There were not many occasions that made Oskar happier than when his entire forearm was covered in dirt or dung. Maybe not the favourite pastime of most 14 year old boys but Oskar was not a usual 14 year old boy. At Hogwarts he excelled in Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology; and he was debating which of the two he should focus on in the future. However Oskar was more concerned by getting exra credidt right now than what to do after his N.E.W.T.S. - which seemed like a life time away. Afterall he hadn't done O.W.L.S yet.

The Greenhouse was empty, most students would be enjoying their Saturday in other, more conventional ways. Up until five minutes ago Oskar was not alone in the Greenhouse as a Second year student had to catch up on some of her work after wasting the classes time in her lesson the previous day. She had not said a work to Oskar, well she had muttered something that sounded like ''Over grown freak," when she had left the Greenhouse. She was a Slytherin and Oskar assumed she was some sort of purist. He ignored her but when ever some one commented on his size, being 7'6'', or his giant heritage he felt terrible. He wanted to curl up into a ball and just be left alone. Call it childish or whatever but Oskar prefered to be liked than hated.

So when the girl had left Oskar was not upset in the slightest.

He was wearing old clothes. They were cheap and disposable and he had asked for them for this exact situation. He wore large, brown trousers, that had been ripped on the upper left thigh. A patch of green cloth had been sowed on so he could still wear them. His wide chest was covered by a green top and on the table was a multi coloured jumper that he had been wearing but decided to take of when he realised it was too hot.

He was standing next to a young Fanged Geranium. With one of his great hands he held the plant back too stop it from bitting him and with the other he tended to it's roots. They had become diseased so he had a pair of scissors and was about to cut part of them off. As he moved the blades towards the roots the door opened and he saw a small, well small to him, boy standing there. Still holding the fanged plant he said. "Hello, beautiful day isn't it, I'm Oskar. Oskar Ablercht."

It was a rather nice day out as Vulpes, well, fluttered out of the castle. He didn't really want to be going to the greenhouses, he'd much rather be off hanging in a tree, or laying in the grass by the lake. But Vulpes had to admit to himself that if he didn't pick up his study habits, at least for Herboloby and Potions, he likely wouldn't even scratch an A. And he really, really wanted to pass.

So it was with great concentration that he made his way to the them. He had left his headphones buried in his trunk hoping to avoid their distraction. Instead, he  hummed a song to himself as he went. With a smile on his face, Vulpes greeted the birds that flew by with a slight wave, as if they would even recognize the motion.

As he came to the door of the greenhouses, a 2nd year from his house was leaving. She took one look at him, narrowed her eyes, and then quickly walked away with an air that said she though she was better than him. Oh well, she can think what she wants.

But, when Vulpes opened the door to head inside he was not prepared for what he saw. The boy standing inside was massive! At least a good two feet taller than he was. "H-hello," Vulpes said quietly, still not over the shock.

"Hello, beautiful day isn't it, I'm Oskar. Oskar Ablercht."

"Vulpes Connor," He replied heading over to the boy. "It is rather nice. If i wasn't so worried i'd fail my Herbology O.W.L. I'd probably be by the lake," Vulpes laughed slightly and looked down at the plant Oskar was handling. "What is that...?" he asked sounding somewhat nervous. It looked like the plant was attempting to bite Oskar.

Initially shocked that anyone could be afraid of falling a subject so fascinating as Herbology Oskar quickly recovered when the fifth year student asked him about the plant he was holding. "It's a Fanged Geranium. They can't do lots of harm but their bite...well no one wants to be bitten by anything, right? Anyway this is just a baby," he turned to the plant for a second and cut the end of it's roots off before collecting them and placing them on the wooden table infront of him. He then placed the plant back in it's pot and stepped back. As it attempted to bite him again he batted it away with one of his hands.

"Vulpes, that's a cool name." He said simply.

"And I think the Fanged Geranium is an O.W.L. subject; I'm not a hundred percent on that but I'm pretty sure." Remebering that Vulpes had talked about the lake he continued. "I like the lake, but I prefer the forest really. More animals in there. Though there are more than a few interesting creatures in the lake." He rubbed the dirt from his hand onto his old shirt and offered it to Vulpes to shake.

"So what are you doing down here exactly? Is there something you need to plant, cut or burst?" He asked. Maybe he could help the boy. Who knows, he may even get a new friend out of it and that was always good. Apart from the sligh stammer when he first saw him Vulpes didn't seem intimidated by his large stature and great widith.

"It's a Fanged Geranium. They can't do lots of harm but their bite...well no one wants to be bitten by anything, right? Anyway this is just a baby."

Vulpes had to agree. Being bitten was never fun. He watched quietly as the boy cut of the ends of all the roots. While no expert at the subject, Vulpes thought they looked rather sickly. A smile flickered across his face as Oskar beat the plant back.

"Vulpes, that's a cool name."

Vulpes smiled slightly at Oskar's compliment. He wasn't sure anyone had ever called his name cool before. "Thanks," was all he managed to say. Vulpes was unfamiliar with compliments. Most people made fun of him.

"And I think the Fanged Geranium is an O.W.L. subject; I'm not a hundred percent on that but I'm pretty sure. I like the lake, but I prefer the forest really. More animals in there. Though there are more than a few interesting creatures in the lake."

Oskar held out his rather dirty hand. Vulpes looked at it for a second and took it. He was about to respond when Oskar spoke again. "So what are you doing down here exactly? Is there something you need to plant, cut or burst?"

That was a good question. Why had he come down to the greenhouses again? Vulpes had already forgotten...

"Well," he said slowly. "I think it was to try and familiarize myself with a lot of the plants. You know, what they look like, what they're used for, that sort of thing." Vulpes tapped his chin. "I'm actually having a hard time remembering, now that I thought about the lake," he laughed at the sudden realization. Too easily distracted. That's what he was.

Vulpes took another look at the Fanged Geranium. "You're probably right..." he muttered after a moment "It probably is an O.W.L. subject." His eyes lingered for a moment on the plant, then drifted back up to Oskars face. "Listen," he began casually. "I'm goign out on a limb and guessing you're good at Herbology? So... could you, y'know, maybe help me with learning this stuff?" Vulpes smiled. The boy seemed nice enough. And it would probably be better if someone was explaining it to him, rather than he himself trying to figure it all out.

He smiled as Vulpes laughed about his forgetfullness. Oskar enjoyed swimming, climbing hills and walking in forests more than most and he had decided to go and walk in the grounds once he was finished with the Fanged Geranium. He had always assumed his love of the great outdoors was down to his mother's blood pumping through his large veins. Perhaps it was just that he felt less inclosed when he was outside; though that too could be put down to his mothers genes.

"I'm goign out on a limb and guessing you're good at Herbology? So... could you, y'know, maybe help me with learning this stuff?"

Oskar was good at Herbology, he had never gotten less than top marks in any exams, but he wasn't one to bost. He simply nodded when Vulpes went out on a limb. He lost his train of th0ught as he began to wonder where that saying originated. To Oskar it didn't make any sense at all. He assumed it was a Muggle Saying.  "I can help, well if you want me to I can." He moved around the tables until he was standing beside Vulpes. Afterall he wasn't a teacher so why should there be a desk or table between the two of them.

"What plant do you want to know about?" He asked.

Vulpes's smile dropped slightly as Oskar came around the table, his expression becoming more one of awe. It wasn't that he was scared of the boy. It was just.... he was so tall! Vulpes had never been near anyone this tall before. it was wild! Still gawking slightly, Vulpes was caught a little off guard at Oskar's next question.


"What plant do you want to know about?"

He blinked, snapping out of it, and glanced around the greenhouse. Which plant? The honest response was all of them. Vulpes couldn't tell difference between anything in here. But he doubted he would need to know every single plant for his O.W.L. It was likely they would just ask him about the most important ones.

Yes, that would work. "Uh...." Vulpes started. "Just, just the most important ones. You know like the ones used in potions and the like." He smiled up at Oskar and considered one more thing. "Oh, and I guess some of the more obscure ones... I'd bet they test us on some of those..."

"So you want to know about the obvious plants and the obscure ones," Oskar chuckled. His laughter was deep and booming, anything else would just of been weird. Vulpes seemed almost confused by Oskar's size. He couldn't blame him as without knowing his heritage, though many guessed at it, it wasn't obvious why he was so...gigantic. Oskar turned around and began to scan the green house.

So many plants, so many colours and so many shapes. Oskar had no idea where to start with it all. He scratched his head, as he often did when thinking, and rubbed his chin simultaneously. The movement of a plant at the far end of the green house caught his attention and he began to walk towards them. He motioned for Vulpes to join him. He was standing next to a Purple bulb, a Bouncing Bulb to be precise. It was about two and a half feet tall and was an enchanted net.

"This, there," he pointed, "is a Bouncing Buldb. They're called that because they're bulbs and they bounce," he smiled, "easy enough to remember. The younger ones are able to fit in your hand but they grow to the size of doorways. If they aren't held down they can get over excited. The little uns can be held back by jinxs and stuff, the Knockback Jink I think 'tis called, but with the bigger ones you need to use Incendio."

"It's stalk is used in sweets. But it's leaves are what you really want. They're used in a few potions. You have to stun 'em to harvest 'em."

A sort of sheepish smile crossed Vulpes's face. Maybe that wasn't the best way to explain what he needed to know. But at least Oskar seemed to understand him. Carefully, he followed Oskar over to a purple plant that was bouncing inside a net. Vulpes took out a pen and paper from his back pocket and waited for Oskar.

"This, hereis a Bouncing Bulb. They're called that because they're bulbs and they bounce, easy enough to remember. The younger ones are able to fit in your hand but they grow to the size of doorways. If they aren't held down they can get over excited. The little uns can be held back by jinxs and stuff, the Knockback Jink I think 'tis called, but with the bigger ones you need to use Incendio. It's stalk is used in sweets. But it's leaves are what you really want. They're used in a few potions. You have to stun 'em to harvest 'em."

Vulpes quickly jotted down what he had said, underlining the parts about harvesting and uses. He drew a quick sketch next to his notes. With a glance back at the table where Oskar was originally, he noticed the diseased looking roots. Vulpes figured he should probably know about those sorts of things.

"Okay," he said happily to Oskar. "What about pests and diseases and stuff? And what is that...?" Vulpes has just noticed a plant that looked like a large black slug.[1]

1.

Bubotuber

"Fungal rot can kill the bulb, you have to get to it quickly. And then you have cut the root off. Like cutting of a limb to stop the spread of cancer. Bolus worms can be a problem. Horrid little things they are. Insecticide is needed to get rid of the old blighters before they cause to much damage." Oskar turned around and glanced at the plant Vulpes had asked about. His nose wrinkled as he examined the plant.

. "What about pests and diseases and stuff? And what is that...?"

"Yea, that is a Bubotuber. Ugly aint it. You see those spots on the surface of the plant. Well, if you squeeze them, pus comes out. I haven't done it myself and it's, like, the most horrible plant I have ever seen." He moved towards the plant and kneeled down. "The pus, rather ironically, can be used to clean spots." He chuckled. The fact that pus can get rid of the spots of teenagers was quite amusing to Oskar. "Kesilli Borer attacks the plant. You can use sound to get rid of them, at certain frequencies, and a if you mix calendula oil, dittany oil and lime powder it can help aswell."

He moved quickly to the other side of the green house to a white shrub. "This is Dictamnus, Dittany. It's not a magical plant but it has useful properties, don't eat it though. It can help skin grow over a wound and is great for getting rid of fever, and spots," he smiled, "it is an ingredient of the Wiggenweld Potion."

"It's mainly just slugs and snails that attack Dittany." Oskar was enjoying explaining the different plants. He was wondering if Vulpes would be willing, and able, to help him with one of his own problems. "Vulpes. Can you, well could you, help me with a Transfig spell?"

He laughed slightly when Oskar told him that the pus was used for, while he quickly and as neatly as possible copied down everything that was said. Vulpes was about halfway through his notes on Dittany when Oskar spoke up.

"Vulpes. Can you, well could you, help me with a Transfig spell?"

He stopped mid word and looked up at the boy. "Of course," He said almost as if it was already understood. "After all the help you've given me it would be criminal not to." Vulpes smiled and finished writing down the notes before setting them upon the table.

"What spell do you need help with? I'm pretty fair at all of them."