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"MANDRAKE, OR MANDRAGORA, is used to return those who have been petrified to their original state."
Valerie Grindelwald watched as Hermione Granger proceeded to expound on the properties of the plant, as if she had recited it straight from a book.
The second-year students of Slytherin and Gryffindor were currently in their first Herbology Class of the semester, clad in taupe aprons. Valerie had no idea what the bushy-haired girl was talking about, her book on the subject remaining untouched. It was a habit she wanted to change, but if something didn't interest her, she wasn't going to do it.
"It's also quite dangerous," Hermione added, "The mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone who hears it."
Valerie raised her eyebrows at that, her intrigue piquing. This didn't go unnoticed by the boy next to her, who rolled his eyes at her antics.
"Don't get any ideas," Theodore whispered.
"Relax," Valerie told him as she eyed the potted plant, "Do you think we could nick one of these after class?"
Theodore shoved her shoulder with a shake of his head, the two sharing a short laugh.
Professor Sprout then awarded ten points to Gryffindor for Hermione's knowledge on the subject, much to the Slytherins' distaste. She then grabbed her apron tying it around her waist as she scanned the class, "Now, as our mandrakes our only seedlings, their cries won't kill you yet, but they could knock you out for several hours, which is why I've given you each a pair of earmuffs for auditory protection. So, would you please put them on right away?"
Valerie secured the earmuffs around her head as they were ordered, before turning back to whatever Professor Sprout was doing at the front of the class. The woman grasped the mandrake tightly, pulling it out of the pot in demonstration. The plant let out a loud, shrieking cry that rang all throughout the greenhouse.
"This," Theodore winced, his hands forcing his earmuffs shut, "This is how Anastasia sounds like when she talks."
Professor Sprout continued, "And now, you dunk it down into the other pot. Pour a little sprinkling of soil to keep him warm."
Valerie's eyes went wide as the Gryffindor across her wobbled for a moment, his eyes slowly losing consciousness as he collapsed to the ground. Hearing a snicker from beside her, she quickly elbowed a smirking Draco Malfoy in the ribs. The boy winced, and she sent him a glare.
"Longbottom's been neglecting his earmuffs."
"No ma'am, he's just fainted," Seamus Finnegan, a student Valerie vaguely knew as her friends would call him, the detonation dimwit.
