The moment the two stepped into the greenhouse area, a moist and warm airflow carrying the fragrance of soil, the freshness of chlorophyll, and a hint of the rich aroma of fertilizer rushed towards them.
The surroundings were extremely quiet, with only countless magical plants growing in the stillness, their leaves rustling softly as they unfurled, like nature whispering in the background.
Draco and Hermione pushed open the wooden door of Greenhouse One side by side. The hinges made a soft sound, but it did not disturb the people inside.
Professor Sprout stood with his back to the door in front of a large, long workbench.
She wore her signature old hat, patched upon patched, but it was spotless.
He was wearing a thick canvas apron, which was covered with brown mud and plant sap of varying shades.
She was slightly bent over, her hands clad in thick Dragonhide Gloves, carefully adjusting the position of a small Dittany plant on a tray.
The movements of her fingertips were so gentle, as if afraid of disturbing a sleeping sprite, while she hummed a light, cheerful tune softly.
The melody is about Puffapod.
She didn't turn around immediately, but first straightened the roots of the Dittany.
Then I gently pressed the soil around the roots to make sure it stood firmly in the center of the tray.
He then gently wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead with the back of his gloved hand, letting out a satisfied and subtle sigh.
His expression was like that of an artist admiring his masterpiece that he had just completed.
A moment later, she calmly and slowly turned around.
When Professor Sprout's eyes fell on Draco and Hermione, a warm and genuine smile naturally bloomed on her face.
"Ah, you're the first wave!" Her voice carried the reassuring and approachable quality unique to Hufflepuff House, instantly putting people at ease.
"Perfect timing! Excellent! The afternoon sun is best for Dittany; you've come at the perfect time."
Hermione was taken aback for a moment, then quickly straightened her back and bowed slightly. "Yes, yes, Professor. Good afternoon, Professor Sprout."
Draco nodded in greeting, "Good afternoon, Professor. Are we going to learn about Dittany today?"
Professor Sprout's smile grew even wider and more genuine, clearly very satisfied with the students' proactive attitude towards the course content.
"That's right, Mr. Malfoy, it is Dittany!"
Her voice was full of love for the subject, and her tone was quite excited.
"A very practical and quite interesting magical plant. It seems you've already previewed the textbook?"
"Yes, Professor." Draco nodded, then took a small step forward, his gaze falling on the nearest Dittany plant.
His gaze was focused and earnest, yet he maintained a safe distance throughout, never reaching out to touch her rashly.
"I've read through ' One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi,' but the illustrations and descriptions in the book are far less vivid than seeing them grow in person."
After praising Herbology, Draco immediately looked up at Professor Sprout.
"I noticed that the leaf shape of these few pots of Dittany is slightly different from that of the typical mature plant described in the book; the serrations on the leaf edges are more pronounced."
"Is it because of the exceptionally good light and humidity conditions in the greenhouse, or... is this a special variety cultivated in the Hogwarts greenhouses, or simply individual differences from different origins?"
Draco secretly rejoiced: Damn, thank goodness I crammed on herbal knowledge over the summer, otherwise I would have been embarrassed by this question.
Sure enough, Professor Sprout's eyes lit up instantly, revealing genuine surprise and appreciation.
The gentle smile that had been there before now held a hint of the joy of finding a kindred spirit.
"A keen observation, Mr. Malfoy!" she raised her voice with delight. "This is indeed a change in shape caused by differences in light intensity! It's wonderful that you noticed this!"
Pointing to the Dittany plants, she began to explain with great interest, "Our greenhouse faces south, so the afternoon sun is especially strong in the summer. To better photosynthesize, the serrations on the leaf edges of the Dittany become more pronounced, thus increasing the area exposed to light. If you move it to a shady environment for a period of time, the serrations will gradually become smoother..."
She spoke at length, treating Draco as a student with whom she could communicate on an equal footing.
The warm sunlight shone on the three of them, and the air was filled with the fragrance of herbs. For a moment, a harmonious atmosphere of teacher and students emerged in the greenhouse.
However, this focused exchange between teachers and students was eventually interrupted.
Footsteps sounded again at the greenhouse entrance, clearly hurried and urgent, with a hint of surprise and uncertainty.
Ron and Harry practically stumbled in, their school robes disheveled and their hair blown about by the wind.
They had clearly come running, without even having time to catch their breath.
Their gazes quickly swept across the greenhouse, first landing on the eloquent Professor Sprout, and then shifting to the two people beside him.
Ron and Harry stopped abruptly when their gaze fell upon Draco chatting amiably with the professor.
Their eyes widened suddenly.