An Introduction to Plants Closed

Marcus raised an eyebrow as he watches his fellow Slytherin make a fool of herself 'Well atleast she didn't lose us points for her outburst.' he thought then shrugged and went back to listening to the lecture.

A few minutes later he whispers to Erin "If you want help on this class, let me know" He nodded to her then went back to listening his eyes on the teacher as she informs them of the various plants in the greenhouse they are in currently, taking a look around to the other students, he sighs seeing some of them aren't paying attention "Don't they know Herbology and Potions go hand in hand pretty much, they fail here...they fail in potions." he mumbled then shook his head 'Morons." he thought as he started journaling the lecture for future reference, writing down the various ways of a plant is used in magical medicine and potions amongst other things.

Glancing to one of the nearby plants, he realizes it's a Mandrake, he gulps hoping no one pulls the Mandrake from the dirt 'A great time to not bring earmuffs especially with a Mandrake root nearby' he thought edging away from the plant toward the back of the class encase someone is stupid enough to pull it.

The teacher would drone on about plants and when Erin thought the coast was clear enough she would mutter to one of her classmates (Marcus), "if she loves plants so much... why doesn't she marry them?" Childish, yes but she was a child. The instructor would do on about muggle uses for Wormwood as well as a frequent accented misstatement "Wyrm Word." Strange and stupid, at least that was her initial conclusion. Yes, strange and stupid. 

"If you want help on this class, let me know"

Marcus offered. It was a kind offer, but one she intended to refuse. Sh did not need help from anybody. Especially some tree-hugging nerd. Besides...

"Don't they know Herbology and Potions go hand in hand pretty much, they fail here...they fail in potions."

Oh wait, there was that. Ooohhhh... she thought to herself as the dim light bulb in the black attic of a brain turned on. Potions were useful, unlike plants. "You already know about this stuff?" she whispered as she bumped her shoulder into his. "How?" She was going to get some more information on her potential study mate but the class was carrying on without her. The teacher would pull up another plant, a pretty flower that seemed to move. "Now class, be careful with this one," she warned "make sure that you are wearing your gloves" she announced as she handed the small flower to a young man from one of the other houses -- maybe Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. Honestly she did not care enough about the other houses to pay attention to where everyone else was from. The other houses historically lacked ambition or the stones to do anything worthwhile. It was a sign of weakness that the sorting hat placed them in secondary and tertiary houses. Who was going to remember some nerd from Griffendor? 

The student would squeal. Yes, the young man shrieked like a little girl. Several of the students laughed, Erin was among them. "It tr'ed to--" the teacher placed a finger over her lips and took the plant from his hand and gave it to another. The second student dropped it onto the ground and let out a nervous laugh as he looked at the teacher. "It almost--" with a hint of a mischievous grin the teacher hushed the second student and this process would continue until the plant was in Erin's hands. She would quickly realize why the plant was dropped so many times before. The geranium would snap at her fingers, its teeth would dig into the gloves that she was ordered to wear. 

She had too much pride to yell and she realized that the others shrieked out of shock rather than pain. Still, she like the others was startled and she let out a gasp before she like a few others before her nearly dropped the plant.

She paused for a moment as she watched the viscous plan gnaw at her gloved pinky finger. It was a good thing she was wearing gloves. It would be awful if this plant got hold of some uncovered flesh. It was then that something devious had gained purchase in the back of her mind. She eyed those tiny teeth for perhaps a moment too long before she relinquished the Fanged Geranium and the howls and yelps would continue until the last student had handled the geranium.

"Fanged Geraniums are not particularly dangerous but they can be a pest, but the powder from their teeth can be useful in making certain concoctions." The instructor would explain.  

Marcus grins toward Erin "Tutors when I was younger, it helps a lot to know your Ingredients when you do potions" He said quietly to Erin, putting on his gloves just encase he took the Plant from Erin and looked it over then looked to the professor "The Teeth seem dull, Professor..you'll need the teeth sharper to get a good ingredient" he said with a smile then handed the Plant to another student calmly.

Looking back over to Erin "Anyway, Name's Marcus De Wynter, Heir to the De Wynter House, What's your name?" He asked with a gentle smile , as his red eyes look her over silently "Hopefully you'll agree to study partners, you'll need a lot of help if you think Herbology is useless" He teased her with a soft chuckle then wrote down some uses for various plants nearby in potions "I'll make you a copy of my notes." he added casting a copying spell on his notes when he finishes writing then discreetly handing his notes copy to Erin with a sly wink "Let me know if you need anything else" He whispered then moved on to look at the other plants nearby as he listens to the professor. 

"Tutors when I was younger, it helps a lot to know your Ingredients when you do potions"

Wait, he got tutors? Why didn't I get tutors? Oh god, was my family poor! No, that could not possibly be it. Maybe he was born dumb. She reasoned as she tried to push back her innate jealousy. She passed the plant onto mister know-it-all and he was unfazed, unfrazzled and perfectly hinged. Unlike every other student who seemed shocked or terrified by the plant. 

"The Teeth seem dull, Professor..you'll need the teeth sharper to get a good ingredient"

The teacher nodded in response to Marcus' recommendation. "Very good Mister De Wynter, I would not expect anything less from a young man like yourself."

What? There was a tone of respect in addition to the accolades. She would look over at Marcus somewhat dumbfounded. Was he some important hot-shot? Son of some fancy-pants wizarding prince?

"Anyway, Name's Marcus De Wynter, Heir to the De Wynter House, What's your name?"

"Erin Ryan heir to nothing," she replied with some childish sass loud enough for the teacher to notice her again.

"Hopefully you'll agree to study partners, you'll need a lot of help if you think Herbology is useless"

"Do you know which plants... like do stuff?" Yes that was the depth of hr elegance at the moment. Plants that did things, like blow up, make you itchy, taste really bad, smell like wet dog. Right about now she could really use something that gave the teacher a terrible case of the farts that she could drop into her tea. British sounding people loved their tea, right?

"I'll make you a copy of my notes."

He offered as he made her a copy that listed off several plants she did not even know. She was going to need diagrams.

"Let me know if you need anything else"

She would fold up the paper and shove it into her pocket. "Yes, awesome... thank you. Slytherin, right?" Did she just initiate a continuation of a conversation? Yes, yes she did. She would not admit it, but sh was friendless here. She had not met anyone else in hr house yet, she ran off after the sorting ceremony to drop off her things and she ate alone rather than at the Slytherin table. 

"Miss Ryan!" She scolded, "pay attention." Every instructor in Hogwarts likely expected the same thing -- respect and their students undivided attention. The instructor was getting neither from Erin it would seem and about half from Marcus. However, only one of the two lacked a a fancy name and had already mouthed off to the teacher. "Mister De Wynter is trying to learn Miss Ryan. Stop distracting him. Perhaps you could learn something from such an exemplary student." Some of the students snickered. Erin was likely going to be third year by the time she got out of detention at this point.

She let out a sigh. "I was just..."

"Just what," she snapped. "Just talking and not paying attention in my class again. Miss Ryan, remember that you are in a place of learning. You are not her to flirt with the boys."

"I was not flirting, Mam." Her tone has a twinge of defiance.

"You need to learn how to conduct yourself better in lessons. Use Mister D Wynter as an example to emulate."

"But--"

"Do I need to start taking points from your House on the first day Miss Ryan," they had reached the point of threats. She would look around, there were some icy stares from her fellow Slytherin as well as the humored glances from the other houses. Slytherin's losses were their gains.

"No, Sir... I mean Mam." No, she certainly meant sir.

"Moving on," she sighed. "This is Molly. Does anyone know what physical characteristics are used to identify this important plant?"

Marcus pauses seeing the Teacher berate Erin "Umm..Excuse me Professor, It was my fault I was helping her understand some of the plants, she was only asking me questions...My apologises" He said with a frown then nodded to Erin as he looked over the Moly plant the teacher produced "Doesn't the plant, help with some kind of Anti-Magic potion or something...I've only heard about it so far never read about it in a book..I do know it's an incredibly rare plant to have.." He said to the teacher then looks over to her "I'm surprised but not that surprised that Hogwarts has one, They are usually grown in Greece I believe" he adds as he looks over the plant silently for a few seconds...

"It's in fantastic condition as well Professor, it would make an extremely powerful potion..I hope it's guarded at night from people who may want to steal it for their own potions.." He told The Professor then walked back to Erin and whispers "Head to the Library when you get a chance, the first four editions of the Herbology books will come in handy." He nods writing down information on the Moly Plant

"Umm..Excuse me Professor, It was my fault I was helping her understand some of the plants, she was only asking me questions...My apologies"

The teacher regarded him differently than she did Erin. This would be something that she would have to get used to. In her isolated youth she had no reason to believe anything less than that she was important, more important and interesting and entitled than anyone else.

"That might be so Mister De Wynter," there was doubt in her voice. "Then I expect that you will prevent her from disrupting the class once again." Even when he was rebuked, it was not directly about him. The fudge!

"Does this mean that I don't have to meet you in your office after class?" Yes, she was hopeful.

The teacher glowered at Erin. "No." The discussion hit a terminal point there. 

She opened her mouth, it was purely instinct to debate but the words did not leave her mouth. It was a futile effort.

The teacher was continuing on with her lesson plan. This time she was talking about a girly named plant. She asked someone to describe it. 

"Black stem and leaves, small white flowers," a student dutifully answered.

Then the brainiac class favorite would interject. "Doesn't the plant, help with some kind of Anti-Magic potion or something...I've only heard about it so far never read about it in a book..I do know it's an incredibly rare plant to have.."

"Yes, very good," she applauded him for regurgitating something he read somewhere. Honestly, Erin did not know that information but now that she had heard it once, she had silently started to convince herself that she totally knew that too. 

"I'm surprised but not that surprised that Hogwarts has one, They are usually grown in Greece I believe." He injected more trivia. Some of the students were looking at him. There was some Hufflepuffer giving him the googly eyes. Really girl... get some respect. She did not say the words but she thought them.

"It's in fantastic condition as well Professor, it would make an extremely powerful potion..I hope it's guarded at night from people who may want to steal it for their own potions.."

What, rare? That weed? A part of her wondered how much trouble the instructor would be in if the plant 'got lost' or had 'an unfortunate accident.' She shook the thought away from her mind as quickly as it had entered. Some anti-magic plant would be pretty useless to her and... she would find something better than stealing some stupid plant.

"Head to the Library when you get a chance, the first four editions of the Herbology books will come in handy."

"Where?" She whispered back as he pulled her back to the present. Wait, this place had a library! She was not exactly the most studious despite the fact that she wanted a bit of everything in the end. The teacher raised her over-plucked eyebrows at Erin and a small part inside of her shriveled in response. 

She really did not care for the know-it all but the teacher seemed to think he was perfect. She wanted what he had. That was her main flaw really, avarice and envy. They often went hand-in-hand and sometimes they even meant the very same thing. A part of her wanted to knock him down a few pegs and another part of her wanted him to help pull her up. Of course, why couldn't she have both?

The library sounds awesome she mouthed, this time not making a sound. Meet you after detention. However long that might be.

[Topic Left]

Cameron raised his eyebrows at the current remark from the Professor giving a student detention on the first day. He didn't expect it to happen so soon especially if that student was a first year. Cameron took notes as the Professor continued to lecture about the plants and what they can be used for. Cameron remembered reading from his book about potion ingredients that involved various plants and herbs. He placed on his dragon-hide gloves as he got to work with touching the ingredient the Professor mentioned in class. He studied the herb for a bit then he passed it onto his partner as he started to examine it and pass it onto the next student. The remainder of the class consisted of the history of Herbology, and what impact it has on the wizarding world, he learned a few famous witches and wizards who were Herbologists in the field and what they have discovered in history. Cameron loved learning about history and he always had a passion for the past and anything relating to this time era and how plants have evolved over the past century. Cameron got to know his partner in Herbology as they both mentioned which house they were from. 

James opened the door slightly, peeking in. Was this the class he was supposed to be in? It looked like it. James saw a label displaying the name "An Introduction to Plants" and stepped inside the room.
"Sorry I'm late..." he said to whoever was supposed to hear it.
James quickly sat down at an empty desk and looked around.
He saw some students that he'd seen in the distance before, probably at the Sorting Ceremony, but he didn't know their names. He turned to the person next to him and whispered carefully to them.
"Um, what are we doing right now? Have I missed anything?" he asked.
Probably... his mind told him.

OC: This thread finished up several days ago. Marcus has in theory not left the thread so he might be worth private messaging for the additional player interaction. Just remember, the word count minimum is 200 words. Not only is that what the staff expects but also the other users in the threads you role play in often feel the same way. I will vacate the NPC teacher so that there is an RP here.

IC:

The class was over, the students were too late. It was rather unfortunate that they were tardy or truant on their very first day. It should be worse of course, they could find themselves in hot water if they make a habit of this.

The teacher would glance in your collective direction and let a breath of air escape through flared nostrils. The teacher would not call out to you or your fellow deviants. He would pack away his precious potted plants, one by one onto a simple black iron wheeled cart. Some of the plants you might recognize from your victory garden back home. There was indeed magic in everyday things. Some of the plants were rarer, known only to wizards or wizard enthusiasts and hopefuls such as potentially yourself.

The teacher would not answer any questions if asked. Rather he would grunt a harsh reply -- "next time show up on time." He would then leave this group of loitering children without so much as a farewell. The cart would rattle and creek as the wheels banged against stones and squeaked as it found uneven earth.

That would leave you collectively alone, completely (well mostly) unsupervised on a beautiful, sunny day. It looked like there might be some rain on the way, a cool western wind was blowing and the horizon was grey. A peal of thunder rumbled distantly heralding the approach of a storm.