Originally Posted by
BanaBatGirl 
"Erm....yes, actually, that is precisely the answer I was looking for....points to you, Upstead...." Bunbury murmured with a slow turn of her head in Jake's direction. She stared the boy down, wide-eyed and unblinking for a full minute before turning back to the rest of the class.
"Garden plants, like mundane Muggle ones? Is that what you mean?" she asked the Ravenclaw for more clarification.
"Yes! Very good. And why would one want to be cautious around mandrakes?"
Bunbury's eyes followed Evelyn's to the bin of wands and her hand suddenly itched to grab one and show the class why they should be wary of mandrakes.
She refrained though. Being good. Bunz was trying to be good. "Yes, you are correct. Hear that, everyone? ALL PLANTS DESERVE RESPECT. Points to your House."
"Snargaluff!" Bunz repeated in an a-ha tone. She often forgot about the offensive...er....defensive properties of that gnarly stump. "Yes. Tell the rest of us why one should be cautious around such a plant."
She nodded at Jack's answer as well. "While the stinksap a mimbleus mimbletonia spews is not poisonous or anything," as far as she knew, "it is a very rare plant and it does have defensive tendencies you should be aware of. Yes. Points to Gryffindor."
Bunz almost chuckled under her breath at this answer. "Haha YES," she pointed at this Hufflepuff, "I appreciate that answer. I was actually going to bring this topic up because I discovered, much to my dismay," Bunbury reached into her bin of wands now and withdrew a 10 and 3/4 inch willow wand with a phoenix core. She twirled it about her hand and then looked up to continue.
"As I was saying, after our joint Herbology/Care of Magical Creatures lesson, I discovered that Hogwarts' very own, most noble Whomping Willow tree had been riled up and emotionally scarred by some students sitting in this very room."
She paused and glanced around at them all, tapping the wand in the palm of her free hand. "Perhaps we should discuss the proper way to approach an animated tree like that and how not to approach it. Any GOOD IDEAS?"
"Yes it does, yes Miranda, and I believe you are referencing the flutterbies from two terms ago....?" the redheaded professor quirked an eyebrow. "Some plants are more lively than others, as I'm sure you've noticed."
"Yes indeed. You should even be careful around the seeds. Points to Slytherin." Bunbury had to agree with Cam even though he had started that whole vicious 40 rumor.
"Yes and no no no no no." Bunbury shook her head and tsktsked at the Hufflepuff. "There IS NO SUCH THING as an evil plant. If you ask me."
"Very good, Destiny. Who can tell me how exactly bubotubers are dangerous and yet also helpful?"
"Gentle plants too, like bouncing bulbs," Bunbury almost smiled at Chris, because she remembered working with him and the bulbs, "do indeed deserve protection and extra care. Yes, points to Gryffindor."
"Someone is really allergic to marigolds?" Bunbury tilted her head at the Ravenclaw. "I've heard that its extracts can have healing properties, really..."
Merlin here was another half-possessed child. Bunz took another lonnnng minute to stare at Lou-Ann and her exclamation about broccoli. Honestly. "Um.... yes, the Dionaea muscipula is carnivorous so you should be careful around it..."
Weird, weird child.
"I agree, dear, all plants should be treated with respect." She nodded. "Fanged geraniums, bless their little blossoms, aren't afraid to bite as a defense mechanism though. Mhmm."
"I did NOT turn FORTY," Bunbury muttered under breath angrily before rolling her eyes at this girl's answer. Wasn't she a Greenwood? Mmhmm.
"Yes. Fanged Geraniums. Already been said."
"Er yes, yes it is.... good....." Okay Mr. Possessed Puff #2.
"Mandrakes has also been said but I appreciate that, mmhmm," Bunbury nodded to the 'Claw. "Gentle and kind. They really are very child-like plants, you know."
Blink. Blinkblinkblink.
Bunbury stood up from her desk, still twirling that willow wand that reminded her so much of her own, and click-clacked over to the Know-It-All Gryffindor's desk.
"Just plants?" The professor's voice was low, dark and disapproving as she leaned down and stared in his face for a minute. "I think you are a fruit tree and you'll come to regret that statement someday," she scoffed at the boy, straightening back up and returning to her desk.
Gryffindorks.
"Yes you should, Cela, I agree," Bunz shot a LOOK at that Gryff. "It's all about knowledge, isn't it? This is what I am TRYING to TEACH YOU ALL. How to be careful around some plants and respectful toward them all. It is not my fault if some people refuse to learn."
She took a breath. "Now, to continue, or reiterate," because she had kind of mentioned this in passing, "What allegedly 'dangerous' characteristics do some of the plants you've mentioned possess that would make one exercise caution around them?"