Chapter 104: In the Storm
In the second week of October, the wind howled and sent stones tumbling end over end outside Hogwarts.
Before long, lightning split the sky where falling leaves danced, followed by rumbling thunder. Neville said his desk was shaking.
Leaving the castle was clearly not a good idea. Yet three small figures wrapped in thick robes and raincoats appeared behind it.
"All right, Neville, you can hide behind me for now, but not in a minute," Justin said, walking to Shawn's left. He pulled a small pouch from his bag, reluctantly. It was smooth‑surfaced, made from what looked like animal hide.
Neville had already shifted from Shawn's right side to behind Justin. Every time lightning flashed, he flinched.
Back in the classroom, Hermione had said, exasperated, "Neville, if you are really that scared of thunder, just stay inside."
Neville had not dared argue. He only shook his head and stammered, "A‑all right…"
Watching him contradict himself, Hermione had rolled her eyes and shoved a pair of earplugs at him as if annoyed.
Now, outside the castle, Neville wore the earplugs but still trembled.
Fortunately, the pouch Justin pulled out caught his attention. He stared at it, eyes wide.
Justin placed it in Shawn's hand. Neville's gaze followed.
"Mokeskin pouch. Good for storing seeds, small trowels, that sort of thing," Justin said with a gentle smile.
"Thanks."
Shawn's slender hand reached out from beneath the thick waterproof robes Professor Sprout had given him. He curiously tucked a roll of parchment inside.
After all, there was going to be heavy rain. It would be bad if the parchment got soaked.
Unlike leather, parchment was not tanned. It was sensitive to moisture and not waterproof.
So over the past few days, working in the greenhouses, Shawn had been debating whether to bring his notes at all.
Now, with Justin's pouch, the problem was solved.
He had read about this sort of bag in one of his miscellaneous books.
Mokeskin pouch – a small bag for storing items. Only the owner could retrieve what was inside.
It looked small from the outside, but could hold quite a lot.
In July 1996, Hagrid had given Harry one as a seventeenth birthday present.
During the hunt for Horcruxes, Harry had worn it around his neck and kept his most precious things in it: the Marauder's Map, a shard of the two‑way mirror, the fake locket Horcrux, the Golden Snitch containing the Resurrection Stone, Lily's letter to Sirius, half a photograph, and his broken wand.
Justin watched Shawn tuck the parchment in first and sighed a little.
"I knew you would do that. Oh, right – Neville, this one is yours."
Justin held out another pouch. Neville's throat bobbed. He stammered, "B‑but what about you…"
Then Justin pulled out his own Undetectable Extension Charm bag. Neville's eyes went wide. He stared in quiet envy for a moment.
"Then… all right. Thank you…"
…
Since October, three days a week, Shawn spent three hours in the greenhouses processing materials. Once the weather turned foul, he spent even longer there.
To prepare for autumn's gales and storms, Hogwarts' greenhouses had been heavily fortified. The most important measures were magical:
The greenhouse structures were under permanent Reinforcement Charms, similar to the protections on the castle itself, able to withstand the most extreme weather.
Inside, there were Heating Charms, humidity controls, and Silencing Charms, creating a stable microclimate that minimised the impact of the weather outside.
But that did not mean the greenhouses were completely safe. Leaks, drainage issues, and relocating plants that needed sunlight outside the glass covers were all problems.
The workload had suddenly become overwhelming.
Thankfully, Shawn, Neville, Justin, and a seventh‑year named Bruce were taking turns helping out.
Outside the greenhouse,
Heavy black clouds loomed over the domed structure. Three figures bustled outside the glass walls, all wearing thick waterproof robes and black‑and‑yellow scarves. When they saw three much smaller students approaching, they hurried over.
"Hey, Shawn. Perfect timing. We are handing over to you lot now," Bruce said, watching the dark clouds overhead. He pressed a red envelope into Shawn's hand.
"Just arrived this afternoon. Do us a favour."
Shawn took the letter, a little helpless. The moment Bruce opened it, he had already bolted far away, shouting as he ran, "Run, Leon, Pester – and you lot too!"
Shawn put on the earmuffs Hermione had given him. The red envelope let out a roar that blew his black hair back.
"BRUCE! Where did you throw your brother Charles's wand?"
As Shawn covered his ears, Bruce hummed a tune in the distance and muttered to himself, "Ah, I guessed it was about the wand. That thing is practically an antique, still being used… heh, Mrs Lees, you will have to use the money I sent now, whether you like it or not…"
When the Howler finished, Bruce sidled back over and pressed a Fizzing Whizzbee into Shawn's hand.
"I will repay you properly, young Green. Very soon."
"But since I did not hear anything, I cannot do anything about it. Must have been delivered to the wrong person…"
He tried to leave, but Leon grabbed his collar and dragged him back.
"Sorry, Shawn," Leon said, sounding genuinely resigned.
"I am not letting this one off the hook…"
"Leon, Shawn already agreed. Why are you…"
"Shut it, you git!"
The three of them bickered as they trudged farther and farther across the wet lawn.
A moment later, Shawn and the others were greeted by Professor Sprout, beaming with gratitude.
"Thank you so much, young gentlemen. The plants really do need your help."
"Professor, we came willingly. If we can help, all the better," Justin said cheerfully, already lifting two potted plants outside the glass wall.
"Yes… Professor…" Neville said, picking up a trowel to clear a drainage hole clogged with blackroot.
"Mm." Shawn did not say much, but he was the most efficient. His silent Levitation Charm cleared an entire area in moments.
Before long, thunder roared overhead.
Howling wind, pouring rain, slippery ground, dim visibility, and all manner of strange plants…
Three small figures toiled away under the guidance of a plump witch.
Over the past few weeks, Shawn had learned to identify and handle dozens of plants in the greenhouses. And the professor had given him many seeds.