There were so many plants on the right side of the greenhouse. This was Shawn's first thought.
They were also very dense and robust. This was his second thought.
Therefore, he stuck closely behind the plump professor, in case she was swallowed by lush green leaves in a moment of inattention and couldn't be found.
Professor Sprout held a trowel and led Shawn, walking briskly between two rows of plant racks. She occasionally pinched plant leaves and smelled flower petals.
"This is the Bubotuber pod area. Walk past here and we'll reach the place where you can really show your skills." Professor Sprout's voice was somewhat loud, but not noisy—rather reassuring.
Bubotuber pods? Shawn looked carefully at the vines of varying thickness. They bore plump pink pods with shiny beans inside. Shawn had read about this magical plant in books. Supposedly these beans would immediately bloom once they touched solid objects.
"These Bubotuber pods will mature soon. By then, these planting racks will be planted full of Bouncing Bulbs..." Professor Sprout enthusiastically explained to Shawn.
Light flickered in Shawn's emerald eyes. Perhaps the greenhouse lighting was too bright, or perhaps the young wizard's serious observation really did easily generate goodwill. Professor Sprout's steps became even lighter.
How wonderful... new students always bring new hope. This was what Professor Sprout most wanted to see.
"Come here, child. Let's process these daisies." Professor Sprout stopped before a wooden platform—a wide, sturdy wooden table. The middle seemed to have been stained dark by plant sap and soil over the years.
Shawn quickly stepped forward and saw Professor Sprout retrieve several pots of daisies from under the wooden table. If there was any difference between them and purely ornamental flowers, it was that their stems were more robust. Also, if you bought them in Diagon Alley, twenty of them cost one Galleon. Terrifyingly expensive.
"Don't get distracted. Watch carefully. Yellow daisies must be cut from three inches below the petals..." Professor Sprout deftly cut the daisy. Milky white sap flowed from the stem, which the professor efficiently collected with a glass bottle.
"Only daisies at this time of year can have their sap collected. The incision can't be too deep, or it will affect this lovely flower's future growth. Nor can it be too shallow, or the extracted sap won't meet the standard for making Shrinking Solution."
The professor explained meticulously, then waved her wand. A small knife and glass bottle landed on the wooden table before Shawn. "Give it a try, Mr. Green."
Shawn nodded and picked up the tools.
"Wrong angle, Mr. Green. Shift a bit more..."
"Too light, Mr. Green. Be bolder..."
"Oh, Mr. Green, don't cut! Wrong position..."
Time quickly passed through Shawn's mistakes. He quickly realized he seemed to have no natural talent for Herbology either. On his fifteenth failure, as he frowned slightly in thought, gentle words came from beside him.
"Discovering you have no talent yet are still willing to pick up the tools—that's where Herbology begins."
Shawn looked up. Professor Sprout's face was as soft and warm as afternoon sunlight. So, continuing until Professor Sprout's large shadow became slanted, Shawn gradually grasped the essence of processing daisies.
Force, angle, and position were all very important. If even one thing was wrong, the panel proficiency wouldn't increase.
[You completely processed one daisy at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
The panel notification was like heavenly music. After mastering the correct method, Shawn's motivation was terrifyingly strong.
[You completely processed one daisy at Apprentice standard, Proficiency +1]
[You completely processed one daisy at Entry standard, Proficiency +3]
The sunlight slanted. A full thirty pots of daisies were neatly stacked. Shawn wiped the sweat from his hair, his eyes as bright as the Herbology professor's beside him.
"Very well done, Mr. Green." Professor Sprout applauded lightly. Nothing could make her happier than witnessing a student grow stronger.
"Go have dinner quickly. Oh, and take this." A piece of candied pineapple was pressed into Shawn's arms. At the same time, he heard the clanging of bells, signalling dinner had begun.
Hogwarts meal times were always fixed. If you missed them, you'd have to go hungry. Of course, some students would ask friends in advance to save some food, but Shawn obviously hadn't made this preparation. Going hungry at Hogwarts would be terrible, Shawn thought, then quickly said goodbye to Professor Sprout and headed for the Great Hall. If his body were better, he would have run.
"Next time we'll process some special materials," Professor Sprout said before Shawn left.
Shawn saw tooth-like things piled on the dark wooden table. He guessed perhaps these?
After the array of food in the Great Hall, Justin was being lectured by Hermione because he hadn't noticed that he also had Herbology class that afternoon, and it was with Gryffindor. So when Hermione saw him in Greenhouse One, Miss Granger instantly exploded.
"Did you do that on purpose!"
"I was wrong..."
Shawn was battling Hungarian goulash and didn't notice Justin's pleading gaze. Soon, whilst drinking pumpkin juice, he checked today's progress.
[Herbology Recognition: Locked (59/90)]
Through processing daisies, Shawn gained a full thirty-three proficiency points.
[Apprentice-level Herbology Recognition can unlock Apprentice-level title in Herbology domain.]
Title activation was within reach. If he used the remaining time well, perhaps today he could activate the title. As for that pile of tooth-like things, Shawn carefully compared and found they should be venomous snake fangs. Although he didn't know why Professor Sprout was processing them, it perfectly matched Shawn's needs. One of the ingredients for brewing the Cure for Boils was venomous snake fangs.
The meal just ended, and Shawn left the Great Hall, leaving Justin and Hermione somewhat unable to react.
"Shawn! Ah, he walked so fast. I wanted to ask him to go to the library together. Maybe he could solve our problem about distinguishing mature dittany. Honestly, I have no idea how to write the Herbology essay." Justin was somewhat dejected. Magic was harder than he'd imagined. Although Professor Sprout told them to do their best, as a Hufflepuff, who didn't want to satisfy and be praised by the professor?
"I'm not so sure about that. But Hogwarts Library holds thousands upon thousands of books. We'll find the answer." Hermione shook her head helplessly but was full of confidence.