Hogwarts'Professors/Wealthy/bardiclog
Title: Hidden Wealth
Claim: Hogwarts' Professors
Prompt: 202. Wealthy
Rating: probably G
Summary: The first year Hufflepuffs receive their first lesson in Herbology
Word count: 836
Pomona Sprout smiled at the first-year Hufflepuffs, all standing awkwardly in her greenhouse waiting for their first instruction in Herbology.
“Every one of you, take a seed from the box on the table there. Go on, there's nothing that bites.”
Hesitantly, the first couple students came forward and selected seeds; when they emerged unscathed, the rest of her newest House members did the same. “Excellent, excellent. Now, I want everyone to take a good long look at the seed in your hand.”
She waited, observing how they looked at the seeds - some merely glanced at them, fidgeting. Others studied the seeds intently. Still others looked at their classmates to see what they were doing, and followed those around them. After they had had several moments to examine the seeds, Professor Sprout cleared her throat, preparing them to listen once again. “Now, I know what many of you are thinking. These seeds are plain, dull, boring. They all look the same. There is nothing remarkable about any one of them.”
Several of the students laughed uncomfortably; not meeting their Head's eyes.
“You'd be right. That's what they look like. And I'll tell you something else, a Hufflepuff secret . . .” she waited until they were all listening, huddling close, wanting to hear their House's secret, “. . . to most of the other Houses, that's what you look like now, too.”
She waited a moment to let that sink in; the discomfort with the statement was practically tangible. Then she continued, “There are worse things to be besides seeds. With good soil, nutrients, water, sunlight, seeds become miracles. And that, my dear Hufflepuffs, is what you are; seeds waiting to become miracles.”
This perked them up, made them take more interest.
“You are in a wealthy environment for that now, here in Hogwarts, and in Hufflepuff especially. Hogwarts and your professors are your sunlight and water, but Hufflepuff, and your Housemates, will be your good soil. Each of you will grow and blossom into something unique, for every plant is special and has its own set of strengths. Yes?”
One of the boys was half-raising his hand, even as he hid behind his Housemates. “What about dandelions? They're Muggle weeds, and no one wants them around; isn't that what Hufflepuffs are like?”
For a moment Professor Sprout was tempted to ask where the boy heard such nonsense, but she immediately dismissed the notion. Snapping something like that might work for Minerva, with her Gryffindors, but was far from the Hufflepuff way. “Even dandelions have their strengths and beauty. No matter what the Muggles do to rid themselves of them, the dandelions keep growing back. They are tenacious, and though they may look plain I challenge any one of you to make a close and deep study of a dandelion and still tell me it is not beautiful. Dandelions also have several magical properties, and can be used in many potions - you shall learn about all of that in your time here at Hogwarts.”
The Hufflepuffs were relaxing, some daring to smile. Professor Sprout smiled as well. “Now, my dear Hufflepuffs, we will begin the task of helping our plants to grow. As a seed, the plant is sheltered, hidden within itself. The first step is to coax the plant from its shell, to let it know that it is safe to come out, to begin growing. Everyone take a cloth from that bucket by the seeds.”
“It's wet, Professor.”
“Moisture is the first thing that tells a seed it is safe. Wrap your seeds in the cloths. You may bring them back to your dormitories with you; they need to be kept moist between now and the next lesson, and your plants will begin to grow. Those with any troubles or questions are more than welcome to see me - are there any at the moment?”
Shaking heads answered her.
“Very well. Since it will take patience to discover the wealth inside these particular seeds, allow me to show you the wealth of plants already in blossom.”
The rest of the lesson was a tour of Greenhouse One's thriving specimens. Professor Sprout made sure to point out the particularly rare specimens sent to her from Hufflepuffs who had graduated Hogwarts and were now well-placed in the world. She told the still-nervous faces tales of how each of these students came to Hufflepuff frightened and unsure, and how each fumbled through classes and had difficulties, but managed to thrive despite all that. Just before dismissing her class, she showed them a bonsai tree - bound and butchered to keep it from reaching its growth, shrunken and twisted - but beautiful because of its wounds, and because of what it had endured.
“Remember, in Hufflepuff we endure, and we blossom, and that is the wealth of our House. Class dismissed.”
As the students returned to the castle, they were laughing and chatting, peeking at each other's seeds. Pomona beamed at her newest crop, and wondered what the seventh year harvest would bring.
Claim: Hogwarts' Professors
Prompt: 202. Wealthy
Rating: probably G
Summary: The first year Hufflepuffs receive their first lesson in Herbology
Word count: 836
Pomona Sprout smiled at the first-year Hufflepuffs, all standing awkwardly in her greenhouse waiting for their first instruction in Herbology.
“Every one of you, take a seed from the box on the table there. Go on, there's nothing that bites.”
Hesitantly, the first couple students came forward and selected seeds; when they emerged unscathed, the rest of her newest House members did the same. “Excellent, excellent. Now, I want everyone to take a good long look at the seed in your hand.”
She waited, observing how they looked at the seeds - some merely glanced at them, fidgeting. Others studied the seeds intently. Still others looked at their classmates to see what they were doing, and followed those around them. After they had had several moments to examine the seeds, Professor Sprout cleared her throat, preparing them to listen once again. “Now, I know what many of you are thinking. These seeds are plain, dull, boring. They all look the same. There is nothing remarkable about any one of them.”
Several of the students laughed uncomfortably; not meeting their Head's eyes.
“You'd be right. That's what they look like. And I'll tell you something else, a Hufflepuff secret . . .” she waited until they were all listening, huddling close, wanting to hear their House's secret, “. . . to most of the other Houses, that's what you look like now, too.”
She waited a moment to let that sink in; the discomfort with the statement was practically tangible. Then she continued, “There are worse things to be besides seeds. With good soil, nutrients, water, sunlight, seeds become miracles. And that, my dear Hufflepuffs, is what you are; seeds waiting to become miracles.”
This perked them up, made them take more interest.
“You are in a wealthy environment for that now, here in Hogwarts, and in Hufflepuff especially. Hogwarts and your professors are your sunlight and water, but Hufflepuff, and your Housemates, will be your good soil. Each of you will grow and blossom into something unique, for every plant is special and has its own set of strengths. Yes?”
One of the boys was half-raising his hand, even as he hid behind his Housemates. “What about dandelions? They're Muggle weeds, and no one wants them around; isn't that what Hufflepuffs are like?”
For a moment Professor Sprout was tempted to ask where the boy heard such nonsense, but she immediately dismissed the notion. Snapping something like that might work for Minerva, with her Gryffindors, but was far from the Hufflepuff way. “Even dandelions have their strengths and beauty. No matter what the Muggles do to rid themselves of them, the dandelions keep growing back. They are tenacious, and though they may look plain I challenge any one of you to make a close and deep study of a dandelion and still tell me it is not beautiful. Dandelions also have several magical properties, and can be used in many potions - you shall learn about all of that in your time here at Hogwarts.”
The Hufflepuffs were relaxing, some daring to smile. Professor Sprout smiled as well. “Now, my dear Hufflepuffs, we will begin the task of helping our plants to grow. As a seed, the plant is sheltered, hidden within itself. The first step is to coax the plant from its shell, to let it know that it is safe to come out, to begin growing. Everyone take a cloth from that bucket by the seeds.”
“It's wet, Professor.”
“Moisture is the first thing that tells a seed it is safe. Wrap your seeds in the cloths. You may bring them back to your dormitories with you; they need to be kept moist between now and the next lesson, and your plants will begin to grow. Those with any troubles or questions are more than welcome to see me - are there any at the moment?”
Shaking heads answered her.
“Very well. Since it will take patience to discover the wealth inside these particular seeds, allow me to show you the wealth of plants already in blossom.”
The rest of the lesson was a tour of Greenhouse One's thriving specimens. Professor Sprout made sure to point out the particularly rare specimens sent to her from Hufflepuffs who had graduated Hogwarts and were now well-placed in the world. She told the still-nervous faces tales of how each of these students came to Hufflepuff frightened and unsure, and how each fumbled through classes and had difficulties, but managed to thrive despite all that. Just before dismissing her class, she showed them a bonsai tree - bound and butchered to keep it from reaching its growth, shrunken and twisted - but beautiful because of its wounds, and because of what it had endured.
“Remember, in Hufflepuff we endure, and we blossom, and that is the wealth of our House. Class dismissed.”
As the students returned to the castle, they were laughing and chatting, peeking at each other's seeds. Pomona beamed at her newest crop, and wondered what the seventh year harvest would bring.