Because Zygmunt Budge had specified in the Book of Potions that Shrivelfig juice had to be extracted, Hogwarts had planted a fig tree.
This was mainly to satisfy Potions masters' nitpicking. After all, whether imported or processed, fig fruits were no longer "fresh."
Since it was not as rare as the Heart-Taming Plum, there were always figs left over after each year's harvest for the kitchens and those who had helped gather them.
"Thank you." Lily accepted the fig Pomona handed her and habitually peeled off its skin.
"You only drink the juice from this one," Pomona said.
Lily took a huge bite.
"I think the flesh is pretty good too." Lily nodded as she spoke. "You should try it too, Gorgon."
Pomona accepted the "fruit" Lily offered her and found that it really was delicious with the flesh included.
"Why didn't I discover this earlier?" Pomona muttered, taking another bite of the fig.
"That's the Muggle way of eating it. Yours is the wizarding way," Lily said, then looked at Severus. "Why aren't you eating?"
Still dressed in his Slytherin robes, Severus furrowed his brow with an old-fashioned seriousness. He seemed to have sunk into deep thought and did not even notice Lily eating his share of the fig.
"Oh, how could you do that?" Pomona quietly reproached Lily.
Lily was entirely unconcerned. "Let's pick a few more."
Pomona glanced at the fig-laden tree and decided that picking two more would not matter, so she left with Lily, leaving Severus alone to keep thinking.
"Blockhead," Lily said, looking at Severus.
"James Potter is a blockhead too," Pomona said. "A Quidditch blockhead."
"What about Sirius Black?" Lily asked.
Pomona thought for a moment. "He's a prankster blockhead."
Lily burst out laughing.
Pomona laughed too.
Though looking back now, the two