The Language of Flowers | Fred Weasley

9: G R A N D I F L O R A M A G N O L I A - peerless and proud

The forest was much darker than I had remembered. The moon was full, yet the clouds covered practically all the lights. The trees themselves cast eerie shadows along the ground, their shadows tangling with each other. It seemed there were more roots than usual too, because every few seconds one of us would stumble.

"Come on, Adhera. Let's go back. This place gives me the creeps." Katie begged, wrapping her arms around herself. I kept my eyes on the trees as I walked, waiting for something to come at us, my wand in hand. 

I somehow managed to avoid most of the roots and rocks on the path but I was used to these woods. I was bringing up the rear, since I was in the forest almost as much as Adhera, who was leading the group.

"If we get caught, I'm done for. Prefects aren't supposed to get in trouble, you know?" María said and her words echoed gently around us.

Adhera had wanted to come to the woods to collect something for a potion she was making, and she needed all five of us for it. We often have adventures at night, about once a week actually, but tonight was different.

I had no idea what potion Adhera was making but whatever it was, it had made her more fervent than I have ever seen her before. She had not merely asked, but told us we needed to come to the forest. So I complied, not wanting Adhera to get upset. I hate seeing anyone upset. It gave me the worst feeling inside, as if my stomach was trying to curl up into a ball and spin around and around. 

"This doesn't have to do with Pierre, does it?" Joanna asked from behind Adhera. Adhera ignored her and took a random turn off the path. We all follow along, my jeans brushing against several thorn bushes. I winced, imagining how many scrapes Joanna, who decided to wear a skirt to the woods, would have when we returned to the castle.

María stopped for a minute, leaning over and taking several leaves off a random plant. We all stopped behind her. Adhera halted too after a few seconds and gave us a glare that could rival that of Snape's. "Hurry up," She said, beginning to walk again. María continued on her way, her hand now filled up with whatever those plants were. By the time I walked past the plant, the group was so far ahead that I have no time to see what it is.

"Oh I know you are not eating those leaves, María ." Katie said with a hint of disgust.

"It's spearmint! You want some?" María exclaimed, shoving her hand full of mint into Katie's face.

"Get that cursed mint away from me. Who knows what animals have peed on it or eaten off it? I'm gonna throw up." Katie moaned.

"Stop being a drama queen, you're going to attract things much worse than cursed mint if you keep yapping away." I hissed, silencing Katie.

When the group in front of me stopped at our final destination, I breathed out a sigh of relief. Thank Merlin, because those woods made me so on edge at night. And to make matters worse, I had hurt my ankle earlier in the day so it was stinging with pain as I walked. I had tripped while walking the halls, and my ankle rolled. Now, it took an effort to walk without a limp.

I took a moment to breath, brushing my dark hair away from my face. Adhera crouched over a small plant, muttered a spell, and the dirt began to fly away from the plant. The roots were revealed and Adhera gently pulled the plant out, shaking off any excess dirt.

As she began to cut the roots away from the plant, it caused a sickly sweet smell to fill the air. Joanna gagged at the smell, making me laugh. The smell wasn't that awful, it was as if someone had sprayed themselves with too much perfume. The plant resembled a sweet potato in shape but not in colour. This plant was purple and I hadn't recognized it from any potion we have done in Potions or from my textbook.