Chapter 12

Everything is connected now.

Wizard Sean again checked his schedule.

[Ravenclaw first-year:

Monday morning:

Potions, Potions;

Monday afternoon:

History of Magic.

Note: First-year students’ class hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00–12:00 AM, 2:00–3:30 PM]

The first-year curriculum at Hogwarts is undoubtedly light, with no classes after 3:30 PM.

This also means first-years need greater self-discipline in studying.

After half a roasted chicken at the long table,

Wizard Sean’s cheeks bulged—herbology wasn’t like potions; though it still had some dangerous plants,

Wizard Sean could avoid the dangerous ones and use safe magical herbs to build proficiency,

such as dittany or daisies.

As long as…

he could find Professor Sprout and convince her to let him into the greenhouse,

even doing chores would be fine.

At that moment, several older Hufflepuff wizards passed by Wizard Sean, and their conversation caught his attention.

“Hurry up, Professor Sprout is preparing today’s first lesson for the new students—we’ll be busy again.”

“It’s the same every year—I actually enjoy helping the professor with herbs,

but I hope this year we don’t run into those serrated three-leaf plants again. You know what I mean?”

“Huh?! You mean you sneezed for three weeks and never bothered to learn what that herb was?”

“I thought you were all gossiping about me behind my back.”

“We did gossip about you—but no one could keep gossiping about you for three weeks, just like you can’t stay in love for three weeks.”

“Hey! Can you stop teasing me like this…”

“If you didn’t put itching powder in our hats and under…”

“Hehe, never mind, I’m sorry.”

Seeing the three Hufflepuff wizards about to walk past, Wizard Sean quickly stood up and leaned over the table.

“The serrated three-leaf plant is sneezewort—it’s a toxic herb,

commonly used in confusion draughts and bewitching potions; dried leaves can also make sneezing powder.

If you don’t want to get hit, stay more than two meters away, because its pollen spreads with the wind.”

Wizard Sean’s voice, young but firm, made the three wizards stop.

“A scholarly little wizard—you must be a Ravenclaw first-year, right?

But you really shouldn’t have told Bruce the truth—he deserved to sneeze hard.”

The wizard with fluffy brown hair wore a teasing grin.

“Hey, hey, at least don’t say that in front of someone else…”

The short-haired wizard beside him sighed.

“If you didn’t put itching powder in our hats and under…”

A slightly chubby wizard interrupted.

“Can you just let this go? I’m begging you both…”

He spoke like this, but his face showed no regret—instead, there was a hint of…

If Wizard Sean hadn’t misread, it looked like nostalgia?

“Oh, thanks for telling us that—sneezing for three weeks is awful,

but we’ve got to go now. Next time we meet, I’ll buy you Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans.”

They were about to leave when Wizard Sean’s voice called out:

“I’ve always wanted to learn about magical herbs—could I join you to help Professor Sprout?

I’ve memorized every plant in the first-year textbook—I might be able to help.”

Wizard Sean quickly listed his strengths and waited for their reply.

In truth, even if these Hufflepuff upperclassmen didn’t take him, he’d go himself after hearing this.

“Huh?”

The brown-haired wizard looked troubled.

“Seriously? You memorized that brick-thick book?!”

Bruce’s eyes widened.

“Bruce! Professor Sprout never said we could bring someone along!”

The fluffy-haired wizard instantly realized what his friend was about to do.

“Don’t rush, Leon—no dangerous plants are in Greenhouse One, remember?

And with one more person, we’ll work faster.

We’ve got Divination this afternoon—I don’t want to miss the tarot-card tea party.”

The short-haired wizard, Bruce, studied Wizard Sean with interest.

“Sorry, but I need to ask a few questions—just to make sure you won’t turn the greenhouse into a mess like those other kids.”

He offered an apologetic look.

“What’s the nickname for the Ariot tree?”

His questions came fast and sharp.

“Hyena tree.”

Wizard Sean answered instantly.

“What shape are dittany leaves?”

“Oval, oblong, or lanceolate.”

“What does mistletoe produce?”

“Mistletoe berries—white berries, excellent ingredients for standard antidotes and forgetfulness potions.”

“You must come with us.”

Bruce seized Wizard Sean’s hand, his expression utterly serious; his two companions looked astonished.

“I’m Bruce. These are Leon and Pistor.”

“Wizard Sean Green.”

…

Thus, Wizard Sean gained access to Greenhouse One, where they would assist Professor Sprout with herb work,

including weeding, harvesting mature herbs, and clearing tendrils spreading from Greenhouse Three.

“Those dangerous plants always have a fondness for Greenhouse One,”

Bruce spread his hands, then gave Wizard Sean a serious warning,

“Though it’s rare, if you spot them, notify the professor immediately.”

Wizard Sean silently memorized his words,

then, beneath the warm Scottish highland sun, followed the three wizards who knew the way out of the castle

to stand before three domed buildings of varying sizes.

They had arched roofs, their ceilings composed of large glass panes.

“One more thing—Greenhouse One is the front one. If you get lost, pray Professor Sprout is there.

Just kidding—just run faster.”

Bruce explained many details along the way,

though he seemed unreliable, he never cut corners on important matters.

Leon and Pistor nodded along, clearly agreeing.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a stifling wave of heat and dampness rushed over them,

instantly fogging Pistor’s glasses.

Before his eyes stretched layer upon layer of dazzling green plants.

Huge, bumpy, pumpkin-like plants;

sneezewort planted in pots, with only a noisy tuft of leaves visible above the soil;

and wooden trellises woven with vines along the greenhouse’s perimeter.

The trellises held countless oddly shaped pots,

inside which some plants exhaled smoke, others pulsed like hearts, and still others bore glowing, gemlike fruits.

Only a narrow path remained for passage,

and at the center of that path stood a short witch with flowing gray hair.