adored by him | *under editing*

second year × 19

"Detention on the first day? That must be a new record!" Seamus Finnigan sniggered, earning a stern look from, a still fuming, Hermione.

"I should think you'd find yourself lucky that's all you got." She said bitterly.

"I should think you'd mind your own business." Ron retorted, glaring at the bushy-haired girl. Hermione narrowed her eyes in return.

Nadia sighed. "Can you two put your differences aside and get to class? I don't know about you but I don't particularly want to be joining them in detention when we're late for our first class of the year."

Hermione shook her head, as though snapping herself out of the glaring match happening between the two. "You're right. Let's go." She grabbed Nadia's hand and they plodded to the large greenhouse.

A rather squat woman stood at the front of the glass room and tapped her wand on some plant pots, capturing the students' full attention. "Welcome to Greenhouse Three, second years. I am Professor Sprout and I will be your Herbology teacher this year." She gave a small nod of her head. "Today, we will be re-potting Mandrakes. Now, who here can tell me the properties of a Mandrake?" Hermione's hand rocketed. "Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Mandrake, or Madragora,  is used to return those who have been petrified, to their original state. It's also quite dangerous. The Mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone that hears it."

Professor Sprout beamed. "Excellent! Ten points to Gryffindor." Draco and his goons glared at the grinning students draped in red and gold.

"As our Mandrakes are only seedlings, their cries won't kill you yet. However, they will knock you out for several hours. That is why I have provided each of you with a pair of earmuffs. If you will?" She took her pair and placed them over her ears, motioning for the class to do the same. Harry patted Nadia's, making sure they were secure around her ears, before the pair blushed profusely and turned back to the front. Draco frowned at the exchange.

Professor Sprout then grasped the tufty plant beside her and yanked it out the pot. A shrill cry filled the greenhouse as she dumped the lumpy plant into an empty plant pot and began filling it with fresh soil, muffling the piercing sound. Suddenly, Neville's eyes rolled back into his head and he tumbled to the floor. "Ah, I see Mr Longbottom's been neglecting his earmuffs."

Seamus looked from the boy back to the Professor. "No, Ma'am. He's just fainted."

"Oh. Well just leave him there." Sprout waved him off and clapped her hands together. "Come now, your turn. Grasp it tight and pull! Then cover it with a generous layer of soil, making sure to keep it nice and warm."

Nadia grabbed her Mandrake and pulled hard. Repulsed by the blob-like creature, she quickly dropped it into the empty pot and rapidly coated the squealing figure with soil. Her eye was captured by Draco, who's Mandrake had clamped its mouth shut on his finger. He struggled to free it, letting out a low growl at the plant as it let go. Nadia shook her head with a giggle, earning a soft smile from the boy. Harry watched with a heavy heart.

***

"What sort of plant cries?" Sam complained, settling herself down at the Ravenclaw table. Nadia and Ashton shared an amused look as owls began flooding into the Great Hall. However, all attention was on Ron and the red envelope in his hand.

"Look everyone! Weasley's got himself a howler." Ron's eyes darted anxiously about the room.

"Go on, Ron. I ignored one from my gran once." Neville gulped. "It was horrible."

An apprehensive silence drifted through the air as Ron's fingers fumbled with the envelope. He had only managed to make a slight tear when it formed itself into a mouth and Mrs Weasley's frenzied voice rang out,

"RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR? I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER'S NOW FACING AN ENQUIRY AT WORK AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME!"

Mrs Weasley's voice instantly calmed as it turned to the red-haired girl sitting yards away. "Congratulations on getting sorted into Gryffindor, Ginny. Your father and I are so proud." Ginny gave a shy shrug as the envelope faced a stunned Ron, blew a violent raspberry and tore itself to shreds.

***

"Let me introduce you to your new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Me." Gilderoy Lockhart prowled down the stone steps, flashing his pearl white teeth and admiring a painting of himself. A series of lovesick sighs echoed around the classroom as it seemed Nadia was the only girl not drooling over him.

"Gilderoy Lockhart. Order of Merlin, Third Class. Honorary member of the Dark Force Defence League and five times winner of Witch's Weekly 'Most Charming Smile' award - but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!" He laughed awkwardly, obviously expecting the class to join in. 

When they didn't, his expression suddenly darkened as he approached a rattling cage concealed with red material. "Now, be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizard kind! You may find yourself facing the deepest, most darkest fears in this room." He took the tip of the material in his hand and, with a showman's flare, drew his wand and swiftly turned back to the class. "I might ask you not to scream. It may provoke them!"

He tore the cover off to reveal tiny, blue creatures scurrying and squealing around madly. The class exploded with laughter, making Lockhart's face fall. "Cornish Pixies?" Seamus asked incredulously.

"Freshly caught Cornish Pixies!" Lockhart defended. Seamus only chortled more. "Laugh if you will, Mr Finnigan, but Cornish Pixies can be devilishly tricky little blighters. Let's see what you make of them!" He flicked the catch on the cage, sending the Pixies into a frenzy as they flooded into the room, destroying all they could find.

Nadia and Hermione dived onto the floor, using the desk for cover. "Round them up! They're only pixies!" Lockhart called mockingly before brandishing his wand and yelling, "Peskipiski Pesternomi!"  Nothing happened, giving the Pixies a chance to swipe his wand from his hand. They shot a spell at the skeleton suspended from the ceiling, sending it plummeting to the ground.

Two Pixies then seized Neville by the ears and lifted him from the ground, hanging him on the bronze candelabra as though discarding a coat. Lockhart's face contorted with panic at the scene. He dashed to his office and, before slamming the door, yelled, "I'll just leave it to you four to nip them back into their cage."

Worried glances were exchanged between the four as a Pixie grabbed a bushy lock of Hermione's hair. "Get off!" She wailed.

"Look out!" Harry grabbed a nearby spell book and smashed the Pixie away.

"What do we do?" Ron called exasperatedly whilst playing tug-of-war with a Pixie and his Potions book.

Without a second thought, Hermione whipped out her wand and screamed, "Immobulus!" The Pixies froze, drifting around the room like clouds as the quartet caught their breaths.

Neville dropped from the candelabra, shaken but unhurt. "Why is it always me?" He sighed and trudged defeatedly out of the room. "Thanks guys." He mumbled as he went.

Ron stood, a furious look on his face. "Can you believe him?"

"I'm sure Professor Lockhart just wanted to give us a hands-on experience!" Hermione argued, patting her hair down.

" 'Mione, he didn't have a clue what he was doing." Nadia said gently.

"Rubbish!" She snapped. "Read his books. You'll see all the amazing things he's done."

"He says he's done." Ron defended with a pointed look. Hermione rolled her eyes and the four left the catastrophe of a classroom, hair askew and robes shredded.