Daisy Processing

There were so many plants on the right side of the greenhouse.

That was Sean's first thought.

They were densely packed and robust, too.

That was Sean's second thought.

So he stayed close behind Professor Sprout,

lest she vanish into the lush green leaves the moment he looked away, never to be found again.

Professor Sprout carried a trowel and led Sean briskly between two rows of plant racks,

occasionally pinching a leaf or sniffing a flower petal.

"This is the Bubble Pods section. Once we pass through here, we'll reach the place where we can really get to work."

Professor Sprout spoke rather loudly, but her voice was not noisy. Instead, it was reassuring.

Bubble Pods?

Sean studied the vines of varying thickness. They bore plump pink pods,

filled with glittering Beans.

Sean had read about this magical plant in a book. Supposedly, once these Beans touched a solid object, they immediately bloomed.

"These Bubble Pods will ripen soon. When that happens, these growing racks will be filled with Bouncing Bulbs..."

Professor Sprout enthusiastically explained everything to Sean,

while a gleam flickered in Sean's emerald Eyes.

Perhaps the light in the Greenhouse was a little too bright, or perhaps a Young Wizard earnestly observing everything was simply too endearing.

Professor Sprout's steps became even lighter.

How wonderful... New shoots always brought new hope.

That was what Professor Sprout most wanted to see.

"Come here, child. Let's process these Daisies."

Professor Sprout stopped before a wooden platform. It was broad and sturdy,

its center seemingly stained dark by plant sap and soil.

Sean hurried over and watched Professor Sprout pull several pots of Daisies from beneath the wooden table.

If one had to name what set them apart from the little flowers meant only for decoration, it was that their stems and roots were much thicker.

And if one bought them in Diagon Alley, twenty stalks cost one Gold Galleon.

They were terrifyingly expensive.

"Don't get distracted. Watch carefully. Start three inches below the petals on yellow Daisies..."

Professor Sprout deftly cut open a Daisy, milky white sap flowing from its stem,

which she neatly collected in a Glass Bottle.

"Only Daisies at this time of year can yield sap.

The cut cannot be too deep, or it will affect this lovely little flower's future growth;

but it cannot be too shallow either, or the extracted sap will not meet the standard for brewing Shrinking Solution."

The professor explained in detail, then flicked her wand. A small knife and a Glass Bottle landed on the wooden table before Sean.

"Now give it a try, Mr. Green."

Sean nodded and picked up the tools.

"The angle is wrong, Mr. Green. A little further over..."

"Too light, Mr. Green. Be bolder..."

"Oh, Mr. Green, don't cut! That's the wrong spot..."

Time quickly passed amid Sean's mistakes.

Sean swiftly realized that he did not seem to have much talent for Herbology either.

Just as he failed for the fifteenth time and frowned slightly in thought,

a gentle voice spoke beside him:

"Discovering that you lack talent yet still being willing to pick up a hoe—that is where Herbology begins."

Sean looked up. Professor Sprout's face was as gentle and profound as the warm sun.

And so,

as Professor Sprout's large shadow gradually slanted, Sean slowly mastered the essence of processing Daisies.

Strength, angle, and position were all vital. If even one was slightly off, his System Panel proficiency would not increase.

You have completely processed one Daisy to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

The System Panel prompt sounded like heavenly music. Having grasped the proper method, Sean's drive became terrifyingly strong.

You have completely processed one Daisy to Apprentice standards. Proficiency +1

You have completely processed one Daisy to beginner standards. Proficiency +3

As the sunlight slanted, thirty full pots of Daisies had been neatly stacked away. Sean wiped the sweat from his hair,

his Eyes as bright as the Herbology professor beside him.

"Well done, Mr. Green."

Professor Sprout gave a soft clap. Nothing delighted her more than witnessing a tender shoot grow strong and healthy.

"Go have dinner now. Oh, right—take this with you."

A piece of Candied Pineapple was stuffed into Sean's arms. At the same time, he heard the clang of a bell, signaling the start of dinner.

Mealtimes at Hogwarts were always fixed. If one missed them, one could only go hungry.

Of course, some Young Wizards asked friends to save them food in advance, but Sean clearly had made no such arrangements.

Going hungry at Hogwarts would be terrifying.

With that thought, Sean quickly bade Professor Sprout farewell and headed for the Great Hall,

though if his body had been healthier, he would have run there.

"Next time, we'll be processing some special ingredients."

Professor Sprout said this before Sean left,

and Sean saw a pile of tooth-like objects on the dark wooden table. He guessed that perhaps she meant those.

After the Great Hall's dazzling spread of food,

Justin was being scolded by Hermione because he had somehow failed to notice that he also had Herbology that afternoon, together with Gryffindor.

So when Hermione saw him in Greenhouse One,

Miss Granger immediately bristled.

"Did you do it on purpose?!"

"I'm sorry..."

Sean was busy battling the Hungarian Goulash and failed to notice Justin's pleading look.

Soon, he checked today's gains while drinking Pumpkin Juice.

Herbology Knowledge: Locked (59/90)

By processing Daisies, Sean had gained a full 33 proficiency.

Apprentice-level Herbology Knowledge can unlock an Apprentice-level Title in the field of Herbology.

Activating the Title was within reach. If he made good use of the remaining time, he might activate it today.

As for that pile of tooth-like objects, Sean compared them carefully and discovered that they were probably Viper Fangs.

Though he did not know why Professor Sprout needed to process them,

they happened to suit Sean's needs perfectly.

One of the ingredients for brewing Scurvy Paste was Viper Fangs.

The battle had barely ended when Sean left the Great Hall,

leaving Justin and Hermione somewhat caught off guard.

"Sean!

Sigh, he left so quickly.

I wanted to ask him to go to the Library with us.

Maybe he could solve our problem of telling mature Moly apart.

Honestly, I have no idea how to write the Herbology essay."

Justin was somewhat dejected. Magic was harder than he had imagined.

Although Professor Sprout had told them to do their best, as a Hufflepuff, who would not want to satisfy their professor and earn her praise?

"I wouldn't count on it.

But the Hogwarts Library holds tens of thousands of books. We'll find the answer."

Hermione shook her head helplessly, though she remained full of confidence.