"Professor Sprout."
In front of the professor, Bruce, who had been carefree the whole way, suddenly became reserved.
"Oh, Mr Bruce Dickinson, Mr Leon Howard, Mr Pist Jefferson. I'm so glad you could come help." Professor Sprout wore a hat with thick patches, her smile warm and welcoming. "A new student? Child, I'm glad to meet you. What's your name?"
She put down the large shears she'd been using to process bubotuber pus and bent down to look at Shawn. She didn't ask why he was there. Instead, she removed her mud-covered dragon-hide gloves, as warm and enthusiastic as any kindly grandmother.
"Shawn Green."
Shawn ducked his head shyly.
"Mr Green, I'm so glad you're here to help as well. Mr Dickinson, could you take him to process the mature plants?" Professor Sprout gently pinched Shawn's cheek, then cheerfully arranged the work assignments. "Mr Howard, I'll leave the weeds to you. As for Mr Jefferson, I'd like you to select dittany at different growth stages. That will be the first plant the sprouts need to recognise."
"Yes, Professor."
Shawn watched Bruce roll up his sleeves and answer quietly. Leon said, 'No problem.' As for Pist Jefferson, he seemed even more reserved than Bruce, only nodding vigorously with a reddened face.
The older Hufflepuff students clearly held Professor Sprout in high regard, Shawn thought.
"I dare say you'll hardly find a more caring professor than Professor Sprout. Every Hogwarts student is like her child," Bruce said with obvious affection, his eyes brightening. "She's been voted the most popular professor for many years running. Now, let's process the mature plants first. Looks like a big job!"
Shawn nodded. The two began weaving amongst the pumpkin-shaped plants, where pots of dittany with purple-red petals were scattered throughout.
"First collect the mature dittany here. Er… do you know what mature dittany looks like?" Bruce handed Shawn small scissors whilst cutting dittany himself.
Shawn shook his head. The textbook didn't mention this detail.
"This is something you can't learn from books alone. I'll teach you." As he spoke, Bruce leant close to a pot of dittany and sniffed carefully, then with a quick "snip", cut it off. "Dittany has a faint mutton smell. When it matures, this smell becomes stronger. Try smelling it."
Shawn leant in to smell and found that dittany at different stages indeed had different intensities of scent. The dittany Bruce had just picked had a noticeably stronger mutton smell.
Bruce smiled. "Mature dittany increases the success rate of Invigoration Draught considerably. Conversely, immature dittany is likely to cause the potion to fail entirely. This is the charm of Herbology."
His words opened the door Shawn had been searching for.
Shawn nodded and quickly joined in picking mature dittany. The two moved methodically amongst the pumpkin-shaped plants, sniffing and examining as they went. During the process, Shawn's ability to identify mature dittany gradually improved.
Bruce's tall frame moved clumsily between the plants, while Shawn's slight build allowed him to weave through more easily.
"That's about enough. Let's process the dittany now." Bruce carried a bag of dittany and waved to Shawn.
"All right."
Shawn stopped and watched Bruce retrieve two silver knives and a strainer-like implement from where the hoes were piled along the greenhouse perimeter.
"Cutting dittany requires careful technique. Basically, it's the three-section method. Watch carefully." Bruce spoke whilst cutting the dittany into three sections, then using different cutting methods for each part. The closer to the end, the finer the cuts became. Towards the very end, he even used the strainer-like tool to squeeze out the essence. "This is because the distribution of dittany essence is uneven throughout the plant, so different methods must be used during processing. Want to try?"
Shawn nodded and took the tools.
[You completely processed one dittany plant at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
Shawn couldn't help but smile, and he worked even harder.
[You completely processed one dittany plant at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
[You completely processed one dittany plant at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
[You completely processed one dittany plant at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
The notifications kept appearing. Shawn's hands moved so quickly they practically blurred.
"He seems to like Herbology a bit too much," Bruce muttered, scratching his head in bemusement.
"Shawn, Shawn, listen to me. It's time to process the dried nettles." Bruce stopped Shawn's cutting spree and, with obvious admiration, led Shawn to a nettle patch. He would no longer question the boy's enthusiasm for Herbology.
"Dried nettles—this is an ordinary plant, but after processing can become material for making magical potions. As for processing..."
Shawn absorbed the knowledge like a sponge, paying close attention to every detail.
[You completely processed one nettle at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
[You completely processed one nettle at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
Time passed steadily.
"Gentlemen, listen to me. You did very well. Thank you for helping prepare for the first-years." Professor Sprout's voice interrupted Shawn's work. In his hand, the last nettle was also processed—dripping light blue juice, having obviously undergone special soaking.
Shawn silently listened to the professor's words, then opened the panel.
[Herbology Recognition: Locked (27/90)]
[Note: Herbology Recognition proficiency includes the complete process of herb identification, herb processing, etc.]
Ninety points to unlock—this was the first time Shawn had seen this requirement. It was like adding three Apprentice-level proficiencies together.
"Mr Dickinson, you and Mr Green successfully helped remove confusing mature herbs for the first-years. Mr Howard, you successfully removed all the weeds. Mr Jefferson, oh, how should I praise you? The dittany classification is very detailed and accurate."
Professor Sprout smiled warmly at them all. "Come, children, come to me and get some hazelnut chocolate."
Shawn heard Bruce let out an enthusiastic "Aha!" then quickly cover his mouth. Leon shook his head fondly. Pist smiled bashfully, clearly still basking in the professor's praise.
Walking single file along the narrow path, the greenhouse looked much simpler and tidier now. Most of the plants requiring harvesting had been handled by Bruce, with a small portion processed by Shawn. The weeds had disappeared entirely, and even the dittany pots in the centre were neatly arranged by growth stage.
When Shawn walked up to the professor, he forced his gaze away from that delicious-looking hazelnut chocolate.
"Professor Sprout, can I come help at other times?" he asked somewhat awkwardly.