1st years - Lesson 2 [D. S./Aco./Ali.]

[Timothy Linn]

Well this was unfortunate for Timothy to lose his TA, Mrs. Bernadette Kohn, though he never really got the chance to know her well. Their first meeting was quite... interesting to say the least since she had mistaken him as a student. Of course Timothy was only enjoying these little thoughts to himself as he was ready for a full day of work.

Since Bernadette had scampered off, she left him the burden to teach all years of Herbology. Not that he wouldn't mind since he hasn't had the chance to meet most of the first through third years after his promotion last term. So, he rearranged his schedule to fit in perfectly so that his first through third years were in the morning, and his fourth through seventh years were in the afternoon.

It must have been about seven-fifty in the morning when he came into an empty greenhouse, leaving the door open behind him for the first years to arrive. Today would be exciting since he gets to teach three different plants aside from his normal schedule with the fourth through seventh years. Writing their names on the board: Devil's Snare, Aconite, and Alihotsy, Timothy dusted his hands and leaned against his desk, waiting for the first years to arrive.

[[OOC: You have 24 hours to arrive to class.]]

[liz]

Leslie was on her way to her class. It seemed as thought she was on time, being early. But then again it could be the other way around, where she was so late that everyone was already there. Shaking her head at her rubbish thoughts, she kept walking. Wondering what she would learn today, and how many students would show up. Her last HOM was bad, only about 4 or 5 students showed up. She hoped more would show up here she hated it when there was so little students that she was bound to get picked to answer a question, when she barley new anything about magic. Walking up to the green house door, which was open, she peered in looking around to see no one but Professor Linn inside. 'Wow...' She thought 'First one here.' She walked in and stood inside the green house, waiting for other students to arrive.

[faline]

Faline headed into her Herbology class expecting the class to be full of peopole. She was shocked when she only saw one other student in there. She took a seat next to the girl, hoping she didn't care. Wondering where everyone was, she set her stuff down. she wasn't usually one of the first few to arrive, and she'd thought she was running pretty late. I wonder what happened to everyone.[/font]

[Timothy Linn]

Only two first years had arrived and Timothy was disappointed with such few numbers. Perhaps the first years were lost. Their loss for not joining since it was vital for learning, especially if there was homework or a quiz the next class. Those who didn't enter and came to his next lesson would be disqualified from taking the quiz, unless coming to him personally for notes.

"Good morning. I'm Professor Timothy Linn and I am here to teach you the importance of plants and flowers in both the magical and muggle world. I konw there are only the three of us here, but hopefully throughout the lesson more would join us. So, today we'll be learning first, Devil's Snare. Turn to your texts on page five where it begins."

Waiting as both students opened their books, Timothy compiled his notes, and glanced back at the two students. "Devil's Snare is a dangerous and a very big plant. They are practically vines with minds of their own. It is composed of a mass of soft, springy tendrils and vines that possess some sense of touch. It uses it's creepers and tendrils to ensnare anyone who touches it. Basically you're in it's grip. It'll bind your arms and legs together, then eventually it will choke you. So you don't want that to happen."

[Pierce James]

Late. Of course he was late! He'd only been at the school for a few days, he had to get off to a bad start. -.-;. He strode into the class quickly, avoiding the professor's gaze as he took a seat with the other two students. He had just introduced himself and Pierce felt an apology for his tardiness was unnecissary... It would only interrupt the class anyway.

From his messenger bag, Pierce pulled out his standard Herbology text book, flipping to the instructed page. At first he thought they were supposed to begin reading but he looked up to the professor as he began to speak. He sat back in his seat, pulling out a piece of parchment and a quill. He titled it with Devil's Snare, taking down most of what the professor said. "So, how do you get rid of them?" he asked as the question came to mind.

[mileena]

Hannah grumbled has she walked outside, she hated this. She had no clue how Jazzy could stand being out here. Walking in the greenhouse she saw that she was late. Awkward! Taking a seat in the nearest available one she got her things out and began on her notes.

[Timothy Linn]

"Good question. To make Devil's Snare retreat, you use any form of light. A simple charm can be Lums or Lumos Maximus. Either spell will prevent Devil's Snare from attacking you and recoiling back into it's dark depths." He replied to the Slytherin. "Devil's Snare will retreat when you are calm. Making no moves at all will cause their defenses to recoil back and let you go. They are practically like boa constricters."

"So to recap in better words, whenever you come in contact with Devil's Snare, don't struggle against it. The harder you do, the tighter it's grip is. Relax, and you'll get through fine. A bit dirty and sore, but fine. This plant prefers a dark damp environment. Since Devil's Snare hates fire or any type of light it is exposed to, the tendrils will shrink away. So a special spell that is well-placed on it is 'Blue Flames,' which will drive it away from it's victims. Keep that in mind as well as Lumos or Lumos Maximus."

Taking a deep breath, Timothy rubs his hands together, eyeing the students for a moment before continuing. "Now there is one particular plant that actually resembles Devil's Snare and that is Flitterbloom, but you won't learn that plant until later one. But just for now, Flitterbloom apparently and superficially resembles Devil's Snare in appearance, but is not violent.

"They have no aversion to fire. Devil's Snare has a different pattern to the veins in the leaves. And if you look at Flitterbloom, it can also resemble Ivy." With that done and said about Devil's Snare, Timothy brought up his next set of notes and their next plant. "Alright, that is all for Devil's Snare. Next, is Aconite. Aconite is very useful in potion making. It is know by two other names: wolfsbane and monkshood.

"It's extremely poisonous. Now it is called Monkshood for a reason. Because the shape of the flower somewhat resembles a monk's cowl. Since Aconite is also wolfsbane, you should know that the plant is used in the Wolfsbane potion. It does not cure lyncathropy. It only prevents the extremely dangerous dementia which would accompany the transformation from human to wolf."

"The other uses for Aconite are liniment, tincture, and a sedative for neuralgia and rheumatism. Now Aconite is of the genus Aconitum of the Famly Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family. They're hardy perennial plants of the north temperate zone, growing wild or cultivated for ornamental or medicinal purposes." Timothy rested for a few minutes, watching the students writing hurriedly all the notes he had lectured so far to them.

After about six or seven minutes or so, he resumed to his oral lexture. "Aconite can be found in the lower mountain slopes of the Northern portion of the Eastern Hemisphere. From the Himalayas through Europe to Great Britain. Aconite is now found wild in a few parts of England, mainly in the western counties and also in the South Wales."

Only giving part of the regions that Aconite can be found, Timotyh suggested to himself that the rest would be helpful for homework purposes. "Also, Aconite is found in the Swiss Alps, Salzburg, North Tyrol, and Vororlberg. Much was also formerly collected in Germany. Supplies from Spain and Japan are imported. So most of you would receive aconite in apothecaries or in plant shops is from those areas, unless you want to grow them yourself. Though I highly doubt you can plant them yourself at this time."

[Timothy Linn]

Timothy's notes would still continue, even when the late arrivals took a seat in his class. Every few minutes or so his roster would be updated. So he knew that most who entered were newly sorted students. Taking a squishy ball into hand to juggle between and keep his drive going on the oral notes he was giving, he looks at his class to continue on. "Aconite prefers soil that is slightly retentive to moisture. It flourishes best when in the shade. It would grow luxuriantly in a moist, open wood area, and would yeild returns with little further trouble than weeding, digging up, and drying."

A few moments wait, he watches his students copy down the notes from the board. He knew it was a lot, but it would all be most hopeful in their homework assignment. After about five minutes, with juggling the ball in hand, he begins to speak up again. "Aconite is a perennial herb with ascending or slightly descending stems. The flowers appear in terminal racemes or panides. Their color ranges from white to deep purple-blue, the upper part resembles a hood. The fruit has three to five follicles. The root is a dark brown conical tuber with adventitious roots. In general, there is a main root and an accessory root. A cross section shows two distinct portions: the cortical (grewy white) and the medulla (white) seperated by a garlanded line (the cambium) that simulates a start with five to seven branches."

This time with the more lecture he's given, Timothy waited for about another five to seven minutes before starting on the next lecture of their new plant. As hands were cramped, he was sure of it, he added another two minutes before beginning. "Alright now onto our next plant. Alihotsy. There is little information about this plant as it's still being studied. Though the leaves cause hysteria to anyone who has consumed them." He smiles sheepishly. "We've tried it on our patients before. Luckily there is an antidote. The Glumbumble, which is a magically furry insect. The fluid it produces causes melancholy. So, that is all for today's lesson. If any of you have questions, concerns, or have missed a good amount of notes, visit me at my office. You're all dismissed!"