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*Holmesian Feline* · #1 (**permalink**) 03-08-2025, 02:05 AM

Greenhouse Three has been set aside for today’s lesson. It doesn’t look much difference to Greenhouse One other than the types of plants one might find if they looked closer to the planters that lined the exterior of the glass room. Some of which might be the reason for the change in venue orchestrated by Professor Cole despite the class not being solely the older students who might normally use the greenhouse. Otherwise there is no ready clue as to the topic of today’s work though the professor would welcome any guesses.

As you enter through the welcoming open door, the man in question is simply seated on a stool behind his own workstation awaiting all who come inside this morning. Dragonhide gloves reside on the wooden surface beside his notes and hopefully you remembered your own as directed by the class announcement.

ooc: Welcome to our herbology lesson. Its obviously not the first of the term so act as such.
Remember the rules. Class will officially begin in about 24 hours.

Class Progress:
Welcome and First Question

Second Question

Mini Activity - Severing and Trimming Charms

Main Activity - Grafting

FearlessLeader19 · 03-08-2025, 02:54 AM

A rather well rested Idris was making his way to Greenhouse Three, his head moving from side to side because he wanted to count the number of cats he saw before he made it to his destination. He knew there was no chance of Nesquik being outdoors right now; not when he and Lady Fab seemed to be sharing a cosy moment up at the Castle.

“Five… six! Six cats, Paully!” This lifted Id’s spirit, if it were possible, even further. Amidst that happiness, he reached for Paul’s hand and gave it a small squeeze just as they both reached the Greenhouse. “Hi, Professor!’’ The Lion released his boyfriend’s hand, waved to Cole then bounded off for a seat.

Clearly Id was full of energy that was going to last the duration of the day.

Charely Potter · 03-08-2025, 04:43 PM

Paul was here. He was just here as he could feel eyes on him (specifically, from Idris' older brother) as he walked with Idris towards the Greenhouses. He didn't say much, he smiled a little bit when Idris was in a jolly mood.

"That's great, Id." Paul said. His feelings were a mix of comfort and discomfort. He's fine. He just had to get used to being genuinely happy at Hogwarts for once. Once they reached the Greenhouses, his hand was released, and he quickly took out the gloves needed for the lesson. "...Hello Professor." Paul said in the direction of their shoes. Normally, he didn't say much because he was uncomfortable around most Professors. He followed to take the next spot by his Gryffindor companion. "You almost forgot these." Handing over the pair of dragonhide gloves.

*Holmesian Feline* · 03-09-2025, 03:06 AM

Professor Cole had been just going over things in his head while awaiting the class. Before long however, he was joined by the first student to grace his presence. “Good morning, Mr. Grunt,” he greeted the young Gryffindor third year. Ah and another student right behind, but then that usually was to be expected with these two. “Hello Mr. Rocker,” he said, returning the greeting of the shyer boy. Leaving him be, Marcus did note the exchange of gloves, glad to see while ne forgot, the other remedied the situation. Not that he hadn’t scrounged up a couple extra pairs just in case, it just meant one didn’t have to hope they were the right fit for the right person until absolutely necessary.

Waiting for the appropriate time and greeting each additional student as they entered the greenhouse, eventually Marcus looked to his watch to see it shortly after 10 am. Tim get things started it seemed, the man moving to get up and close the door before residing in front of the front workbench. “Let’s us begin, shall we,” he mused rhetorically as he looked around the gathered students facing him. As well as the various plants that in turn surrounded them. Both dirt-bound and aquatic.

“Here’s a first question to get you thinking…what do you think is one thing that all the plants in this greenhouse have in common? I’ll give you a hint, its something they actually have in common with all of us humans as well.”

ooc: Welcome...class has officially begun. So unless you want appropriate actions taken for late arrivals, simply pretend they have been there all along.

*PhoenixRising* · 03-09-2025, 01:16 PM

Tiffany was here. Albeit slightly in surprise when she learned the lesson today was in greenhouse three. She was was still relatively new to learning all the different locations around Hogwarts, but she was pretty sure after Ari's debacle in the forest at the start of the year she went through and wrote down all the places to use caution. Greenhouse Three was one of the places she highlighted.

Entering the greenhouse quietly and observing the professor there with two fellow third year students - ironically from different houses as her own - she took a seat. Cats? What was the one talking about? She wasn't sure she could used to the way Hogwartians seemed to joke about everything. At Beauxbatons, the students and professors seemed much more serious particularly in lessons. Of course the lesson hadn't started yet when the comment was made, but still.

And now it had. Something that all plants had in common that humans needed to? Herbology may not have been one of her best subjects but she knew this one ... Raising her hand, "Dihydrogen monoxide, more commonly known as water." Everything living needed that. Surely she couldn't be wrong there.

FearlessLeader19 · 03-09-2025, 04:14 PM

As he was settling in, Id happened to catch sight of Jan and Ary. Both guys had their eyes fixated on Paul; it wasn’t at all surprising. He waved in their direction in an attempt to snag their attention. If they glanced at him, he would tell them with a look that he was fine and to cut Paul some slack if possible. The latter might be a tad difficult given how protective the older boys were.

Idris looked around at the Hufflepuff mentioning something he had forgotten. Oh, the gloves! “The cats made me forget,’’ the happy Gryffindor explained as he took the pair. “Thanks, Paully!” Speaking of cats, it was a pity he couldn’t see any in the greenhouse presently.

Abandoning feline thoughts for now, Id eyed the plants present in this particular greenhouse. He was more drawn to the Gravity Resistant Trees for some reason… must be because they floated midair. Hand raised, the Lion waited to be called upon. “Plants and humans have the same basic requirements to survive: air, water, nutrients.”

Charely Potter · 03-10-2025, 12:06 AM

Paul knew all eyes would be on them. He didn't think Idris needed to defend him, his brother was doing their job and wanted to make sure he was never hurt again. So Paul didn't pay them much mind. He nodded, "Mhm." when he handed Idris the gloves before donning on his own.

Okay, he was ready for the lesson. Paul began to think about what they all had in common. Probably dealing with oxygen. Paul didn't say anything though as he merely looked at Idris when they answered. Yep, sounds about right. Deciding instead to take notes. He didn't feel like talking right now, but at least he was paying attention to the lesson.

*Holmesian Feline* · 03-10-2025, 02:13 PM

Sure, he knew he was being rather open-ended in his question to begin with, but Professor Cole wanted to see where his students’ brains went and not simply guided in one direction at first. With such an assortment of students from various backgrounds, you couldn’t always be sure what he would get. As such there were technically multiple possible answers to what he posed, if if there was only one that mattered most to the task of today’s lesson. As he listened to each answer being given, he wasn’t disappointed in the variety.

First, there was the third year Slytherin, who interestedly used a term that might be considered a more muggle science term. Something that was a good sign for him given what he was looking for. “Yes, technically true, both in the needs of humans and plants as well as a major makeup of each. However, water is not quite what I was looking for this time.” Next was a third year lion who expanded on the direction of water as a need as well as others while his partner in crime appeared to wordlessly agree. “Also true, Mr. Grunt” he confirmed for the fifth year with a nod before listening to any others.

“Good answers,” Professor Cole assured the class. “Though the purpose of today’s lesson we’ll be looking to the concepts of DNA and genes.” Something that the half-blood former Ravenclaw found interesting when you consider it mixed with the level of magic in the blood, but perhaps that was just him. “For those, unfamiliar with the terms, they are parts of both humans and plants that decide how either looks, behaves, and assorted other characteristics. It’s what determines who has blue eyes and who has brown…or how and why those trees in the back float above ground instead of rooted in solid stable ground while coral is an aquatic plant.”

He straightened and meandered to the one side of the greenhouse and paused as he turned back to them. “Here’s another question before we move onto an activity…what technique in gardening might involve playing around with genetics and the characteristics of plants?” A bit more direct and something both muggle and magical folk did.

occ: Doing great...should continue in 24 hours.

FearlessLeader19 · 03-10-2025, 05:05 PM

DNA and genes.

Those weren’t something that Idris had extensive knowledge of but at least he knew the basics, which was what Cole had just touched on. He cast another look at the fascinating Gravity-Resistant Trees before suppressing a smile as he shot a sideway glance at Paul. “Or why Paul usually lets his grumpiness get the better of him,’’ Id remarked quietly so that only the Hufflepuff would hear. But truly, that grumpiness never bothered him.

The Gryffindor raised his hand. “Crossbreeding. The Gravity-Resistant trees are possible due to the genes of Aerial Root trees and Hydroponic Trees.’’ He paused thoughtfully. “Magic is involved too because that’s how they would be able to float… so I suppose the process would also involve seeing how magic interacts with the genes.’’

*PhoenixRising* · 03-12-2025, 02:22 AM

Oh sweet she was technically true. Water was correct, although not the answer the Professor was looking for? So then what did that mean the answer was --- sunlight?? Everything needed sunlight?

Tiffany frowned when Professor Cole declared about looking at the concepts of DNA and genes, trying to figure out how it was something they all needed. But that was when it struck her. He hadn't asked for what they all needed. He asked what they all had in common. Technicalities that had the third year feeling rather annoyed with herself, despite that Cole assured them their answers were good. She still felt terrible for not paying attention to the minute details. Being a triplet she was familiar with DNA and genes, considering all the similarities and differences between her sister and brother.

Moving on though to talking about what technique would involve playing around genetics and characteristics of plants. Crossbreeding as Idris conveniently already brought up. "Sometimes genetic testing is done to help cure disease in humans, so I'd think it'd work for plants too. Selective breeding, I think it's called, where you carefully curate the genes to get what you want. Like really rich people can curate their gene pool to craft the perfect child."

*Holmesian Feline* · 03-12-2025, 03:10 AM

Marcus couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on his features as Idris raised his hand and gave a rather appropriate answer. “Correct, Mr. Grunt. Cross-breeding, also known as hybridization, is a way of taking two plants and creating a different third plant.” And the gravity-resistant trees were a perfect example. “It can be as simple as two different color strains of roses to blend them together, or using two all-together unrelated plant types and trying them together to improve the hardiness, the growing season, or the characteristics into a better hybrid.”

And then there was another good answer. “Yes, that is another way it can be used,” he agreed with a nod. “After all, you certainly don’t want to use what might be deemed the worse qualities of each…well in this case anyway. “ Should you be a potioner trying to cause harm, that would be exactly what you would want to do but they were working on the good uses of working with genes. Or a doctor trying for the perfect baby as mentioned since Marcus was thinking that was too abnormal to think about. The professor shaking his head absently and bringing himself back into the lesson.

---------------------------------------------

“Now before we get to our main activity, I want to go over potential spellwork that will help.” It was then that the professor crossed over where he had kept a chalk board, a board that with a touch of his wand revealed what he had previously written upon its surface. One that should be familiar…the other the herbologist wasn’t sure of but more his subject’s expertise anyway. “I believe all of you should have already learned the severing charm in your charms classes.” Marcus had double checked to see which school year the subject was usually brought into play.

“Then there’s the trimming charm, which much like its companion, is a simple slicing motion of your wand across where you want to cut. The obvious differences are the size and strength of the cut as well as the incantations involved.” The trimming charm’s incantation was definitely something to be practiced and the severing charm was one to be careful on aim and intention. “It’s incantation is Flipnsnipwitit…which I know is a mouthful, but once you get the hang of it, it can be quite useful and not just with plants. Try it a few times now…Flip-n-snip-wit-it… Flip-n-snip-wit-it… Flip-n-snip-wit-it.” Professor Cole waited to give them time to try it while he gathered the small bundles of twigs and green sticks he had gathered outside the greenhouses with his own previous trimmings, adding them to the center of the table for all of them to reach when he was ready to finally move them on.

“Once you’ve practiced both spell incantations and the wand movement until you are comfortable with them, I want you to practice with these…” he motioned to what he had shared. “Focus and be careful not to have anything else in the way or direction of your aim so you don’t hurt anyone, especially with the severing charm.”

ooc: Sorry for the delay...we'll be moving on Friday to give you time to play around with your practice. Then have the weekend for the activity

FearlessLeader19 · 03-12-2025, 04:54 PM

Hybridisation.

Huh. Now there was a term this third year had not been familiar with before. Never mind, it was better late than never to learn something, right? He wrote the term in his book then underlined it before adding a little blurb on it’s meaning. He also made a note of Tiffany’s answer which he thought was of equal importance.

With the spell information revealed, Idris was pleased to see that there was at least one that he had already mastered, thanks not just to practise in class but also extra practise with Dad E. It helped to be ~~the favourite~~ related to the Charms professor. As for the second spell, he hadn’t used it before. That meant he might have to work a little more on that one.

After making notes on the spells, Idris reached for his wand to practise the slicing motion a couple of times. He imagined it as using a knife, as he would when helping his mama in the kitchen. That was quite helpful for Id getting the hang of the movement. Next came the incantation. “Flip-n-snip-wit-it, Flip-n-snip-wit-it. Flipnsnipwitit.” Quite the fun little incantation that was!

After practising the Severing Charm as well, the third year set a few of the twigs before him. He was quite ready to give the spells a go.

Idris decided to refresh his skills by practising the Severing Charm first. All his attention was fixed on one twig before him. “Diffindo!” The corresponding wand movement was done causing the twig to be cut neatly in half immediately. The Lion was quite pleased with himself. Charms being one of his easier subjects really was a convenience.

Now for the second spell.

“Flipnsnipwitit.” His target of the slicing motion was a piece of the twig that had just been severed, the piece that held a couple of leaves. Unfortunately for him, all that manifested out of that attempt was a whole lot of nothing. Id wrinkled his nose comically in disappointment. He would have liked to trim the leaves on the first try. He would have even settled for trimming away a single leaf. This failure just made him more determined to continue trying.

And so Id refocused. “Flipnsnipwitit.” The wand movement was done. Much to his delight this time around, a leaf fell away, fluttering gently onto the surface of his workstation. He did a little shake that could be considered a tiny victory dance before going back to his practise.

Charely Potter · 03-14-2025, 06:06 PM

Paul was listening. He wasn't in a talkative mood, at least not in the lesson. But he kept track of the shared information, hybridization, aka cross-breeding. While Paul wasn't as knowledgeable about plants, he knew all too well the process of cross-breeding with a specific creature that was always around him.

Anyways, the spell they'd be working with. Paul jotted the information down before getting to work on practicing. Flipnsnipwitit... Paul already got the slicing movement down... which caused him to stop and look at Idris. "Erm... Id. Do you still have that cap that Jan gave you? So your hair doesn't get tangled from the plants... or sliced." Especially from a younger student working in their direction, ahem. Afterward, Paul muttered the incantation, "Flip-n-snip-wit-it...Flip-n-snip-wit-it..." It sure was a mouthful.

*Holmesian Feline* · 03-15-2025, 03:32 AM

Professor Cole circulated around the greenhouse as the students practiced, quietly observing each of their work and ready to assist if they so desired. There was a mix of attempts and confidence in their work as he went, but thankfully none seemed frustrated if they couldn’t get one or the other down pat in their first or second tries. “Well done, Mr. Grunt,” he complemented the lion at his work on the stem and the leaf, the boy seemingly pleased with himself. “That’s it…” he remarked to Mr. Rocker as he worked out the pruning spell’s incantation, the boy getting the tongue twister down. “It’ll become more natural to you with time,” Marcus assured the Hufflepuff.

Making his way entirely around, he left them to a bit more practice as he gathered what was needed for their final activity for the lesson. The plants that normally resided in the current greenhouse were only half of the required plants, some of them the examples of hybridization. The rest had been brought in on the cart he had stashed behind his workstation…personal sized versions of some of the less complicated plants in the other greenhouses, enough for all the students and extras to work with. There were honking daffodils and trilling tulips and color changing roses as well as their mundane counterparts, Abyssinian shivelfigs and flutterby bushes. As well as cloth ties, labeled stakes and markers.

-------------------

Eventually satisfied with their practicing, the professor now moved these to the front so they were visible and the students could better retrieve one each. “Now for the rest of the class,” he began, gathering their attention back to him. “I want you to try your hand and creating a hybrid. In plants that usually uses a technique known as grafting.” Marcus took a potted miniature rosebush and brought it before him to demonstrate. “With grafting, you take a host plant like this rose and make a v-shaped cut in its stem,” the professor using a carefully cast diffindo to do so, “careful not to cut all the way through. Then you take a cutting of another plant…” for this he used the trimming charm to take from one of the gravity resistant trees. “Finally you place the cut end of the second sample and insert it in the cut, tying a cloth secure but not too tight around both to keep them together while the plants do their work, merging along the open wounds of sorts.” Then you got to see how the DNA with each plant worked with each other…as long as there wasn’t any adverse reactions.

“So come up and take your beginner plant as well as a cutting of any of the extra plants. You may also take cuttings from the gravity resistant trees, the stubby purple coral and the mandrakes as long as you DO NOT shift the mandrakes from their pots.” One can easily take a cutting from the protruding branches without any problems like unconsciousness or death. "Once you have repeated what I showed you, take a stake and label the two plants you used as well as your name so we can observe the progress of their growth and changes for the rest of term. You may begin.”

ooc: You've made it to the main activity...congrats. Class will end late Monday so feel free to do this multiple posts if you care to. Have fun. Perhaps try more than one graft. Professor Cole is around should your student need help or have questions

FearlessLeader19 · 03-15-2025, 07:12 PM

Id sensed that Paul needed some quiet time and that suited him just fine. He was all too happy to simply be present next to him while they did their spell work. Being caught up in the excellent mood that he was in, Id hadn’t even thought of his own safety. But Paul did. Of course he did. “It’s in my bag.” Already he was rummaging through it. A second later, he fished it out the black hair bonet. “Thank you for caring about my hair, Paully.” Idris fixed his healthy headful of hair under the cap then turned back to Paul. “It’s going to be safe now.” He gave the other guy a warm smile then acknowledged Cole. “Thanks, professor!’’

With interest the third year watched a demonstration was done for the grafting. Was that all there is to it? Cutting, adding the second plant and wrapping? That was so simple! He lightly nudged Paul. “Should we have the same type of beginner plant but each try a cutting from a different plant each?” That would make for a nice bit of observation of the growths.

Charely Potter · 03-18-2025, 12:13 AM

Paul nodded in appreciation to Professor Cole. Even if he didn't show it often, Paul did like the encouragement. Even when he didn't feel he deserved it, but he wasn't going to verbalize his feelings. The lesson was more important, "Good.. looks good." Paul said with Idris having his cap on. Now he was matching his older brother who likely had one of his own.

When the task was at hand, they were going to be trimming. "Oh, sure. That's a good idea. Maybe we can find the biggest beginner plant?" Paul eyed for a moment, "There we are." He eyed the mandrakes. "I don't think I want to risk my ears with those yet."

After taking the beginner plant, he set it down before getting to work. "Okay, I'll take this side then." With his full brows in check on concentrating, Paul started with one branch. "Flipnsnipwitit." With the slice motion, some fell off easily.

FearlessLeader19 · 03-18-2025, 01:06 AM

Idris beelined for the Gravity Resistant Trees, a couple steps ahead of Paul because of his keenness. “Me either.” He cast a brief look at the Mandrakes. “I would prefer to stay clear of any Mandrake.” He had never really been fond of them. With his recent-ish growth spurt and an outstretched hand, he would have no trouble reaching to make a cutting from one of the trees. “Flipnsnipwitit.” The slicing motion was done in the direction of one of the younger stems on the first tree he arrived at. Much to his happiness, the stem fell away on the first attempt.

Back at the workstation, he continued following the steps Cole had laid out for them, working on the beginner plant he and Paul had selected. “Diffindo.” Idris probably tried double or triple the effort to ensure that his wand work did not cut all the way through the plant with the v-shape. Peering at the outcome, he thought that he came awfully close since the cut was obviously a deep one. But it would work… right? Taking the cut from the Gravity Resistant tree, it was placed into the cut after which a strip of cloth was tied carefully but securely to keep the two together.

“I think I got it,’’ Id announced proudly to Paul. “What about you?” While carrying on this small conversation, he was busy labelling a stake with the required information.

*Holmesian Feline* · 03-20-2025, 03:36 AM

If Marcus was asked, he might have been willing to admit he was more than a little curious to see just what choices the class would make now…leading to what interesting future developments could develop from them over time. It was the Ravenclaw in him, always learning and willing to find out stuff. Granted he had taken the precaution of doing some extra researching on all of the plants he had offered for the activity to try and at least avoid anything overtly harmful coming into play, but most was still a game of chance. Especially with Mr. Grunt and Mr. Rocker deciding to work together.

Another curious variable.

He'd allow it for sure, giving the boys an approving nod as he passed them while surveying the students work as the class period dwindled down. Checking his watch as he returned to his workstation, it was definitely time to wrap up. “Alright, please finish up your work and clean up after you have placed your labeled plant over here…” Professor Cole instructed back to a corner he had set aside. “We’re finished and you are dismissed after. Good job everyone!”

ooc: That's all folks. Thank you for coming.

*PhoenixRising* · 03-21-2025, 11:31 PM

Hybridization of plants. It all basically was connected and when she thought about the breeding she wondered vaguely on the breeding process to conceive multiple births. Plants weren't exactly hatching babies in the same way as mammals, but grafting plants was the way plants were bred and perhaps that was why some plants spread so quickly - it was their way of breeding into multiple births.

There was practicing of spellwork. Herbology might not have been a favorite on subjects but she could hold her own when it came to spells. The trimming charm. It actually seemed rather entertaining to the third year. "Flipnsnipwitit." she giggled, wishing Ari or Johnny were nearby and knowing the latter was impossible as he was in a different country. But they'd surely find the pronunciation as equally amusing as she found it. The severing charm she was familiar with, but refreshed herself with it nonetheless, grateful for Idris practicing it as Professor Cole hadn't thought to mention it, assuming they all knew it. "Diffindo," she said rehearsing that one as well.

Enough practicing as it was time to create a hybrid plant?!? Grafting. Why had she heard that term before? Maybe as like a skin graft or something? Did it work the same way? Of course she didn't really know what a skin graft was, as she was only thirteen but she had heard the term before. Taking a deep breath, she took the rose, completely forgetting about her gloves, "Ouch!" she whimpered, seeing a small bead of blood pooling where the the thorns punctured on her thumb and finger tips. It wasn't much and definitely more of a wakeup call for the slytherin, slipping her gloves on and then taking rose again. Concentrate, slow steady cut. "Diffindo," she said focusing on the cut that it didn't go all the ay through, she glanced down, mentally crossing her fingers was pleased to see that the end hadn't been chopped off.

Taking one of the trimmings from a second sample designated, she jammed it into the cut. Grateful the gloves allowed her to tie the cloth secure around the two parts. Removing one of the gloves so she could label the stake, some blood dripped onto the stake inadvertently as she wrote, 'Tiffany Rose, Slytherin' her fingers tingling slightly. She really need a bandage.

"Professor, are there ... bandages? And how long does it take to see any progress to see if the hybridization worked?"

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