The right side of the greenhouse was filled with plants—this was Sean's first thought. They were dense and robust.
This was his second thought.
So he stayed close behind the plump professor, making sure that if she disappeared among the lush leaves, he wouldn't lose sight of her.
Professor Sprout, holding a trowel, walked lightly between two rows of plant benches with Sean, occasionally pinching a leaf or sniffing a flower.
"This is the bubble bean section. Once we pass here, we'll reach the area where you can really show your skills."
Professor Sprout's voice was loud but not harsh; it was reassuring.
Puffapod?
Sean looked carefully at the vines, varying in thickness, with plump pink pods containing glittering beans.
He had read about this magical plant in books—these beans would bloom immediately upon contact with solid objects.
"These Puffapod will mature soon. By then, these benches will be filled with bouncing bulbs…"
Professor Sprout explained enthusiastically, and Sean's green eyes sparkled.
Perhaps it was the greenhouse lighting, or perhaps a young wizard's focused observation naturally inspired goodwill.
Professor Sprout's steps grew even lighter.
How wonderful… new sprouts always brought new hope.
This was exactly what Professor Sprout loved to see.
"Come here, child. Let's handle these daisies."
She stopped in front of a wide, sturdy wooden table, stained dark in the center from plant sap and soil.
Sean quickly stepped forward as Professor Sprout pulled several pots of daisies from beneath the table.
If one had to distinguish them from ordinary decorative flowers, it would be the sturdier roots.
Also, if bought in Diagon Alley, twenty stalks would cost a whole Galleon—frighteningly expensive.
"Stay focused. Watch carefully: for the yellow daisies, start three inches below the petals…"
Professor Sprout deftly cut into a daisy, milky sap flowing from its stem, neatly collected into a glass bottle.
"Daisy sap can only be collected at this time of year.
The cut cannot be too deep, or it will affect the flower's growth.
Nor too shallow, or the sap won't meet the standards for Shrinking Potion."
She explained carefully and, with a wave of her wand, placed a small knife and glass bottle on the wooden table before Sean.
"Go ahead, Mr. Green."
Sean nodded and took the tools.
"The angle is wrong, Mr. Green—tilt a bit more…"
"Too light, Mr. Green—be bolder…"
"Oh, Mr. Green, don't cut! Wrong position…"
Time slipped by amidst Sean's mistakes.
He quickly realized he might not have a natural talent for Herbology.
On his fifteenth failure, frowning in thought, he heard gentle words beside him:
"Discovering you have no talent, yet still willing to pick up a hoe—that is where herbology begins."
Sean looked up; Professor Sprout's face was warm and deep like the sun.
From then on, until the professor's shadow tilted with the slanting sunlight, Sean gradually grasped the essence of handling daisies.
Force, angle, and position were crucial—any slight error would prevent Proficiency points from increasing.
[You handled a daisy completely with Apprentice Level Skill. Proficiency +1]
The notification felt like a celestial sound; having mastered the method, Sean's enthusiasm became fierce.
[You handled a daisy completely with Apprentice Level Skill. Proficiency +1]
[You handled a daisy completely with Beginner Level Skill. Proficiency +3]
…
As the sunlight slanted, thirty pots of daisies were neatly arranged. Sean wiped the sweat from his hair, eyes bright like his Herbology professor's.
"Excellent work, Mr. Green,"
Professor Sprout clapped lightly. Nothing pleased her more than seeing a sprout thrive.
"Go have dinner. Oh, and take this."
A piece of preserved jackfruit was tucked into Sean's arms as the clanging of the dinner bell rang.
Dining times at Hogwarts were fixed—miss it, and you went hungry.
Some students could ask friends to save food, but Sean hadn't prepared for that.
Going hungry at Hogwarts would be dreadful.
Thinking this, he quickly bade Professor Sprout farewell and headed for the Great Hall. If he felt better, he would have run.
"Next time, we'll handle some special materials,"
Professor Sprout said as Sean left. He glimpsed tooth-like items stacked on the dark wooden table—perhaps those?
…
After marveling at the array of food in the Great Hall,
Justin was scolded by Hermione for missing his afternoon Herbology class, which was with Gryffindor.
When she saw him at Greenhouse One, Miss Granger immediately blew up.
"Were you doing this on purpose?"
"I'm sorry…"
Sean, meanwhile, was battling Hungarian Stew, oblivious to Justin's pleading look.
Soon he sipped pumpkin juice while checking the day's harvest.
[Herbology Cognition: Unlocked (59/90)]
By handling the daisies, Sean gained 33 Proficiency points.
[Apprentice-level Herbology Cognition, unlocks Apprentice-level Herbology title]
The title activation was within reach. With time used wisely, perhaps he could unlock it today.
As for the tooth-like items, Sean examined them carefully and realized they were venomous snake fangs.
Though he didn't know why Professor Sprout needed them,
they matched Sean's needs perfectly.
One ingredient for the scabies potion was venomous snake fangs.
With the class just over, Sean left the Great Hall quickly, leaving Justin and Hermione momentarily stunned.
"Sean! He left so fast! I wanted to ask him to go to the library— he might have solved our problem with distinguishing mature Dittany. Honestly, I have no clue how to write the Herbology paper."
Justin was frustrated. Magic was harder than he imagined. Though Professor Sprout encouraged their best effort, as Hufflepuffs, who didn't want to please and impress their professor?
"I'm not sure, but Hogwarts Library has thousands of books—we'll find the answer."
Hermione shook her head helplessly but was full of confidence.