Herbology: Third Years- Lesson Three

'Bubotuber'

She always found them beautiful but disgusting. She wrinkled her nose and walked over towards the greenhouses to wait for her students to arrive.

Entering the greenhouse she noticed how there were no real objects out such as pots or anything of the sort, but the word Bubotuber was up on the board. She had a bad feeling about this.

Sitting down she waited for the class to begin.

Humphrey walked into the greenhouse and noticed the word Bubotuber written on the board. He didn't know anything about them. But, he was excited to be here and eager to learn. Looking around, he decided to sit in the front of the classroom; he really hoped that the teacher didn't talk too loudly.

Victoria moved swiftly into the greenhouse and out of the sun. Since the rays were still coming through the glass she opted to keep her hood over her head, trying to stay in the shadows of it's folds. She had been glad she had packed a hooded jacket in her trunk that would fit under her regular school robes.

Touching her ring to make sure it was securely in place, she quickly took her place at Tess's side. "Hey," she said quietly. She was keenly aware of the professor and the newly returned Humphrey. She could almost smell them. Taking a deep breath she tried to concentrate on the lesson.

Leshia was glad for the last class of the day and for her that was Herbology, and she was ready for the day to be over with, she was ready for a nap.

Walking into the greenhouse she noticed the professor and written the word bubotuber on the board. Leshia was racking her brain trying to figure out what they were.

Taking her place in the greenhouse she noticed her three other classmates again. Something was going on with Victoria and she was not sure what it was. But she decided to let it go and wait for class to start.

Parker sighed as he rushed in, feeling like he was late. Though to his surprise, he wasn't. He still felt so rushed and busy lately it was ridiculous. Though he knew he was just trying so hard to keep himself busy so he didn't have t think about anything. He just wanted the year to be over with.

He took his seat near the other, keeping his eyes averted. He felt bad because he felt as if he'd been avoiding everyone. He looked to the board reading what the professor had written, and he wondered just what it was the'd be learning about.

Seeing Victoria arrive, she bit her bottom lip worried about her friend. The sunlight was not helping Victoria's condition whatsoever and she hoped the professor would dim it a bit.

She patted her friend's hand slightly as she entered in a comforting manner. She ignored her cold skin, and tried to remember she was exactly the same except for her thirst.

"You okay?" she murmured.

Her eyes then trailed towards Parker, who seemed to be avoiding them. She took it a bit hard after all she'd found herself wracking her brain as if she'd done something wrong. She wrinkled her nose and she decided that perhaps anger was easier than being hurt so she looked away from him instead concentrating on Victoria. After all this friend needed her.

Seeing her students arrived she smiled slightly, that is until she felt the aura of tenseness and weaknesses. Seeing Miss Rossmund there she closed the curtains halfway allowing shade to hit Miss McCartney's and Miss Rossmund's table. She then clapped her hands to gain their attention.

"Welcome students to lesson three of Herbology!" she said happily "Seeing new faces, I'll quickly introduce myself, I'm Professor Lily Del Sol, call me Miss Lily or Professor Lily whichever you prefer and I am here to listen to whatever you want me to" she smiled friendly.

Getting back to her lesson, she waved her wand and a moving picture of their plant of the day appeared on the screen.

"This my sweet students is called a bubotuber, as you can see it resembles a black slug. The reason I am telling you this and not asking is because it is not in your textbooks, for this is a rare plant." she explained. "They are special because they move out of their own violation."

As the picture disappeared she clapped her hands in excitement.

"Now! Today you will be asked to catch a bubotuber! Any questions?"

He was glad the professor introduced herself because he hadn't met her previously. She showed them a picture of a plant that looked like a black slug. Apparently it was a rare plant. Humphrey thought it looked disgusting, but that is life sometimes.

Then he realized he did have a question for her. "I have a question Professor Lily. Why are we collecting bubotubers? Is there anything important or useful about them?" he asked the professor. Hopefully, there was a reason they were collecting them.

Leshia about died laughing when Miss Lily told them they were going to catch these things. Leshia imagined it was going to be like catching a running animal that is trying to keep away from you.

"I hope there a trick to catching them" Leshia asked with a little laugh.

She smiled brightly at the question and immediately answered.

"Bubotuber pus acts as a treatment for severe acne, and your point of catching the bubotuber is to squeeze it to collect the pus" she said not finding it as disgusting as others will, after all it was just a plant. "But undiluted pus can affect unprotected skin in unintended ways and can be used in potions."

After waiting for Miss Prewett to finish laughing, she answered her question with amusement.

"Ah but that's the fun dear, you go outside and go catch them with our own creativity! Outside children outside!"

She chirped and walked on.

"Five points for the groups that manage to find a clever way to catch it!"

She waved her hand bringing clouds out to help Miss Rossmund go outside more comfortably and waited for her students to follow.

Humphrey followed Professor Del Sol outside, listening closely as she explained why they would be catching the bubotubers. Also, he grinned as she explained they would be catching them with their own creativity. If he was anything, it was a creative person.

"Hey Leshia, do you want to work together as a group?" he asked her, hoping she would agree to. They had never worked together in a lesson before, but they had always been friendly toward each other. Already, a plan to trap the bubotubers was forming in his mind.

Victoria sighed in relief when the professor closed the curtains a bit. Smiling back at Tess, she replied, "Yeah. I'll live." She couldn't help the smirk that came naturally.

Once told about their lesson, and the hunt for the sluggish plant, she stood up, grabbed her wand in one hand, and Tess's hand in the other. "Come on. I've got a plan."

Walking out of the greenhouse, happy that the professor was able to control the clouds, Victoria spotted a small group over by some bushes. Stopping a few yards away, she pointed her wand firmly and chose the spell they were learning in Dueling class. "Petrificus Totalus."

The Bubotuber in the center of the small gathering seized up and seemed to be paralyzed. She decided to wait til they took out the other two to collect them, not wanting to risk retaliation.

Parker looked up as the professor began to tell them about these things. A bubotuber, they looked...pretty gross. He sighed when she said they'd be having to catch them of all things. Perhaps there was a way to do it..you know, without running around after them with bare hands. It seemed Leshia was thinking the same thing as she laughed a little. Just like Humphrey Parker was also wondering what purpose they served.

As the professor then answered their questions, Parker furrowed his eyebrows. Affecting unprotected skin? Would they need gloves then? and a clever way to catch it..hmm... Parker was trying to think of some plan as they made their ways outside.

As the others paired up, Parker stayed back a bit, looking around, seeing what the others were doing. He saw Victoria freeze one up with the paralysis spell they learned from dueling class, good idea...

Parker took out his wand, walking forward a bit, but slowly, still waiting to see what Humphrey and Leshia would do before he did anything

Tess jumped in surprise as Victoria was being the leader, and she took it in stride. She looked back wondering if Parker wanted to join them, but as Victoria let her go she realized that she was going to be the one to squeeze it.

It resembled a slug and she was frightened by them finding them terrifying and disgusting.

"Victoria I don't want to touch that thing"She said wrinkling her nose. "It's pus and...I can't do it" she said her face paling.