Chloris O'Hara
Teacher
Herbology Teacher, Head of Cliodne
Blessings of the Day to you.
Posts: 34
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Post by Chloris O'Hara on Jan 9, 2007 20:52:52 GMT -5
3:00pm - 5:00pm Tuesday, August 5th
Why and how Professor O'Hara actually came to own and care for a Snargaluff patch was well beyond the rational thinking of any other soul on the face of the earth, to be sure. Yet, there it was. A nice, small, and tidy section of Greenhouse Three that was nonetheless large enough to accommodate the Junior class... and have the added room for the scrambling that would no doubt occur throughout the class period.
This patch was actually quite alluding in its appearances. Simply a large rectangle of well fertilized and rich soil of which a dozen or so gnarled and rather dull looking stumps were rooted in. Any one who might not know better would wonder as to why such good soil was going to such a waste on unsuspecting and rather dead mounds of wood. Ah, the ignorance of the uneducated.
But indeed, they did seem rather harmless, especially as the Professor herself was seated on the largest of the stumps present and even had half a mind to reach to the side and give it a gentle pat. If anything, it gave a gleeful shiver in return, producing a chuckle from the Herbologist.
She did make a point of recommending that no one join her as they came through the door, however.
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Bridget Sansotta
Ptolemy Student
Junior, Hall Monitor, JV Chaser
Malum quidem nullum esse sine aliquo bono
Posts: 123
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Post by Bridget Sansotta on Jan 9, 2007 21:05:10 GMT -5
Bridget hurried into the greenhouse, not particularly excited about the most often filthy subject. But she had to be there, and be among the best, or she'd feel she failed herself, her house, and her parents. On sight of the things they were studying, however, Bridget almost turned around and walked right out the door.
"Snargaluffs, Ms O'Hara?" Bridget asked nervously, reluctant to come much closer than the door. "How, um, interesting."
Sure they seemed harmless, but Bridget had read about them and new that they were not only somewhat dangerous (and only somewhat), but what they were probably going to ave to do with them was disgusting. Nevertheless, Bridget came closer to have a better look.
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Zeek Lafayette
Agrippa
Junior, Hall Monitor
"It is better to be alone than in ill company."
Posts: 130
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Post by Zeek Lafayette on Jan 10, 2007 2:11:19 GMT -5
Stepping into the greenhouse quite quietly (mainly since he didn't often speak for the most part if he could help it) behind Bridget, it was in time to hear something about Snargaluff's. As it looked at the back of the girl strangely, his gaze soon trailed over the patch that occupied the greenhouse itself, seeing the professor most comfortably seated on one of the things herself.
It was a surprise, of course, though he shook his head mentally, moving up closer and next to Bridget. "Is someone like yourself afraid of plants like that, Sansotta?" He didn't look down at her as he spoke, but instead walked on past her a moment after speaking, walking over to set his back off to the side where room was left for students to leave their things. When he'd done that, he stepped back over to the edge of the patch, crouching down to get a closer look, though being sure he was at a secure distance in the case that he may lose his balance.
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Dakota Ludwig
Merlin Student
Junior, JV Seeker
I'd rather waste some time with you
Posts: 215
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Post by Dakota Ludwig on Jan 10, 2007 17:06:41 GMT -5
Sitting on a bench in the gardens, Dakota lost track of time. If it weren't for Bridget and Zeek walking in, she probably would have stayed there through most of the duration of class. Standing up, she brushed of her skirt and made her way to the greenhouse. Stepping in the classroom, she nodded to the two people that were in the room, and gave a small smile to the professor. She didn't feel like having any small talk with the teacher, and because of that she took a seat farthest away from her. She actually didn't look as upset as she usually did when she was in classes.
Looking around the room her eye caught sight of mounds of wood. She didn't bother to ask what they were simply because she didn't care. Also, she would probably have to listen to a long boring lecture on them, so why get a small one now? She crossed her legs, and continued to look around the room for possibly more exciting looking things. She couldn't find any, but what do you it expect? It was a Herbology classroom.
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Bridget Sansotta
Ptolemy Student
Junior, Hall Monitor, JV Chaser
Malum quidem nullum esse sine aliquo bono
Posts: 123
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Post by Bridget Sansotta on Jan 10, 2007 22:30:23 GMT -5
Bridget cast one last wary look over the Snargaluffs before glancing at Zeek. He probably didn't even know what they were. "I'm not afraid," she said reproachfully. "They're just... gross."
She stepped back a little and saw Dakota had just entered. Bridget gave her a little wave, mainly because she was the only one who had arrived so far that she had any interest in speaking to whatsoever. But she preffered to stay close to the teacher, no matter where she might be sitting.
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Braxton Ward
Merlin Student
Junior, Hall Monitor, JV Chaser
Does anybody here know how to chop block?
Posts: 231
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Post by Braxton Ward on Jan 12, 2007 14:19:54 GMT -5
There were people known to have ‘green thumbs’. The only time Braxton Ward had ever had a green thumb was when he’d gotten chlorophyll smeared all over it from crushing leaves or pulling weeds. Years ago, at his coven, he’d been working with a mandrake without knowing precisely what it was. It had been a professor’s idea of a joke. When he pulled the plant from the pot and saw the hideous, screaming, plant-equivalent of an acid flashback, Ward had laid the thing on the workbench, then taken the pot, and bludgeoned it into a thin, silent paste. For reactions like that, he was no longer allowed in Magizoology.
Throughout the years he had collected a whole greenhouse suit: the gloves, a full leather apron, earmuffs, a facemask, and pair of goggles, all stuffed in a second bag. Whenever he donned the whole thing, it looked like the man who came to clean up the asbestos.
Ward sat down next to Dakota and began putting on his apron. “Hey, Lou. You think we lucked out and all we have to do is dig up tree stumps? Like in Shane?” The nickname was new.
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Emma Vale
Agrippa
Junior, Hall Monitor
Posts: 251
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Post by Emma Vale on Jan 17, 2007 16:10:51 GMT -5
Surprisingly, Emma was looking forward to the class. She enjoyed being able to dig her hands into the soil, to help create life and watch it flourish in the weeks to come. It didn't hurt that Professor O'Hara was one of her closest friends among the staff. The woman was like a magic fairy-godmother, even though they did have their disagreements from time to time.
Walking as near to the patch as she dared, Emma gave the Professor a huge welcoming grin. "Good to see you, Professor," Emma greeted her, ignoring her classmates' disdain for their class that day. O'Hara's classes were always intersting, even despite the sometimes downward turn the subjects took. She wouldn't ever forget having her hand nearly snatched off by a fanged geranium. Taking a spot near Bridget and Zeek, Emma tried to figure out how the stumps had to do with their class.
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Zeek Lafayette
Agrippa
Junior, Hall Monitor
"It is better to be alone than in ill company."
Posts: 130
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Post by Zeek Lafayette on Jan 19, 2007 17:52:17 GMT -5
"I'm not afraid. They're just... gross."
Shrugging at the negative statement, Zeek watched from the corner of his eye as Sansotta silently excused herself from his presence. It was no loss to him of course, but rather relieving. Seeing the normal event carry out as the females congregated, and soon joined by Ward.
As another sound reached his ears, he turned his focus to the entry way to the greenhouse, his face fairly expressionless even now. As he found that the person who was joining them was Vale, he couldn’t help but feel relief deep down. She was one of the only fellow students that Zeek found that he respected and her face was much more pleasant to see than say, Ferris’.
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Sean Ferris
Cliodne Student
Junior, JV Chaser, Varsity
Smile and Love It.
Posts: 106
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Post by Sean Ferris on Jan 24, 2007 21:12:45 GMT -5
Sean strolled through the absolutely gorgeous gardens of Salem's slowly, enjoying the view. He may have been a jock. A military boy. Maybe even a mans man, if he did say so himself. But he really enjoyed a beautiful garden. His mother made sure of that.
Arriving at his second favorite class, Magizoology being his favorite, Sean gave the teacher a hundred watt grin and a friendly wave before looking over who was present. His face fell slightly when he saw Zeek and Emma sitting near to each other. Zeek seemed to be looking at Emma out of the corner of his eye, and Sean felt something tighten inside of him. Zeek may have seemed emotionless, but his eyes stayed on Emma far to long. Sean went up to her and reached down to give her a hug from behind. They were friends,. and the hug was just between friends. At least, that was what he wanted her to think. But he gave Zeke a short look that said very clearly "Mine."
Looking down at Vale, he grinned. "Hey you! Having a good day then?"
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Emma Vale
Agrippa
Junior, Hall Monitor
Posts: 251
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Post by Emma Vale on Jan 24, 2007 23:23:48 GMT -5
It was odd seeing Bridget back up a bit as Emma joined the two, and although Emma knew there was no great kinship between them, it still seemed a bit strange. Looking back, Emma smiled to see Braxton beginning to put on his garden garb. There were few things that made her smile on a continual basis, but Braxton's get-up had never ceased to amuse her. She was about to say something to Zeek, opening her mouth just as two arms circle around her. Looking up, Emma smiled to see Sean standing over her. "My, aren't you excited," she commented, curious at the sudden burst of affection.
"Hey you! Having a good day then?"
Laughing at his enthusiasm, Emma nodded, her grin stretching wider by the second. "I am now," she replied, looking past him to glance at Ward again. "Sometimes I think that's the only reason I take this class," she added, knowing how often she had laughed with Sean over Braxton's get-up. Although part of her felt awful for using him for her amusement, the other half just envisioned him in full garden wear and simply collapsed in laughter. While she had a pair of gloves and an apron in her own bag, Emma knew it wasn't much compared to Ward. And to think that she first wondered if perhaps all that equipment was necessary!
"How has your day been?" she asked in return, knowing it was only polite. Besides, she was a bit curious as to what had put him in such an affectionate mood. Rarely did he greet her in such a manner, she was certain he had won the lottery or something, or else had finally scored with a Senior.
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Zeek Lafayette
Agrippa
Junior, Hall Monitor
"It is better to be alone than in ill company."
Posts: 130
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Post by Zeek Lafayette on Jan 25, 2007 20:43:39 GMT -5
Just as the boy's face was erased from his mind, Zeek only went on to see Ferris come up behind Vale and grab ahold of her. Oh he had guts, that boy, to put those dirty arms around someone like Vale. And the look he was giving Zeek, what was that all about? Well whatever it was, it was making the fist on his other side tighten when out of their view.
"Hey you! Having a good day then?" ~ "I am now. Sometimes I think that's the only reason I take this class."
Watching the two, he soon glanced over at Ward as Vale noted his get-up to Ferris. He respected Ward, sure, though the guy made such a feeling too tempting to question when they were in classes that didn't involve talk of muggles, sports or broomsticks. At hearing Vale speak again, he peered back over, that odd tinge of annoyance he couldn't say he was used to, getting the better of him. "How has your day been?"
Looking away as to not appear to be eavesdropping, not that anything Ferris had to say could be all that important, Zeek got his hands on his knees and hoisted himself back up from his spot near the stumps. Giving Vale a nod to excuse himself, he walked around them, pocketing his hands as he headed toward the group of other students. Stopping not too far from them, he looked at the teacher briefly, wondering if they had to wait for many more people before the class would begin. That, at least, was a more pleasant thing to think about than the petty jealousy boiling within.
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Post by Victoria Leto on Jan 28, 2007 11:00:00 GMT -5
Kicking the grass as she walked through the grounds, Tori made her way to the Herbology classroom. This was, yet another, class that she found had no importance. Even though she thought that, she still walked cheerfully past other people who were on the grounds. She pushed her hair behind her ear before she walked into the classroom. She looked around when she stepped in, quickly nodding to the professor. She smiled at everyone else, then proceeded to take a seat in the middle of the room. Something rather ugly caught her eye, and when she looked closely she saw it was stumps. She couldn't possibly think of something exciting to do with them which meant that this lesson was going to rather boring. Sighing, she took her eyes away from the stumps, and focused them on her bag. Taking a notebook out of her bag, she opened it up then started on some homework. It was her usual routine for most of her classes.
Tori looked up for a moment to see if the teacher started talking yet. Sometimes she was so busy doing her homework, any other noise was blocked out of her head. She put her head back down when she saw that the teacher wasn't talking. After a few minutes her essay was done. If it was well written or not it didn't matter. All that mattered was it was done. She replaced the notebook back in her bag, and leaned back on her chair. She covered her mouth as a small yawn came out. Sighing again she waited for the lesson about ever-so-exciting stumps.
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Sean Ferris
Cliodne Student
Junior, JV Chaser, Varsity
Smile and Love It.
Posts: 106
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Post by Sean Ferris on Jan 30, 2007 2:25:26 GMT -5
"I am now, Sometimes I think that's the only reason I take this class,"
Sean chuckled and let her go, sinking down next to her. His eyes tore themselves from the increasingly more irritated Zeek to look over at Braxton. Like every class the year before, Sean nearly choked on his own coughing and laughing fit. Braxton may have looked fearsome on the quidditch court, but he looked like a fool when he was dressed up for gardening.
"How has your day been?"
Looking back toward Emma, Sean fought a smirk when he saw Zeek push himself to his feet. Apparently he was giving up and letting Sean win. Not that Sean would have had it any other way. Turning back to Emma, he shrugged, "Never been better...."
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Emma Vale
Agrippa
Junior, Hall Monitor
Posts: 251
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Post by Emma Vale on Jan 30, 2007 16:36:43 GMT -5
Turning back to look at Zeek, she was surprised to see such a look on his face. Emma wasn't quite sure what it was, but a small frown creased her lips as he excused himself. She nodded back, but Emma still didn't see why he left. Was her presence that tiresome? It seemed he had only been looking for an excuse to move somewhere else, and Sean had just too perfect timing for him then.
"Never been better...."
"That's nice," she replied distractedly, watching Zeek walk over to the other group. Perhaps she had offended him with her comment on Braxton. With that in mind, Emma swore never to poke fun at him again, even though the incident was quite a rarity for her. She had a history with Braxton, and while Emma hated to hear others pick on him during class, she felt alright doing so. After all, her comments weren't mean but rather out of familiarity with him. Then again, she had interrupted his earlier chat with Bridget, and although she didn't even want to give it a shadow of truth, Emma knew that could also have been a reason for Zeek's departure.
"Any guess at what the stumps are?" Emma asked, eager to get her mind off of Zeek. While she was friends with Sean, she hardly doubted he would be sympathetic to her emotional plight. Even though Emma could rightly claim to being forced to listen to many of Sean's exploits, she knew he wouldn't want to hear about Zeek. Besides, if anything, Emma still had to cultivate this encounter of Sean and Elaina. She had heard an earful of the eventful night, and now that Sean had a girl who might be able to rehabilitate him, Emma wasn't about to let it go.
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Chloris O'Hara
Teacher
Herbology Teacher, Head of Cliodne
Blessings of the Day to you.
Posts: 34
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Post by Chloris O'Hara on Jan 31, 2007 19:32:31 GMT -5
As the students filed into the classroom, O'Hara simply gave them small tight lipped smiles in return to their greetings. Bridget, a bright young lass -- perhaps brighter than she should be -- spoiled her fun from the beginning at guessing today's subject matter. Luckily, however, she had been among the first in the room and Chloris had quickly shushed her. The only student that seemed to get anything more than a bob of the head or a quick "good afternoon, dear", was Emma Vale -- whom received a wink. No secret there that the girl was a marked favorite, and while she had suffered sore thumbs like the rest of the students over the years, it was noticeable that Vale coincidently had them much less than the rest of them. Purely coincidence. Of course. Of course. It was not like Chloris could actually communicate with the plants? Or could she? Sometimes one wondered.
Twiddling her thumbs together, the Professor's foot bounced to its own tune as some of the stragglers entered the Greenhouse. Most had a look of disdain or caution on their face -- very good. But one particular Agrippa student saw fit to do homework for another class. That received a reproachful look if there ever was one. Well, now.
"Any guess at what the stumps are?"
"Excellent question, Emma." The Herbologist finally piped up cheerfully. She shifted slightly on the stump, which took the liberty to shift with her. "Does anyone know the answer? -- No, no, Bridget, don't worry about speaking up, I already know you know. Any one else? -- Oh, and Victoria, dear, that is detention. Don't do homework on my time."
Most seemed to have mistaken the clumps of wood stuck in the ground for just that. Oh, very good. This was going to be all the more exciting. How many would loose fingers, she wondered?
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Braxton Ward
Merlin Student
Junior, Hall Monitor, JV Chaser
Does anybody here know how to chop block?
Posts: 231
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Post by Braxton Ward on Feb 7, 2007 20:08:03 GMT -5
There acoustics of the room made the silence worse, as the glass walls and ceiling carried every little tap, every little scrape to every student’s ears. The effect highlighted the lack of voices. O’Hara was not a professor he envied answering, but answers were called for. Braxton had finished equipping himself with his herbology-suit, looking a cross between a butcher and a steel welder, with thick gloves that made opening his book awkward. He raised his hand.
“Well, they’re... umm... they’ve got no leaves, nothing green so there’s no chlorophyll. So they’re either magic or dead. They might be funguses, like mushrooms... but they don’t look like mushrooms. They look pretty big, pretty solid. I guess there might be little mushrooms on them, if they’re dead I guess. No, I guess they’re probably magical. And if they don’t have any leaves they probably... I don’t know, get their energy from... magic? Or eating things. Yeah, something this big, probably a big carnivorous plant.” After coming to his answer out loud, Braxton opened his book to the small section that was specifically for rare man-eating plants. Given the narrow field he quickly found the entry with matching pictures, and mispronounced the name.
“Yeah, here. Snuffaluffagus.”
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