Everything suddenly connected.
Sean checked his schedule again.
[Ravenclaw – First Year:
Monday Morning:
Potions, Potions
Monday Afternoon:
History of Magic
Note: First-year classes run from Monday to Friday, 9:00–12:00 in the morning and 14:00–15:30 in the afternoon.]
Hogwarts' first-year schedule was undeniably light—there were no classes after 3:30 p.m.
Which meant that students were expected to take the initiative with their studies.
After polishing off half a roast chicken at the Great Hall table,
Sean's cheeks puffed out slightly. Herbology wasn't like Potions; though there were still some dangerous plants,
Sean could simply avoid the dangerous ones and focus on handling the safe magical herbs to build his proficiency.
Things like dittany and daisies, for example.
All he needed was…
To find Professor Sprout and convince her to let him into the greenhouse.
Helping with chores would work perfectly.
At that moment, a group of older Hufflepuff students passed by him, and their conversation caught his attention.
"Hurry up. Professor Sprout's getting ready for the first-year students' first class today. We're going to be busy again."
"It's the same every year. I don't really mind helping the professor with the plants,
I just hope we don't run into those jagged-edged clovers again this year. You know which ones I mean, right?"
"What?! You sneezed for three weeks straight and never bothered to learn what that plant was?!"
"I thought you lot were insulting me behind my back."
"We were, actually. But no one can insult you for three weeks straight—just like you can't stay in a relationship for three weeks straight."
"Hey! Can you not keep mocking me like that…"
"If you didn't put itching powder in our hats and under—"
"Heh, alright, alright, I get it, my bad."
As the three Hufflepuff boys were about to pass, Sean quickly stood up and poked his head over the table.
"The jagged-edged clover you mentioned is probably Sneezeweed. It's a toxic plant,
mostly used in Confusing Concoctions and Befuddlement Draughts. Its dried leaves are also an ingredient for making sneezing powder.
If you don't want to get hit by it, it's best to stay at least two meters away—its pollen can be carried far by the wind."
Sean's voice was young but firm, making the three boys stop in their tracks.
"Well, well, a knowledgeable little wizard. You must be one of the new Ravenclaws, huh?
But you really shouldn't have told Bruce the truth. He deserves a few good sneezes."
The boy with fluffy brown hair had a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Hey, hey, at least don't say it in front of everyone…"
The short-haired wizard beside him sighed helplessly.
"If you didn't put itching powder in our hats and under—"
The slightly chubby wizard cut in.
"Can we please let that go? I'm begging you two…"
He said that, but his face showed absolutely no regret. In fact, Sean could swear he saw…
Enjoyment?
"Oh, thanks for telling me that. Sneezing for three weeks straight is no fun.
But we've got to go now. Next time we meet, I'll treat you to a pack of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans."
They were about to leave when Sean's voice called out again:
"I've always wanted to learn more about magical plants. Can I come along and help Professor Sprout handle them?
I know all the plants in the first-year Herbology textbook by heart—I might actually be useful."
Sean quickly listed his strengths and then waited for their response.
In truth, even if these older Hufflepuffs didn't take him with them, he'd planned to go to the greenhouse on his own after overhearing them.
"Huh?"
The brown-haired boy looked a bit troubled.
"Seriously? You memorized that brick of a book?!"
Bruce's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Bruce! Professor Sprout never said we could bring anyone with us!"
The brown-haired boy immediately realized what his companion was about to do.
"Don't worry, Leon. There aren't any dangerous plants in Greenhouse One, remember?
And with one more pair of hands, we'll finish much faster.
We've got Divination this afternoon, and I don't want to miss the tarot tea gathering."
The short-haired boy—Bruce—looked at Sean with lively interest.
"Sorry, but I've got to ask a few questions first, just to make sure you're not like those little wizards who turn the greenhouse into a disaster zone."
He gave Sean an apologetic look.
"What's the nickname of the Alihotsy?"
His question came out rapid and sharp.
"Hyena Tree."
Sean answered without hesitation.
"What's the shape of dittany leaves?"
"Oval, oblong, or long-lanceolate."
"What does mistletoe produce?"
"Mistletoe berries—white berries, excellent ingredients for making common antidotes and Forgetfulness Potions."
"Please, you have to come with us."
Bruce clasped Sean's hand with intense seriousness, and the two boys beside him looked genuinely surprised.
"My name's Bruce. This is Leon, and that's Piste."
"Sean Green."
…
And just like that, Sean got his chance to visit Greenhouse One. They were going to help Professor Sprout with various tasks—
weeding, gathering mature herbs, and clearing away the tendrils that had spread over from Greenhouse Three.
"Those dangerous plants always seem to have a thing for Greenhouse One."
Bruce said with a shrug, then warned Sean carefully,
"It doesn't happen often, but if you do spot any of them, make sure to tell the professor right away."
Sean silently committed the warning to memory.
Bathed in the gentle Scottish sunlight, he followed the three experienced Hufflepuffs out of the castle,
until they reached three dome-shaped buildings of varying sizes.
Their arched roofs were topped with skylights made of large glass panels.
"Another thing—Greenhouse One's the one in front. If you end up at the wrong one, just pray to Professor Sprout's nearby. Kidding. Just remember to run fast."
Along the way, Bruce shared all kinds of details with Sean.
Despite his carefree attitude, he didn't gloss over the important things.
Leon and Piste nodded along as he spoke, clearly agreeing with everything he said.
When they pushed open the creaking wooden door, a wave of warm, humid air rushed out, almost suffocating.
Piste's glasses instantly fogged up with a white mist.
Everywhere Sean looked, there was a dazzling array of green—layer upon layer of magical plants.
Huge, knobby pumpkin-like plants; Sneezeweed planted in pots, with only a noisy tuft of leaves poking out the top; And wooden trellises around the edges of the greenhouse covered in intertwining vines.
The shelves were lined with flowerpots of every strange shape imaginable— some plants puffed out smoke, some had leaves beating like hearts, and others bore glowing, gem-like fruit.
Only a narrow path remained clear for walking.
And standing in the middle of that path was a short witch with flowing gray hair.