Amelia Merlin

Part Sixteen: Herbology Class

A/n just so you know I did the research so all the information below is accurate! Also please comment so I know what you think!

Amelia was especially talented when it came to Herbology. The plants reacted to her the same way the forest and her garden at home had. Today they were learning about dittany.

"Who can tell me the three uses of dittany?" Professor Sprout looked expectantly around the class. Hermione immediately raised her hand. "Yes?"

"Dittany is often used in potion making as it contains many healing properties, it is also used in wand making and when mixed with silver, can heal werewolf bites," Hermione chirped, bouncing slightly as she talked. Amelia felt her chest tighten at the mention of werewolf bites but she managed to keep her cool. Lately everything had been setting her on edge. But today would be different, she was determined to stay absolutely positive.

"Thank you Miss Granger! Five points to Gryffindor!" Amelia squeezed Hermione's shoulder and gave her a smile. Professor Sprout continued lecturing them about the properties of dittany. And then they started potting the plants.

Amelia was working in a group of four with Dean, Seamus, and Lavender. The little round leaves on the plant were likely to release a flammable vapour so they had to be careful. Lavender and Amelia started filling their pot with dirt while Dean and Seamus got the dittany ready for transferring.

"Bloody hell, this thing is spewing gas everywhere!" Dean pretended to gag.

"Maybe we shouldn't let Seamus handle it," Amelia teased.

"Me?" He looked aghast, "I think I can put a plant into a pot,"

"Yeah you said the same thing about floating a feather and I'm pretty sure you lost your eyebrows that day," she said rolling her eyes while Dean and Lavender snickered.

"Alright Merlin, watch this," he said in a challenge accepted tone, with narrowed eyes. Amelia stepped back and gestured for him to continue. Seamus put his tongue between his teeth and grabbed the dittany. With both hands he carefully and slowly lifted the plant into the pot. The moment it touched the bottom, the gas emitting from the plant caught fire and Seamus lost what little of his eyebrows he had regained.

Amelia burst out laughing and so did Dean and Lavender. Seamus looked really grumpy but it didn't change anyone's reaction.

"You guys suck," he mumbled.

"Aw does someone have hurt feelings?" Amelia teased, poking him on the nose. Seamus playfully swatted her hand away while Dean continued to roar with laughter.

"Okay so maybe I shouldn't deal with flammable plants," Seamus admitted and Dean patted him on the back while wiping his eyes.

"Maybe that's a good idea," Amelia laughed and put the rest of their dittany into pots.

"Well I could do other stuff!" Seamus offered.

"How about you sing us a song? You won't be able to blow anything up doing that right?" Amelia chuckled at the indignation on his face.

"I'm not singing for you Merlin," he grumbled and threw a small handful of dirt at her.

"Careful there Finnigan, don't want to start anything," Dean warned, although humour laced his voice. He clearly wanted to see how this all played out.

"I would listen to your friend," Amelia said slyly.

"I can do what I want," Seamus' chest puffed out, "I am not afraid of a girl,"

Amelia grinned, "you really should be," and with a laugh, smushed a clot of dirt on his cheek.

"Oh you did not,"

"Watch me, I'll do it again," and she did just that. Seamus feigned a look of outrage and threw more dirt at her. Amelia couldn't help but laugh. They ran around tables and hid behind barrels, dodging dirt and taking every moment they could to launch an attack.

"Take that Merlin!" He yelled as he threw more dirt her way. Professor Sprout was no where to be seen so Amelia seized her chance.

"I grew up next door to the Weasley family, you really think you can take me on?" Everyone was watching the pair now.

"I'm Irish,"

"Sadly that won't be enough," she said and whipped a handful of soil at him, hitting the boy right in his most sensitive spot. Amelia gasped and everyone roared with laughter. "I didn't mean to do that Seamus!" She tried to contain her giggles as he doubled over.

"Merlin!" Professor Sprout walked in.

"Wonderful timing," Amelia mumble under her breath.

"What have you done? Assaulted this poor boy?" Her fists met her hips as she scowled at Amelia. As the professor had her full attention on her, Amelia could see Oliver in the background carefully filling an ink bottle with the dirt. She had no idea what he would be doing with that but she really hope she would find out. 

"No professor! It's not like that! We were just joking around!" She tried to explain herself.

"There is no horsing around in my greenhouse! Detention!" Amelia groaned. "And fifteen points from Gryffindor,"

"Professor please! I didn't even do anything," she tried her best not to sound petulant.

"Merlin!" Professor Sprout gave her a warning look and Amelia took the cue to shut up. Everyone went back to their plants a little more quiet than before.

"Sorry you got detention," Dean sympathized.

"Don't worry about it. Fred and George will be so proud when they hear!" She laughed and they spent the remainder of the class joking around. Truly, Amelia wasn't bothered by the detention. How bad could it really be?

At the end of class, Amelia went to see the teacher about her detention.

"Four o'clock on Friday. Meet in Filch's office and he will give you work to do," she handed Amelia a note, she took it and left to catch up with her friends. When they got to the common room Amelia was bursting to tell the twins the news.

"Hello my two favourite people!" She gushed.

"What's got you in such a mood?" George inquired.

"Did Percy get run over by giant?" Fred looked beyond happy at the thought.

"Giants don't even live around here, sorry to crush your dreams," Amelia rolled her eyes at the pair. "No my news is great. Well it's not great but I think you'll really like it when you hear it."

"Tell us then!"

"I got detention today! It's my first ever!" She laughed as the twins embraced her. Fred even kissed her on the cheek.

"I just want you to know," George pretended to wipe a tear. "We are so proud of our little girl!"

"She's not a little girl anymore," Fred beamed at her and Amelia ran her fingers through her hair. The evening went well, she sat with the twins and they reminisced about all the trouble they had caused last summer.

When Friday rolled around, Amelia became less enthusiastic about her detention. She trudged down to Filch's office and knocked on the door. When it opened she found herself face to face with a blond, Slytherin boy. Draco Malfoy.

"What are you doing here?" He spat at her.

"I have a date with Filch," she said sarcastically. "What'd you think? I'm here for detention you half wit,"

"Bloody hell," he grumbled, "So am I. But Filch isn't here yet. We just have to wait for him,"

So that's what they did. Amelia never though she would want to see Filch so bad.