Herbology (Lesson 1)

[professor rachel hawthorne]

Ah, the classroom that she was given to use was basically inadequate for teaching Herbology. Rachel had spent sometime fixing up the classroom until it resembled more like a greenhouse than a classroom. Planting boxes where now by the windows. The desks were gone, instead long tables had been laid out within the middle of the classroom. Also within every nook and cranny, there were different plants to be found. There it felt more like home.

For the first class they would begin by reviewing. Rachel was going to find out how much Herbology each of her students knew. If not a lot then they would go through the basics and move up from there. If they knew some, then they would dive into the more advance subjects. However she had to remind herself that this was a university. Most students here should know enough Herbology unless they haven't at all taken a class about this topic.

Taking one more look around the classroom and after deciding that nothing was out of place, Rachel walked back to her table near the front of the classroom. Making sure that her clothes were appropriate for teaching herbology, the young professor waited for all of her students to come in. Hopefully her students would respect her even if she looked almost as young as them.

[aurore tsosie]

xx

"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance."

•••••

So far today had been quite a long day for Aurore. She had most of her classes today with the exception of Care of Magical Creatures. Though it was the one she looked forward to the most every term she would settle with for some good old fashioned Herbology. Her family always told her that she had a natural green thumb, however plants did not entirely hold her interest the way a wild animal did. Making her way through the door into the 'Greenhouse', she quickly found a place to stow her bag for the time being.

There was a blonde woman inside who she assumed could only be the professor for this paticular subject. Of course she was also the only one to show up thus far making it quiet which she did not like at all. Deciding that she would get a bit of a head start here she made her way towards her professor and extended her hand to shake. There was a bright and eager smirk on her lips that suggested that Aurore was one of those students who didn't mind being stuck in class all day.

"Hello, professor. I'm Aurore Tsosie, I hope it's not too much trouble that I am so early?" she asked, raising a brow. Either that or the list of kids interested in the subject had dropped since the last year. Whatever it was she needed this class herself, one had to be able to brew potions and know how to use herbs to heal sick creatures. "I took a shortcut and I guess it bought me more time than I thought."

[aizawa kenichi]

Herbology, a morning class. Great! With a large emphasis on it being a great way to die. Barbecuing himself together with various possible man eating plants. Kebab? As Ken pushed open the door of the classroom, he repeated the question he had been asking himself for the last 24 hours. "Why did I sign up for Herbology?" He walked in, greeted the professor with the standard Japanese greeting, a respectful bow and walked towards the back row seats. Whatever the class was, his favorite or least favorite, Ken always automatically make his way towards the back row. However, for a class that has more than sufficient sunlight penetrating those uncovered windows, he finds himself a corner safe from its reach.

Hood pulled further down his face as he slumped into his chosen seat. "It's just to kill time." He mumbled the answer to his own question softly to himself. From one of his robe's pocket, he took out a spiral lollipop, unwrapped its plastic wrapping and began chewing on it. 

[professor rachel hawthorne]

Rachel was glancing up at the clock at the back of the classroom wondering why no one was coming. She had quite a few students sign up for the class. Had they all dropped it at the last minute or perhaps they just signed up for the class as a prank? Goodness, how she hated the feeling of being pranked. Yeah she knew that she was the youngest among all of the teachers, but still here wasn't a need to be mean to her.

When a Ravenclaw girl walked into the room, a relieved sigh escaped Rachel's mouth. She smiled and said, "Hello to you too Miss Tsosie. No it is no trouble at all. You are on time, it just seems that the others have decided not to show up to class that's all. You are most welcome to take a look at the plants around you , while we wait a little bit more."

A few minutes after Aurore showed up, a Slytherin boy popped into the room. Rachel noted that he was deathly pale and began to wonder what kinds of herbs might be able to cure him of that. She smiled at the polite bow that he gave her and nodded her head in reply. The professor then watched him pick a seat furthest away from the window and the sunlight. Odd...

"Class will begin soon." Rachel announced to her two students. "We will just wait a few more minutes to see if there are last minute stragglers." Oh how she she hated late comers. Oh well, since it was the first day of class, she could be more lenient.

[jang jin ah]

Nana have no idea what just gotten into her today. It was unlike her to be nearly late for class and even more unlike her to be getting her books wrong. She was midway heading towards her Herbology class when she realized that she had gotten her books mixed up. She had brought along Potions instead. This made her rushed back up the daunting flight of stairs to the Ravenclaw Tower. Never have the climb upwards been so tiring, long, slow and unpleasant. Silently cursing the necessity for the dormitory to be located seven floors above ground. Don't get her wrong. The girl loves her house but at times like these, her reaction is just as common as any human, muggle or witches alike in such a situation.

By the time she ran up and down the many flights of stairs, she finally made it to class. Her watch showed that she was safe by just a few minutes. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she smoothed out her windblown hair and wipe the sweat on her forehead.

Pushing open the door, an automatic apology was in place complete with the standard apologetic bow as per her custom. As she looked up, there were only two students. Was she late or early? She made her way next to the fellow eagle, away from the snake who had his hood down and munching on a lollipop. "Typical." She concluded silently.

[professor rachel hawthorne]

No long after Rachel had said her last statement, another Ravenclaw came through the door. She smiled at her as she did a similar bow to the one that the boy had given her before. "Hello to you as well." She said with a nod of her head. "There is no need to apologize seeing that everyone else seems to be late as well."

Walking back to her desk, Rachel let out a soft sigh. Goodness, this was a rather bad start to the beginning of a term wasn't it? Hopefully the other students were just late and did not drop the class at the last minute. She glanced at the lock and then back at the now three students. Should she start the class now?

After a few more minutes of waiting, Rachel had enough. Standing back up, she address the class. "Well seeing how late it is already, I have decided to start class. Welcome to Herbology everyone. In this class you will be learning about different plants and herbs. So how many of you have taken Herbology before?" She asked the class with a thoughtful look on her face. "Don't worry. If you haven't it's alright."

[aurore tsosie]

xx

"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance."

•••••

Nodding as the professor spoke, Aurore smiled brightly. Luckily she was not early as she hated to intrude on the teachers prep. time before the class began. Doing as suggested, Aurore wandered around the greenhouse looking at the various plants. She could not identify most of them by just looking at them, but she was sure if she had more time to examine them she could identify a couple of them. The only plant she hoped that they did not have to deal with was Mandrake Root as she found that a young mandrake plant was creepy looking. Once her curiousity was satisfied, she scanned the rest of the class.

A Slytherin and another Ravenclaw, apparently that was all that signed up for this day? Oh well, it meant that she could stand out a bit more from the crowd. Raising her hand when asked how many had taken the class, Aurore decided to elaborate a bit more. "We had the course back at Beauxbatons. We never got to do much hands on, however." she said. At least in her classroom that hadn't as it was not lady-like and so they learned from texts mostly. While it was efficient it was nowhere near as informative as learning with hands on experiance on the matter.

"Which herb shall we be studying today?" she asked, seeming anxious and perhaps speaking out of turn.

[Dawn Autumn Cantilupe]

      Dawn was so mad at herself as she rushed to her Herbology class. Late on the first day?! Man, the professor is going to tear me a new one! She quickly rushed into the classroom, her dark brown hair wind swept around her face as she stopped to catch her breath just inside the door. She saw the few other students who were there and blushed crimson with embarrassment. I must look like such an idiot... Oh crap, is that the Head of Hufflepuff?! I hope she isn't too angry at me for being late... Dawn chose a seat close to the plant boxes that she knew wouldn't try to eat her. She sighed as she set her stuff down at her spot and went up to the professor.
       "Um, hi, m-my name is Dawn, Dawn Cantilupe. I'm so sorry for being late, I got lost in the halls... I hope I'm not interrupting class," she said, almost as an after thought. Her face turned a brighter shade of red at the thought of having interrupted Professor Hawthorne while she had been speaking. Her dark blue eyes were obviously filled with worry. It probably didn't help that she was still trying to catch her breath from her sprint down the hall.

[professor rachel hawthorne]

Rachel smiled when one of the Ravenclaw girls spoke up. A look of surprise and delight entered the young professor's eyes when Aurore explained that she did have a course, but never had any hands on activities.

"Well then my dear, you will enjoy my class every much then." Rachel said with a nod of her head, "I will be doing a lot of hands on stuff here in this class." She then looked around and asked her other two students, "What about the other two of you? Have you had any experiences with Herbology?"

Just then the door opened and a girl came in. Rachel recognized her as one of her own students. She bit her lip slightly, wondering if she ought to take off points for coming in late or not. But seeing that it was only the very first day, she would let this slide.

Shaking her head, Rachel said, "No you are fine, Miss Cantilupe. Class just started a moment ago, you haven't missed much." Turning back to Aurore, the professor said, "Well, I was thinking of starting with the basic stuff like one of the plants in those pots over there. But I still need to know how much knowledge the rest of you have had." She once again looked over to Jin Ah and Kenichi.

[aizawa kenichi]

He took another bite at his lollipop while being question as to his personal experiences with Herbology. In truth he does have some but the next question that ought to be asked is how much. The Sun may be the plants best friend but it is an immediate death for the vampire. Anything that involves with Ken having to be in direct contact with sunlight would mean absolute no class participation. Class that require them to head on to the greenhouse were more often then not, skipped unless the day was exceptionally cloudy or rainy. Although he is decently equipped when it comes to theory.

He pulled back his hood slightly, revealing his dark circles and pale smooth skin of his face. "Basic? No problem." His long fingers curved to dictate an ok. "I have sufficient qualification to be allowed to sit here...if it worries you." He continued to reassure her along with his usual 'earnest' smile.