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As the last of the students entered the greenhouse and sat down Ishane waved her wand, closing the greenhouse doors, and waited for the students to settle down. The students wer arranged, as they had been every Thursday for the past couple of weeks, in three rows of chairs in a loose semicircle around a large table. Today the table held five potted plants, each with a neatly written label on their pots of A through E[1].

Ishane cleared her throat to get their attention and smiled, "Since this is your last class before your finals and OWLs, we're going to be doing something different than the normal review we've been doing over the past month." Her voice turned sympethetic, "I'm sure this is a very stressful time, so to give you all a better idea of what to expect we're going to be holding a mock OWL today."

"During the OWL you will be assigned one to two plants and asked questions about them and then asked to perform certain tasks on the plants, such as harvesting or re-potting. You will be given all the necessary supplies to perform the requested tasks during the test, so you don't need to bring anything beyond your wands." Ish tilted her head towards the end of the table where rows of neatly laid out gardening tools waited.

She then gestured to the plants on the table in front of her, "These are just a small selection of plants that you have the potential to be tested on. And while you won't be expected to remember every single plant since first year, any that were introduced or used frequently in the past couple of years you should consider fair game."

Ishane clapped her hands together, "So if there are no further questions, let's get started." She moved B's pot forward, "Can anyone tell me what this plant's common and alternate names are and what it's used for?"

1.	A is a immature Bubotuber , B is Dittany, C is a Hestia's Lantern, D is a Bouncing Bulb, and E is a Peruvian Sunbell.

Vulpes lagged into the greenhouse, shuffling his feet as he walked. It felt weird to walk so much, but he wasn't in a very good mood. The last few weeks hadn't been very enjoyable for Vulpes, and the upcoming O.W.Ls had nothing to do with it. He sat in the far back of the semi circle, doing his best to avoid everyone else. He hated Herbology... well sort of. He hated how badly he did in it because of how easy being out in nice weather put him to sleep. But today was different.

He listened as Professor Blair told them what they would be doing today. A mock OWL didn't seem too bad. Vulpes thought he recognized three of the five plants she had up there. And to his luck, she held up one of them.

"Can anyone tell me what this plant's common and alternate names are and what it's used for?" She asked holding up plant B.

Vulpes slowly raised his hand. "That's... Dittany," He said sounding rather unhappy. He dropped his eyes and continued. "Other names are... Burning-bush, False Dittany, White Dittany..." Vulpes trailed off, not able to remember any more. He lifted his eyes up slightly, hoping to see the reaction of his classmates. He wanted some sign of approval, though he wasn't sure why. "Its leaves can heal lacerations when made into a paste, and the roots can be powdered to help resist poisons," he said quietly, voice shaking slightly.

Immediately after he finished he dropped his eyes back down to the floor. It was uncomfortable for him to be noticed. 'I shouldn't have said anything...' he thought bitterly.

Ishane waited a few moments to see if anyone else was going to speak up before nodding at Vulpes, "Correct Mister Connor, though you did miss a few things." She smiled at him before turning to the rest of the class, "Dittany is also known as the Gas-plant and as Fraxinella. In addition to healing wounds and resisting poison, as Mister Connor mentioned, it is also used to combat fevers, specifically of the malignant and pestilential kind. Also the oil it secretes is used for anti-inflammatory purposes and it is also an ingredient in the Wiggenwald potion."

She picked up the Dittany's pot and placed it back into the row and then picked up the plant labeled E and placed it in the center of the table moving the other plants to the side. "Next I'd like a different volunteer to demonstrate the proper technique on how you should harvest this plant."

As the end of May grew nearer and nearer, so did OWLs.  A fact which their professors seemed to think they needed constant reminders of.  And, perhaps in some cases, they did.  But, for him, the constant reminders were starting to add to the already abundant supply of stress.  Herbology, like most of their classes, had long since covered the last of the new material and had switched into review mode. 

Sasha kept his books closed and tucked securely in his bag.  If he had to look up the answers to the review questions now, it didn't bode well for the exams themselves.  Now was when he tested what he knew, identified the lingering holes and used the last few weeks to patch them. 

He mouthed the answer to the first question to himself even as Vulpes provided the answer.  That had been an easy one.  He nodded as the Slytherin finished and turned his attention to the next question.  A sunbell - a Peruvian sunbell to be more specific, recognizable by the yellow and red bell-shaped flowers.  Sasha raised his hand and when acknowledged, moved towards the workbench. 

"The root - rhizome," he corrected himself, "is best harvested after the flowers."  He carefully twisted the delicate flowers from their stems and set them on a small saucer next to the pots.  Using the small knife from his herbology toolkit, Sasha carefully ease the soil away from one edge of the plant and eased a small piece of the rhizome free.  He handed the small piece to the professor and sealed the exposed root with sealer before recovering it with fresh fertilizer.

Ishane took the piece of rhizome that Sasha handed her with a smile and placed it next to the flowers in the saucer. "Excellent Mister Schlagenweit. Perfectly done, five points to Ravenclaw." She nodded at him as he sat down, silently relived that his months long absence hadn't caused too much of a problem.

Everyone seemed to be doing well, which was making her job infinitely easier. Or at least they weren't coming to her about it. Ish hoped that wasn't the case. She picked up the Dittany's pot and placed it next to the Sunbell's. "Next, can someone new tell me what diseases and pests this," she placed her had on the Sunbell's pot, "and the Dittany is vulnerable to? And also how they can be treated or prevented?"

Simon saw the plant and knew what it was.  As soon as the Professor asked what pests Dittany is vulnerable to, his hand shot up.

"Dittany is most vulnerable to snails and slugs once spring sets in.  To prevent the pests from destroying the Dittany, one can spread slug/snail killer.  Checking the plant regularly allows you to make sure it's safe."

Ishane blinked at the quick answer. It was correct, but missing half of what she asked for. Ishane silently reflected on her previous question, trying to figure out if she wasn't clear or not. At this point I don't think it matters. Ishane cleared her throat as she placed the Dittany back in line. "That was correct Mister Chevalier, but you didn't completely answer my question." She addressed the rest of the class, "So can anyone answer the second half of the question? What pests and diseases the Peruvian Sunbell is vulnerable to, and how you treat them."

Peyton rubbed at his darkened eyes, his cool grey blues looking even more haunting than usual as they looked out from past purple circles. He had been losing sleep lately with all the stress about the upcoming OWLs. Peyton had never been very good when it came to studying, but he had been getting better and hopefully with a bit of luck he'd actually manage to get an OWL or two. Unfortunately at this moment it didn't look like he'd be getting it in Herbology, or at least not for this mock test.

He hunched his muscled shoulders over and rested his head on his desk. He was sitting in the second row and hoped the Professor wouldn't notice him. It seemed as if she was only taking volunteers at the moment, Peyton hoped he'd luck out and she wouldn't start calling on students. Professors tended to have a nasty habit of calling on students who didn't actually know the answers to their questions. Peyton was one of them. He knew he should know the answer, he actually wasn't half bad in Herbology but his brain was over worked and too much information was slipping out of his ears to try and snatch onto the piece that he currently needed.

Xavier sat in the front row, leaned back in his chair in a completely relaxed position with a smile on his face. Since Bombay had been fired Herbology had become much more entertaining. Professor Blair was no where near being in the same League as Dazmond when it came to hot chicks who dig plants but she was definitely better than Bombay and her voice was much easier to listen to.

He let the other students answer her questions. He had already identified the plants on the table long before he had even made it to his desk and had called up everything he could think of about each of them. He barely nodded along as the others answered. A small smirk had crossed his lips as Vulpes answered, knowing his fellow Slytherin had left a fair amount out of his description. He rolled his eyes as Sasha harvested the root of the sunbell perfectly and caught himself before he laughed when Simon jumped the gun only to answer half of the question Professor Blair had asked.

With a prideful smile across his lips Xavier raised his hand, "The Sunbell is susceptible to Black Root Rot an' Fire Scar Fungus. Both of which will completely destroy thee plants, there's not too much ye cin do bout it. Ye 'ave ta remove thee infected plant before it spreads an' cover thee whole harvest in fungicide. Even then," He shrugged, "If yer not watchin fer it, it can decimate thee whole thin before ye even start treatin it."

Ishane nodded in Xaiver's direction with a smile, "Correct Mister Tawse, 5 points to Slytherin."  She glanced out at the rest of the class, eyes glancing over the students who ranged from those who were listening intently, quills scribbling away furiously to students who were slumped over in their chairs, barely paying attention if at all. Silently she hoped that the ones who weren't paying attention were just well ahead and didn't need this practice test as apposed to the other option.

Her eyes temporarily zeroed in on Peyton Wentworth, who seemed to be trying to do his best to fade into the background. Athletic Peyton had been a surprise when she had first matched him up to the name that was on her role sheet. At first glance she would have pegged him for a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff, rather than a Ravenclaw. He just didn't seem to fit the mold of that house. Admittedly she had only been teaching for about a month and a half so maybe his Ravenclawish tendencies hadn't had a chance to reveal themselves yet. She knew several former Ravenclaws who didn't seem to fit at first glance; her husband certainly hadn't, neither had Ryan, nor Graham. Actually, now that she thought about it, most of the Ravenclaws she met didn't fit the house stereotype at all.

Pushing that thought aside before she could drift into further woolgathering, Ishane picked up the Sunbell and placed it back in its former spot. "Next," Ish picked up and placed the small Bouncing Bulb in the center of the table, "can anyone explain how you properly harvest this plant and then demonstrate it for the rest of the class?"

Liviana rather missed Professor Bombay; of course if she'd had her druthers it would be her sister Dazmond standing up there schooling them for O.W.L.'s; it worried her slightly that she hadn't had a chance to see Daz and wouldn't get one now until after the big test. While Livi was naturally bright (her mother and father often told her so) she had to strive to be excellent in Potions and Herbology. Where Dazmond had naturally been gifted with an innate understanding of how to best tend her pants and cauldron Liv really had to study. It was this reason that she felt a deep sense of sympathy for Vulpes rather than disgust when he sounded so unsure of himself. Of course he was perfectly right; he just needed to believe he was right.

She waited for some time after Professor Blair asked for another volunteer before raising her hand and gliding toward the table, harvesting was one thing - having to explain in a way that made sense to everyone else was another. Clearing her throat she turned her doe eyes on Blair for just a moment before setting to task, "Bouncing Bulbs are tricky because to even grow them the plant has to be restrained; when they're small just mesh netting over their pot or bed will work - but to actually harvest them; first you have to read a bowl of salt water solution," she reached for an empty bowl and measured the ingredients carefully before setting it aside, "Then you have give them a good stunner".

She paused again flicking her wrist with a solid sounding "Stupefy"!  Now  throughly engrossed now with the plant before her and didn't bother to look up for approval from the professor or her peers, "You have to work fairly quickly as you uproot the plant, slice off the roots as well as the greenery; then soak the actually stems in your salt water". Her movements were fluid as she made quick work of the roots, greenery, and gently placed the stem in the water, "After all that you lay the leaves out to dry on racks". It was only after she was fully satisfied that everything was soaking properly that she shifted her eyes up to the Professor and sort of bounced on the balls of her feet, hands clasp behind her back; waiting for a critique.

Figaro, like the other fifth years, was really feeling the heat of O.W.L.s boring down upon them.  It was their first real test as witches and wizards and Hogwarts staff had made no mistake about it.  This was big.  And Professor Reid had been no different, more or less forcing Figaro to study, even for the classes he felt doomed in, like Herbology.  He and Professor Bombay had not been friends, and even though Professor Blair seemed to like children infinitely more, the content wasn't any easier and Figaro was behind.

But seated centrally in the semi-circle around the plants, Figaro was trying hard to focus.  His arms were crossed over his chest, not in defiance, but in nail-biting intensity as he watched his cohorts respond to Profesor Blair's challenges.  Instead of fidgeting, Figaro was gnawing on his fingernail.  And he found, that as his classmates went about their tasks, or offered bits of information, Figaro either recognized the procedures, or even predicted a few responses.

All that horrible revision actually seemed to be paying off.  But the other students were too quick on the draw, Liviana beating him to the one he wanted to answer about Bouncing Bulbs.  A bit frustrated he mumbled into his finger that it wasn't fair - her sister had visited as an expert earlier in the year so of course Liv knew all about it.  But on that logic, Figaro should know just as much - his dad was an apothecary.

If Liviana was expecting a critique from Professor Blair, she'd be disappointed - the critique came from Figaro behind her.

"Cut'm too small," he declared, taking a break from his fingernail, "that small and the saltwater'll soak through too much and then you're screwed." 

Raine wanted to curl up into a ball and sleep. Care of Magical Creatures and then now, Herbology. Two very practical classes in a row but not the kind she would have liked. Duelling, casting, yes. Uprooting potted plants...

Legs drawn up on the chair, she sat with her chin resting against her knees and clear blue eyes staring straight ahead at the Bouncing Bulb on the table, one row ahead. Raine hugged her knees closer to herself. All she could think about was how this was their last class of the day. A little longer and soon she could settle down in the common room and start going over notes from today's Potions lesson.

Liviana was answering Professor Blair's question with great enthusiasm- she was going as far as demonstrating it. Raine uncurled and unclasped her hands, dropping them to the side.  There was an uncomfortable snap as she cracked her back. Should have done stretches earlier. Watching Liviana actually do something was more interesting than listening to people respond to questions with directions and facts. She seemed to be doing quite well, until Figaro spoke up instead of the professor.

"That small and the saltwater'll soak through too much and then you're screwed," he said and some of the fifth-years laughed at his candid language. Raine smiled a little, amused in spite of herself. It may be all about the plants but Herbology had its diverting moments. Usually when someone did something stupid.

Figaro was lucky that they were in class and looks could not kill; for if they could his entire head would have burst into flames. Sellaphix was by in large the most insufferable kind of idiot - the kind that thought they knew things and didn't know when to keep their stinking mouths shut. The tittering from the other students did little to help. Liviana's normally sweet features pulled themselves into a frown as she turned to Professor Blair and waited for her to rebuke Figaro for his incorrect rudeness.

Of course just to be sure that she hadn't actually made some dire mistake, she did check the width of her slices. She might have been cutting it close on one or two of the samples but the rest were up to snuff, "Generally the only way the solution soaks through is if you're lazy and don't watch your batches carefully," she paused then turning her eyes back to Balir, "Right Profesor"? If seven years of helping both her mother and sister harvest plants she didn't know how widely to cut a bloody Bouncing Bulb then she'd hex her own self. She worked hard to be good in Herbology and the fact an ignoramus like Figaro would try to correct her made the normally rather pleasant (for a Slytherin girl anyway) Livi, well, livid.

Ishane nodded as Liviana explained the requirements for growing bouncing bulbs and then began to harvest one. Ishane smiled as the girl got really into it. When she finished, Liviana looked to her waiting for some type critique. Ishane opened her mouth to comment but Figaro did so first.

"Cut'm too small. That small and the saltwater'll soak through too much and then you're screwed."

"Generally the only way the solution soaks through is if you're lazy and don't watch your batches carefully. Right Professor?"

Ish decided to cut in before she had an actual fight on her hands. She turned to Figaro eyebrow raised, "Watch your language, Mister Sellaphix. Not everyone is as tolerant about minor swears as I am, so watching your tongue would be a good habit to get into, hmm."  She then turned back to the rest of the class,"Both Mister Sellaphix and Miss Wiedman are correct. Cutting the stem too small or too thin will cause the saltwater to soak through too quickly and the only preservation technique you'll be able to do is pickeling. Fortunately, this is easily fixed. Either dilute the saltwater, or remove the stem sooner that normal like Miss Wiedman stated. Diluting the saltwater is the easiest fix."

She turned to Liviana and smiled at her, "Your process for harvesting was perfect Miss Wiedman, and your description of how to grow bouncing bulbs was as well. Five points to Slytherin."  Ishane moved the bouncing bulb's pot and its harvested parts to the back of the classroom with a flick of her wand and then cleared off the gardening tools. "Next I'd like someone to demonstrate how to re-pot the Bubotuber." She smirked slightly, "It's still immature so you don't need to worry about any pus getting on you."