Alfie walked into the Herbology class and said, "well another set of first years, I hope they enjoy the class as much as my last group."

Alfie turned to the board to write what they would be learning for the whole semester.

Rules:

1. No talking while the teacher is speaking.
2. you may ask all the questions you like just please make sure it is about this class.
3. All homework is to be done on time, if your work is late I will deduct 10%.
4. If you do not do your homework at all you will be given detention.
5. All student must RP at least once during each class.

--------------------- What we will learn this term----------------

The first thing we will do is get a basic understanding of what an herb is. Herbs can be anything that grows, it can be poisonous or etible. All plants are magical be it a tree, shrub flower, friut, nut, or veggie.

All plants should be handled with care for some of the plants can hurt the bare skin and some that produce friut have leaves that can not be eaten, and some plants can not be eaten after they produce their friut for the friut is poisonous.

Just to name one plant the Poke plant has poisonous friut but the leaves you can eat if prepared correctly, It grows in America and I have heard that it can grow anywhere there it has reasonablily warm tempatures, infact we have some here in one of the green houses.

We will study 12 herbs for the semester and if there are any questions about other herbs we will lightly touch on those if our other work is done.

All the information you will need on the plants we will be studing will be found in the Herbology book in the Library and I will give the rest of the information in class.

Each of the herbs we will be studing will need to be planted or transplanted and cared for, in this way you will know how to work with these plants if you can't find or buy the plants. It is also good to know how to care for the plants for they work best if you grow them yourself.

The plants will be from 4 groups so as to give you a chance to see the differents uses, but many plants can cross over to another area.

In the first class we will cover: Garlic, Weeping Willow, Fenugreek.

The second lesson will cover: Cinnamon, Loveage and Lotus.

Third plant lesson will cover: Wormwood, Mahogany and Witch Hazel.

The last lesson will cover: Snap-Dragon, Wolf's Bane, and Brain Thief.

Names of Herbs to be studied throughout this class:
Brain thief, Wolf's bane, Garlic, Weeping willow, Cinnamon, Loveage, Wormwood, Mahogany, Fenugreek, Lotus, Snap-Dragons and Witch Hazel.

Looking at all Alfie had written on the board she desided to wait and see what the class might ask, which was always a good way to get the class talking and get to know each other.

Alfie stepped out of the room to get some of the plants that would be worked with in the first lesson.

Scarlett slipped into class overflowing with excitement. She took a seat in the middle of the classroom. She had followed Alfie down from their dorm room and stood outside the classroom, while Alfie was writing on the board, waiting to come it. Scarlett had the feeling Alfie might be a little annoyed with her, but Scarlett was too excited to care. She had her own reason to be studying this subject very hard. Plants seemed to be cropping (like that pun) up all over her life and she need to learn more about them.

Alfie came back into the class room with one of each plant they where going to study this class.

Placeing the Garlic on the right side of the room then the Weeping willow seedling on the left, Alfie look up to see if anyone had arrived yet. Seeing Scarlett, Alfie said with a smile, "Well you sure are in a hurry to go started."

The fenugreek plant Alfie placed on the table in front of her desk.

"I sure hope that the rest of the students show up soon."

Alfie had hoped that she would have found more of the students in the class when she returned so that the fun could begin. Last time the kids had been so excited they had been chatting with each other as Alfie waited for them all to get inside.

Alfie then went to the door to see if any more students where in root, as Alfie did this she looked back at Scarlett, "so what are your favorite plants?"

Alfie knew she would have to start the class on time and that gave them 5 minutes to make small talk until then.

Ankaa peeped in through the class window and saw Scarlett in there talking to Alfie. She was glad she wasn't the first there, nor did she want to be late.

She opened the door and entered the class.

"Hi Scarlett, hi Alfie. Oh sorry, do I call you Alfie when you're teaching? I guess I'll have to be more professional."

She sat down at the next desk to Scarlett and started reading all the information on the board.

"My favorite kinds of plants are the ones that have flowers on them. And my favorite flowers are roses." Of corse Scarlett was disposed to like beautiful things. And to her mind a scarlet rose was the most beautiful thing nature had to offer.
Scarlett turned as Ankaa enter the room and smiled at her friend. Truth be told though Scarlett was very excited about learning Herbology, she had been uncomfortable being the first person to class. It reminded her of her less than acedemic tendencies as well as making fun of kids how were more inclined to learn than she was herself, at her old school. "Hey Ankaa!" Scarlett said releif evident in her voice.

Melie ran up to the door of the herbology class room hoping that she wasn't too late, she mortified that she was even late at all! Melie silently opened up the class room door and slipped in hoping that it wouldn't be noticed that she was late, but seeing as only Scarlett and Ankaa were the only students there, she knew that wasn't going to happen.

Alfie looked at Ankaa as she entered the room. "Hi, Ankaa. You can call me by my name as long as it doesn't make it where you think you can get out of the work for this class."

All of the sudden Melie entered the class and it looked like she was going to try and slip in until she saw that she wasn't late. "Hi, Melie good to see you made it."

It looked as if Scarlett new Ankaa but Alfie didn't know if they knew Melie. "So do you all know each other?"

Alfie then turned back to Scarlett as Scarlett had just told Alfie her favorite plants. "I myself like plants the produce food the most. My next favorite are the ones that are used in cures. How about you Ankaa and Melie, what are you favotie plants?"

As Ankaa sat down she whispered to Scarlett "I'm so glad I wasn't the last one here, you know me, I'm late for everything!"

Then she heard Alfie talking to a new girl who'd just come in and introducing her.

"I know Scarlett, yeah, but hey Melie, no I don't think we've met before. I'm Ankaa."

Ankaa turned back to Alfie and after pondering for a few seconds she decided "I think my favourite plant is an alium, it's like a big purple pom-pom, but I don't know if it has any uses, it just looks pretty."

Scarlett whispered back to Ankaa, "I think she has been sick. She's a really nice girl and I am glad she didn't miss class altogether."

Then Scarlett raised her voice, "Where are my manners. I thought everyone knew everyone here. Ankaa this is my house mate Melie. Melie this is my friend Ankaa."

Melie let out a huge sigh of relief to see that she wasn't late.
"Hi Ankaa," Melie said with a smile. She looked at Scarlett with a grin, "Hi Scarlett I haven't seen you in forever!"
Turning to the professor she automatically answered her question without hesitation.
"Thyme, tarragon and tulips!"

"Well maybe in the second year class we can cover some of those plants." It was nice to see that they all had different likes that way there would be more to talk about.

"So do any of the ways to use your favorite herbs?"

Alfie knew how a lot of students would come in late. The first years never know how a teacher would be so they would try to be the last or got so nerves that they would have a hard time finding thier classes. She also knew that by giving them something to do while they waited to see if anyone else was going to come they would later tell how much fun they had in Alfie's class.

"I know that roses are used in a lot of perfumes, and they can be seeped in a mixture that makes skin soft, also candied rose petals can be mighty tasty. My Mamma used to make rose hip tea for some of the ladies that would come to our back door, but I don't know what it was for." Scarlett answered the question in her husky drawling voice. Just talking about roses conjured her mother's extensive garden of prize rose bushes. She sighed with happiness.

Sil walked into the Herbology classroom, glad he'd finally found it, and sat down towards the back of the room. He was a bit dissapointed to see that he was the only Hufflepuff in the room, though not really surprised. Then, too, he was starting to worry less and less about what color someone's robe was; all the houses seemed to get along pretty well. He was glad of that. It hadn't been so in all the stories his brother Faustus told about his own Hogwarts days.

There was at least one familiar face--Scarlett, whom he'd met on the Hogwarts Express, and who had just mentioned rose hip tea.

"Rose hip tea?" sil echoed. "Did they have colds? It's high in vitamin E, iron, potassium, and one cup has more vitamin C than an entire orange." Another thought occured to him. "Of course, it's also supposed to be good for a hangover," he said jokingly. "What kind of parties was your mother throwing?"

Scarlett smiled at Sil when she saw him enter the classroom. "My Mamma threw the most wonderful parties where all the women came in dresses the a looked spun from sugar and all glittery." Scarlett's voice took on a far away quality as she described it. First the roses, now the parties, Scarlett was having a particularly nostalgic day. "The people would drink champange and dance until dawn, in the ballroom when it was cold, but usually out in the garden. When I was little I would watch from my window, but I did get to go to one once. It was the best night of my life." The last word came out as almost a whisper and Scarlett snapped awake as if from a dream. "Oh, how I do run on," Scarlett chided herself. "Forgive me for not introducin' ya to my friends Sil. This is Ankaa," Scarlett gestured to a girl with the most delightful purple hair in Slytherin robes. "And this is Melie," Scarlett indicated the other girl with brownish blond hair, "She's a housemate of mine. Girls this is Sil, he runs the new apothecary in town."

"Hey Sil, how are you? I need to pop by the apothecary soon and get some bits, so I'll hopefully see you there! So is this your first lesson? I'm a 2nd year and have so far avoided classes but they've eventually caught up with me, so I'm forced to attend now, not that I mind this one - at least it promises to be interesting and Alfie's always very nice."

She stopped talking with a blush, suddenly aware that she had been rambling on too. She turned to Scarlett and shrugged her shoulders. Was there something in the air that was making them all talk so much?

A hufflepuff came into the class that Melie didn't know and Scarlett introduced everyone.
"Hi Sil," she said with a shy smile, meeting new people was a little nerve wracking for her, but Melie got over it pretty quickly. She didn't say anything else, just sitting there hoping that the first class was going to start soon as she was anxious to get started.
"I wish that everyone would show up soon," She whispered to Scarlett. "I want to start!"

"We might be it," said Scarlett. "We are the only ones signed up, but I have seen a lot of new first years running around that I don't recognize so there could be some straglers. I know how you feel though Melie, I just want to start. I have never felt this way about a class before. I hated muggle school."

"What was muggle school like?" Melie asked. She had never been to anything muggle really, even though her mum was a muggle, they pretty much stayed within the wizarding world, only periodically spending time around muggles. Truthfully she never went to any school before coming to Hogwarts, her mum taught her brother and her sister at home.

"Okay everyone we can not wait all day for the rest of the class, I guess if they show up they will be marked late."

Alfie pointed to the left then the right and finialy in front of her, each area had a different set of plants, "see these plants they are Garlic, Weeping Willow, Fenugreek. These will be the plants we study today."

Alfie then walked over to the garlic plants, "can anyone tell me anything about this plant? like its name, it's use, anything at all?"

Melie knew the answer and without raising her hand automatically answered.
"Garlic is used to cooking, protection, and healing." After answering she realised she didn't raise her hand and hoped that gryffindor wouldn't lose any points because of it.

Scarlett had been about to answer Melie's question with popularity contest, but Alfie had begun teaching the class. In her old life at her old school Scarlett might have continued her conversation whether the teacher had started class or not, but Scarlett had entirely too much respect for Alfie, and even for the subject, though she knew little about it, to interrupt. Scarlett faced Alfie and gave her, her full attention. The first question was asked and Melie answered it, very thouroughly, in Scarlett's opinion, for she would have only said cooking. Scarlett tured to give Melie a smile of encouragement. She could tell Melie would earn Gryffindor points.

ALfie gave a frown when Melie answererd without raising her hand so Alfie desided to give her a chance to make up for it. "Well Ms. Melie I will not give you any punishment for not raising your hand if you can tell me how would you use garlic to keep someone healthy?"

Alfie knew that if Melie had checked in the library she would know and then Alfie could just give her a talking to other wise Alfie would have to deside what kindof punishment she would give Melie.

As Herbology was Sil's first class, he was glad to see a few familiar faces. He grew a little less nervous when Ankaa said Professor Alfie was nice. He nodded at the student he didn't know when introduced, but before he could say anything, class had begun.

When Professor Alfie started by asking about garlic's uses, Sil grinned. Being Italian, his first thought was of smoked Alfredo sauce, but he doubted that was what Alfie was asking for. Though he quite agreed with Melie's answer, he thought he might have more to add and so raised his hand.

Oh I know that one, thought Scarlett, as she heard Alfie's follow up question. She had seen garlic pills in her father's medicine cabinet at home and Scarlett knew he had taken them for his heart. She wished Melie was a mind reader, but the Scarlett thought, she probably already knows the answer, I guess that is better than being a mind reader.

Alfie noticed that Sil had his hand up but Alfie was giving Melie time to answer the question.

"Mr. Sil while we wait to hear what Ms.Melie to answer the question I'll give you one. How would you use Garlic for protection?"

Alfie thought that she had asked a very easy question but at least she know that the class was truely listening.

Sil only had to think for a moment about Alfie's question.

"Garlic is used as a protective herb by wizarding folk and muggles alike, across many cultures back to ancient times. In Egypt and Europe, whole cloves or even entire wreaths are worn as an amulet for protection from evil--most notably vampires. In China, people smear it on their children's foreheads to protect them from the influence of evil spirits. In Romania, garlic is not only eaten, but smeared over doorways, windows, gates, even on the horns of cattle. Also… Well, some muggles believe it will keep witches away.
"It's also a cancer preventative, so I guess that's another form of protection."

Scarlett had known the bit about vampires and garlic, she'd seen it on Buffy, but all that other stuff Sil had spoken of was news to her. And to think she was going to raise her hand. No she should probably just stick to taking notes which she had been doing furiously and leave the answering to others. This was turning out to be a lot like more like muggle school than Scarlett had thought.

Sensing that Alfie wasn't too please with her answering without raising her hand Melie shyly answered
"It absorbs diseases," she said quietly. "It used to guard against the plague and hepatitis as well."

Alfie listened to Sil and nodded her head. "That is correct and the Hebrews rubbed it on thier arms and face to protect against getting burned while they worked out doors. I can see why yo run the apathocary shop."

Melie looked as if she was ready to answer Alfie's question about how is garlic used to keep people healthy, as Melie answered Alfie noticed that Melie at least know some of the answer. "Good job Ms. Melie, Does anyone else know of any other way to use garlis to keep people healthy?"

Looking around the room Alfie had desided that she would only call on Sil if there weren't any others to answer the question.

Scarlett took a deep breath and decided to put her hand in the air. She hoped that she wouldn't get laughted at for her answer and it was possible that it was irrelevant because this was wizard school, and her dad's pills had definatel been of muggle make, but she wanted to try. She wanted to be different from her old self.

Melie watched as Scarlett raised her hand slightly unsure of herself. Melie just slumped back in her seat and let out a low sigh, she had a feeling it was going to be a rough term. So far she just couldn't seem to be able to anything right, first the raising of the hand, then only partially answering a question, this was not good, not good at all.

Ankaa raised her hand slightly. She had an answer but wasn't sure if it was a very good one, but she decided the only way she was going to learn was to get things wrong sometimes.

"Alfie, I heard that some cultures used to worship garlic as a god. Is it true? i think I'd sooner find a less stinky deity myself!"

She put her hand down and did a quick scan of the room to see if anyone had collapsed into laughter.

Alfe looked at Scarlett and said, "yes Ms. Scarlett and what do you have to offer as an answer."

Alfie was sure that Scarlett might know having been in the muggle world of a good number of years.

Then Alfie heard Ankaa speeking and listened very carefully to what Ankaa had to say. " Well it looks like I have a lot of eager beavers in this class." Alfie started to laugh. "I guess I' just won't award any house points and let you all answer as you please."

Alfie didn't mind that but she know that the kids wanted their house to win and letting them deside if house points ould be awarded would make the class more their class for they would have a say in if they got the points or not.

"To answer your question Ankaa, I haven't heard that one but I do not know everything about herbs in the world and that is something that I would beleave muggles would do. I do know that the druids do or at least did worship trees though."

Alfie then turned back to Scarlett waiting to here what Scarlett had to say.

Alfie loved it when the students talked out that showed her that she had sparked thier minds.

"Well, um my dad used to take garlic pills for his heart, so I thought that garlic might be benifical to hearts." Scarlett could herself talking and knew it sounded kind of dumb, but she couldn't make it better.
And in reply to Alfie's question about the house points she said, "I think Sil should get the points for Hufflepuff. I didn't know half the stuff he mentioned."

Alfie heard Scarlett say the her dad used Garlic for his heart and Alfie smiled, "Yes garlic helps regulate the heart. I still don't know how it works but if your blood presure is to high or low it will help keep it regulated."

"To give house points it's the first person to be asked so I don't feel ir would be fare to just let people yell out the answers. I can just give house points to those that make the highest grades on homework for this class and then we can just have caos during class."

Alfie looked around the room. "I see we have three rolls of desk so those in the first roll take a Garlic plant and those in the middle tale a weeping willow and finally those in the last roll take the fenugreek."

Alfie watched as the class moved to get their plants. "we will be transplanting these plant into other pots or outside some where. These plants I will allow each of you to keep if you like, but only one plant. Part of you grade will come from how well you plant lives buy the end of the term."

Melie was impressed that the others knew so much about plants, truthfully, she didn't know a ton, but she did know a bit so Melie didn't think that she would have a hard time to get good marks in the class. She was amazed that muggles used garlic for heart problems, she didn't know that it was used for that, she just thought that muggles ate garlic like they ate everything else! Melie got up and moved to the front and grabbed the weeping willow that she was instructed to take. She stood waiting for the rest of the class to get their plants so that they could go out and plant them.

OoC: Sorry Alfie I must have misunderstood your previous post. I thought we were voting on who got points. I can edit it if you want.

BiC: Scarlett walked up to get her Weeping Willow with Melie. She leaned very close to the other girl to she could speak without dirrupting the class. "I am acctually pretty excited to get a Weeping Willow, since that is what my wand is made of. Good job on the answers by the way."

"Thanks!" Melie whispered back to Scarlett, "my wand is willow too! I like the properties that it posses, its very much me!" Melie smiled at the other girl as they headed towards the door, she wanted to get going on transplanting her willow.

Scarlett laughted softly, "Mine chose me and I wouldn't trade it for anything, but I haven't often been told I have a flexible personality. Stuborn as a mule, is about the nicest thing my daddy had to say about my aditude when I wanted something." Scarlett slightly blocked Melie's path. I am not entirely sure class is done. Let's wait for Alfie to dismiss us offically."

Alfie watched Melie and Scarlett as they seamed to head toword the door. "Ladies we are going to transplant these into the other pots that are behind my desk."

Alfie noticed that the two girls had pick weeping willow and that they where not sitting in the middle ally. Hoping that some of the other students woud pick the other plants she didn't say a word about it yet.

"While we are waiting for the rest of the class to get their plants could anyone tell me what can be done with Fenugreek?"

Ooc: That's okay just leave it like it is it makes it mor real, didn't you think?