Lesson Resume

The blizzard had blown itself by out the next day, but classes in the greenhouses for Herbology and outside classes for Care of Magical Creatures in the sheds had been temporarily suspended until Hagrid could clear a pathway. Instead, Professor Kettleburn and Professor Sprout had set up temporary classes on the second floor of Hogwarts. The students hadn't protested even once considering they had been out in the initial stages of the blizzard trying to make their way to Hogwarts.

Although with assistant Professor Douglas Winfrey teaching the younger years, the Prefects had to regularly patrol the corridor to ensure that his flock of admirers kept heading along to their class. Sure, he was an attractive rugged man with spiky hair and a dashing crooked grin that could cause any heart to flutter. Still, education was important and there would be plenty of time to ooh and ahh over the charming professor.

The sky was still gray and stormy, but the worst of the blizzard had passed. The snowfall had climbed high enough to block over half of the front entrance with the first-floor windows covered much more than that. None of the students even the most reckless dared to go outside until Hagrid finished clearing pathways after which surely the younger and more energetic students would excitedly take the opportunity to play in the piles of snow. At which point the Prefects would have to be on the lookout for colds and Rowan was certain that she would be escorting plenty of sick students to the infirmary.

After studying during her free period on Tuesday morning, Rowan heads off to the Alchemy classroom located on the first floor. She knew that Severus tended to arrive a bit later than her thanks to having Herbology right before the class. The classroom is windowless like the potion's classroom prevent any damage to any of the delicate ingredients and alchemy concoctions. The walls are bare as an adjacent locked storage closest holds all the ingredients. The worktables towards the back of the classroom at present are bare except for the shining, clean alchemy instruments.

Rowan prepares her table and supplies and is kind enough to even prep, Severus's table. It was an appreciated gesture as Severus arrived nearly late to class. He sported a spectacular bruise on one cheek causing her to stare.

Severus darkly sits down and mutters, "Thanks, and don't even bother to ask."

Rowan's eyes linger on the bruises for a moment. "I looked at your schedule this morning during breakfast, Professor Sprout would have begun reviewing 1st-year plants again today, so I would hazard to guess that today's lesson is on Devil's Snare. You must have made the rudimentary mistake to struggle, didn't you?"

Severus flushes in embarrassment. "I didn't mean to struggle, but I couldn't help myself," he sighed dropping his face into his arms. "At least, I managed to escape without the aid of my wand and wordless magic," he rather muffled replied.

"You lost your wand?" Rowan loudly squawked causing Severus's flush to spread down to his neck. She loudly clicked her tongue against her teeth in chagrin.

Severus is thankfully saved by the boisterous arrival of Professor Boas. A short, pale wizard with silver hair parted slightly to the right in a German hairstyle. His sideburns are neatly trimmed with a thick German-accented voice, "Congratulation's to Fräulein Prince and Herr Prince for your presentation, and your betrothal, Fräulein Prince to heir Potter."

"Thank you, Professor Boas," Rowan and Severus politely thanked their Alchemy Professor.

Professor Boas beams at them, before pulling out a tray full of plants. Severus's face darkens visibly as their alchemy Professor says, "It is important dat an alchemist is able to recognize the grade of freshness at a mere glance. Touch is not always recommended since even a single touch can damage the quality of the ingredients. With your apprenticeship proposals to be due at the end of the year, I believe it is a fundamental skill that will be useful in any field."

Severus looks unwilling, but he could not exactly deny their professor's words. The skill would likely be far more useful to him in his field as potion master than to Rowan. And yet it was Rowan, who had received an Outstanding Owl in Herbology and not him.

With his pride, a bit ruffled and feeling competitive, Severus intently studies the plants before them on various trays. "Please name at least three of dem by the end of the class. An essay will be due as homevork stating the freshness of the herb and the effects of the herb's potency at different interval stages."

Seeing Rowan's calm expression Professor Boas grins. "I see that Fräulein Prince is already ready, please proceed."

Rowan points to a plant with thin long leaves with tiny green buds. "Paeonia officinalis," she said. "The common peony is known as a protective charm considered to ward off against evil and darkness. The black grains (the seeds) property used in wine or potions aid in curing nightmares and creating calming remedies."

"Vonderful!" Professor Boas clapped his hands in approval. "Please continue!"

"Hyoscyamus niger," Rowan pointed at an herb with pointed green leaves, beige-colored flowers with a dark center. "Henbane, as is commonly known, is used to treat pain ailments, a common ingredient to aid in the treatment of rheumatism, toothaches, and stomach pain or as even an additive to beer or incense for flavor," Rowan said, before pointing at the third herb.

The third plant has blue spiky flower petals and a round cone center with tiny white flowers. The green stems and leaves are similarly jagged much like the blue flower petals. "Eryngium Maritimum" Rowan stated, "The Sea Holly's roots are used as an aphrodisiac, aromatic perfumes or scents, a stimulant, a tonic with several other healing functions including tissue regeneration. It is a rather controversial herb at times, but a rather useful one with plenty of medical properties."

"Ten points to Slytherin," Professor Boas said with great pride before staring expectantly at Severus. Unexpectedly Rowan had bought Severus enough time to identify three other herbs among the tray, Artemisia Absinthium, Rosmarinus, and Nepeta Cataria.

Rowan drones out the explanation from Severus of the three herbs selected by him. In common tongue, they were Absinthe also known as absinthe wormwood, Rosemary, and Catswort also known as catnip. They weren't herbs that they were not already familiar with.

Once finished, Professor Boas permitted them to work on their essays until the class hour was over. After alchemy, they hurried off to lunch and chatted with their friends, before it came time for their next class period. Severus and Terry and their friends naturally went off to Care of Magical Creatures, but Rowan went off alone to Ancient Runes with Professor Bathsheda Babbling.

Professor Babbling along with the rest of the Head of Houses at the staff table looked like they had not gotten much sleep. But then again, it was a rough night for all the students, who not only had lost loved ones and now had to return to Hogwarts all alone. Some students cried and others had terrible nightmares and it had been up to the Head of Houses to ensure the wellbeing of their houses.