Furmy had a time finding this office what with it being crammed between so many greenhouses, and plants. And none of them had any mice! He would hunt after the letter tied to his leg was delivered. Wonky wings carried him in through an open window, and he settled on the edge of the desk beside the student.

He held out his leg and staaared at the small person, waiting patiently for her to retrieve the letter, and give him treats. He deserved them for a job well done, yes?

Janice took the jar of the preserved mandrake roots.
"Thank you, professor. I'll give your regards to Professor Lafay."
She went out the office, with the jar in her hands. It's time to go to the STORAGE ROOM!


OOC: thanks..

"Saturday sounds good to me," she said taking a quick glance at her term planner on her wall... yep Saturday was free.
"Shall we meet in the greenhouse say.... at ten o'clock?"

Ooohh mail! thought Seren as a tawny owl flew into her office through her open window...

But it wasn't for her... how sad. No matter.

"Good news I hope," she said... would be sucha shame if it was bad news.

"No problem dear," replied Seren as she watched Janice leave. Such a lovely girl.

"Ten sounds great. I'll be there." Presley was so grateful to Bentley that she would have shown up had she asked to meet at two in the morning.
Presley smiled, and fished a treat from her bag for the owl, who seemed to be expecting one. She fed it, and petted it's beak as she untied her letter. It looked to be from Leo. That was good as she'd been expecting him to write her.

Pres looked back at the teacher, letter in hand. "Oh most likely," she replied. "It's from my brother. He always sends good news. Goodbye! Thank you so much!" Presley would open her letter when she got back to the dormitory. she backed out of the office thanking Bentley for the...fourth or fifth time.

"Ohh thats lovely. Its not a problem dear, and I'll see you then. Enjoy the rest of your week."

Hhhmm now what to do? Thought Seren as she gazed around her office... Though really she should start marking. All the homework that was coming in seemed to pile up quickly.

Sarah came inside the Professor office when she called her in. It looked very nice and warm. She looked around in awe. When she noticed the professor she bowed a little and then smiled. "Good morning Professor" she said.

After closing the door behind the young Gryffindor, Seren made her way behind her desk and took her seat.
"Please, take a seat, how can I help you?" she asked, pouring herself a cup of peppermint tea from the pot on her desk.
"Tea?" she offered.

The girl BEAMED.

Yeah, Bentley was most definitely a favorite Professor of hers. For one, Ellie appreciated the enthusiasm that seemed to come from the woman whenever they interacted. And that Bentley called her 'Ellie' rather than 'Miss Stone' or the dreadful 'Eliana' was a plus.

She moved past the Professor, into the office. "Oh." It was...floral. "It's very Herbology-like in here," she commented, still smiling. It was, wasn't it? Flowers were plants too? It was actually not terrible. The decor definitely seemed to fit Bentley's personality as far as Ellie could tell. Personally, she'd have had more purple than pink.

As Ellie took in the office, which smelled slightly familiar, by the way, her eyes drifted to the Geraniums and she was glad she hadn't noticed them while entering. Then they went to the cork board and the pictures it was holding up.

Yeah, the office was quite nice.

"Thank you dear," replied Seren as she closed the door behind them, "I'm afraid its an occupational hazzard." Flowers and plants always seemed to rub off on her, when she found the wallpaper she just HAD to have it. It was either the wallpaper or aquariums along each wall... but that would have been too much work to maintain, and there was always the danger of leakage.

After placing a couple of the books that were laying on her desk back onto the bookshelf she took her seat, "So what can I do for you today?" she asked. Was it herbology related? or... something else?

Seren only hoped Ellie wasn't about to chastise her for cheering too loudly at quidditch-- and well putting her off her game. It was possible, wasn't it?
Speaking of which, her throat was still somewhat sore, she took up her cup and had a sip of tea. Surely at some point the tea would take effect, she hadn't become immune to it had she?
"Would you like some tea?" she offered, not forgetting her manners.

Occupational hazard? Because she was a herbologist? "Do you have things like this at your house?" Just Ellie being curious and stuff.

Okay, if Bentley was going to sit, so was Ellie. There really was no point in standing anyway. "Actually, I just wanted to visit." She wanted to be BUDS with Bentley. Mhm. "Treyen told me you were in Ravenclaw. And that you played Quidditch." See, they already had two things in common!

She shook her head at the tea, though. "No thanks." Tea wasn't her favorite drink...at all, really. And it...it reminded her of Reyn a lot. Not that she'd admit it to anyone.

"No.. my appartment in London is far less... interesting," she said sadly, it really would bother her during the school break, but at least she didn't have to face its plain cream walls right now. "I plan on selling it soon and getting a small house instead, perhaps somehwere in the country... but who knows what will happen."

Oohh a general chat! this was nice, in fact Seren couldn't recall having a general chat with a student in her office since the very start of term. It was always to do with homework assignments, or grades, or advice...
And all that stuff was good, but every once in a while she would like to sit back and relax and just enjoy getting to know the students on a different level.

Ah yes Treyen! such a lovely boy to keep her company during that quidditch match... though she had wondered whether or not she had frightened him with her... enthusiasm. Heck she frightened herself sometimes, and that was no easy feat.
"Yes thats absolutely right... I made the team as a chaser in my second year and played right through to my seventh, considered going professional, but my mother talked me out of it."
Which she sort of regretted.

"An apartment?" That surprised her. But Seren kept speaking. The country, yeah. Ellie nodded, "That's more of where I was picturing you might live." That made her sound like such a creeper. But she wasn't. Honest. "I mean, given," the fourth year gestured around the room. Given all the flowers, Ellie was picturing some ivy-covered cottage with a huge flowerbed in front, and a greenhouse in back. "Sounds nice." The image in Ellie's head, at least, was a nice one.

Ohh she was a Chaser? "That's awesome! Chaser's fun." Better than Keeper. She had way too much energy on the Pitch to play Keeper. It was no fun staying so close to the goal posts, when there was so much space to fly over. "And you were Chaser all six years?" Or maybe, like Ellie, Bentley was shifted from position to position.

That was...sad. It really was. "Did you know what team you wanted to go out for?" What was with moms and Quidditch? Ellie's mom didn't like the sport much...at all. At all at all. Only, Ellie didn't think she'd talk her out of playing professionally. Not that she was even considering it. That was faaaar too in the future to be thinking about.

Drinking from her cup, Seren smiled as Ellie remarked on the joys of being chaser. Yes it was difinitely good fun.
Nodding, Seren continued, "Yep, I had my heart set on being a chaser, though I did fill in for other positions occasionally. I played as a beater a few times, and I had a go at seeker," she smiled, "though I have to say I was nowhere near as good as you."

"I had been invited to try out for the Holyhead Harpies and Kenmare Kestrels, but my mother wouldn't allow the Headmaster to give me permission to take a day off school to attend them." She could still remember that day clearly, she had never forgiven her mother for it, but she had moved on.
"And so how long have you been playing for?" she asked Ellie. "Is it something you want to do professionally?"

Sarah sat down opposite Prof Seren. "Hello professor, how are you today?" she asked with a smile. When the Professor offered tea, Sarah became slightly tense. She had never been offered anything from a teacher before. Infact, she had never been to anyone's office. Not even as punishment. "Yes please" she said clearing her thoughts. "Actually Professor, I came to give you these." she paused, "I thought you of all the teachers, might like it." she said, innocently as ever.

HEHE.

Ellie was LOVING talking to Bentley. She'd never had a Quidditch conversation with a Professor before. Sure, she could talk to Vindictus, but he was too scary to just randomly approach. Other than him, she was at a loss as to who to talk to. Definitely not Hadley.

Oh...BEAM. BEAM BEAM BEAM.

Though she was BEAMING, she had to point out, "I'm not that good." Else she'd have beat Treyen, right? Then again, she was the kind of person who thought she was NEVER good enough.

"I like Beater." She MISSED Beater. But she was two plus terms out of practice with that position, she didn't know how good she'd do. Best not to try this late into the season.

The Harpies! "They're one of my favorite teams." Yeah, ONE of three. It would have been AWESOME to have a Professor that used to play for them. "And the old Captain, Nia, plays for them. Harpies, that is." Like Bentley really wanted to know... "Why's that?" One day? She couldn't get off just one teensy tiny day? It's not like one day would've ruined her entire education. And if Bentley had made it, then she'd already have a career set.

Pffft. Moms.

"I've been playing on the team since my first term. Beater. But my second term we had the Triwizard Tournament," Ellie rolled her eyes at this. Sure, it was awesome and stuff, but they soooo didn't have to cancel Quidditch. "Then last term, Jacob moved me from Chaser to Keeper, then James had that...accident," Did Bentley already know this? Did Bentley even NEED to know this? Oh well, "He was Seeker, so I've been filling in for him since." She didn't really feel like a Seeker, though, no matter how many games she's played as one.

Professionally? HAH. If Ellie had accepted that tea, it'd be all over Bentley's desk. "I don't know. I haven't given any thought of life after Hogwarts." She hated thinking about the future. She didn't even know what her Summer was going to be like, and that was muuuuch closer than graduation. "Though, it's a nice thought, I suppose." Maybe she could play with Nia.

"Oh I'm very well thank you, and how have you been?" asked Seren as she got Sarah a cup and poured her some tea. She puched the sugar bowl in her direction, not knowing whether or not she took sugar.. or how much for that matter. Personally she had a sweet tooth, so a good tea, in her books, had to have a minimum of two heaped teaspoons. It probably wasn't a very healthy habit, but you only lived once.

Ooohh flowers?! For her?!
"Oh thank you dear, they're lovely!" she exclaimed admiring their pretty colours.



"Don't sell yourself short, your a remarkable flyer and theres no doubt you've got great potential." Not that she was an expert, but after twenty five years of watching the sport she figured she had some understanding of what a good player looked like.

Haha oh yes beater was good. Seren winked at Ellie, "Beaters great... especially fo letting out your frustrations." Not that she condoned violence, of course she didn't. But it was a game after all, and it was go hard or go home, and if you couldn't handle it, then tough cookies.

Ooohh! They were her favourite team too! This was brilliant news!
"I've been an avid Harpies supporter since before I could walk!" she said excitedly. "You know my grandfather and I would go to see all of their games when I was younger. It was brilliant!"
Nia... well of course she had heard of her, promising player and all, but she had never met the young woman. "Oh did you know her well?" asked Seren excitedly... and then Ellie had asked about why she wasn't allowed to try out... oh well. now that was just sad.

Rolling her eyes and leaning back in her seat she smiled.
"My mother seems to think that quidditch is a male profession, and that women should not disgrace themselves by playing silly games... her words not mine." It had angered her at the time, and to a degree it still angered her today. But if it wasn't for getting her out of Quidditch then who knows where she would be today, perhaps she would never have studied Herbology, or become a teacher, and that would have been a shame. She thoroughly enjoyed it-- so far at least.

"Oh yes I heard," she remarked, poor boy, "but he's alright now isn't he?" . If he wasn't then he should probably check himself into Mungos.
"Well you have plenty of time to think about your future, theres really no need to rush. I didn't know what I wanted to do until after I sat my exams." Well aside from Quidditch, but that wasn't an option for her at the time-- not really.

"I'm fine madam." replied Sarah, "Expect for my swollen hand." she said smiling. Her hand had been swelling rather rapidly than expected. Maybe should drop by the Hospital Wing. Sarah added a spoon full of sugar to her tea and gently stirred it. Meanwhile the Professor was looking at the flowers, when she exclaimed, Sarah's spirits rose. "You like them..??" she asked very excitedly.

Oh dear... that hand did not look good. Serens eyebrows narrowed with concern. "You really should get that looked at," she said, "How did you do it?... if you don't mind me asking."
She hoped it wasn't serious, then again Healer Moretti was a very profficient healer, and would be able to take care of it in no time at all... well she thought so at least.

"Oh I do, they're beasutiful, thank you so much," she said. Standing up she took the flowers and gave them some water, then placed them on the corner of her desk-- here she could admire them for hours on end.
"Did you grow them yourself?" asked Seren excitedly.

"Yeah, I think so.." she paused to look at her hand, it was bright red now, with some shades of violet. How I got it? "Actually, I really don't know how." she thought hard about what she had been doing. "I was down there at the pathways leading to the lake, collecting stuff for my Potions homework." she waited a moment. Ofcourse, professor would know about it. The whole school is roaming on the grounds for Potions ingredients! "I was collecting Dittany plant, and my bad habit, I sat down and observed it too closely--" she recalled, "--And then something bit me, I didn't notice then." she sighed. "Later it turned to be like this." she pointed at her hand.

Break. Too much of explaining! When Sarah saw the Professor placing the flowers she'd given a few minutes ago on her desk, she couldn't help suppress her smile. "Thanks" she muttered. Teachers and her didn't go well usually, because of her. Timid little firstie.

"Oh yes!" she uttered in excitement. "I love growing plants, that too daisies and sunflowers." she continued, "They are lively, eye-catching and gives me a lot of happiness." she smiled a lot.

Seren sipped her tea, craddling the teacup in her hands. Merlin! bitten by something. "Mmm, you really should get that looked at as soon as possible... I would offer to help, but I'm not trained in Magical First Aid." Perhaps she should look into it. "Is it painful or just numb?" Either way it didn't look very good.

"Me too," smiled Seren, "Seems like we have something in common. Herbology has always played such a large role in ym life, flowers and flesh eating trees just have a way of brightening up my day."
They were so captivating and fascinating, how could anybody not want to study them, grow then and care for them.

"For now, it's numb." she said. "Few hours back, the pain was excruciating! I just went to check in the hospital wing." she continued, "But then, it was too crowded. So I thought I should come back later." Sarah smiled when she said she would help. "Thanks for the thought itself, mam." she beamed.

We had something in common? Ofcourse, she was a Herbology teacher. Ought to be! "Oh, what are your favourite ones mam??" she asked excitedly. Been a part of her life? "That's interesting..." she paused, so what had happened?

OOC: Em, I'm going off now, sorry, I'll catch up later!

Heh. Heheheh. Okay. Ellie won't argue anymore. Heheheh. She'll just grin and wiggle a bit in her seat. Heh.

"Mhm." There was a lot less pressure that came with Beater than with Seeker. And Ellie was just naturally good at it. WAS. Maybe she'd practice more with the Bludger over Summer. "The frustration bit's good for Jacob." He was an angry person...sometimes. "Or he just likes hurting people." Both seemed fitting.

Oh? So Bentley grew up with Quidditch? "That's awesome! I've been to a few of their games, too. They're good." Ellie liked to think they were much better with Nia on the team.

Nia. Ellie nodded. "Very well." Grin. "We still owl when she's not too busy." Actually, Ellie should see if Nia could take time to meet over the Summer. It had been FOREVER since she'd actually SEEN her beloved former Captain.

The girl bit her lip as Bentley explained why her mom wouldn't let her try out. "Oh. See, that's one of the reasons I like the Harpies. I love how they prove that Quidditch isn't a male-dominated sport." Which was super comforting. Ellie really wouldn't put it past her own mother to say the exact same thing as Bentley's. ...If Ellie hadn't had so many Harpies posters and photographs over the years. Helen Stone had come to accept girls playing Quidditch, but still didn't like it much.

James' accident...was scary. Even more scary that it had kept him away from the sport all season...all summer...and even now. "I suppose he is. He seems to be. But, he still can't play." Unfortunately. The team would be far more epic if he was on it. And maybe he'd have made up with Finn if they practiced together, what with all the sweaty, male bonding, adrenaline stuffs.

Thank you for saying that, Bentley. No, seriously. Ellie wasn't too keen on worrying about her future now. And the after exams part, was even better. So Treyen wouldn't have to worry, either...which, actually, he didn't seem to anymore. Only, Ellie wouldn't really want to sit through exams if she already knew she didn't need them.

Eh. She'd probably only take the ones she wanted to anyway.

"How'd you get into plants?" Just out of curiosity.

Seren was still concerned about the girls hand, the swelling and the colour was NOT a good sign. But seeing as she hadn't dropped dead yet, it probably wasn't lethal... which was good, she'd hate to see the sweet girl die.

Snap out of it Bentley! she thought to herself. Morbidity was not her style.

"My favourites?".... well now that was a long list and a half. How to narrow it down?
"Well... I love orchids, and mandrakes, foxgloves, snargaluffs, venomous tentacular... but I think my favourtie of all plants would have to be the Iris, especially the light blue Dutch Iris."
Mmm how she loved them, their delicate petals, strong stalks, and of course their beauty. "Do you have any favourites?" she asked.

Seren cringed slightly... "Mmm I sometimes wonder if Blunt is fit for social interaction." He did come across as a raving lunatic- and that seemed to be at the best of times. She was definitely not going to forget the boy for a very very VERY long time. Who in their right mind would feed another person to a snargaluff because they accidently kicked you?...
Don't be silly Seren, the boy clearly isn't right minded, she thought to herself.

Oohh how exciting! Friend of a Harpy!!! "Oh its so nice that you still keep in touch," she replied. She didn't know anyone on the team anymore. Though when she was younger she knew a few. Her neighbours daughter Arina played for a while... it was such a shame she didn't play for long. Nasty accident involving two bludgers to the arm. Very unfortunate.
Sounds like Jimmy was very unfortunate too.
"Oh thats a shame..." She would have liked to see what sort of impact the Claw would ahve on the came.

How'd she get into plants?
"Um... to be honest I'm not sure. I remember I started taking an interest in gardening and basic herbology when I was... very young, perhaps four or five. But it wasn't until after I graduated that I decided to get into the field. I started out as a garden designer, had my own company and everything. Then somehow I got bored of that and thats when I started travelling."
Travelling had done her the world of good. So many places to see, so many flesh-eating trees to see... A break away from civilisation.
"Its amazing what you learn about yourself when you take some time away from everything."

Thanks for seeing me" Wilaim told the professor. I have a gift for you" William said to the profesor.

"I want to give these flowers to you because you help me understand herbology better. They are Canterbury Bells, Magnolia, Dahlia and Dark Pink Roses and I'm sure you knokw what they mean" WIlliam said.

"Not a problem dear," replied Seren, a bright smile lighting up her face, "Thank you for seeing me." Really it was so nice of him to stop by, even to just say hello. She liked it very much when students came to see her. It would get quite lonely out this way, what with eveyone up in the castle.

Oohh he had flowers?! Well this just made her day.
"Oh thank you William!, they're beautiful!" she exclaimed, admiring the lovely colours. She took them gently as set them in a spare vase, filling it with water.
"Thats no sweet of you, and I absolutely adore them," she said admiring them one more as she set them down on her desk right next to the other flowers she had recieved earlier.

Had she really made that much of an impact, teaching herbology?
"Well I'm glad you're enjoying the lessons," she said to him, "I have to say its a pleasure having you in my classes." Bright young Gryffindors always made for good company.