Chocolate Frogs

Chapter 2

"Good morning, Professor Longbottom." Amelia greeted after she poked her head inside Greenhouse Three. She scanned the Herbology classroom, taking note of the new hanging plants by the walls surrounding the room. The leaves of the potted plants glistened with dew, their soil moist.

It had been a misty morning. Everyone seemed sobered up from last night, and is taking the morning slowly. Amelia decided to check on the plants they had taken care of in class last year. She was hoping she could take it home permanently for Christmas. It was a shrivelfig they nursed from a seedling. She couldn't take it home last year since it was too young but now that it had grown half a meter, she wanted to gift it to her mum.

"Come in," Professor Longbottom's voice gently spoke from behind of a plant box. He stood up and lifted a gloved hand, gesturing for her to approach.

Amelia closed the door behind her and took careful steps around the greenhouse. A few small twigs crunched underneath her shoes. She saw what the young professor had been working on - he was kneeling in front of the plantbox, putting more soil in it.

"It's too early for class. What can I help you with, Miss Ross?" He asked as he kept working.

"I'm sorry for coming in so early," She apologized sincerely. She had thought of waiting to ask after their Herbology class but she thought it would be easier for her to ask as soon as she could, without anyone else around. "I was wondering if I could take home the shrivelfig we planted last year, Professor."

Professor Neville looked up at her, a slight surprise evident in his face. Amelia suddenly felt embarrassed and made a sheepish face. She wasn't the best at growing the plant, she knew that just as much as the professor did. "My mum is a better herbologist compared to me and I thought it would be lovely to gift it to her. She's been wanting a new plant," she explained.

Her mum, although non-magic, had been growing magical herbs and plants in their garden since she and Amelia's dad married. It was true that her mum would make a talented herbologist. In multiple occassions, whenever Amelia accidentally almost killed a plant, her mum would care for it and it would turn out healthy. This, however, didn't deter her mum in involving Amelia in gardening.

The Herbology professor thought about it, weighing her words in his mind. Amelia watched him, hopeful. His lips were pursed and his eyebrows furrowed a little.

"I did say that you could all bring it home," he started. "And Mrs. Ross would make sure it's healthy?"

Amelia nodded surely.

"Okay," Professor Longbottom finally said. "I suppose you can bring it home."

She grinned at him, "Thank you, Professor." She waited for him to nod before she turned on her feet and walked out of the greenhouse.

She was almost bouncing as she walked back to the castle. Politely smiling at professors and students that she passed by, she made her way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Amelia settled by herself at the end of the Hufflepuff table near the door, while a few students sat together in the Hall. She had finished her sausage and eggs on toast, sipping her raspberry tea, when her owl flew in and brought her a small package. At the sight of the floral wrapping paper, Amelia instantly knew that it was from Beatrice. Her round, small fluffy owl gently dropped the package at the table before settling on her shoulder. She reached her hand to pet its white feathers while she opened the parcel.

"Good morning, Snowball." She said quietly. She found herself smiling at the neatly packed fudge brownies inside the bag. After giving Snowball a treat and sending him off to the owlery, she read the note that her friend slipped in. Her heart warmed, reading how they had been thinking about her and already miss her. She took a brownie and saved the rest for later. Her eyes closed as she chewed the fudgy brownies. Beatrice made sure to send her the edge and some of the corner pieces because it was what Amelia preferred. She sighed contently before she proceeded to write a short note on her notepad to remind herself to thank Beatrice as soon as she can. She took her time to finish her tea that added to the warmness she felt inside.