Chapter 69: Staying Behind
In the corridor outside the greenhouse, a lady in an elegant evening gown portrait tilted her head, curiously observing the three Hufflepuff boys walking past.
"Ginger Snap?" Pister asked, pulling several foil-wrapped biscuits from his bag.
Bruce recoiled dramatically, putting a good ten feet between them. "Sometimes I question if you even have taste buds, Pister! We spent three days processing Galangal powder! The smell alone makes me nauseous, and you can still stomach ginger snaps?"
"They're fine," Leon said nonchalantly, taking a biscuit and biting into it. "And that's smell, not taste… idiot."
A look of dawning horror crossed Bruce's face. "So," he said slowly, "you're telling me I suffered through three days of that pungent Galangal powder alone, while you two were perfectly fine?" He suddenly looked accusatory. "What charm was it?"
"Bubble-Head Charm. Invisible version," Leon admitted calmly.
"You mean to tell me," Bruce spluttered, practically hopping with indignation, "that I noticed your heads looked slightly bigger these past few days, and Merlin's beard, neither of you thought to tell me?! You just let me suffer!"
Leon and Pister exchanged an unimpressed look. "If you hadn't put itching powder in our hats and our… under…"
"Heh heh," Bruce interrupted quickly, "alright, alright, my mistake."
"It's the same pattern every year," Bruce remarked casually as they continued walking. "By the fourth week, the greenhouse helpers usually disappear." He paused, a thoughtful look on his face. "But I have a feeling someone might be coming back this time."
He leaned in conspiratorially towards Leon, who was reading, and Pister, who was carefully carrying his potted plant. "Fancy a wager?"
"No," Leon replied flatly without looking up.
"Scared?" Bruce taunted, puffing out his chest.
Knowing he'd never hear the end of it otherwise, Leon sighed. "What's the bet?"
"I bet," Bruce declared, "that starting today, Professor Sprout will have a new little Ravenclaw assistant in the greenhouse."
"The stakes?"
"You owe me a favour during the next Hogsmeade weekend!"
"Done."
As Bruce let out a triumphant "Aha!" and swaggered off, Leon sighed again, exchanging a look with Pister. "Looks like our Hogsmeade weekend just got busier..."
Pister nodded, his usual憨厚 smile deepening slightly.
The air in Greenhouse One was always thick with the fresh scent of damp earth and plant sap. Sunlight streamed through the crystal glass dome, casting a bright, soft glow, illuminating every leaf.
Professor Sprout was lecturing. "Ginger root is a plant with a pungent aroma, widely used in potion-making. Not only is it an ingredient in Deflating Draughts, but it's also commonly found in Wit-Sharpening Potions, Beautification Potions, and the like. Outside of potions, ginger is, of course, used in Ginger Newt biscuits and Ginger Snaps."
The first-years watched intently as she displayed ginger roots from the various planters.
"Ginger Newts come from... that weird stuff?" a Slytherin boy muttered under his breath.
The students followed Professor Sprout's instructions, carefully processing the ginger roots. Then, without pause, she introduced them to another plant – shrivelled, pearl-white beans that looked like oversized Mistletoe berries.
"Alright, can anyone tell me what these are?" Professor Sprout asked with a warm smile. Ravenclaws and Slytherins alike began flipping through their textbooks, primarily Phyllida Spore's One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. Though the witch herself had died in 1408, her seminal work remained a standard Hogwarts text even in 1997. Sean recalled seeing her portrait in the Headmaster's office.
"Well then..." Seeing several Ravenclaws glance towards the same spot, Professor Sprout's gaze landed on Sean.
"Sopophorous Beans, Professor. They possess numerous magical properties and are used in potion-making. It's crucial to note that consuming the silvery juice squeezed from the bean directly will cause memory loss."
Sean had a distinct feeling of déjà vu.
The class ended amidst the usual chatter and clatter, leaving the greenhouse in its customary state of mild disarray – soil spilled on the paths, footprints marking the damp flagstones. Professor Sprout watched the students file out. Normally, several enthusiastic Hufflepuffs would linger, eager to help clean up, but today, the doorway remained empty.
Just as an owl hooted softly overhead, a small figure appeared silently at the professor's side.
"Professor," Sean asked, holding out his dragon-hide gloves, his green eyes shining, "may I stay and help?"
"Of course, my dear Mr. Green," Professor Sprout's smile deepened. "Remember? The greenhouses always welcome any child who loves nature." Some children, she reflected, simply couldn't be kept away; they belonged among the growing things.
"Come along then, child," she said, her usual energy returning. "Let's tidy up together. Afterwards, you need to learn how to process Galangal."
Cleaning the greenhouse meant more practice (and proficiency points) for the Scouring Charm. Processing Galangal meant progress in Herbology Knowledge. And, perhaps most importantly, Galangal powder was an ingredient in the Deflating Draught, which Sean planned to brew that evening. He set to work with enthusiasm.
The wealth of Hogwarts professors was undeniable, but if one were to rank them by personal fortune, Professor Snape would likely be a top contender. His private stores of rare and expensive ingredients – Boomslang skin, Gillyweed – were proof enough. This was another, less noble, reason for Sean's dedication to Potions; it was the most direct path to earning Galleons available to him. Sometimes he wondered if Snape had an Undetectable Extension Charm on his robes, given his seemingly endless supply of gold.
Financial stability would allow Sean to pursue his magical studies without constraint. He was constantly running out of supplies, like notebooks. A standard issue notebook, meant to last a term, rarely survived three weeks under his intensive usage. Mastering Herbology was a crucial step towards brewing higher-quality, more valuable potions, and thus, accumulating wealth. The sheer variety of potions and herbs was staggering, and the most potent ones, like Felix Felicis, commanded hundreds of Galleons, if they could be found at all.
The Panel updated steadily:
[You have fully processed a Galangal root to the Apprentice standard. Proficiency +1]
[You have fully processed a Galangal root to the Apprentice standard. Proficiency +1]
As the sun dipped towards the horizon, Sean left the greenhouse, checking his Panel one last time:
[Herbology Knowledge: Apprentice (59/900)]
[Next Tier: Novice Herbalist (Requires Novice-level Herbology Knowledge)]
Processing the Galangal and other plants had earned him another 33 proficiency points.
As he stepped out into the corridor, three familiar figures emerged from the shadows ahead.