Herbology

"Professor Sprout."

Standing before the professor, Bruce, who had been carefree all the way here, suddenly became reserved.

"Oh, Bruce Dickinson,

Leon Howard,

Mr. Pist Jefferson, I'm so glad you came to help."

Professor Sprout wore a hat covered in thick patches, her smile as warm as the sun hanging high in the sky.

"A new sprout? Child, it's lovely to meet you. What's your name?"

She set down the large shears she had been using on the Gillyweed and bent down to look at Sean.

She did not ask why he was here.

Instead, she removed her Dragonhide Gloves, caked with dirt.

She was as warm as the old woman from the orphanage who often came to make donations.

Though not a single penny of her money had reached the orphans, that did not stop Sean from admiring her.

"Sean Green."

Sean put on a shy expression as well.

"Mr. Green, I'm so glad you came to help too. Mr. Dickinson, could you take him along to process the mature plants?"

Professor Sprout gently pinched Sean's cheek, then enthusiastically assigned the work.

"Mr. Howard, I'll leave those weeds to you.

As for Mr. Jefferson, I'd like you to sort the Moly by their different growth stages. They will be the first plant the new sprouts learn to recognize."

"Yes, Professor."

Sean watched Bruce roll up his sleeves and answer quietly. Leon replied that it was no problem.

As for Pist Howard, he seemed even more restrained than Bruce. He merely blushed and nodded vigorously.

Professor Sprout seemed to hold a very high position in the hearts of the Hufflepuff upperclassmen.

Sean thought.

"I dare say you'd be hard-pressed to find a more caring professor than Professor Sprout. Every Hogwarts student is like one of her children."

Bruce smiled as he spoke of Professor Sprout, his eyes gleaming.

"She's been voted the most popular professor for years running...

Now then, let's deal with the mature plants first. It looks like a big job!"

Sean nodded, and the two began weaving through the pumpkin-like plants. Pots of Moly with purplish-red petals were scattered among them.

"First, we need to collect the mature Moly here. Um, do you know what mature Moly looks like?"

Bruce handed Sean a pair of small shears as he trimmed the Moly.

Sean shook his head. The books had not mentioned it.

"This is something you can't learn from books. I'll teach you."

As he spoke, Bruce leaned over a pot of Moly and sniffed it. Then, with a snip, he cut it off.

"Moly has a faint sheepish smell. When it matures, that scent becomes stronger. Come on, try smelling it."

Sean leaned closer and sniffed, discovering that Moly at different stages indeed had different scents.

The Moly Bruce had picked carried a stronger sheepish odor.

Bruce smiled.

"Mature Moly increases the success rate of an Invigoration Potion. On the other hand, immature Moly can easily cause the potion to fail.

That is—the charm of Herbology."

His words opened the door Sean had been searching for.

Sean nodded and quickly joined him in picking the mature Moly.

The two were like treasure-hunting Nifflers, sniffing here and looking there among the pumpkin-like plants.

As they worked, Sean's proficiency at identifying mature Moly gradually increased.

The difference was that Bruce, being tall and dark-skinned, looked more like a Groundhog.

Sean, with his striking looks and nimble movements, resembled a cat darting through the grass.

"That should be enough. Let's process the Moly."

Bruce carried a bag of Moly and waved Sean over.

"Mm."

Sean stopped and watched Bruce take two Silver Knives and something resembling a strainer from a place outside the Greenhouse where hoes were piled up.

"There are many tricky parts to cutting Moly. In general, it's a three-stage method. Watch carefully."

As he spoke, Bruce cut the Moly into three sections, then used different cutting methods on each.

The farther toward the end he went, the finer he chopped it. By the final section, he even used the strainer-like tool to squeeze it.

"That's because Moly essence is unevenly distributed, so different methods are needed to process it.

Want to give it a try?"

Sean nodded and took the tools.

You completely processed a Moly to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

Sean's lips curled upward involuntarily, and he worked even harder.

You completely processed a Moly to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

You completely processed a Moly to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

You completely processed a Moly to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

The System Panel's notification kept sounding, while Sean's hands moved so quickly they left afterimages.

"He seems to like Herbology a little too much."

Bruce scratched his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Sean, Sean, listen to me. It's time to process the Dried Nettle."

Bruce stopped Sean's great cutting endeavor and, somewhat impressed, led him to a patch of nettles.

He would no longer question the other boy's passion for Herbology.

"Dried Nettle is an ordinary plant, but once processed, it can become an ingredient for magical potions. As for how to process it..."

Sean was like a sponge, soaking up knowledge to the fullest extent.

You completely processed a nettle to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

You completely processed a nettle to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

Time slipped away like fine sand.

"Gentlemen, listen to me. You did very well. Thank you for helping the new sprouts."

Professor Sprout's voice interrupted Sean's work. The final nettle in his hand had just been processed.

Pale blue juice dripped from it, clearly the result of a special soaking process.

Sean silently listened to the professor, then opened the System Panel.

Herbology Knowledge: Locked (27/90)

Note: Herbology Knowledge proficiency includes proficiency in a complete range of processes, including identifying and processing herbs.

Ninety proficiency points to unlock it—this was the first time Sean had seen such a requirement.

It was like adding together three Apprentice-level proficiencies.

"Mr. Dickinson, you and Mr. Green successfully helped the new sprouts pick the deceptively mature herbs.

Mr. Howard, you successfully helped the new sprouts remove the weeds.

Mr. Jefferson—oh, how should I praise you? Your classification of the Moly was meticulous and accurate."

Professor Sprout's smile was like the glow of a fireplace, illuminating everyone.

"Come, children. Come to me and get a Hazelnut Chocolate."

Sean heard Bruce let out an "Aha!" before quickly covering his mouth.

Leon shook his head, while Pist simply smiled foolishly, seemingly still immersed in the professor's praise.

They lined up and walked along the path. The Greenhouse already looked much tidier and more refreshed.

Most of the plants that needed harvesting had been handled by Bruce, while Sean had finished a small portion.

The weeds had disappeared, and even the pots of Moly in the very center had been neatly arranged according to their growth stages.

When Sean reached the professor, he forced his gaze away from the Hazelnut Chocolate that looked so delicious.

"Professor Sprout, can I come help at other times?"

he asked somewhat nervously.