Oh look at that. Goody goody Mr. Nemesis was leading this mad parade with the wolfsbane in hand. Bernie smirked, because she found the title oddly humorous, and trailed after Aboli. What was wrong with Pheebs over there? She got chocolate in class?! Reason #4,902 why this new professor was cooler than Rainwater, she supposed. Also, had anyone noticed that Bernie had successfully used the silencing charm in class for a second time this year, and had NOT lost a crapton of points for it? She smirked to herself some more and came to a stop with the rest of the class on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

She crossed her arms to watch the prof demonstrate how to sever wolfsbane, and had to admit that it was pretty cool that she didn't even need to touch the plant. Alright then. Bernie rolled up the sleeves of her robe and grabbed a trowel with her left hand and kept her wand in her right. She knelt down by the first plant to attempt the severing.

Massive failure. What a term she was having already. Phoebe accepted the chocolate as she sat up, waving off the bubblehead so she could actually reach her mouth. The candy melted on her tongue, and she did feel more alert. Not quite herself, though, and not sure she should be trusted with any more spellwork.

She finally managed to get to her feet and headed generally in the direction of her classmates. Maybe she could supervise the digging or something? Oh, see? Bernie. Bernie would appreciate not having to do all the work. "Bern. Let me work with you or I'll throw up on a wolfie plant and the professor will murder me. Please?"

Cecelia was a little distracted by the fact that Claudine was in the greenhouse too, all giggly-goo over something. That was stra-

O____o

The blonde JUMPED when Kale shrieked, her head whipping around to see what had startled him so badly, only to find a vine trying to tug his arm off, PRETTY much. ”It’s okay, I got this!” Cecelia brandished her wand, not entirely sure what spell was appropriate as she was PRETTY sure the Professor didn’t want them harming her vines. Luckily Claudine’s use of Lumos inspired Cecelia to try that, too. ”Lumos!” Let go now, vine.

She watched and waited, ready to try something else when they seemed to be moving on, which was good because maybe it meant no more vine business, but bad because they hadn’t even succeeded in finding the wolfsbane on their own. Did that make them failures?! In all fairness it was hard to focus when your friend was being attacked.

Speaking of..she glanced at Kale, waiting for the professor to finish her instructions before whispering, ”Sorry I wasn’t more help back there.” She was SURE if they had a do over they’d be able to find the wolfsbane. She felt strongly about it. For now, on to the digging and moving.

Mamie was disappointed that her group hadn't found the wolfsbane, but at least she could finally remember its name. She followed everyone over to the edge of the forest, watching the professor demonstrate how they would harvest the wolfsbane. For potions class maybe? She double checked that her dragon hide gloves were still secure on her hands, and tried as much as she could to make sure Josh's bubble head charm was still intact. Then, she grabbed a trowel and claimed her little plant.

Squatting next to the wolfsbane, she started digging vigorously with the trowel, scooping up dirt from around the plant and tossing it over her shoulder. She was making a mess but wasn't that part of the joy of herbology? Playing with dirt?

When she had a little hole dug around the wolfsbane plant, Mamie sat back and put the trowel down. Then she got out her wand. They were supposed to cut the top off with magic. She tried to remember what spell the professor had just used, but it hadn't been something familiar. Mamie raised her hand.

"Professor? Professor?" she waved her hand in the air. "Can-can you help me with that cutting spell?"

That had been a total disaster and Kiz was starting to feel like a big failure. It was an awful feeling. The very worst. She was just glad that they were moving on. Figuratively and literally. They’d be working by the FOREST?

As in… the FORBIDDEN one???

All woes of the previous activity were completely behind her now only to be replaced by the sheer excitement of working close to the forest. Maybe they’d see unicorns… OR DRAGONS. Did dragons live in the forest? She’d have to ask Fifi. Fifi knew everything.

Which is why once they properly made it to the clearing, she grabbed a trowel and bounded straight for her older sister. Catching the tail end of Phoebe’s plea to Bernadette, Kiz quickly decided to interject. ”Me too,” she paused wrapping her arms around Fifi all cute. ”Please?”

The severing charm was one of the many magical things Kiz hadn't yet mastered.

When the greenhouse suddenly lit up again, Nem turned on their heel to see what was going on. They waited until Flamsteed - now present in Greenhouse Y - had repotted the squalling plant before removing the Muffliato with a simple, "Finite," having no way of knowing that it had already been silenced anyway.

Looked like James had been caught unawares though. Nem stood silently and watched for half a moment, then took the time to peer properly around the greenhouse for whatever it was that had knocked the plant over. They still expected to see a gnome or something similar, but ultimately found nothing.

Huh.

Anyway, wolfsbane. "Right," Nem replied, picking up the potted wolfsbane and heading on out of the greenhouse. As Flamsteed gave her explanation and then led them off to the next activity, Nem gave the plant a good once over, looking up again for the example. "Your wolfsbane, Professor," they piped up, stepping forwards once the activity had commenced, and holding out the pot for Flamsteed.

And then they supposed they'd be getting to work. Dull stuff - plants - but might be they'd manage to set a few roots aside on the sly to collect later.

Fiona carefully observed as Professor Flamsteed demonstrated the proper technique when it came to collecting a wolfsbane plant. The teenage girl then made her way to one of the plants with her dragon-hide gloves on and her trowel in her right hand.

Crouching down adjacent to the plant, Fiona dug around the soil with the aid of her trowel until the root was revealed. She placed the trowel aside and retrieved her wand from her robes. Whilst she had a hold of the plant via the stem, Fiona aimed her wand and non-verbally said, "Diffindo!" This resulted in the wolfsbane being severed from the root.

Fiona then carefully levitated the plant into one of the waiting wheelbarrows.

Josh smiled at the younger girl. "Violet. I'll remember that. It's a pretty name." Like the flower. Flower, Herbology, it was a nice little connection. His attention then went to her ankle and cast his wand in that direction, showering the spot in light, but he couldn't see anything. "Might have been one of the vines...but it looks like it's gone now."

Just in time as well seeing as Professor Flamsteed was telling them to leave the greenhouse. Bummer they hadn't found it themselves but hey, at least they hadn't been complete disasters? Glancing to make sure that Mamie and Violet were still trucking along with him, Josh began with his lengthy strides out of the greenhouse and over to Professor Flamsteed as she explained what was coming next.

...which was apparently a trip towards the Forbidden Forest. Which made him recall the time he and Lark had tackled a couple of Pogrebins there... and that made him feel a tug in his chest. Part muscle memory for what Vince had done to him and part, well, losing friends really sucked.

Everyone deserved someone who looked at them the way Professor Flamsteed was looking at that wolfbane. His cheeks heating up a bit and submitting to the urge to loosen his tie a bit, the sixth year gave a tug on his dragonhide gloves and then walked a couple half dozen paces or so until he found his own plant to work on. He...supposed the purple flowers were pretty? Not entirely swoon inducing if you asked him but...okay.

Crouching down, Josh began working on the earth surrounding it with a trowel....and he whistled while he worked.

Violet was still looking in the dark corner of the table where the plant had been pulling her. That was where she had been seeing the purple spots! Had the plant been trying to guide her to the Wolfsbane? "Hey, come back!" she called to Josh, but he had already started out of the greenhouse and was busy digging up something of his own.

Violet looked back at the plant on the table. Was that really Wolfsbane? Let's see...purple flowers, green leaves, long stem--yes, she thought it was! She began to loosen the soil around the bottom to expose the stem, still wearing her dragonhide gloves, then straightened up. What was that cutting charm--they had just learned it in another class, but she'd only done it once, and she hoped she remembered it. She took out her wand, gestured toward the plant, and said, "Diffindo!"

Small and potato like or not, these were the sneaky little things responsible for the baby mandrake on the floor. They had not been up to any good before and they were not up to any good right now.

Sneaking past the dumb hooooomans, they had been waiting in the TREES for them.

Aiming, planning and giggling.

Eying ONE student (Fiona) levitating the plant, one of the gnomes jumped off the tree branch and landed on her shoulders and made a grab for the plant in in the air, “MINEEE” he yelled and made a run for it.

While the other two cannon balled onto two other students (Aboli, Violet), positively trying to push them away from the plant.

Son of a goblin, it had worked! Violet looked down at the little plant, now neatly severed from its roots with a clean cut. Now all she had to do was take it up to the Professor, and she knew just the charm to to that, she had learned it her first year at school--but before she could open her mouth, she was nearly knocked to the ground by some flying object. "What in the..." Violet sputtered, looking angrily around to see who had interfered with her, just when she was so close. But it was not a student--it looked more like a flying potato, and that was impossible. Then again, this was Hogwarts, so maybe not.

Kale was straight up not having a good time. He was suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure glad the Professor thought it was funny, 'cause this fourth year did not. Not to complain, but to totally complain, he did not go to class to be accosted or to scream with the shrill power of a million baby mandrakes. Lil Trent was tryin' to keep cool, not spiral, but these classes kept making it so hard.

Thank Merlin for Cece who had, in a moment of real danger (see: vines), really stepped up for him. He wouldn't forget it any time soon. She was a real G.

The Gryffindor, finally calm enough to find his voice, whispered back when his partner inquired, "I'll be okay." It was true. He would be okay. The when was still very much up in the air. ALAS!

Now, on to the actual activity....

….Kale took a deep breath and found some lion courage. He was so brave. Please note that, general student population. "You gotchur gloves?" He stalked over to where the other students were gathering to start the digging.

Bernie had just started humming a small tune to herself when over came Phoebe, looking rather sad, and of course Phoebe's shadow was tagging along too. "Aww," Bernie tilted her head at her friend and patted the ground beside her, "Don't do that. We LIKE Professor Flammy." She was young, she was fun, she gave them chocolate... she was good people so far.

Bernie of course had to wrinkle her nose at Kinsay though. This child. Bernie had WORDS for her but out of respect for Pheebs, and also because Kinsay had said PLEASE, Bernie let her join them with a nod. "Okay. Here's what we'll do. Kinz will dig up around the wolfsbane using the trowel," because that was easy and required no magic and was something even first years could do, "I'll sever it, and Phoebe will levitate it over to the wheelbarrow."

Sound good? She looked between the sisters and clapped her little gloved hands together. "Good plan. Let's go, team." Bernie handed Kinsay the trowel and flicked her wand at the roots of the wolfsbane she was currently working on to sever it.

Still a little stunned from her fall, Violet clambered to her feet, still looking unbelievingly at the flying potato that had knocked her down. No! not a potato, not potatoes at all, it was... "GNOMES!!", she shouted.

Violet couldn't believe it. She had been so close--so close!!--to fulfilling at least one assignment, and just like everything else in her life, everything just fell apart at the last moment. Suddenly Violet was filled with fury at the lumpy little thing that was grabbing for the Wolfsbane--her Wolfsbane, by Merlin! Without thinking, she grabbed at the little thing before it could escape with her plant and pulled it into a head-butt, just like people did in those Muggle television crime shows. Which worked surprisingly well, actually, mostly because her own head was still encased in the Bubble-Head Charm that Josh had cast on her. Bubble-Heads were not only very light, but surprisingly strong and resilient.

While the little gnome appeared momentarily stunned (and only momentarily, because she suspected they had very hard heads), Violet grabbed for the Wolfsbane and fled for the door, clutching it to her. Dear Merlin, they were supposed to levitate it and not touch it without dragon-hide gloves, she was probably poisoning herself. Well, she was darned well going to turn in this assignment before she departed this world, she was not a Slytherin for nothing.

She exited Greenhouse X dissheveled, bruised, and slightly manic-looking, with the poor, rumpled little plant clutched in her hand. "Look, I got it, I got it!!" she shouted to the Professor.

Once the little potted plant had been taken care of, Claudine set to work. Close attention had been paid to how the Wolfsbane was harvested via Flamsteed’s demonstration. For this reason, she was quite sure that she’d be able to master this activity. After once more ensuring that her dragonhide gloves were in place, the Snakette selected a trowel at random then got on her knees beside the nearest plant {one that wasn’t already been worked on by another student}.

Slowly and with care, Claudine dug around the plant. She made sure not to rush her actions because like with the vines in the greenhouse, she didn’t want to damage the Wolfsbane. Anyway, she dug until the root was visible. Once satisfied, she used her wand to Sever the root. “Diffindo,’’ came the incantation, with her holding the plant but not by its roots. Then, in no time it was Levitated to a barrow. Success.

A sudden yell of MINEEE immediately distracted the girl. What in the name-

Gnomes. Mischievous little creatures.

Well, as long as they weren’t bothering her she’d get back to work.

But... Fiona was her friend... did the girl need some help? Claudine wouldn't intervene now because surely her fellow fourth year could handle herself?

Aboli was enjoying the peace and tranquility that came with dealing with plants, and she had decided this activity, while menial, was nice. And she was about to sever the plant from the root and levitate it where Professor June had said to - much to her chagrin - A GNOME? APPEARED????

Aboli had her wand OUT as soon as the THING smashed into her, and she poked it with the tip of it. "OY! Gnome-face! Get out of here!" what were they supposed to do with gnomes again - disorient them, right? She made a MEAN face at the gnome.

"Got 'em!" Cecelia wiggled her gloved fingers at Kale and offered him a grin before grabbing herself a trowel. Fancy looking little shovel, that thing was. She looked it over as she found herself an unclaimed area and knelt down in front of one of the wolfsbane plants. "Just going to be moving you. No harm done. You're in safe hands." Well, mostly. Cecelia didn't exactly have a green thumb, but she did okay.

Uh...

The blonde was just getting into her digging when the gnomies appeared, causing all KINDS of trouble. Her eyes widened a bit because YIKES and she started to dig just a BIT faster in hopes of getting this whole task done before she was noticed. Noooothing to see here, gnomes. No siree.

"You're honestly a genius. And so gorgeous. And nice. But not too nice," Phoebe winked sleepily at Bernie, more like a full face blink. Her arm went around her little sister, who got a quick squeeze before she pointed her to the ground to start unearthing plants for them. "Wear your gloves, Kiz. I'm serious."

Phoebe could manage a levitation charm, and she happily flicked the severed plant from Bernie's grasp and levitated the plant toward the wheelbarrow. One deposited safely, and now they had a rhythm, right? "Professor? Should we put the roots into the compost pile somewhere?"

A lot was happening. One minute Phoebe was dead and she was contemplating the letter she'd have to write home to her mum explaining how she went bravely in the line of duty protecting her and the next they were GOING TO THE FORBIDDEN FOREST!!

Merlin it was a good thing Phoebe was okay, otherwise she wouldn't get to tag along on what would obviiiously be an adventure.

Emmerson skipped along with the group, paying attention when it came time for the demonstration. Somewhere in all that happened, she'd lost her partners--abandoned really, Phoebe James had fainted and abandoned her. Even more unfortunate, she was entirely on the other side of the group than where they were.

"Professor....Professor...." Emm slipped on her gloves and began digging around the roots of one of the plants. "Professor, I dunno how to cut stuff yet." First Year problems, honestly.

And then there were gnomes. G N O M E S!

"I want one!" The little girl declared, tossing her trowel down in favour of giving the gnomes all her attention. "Can we keep the ones we catch?"

Kinsay returned Bernie's nose wrinkle with one of her own. She was pro at nose wrinkling. Learned from the best (aka Phoebe)! Plus, she had already decided she'd work with Fifi (and Bernie by association), so they were stuck with her. Mhm.

One more squeeze for Fiiiifi, before Kinz put her gloves on all proper. "It's hard to move my fingers," she demonstrated, attempting to wiggle them. Dragon-hide wasn't very stretchy. She didn't need her fingers for the trowel though, fortunately, so she graciously took that in hand and got down on her knees.

Dig. Dig. Dig. She was good at this.

DID SOMEONE SAY GNOMES?

Kiz stopped mid-digging to take a look for herself. GASP (for the drama). "They're so cute!" She pointed helpfully so that Bernie and Fifi would know where to look. Maybe she'd ask her momma for a pet gnome. Or if they didn't sell them at the menagerie, maybe she could ask Mr. Williamson for one.

Fiona had nearly accomplished the task when she felt a small weight on her shoulders. She let out a low growl as one of the Gnomes had grabbed the plant. This Slytherin wasn't going to let that pest get away with it. Fiona aimed her wand at some foliage near where the creature was making its escape and moved it in a clockwise circle and flicked towards the Gnome as she loudly said, "Irretio!"

Her aim was to capture the creature and hopefully the plant (not the creature) unscathed.

Er......she had to expose the root before cutting it? Why couldn't she just cut it right above where it went into the ground? That way the risk of touching the roots was practically nil. Unless the professor was planning on them actually removing roots before planting the new wolfsbane, which brought on a whole new set of questions regarding just letting the roots decay, thus adding back nutrients to the soil.

But before she could ask any of these questions, something more pressing happened. Well okay, not exactly pressing per se. Depended on what one thought of gnomes. Whitney herself was not a fan, but a pressing concern was not what she would call it. More of an annoyance. "Professor, can wolfsbane kill gnomes?" she asked with an innocent air. Why was she asking? Simple Ravenclaw curiosity. Possibly.

GRUNTING, the one that had gotten head locked in the smelly armpit of a silly student (Violet) wiggled his way free, grumbling nonsense and ROLLED over to smash into another pesky hooooman (Cecelia), and offered her some dirt in exchange for the pretty flower she was working at, “gimme??” he even batted his ugly eyelashes in the most cute way possible.

The other, who clearly thought he was the leader, returned the silly prefect’s (Aboli) mean face with his own MEANY FACE, “MINEEEEEE” he wailed and threw some grass in her face.

The third simply dodged the spell that had been aimed at him. Laughing, he tried skipping away before tripping over a rock and landing on a youngling’s lap (Kinsay).

Fiona was seething as her spell missed the gnome which had now landed in Kinsay's lap. "Kinsay, move!" Fiona yelled as she aimed her wand at the gnome. "Flipendo," she said softly so that the spell only hit the gnome.

Heath nodded in reply to the professor’s hint. He aimed his wand, ready to cast Venenum Hortus in the direction of the nearest flash of purple, but Professor Flamsteed announced they were moving on before he had the chance. He blinked, unsure how to feel about that. On the one hand, he was happy that Claudine had been the one to find it. On the other, he was a bit disappointed that he didn’t get to find one himself. Oh well, never mind about that…

He followed the group out of greenhouse X and to the wolfsbane patch at the edge of the forest. He had never been this close to the Forbidden Forest before! It made him more than a little nervous, but he was careful not to let his emotions show as he listened to the directions. He kept his eyes glued to the demonstration, making a mental note of all the steps. Accidental wolfsbane poisoning was the last thing he wanted to happen! Okay, so dig it up, sever the roots without touching them, and levitate it into the wheelbarrow…

Heath took a quick moment to re-inspect his gloves before grabbing a trowel. No holes, no rips, good! Kneeling beside the nearest plant, he began digging. As soon as he saw the roots peeking through the soil, he held the plant by the stem, just like Professor Flamsteed did, and cast, "Diffindo!” He had just severed the roots when an unexpected noise caused his dark head to jerk up. Gnomes. Great, just what he needed… Heath liked most creatures, but those things were just annoying! Didn’t he get enough of them in that COMC lesson last term?

He frowned as he watched one of the creatures grab Fiona’s plant. Well, this just got harder! How was he going to levitate his own plant into the wheelbarrow without the same thing happening to him?