First Years Lesson Four

[Mikhail Novikov]

Mikhail tapped his fingers against the table within the greenhouse. He wondered what he would do for his first years. Mandrakes seemed the right way to go. After all, they needed to be switched to new soil soon didn't they? He looked behind him at the potted plants, nodding to himself as he felt the soil.

"Yes, they need to be switched," he murmured to himself, dusting his fingers off gently. "New soil will be good for them. I'm sure the Potions professor could use them."

He sighed to himself and just waited for his students to show up. He just wished more students got into Herbology. No skin off his back though. No students, no class. More time for him to get to himself, and that demon cat of his.

[Seffi Dresner]

Seffi swiftly walked into the lesson, she knew that she was going to be late, she had been talking to Eliza all the way down, but she didn't know that she was going to try and persuade her to take a trip down to the lake and stay there for about half an hour.

Of course she had to say that she was unable to, which had made a large argument take place, so now she was very upset and sniffling as she entered the classroom. Taking her seat she wiped at her eyes and waited for the lesson to begin.

[Lars Ulric Wilhelm]

Walking into the Herbology Gardens for class, Lars immediately noticed something horrifying. Seffi was crying, who would be mean to somebody as nice as Seffi. That was not cool, she was the sweetest, prettiest, overall coolest girl he had ever met. "Seffi, what is wrong?" he asked her in a soft voice, putting an arm around her comfortingly. She would have to learn to deal with him showing he cared about her by touching her eventually. Best to start working on it now.

"I don't see how anybody would ever make you cry. How could anybody be mean to a person as nice, and pretty, and smart as you. You are the coolest girl I know." he told her, trying to cheer her up. "Do I need to go lecture somebody on being nice to people for you, Seffi?" Lars asked, completely serious.

[Mikhail Novikov]

Mikhail snapped his fingers at his only two students. "Mister Wilhelm, while I do appreciate the fact that you care enough to ask her what's wrong when she is upset, please refrain from saying anything until class is over. If Miss Dresner needs to see the healer, then she may go and do so."

He walked over and retrieved two empty pots from the back placing them in front of his students. He then grabbed a large bag of soil and the other two pots containing the Mandrakes. He also set those in front of the students.

"Ten points to each of you for showing up to Herbology. Another ten points to the student who can point out what exactly we're doing today." Mikhail said, crossing his arms and eyeing his students.

[Seffi Dresner]

Seffi looked up when she saw Lars and shook her head with a small smile on her lips, she did not want to be rude to Professor Novikov and talk in his lesson, but she would not want to be mean and not tell Lars what was wrong. Biting her lip she merely said with a confident tone;

"No no I'm okay, I'm not ill." Seffi smiled she would tell Lars after class what was wrong with her she was sure he would understand her not wanting to speak up at this moment.

Very glad when the Professor asked them what they were doing today, as Seffi knew the answer, she raised her hand a little nervously;

"Those are mandrake plants...so...are we repotting them?" she asked now she had spoken, a little unsure.

[Mikhail Novikov]

Mikhail nodded. He was just a little surprised one of the students had answered correctly. Then again, it was somewhat easy to guess it, if one decided to pay attention. "Ten points to Muhe, Miss Dresner. You are correct, you both will be repotting the mandrakes."

He reached over and grabbed two pairs of gloves, giving them to the students before laying earmuffs next to the pots. "When you have the gloves on, I want you to practice having a firm grip. It's what you'll need to pull them out. Be firm, but not too rough. They'll begin to cry, but that's what the earmuffs are for. At most, you'll pass out."

Mikhail sighed and put his own earmuffs on, crossing his arms. He didn't want to keel over unconscious in his own class. "When you've the mandrake in your hand, quickly bring it into the other pot and start filling it with the soil I have provided. When it's completely buried in the soil again, you're done."

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