Isabella Lestrange

Plants and Pixies

The first meal of the school year was pretty boring. The youngest Weasley, who's name I had found out was Ginny Weasley. She was placed in Gryffindor, not surprised. The next day I had my first class, it was Greenhouse. I stood next to Draco, with Harry across from me. We each had a pot with a plant sat in front of us.

"Morning everyone!" Our Professor called out, she was a plump witch wearing all green with a green pointy hat.

"Good morning, Professor Sprout." We welcomed at the same time.

"Welcome to Greenhouse Three, second years. Gather around, everyone." Professor Sprout hollered. It was odd for me to think of myself as a second year. It had only been my first year a few months ago. We all gathered around our own individual plants.

"Today, we're going to re-pot mandrakes. Who here can tell me the properties of the Mandrake root?" Professor Sprout asked, as if we would know that on our first day of class. Apparently Hermione knew.

"Mandrake, or Mandragora is used to return those who have been petrified to their original state. It's also quite dangerous, the Mandrakes cry is fatal to anyone who hears it." Hermione explained, I stood corrected.

"Excellent, ten points to Gryffindor." Professor Sprout cheered. I rolled my eyes, yes I was friends with them. But I wanted to win the house cup for Slytherin.

"As our Mandrakes are still only seedlings, their cries wont kill you, yet. But they could knock you out for hours. Which is why I have given you earmuffs for auditory protection. So could you please put them on?" Professor Sprout explained. They were a plain pair of brown earmuffs. I picked them up and covered my ears.

"Flaps tight down, and watch closely. You grasp your Mandrake, firmly. You pull it sharply out of the pot." Professor Sprout demonstrated. She ripped the poor plant out of its pot. My hands immediately went up to my ears. It was the worst thing I had ever heard. It screamed like a child crying but a hundred times worse.

"And now you dunk it down into the other pot. And pour a little sprinkling of soil to keep him warm." Professor Sprout illustrated as she threw dirt on the infant plant. I heard something collide with the ground. I looked over to see everyone staring down at where Neville had just been standing.

"Longbottom's been neglecting his earmuffs." Professor Sprout sighed.

"No, ma'am he's just fainted." A boy named Seamus replied, I attempted to hold in my laughter. While Draco laughed his head off.

"Yes, well just leave him there." Professor ordered.

"Right, on we go. Plenty of pots to go around. Grasp your Mandrake and pull it up." She ordered. I wrapped my hands around the tree like object. And then pulled him up out of his pot. I held it away from my face as it cried. Everyone looked uncomfortable as they held them, well everyone except Draco. He smirked and stuck his finger towards his face. I laughed when the plant bit him, causing him to retract his hand and glare as if he were gonna do something.

"It's not funny." Draco glared.

"Sure." I replied sarcastically rolling my eyes with a smirk. We buried the plants in the pot and soon class ended.

Everyone made their way to the Great Hall. I was so happy I knew my way around the school this year, unlike last year. I sat down with the Slytherins and had to deal with Pansy fantasying over Draco.

"Isn't Draco's hair perfect?" Pansy giggled in my ear.

"Yes, Pansy. You've said this before." I sighed.