Professor Virohsa listened to Alex's questions. "Do not worry. If you get in a bad spot, I will help you out.. if not, then our Healer is very capable", she responded.

"Very well, we can move on to our first plant", she said as she waved her wand. The blackboard showed a picture of one of the two types of plants located in the corners. "Who can tell me what is the name of this plant?", she asked the class.

If you however, were looking at the plants in the corners, you could see the resemblance. Those plants look pretty much like this:

Nadia raised her hand, "Datura Stramonium, otherwise known as Thornapple or Devil's Apple. Other names include Jamestown-weed, Jimson-weed, Stinkweed, Devil's Trumpet and Apple of Peru."

Then added, "The name Stramonium is of uncertain origin: some authorities claim that it is derived from the Greek name of the madapple. Stramonia was the name of D. metel at Venice, in the middle of the sixteenth century, and the plant is figured under that title in the great Herbals of Tragus and Fuchsius. D. Stramonium seems to have been a later introduction into Europe than D. metel, not becoming general till after the middle of the sixteenth century, but as it rapidly spread and became a common plant, the name of the latter was transferred to it. The generic name, Datura, is from the Hindoo Dhatura, derived from the Sanskrit, D'hustúra, applied to the Indian species fastuosa, well known to the mediaeval Arabian physicians under the name of Tatorea. "

Roxanne raised her hand as quickly as she can. "That plant is called Datura Stramonium or commonly called as Thorn apple." She was too caught up in her thoughts that she forgot that someone already answered the question.

Professor Virohsa nodded. "Very good, it is known as Thorn Apple. And for that you shall receive 3 pts. Now, if you would please stick to answering the question. I don't reward answers that I have not asked about", she said slowly. "So please keep this in mind when answering".

"Now, can anyone tell me which regions you will never find this plant in? Also, I would like you to guess why not", she added with a small smile.

Nadia raised her hand, "This plants can be virtually found anywhere but cold, Artic places, possibly because it's not tolerant to low-temperature envirohments."

Roxanne listened intently to what the question and answer was. She took note of it and glanced around the room.

Professor Virohsa nodded. "Very good. Very few things survive such cold weather. 2 pts for Slytherin", she said. She then looked around and asked the next question, "Who can tell me how these plants are usually bred?"

Since no one else raised their hands, Nadia did it herself, once more. "Thornapple is easily cultivated, growing well in an open, sunnysituation. It will flourish in most moderately good soils, but will do best in a rich calcareous soil, or in a good sandy loam, with leaf mould added.

"Seeds are sown in the open in May, in drills 3 feet apart, barely covered. Sow thinly, as the plants attain a good size and grow freely from seed. Thin out the young plants to a distance of 12 to 15 inches between each plant in the drill. The soil should be kept free from weeds in the early stages, but the plants are so umbrageous and strong that they need little care later. If the summer is hot and dry, give a mulching of rotted cow-manure. The plants may also be raised from seeds, sown in a hot-bed in February or March, or in April in boxes in a cool greenhouse, the seedlings, when large enough, being transferred to small pots, in which they are grown with as much light and air as possible till June, when they are planted in the open. Thornapple transplants readily.

If grown for leaf crop, the capsules should be picked off as soon as formed, as in a wind the spines tear the leaves. Some seed, for propagation purposes, should always be collected from plants kept specially for the purpose."

Professor Virohsa nodded. "Very good! 5 pts", she replied. "Can anyone tell me which parts of this plant are poisonous?", she asked the class.

Kali raised her hand and answered, "The entire plant, in fact, is poisenous but most of the poison resides in the seeds. Once you take the poison your sight dims, your pupils dilate, and you become giddy and delirious."

Professor Virohsa nodded. "Very good, dear. 3 pts", she replied.

"Now, can anyone tell me what use could we give this plant?", she asked the class.

Kali raised her hand again, hoping the Professor didn't mind her answering another question, "The seeds, besides being a relief for asthma, are used as a narcotic. They are also used to relieve pain. The seeds are either boiled in water or steeped in alcohol. An extract, in pill form, is considered a cough-remedy and a remedy for the whooping-cough."

She then finished and hoped Professor Virohsa didn't mean the magical uses, because then, she was most likely wrong.

Nadia raised her hand, knowing others would concentrate in the common, known uses, she decided to center on magical uses, "In early times, the Thornapple was considered an aid to the incantation of witches, and during the time of the witch and wizard mania in England, it was unlucky for anyone to grow it in his garden."

Professor Virohsa nodded as she heard both answers. "Very good! 3 pts each", she added.

"Now that we have some understanding, everyone please put your gloves on and grab one of the plants. Be very careful!", she said severely.

Finishing off his notes, Jaren stowed his parchment and quill away before slipping on his dragonhide gloves, ignoring the mild buzz in the back of his brain that came with trying to understand and take in everything that had just been discussed in class.

He walked over to the plants and selected the one closest to him, handling it by the pot and doing his utmost best not to touch the plant itself.

Nadia reached for her dragonhide gloves and put them on, following the crowd to the crate where to find the plants. Being so poisonous... well, hope the leaves weren't too sharp? Like, stung? Nadia grimaced as she choose from within the many plants which to take as if it was much of a difference.

Finally reaching one that might not be too vicious (though how would a plant be more vicious than others, and show for that matter, that nobody knows), Nadia took it all the way to her desk, hands outstretched trying not make as little contact with the plant as possible.

Karen puts her gloves on and follows the rest of the class to the plants. She picks one up carefully and carries it back to her desk, relieved that nothing had happened to her yet.

Patrick followed direction and selected a plant which his turn came. He made sure he had his gloves and was careful as he carried it to his work table. He began to draw the plant on his parchment. He liked to have drawing to help him study for exams. Plus it gave him something to do until they were ready to move forward with the plant.

Xavier reached down into his bag and took out his special Herbology gloves. This seemed like it may be a project that extra protection may be called for. He walks over to the plants and carefully grabs one, making sure that it wouldn't do anything, before just as carefully taking it back to his seat, where he waited for more intructions.

Rosa put on her protective gloves. then she walked over to the plants and picked a small plant. she held her arms a bit outstretched, so the plant couldn't get close enough to her unprotected face to poison her and walked back to the desk and put it on the middle of it. she pulled her chair back a bit more than usual and sat down at it studying the plant. Both because she was curious and because this felt like a plant you should keep your eyes on.

Lee was not at all happy with the fact that they were working with these plants. He retreived his gloves from his bag and placed them on, making sure they were secure and no rips had overcome them since last time he had used them.

Once satisfied he moved to the front desk and reluctantly took one of the remaining plants. Walking slowly and holding the plant's pot by the tip of his fingers, he moved back to his desk where he gratefully placed the plant.

Professor Virohsa waited until everyone had their plants. "Very good class. Now, listen carefully to what we will do during class. First we will re-pot both plants. We will start with this one. After that is done, we will then proceed to use their leaves to take a very important ingredient you will need for the final exam", she said slowly.
"Now, about re-potting them, do not water them or feed them until after you have moved them to a bigger pot. And this goes for both plants. After you have moved them, make sure to water them and give them some feed. The pitchers and the feed have already been mixed so all you will have to do is use it. These are found on the same table with the plants", she explained.

Emily waited until the professor had finished explaining everything.

When she was done she got started. She first took it carefully and repotted the first plant into a larger pot. After she had finished putting the plant into the larger pot she added some more soil and then watered the plant and waited for mroe instructions. She also gave the plant some feed and moved it over on her table to show she had finished.

Kay made sure her gloves were securely on before starting the re-potting process. Slowly but carefully, she began to remove the excess dirt from around the plant because she did not want any of the delicate roots or stems to sustain damage during the re-potting process. The excess dirt was placed in the larger pot and not on the work table.

Five minutes had elapsed since she had started working, and finally Kay gingerly lifted the plant and placed it in the larger pot. Now she worked faster, moving the remaining dirt from the old pot into the new one.

Xavier sighed and prepared to repot the plant. It would be a hard job, but as he looked around he could tell that it was possible.

He started digging around the outside of the pot carefully to extract the extra dirt. Once he accidentely tore one of the roots and he cringed doing so. After about 7 and a half minutes of careful work after the small accident he moves his plant to the other pot which he quickly filled with new soil.