Chapter:29 Start Of The Term(1) - The Daily Prophet

The following morning was noticeably less cheerful than the one before. A somber atmosphere, distinct from the usual cheerfulness, hung over the school. The students emerged from their dormitories in a subdued mood and made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Victoire arrived ahead of her roommates and took a seat at the table. She quietly ate her breakfast, her appetite unaffected by the gloom, and patiently waited for the arrival of her companions.

Alicia was the first to arrive, followed by Fred and George and at last by Angeline who looked as though she could do with a couple more hours of sleep. They slumped down next to her, not uttering a word as they buttered their toasts and picked at the omelets lying before them.

As time passed, the clock struck eight, and the mail arrived. About a couple hundred owls suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the tables until they located their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their laps.

After completing their mail deliveries, most of the owls returned to the owlery, but several of them remained with their owners in the Great Hall. These feathered creatures would occasionally nuzzle against their owners or peck at a piece of toast fed to them by the students.

Emily, in her owl-like fashion, interpreted this moment as the official time to rise for the day. She swooped down and settled on the chair right next to Victoire. This particular seat was usually occupied by Megan, who was currently in the hospital wing with a broken leg. 

Victoire was expecting a visitor this morning, but yesterday's incident had momentarily pushed it out of her mind. A little, brown barn owl settled down in front of her on the table, presenting a long roll of paper that she immediately recognized as the 'Daily Prophet.' After paying the owl its five knuts and a juicy piece of bacon, it flew off, leaving Victoire alone with her newspaper.

Victoire opened the 'Daily Prophet' expecting to find news related to the recent brawl at Hogwarts, but she ended up getting more than she had bargained for.

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ACCIDENT OR FRENCH PURE-BLOOD THOUGHTS EXPOSED?

LeFevre Heiress' Dramatic Reaction on Noble Black Lineage: Scandal Erupts in High-Society Gathering!

By Rita Skeeter

In a shocking turn of events at Platform 9¾, the prestigious gathering of magical families preparing to send their offspring off to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was rocked by an unexpected incident. Young Victoire Lefevre, daughter of the renowned French Head of the Auror Department and heir to the esteemed LeFevre pure-blood family, found herself at the center of an unforgettable moment.

The grand event, attended by many influential members of the wizarding world, took a dramatic turn when Miss Lefevre, upon arrival, reportedly experienced a sudden and unfortunate bout of nausea. Witnesses describe the scene as both chaotic and scandalous. In the midst of the turmoil, she accidentally vomited, and the unfortunate recipient of this mishap was none other than Nymphadora Tonks, a half-blood descendant of the famous Pure-blood family, the Blacks.

Rumors are ablaze, and our extensive network of sources has been diligently working to uncover the truth behind this sensational incident. What could have led to such an unfortunate and embarrassing episode at the event of the year?

Speculations are running wild!

Could it be a political feud between the prominent families? A show of support to Pure-Blood Supremacy? Or perhaps, as some people are suggesting, a hint of the famous Black family's infamous past was at play?

However, the mystery deepened when a statement was released by none other than Amelia Bones, the formidable British Head of the Aurors Department. In her statement, Madam Bones revealed that the incident was due to a rare and unforeseen apparition complication, which caused Miss Lefevre to experience severe dizziness and nausea. This unforeseeable magical mishap resulted in an unfortunate event.

Madam Bones urged the wizarding community to remember the unpredictability of magic and offered her assurance that both families were handling the incident with grace and understanding. The statement seemed to calm the initial shock and provide a plausible explanation for the bizarre incident.

As details continue to emerge and the wizarding world eagerly awaits further updates, one thing is certain – the allure of high-society events like this one never ceases to amaze and entertain us. Stay tuned for more, as Rita Skeeter never misses a beat on the latest in the magical world's most captivating stories.

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Now this, was something else. Of all the things that she could imagine, this was the worst thing that could have made the front page of the newspaper.

The unexpected headline on the front page of the 'Daily Prophet' left Victoire surprised and significantly more annoyed than she already was. To add insult to injury, there was even a moving photograph of her just before she vomited, capturing the moment as if to emphasize the embarrassing incident. In the moving photograph, the figures kept repeating the same actions, with one figure appearing to grasp the other and retching just before returning to the previous action.

Heads turned all around the Great Hall as more and more students opened their copies of the newspaper and took in the shocking news that had made its way to the forefront of the daily news.

"Blimey! No wonder you looked sick when we entered your compartment,"

George exclaimed as he read the news from Alicia's copy of the 'Daily Prophet.' The other three turned to stare at Victoire, but she remained silent throughout the entire breakfast. 

After a quarter of an hour had passed, Victoire finally spoke, breaking her silence,

"Herbology's in fifteen minutes. Let's move along to Greenhouse One before we are late." 

As Victoire led the way, her friends stood up to follow her out of the Great Hall. They made their way to the greenhouses behind the castle, which served as their Herbology classroom. However, upon arriving at the location, they were stunned to see a series of large buildings, each marked as a 'Greenhouse.' 

Confused, they lingered just outside the gate of the largest greenhouse, and more and more first-year students gathered around them. It soon became apparent that they were sharing their first Herbology lesson with Ravenclaws. A wave of disapproving groans spread through the group, and Angelina voiced her frustration at being partnered with the supposedly smartest bunch.

At precisely eight-thirty, they were joined by a plump witch, whom they all recognized as Professor Sprout, their Herbology teacher and the Head of Hufflepuff House.

"Is everyone present?"

she inquired while donning a dragon skin glove.

The students responded with a collective murmur of "yes" or "no," with a few Gryffindor girls noticeably missing their fifth member. Some students, taking cues from the professor, started to put on their protective gear.

"Alright then, I believe introductions are in order. I am Professor Sprout, Professor Pomona Sprout, Head of the Hufflepuff House, and your Herbology teacher,"

she introduced herself. 

Professor Sprout turned to face the greenhouse and opened its gate. It was confirmed that the largest greenhouse was indeed 'Greenhouse One.' The students followed her inside.

The inside of the building was a lush and vibrant space filled with an array of magical plants. The greenhouse had tall, sturdy glass walls that allowed sunlight to flood in, creating an ideal environment for the growth of various plant species. The air was filled with the earthy and slightly sweet scent of soil and vegetation. The greenhouse was divided into sections, each dedicated to different types of magical plants. There were long rows of wooden tables for students to work on, each table equipped with various gardening tools and pots for repotting.

There were some peculiar plants that Victoire didn't recognize at first, but as she passed by each of them, she found that these were in a minority. 

At the center of the greenhouse, there was a large table where Professor Sprout prepared for lessons. Nearby, a small, serene pond was home to magical aquatic plants, and a stone path wound its way through the various plant displays. It was a fascinating and enchanting classroom, where students learned to care for and study magical plants of all kinds.

There was the Lunar Fern, a greyish-white weed that glowed during the nighttime, primarily used by herbologists as a source of light. The Bouncing Bulbs, that ricocheted across any surface when touched with even a slight bit of force. The Aurora Moss, which shimmered in different colors with changing seasons, and the Veil Truffles, known to send anyone who consumed them into a dreamy state.

Once everyone had settled in one of the spots near the wooden table, Professor Sprout started the lesson with an enthusiastic smile,

"Welcome to Greenhouse One, class. Since today is your first class, we will begin with a basic description of some of the more harmless herbs and fungi. Pair up with your partner and take your time, to explore these plants, and observe their unique properties. Be mindful, and don't forget your gloves. Herbology can be a delicate and precise art, and our primary goal is to learn how to care for and respect these magical plants."

The students began to pair up and Victoire found herself to be the odd one out of the bunch. Eleven pairs had been formed leaving her to be the only one without a partner, Angelina offered to make a group of three but Victoire refused in favor of doing it alone. 

Professor Sprout gave her a puzzled look before agreeing with her decision, she nodded at Victoire and said,

"Alright, Miss Lefevre, you may work independently for today. Just make sure to take your time, observe the plants, and wear your protective gear. If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to ask."

'Better save those words for others professor.'

Thought Victoire before turning to a peculiar-looking vine which she recognized to be a stem of Frostvine being cultivated in a murky ice bowl.