went back to the greenhouse to clean it up. He sweeped up the leaves that were on the floor and put them in a bag. He watered the plants and cleaned their leaves. He weeded the plants that needed weeding.

Penny looked at Alyssa, if only she could tell...but then would it make it any easier to tell?... not really.. no she wouldn't be telling, but she appreciated the thought just the same, giving Alyssa a grateful smile...

"No, I'm fine - just thinking about family stuff and the holidays coming up...uhm can't decided to give my Dad for Christmas".... there, that sounded plausible - right?....Penny mostly kept her head down and cleaned as she spoke

Ryan loved Herbology.He walked into the Greenhouses and saw a boy Weeding some plants.He went over to help.Hello,can I give you a hand.Ryan said picking up some bags and watering some plants.

"Oh I'm sure that he'll like anything you give him. It's the thought that counts,"Alyssa smiled assuringly at Penny. She knew that, that wasn't what was bothering Penny, but not wanting to pry, Alyssa decided to keep silent and finish cleaning up the greenhouse.

She noticed that other students had come to help and that even the Gryffindor Prefect Kurumi was here, only she seemed to be talking with another older student.

Alyssa went to the cupboards and took out the watering can. She went to fill the can with water and then started watering the plants, making sure that she kept away from the leaping toadstools. Wearing her gloves, she touched the soil around the plants. She only watered those that felt a little dry, taking care not to over water it because that would surely kill the plants and Professor Bentley wouldn't be happy about that. She looked over at the Puffpod plant. She had always wanted to harvest it's seeds but wasn't sure how to. She made it a point to ask the Professor the next time she saw her.

Sweeping up the dried leaves and dirt off the floors, she scooped them up and placed them in a bag to dispose of later. She then returned the watering can and broom back into the cupboard and decided to leave for the day. She'd come back later once she talked with the Professor about harvesting the Puffapod seeds.

Penny didn't feel right watching Alyssa walk away, she had just told a white lie.... but she didn't want to talk about it all yet - she had to think it through first...

Finishing up what she was doing, Penny left the watering can and sweeping brush back in the cupboard....then taking off her gloves to wash her hands, Penny decided that she would work extra hard on their Potions and Muggle Studies homework - they were partners in both classes.

"Yeah its pretty cool so far I guess. I like my house. The people feed me." Really. They did. He barely had to leave the common room. It was epic. Also they were winners. So clearly it was the best place to be.

"Afraid?" He considered this. Hmmmmmmmmm. "My mum is really superstitious. I guess its all linked right? Superstition and fear. Its why magic people used to get burned."

Oh so he'd taught the prefect something? That was cool. Corey grinned and his stomach rumbled again. Bloody thing.

"So then next time you go to the library you'll have to take me along. I'm not sure where the awesome vibes section is but I bet it'd be like a metal detector and I'll go off once we find it."

"So...as long as you have someone who feeds you, you are happy?" she asked with a small laugh. At least he seemed to find ways to feed his late night cravings without the kitchens being readily available.

Superstitious. Kurumi had never even thought about that angle before - although she knew now that her mother was not that type. "You mean...if you had a black cat and it crossed her path she would freak out sort of thing?" And yeah...witch burnings...those were not exactly a shining moment in the history of mankind.

She laughed a bit more when she heard his stomach grumble. "Do you...want to head to the Great Hall for food or something? I'm not sure if there is anything in here that is eatable." Certainly, there were things in here that would eat him, but she wasn't positive about the other way around.

"Sure. Why get any more complicated than that? Food keeps me going and its fun too, eating, I mean." And it was as if he couldn't quite stop. He was never REALLY full. It was that growing business, the boy supposed. He seemed to do an awful lot of it and was already a fair bit taller than most boys around his age. He wondered if that would level out anytime soon.

"If it was my cat, yeah." He shrugged. "She's kind of religious in an extreme sort of way. I do love my mum though, just to be clear. She just doesn't get the magic stuff, and thinks I'm touched. You know, like... by demons and stuff." And now if Kurumi said or implied his mum was nuts, he'd yell at her. There was a slight challenge in his eyes.

"Lets go to the kitchens instead. Bug some elves. I know there's some dumb sign up but what are they gonna do, really?"

Alyssa limped into the greenhouse. Her knee was still hurting her from her fall yesterday at the game, but that wasn't going to stop her from her duties at the greenhouse. Besides she had made an appointment to meet up with Professor Bentley today and she couldn't keep her waiting. The Professor was going to teach her how to harvest the Puffpods today.

Alyssa figured that she would sweep up the leaves and the dirt in the greenhouse before the Professor showed up. She put on her robe and taking out the broom from the cupboard, she started sweeping up the dirt and dead leaves that was littered on the ground. Sweeping them up into pile, she scooped them up and bent down to place them in a bag. She felt a sharp pain in her knee, but chose to ignore it. Pushing the dirt and leaves into the bag, she tied it up and placed it near the door. She would dispose of it later. She then went around the greenhouse, reaching into each pot and checked to see whether the soil had enough water. She made very sure that she avoided the plants that would bite her back.

When she was done watering those plants that needed watering, she laid aside the watering can and rubbed the dirt off her hands. Then she went over to the Puffapods to check on them.

"Yep! They definitely look like they are getting ripe," Alyssa thought to herself. Alyssa was definitely looking forward for the Professor to teach her how to harvest them.

Alyssa picked up the bag of leaves, took it outside and placed it in the bin. Closing the door behind her, she waited for the Professor.

The weekend. It took forever to come but when it did it was gone in the blink of an eye... and there was always work to be done. But that was one of the joys of teaching, you were always busy, never bored or complacent, and Seren was rather fond of keeping busy.

Making her way through to Greenhouse Three, Seren entered and closed the door behind her. It was much warmer in here than it was outside. Thank Merlin for enchantments! ... otherwise the plants wouldn't be doing too well. Everything seemed to be in order.. and in fact everything looked a lot tidier than she had expected.

What a pleasant surprise.

AHA! There she was, Alyssa was already waiting for her. She wasn't late was she? Quickly checking the time on her pendant watch, Seren's nerves were put to rest when she realised she was perfectly on time. Good.
"Morning Alyssa," she greeted brightly, making her way over to the girl. "Congratulations on your quidditch success the yesterday, you all played really well." They did, and it was a thrilling match, though unfortunately it hadn't gone the 'Claws way. Oh well... there was always next time.

"Thank you, Professor. To be honest, I was called in last minute to play because some of the players came down with the flu bug. Thank goodness, we were still allowed to play with just 4 players. I have to admit that the Ravenclaws played very well. It's just bad when only one team can win."Alyssa told the Professor understanding that she was the Ravenclaw House Mistress and clearly supported her house team.

"Thank you for meeting me here. I know that you have more important things to do than to spend time here in the Greenhouse teaching me."

Harvey had walked into the greenhouses to tidy them up a bit, when he saw that he was beaten to it by none other than his professor and another student, Alyssa he thinks it is.

"Hi Professor, what a pleasant surprise to see you here." He said. then turning to the student "Hey Alyssa, how are you?" He says grabbing a broom to sweep up the floor.

Seren smiled, yes it was a good thing that they were able to play with four players...
"It certainly made for an interesting game."

"It's really no problem dear, I am a teacher, so I'm only doing what is required of me. As it were I do not work for the school, I work for the students... so if ever you or anybody else needs something, I shall do my best to provide it." After all wasn't that the point of teaching? Being avaliable and assisting students in their learning? Facilitating it as opposed to creating it?

She had been about to continue when another student made their presence known.

"Morning Harvey," she greeted brightly.
He was surprised to see her in the greenhouse? Well that would be a first.
"It's really not all that surprising when you think about it dear. I spend a lot of my time in these parts."

Oh look! He was being useful. How lovely!

"Hey there Harvey. I'm here with Professor Bentley because she's been kind enough to take time off her weekend to teach me how to harvest the Puffapods. They look like they are ready for harvest."

"So where do we start Professor?" Alyssa asked the Professor, putting on her gloves and her robe.

Harvey smiled "What I meant professor was that I hadnt had the pleasure of meeting you here in the greenhouses until now. I have come here quite a few times to tidy up since our talk in your office, I did say that I would help tidy up the greenhouses for you professor." Harvey said sweeping the floor of dried leaves and dirt. "It was time for me to come back and tidy up so here I am" he said smiling and sweeping.






"Well she is a kind professor" he said smiling, that is why he enjoys talking to the professor so much. "Oh that sounds interesting, do you mind if I watch?" Harvey said going over to where they were but keeping his distance not knowing what the Puffapods were capable of, maybe they could spew poisonous liquids at him over a great distance.