So plants could feel sensations. That was new. Lydia wasn't sure quite how to feel about that. She didn't want to hurt the plant, stinky as it may be. She wondered at the depth of feeling plants could have. She'd read in muggle magazines that they definitely responded to music, especially classical music, and even people talking to them in a positive way. It helped them grow. Herbology was proving to be a fascinating subject.

When the bin of scrapers made its way to her, Lydia selected one and then waited for more of an opening around the plant. Her classmates had got to work right away, despite the overpowering smell, which she could still detect even through the mask. No way was she taking it off, despite what Noble had said. With measuring cup in hand, she set to work on the middle part of the huge flower called the spadix. When her cup was half full of scrapings she stopped and moved to the frilly section of the bloom, which was called the spathe. Now her cup was 1/3 full as Professor Myers had instructed.

Lydia stepped away from the plant, grimacing a bit at the smell even through the mask. She couldn't imagine what it would be like up close with no mask. She'd probably pass out. Or maybe throw up. Cup of shavings in hand, she waited for more instructions. She still had her bag of toenail clippings, and she was curious how those were going to play into the lesson. Was anyone else wondering the same thing?