Herbology. That was Norah's favorite class wasn't it?

The Head Boy grinned to himself as he walked towards the greenhouses. Knowing that they were going to meditate before class and this time, he would succeed in holding her hand through it. With determination on his face, the Gryffindor grabbed a flower from the basket outside of the greenhouse and stuck it behind his ear.

As he entered the greenhouse however, he saw that many of the students had already arrived. A quick glance around he noticed that the Hufflepuff Prefect in question hadn't yet. Mweh. "Hello Professor Myers" he greeted the professor and looked towards the door. She would come today right? She wasn't sick or anything? "And no, i didn't pick this flower for myself this time" he added, looking back again at him with a small laugh. Yeah he should find a seat somewhere now.

Herbology. Jasmine's class. It wasn't exactly Janelle's favorite, but she didn't mind it. She kind of liked the meditation thing that they did at the beginning. Any excuse for relaxing her mind was a good one. That didn't really have anything to do with plants........or maybe it did. There was something about this class and the plants that made Janelle feel better afterwards. It was..........soothing. So maybe she did like it after all.

Entering the greenhouse, Janelle drifted toward the circle of classmates. Meditation time. She felt like a football team circled up before the next big play, only much calmer than she expected that would be. "Hello Professor Myers", Janelle said as the passed their fearless leader. A small smile threatened to form on her lips as she thought about the opening feast and his poncho/banjo moment. She was ready and took a deep breath to get her mind right.

Hady was here. Albeit a bit later then she normally would have liked to be but still very much on time. Good thing for her really too. Entering the greenhouse she was glad to notice that right away it was warmer inside then it was out in the cool November air. Not that she even minded it really. Girl should be a penguin of something what with the way she handled the cold and all.

Hazel eyes first spotted the four small trees before anything else. No need to question this as it was Herbology of course so whatever they were going to do most likely dealt with plants and such. "Hello Professor," Hadleigh greeted softly with a light smile, lifting her hand and poking at a bubble that floated in front of her with a small laugh. Bubbles were always fun no matter what age she was.

Adjusting her bag over her shoulder the girl slipped in between two of her friends where there was still a bit of space and joined the circle. It was quiet time. Some slow deep breathing and a few good moments to clear her head and prepare herself for the lesson.

Ah Herbology, beautiful, wonderful, magic-less Herbology. Wasn't it a wonderful way to start the day?

Blaise took confident steps toward the Greenhouse, feeling like he could get behind working the dirt and watching something grow. It wasn't that he was a green thumb--but he wasn't horrible at it either. Working in the garden with his mum paid off.

Circle. He could get into the circle too. Not next to Davie and Rachel, not next to the bunch of girls that were close to them from that horror of a 'party' and not next to the Head Boy who had flobberworms up his nose. Dot was nice. He would stay by her while they cleared their minds.

She was almost as Nice as Norah afterall.

Cleeeeearing his mind.

Haddie grinned and made catches at the bubbles Myers shot her way. "So what about a surfboard? If I made a surfboard from an gravity resistant tree, it would float? I mean they're small and all."



Haddie waved back at Azzy before turning to Kitty. "Hey Kitty-Kat. High five! Azzy! Come sit with us!" See Rachel, you're not everyone's favorite! Haddie waited until there was a bubble between her and Kitty's hand before giving her the high five. The bubble popped as their hands connected.

Cornelius was such a grumpy sir today. GRRRRRR.

After what happened with the hag, Cornelius was still heartbroken that someone who he had thought would share pranks with him had disfigured his face and ears. He clutched his chest, it still hurt. Ursy, why you have to be so rude?

Walking into the greenhouse he let out a heavy sigh...only to have a something pop on his nose. Panicked, his hand shot up to protect it. WHO DARE TOUCH HIS NOSE?????? Oh. Wait. It was bubbles. Harmless bubbles, yeah? He swatted them away, groaning as his eyebrows pulled together. G R U M P Y.

As he passed toward the circle, he grabbed a flower on his way and clutched it to his chest. Large green eyes looked in the direction of the professor. "Hi, professor. I need this, okay? I need the flower." Because Cornelius meant a great deal to Cornelius and lately he's been DOWN and GRUMPY.

Ursy broke his heart good. <\3

Why did the Greenhouse have to be outside?!

Mason was all too grateful to be inside the place, even if it was here that the awful eggplant had attacked her. She merely poked it and it just freaked out.

Stupid plants.

She had never really liked plants, and the attack on her person evolved her distaste to something along the lines of would pour gasoline all over then set on fire.

So she just scrunched up her nose and nodded curtly at the professor, "Good Morning, Professor Myers." She really liked the professor, so for his sake, she'd try and make nice with the plants.

Circle? Like they all had to gather around? Ughhh, more people. In close proximity. Nasty.

Mason wedged herself into the group and immediately saw the bubbles floating overhead.

Well, at least he didn't cook kids. She'd take soap-filled air pockets over hags any day.

Bella was smiling as she headed to another Herbology lesson. It wasn't her favorite class, but she still like it a lot. She was all bundled up as she walked in from the cold November air, only to be greeted by bubbles. She giggled as one landed on her nose and popped as she made her way over to the circle.

"Hello Professor Myers," Bella greeted, with a friendly smile. She was about to sit down, but stopped as she spotted the perfect purple flower. She just had to have it, but she really didn't want to get it for herself. How wonderful would it be if someone actually gave it to her, that sounded a lot better than her getting it herself. She just eyed it for a moment, but didn’t go get it before sitting down. She tried to shift her attention from the flower to clear her mind and prepare for the lesson.

Alice skipped into class and looked at all the other people and the trees and then looked to Mr. Paul.. Or 'Professor Paul' as she was told to call him in front of other students. Even though she toooootally knew him longer than everyone else and they were way cooler with each other than all the other lame students.

"Professor! Hiii" She said happily, almost bouncy. She looked around for any of her friends, no Timmy, no Phillip or Nathan or anyone else that she liked. Oh well.

Maybe she'd make a new friend here.

Olivia heard a voice speaking to Rachel and didn't think anything of it, especially as the male voice continued until she tentatively reopened her eyes to find the older boy offering a flower to her. Oh. And a prefect to boot. "Um...I suppose...thank you Henric," she remarked, taken by surprise at the gesture. "I'm Olivia," she finally supplied in exchange for his own giving of his name.

This is slightly weird.

And was it just her or was Professor Myers wondering too about the gifting to her and Rachel?

Herbology! ... and Myers.

As weird as Mr PlantsMan was, the dude had his respects... because there was no dockage of points or detentions for snogging in 'sacred' places. It was appreciated. Still.

It didn't mean that Zeke wouldn't grumble through the start of their meditation session though, because, lame... and it was SO HARD to stay still for long enough and 'clear ones mind'. What made it harder... was having bubbles blown into ones face... "thanks, Professor," and hello.

Colt finally made his way to Herbology. He kind of had a brain fart and forgot where the classroom was located. He walked all the way the opposite way to the Groundskeepers hut. I mean that was a huge mistake and thankfully someone pointed him in the right way. He was going to try and work in herbology. As he entered the classroom, he noticed that the Professor was in the center with all the students sitting in a circle. What was this? A kumbaya session? He smirked and tried to not judge and laugh. He saw the Professor look in his direction and decided he should say something. He waved and said, "Hello Professor. The name is Colt Winchester." He might as well say his name because he was pretty sure the dude didn't know his name.

After he said his greetings, he walked around to find a place in the circle. He saw one near Mason. Might as well. He plopped down next to her and wondered what was going to happen.

Kaylee walked into the greenhouse for the Herbology lesson. This class has quickly becoming a favorite, and not just because her head of house teaches it.

She giggled at the bubbles that appeared in front of her. She start to blow them away from her face, making it a game of how many she get push away in one breath. She made it to the circle to do their medetation that they did at the begining of class.
Hello Professor!" She said happily looking at Professor Myers with a smile.

Meditation was so boring. It meant that Olly had to stand still for an extended period of time. He was not good at that. It was the main reason he didn't like going to Herbology. The subject wasn't necessarily awful, and professor Myers was cool, but why was the meditation necessary? Olly wasn't really capable of that kind of low active activity.

So he tried to slip in just moments before class started as often as possible. That way he wouldn't have to meditate for very long. "Hello professor." He said it as calmly as possible because there were people trying to meditate, but not much of what Olly did was calm. Though he had been more somber than usual lately with all of his worries about Noelle. Olly joined the circle near Dot. Meditation. Olly stood as still as possible, but it was not going to last for long.

He did notice many people grabbing flowers prematurely. Hmm. He supposed that was an interesting lens to at things through--expecting someone to touch your heart! How adorable they all were. Usually, people waited UNTIL someone did something nice and THEN handing them the flower.

Hehe.

“Morning, Carl! Looking sharp!” he said to the boy with a wave.



“Hello, Brooklyn! Love to see you!” he smiled at the slytherin. Consensus in his head: Slytherins did not like bubbles. It must just be one of their traits; sly, cunning, ambitious, dislike of bubbles.



ooooh, young Jay. Always so eager and excitable! It made Paul, in return, excitable as well. “Hello, Mr. Song! Keep up the enthusiasm!” It was nice to see.



There was the head boy! Paul waved eagerly at him as he stepped inside. “Morning, Yoongi!” he smiled at the flower in the boy’s hair. “Well, good, I’m glad, or I would have made you give it to someone else.” He had an idea of who Yoongi would give the flower to.



“And hello to you, Miss Guidry!” He smiled in her general direction. Just a few more minutes, then. He needed to get along shortly.



Ah, a Slytherin who LIKED bubbles. Hmm. Paul would have to rework his earlier thoughts about it all, though. “Hello, Miss Lynch!” She seemed to be in a good mood. Well, good.



Blaise Bellaire, excuse you for not telling Myers hello. For that, Paul waved a BUNCH of bubbles his way. “Good morning, Mr. Bellaire!” he sang to him.

Yep, and Paul wasn’t even a good singer.



“Well…” He began, stopping the bubbles for a minute as he replied to Haddie. [zb]“Once the wood is...cut from the trees, they would no longer be...gravity resistant.”[/B] He said, and hoped she understood.



Oh no. OOOOHHHH no! Cornelius was CLEARLY in an awful mood, Paul could tell just by his posture and everything that the boy was feeling majorly OFF today. This was why, when he took a flower, Paul didn’t even tell him to put it back. He just raised an eyebrow. “Hello, Cornelius. I do hope you feel better by the end of class, then.”

Maybe meditations would do him good!



“Good morning to you, Mason!” he smiled at her. THIS Slytherin was in a good mood at least. Ish. Grumpy bunch of Slytherins today, hmph.



Myers didn’t miss the look, and he sighed. Merlin. People wanted to take flowers for themselves today, it seemed, unless Bella was looking at it for someone else. It gave him an idea that he would perhaps implement in the next few lessons, who knew.

“Yes, hello, Bella! Nice to see you, m’dear!”



ALICE LUPIN! Paul waved at her and grinned. “Lovely to see you in class, Miss Lupin! And so chipper, too! Keep up that attitude!” and she got a cheesy thumbs up from the man as well.



HEHEHE. Paul shifted his wand and made MORE bubbles go Zeke’s way. “You’re VERY welcome, Mr. Brown!”



Pfffft, silly Colt. “Yes, I know your name by now, Mr. Winchester, but thank you.” He found himself chuckling at that, though. Did the boy think he was old, and therefore...bad memory? Paul HAD been freaking out about his age lately...so...this did not put his mind at ease in that department.



“Hello, Kaylee! Hope you’re doing well today!” he smiled and waved, casting his wand in her direction. BUBBBBBBLES!



“Good morning, Oliver!” he smiled and ceased making bubbles with his wand, pushing it into his holster. His watch said..that it was time to start the lesson. Well...more like time to start MEDITATION.


“All right everyone--let us meditate now--hold hands with the people next to you...and…” he lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “Close your eyes….relax.” He took a deep breath. “Let your shoulders slump...breathe in….” Paul took as much air as he could into his lungs. “And slowly….breathe………...out.” He kept his voice calm and soothing. “Breathe in, and when you do, I want you to think of something that has happened to you this week that is good…” Paul thought about the picture Milton had sent him of the doggies all dressed up for some dinner his partner had had last week. Ahhh. So cute, so precious. “Hold onto this memory...let yourself smile, or feel the warm fuzzies it gives you...and as you breathe out, let go of the memory and..think of the emotions it instills in you….” Happiness, mostly, for himself. “And think only of this emotion...and hold it….and let it revive your spirit if you are feeling down or not relaxed…” He kept coaching them through the breathing exercises and then…”All right everyone. Let go and go find your seats!”

Paul strode to the front of the room and sat on the table once more, the blackboard situated behind him, but also diagonal from him so that they could still see it even if he was sitting on the table.

“Firstly, as Professors Moxley and Flamsteed might have mentioned to you recently, there will be a field trip near the end of term that we have all planned that involves Herbology as well as Muggle Studies and Astronomy. And SO--our lesson today is in preparation for that!” It was something that needed to be done super early! Like...now!

“Some of you might not find what we’re going to do today as interesting, but I certainly do, and it is something that will keep your hands and mind busy, I assure you.” It wasn’t the most robust lesson, but Paul saw it as necessary. “Today we will covering...grafting, and a lot has changed in the world of grafting over the past ten years or so.” The chalk that Paul usually charmed to write on his blackboard had begun to write the word GRAFTING in thick, clear letters.

“Grafting...I will explain to you simply, is a technique that both muggles and wizards use in which they take tissues from one plant and insert them into those of another! It’s ALMOST like hybriding, but...we’re, essentially, stitching pieces of the trees in the back to create a new plant, per se. Before we get into the logistics of this--tell--there are different types of grafting. Does anyone know of these types?” He smiled. It was all in their textbooks somewhere. He wouldn’t be surprised if some of them knew them...and others didn’t though. it was somewhat tough to describe in some ways.


OOC: Lesson has officially started! Any arriving late, just pretend you’ve been here all along, unless you WANT your character to be late and receive whatever punishment Paul deems necessary Please have your character only mention one grafting technique, and keep the answers realistic. Don’t feel like your character needs to know everything! “I have NO CLUE” is a perfectly acceptable response *nods*

I am going to try to post again in about 12-14 hours! <3

Also, I did this to someone--if I forgot to respond to you, ever, in one of my lessons, chances are I completely skipped by accident. Just let me know kindly in VM/PM! *doesn't want anyone to feel left out*

Text Cut: Paul

Paul strode to the front of the room and sat on the table once more, the blackboard situated behind him, but also diagonal from him so that they could still see it even if he was sitting on the table.

“Firstly, as Professors Moxley and Flamsteed might have mentioned to you recently, there will be a field trip near the end of term that we have all planned that involves Herbology as well as Muggle Studies and Astronomy. And SO--our lesson today is in preparation for that!” It was something that needed to be done super early! Like...now!

“Some of you might not find what we’re going to do today as interesting, but I certainly do, and it is something that will keep your hands and mind busy, I assure you.” It wasn’t the most robust lesson, but Paul saw it as necessary. “Today we will covering...grafting, and a lot has changed in the world of grafting over the past ten years or so.” The chalk that Paul usually charmed to write on his blackboard had begun to write the word GRAFTING in thick, clear letters.

“Grafting...I will explain to you simply, is a technique that both muggles and wizards use in which they take tissues from one plant and insert them into those of another! It’s ALMOST like hybriding, but...we’re, essentially, stitching pieces of the trees in the back to create a new plant, per se. Before we get into the logistics of this--tell--there are different types of grafting. Does anyone know of these types?” He smiled. It was all in their textbooks somewhere. He wouldn’t be surprised if some of them knew them...and others didn’t though. it was somewhat tough to describe in some ways.

Mason raised an eyebrow as Colt sat next to her, "Stalker," she whispered under her breath to him.

She closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips together to form a circle. She rested them on her knees in the most cliché meditation pose ever. She tried clearing her mind, but annoying thoughts kept creeping into her brain with each deep breath she took. The person who found out that milk was drinkable for humans must have been a real weirdo. Who looks at cow udders and thinks that they should drink it?

After a few more breaths, Mason gave up and opened her eyes just as Professor Myers asked a question about grafting.

Uggh, she had flipped through her book a few times during the summer, just to see what the curriculum for the year would be.

Mason had actually found the Grafting interesting, it was almost like a mutant experiment that the scientists were conducting. Like something out of a fiction novel.

Mason lifted her hand and cleared her throat, trying her best to recall the page, "Sir, I believe that bud grafting is a commonly used method. They use a comatose side bud and graft it onto the stem of another stock-plant. When it was injected successfully, they clip off the stem of the stock-plant, just above the newly grafted bud to encourage it to grow by itself."

Looks like this subject wasn't going to be that hard.

Professor Myer's got an EYE at his greeting. It was morning, yes. Her name was Amur, yes. What she really wanted to know was if he had tried any more adventerous types of ice cream. Or when he was going to prove her right by wearing that poncho! Still, acknowledgement deserved acknowledgement, and he got a respectable nod and a "Mornin'."

She quickly decided that she probably should have saved the energy of that breath for needing a sudden bathroom break or other such excuse. Why? Because they were going to do that meditating thing that just....didn't....work.

Amur was sorely tempted to back out of this one. Just, fold her arms and take a step or two back while everyone was joining hands. Wasn't like anyone would notice, right? With their eyes being closed and all? Plus, what if someone didn't want to hold hands? Huh Professor?

However, the last thing she wanted to do was upset the man. So, with a huff of resignation, Amur linked her pinky fingers with those beside her. No hand holding for her. Nope. It was almost as unthinkable as being able to mediate. She only held hands with people she knew and trusted. Apologies fellow classmates.

As per her predictions, the meditating thing did not go down well. She tried. Eyes closed and all that. Problem was, there were questions, thoughts, identity. She wasn't just going to let that go in a breath. Nope. The more it was encouraged they relaxed, the tighter she held to them, as if those around her could breathe away her inner musings by their own meditations.

The session seemed to go on for forever, but when they were finally permitted to leave and let go, Amur did so very abruptly. As she made her way to her desk, she discretely scrubbed her pinky fingers on her pants. Feeling much better about her own proximity, Amur flopped down into her chair and propped her elbows on the desk and her chin in her hands.

Grafting. They were going to talk about grafting. Wizards grafted? Amur's nose wrinkled in disbelief. Surely they had other ways of sticking two plants together. In fact, she was sure they did. Then again, she wasn't the herbologist.

Her brow wrinkled in deep thought. Grafting sounded a lot like charms and transfiguration. Taking something from it's original state and changing it. Adding onto it. Her fingers twitched on her chin, and when Myers asked for types of grafting, her hand shot up. "Gene therapy and modification is a form of grafting. The type they do with DNA in animals and people."

She didn't know a lot, but it had been an article that her father had been obsessed over for about a year. It was weird and bizarre, but it sounded very similar. Just, not for plants. Maybe that was a problem.

Cue more face making.

Alice was even happier now, He was by far her favorite Professor at the moment. Much nicer than her cranky old head of house who liked to punish good children and drag around rocks. Weirdo. But anyway!

She gave him two thumbs up back at him and smiled widely. YAS. Class time.

The little Lioness thought about the happy thing that happened. It was about pranking Cassius the other day with Timmy. That made her feel Veeeeery happy. Then once that was done she moved back to her seat and listened to Mister Paul say a lot of junk that she had no idea about.. Like Mixing plants?

Melboure had been so enamored by all of the plants and things in the classroom that she had forgotten to walk fully into the room. Standing there she just grinned when she heard him explain about the fieldtrip…she had her ideas of course. Plants. Muggles. Space. Obviously they were going to Mars right?

Taking a seat near Colt she just grinned and soon raised her hand. “Professor Meyers isn’t there a type of grafting called…bridge?” she asked as she leaned onto the little workstation. Okay so she was excited. Like squeal-worthy excited.

PLANTS WERE AWESOME OKAY.

Popping one more bubble just had to happen. That's what Professor Myers was blowing them for, right? So that they could pop them. Mhmm. That was her theory anyhow.

With a small grin Hady joined hands with those on either side of her. Meditation time it was. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to relax taking in several slow breaths through her mouth only to let them out her nose. Her thoughts wandered about as they always did but only to that of music, sunshine and the upcoming holidays. Slowly opening her eyes she dropped her friends hands making her way to her seat.

Once sat down Hady listened quietly as Myers spoke to the class. His question wasn't one she knew well and she couldn't fully answer it but a guess couldn't exactly hurt none. "Cleft grafting?," She asked quietly her tone slightly unsure.

Meditation was hard, especially right now. When the professor said to think of something good... Jaemin started thinking about all the things that had happened this week, and immediately remembered Divination. Divination had not been good. The boy visibly paled a bit, but managed to hold back the full brunt of how awful it had been when he remembered the box he'd gotten from his dad. He really did have to show it to Professor Myers...

When they were done, Jaemin immediately beelined to a seat as close as possible to the table on which Myers sat, bouncing a little. Finally, finally, it was startiiiiing. He leaned forward as the professor spoke, listening intently to what he was saying... OHHHHHHHH this was something his dad talked to him about! Jaemin knew this! The small boy shot his hand up into the air.

"Whip grafting!" he said, almost a little too loudly. "Dad likes that one, he says it's the best option cause it makes the plants survive most out of everything."

He hadn't done it in a while though. The tiny plants had appeared, and the grafting experiments had been pushed aside, or at least Jaemin thought. He'd have to write and ask his dad about that.

To Sam, meditation was the bit she had to get through to get to the fun bit of the lesson. The bit that managed to be more boring than the theory which was already pretty tedious compared to the practical.

And it didn't help today that she was missing her friend. A whole lot. Which was only made worse by thinking about the letter she'd received from Dora at breakfast. It was an exciting thing, one that HAD made her smile, but one also tinged with sadness at Dora's absence. Net result? Sam was less relaxed than she'd started.

With a small sigh as she opened her eyes, Sam headed to her seat.

So... grafting. The only graft Sam knew about was the type that was hard work, and she didn't think that had anything to do with combining plants. So she answered with a simple, "No".

No, she didn't know any types of grafting. Her reading had improved since arriving at Hogwarts, but not enough to get that far through her textbook.

Haddie frowned a little. It wasn't so much a frown though, just the closest she could get to one in this class. But seriously, what was the point of a floating tree if you couldn't build floating things out of it? Haddie really did not get herbology.

She was about to ask more questions but Myers started the meditation. Think of something good that happened this week? That was easy! She'd learned to turn invisible! Haddie grinned at the memory, and then quickly peeked one eye open to make sure she was still visible. While she had gotten stronger at casting counter spells to her own spells since the first charms lesson, she still couldn't get them to stick. It was just that instead of minutes before un-countering itself, it would just happen sporadically throughout the week, sometimes two weeks.

Still visible good. She had her wand on her everywhere she was, just in case she disappeared again. It'd happened twice already since she first learned and cast disillusionment. So it was rather likely.

Mediation was over, and the lesson began... wait... "They do grafts on plants? I thought it was only animals and people that got skin grafts and such..."

Meditate? They were going to meditate now?! But how did he expect her to go from dancing in bubbles one minute to meditating the next? She'd try to calm down, though. TRY. She reached over and grabbed the hand of the person next to her. She went through all the steps the professor described. She'd never meditated before, and she wondered why in the world they were doing this in class, but she didn't ask. For some off reason, she was starting to feel peaceful and calm, like she could lay down and sleep right now. Now...something good that had happened to her this past week... OH! Gobstones! Slytherin had won Gobstones, and Ariadne had been named Player of the Match. That had been exciting!!! Ariadne had just started to feel like she had drifted off into her own little world, when the professor stopped the exercises and sent them to their seats.

Merlin! This man liked to move from one extreme to the other very quickly, didn't he? Ariadne sat down and turned her attention to Myers. Ohhh, right, the field trip! Ariadne was just BOUNCING to know what that was all about. It was going to be SO COOL, and she just knew it! Meanwhile, err....grafting? Yeah. She had no idea what that was. It sounded COOL, though! And difficult. Then there was a question, which Ariadne didn't know the answer to, so she turned to her textbook and began flipping through the pages. Finally, she raised her hand. "It says right here that one type is called top grafting, also known as splice grafting," she explained.

...and that concluded all she knew about grafting.

She got more bubbles. Awesome.

Smiling, Esme took the hands of the people beside her while keeping her eyes closed. Completely relaxed, she slowly breathed in and out. Thoughts drifted to her sister as they often did when she wanted to be happy. They were each other's best friends and would be forever.

The second mention of the upcoming field trip piqued her interest, and Esme wondered what they would be doing. She would find out soon enough and any preparation for it was good in her books even though she wasn't too familiar with grafting. Slightly unsure, she raised her hand. "I think one of them is bud grafting." Honestly she hadn't read that section of her textbook in depth.

Oops?