Term 4: Lesson 1: Year 4

Lucia walked into the backroom of greenhouse three, looking darkly around. She really didn't like the plant she was about to present, but she knew that there was a certain thrill when it came to class. And she wanted to start off on a good foot. Of course, at first, she wanted to get to know the students. In her own way, though.

So she walked back into the classroom, looking on with a light and happy smile when the students started filing in. "Welcome, everyone, to the year's first Herbology lesson," she said, practically beaming at them. "I am Lucia Henley, and I'll be your professor in this class."

She walked around her desk, leaning casually against it, waving her wand, and the chalk wrote two words on the blackboard. 'Venomous Tentacula'. She looked at their faces as they read the words. Some changed over the word 'venomous' others over 'tentacula' and some just kept a straight face.

"Today, we will be studying the Venomous Tentacula, and I want to know what you know about this plant. So, who goes first?" she asked softly, looking over the class for someone to raise their hand.

Lucia looked around the room, waiting patiently for a reply when Mr. Riddle raised his hand. She nodded at him and he answered. She was pleased with his reply and nodded at him. "Well said, Mr. Riddle, five points to Ravenclaw," she said praisingly, "Now, if you'll excuse me for a second..." she said, trailing off as she vanished into the backroom.

Not a moment later, she came walking back in, backwards, her wand raised and behind her trailed a green, big plant with a dangerous looking mouth and vines swishing back and forth. She placed it on her desk. "This is an example of the plant. It is not fully grown yet, and still, completely stretched, it reaches the height of four feet," she said softly.

She looked at the students inspecting the plant. "Can anyone tell me the uses of a tentacula? And does it have good qualities?" she asked them, wondering if they had found anything about that in their books or from previous experiences.

Lucia looked on as some of the students withdrew somewhat as the tendrils of the tentacula started whipping around. "Don't worry. I've extracted the poison from the plant, and it has been subdued quite a bit," she said softly, hoping the students wouldn't be distracted from answering due to their reluctance to be near the plant.

She didn't have to worry though. Mr. Riddle rose his hand again and he suggested potion. Lucia nodded, though not convincingly. "It is true that both the leaf and poison of the tentacula can be used in potions, but it is not very common. The reason for this is that the leaf and the poison is a potion on its own. The plant itself is somewhat rare, though not due to the lack of them, but due to where they can find the plant. Therefore, the leaves and the seed are highly valuable.

"The leaves are not valuable, however, when they are unhealthy. But a skilled potioneer will have the ability to brew some dragon dung fertilizer that will bring the leaves back to health and restore its value. Now, what we're going to do here today is that we are going pluck its spikes. Do you see them?" she asked.

She turned to the tentacula and walked over to the plant. She lifted one of the tendrils and let everyone see the spikes that embroidered the arms. "As you can also see, the tentacula is rather slow in its motions. I've taken precautions to make sure that no one will get hurt by the tendrils. However, I suggest you all keep an eye out for the teeth. It will move slowly, but keep a wary eye on the plant nonetheless," she said softly.

She then went back into the backroom and soon, five tentaculas were flying through the air and landed on the desk in front of some students. "Go together four and four and start plucking. Remember to take on your gloves," she said kindly, "We'll be doing this for the rest of the class, but don't worry, should the plant bite you, I won't deduct points for swearing."

She gave them a big grin and then clapped her hands together. "Begin," she said softly and placed the tentacula at the front of her desk over to some of the students.

Lucia watched the students work on the plant and made sure to keep the Tentacula at bay. She could have no hurt students, even though it was to be expected to happen either way. She'd just have to deal with it then. She looked on as one person managed to snatch a spike just before the Tentacula tried to bite the person. He screamed and ducked and managed to avoid it.

Lucia shot a silent, invisible spell at the Tentacula and it fell silent again. She then looked at the clock and her stomach did a jolt. That much already?

"All right people! That's all we have time for today," she said, and didn't fail to notice some relieved faces. "For homework, you are to write 200 words on the Tentacula plant, and read up on the Mimbulus Mimbletonia. To prove that you've done that, write 50 words on the plant. In summary, 250 words together," she said calmly, still smiling despite the class' not so excited faces. "Class dismissed," she said and started fetching the plants located in the room, watching on as the students filed out.