Colin Creevey

"Robin Sear, I hope you're this lucky next time!"

With that, Salasha took it out on the Mandrake in front of her. She tore off every leaf, then yanked it free with brute force. The wilted, ugly baby couldn't cry, let alone make a "⌒" face.

Salasha tossed it into a large flowerpot, covered it with rich soil and pale gray earth, and pressed it down. "Herbology is over," she said without expression. "Time for Transfiguration!"

Robin didn't know whether a Mandrake could survive without its leaves, but he did know the Hogwarts professors were in for a lot of trouble.

"Robin, give me a hand! Ron's too heavy. I can't move him. He really ought to eat less!"

Harry called from across the long table.

Ron was nothing. Goyle and Crabbe were the heavy ones. Robin and Harry worked together to straighten up their collapsed classmates. Hermione staggered over, trying to help.

"Robin, m-move over. Save me a spot!"

The lingering effects of the Mandrakes' cries had left Little Pepper's voice soft and milky, like a feather gently tickling someone's ear.

Robin instinctively took a few steps to the right. Hermione gave him a goofy, radiant smile—then tripped over her own feet and pitched straight toward the soil-covered ground. At the last second, Robin caught her from behind.

Once he had steadied her, Robin said breathlessly, "That was close, Hermione. That soil is made from dragon dung, goat droppings, and wood ash, composted and dried. Even if you washed it off your face, the thought would bother you for weeks!"

Hermione pushed Robin away awkwardly. Her face burned as red as it had that time with the Lemon Water in Diagon Alley. "R-Robin, th-thank you. I-I'll go help Harry!"

The near fall turned out to be a blessing in