It was easy to imagine Mo's little blackthorn seed growing up into a sturdy, solid tree - the professor's had done it and some of his classmates were already successful. Mo pointed his wand at the potted seed, now buried deep in the dirt, and tried to give SERIOUS intent to the spell. He intended for it to grow up to be a tree. He intended for it to be the biggest and best tree in the class.

Mo was solid at intent.

He narrowed his eyes at the pot and gave his wand two practice flicks before he finally flicked and spoke at the same time. "Herbivicus." Almost as soon as he finished speaking a green shoot sprouted from the dirt, which was thickening even as it grew, until a short tree stood there. Not short for much longer, based on how fast it was growing up before his eyes.

Awesome things were going great, now was time for his little seed to grow. Taking out his wand again he did the wand movement and said "Herbivicus" as he saw something pushing up from under the soil and about a minute later he saw green at the top of his pot… it was growing.. cool.. he smiled as he saw that it was growing into a pretty awesome little tree.. seeing it slow down he saw that it stopped.. wait.. was he supposed to do the spell again? or is this the size..

Bay thought it was best for him to leave it that size, if Professor Bentley wanted it bigger he could always do the spell again.

OH RIGHT… he had almost forgot to hug his tree.. putting his arms around it carefully he gave it a little squeeze, making sure he didn't hurt it of course, he smiled and gave a little laugh. Hugging plants…..

Right. What’s the next step? Watering, yes? Yes. Oh looooook he didn’t forget, even if his eyelids are slowly closing. He did however, jerked when Professor Bentley spoke. Merlin, he really should stop this madness and FORCE himself to sleep at night even if his system doesn’t want to. Ethan grunted, got his wand and watered his pot. “Aguamenti.” Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle. The third year scrunched up his nose as he eyed his work, making sure that the top layer of soil was sprinkled with water.

That’s how gardeners in the muggle world do it, yeah? Good. Good. Now that he got that covered, “Finite.” Ethan proceeded to the next step.

Incantation.

MERLIN. If he got this right, then he’ll get a full grown Enchanting Elm in no time. Just…don’t eat the poor, sleepy, boy okay? Seed? Yes. Onto practice! “Herbi…what was that again?” Ethan consulted his notebook, “Herbivicus.” Again, yeah? “Herbi…yaaaaawn…vicus.” Oh dear Merlin. Maybe he should stand up no? Shake the sleepy feeling. “Herbi-vicus. Herbivicus.” Oh maaan, it’s so tempting to stretch and yawn!

Now to practice the spell. The wand movement seemed easy - just a flick - so Penelope practiced it a couple times and felt pretty good with it. Now it was just the incantation part, which was a little weird sounding though didn't seem TOO difficult. For the most part at least.

"Her...bi...vi...cus... Her-bi-vi-cus... Herbivicus. Herbivicus?" That sounded right? Still felt a little weird though. "Herbivicus. Yeah. Herbivicus." Probably about as good as it was going to get.

Maybe sorta try them together though? Sorta. "Herbivicus." Pause. Flick.

Hmm...not too bad. Maybe she could try them together now.

Alright, first things first, Caleb had to prepare his elm for the spell and whatnot. He walked over to the barrow and gathered the planting mix, adding it to the pot he'd been provided on his workstation as Bentley had said. He packed it in tightly and then brought it back to his desk. He used his thumb to make a nice little hole in there for the plant, and then dropped the elm seed in the hole.

He covered the seed and filled in the hole with dirt. He then took out his wand and muttered "Aguamenti!" and sprinkled a bit of water over it until the soil was nice and damp, but not SOAKING in water.

He wrote down the correct answer and then blinked several times when Bentley told them something to do with hugging their tree.

Wait. What?

Hugging a tree?

Simon blinked. He had never hugged a tree before. Would that help the tree grow more? He was unsure. His younger sister always hugged trees and claimed that she was help making them stronger but Simon would just stare at his little sister with blue eyes as large as saucers. Yeah... He wasn't a tree hugger but if Bentley wanted them to hug trees, he'd hug a tree.

Without wasting another moment on relieving the memory, he set to work. He needed to plant the seed. Looking to his left, he found the pot and made a nice deep dent in it with his hands so that the seed could be tucked away in. As he was digging the hole, he overheard some of his fellow students talking about naming their trees. Simon just blinked. Uhh.. Was it necessary to name them? If so, then what would he name his? He covered the seed with more dirt until he could not see it anymore.

Beautiful. Now what was next? Oh right. Time to water said plant.

Wiping the dirt off of his gloves, he pulled out his wand and pointed it at the pot. "Aguamenti," he said. When the plant was watered enough, he whispered, "Finite!" and then moved onto the next step.

The next step was....?

He glanced at his notes.

After she was sure she got the incantation right, Agatha turned once again at the pot that was on her left side. She pointed her wand at it, but looked at the notes to see what the wand movement was. A flick.

Flick! "Herbivucus!"

...........

......

...

"Herbivucus!" She flicked her wand again. "Herbivucus?"

....The Slytherin's face turned bright red and she decided to kneel down next to the pot. Pointing her wand at it, almost touching the soil, she flicked it and said rather angrily. "Herbivucus!!!!!!!" WHYYYYY WASN'T IT WORKING??

Now that Caleb had his plant ready to go, he had to practice the spell and the wand movement. The movement wasn't very complicated - just point and flick at the seed. Now to practice the incantation...

"Herbivicus," he said clearly, flicking his wand towards the seed like the professor had done just moments before. "Herbivicus," he practiced it again, doing the wand movement over too, just to be on the safe side. Pretty easy stuff...

Focusing on her seed and pot again, Penelope pointed her wand at it again and gave it a flick. "Herbivicus."

...Nothing happened?

Merlin, she hated when this happened. Or didn't happen. Or whatever.

But it was okay, she could do this. Just focus. Think about the tree growing and stuff. Concentrate on it. That was part of the spell that the professor had mentioned, yeah? How it was slightly different from the other spell.

So she took a few moments to do that, and then once again, she pointed her wand and gave it a flick. "Herbivicus."

...And it was growing! Slowly, though not as slowly as it normally would obviously. But it was definitely growing into a bigger and bigger tree.

Awesome.

Now time to actually use the spell on his tree! Caleb cleared his throat, pointed his wand at the area where he had planted the seed and said very clearly "Herbivicus!" as he flicked his wand in the direction of the seed.

At first, it didn't seem like anything was going to happen - but then, a small little green sprout pushed it's way through the soil, and before Caleb knew it, he had an entire elm sprout in front of him! And it kept getting bigger and bigger...until it seemed like it was full grown. It stopped and Caleb didn't see it shrink or anything, so he was pretty sure he had done it right.

Practice out of the way, it was time for Lux to make her little seed grow. Doing the wand movement, she called out, "Herbivicus!" Eagerly she watched as the little seed grew and grew into her tree before stopping at a certain height.

Was that how tall it was supposed to be? Or should she do the spell again?

Unsure, Lux decided it was best to leave things for now because Bentley would give more instructions. Putting her arms around her tree, she gave it a hug. "You are so pretty and remind me of fairy tales." Because it was an ENCHANTING Elm.

Uh.......hug her tree? No thanks, she wasn't a tree hugger.

Layla grabbed the pot to her left and filled it a little more than halfway with potting soil before carefully making a hole in the soil in the center of the pot. Had to have room for the roots, right? Because, you know, trees. Once she was satisfied with the hole, she carefully picked up her alder seed, dropped it in the hole and finished filling the pot (to a few inches from the top) with the potting soil.

Aiming her wand into the pot, Layla cast the watering spell. Aguamenti! Once the soil was sufficiently wet, she cancelled the spell. Next step......

Ah! Time to practice the spell. He glanced at the notebook, reading the incantation. Her-bi-vi-cus he said in his mind. Then he repeated it out loud quietly to himself, "Her-bi-vi-cus... Herbi-vicus... Herbivicus. Herbivicus,' he said with a satisfied grin. Uh-huh. That sounded right.

Now the wand movement. So it was just a flick. With his wand in his left hand, he practiced the flick over and over again. Then he put the incantation and the movement together. "Herbivicus," he said.

He was ready to try it on the seed now.

...........was practicing the growing spell.

"Herbi-vicus." Didn't seem too hard. Even a first year could do it. So, the point of practicing was......? Probably to take up time in class. But she wasn't about to argue with this professor. But more practice she would do. "Herbivicus. Herbivicus."

She totally had it.

Jump jump jump.

Yes, he needs to wake up, and stay warm! Why is it getting COLDER! Gaaaaaaah! Ethan got the green scarf Ella sent him and wrapped it around his head like a turban, since he already got two on his neck. Merlin, the cold is just…stupid, okay? Okay, moving on to the charm. “Herbivicus.” Now, the wand movement? Point and flick, correct?

Clearing his throat, as he stood before his pot, Ethan pointed at the potted see with his wand, a flick, “Herbivicus!” and nothing happened. The Slytherin even took a peek and saw that…nothing was coming out. “I’m forgetting something.” The boy consulted his notes again and nodded. Yes, of course. CONCENTRATION. His mind was definitely elsewhere. Like, uhm…the beach? Yes, someplace warm…or his bed down under, that’s a good place too.

Shaking his head, Ethan inhaled and exhaled and concentrated on the task. What he wanted to see right now, is a full grown, huge, Elm Tree. Enchanting, Elm Tree. With a clear picture in mind, and heart full of intent, Ethan pointed his wand again on the potted seed, flicked and, “HERBIVICUS!” Ethan took a peek and saw just in time a sprout coming out of his pot. The Slytherin grinned, then smiled as the sprout grew taller, Ethan however slowly lost his smile when it started to grow rapidly. Slightly panicking, his eyes were as wide as saucers. “Stop stop stop!” Because it was becoming huuuuuuuuge! The boy had to step back and tripped, causing himself to land on his bum. “Oh Merlin, what did I do?”

The tree however, stopped. THANK MERLIN, and before the boy was a full grown Enchanting Elm Tree. Now…a hug? Ethan felt exhausted, and instead, sighed in relief, and allowed himself to collapse on the cold floor. Nothing to see here! Just…coping from a mild panic, that’s all.

And now it was time to actually put the spell to use. Layla aimed her wand at the point in her pot where she'd planted her seed and focused on imagining a fully grown alder tree. "Herbivicus!"

It worked! She was now standing in front of a fully grown alder tree. Who's roots seemed to be straining at the side of the pot. Hmmm, that couldn't be good. Maybe this should have been an outdoor activity so that they could've planted the trees in the ground where they belong. Then again, with the lingering winter and what had happened to the greenhouses, probably not a good idea.

He pointed his wand at the spot he had planted his seed and with a flick, he uttered the incantation, "Hervicius!"Nothing happened. He blinked his blue eyes. Wait. What....?

Simon was about to try the spell again when he noticed a little green stem popped out of the soil. Ohh.. So it had worked. The boy watched as his tree grew to its full size within a matter of minutes. He was temporarily distracted by his Holmes (Ethan) beginning to panic. He turned around to face his friend, wondering if he could help. However, by the time, he could open his mouth, Ethan's tree had stopped growing.

The Snake let out a sigh of relief for his best mate. Phew. That could have gone really badly if it kept growing. Then his heart sunk. Oh Merlin! He'd left his growing tree unsupervised. Readying his wand for whatever awaited him in the pot, he turned around and saw that his tree had stopped growing. Oh brilliant. It was at its supposed height, yes?

He patted the tree. "Good tree," he said becoming very proud of the seed that had grown up so quickly. He could have wiped a tear away. Happy tear of course. Simon hugged his tree.

Yes, the boy that had turned his nose up at that very thought hugged his tree. This tree was special. They had been through a lot together already in a matter of minutes. Almost the whole lifetime of a tree. They were friends. He blinked a couple of minutes. Merlin, he was starting to sound like his little sister.

Then the Slytherin took a step away from the tree rather awkwardly and awaited further instruction.

Annabeth was thoroughly repented for being so impulsive. She should keep her mouth closed. Anna lowered her head and replied, her eyes watering,
"I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to be unkind. I love shady trees, I love to embrace them... I just..." It wasn't working, she added, "I'll do the tiniest and lovely Bonsai as you never seen. I'll do my best! I promise!" she looked at the Professor shyly and lowered her head again. It was terrible. Two points! It didn't mean "two house points", did it? She could lose points, but her House had nothing to do with her bad mood! They would hate her! What good was it to be beautiful if she wat popular, if she didn't have a boyfriend? What useful was it to be intelligent if she didn't have any friends? Anna looked around. Professor Bentley didn't say "house points" and no one seemed to be annoyed with her.



Anna wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, took some notes and then looked at the seed. It was difficult to see as the tears had blurred her vision. She smiled at the seed. It reminded her her first Herbology lesson, when her friend Jory Stonewall taught her lots of things. She missed him so much.

Sobbing, she picked the pot at her left and went to the barrow. Anna filled the pot with the potting mix and went back to her workstation, putting the pot on the table. She looked tenderly to the seed and said,

"Hi, baby tree. Momma made your bed. It's soft and has all you need to grow up strong and happy." She picked up the seed and laid it into the pot, "you're not going to be tall, but you'll be loved and beautiful. Now sleep well, Momma are going to tuck you in bed." Anna blew the seed a kiss and said, "good night," and then she covered the seed with the mix.

Did he just…make that tree grow? All by himself?

Merlin. Magic is awesome. Ethan did a little bit of starfishing movement on his spot before getting up. Well, his tree needed one last step, no? And that is to HUG it. Show some love, yeah? But, WAIT! His tree IS a flesh-eating kind. The third year stared at the tree, but it didn’t devour any students. And why would Professor Bentley actually let them grow one in its full size IF it’s going to put their safety at great risk, yes?

So…yes, it was okay to hug the tree.

Plus it was one of her instructions so, hugging it is. Ethan stepped closer, and placed a hand on its trunk first. Getting the feel of things, yeah? And as soon as he felt it was safe, Ethan gave it a full hug. HUUUUUUUUUUUUUG. Hugging was good. He tried reaching both of his hands, but because the trunk was so huge, he couldn’t. It was okay though, because it only meant that he was successful with it. Yeaaaaah. He hated to part with his tree, but he must, because the next set of instructions will be revealed soon. He didn’t want Bentley to think he’s gone nutso over his tree, yeah?

Stepping back, he joined Simon in admiring their work. “Ah, Watson,” he said as he wrapped his arm around Simon’s shoulder, giving him a side hug. “…our children. They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Yes, yes. He’s one proud daddy. “I should name…her.” He said as he looked at it a bit dramatically. “Roberta.” Yes. Hello there, Roberta the Enchanting Elm Tree.

Hehehe.

And now we charm. Just like Beautiful Bentley had said, ever so charmingly. No. BRUSSEL SPROUTS. Must think of brussel sprouts. This was not working. SOS. Lux. SOS. Normally the brussel sprout thing worked. And normally he wasn't this crazy over her, but there was just something about being in the same room as the Professor that drove him insane. Especially watching her be all passionate about the plants and stuff.

That was hot.

Ahum. Where was he? Oh yeah. The charm. "Herbivicus!" he flicked his wand and watched as... nothing happened. Oh great. First Beautiful Bentley being all distracting and charming and now his magic was broken. Just great. Maybe it was because he wasn't focusing hard enough. Yeah. That must be it.

Taking one last peek at Professor Bentley's magical smile, he looked back at his pot. Okay. He could do this. Deep breaths and "Uh, Herbivicus?" AND-- Still nothing. Angrily, the Gryffindor banged his wand on the table a couple of times. WAS THIS THING WORKING?! "Ahem, Herbivicus!!!"

AHHHHH!

And before he knew it the plant was starting to grow. And grow. And woah. no kidding, this charm really did make it grow huge. What was that last bit? Hug the plant? But Professor, Zander would much rather hug youuuuuu!

Simon was unaware of Ethan standing next to him as he looked at his own tree. His eyebrows raised when someone wrapped an arm around his shoulder and called him Watson. He smirked. Oh hey Ethan. He nodded at his best mate. "They've grown too quickly, Holmes. I feel old," he said, returning Ethan's side hug. Then he gazed at their trees. They were awesome.

He blinked his blue eyes at Ethan. "Roberta... That's a...That's a really nice name," he said. So Ethan was naming his tree now? So he guess that he should name his tree too. But what would he call his Alder tree? "I'm going to name my tree Gandalf," he said. Simon would be Gandalf named after his favourite Tolkein character of all time. He patted the tree again gently.

Mhmmm.. He was proud but he wouldn't hug the tree- Gandalf- again.

Annabeth looked at the pot. Now she had to give the seed some water. Anna picked her wand and waved it, "Open your mouth, Baby Tree! Momma has water for you! Aguamenti!" When the soil was watered enough, she stopped the spell. "Now you can rest a little while Momma takes some notes." The girl scribbled anything on her notebook and looked around. Some of the other students were already casting the Herbivicus Charm on their seeds. She looked at them carefully to learn how to do the charm properly. She couldn't make it wrong. Not this time. Not after saying that Bonsai was a wasting of tree.

So THAT was the difference. Beverly made sure to write it down because obviously it was an important point. One speeds the life cycle while one targets just the growth of the plant. She'd remember that, she would.

Now, though, was time to plant this baby seed and help it grow. Taking her pot and filling it up with potting mix, Beverly made sure to set it down carefully, then reached for her seed. Mimicking the ways of the one Professor Bentley, she wedged her finger in to the soil and buried her seed in it. That was good, yeah? Not too deep and not too close to the surface.

While she had had thoughts as to the discussion on hand, Lily had kept them to herself. Enough people had suggested ideas as to the difference between the two spells they were discussing anyhow, so she figured it was better to just make sure she didn’t miss any notes that could very well be important later on. Exams were still on her mind, along with the cold that had banished them inside the stone walls of the castle. She didn’t like being so cold, and she hardly believed the plants did either. She was planning on making sure that her tree did well, though, once it existed.

She’d underlined the difference between the two spells in her notes as it had been established. There would be no shortening of their trees’ lifespans, and she appreciated that. She had to imagine Professor Bentley did as well. Especially as the woman suggested they give their trees a hug once they were grown, but first, she had to have a tree. The hug could be considered after that point. Setting her notebook down, she slid her designated pot closer to herself and used a finger to dig a small hole in the soil as demonstrated. Picking up her seed, it was gently set in the hole before she covered it and made sure it was nice and cozy. Maybe even cozier than she was, given the weather. Flicking her wand out of its holster, she pointed it at the soil-covered seed. “Aguamenti,” she murmured, a small jet of water shooting out and watering the soil. Now to make sure she could perform the spell.

Lucy thought:" Now I have to try to use the spell!"
She pointed her wand..she waved and flicked it..then she said:"Herbivicus!"
But nothing happened..
Lucy thought:"Why?! Maybe I lost the concentration.."
She decided to close her eyes..then she breathed deeply..
Lucy thought at her baby plant and she said"Herbivicus!"
Without opening her eyes she heard the trunk go out of the soil..
She look at the plant..Awesome..
Lucy was really proud of her beautiful green shrub..
She was so happy that hugged it tight!!