The Herbology Assistant

Chapter Sixteen

Two weeks had passed and Clarice had been doing her best to avoid Severus. She had stopped assisting him in his classes and focussed all of her attention on her plants. She had to give herself credit, their greenhouses had never looked better. Even her own garden was flourishing with her constant attention to it. She would come in some days and grimace at the fact someone had come and picked her plants without asking. She knew it was Severus which made her even more upset. 

She had spent New Years with her creatures and graciously accepted Ricky, her crup, to be her New Years kiss. It took a few days for her to deal with the rejection from Severus; tears, tissues, and a lot of rom coms helped her through. When it was time to go back to classes, she poured her heart and soul into her work, not that she wasn't doing it previously, but she told herself there would be no more distractions. 

Clarice was just finishing up re-potting a mandrake when her next class of fourth year Gryffindors and Slytherins came in. Sprout had taken the day off to help prepare the mandrakes, so she had to teach the older students today. 

"Merlin, Snape's class was brutal today."

"I almost passed out from holding my breath when he yelled at Lee."

"I can't believe he took points away from his own house."

"He took points from us because I was breathing too loud!"

She frowned as she overheard the students talking about their last class. She knew Severus didn't take it easy on them, but she felt bad he'd lashed out on them so harshly for silly things. 

"Professor Bates! You're teaching us today?" Fred Weasley beamed. 

"Indeed Mr. Weasley, now find your seats everyone. I've got something fun for you all today. As all of you know, Professor Sprout has a large test for you guys next week that covers everything you have learned this past year." The students groaned. 

"Easy there, it's not like I'm giving it to you now... or am I?" She questioned and their faces looked horrified. She laughed, not wanting to worsen their days even more. 

"So I have the questions here in front of me that will be on the test and we're going to do a little trivia. Slytherin vs.  Gryffindor. We're going to do the easy questions first, those are one point each, to warm you all up." She said and the students split into their teams with Slytherin on the left and Gryffindor on the right. 

"You all have chalk boards, I'm going to read the question and you will have one minute to discuss and come up with an answer and write it down. Kapeesh?" She asked while turning her larger chalk board around with a score board. 

"Kaposh," The students sang. She had taught them this little thing when she first started in potions. It helps keep them engaged. 

"First question, What charm is used to speed up the growth rate of plants?" She asked and they all discussed in hushed whispers before going silent. "Ready?"

"Oh, good. Both teams got it which means you both get one point." She said cheerily while marking the chalk board. 

She went through most of the questions and the students seemed to be having fun with this activity. Slytherin was up fifty four to forty seven and she was on her last question.

"Alright, this is our last question and it is worth ten points. What semi- sentient plant can feel both pain and pleasure?" She asked and gave them their minute. "Times up! Let's see who won. Slytherin?"

They held up a sign that read snap dragon. 

"Aw, sorry guys. That's incorrect. Gryffindor?" She said and gave their team a sympathetic look. Gryffindor held up their board that said screechsnap. "And it looks like we have a winner!"