❝Chapter 7 - Trelawney's Prophecy: Part 1❞

Instructions

°•Chapter 7 - Trelawney's Prophecy: Part 1•° September quickly passed and before long, it was October 27. Four days before Halloween. The air was cool and the sky was cloudy, and some first years, second years, and third years were sitting in the Great Hall together, as per the usual. Veronika and Skye's Quidditch training continued to go unnoticed by any of the teachers or "Slytherins to watch out for" like Draco, Pertelotte James, Emma Maines, or Orlando De Luca. But Veronika was sure they'd get found out eventually. Only a few people knew about it, and all of them were sworn to secrecy: Rosie Black, Xavier's best friend; Freya; and Hera. "Can you believe we have to write an entire two page essay on something as boring as Aconite and it's due tomorrow!?" Skye couldn't stop going on about it, which kept making Veronika burst out laughing, because she herself really didn't mind the essay. "Sheesh." Rosie commented. "Trust Professor Snape to give us an assignment like that!" Freya, though she also seemed upset about the task, had a notebook in front of her, and she was taking notes at an unreal speed. "I'm just glad we don't have one of those." Aleya Carter, Rosie's friend, chuckled, "Y'all are welcome to borrow any of our books." "Thanks, Leah." Skye grinned. "Welcome to class, students!" Professor Sprout's cheery welcome bounced off the glass walls of the greenhouse as the first-years walked in, "Grab your gloves and find a spot at the table." Veronika and Freya pulled their gloves out of their light brown gardening overcoats - the required Herbology attire, "Oo let's go stand over there." Freya pointed to where her friend, Jay Taylor, and Blake were. “Hello.” Jay introduced himself to Veronika, “I’m Jay Taylor.” “Veronika Malfoy.” She shook his outstretched hand, “You’re an American?” She asked, catching his accent. Jay nodded. “All right, students. Enough chatter. Get your pots and I’ll tell you what to do next.” Professor Sprout pulled on her own gloves. The students all stepped closer to the table, stood on the tips of their toes, and reached for the brown clay pots full of rich dirt. “Today I’m going to teach you how to properly plant a willow-weed se. Can anyone tell me what willow-weed is?” Before Veronika had a chance to raise her hand, Hermione Granger’s hand shot up into the air. “Yes, Ms. Granger?” “Professor, willow-weed is a class A carnivorous plant, even as a seedling. But once distilled, it can be used in a potion to produce healing effects." "Correct! Five points for Gryffindor." Draco had his 'sulking but trying not to show it' face on and Veronika assumed it was because he wished he's gotten the points instead. Professor Sprout split the students into groups of two: Bianca De Luca and Artemis Potter, Draco with Zane Yate, Skye and Anna Walker, Freya with Jay, and Veronika and Blake.“Turn to page 52. I’ll let you all try to tackle this one yourselves.” Professor Sprout instructed the students as she gave each team a willow-weed seedling, “Remember, this plant is carnivorous. Which means it can and will try to-“ “Ow!” A first-year Gryffindor exclaimed, pulling his finger away from the willow-weed. “-eat you.” Professor Sprout raised her eyebrows, “Please try to read the instructions more carefully, Mr. Longbottom.” Veronika caught Draco snickering, but he stopped as soon as he realized his reaction hadn’t gone unnoticed. The two Malfoy twins definitely didn’t hate each other, but if they had been put in a group instead, it would not have ended well. Blake picked up the squirming seedling, holding it further away from himself as it flailed its tendrils around. He set it down in the hole Veronika made in the soil, and she pushed the dirt back around the little plant. “What’s step two?” Blake asked, leaning over to open his textbook. “Clip off any dead, dying, or violently flailing tendrils.” Veronika read. Blake and Veronika pulled their shears out of their pockets, and talked while they worked. “So you’re a Malfoy, right?” Blake questioned, and Veronika nodded, “How’d you end up in Ravenclaw?” “I’m… not sure.” Veronika thought back to the sorting, “I just remember thinking that I’d rather be in any other house than Slytherin.” “You want to be more than what your family wants you to be. I get it, well kind of. But I understand.” Blake clipped off a twitching tendril that was about to drive Veronika crazy, “My sister, Isabel, and I have been living with our muggle uncle for as long as we can remember. He was pretty ticked off when I received the Hogwarts letter.” “I’ll bet.” Veronika said, “Your sister’s coming next year?” “I hope so.” Blake smiled, “I’m sure we’ll find a way to escape.”Veronika and Blake finished trimming the seedling and Veronika read the next step, “Spritz the leaves and tendrils, and water the soil until you can see water coming out of the bottom of the pot.” She laughed every time the willow-weed flung the water she was spritzing on it right back at her.