The Spellfull Sixties

Chapter Twelve: The Duel

Herbology with Professor Herber Beery was more of a theatre performance than a well structured lesson. He announced their topics as though Shakespearian sonnets, before prancing around with the subject of the lesson in his hand to show the students. He was enthusiastic, that could be given. Though his enthusiam would end with a long winded quote from some old play, and he would recluse himself to silence for a short while, likely reflecting on previous life choices.  

On that particular October afternoon, they were learning about Bouncing bulbs. Professor Beery had placed a chest full of them on the wooden table in the centre of the room. It shook and shifted backwards and forwards. The man smiled awkwardly, pulling it back with a gloved hand. "In pairs I would like you to pot the bouncing bulbs, making sure that they are securely packed into their pots. One person restraining the bulbs, the other, potting". Beery gave a demonstration, widening his beedy eyes when opening the chest a smidge, allowing a bulb to shoot out. He grasped it firmly with both hands, before smacking it into a nearby pot. "Now please, get into twos". 

Molly looked around the room, watching as everyone collided into pairs. Emmeline Vance partnered with Amos Diggory, Ted Ewan with Simon Poldrin, and the Slytherin boys fought over who could partner with Alfred. In the end she was left alone, which fed into her utter excitement when the door to the warm classroom was pushed open by Professor Slughorn, who had accompanied Andromeda to class after she gathered her things from her dormitory room. Her cheeks filled as Andromeda , after being announced like a princess, trotted hastily to her side. 

"Ahh, Miss Black". Some of the students began to whisper. Ever since Andromeda had ended up in the hospital wing she had become somewhat of a topic of conversation. "I am sure Miss Prewett can catch you up".

"Oh I can", she wanted to hug the girl, or kiss her on the cheek. It had been a while since she had been so happy to see someone. 

"Is it true?", inquired Benjy Fenwick, breaking through Molly's joy, "Did a second year really push you off of a broom from high up". Andromeda didn't know how to respond, seeing Mollys face fall. 

"He didn't push me...". 

"I heard you broke all of your bones", stated Edgar Bones. 

"Now, I will give every group, carefully, a bouncing bulb", disrupted Beery, before begining to pass around the bouncing bulbs. It was quite funny watching others try and keep hold of their bulbs. That was until a one was handed to Molly, who could barely keep grip. 

"I'm going to drop it", she held the bulb to Andromeda, "You hold- I pot". 

"Me?- I can't hold it if you can't". 

"I am sure you can". She could not. The moment Molly released her grasp on the bulb it flew from her hands up into the air, before bounding between the girls' feet. It then lept over Andromeda, thumping Benjy Fenwick in the back. He let go of his bulb, and chaos broke out. Students were releasing their bulbs left, right and centre. Beerey tried to do his best to stop them with his wand, whilst at the same time consolling the whailing students and laughing Slytherin boys. But the fun, and terror, came to an end when one of the bouncing bulbs climbed some shelving, before springing through the roof of the greenhouse. Its springing friends followed soon after.

"Settle down- settle down", the man placed his hands on his hips, examining the hole in the glass ceileing. He drew his wand to it. "Reparo". Beery sighed, slipping his wand back into his pocket, before muttering something beneath his moustache. "I suppose I should go and alert Hagrid before a bouncing bulb invades every office and common room in the entire school. You are all free to leave". 

The students, some relieved, some confused, made their way from the Herbology classroom, out into the larger greenhouses. The lime glassy dome of the space reflected the miday sun down on the cobbled floor, alongside which streams of water rushed downwards towards a pool sitting between the stairs and below a great, grand tree. "My first lesson back and it ends early", stated Andromeda, noting some tipped over wheel barrows and scattered dirt from the bouncing bulbs rampage. She then spotted something else. Arthur Weasley. He hid half way around a corner behind the classroom, becalming them over. "Isn't that-".