"Thank you, professor," he said with a smile. He decided to put a little dab on his mouth. Eesh. Now I know why the professor doesn't like it. Aaron decided to rub the rest on his hands. And then rub anything on top onto his pants. Didn't want to ever taste THAT again.

Aaron looked up as he professor clapped. Aaron knew nothing about that. But he thinks he heard of something when his mom went to a Spa. "I believe Sea Mud can soothe feet, professor. Even though it has no magical qualities." He wanted to be right. this class was never a strong one for him.

Psh. How did she know? Was she supposed to know everything?

Sighing, the girl looked at the leaf in her hand and played around with it. Squishy squishhyyy.. the gel spurted out gently and gradually. Now Cedes felt all sticky. Terrific. She felt like a five-year-old. She probably was a five-year-old. At the heart at least. And then it hit her. As she played around, Cedes listened to the others as they give out answers.

Cedes raised her hand up into the air to answer. "Catnip herb is one ain't it? It's supposed to relax stressed feet. Mah dad likes to use that. He also reaaaaalllyyy likes Majoram, Thyme, and Lavender." Always said it 'hits the spot'! Crazy man.

Ehem. Abby wasn't sure exactly what the professor was looking for, but she knew of several home remedies for things like aching feet. Unfortunately, epsom salt wasn't an herb really. And althaea was an herb, but it was used for skin cosmetic purposes. Nevertheless, she raised her hand. "Professor, would althaea be considered one?" she asked.

"Plantain," Sage nodded at Destiny's quick response, "and the seeds are also used to treat parasitic worms." Just a nice gross bit of info thrown in there.

"All very good answers.. proof that a plant doesn't have to be magical to possess healing properties." And another mention of the herb he'd been named after.


"Chamomile has lots of healing and soothing qualities, very right young man." Bright bunch these lot were.

"Quite right, the marshmallow root isn't just used to make those squishy muggle treats. The extract is used in many healing creams." Some more info incase they were interested.


"Ah, ginger." Sage gave his beard a little scratch before continuing, "has many medicinal benefits including motion sickness. Nice answer."


Sage offered Chris the Head Boy a small smile, "You're right there, it's very good at healing infections."


"Witch hazel can be very soothing, yes." Sage nodded in approval of this answer, "especially for soothing insect bites." That bite could well be on a foot, so technically she was right there.

Sage smiled. Anything that helped release tension would soothe feat. Good logic there. "I imagine peppermint would leave them smelling better too." Heh.

"Although not technically a plant," Sage started, "you're right there, Aaron."


Catnip. The herb that drove cats crazy. "Also known as Nepeta cataria, yes. Has a sort of soothing numbing effect."

"Those are all very good answers," the Professor beamed, proud of their Herbology knowledge. The last professor must've taught them well. "Should any of you get sore feet, you'll be up and about in no time at all. The herb I was thinking of though, is Mugwort."

He moved towards the side of the classroom where he'd left a cutting of Mugwort. It looked like a common weed. "Mugwort was used in ancient times, by Roman centurions as a cure for sore feet." He carefully picked off a couple of the leaves and dropped them in a mortar on his desk. "The leaves can be crushed up," he explained, demonstrating as he used a pestle to grind the leaves, "and the result is then placed in your shoes!" Wasn't that cool!? He certainly thought so.

And yes, there were Mugwort leaves in his shoes.

"Now if you'd like to come and snag a few leaves, grab a mortar and pestle from the store cupboard, you can get yourself a cure for foot fatigue!" Yes, that was an instruction.

Oo!!! Cadence REALLY liked this plant! She couldn't wait to tell Esme about this! She'd be able to wear her awesomely beautiful shoes all day now!! Bouncing up from her seat, Cadence went up to where the Professor was a grabbed a few leaves, a mortar and pestle from the cupboard and went back to her seat. She ground up the leaves really well and then, yes, she was going to try it out. She took off her shoes, put the ground up leaves in them, and then slipped her heels back on, standing back up. Ooo! That felt lovely! She needed more of this!

"Professor!" she called, raising her hand in the air. "Two questions: How long will they last? Where do they grow?" she asked with a smile on her face.

Chris beamed at the Professor; he was doing such a good job during this lesson. The Head Boy was proud of him as he sneaked glances around the room making sure others were enjoying it like he was, like they SHOULD!!

Then they got to get FREE SAMPLES?!?!?!!? Chris hopped right off his stool and raced to the front table where the samples of Mugwort were and the pestles. "Thanks Professor, this sure will help me in my corridor watches and you know...races?" he chuckled. The Herbology Professor knew what he meant! *gigglesnort*

Chris placed the little weed into the morter and pestle and began to smash it together until it became a light green paste. "It doesn't look very appealing does it?" he asked with a laugh. "And Professor when we are done mushing it all up can we put it in our shoes?!" he wondered if it would be all squishy...

Teehee! Mugwort was a reeeeally funny word!! Keeley giggled a bit, then skipped up to get the funny leaf thing to chop up and put in her shoes. This whole thing sounded fun indeed! Her skirt swooshing slightly, she skipped up to Mr. Awesome Professor and snagged a few leafs, being sure to say, "Thankk you!" and grabbing the grindy thing. Now for some fun.... pounding leaves with a rock!

Simon smiled at the Professor, he had got it right, he felt like doing a little dance, He then snagged a few leafs, being sure to say. "Thank you Professor." Simon smiled he was wondering what to do with them now, he had no idea what to do next.

Would she like to? No. Did she feel compelled to? Yes.

So Ellie got herself up and made her way to the front to grab some leaves and the pestle and grinding stick thing.

She smiled at Professor Dodson when she got near him.

Then she went back to where she was sitting.

"Professor, does it... smell?" asked the redhead, uncertainly. She crinkled her nose as she asked too, for visual effect.

Umm..ewww!

Parasitic worms?

Destiny turned to Evelyn with a look of disgust of her face. Her friend didn't have any of these worms, did she? She really hoped they weren't contagious. Gross.

Standing up, she made her way to the cupboard and grabbed one of those mortal and pestles. She felt like she was back in potion's and really hoped this Professor wouldn't set her ABLAZE, too. Once..is enough! When she had her mortal, she made her way to the Mugwort and picked a few leaves. She expected..mud. Nothing muddy about them! She took her supplies back to her table and started to crush the plants.

Putting this in her shoe was weirder than putting that aloe on her hands.

Cure for foot fatigue? Try shin splints! Abby was already feeling them, and she hadn't even been running lately. Darn weak ankles. Mehhh. But foot soothers were good too. She took a few Mugwort leaves and a mortar and pestle for herself. Mash, mash, mash. It was beginning to look like the stuff she got under her shoes after a long walk, not something to put inside. But hey, the professor knew what he was talking about, right?

Foot fatigue? Mugwort cures that?

Clearing her throat, she looked around the room, as if not to look interested in the plant, only to find Destiny staring at her as if Josh was standing next to her. But, Josh wasn't there! Why then!?

Frowning her friend, Evelyn scoffed and stood up after her to get one of the mortal and pestles before grabbing a few of the leaves from the front. She could really use some stuff on her feet actually. Running was all great and all in the mornings and sometimes evenings, but she grew out of her running shoes and now... her feet hurt.

Crushing the leaves once back at the table, Evelyn kept her ears open for any conversation worth listening to. Hehe.

Mugwort schmugwort. At least she answered a question right? She was sooooo proud. Ahehehehehehe. Where was Lucky? Cedes needed to celebrate with her. Hey. WHERE WAS LUCKY TORELLI? They literally hadn't seen each other in forever. She saw Lucky Torelli less than she saw her pendant and that was saying something. She alwaaaayyys lost that pendant. Where was that girl?

Hmm... no matter. She couldn't think about it now. Herbology was calling her name. It really was a pity that Professor Dodgson had cooties. Cedes didn't know for sure but the chances of him having it was likely. She couldn't take any risks. She had to play it safe around him. It was so saaadd.. Poor Dodgieson.

Huh? Wai-whaaat?

Fweeee saaammpllees? Aheeeeee. Best day ever. Maybe she could get some extra ones for her daddy? Yes? Please? Extra cootie shots for Dodgieson?

Cedes jumped off her seat and skipped on over to the front table. "Thaaaaannks Professor. You're the coolest." Ahhh... so pweeetttyy. So lovely. She grabbed a couple. Well. Maybe moooaar than a couple. She sneaked a peek over at the professor to see if he was watching and snuck a couple in her pocket. Sorryyyyy.... old man's gotta relieve his feet. Standing up and walking around all day. Almost every letter he sent Cedes was about his poor feet. Hopefully Mugwort would be more effective.

Smiling happily, the girl walked back over to her station area and set the leaves that she didn't steal borrow down on the table. She then walked over to the cabinet, taking out a mortar and pestle. WHEEEEE. Time to griiiind. She smashed the leaf and ground it until it was all pasty.

Cootie man or not. He was pretty cool. DEFINITELY better than crazy Lafayfay. Heck. She wanted Kazi back!

Ok the professor was weird, but in a good way. William couldn't help but smirk as he stood, bouncing over to the cupboard and taking a mortar and pestle back to his spot, putting it on the table with a dull thud. Frowning a bit he got up again stretching his tired arms, why they were tired he didn't know and made his way to the Mugwort and took a few leafs from it. Strange name for a strange plant he thought walking back to his table again and sitting down. Placing the leafs into the mortar he began pounding them into a paste, humming a childhood song under his breath as he did so, watching as they began turning into a paste.

Wait, he had to stick this in his shoes!?! His brand new expensive shoes? Oh no this wouldn't do well at all, no not at all. These shoes cost him his hard earned galleons and he was making him put pasty gunk in them?

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Sage chuckled, moving towards Chris who seemed to be crushing with much enthusiasm. So much that the leaves had apparently turned into a sort of green pulp. Like mushy peas.

"Looks like you got carried away with your grinding. Wouldn't want to put that mush in my shoes!" It'd get all messy and stuck between his toes. Not pleasant. "You just want to soften the leaves," he said loudly enough for everyone to hear, "break them up a little and soften them." Not grind them into a pulp. "Why don't you give it another try, Chris?"


Sage smiled at the boy whose name he couldn't recall. "Now you need to grab a bowl and a grinding thing - a mortar and pestle - and give the leaves a little mash." He'd looked a little lost.

"The leaves don't smell, no." Sage shook his head at the girl's question. And a good one it was too. You didn't want to put smelly leaves on your feet after all. "The small flowers on the shrub do, but we're just using the leaves."

Ellie smiled and nodded.

"Thank Merlin! That would be icky." she said quite audibly.

This certainly seemed like an interesting herb Hermione thought. She did as the professor instructed and went to up to grab some mugwort leaves, as well as a mortar and pestle. After Hermione had grabbed everything she needed she went back to her seat and waited for further instruction.

Simon smiled at the Professor, he was glad that the Professor had realised that he was a bit lost. "Thanks for telling me Professor." Simon smiled as he went and grabbed a bowl and a grinding thing. "Professor why is it called a Mortar and Pestle?" He didn't like the name, he quickly put the leaves in the bowl and with the grinding thing started to give the leaves a little mash. "Like this sir?"

Chris was already removing his right shoe and scooping a bit of the green paste onto the pestle when he was stopped by Professor Dodson's voice. A frowning face appeared slightly on the Head Boy's face as he heard he had done it wrong. CURSE HIS ENTHUSIASM!!!

"Sorry Professor Dodson." he said queitly to the Professor with a small grin. The Gryffinfor then turned to look at the green pulp, "Sorry Mugwort roots." he had to respect the plants right? Wasn't that what Bunbury had taught them?

He was going to try again. He took another sample of the weed and put it into his mortor and pestle and began to push down gently until the fibers were soft but not mashed. "Is this better Professor?" he asked eagerly.

Dianna scooped the jelly into the vial and listened to the professor.
All the things the professor had said made her have a weird and sick feeling in her stomach. But for the sake of a grade Dianna got a few leaves and a mortar and pestle from the cupboard.
"Erm.. Porfessor, do we have to place these inside our shoes now?" she couldn't help but ask, seeing as her other classmates were wondering the same thing.

"They'll last a fair while," Sage replied, "I'd say a good few days and then you'll start to feel the effects wearing off.. then you'd just need to replace the leaves." And as for the other question? "Mugwort grows wildly all over the British Isles, except I'm afraid.. in Scotland." Which just happens to be where they were. Bummer, huh? "I've been growing a small supply in the greenhouses though."


Huh? Now that was a question he hadn't been expecting. Why was a mortar and pestle called a ... mortar and pestle? "I can't answer that question," Sage smile apologetically, "because I'm not exactly sure. I just know they're good for mushing up plants. Your Potions professor might know though." He glanced down at the leaves on the bowl and nodded. "Excellent job!"

"No problem," Sage said when Chris apologised. "It's just lucky you didn't put that goo in your shoes." He watched as the Head Boy tried again, this time just softening the leaves with the pestle. "Much better.. if you put those in your shoes your feet'll feel much better during long walks."


"You don't have to put them in your shoes, no." The Professor answered, shaking his head. He couldn't forcibly make them. "But there's no harm in doing so, is there? Especially if you feel the effects and they help."

He was using them, wasn't he? Only someone who was using them currently would be so enthusiastic about their students doing the same.

After she had some leaves mushed up, she looked into the mortar. Ew. Looked like... spinach? Ish...?

"You know," she said slowly with a joking smile, nodding, "You could have my mushed up Mugwort leaves, Professor." Hehe. Even the name sounded gross.

Looking down at her mushed, yet not TOO mushed, leaves, Evelyn decided they were pretty much good now. Nothing like that green goo stuff that other boy made. Just, ew.

Poking the leaves, she looked around for a moment before raising her hand. Important question! "So... we just...put it in our shoes? Or do we need to, take our socks off or something." She didn't want her pretty clean socks to be turned green with leaf stains.

Might as well just take them off right?

Simon looked at the Professor and then thought long and hard was it worth it, he didn't really want to see the Potion Professor again unless he really had too. "Professor can you do me a favour and ask the Potion Professor yourself why and then tell me what she says to you?" He hopped that he would. "Oh I agree there sir, it's great for doing that." Simon said as he continued to mush the leaves. "How mushed do you want them sir?"

After the professor aswered her question Dianna looked into her mortar and saw a not too mushed but mushed up leaves which looked like... well she couldn't really describe it besides squishy and green.
"What to do, what to do..." she said to herself.