Ella skipped into the study area, bag swinging alongside her. She joined Carter at the table. "'Kay," she breathed, eyes animated, "What homework are we doing?"

"Not sure, just got here." Carter whispered back. She probably didn't notice that Chris, their prefect had just finished talking so he pointed up to him hoping she realized that he was 'running the show.'

"Oops," Ella replied quietly. Hush hush.

From just over her Transfiguration book, LouAnn could see a Ravenclaw girl smiling at her. LouAnn didn't know her, but she did remember her from a class or two. "Hello," she mouthed, not saying much else since the study group was about to begin.

Wait...they were actually going to hold a classroom type study group? In some ways, this was good. LouAnn needed remedial type discussions. In other ways, this was bad---for LouAnn, at least. She probably wouldn't remember half of what they studied without having to comb through pages of a textbook first. By then, everyone else would have already answered. "One will bite ya boots off and the other won't?" she suggested. It'd been what she'd said in class. "Oh, and one hates sunlight and fire and the other doesn't."

Kiri nodded. "Alright. I'll see if I can help anyone..." She wasn't too sure that she would. The study sessions were mostly meant for the older students, if she remembered correctly. To help them prepare for their OWL or NEWT exams. Of course, as a fourth-year, Kiri was not sitting either of those, so she had no real reason to be here. But just getting up and disappearing behind the rows of books again seemed silly. Besides, there was always the outside chance of someone needing the kind of help she could provide.

She sat by idly as a few other people wandered in, then turned to listen to the Gryffindor begin the study session. No one seemed inclined to answer his first question, however. Where were the NEWT Herbology students?

She clicked her fingernails on the table a few times. "I can give it a go, Chris?" she offered. "Devil's Snare and Flitterbloom are two magical plants. They both have long, er, kind of tentacle-like... arms. Actually, they look pretty similar overall, so I guess they're related? Anyway, the difference gets, er, obvious if you touch them. Flitterbloom is harmless, but Devil's Snare will try to strangle you, especially if you struggle. You can..."

Kiri broke off and shuffled through her parchments. "Sorry about this," she mumbled, trying frantically to find the notes she'd made during the Herbology lesson. At last, she found them. With difficulty, she pulled them out of the heap, which was now spread all over the table. "Here we go," she said. "Um, Devil's Snare does not like light, though, so if you manage to summon fire or something like that, you can drive it off. Or if you... uh, if you just hold still, it won't strangle you as quickly."

Mina looked up from her book as she heard the older Gryffindor greeted her. Smiling back at him, she set her book down as she saw Carter and Ella join her. "Hey guys," she whispered to them, as not to disturb the study session.

Hearing Chris ask a question, she flipped open her notes from Herbology. "Flitterbloom is a mundane plant that likes open and airy environments and Devil's Snare prefer dark and damn environments." Flipping through more notes, she added more. "Flitterbloom like to move even if not breeze is present and Devil's Snare only moves or attacks if provoked." She wasn't that good at the subject and hoped that was enough to satisfy the question.

Cela peeked over her shoulder as one of the younger Ravenclaws answered. She offered a big smile and got up to move over to her and the two Gryffindors she was sitting with.

"Thats a good answer, you're Jasmina right? I'm Celandine. Call me Cela though." She raised her voice and briefly put her hand up to add some more information.

"Even though Flitterbloom can survive for quite a long time, up to a few months without being watered, it is not a succulent plant. It is the magical nature of the plant which allows it to survive without water, but its temperament is improved when it is watered regularly. Flitterbloom plants like water and it likes moisture in its soil, though it does not need a damp, dark and dank environment like Devil’s Snare does." She explained.

"Devils snare, when it is not attacking, does not wave around. Instead it huddles in a pile, avoiding even the smallest amount of light. Flitterbloom by contrast, is almost eager. It is unaffected by light and waves around cheerfully, it’s shape is more animated and lively. Also, Devil’s Snare and Flitterbloom are from the same scientific family and genus, but different species which is why they are almost indistinguishable to look at but their behaviours and environmental needs are different."

Mina smiled hearing the older Ravenclaw's praise. "Thank you, Cela. Yes, I'm Jasmina, but everyone calls me Mina."

Hearing Cela add more, she hurried to write it down. She had been having issues with Herbology as of late and every little detail would help her at the moment.

Looking up she noticed Rafe had join them. She remembered meeting him at the Hufflepuff vs. Slytherin game.

"Rafe." Celandine greeted quietly, watching in amusement as he started half-snoozing after only a few moments. She leaned over to whisper to him. "Do you want me to zap you each time you doze off?" She offered, teasingly.


"Nice to properly meet you, Mina!" Celandine beamed happily, sitting up straight and looking at her younger housemate as she took notes on the subject. "Do you like Herbology?"

There sounded like there was a voice. Rafe opened his eyes a little. Aw, there was a face to match the voice. "Oh hey... Ceeeeela," Rafe yawned. "What did I miss?" Was he drooling? He wiped his chin, this was so embarrassing.

Fyo had left the last study session in a bit of a daze - they had not done much, had they, he thought with a sigh? - but he arrived at this one in a cheerier mood, bag slung over shoulder.
Ooohh, that was a GOOOD question. "The basic difference is in their classification, I believe," he said politely. "Flitterbloom is mundane, while the Devil's Snare is clearly magical. Both look pretty much the same - soft masses of springy vines and tendrils - but the latter can be differentiated because of its excellent defense mechanism: it possesses a heightened sense of touch, and grabs at anyone - or anything - that tries to harm it. Or that the Devil's Snare feel is trying to harm it," he added, with a smile.

"Flitterbloom, on the other hand, is absolutely harmless. It is used, mostly, for ornamental purposes, something the Devil's Snare could never be thought of, for! Oh, and the Devil's Snare has a strong aversion to light, while the Flitterbloom is okay with it, the way most green plants are. Not to mention, the former likes a damp, dark environment, while the latter can easily thrive in a well-kept, well-lit one. Both are tough plants in their own way, but Flitterbloom has no defensive techniques that can match the likes of the Devil's Snare," he concluded.

"Nice to properly meet you as well," Mina smiled as she looked up from her note. "I like it but I'm not as good at it, as I want to be. I should probably work on it more, since I would help me in potions to know what I'm using." The two subjects did go hand in hand in a way. Know thy ingredients and all that jazz. "But I do have time for improvement." she beamed positively. No need to be negative she was still a firstie and she did have six more years.

"Nothing much, we're just studying, doing a bit of a recap of stuff we've learned lately. Is there anything you are having trouble with? Anything I can help with?" Cela offered cheerfully.

"Well I can show you my notes some time if you like." Celandine offered. "I found herbology sort of hard once too, but now I like it a lot."

"Well Herbology was easy, I finished that in like five minutes," Rafe said, trying not to yawn again. "Umm...I'm not quite sure what to do with Transfiguration, I wasn't exactly paying attention thoroughly in class." It was so nice getting help from an older student. Maybe it would relieve some of his stress.

Mina smiled and whispered back. "Thanks." Nudging him, she leaned over and asked him quietly, "What homework are you going to work on today?"
Turning her attention back to Cela, she smiled. "Really? I would like that, thank you. I like it but I know I could like it so much more if I was better at it, I know it." She was very fond of flowers and things but for some reason, her fondness wasn't translating well in her homework.

"Well I took notes." Celandine flicked her journal open and went through the pages until she found her notes from the transfiguration lesson.

Cela offered her notes for Rafe to look at.

"If you like, we can go down to the Greenhouses after this, I can show you how to harvest Bubotuber pus and show you how to care for Puffapods and Flutterby bushes." Cela suggested, looking at Carter and Rafe and Ella too. You know, even though they were Gryffindors, if they wanted to know she'd help them.

"Well, the only thing I've done is Transfiguration." Carter said with a small laugh. "So pretty much everything else." He then nodded when Cela mentioned going out the greenhouses. That could be fun. Right?

Whoa.

Leave it to Cela to have organized notes from Transfiguration class. That girl knew just about everything, and it was no wonder! Just look at those notes! Once again, all LouAnn had succeeded in doing during Transfiguration was flicking a marshmallow across the classroom...accidentally, of course.

"May I...borrow those, too?" she asked the girl. She really, really needed to know that spell so she could properly do her homework. "I mean, when Rafe is doing with them and all?"

Cela smiled back encouragingly. Expedition? Wooot!

"Sure!" Cela made a few duplications of her notes and passed one over to LouAnn. She placed the rest of them in a small stack on the edge of her desk in case anyone else wanted them.

To everyone! :D
 

Chris watched as a few more stragglers came in and he smiled and nodded to each of them as a welcome. He listened to each person who decided to answer his question and was quite suprised. They had defiantely paid attention in herbology the last lesson. He would have to tell Bunbury about how well they were doing.

"Great job to all those who answered. You all stated the main facts and qualities for each of the plants including their appearance, weaknesses, and behavior!" He could feel gold stars coming along! Hehe. "And also thank you very much Cela, for explaing and helping those two with some specifics on the plants."

He also noticed she helped pull out the Transfiguration notes. Ok so on that he decided to change the session set up just a bit. "Ok so I know the only major homework assignments at the moment are Transfiguration and Ancient Ruens so I am going to go ahead and open up the session to free range homework. So if you would liek to partner up in pairs or groups you may and if you have any questions you can ask the older students here or me." he smiled at LouAnn, Cela, Livvy and a few others. "Unless you are kid geniuses." he grinned at the younger ones. "Ok so lets get to work!" he smiled.