Getting To Know Open

Flame walked through the halls and down the stairways. She really didn’t care where she was going. She just wanted to be anywhere but the Gryffindor common room. She walked keeping a steady pace. She went up stairs and down stairs and everywhere she could. She went through every room except for the ones that had classes in them and learned every nook and cranny. She sighed she refused to think about what had just happened
No matter what. ‘Stop thinking about it Flame’ she told herself ‘Don’t think about it!’ Flame started walking faster when she finally reached the ground floor she realized that she had been through the entire school and all the rooms. Flame decided that she would go outside.

She walked outside and took a deep breath. Fresh air filled her lungs. She saw one of her professors out of the corner of her eye. He was heading towards the green houses. She walked after him as he enters one of them. She hurried to catch up. Through the window of the greenhouse she could make out the features of her professor. It was professor Lesmana! He was her potions teacher. Flame opened the door and called out to him. “Hey! Professor Lesmana!”

“Hopping toadstools,” Dennis kept muttering to himself down the halls like a crazy person. Even though he was carrying what, by all appearances, was a collection of half hazardly scrunched together loose pieces of parchment with scribbles, one with the name “Baruffio” scribbled plainly on the edge, he wanted to make sure it was an ingredient he didn’t forget. Potions was always difficult but he had recently come into possession of certain knowledge that he thought could be of great benefit to not only himself but also the student body as a whole. What better way to understand these peculiar toadstools than to find them in the Hogwarts greenhouse. They were down a Herbologist so…no one should notice a certain Ravenclaw sneaking about. He’d be in an out before anyone would see him!

What luck! He thought to himself as he found one of the greenhouse doors was already open! This was a fortuitous set of circumstances indeed! Dennis let himself in and, as he entered, the humid dirt smell reminded him why he didn’t often frequent this particular establishment. The Ravenclaw wouldn’t be much of a Ravenclaw if he didn’t have a firm grasp of the subject but…for the red head it wasn’t really a matter of knowing something but rather applying himself meaningfully to a subject. For instance, did he know how to take care of the plant of the week? Not without the textbook, but did he know exactly where he was going to find the hopping toadstools he was after? Yes. Knowledge kind of came to him only when it was expedient for it to do so.

His chipper mood dimmed some as he made his way further past the entrance. Not only were there already people here; to name a few, Professor Asmaralaya, and a Gryffindor but rustling around somewhere in the weeds was the quirkiest student he ever did see and he was already quite quirky himself. As expected the Professor seemed to be talking to himself, the Gryffindor seemed to be trying to catch the rooms attention, and the little girl, just out of eye shot was busy doing…something. Maybe he would get lucky and avoid the Potions Master’s attention. Dennis, still close enough to the entrance, backed behind a tree and made his way down a different aisle, ducking so that no one could see him. However, for the hawk-eyed viewer, perhaps there was a dabble of flaming red hair bobbing between the pots! He was so close to the toadstools…almost…unfortunately in his focus to sneak past the Potions Professor and Gryffindor he also lost sight of the strange child.

Banner By Julia Evans

—— ✰ ————Date: 25.01.26—— ✰

—— ✰ ——Dialogue: 225700—————|||——— ✧ ——Words: 547|||||—— ✰

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Max had his hands quite full in the greenhouse. He had not been there much since the Jule holidays and now with a new professor to impress his hands itched to be covered in soil once again. Walking around caring for his favorites he found himself talking out loud to them. «Annabelle, you have grown! If you keep at it you will need a bigger pot before February!» - «Looking good Charles! I saw a gigantic bubotuber over the holidays, I think you could have seen it too.» Of course none of the plants were actually his to name, but personalities should be given names no matter the context. At least he thought so. From the reaction of his peers he picked up that it might be unusual, but he had decided not to care. His parents were adamant that it showed just how passionate he was for the subject in anything.

He had yet to see the soon to be impressed professor today, though he might just not have noticed them, and since idle hands were not as splendid as working ones he set about pruning one of the smaller dittany plants. «You know, if you get the right conditions for sunlight you’ll be as big as Bob before you know it. I get that it’s sad to be all small, but you know that it is more important to grow well rather than growing quickly. I want you around for a long time after all!»

Completely occupied by his tasks and chatter, Max did not notice the presence of another professor until the words «Excuse me» reached his ears. Color rising in his cheeks he considered diving behind the nearest large pot to hide. This was not how this was supposed to go! Today he was supposed to impress Professor Jurema. Instead he was faced with what he could only see as certain doom. It was not that Professor Lesmana was unfair or particularly judgmental. Neither was Max spectacularly bad at potions really, just a bad habit of not paying enough attention and suffering the consequences of brewing gone wrong. He created trouble for sure, but almost none of it was done with bad intentions. No, the worst was that he had a feeling the potions professor was constantly disappointed with him. That was worse than anything. Not that any such thing had been stated of course, but the feeling was more than convincing enough.

Figuring out that it was a little late to hide like a toddler in trouble, Max looked up as he lifted his gloved hands covered in dirt and on reflex ruffled his hair. «Uhm, yeah… Hi Professor» He mumbled the words and did a thing halfway between a bow and a nod, if that was even possible. It was at this time that his fellow Gryffindor poked her head in. Thank Merlin! Hopefully that would subtract the attention from himself so he could go back to impressing the one professor who mattered. Just turning and walking away seemed quite rude though. So Max uneasily shifted his weight from one foot to the other and simply wished that Flame could for once blurt out just half of the stupid nonsense he usually does. The Ravenclaw was seen but not noticed.

Greenhouse
Rainforest Garden outside Iris Office

images generated by ChatGPT

She had only arrived at Hogwarts a few days ago. Scotland, the country from which her maternal family originated from, had greeted her with sheets of cold wind and blankets of white snow. For the young Iris, coming from a country that accustomed her to warmer and more humid temperatures, it had been a shock to which she had been forced to adapt. Until that day, she had still met few people, apart from those who had greeted her and led her to the greenhouses that would be her new home in that ancient and immense medieval castle. So typically European! She had thought the first time she laid eyes on its pointed towers and turrets breaking through the winter gray sky.

The landscape of Hogwarts was unique to her. Everything was so different from home. Not that she found everything less impressive than what she was used to finding in the wizarding world, but everything was and felt new. The photographs and images she had seen before through her researches did not do justice to the magnitude of that place. She felt like a young heliconia in the middle of that landscape, easily distinguishable and so out of context. Not that this diminished her enthusiasm for being here, quite the contrary, Iris was more than ready to begin this new stage of her life. After having taught younger children at Verdenó primary school, Hogwarts seemed like the right step to come after, given the opportunity she had been given. She would never, ever, deny her roots growing to wherever nature had decided to lead them.

However, despite being truly passionate about the flora surrounding Hogwarts castle and the natural landscape of Scotland, Iris couldn't resist bringing a little bit of home with her. While she wanted to feel the comfort of familiarity so far from the place where she was born, it was also her intention to take her future students to a different place in the world, even if it was in the form of a miniature and inside one of her greenhouses. Thus, in the space designated for the entrance to her office, Iris had decided to create a small garden where her students and any member of the school could visit at any time of day.

It was with pleasant surprise that Iris discovered that the previous Herbology professor had come from a place very close to hers, and part of her idea had already been brought by professor Sarai. It was with a wide, extremely bright smile that Iris entered that place for the first time. Closing her eyes, it was almost as if she could hear the songs of the countless species of colourful and lively birds that usually enchanted her daily life. She only felt the need to add her light touch to that greenhouse, a place she would call home for a while.

On that January day, a warm, diffused light filtered through the arched glass panels above, not in such golden tones as she was used to, but enough to illuminate the garden and anyone who decided to venture into it. The timid rays of sunlight, bravely resisting the winter season, fell gently on the broad leaves of banana trees, palm trees that grew and touched the top of the greenhouse forming natural arches, and dense clusters of ferns interspersed with flutterby bushes that gave a cheerful, magical, and gentle movement to the place, their leaves fluttering to the rhythm of an invisible breeze.

Iris, at 155 cm tall, walked happily, in steps interspersed with small happy jumps, along one of the irregular stone paths that meandered and cut through the garden into small paths bordered by some wooden garden benches. She had left her office and dormitory to pay closer attention to the large Gargoyle she had found waiting for her as soon as she set her feet inside the greenhouse. She had been told that he had been brought to Hogwarts by a former History of Magic professor to guard her classroom from small, rebellious intruders, and that Professor Toussaint-Fleischer had kindly kept him in there.

The air inside the greenhouse was thick with moisture and life, perfumed with fertile earth, crushed leaves, and a light sweetness emanating from the various plants, fruits, and flowers that now inhabited that place. The sound of a small curtain of water cascading from the waterfall onto the waters of the small lake that served as the heart of that place calmed anyone who wished to hear and appreciate it. Along the banks of its sweet waters grew gillyweed, and on its surface floated young, small water lilies and their beautiful pink flowers.

Along the walkways, countless other species of native Amazonian plants could be found alongside the familiar and less dangerous plants of the magical world. Iris didn't prioritise order, nor did she care if everything appeared organised and fell into an aesthetic. For her, what made sense was what nature intended. She was simply the conductor of magic, harmony was the responsibility of other superior forces. Therefore, it was natural that the various species were found scattered randomly in different corners.

Iris sang a cheerful, rhythmic song in a language that would be quite unfamiliar to many of the Hogwarts occupants as she gazed at the gargoyle named Asdrúbal. A curious name that had been given to him, even more so because it was so familiar to her and among her people. His expression seemed somewhere between a grimace and a forced smile, but to Iris, Asdrúbal seemed perfectly content to be there. In fact, it was as if he had been made to live there, in the middle of that small replica of her forest.

"You're a little undressed, aren't you?" She asked the enormous stone guardian. "Let me take care of that!" She sang enthusiastically. Due to her goblin lineage, Iris didn't exactly need to use her wand, but her spells always came out more accurately when she did. Removing it from within her robes, Iris seemed like a maestro as she conjured various types of flowers and placed them around Asdrúbal, giving him a cloak of purple flowers that covered his shoulders, a crown of flowers and branches similar to the one she usually wore, and around him, she sought to give him shelter that embraced him within the surrounding flora.

She was in the midst of this process when she heard the sound of footsteps entering her garden, and a voice asking politely permission to enter. Iris climbed onto Asdrúbal and sat on the back of the large gargoyle's back to peer towards the front door. "Oh! Hello!" She greeted cheerfully, her legs swinging back and forth while she kept her enchanted satchel tucked under her arms, "What do you need?" She asked the stranger with the air of a professor who had arrived. Along with him, Iris saw that some students had also arrived, which made her immensely happy, giving her face a smile that shone even in her brown eyes.

There was a young orange-haired bandit who seemed to be searching for something among the various plants, his tuft of hair stood out against the green of the bushes, as if one of the many species of flowers had come to life and was stealthily walking along that path. "Watch out for Vanessa!" She yelled at him from the high point on Asdrúbal's back, "I think I left her there, somewhere, yesterday!" She said with a small, cheerful laugh.

There was also a girl who had arrived, but she seemed a little lost, as if chance had brought her there and not purpose. Iris smiled even more at that, things have always beautiful ways to happen. She heard her the young girl greet the professor and call him Professor Lesmana. It was then that she deduced that he was the potions professor. Iris then decided to jump off her Gargoyle, which let out a small grunt as soon as it no longer felt the light weight of the Herbology professor on its shoulders. "Thank you, Asdrúbal!" she said, giving him light pats on the elbow, as that was the highest point she could reach him. The Gargoyle blinked, made another grimace and stood looking at the entrance with watchful glowing red eyes.

With light, jumping steps, and holding her satchel at her side, making the potion vials she always carried with her strapped to her belt clinking in rhythm with her hurried movements, Iris approached the other boy who had entered and taken a seat next to a dittany, taking the initiative to look after her as if they were old acquaintances. "You know, I need you to introduce me to all your friends here," She said, looking over his shoulder at what he was doing, "I don't want to confuse them by calling them different names!"
@Lesmana Asmaralaya | @Flame Afterglow | @Dennis Tumberton | @Max Kenneally Vidler

Flame waited patiently. Behind the professor, and then decided that she had no idea why she wanted to talk to him. It wasn't that she didn't like him so much as she had nothing to talk to him about. She looked pass him and saw one of the other Gryffindor 1st years. It was Max, she hadn't really talked to him but knew that he was funny and knew how to joke around. Kinda like her. He was sort of standing awkwardly to the side, looking like he didn't want to be there. She waved to him and then looked past him and saw the Herbology Professor. She hadn't met her yet but had been waiting for a time to come see her. She smiled at the professor, and she smiled right back. She looked at the Potions Professor who was looking at the herbology professor and then looked over at Max who was still standing kinda off to the side looking awkward.

Flame ducked down behind a row of plants and started navigating through the rows of plants. She slowly found her way over to where Max was standing. She shoved herself up against a giant plant and tapped Max. When he looked down, she gestured for him to join her on the ground. She smiled. Hey Max, I'm Flame! I don't think we've properly met before.

To his surprise, the inside of the greenhouse was never of his expectation. It was filled with lush vegetation, forming a warm and humid atmosphere that he didn't believe he could feel again in a four-season country.

He immediately spotted someone who replied him. She was sitting on the gargoyle's back. He knew the history of the gargoyle, but never had a chance to involve himself in its life. Another thing was the person. He halted, wondering whether he was right if she was really the Professor or not.

Another voice was heard from a different side of the room. A Gryffindor, he saw, was near a plant. His gloved hands were covered in dirt when he ruffled his own hair. A soft chuckle slipped from the Professor's lips. He knew the boy. He was one of the students he would observe silently in the class, especially in the practical sessions. Not that he made many problems or ruckus, but more his studying result. He understood that every child has different strengths. Potions might not be his strength. But looking at him and the plant he tended, perhaps Herbology was. Though it was still too early to predict these kids' aptitudes. With a soft smile, Professor Lesmana greeted back the student, "Mr Vidler." His eyes shifted quickly to point at the gloves, "You might grow something from your head if you brush it with your gloves." The joke was followed by a playful smirk from the Professor. @Max Kenneally Vidler

Things moved very quickly. He was about to approach the person on the gargoyle's back when he heard another voice call him. His focus was shifted, followed by a slight rotation of his head. She was a student, a Gryffindor whose name was very unique. Flame Afterglow. "Miss Afterglow." His voice soothed, addressing her name. @Flame Afterglow

His focus was shifted again when he heard the yell from the person on the gargoyle's back. His eyes moved to the pointed direction of another student. Lesmana winced his eyes, trying to remember the face. The Professor was sure that he was older than the rest of the students who had greeted him. His brain clicked, a folder of memory sent him a name. He was Mr Tumberton, a student from Ravenclaw house. @Dennis Tumberton

Her acts, from being friendly to Asdrubal without making it offended and her caution, not only made the student spot, but also increased Lesmana's assurance that the person was the new Professor. But who or what was Vanessa?

Lesmana walked towards the person who stood behind Mr Vidler now. He also looked at what the Gryffindor was doing with the plant. His focus was also shifted again when he saw that Miss Afterglow decided to sit on the ground. He then turned his gaze again to look at Mr Vidler's work.

He waited for the right time to enter the conversation. "You are Professor Jurema, I believe," he looked at her before offering his hand. "I'm Lesmana, from the Potions department. I heard you have arrived at the school, so I decided to make a visit." He looked at the red-haired boy and asked the Professor, "I'm curious. What is Vanessa? Why must Mr Tumberton be careful around it?" He waited for her answer, hoping it was not something gnarly.

@Iris Jurema
Note¹: Thread is open for anyone who wants to interact with Professor Jurema or Professor Lesmana.

Note²: Be careful with godmodding rule break ;)

Olivia Evans

Interacting with	@Lesmana Asmaralaya, @Flame Afterglow, @Iris Jurema, @Max Kenneally Vidler, @Dennis Tumberton
Date	Jan 25th, 2026
Outfit	Ravenclaw Uniform

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Dialogue	"#6B00B7"
Wordcount	525

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The doors to the greenhouse gently swung open and then closed, a young Ravenclaw girl having slipped inside. Olivia's gaze quickly scanned the greenhouse to inspect the people she could see. Ah yes, there were a few other people here. Some of them do not look familiar to her. Then a voice sends shivers down her spine. "Looking good Charles! I saw a gigantic bubotuber over the holidays, I think you could have seen it too." Olivia's head snaps towards Max. Of course the annoying Gryffindor that keeps disrupting her in class and when she is studying is here to disrupt her once again in her efforts to ask the new Herbology Professor some questions in relation to the latest homework.

Olivia takes a deep breath, her right hand tightening on the white rock she was holding for comfort, then exhales and breathes in again over and over several times. Perhaps a whole minute she stood there, preparing herself to move further into the greenhouse for her quest. The last half a year she had spent at Hogwarts outside of the holidays had made smaller crowds of people not be as scary as they used to be, but that did not mean she had grown accustomed to small talk and was actively seeking out conversation outside of academic reasons. Her gaze once again scans the room, looking for the new Professor. Oli notices the Potions Professor, Lesmana, stood by Max and a shorter student she had not met before. Her gaze briefly passes by the Gryffindor girl as well, before her gaze was drawn to another more familiar student that was stood behind a tree.

Olivia tilts her head curiously as the Ravenclaw boy disappeared from the tree and behind an aisle of pots and plants. She would never dare to get so close to the plants without adult supervision. From what she could remember from her Herbology classes that was a sure way to get eaten or very ill. That was the sole reason why she was bang in the middle of the plants on her sides as she walked further into the greenhouse, in the direction of Max, Lesmana and Jurema. Upon reaching them she gasps audibly as the Gryffindor girl suddenly popped out from behind some plants and pots, Olivia realizing she had lost track of the girl. Her cheeks flushes red, her mouth gaping as Olivia looks towards the doors again with wide eyes. If she was was going to run, this was the moment. Before the others could realize who it was that had just gasped out loud from seeing another student. She looked back to the group, and just then she realized that the woman she had seen was not another student, but the new Herbology Professor.

Could Olivia really afford to postpone asking the professor her questions? The homework was due in a few days.. She could always come back later could she not? Closing her mouth, Olivia ends up staring at the four, each of them being offered a good five to ten seconds of the inquisitive, curious stare most of her fellow students were met with.

Banner By Julia Evans

Reducio

Interacting with:	@Lesmana Asmaralaya, @Flame Afterglow, @Dennis Tumberton, @Iris Jurema & @Olivia Evans
Dialogue:	#225700
Date:	25.01.26——
Words:	761

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He remained standing there sort of awkwardly as the Potions professor greeted him back. Upon the comment of something other than hair growing from his scalp he failed to hold back a loud snort. Bending his head slightly forwards he shook it a bit. It did not seem to help much, but it would have to do. »As cool as that would be, I suppose it would be sort of weird…» He mumbled the words in the opposite direction of the plant he tended. If Dittany had ears he would have covered them. He did not want such potentially hurtful words to affect it.

Wether he had tuned out the noise coming from the Herbology Professor or simply not noticed, it was not easy to say. Either way he returned his attention to the baby Dittany until a person joined him at the work station. Thinking it was his fellow Gryffindor Flame he did not look up until the Professor spoke. His gaze jumped up to meet the others. Perhaps a more proper description would be that his attention swept to the side, seeing as they were around the same height. His mind connected the dots easily enough, and a wide smile spread across his face. Really, the whole boy seemed to light up. Just then was it that Flame joined them, sitting on the floor. He snorted at the sight before he hurriedly bent down and whispered «I can’t right now, I’m about to be really impressive!» He winked at her before turning his attention back to the plants and the professor who was about to be blown away by his brilliance. As Professor Lesmana joined their ranks he hesitated a bit. It would be a whole lot easier to shine if he was not there working as a constant reminder of failure. But seeing as nothing in life comes without effort, he pulled himself together and pushed through.

«Really? Okay!» In his eagerness to show his capabilities he more than happily agreed. He let go of the pot in front of him and turned slightly in order to point to the different plants. He pointed to a pot of Scurvy Grass nearby first. «That is Charles, he needs a lot of water but he so enjoys hearing stories!» He turned slightly and indicated a Bubotuber next. «Annabelle over here is a fast grower, so she’ll probably need replanting before long.» At that his voice softened as he turned back to his workstation and gently turned the pot in front of them. «And this, this is Mason.» He lowered his voice a bit before continuing and leaned in, as if sharing a secret. «He is a bit self conscious about his size, but I make sure to tell him that he will one day be as big as Bob» He gestured slightly to one of the bigger pots of Dittany standing nearby.

As the adults talked about whatever adults usually talk about, Max lovingly petted Masons pot. That is, until he heard the name Vanessa. Being so focused on his own work he had completely missed the shout of warning previously. His gaze jumped curiously between the two professors. He also wanted to know who Vanessa was. Before he could stop himself he became star eyed with the possibilities. Maybe it was a Wiggenweld tree? Probably not. Perhaps it was a Sopophorous plant? All autumn he had been on the previous Professors back to be allowed to take care of one. Max was sure they had almost agreed before the post was left open. Bad luck really. But maybe now he had a second chance! Despite the rudeness of jumping into others conversation without warning, he blurted out what was on his mind with his eyes focused on Professor Jurema. «It’s a Sopophorous, right? Oh, please say it is!»

It was at this point he gained awareness of Olivia from her shriek. His attention jumped immediately to her and he put on a sly grin as he once more ruffled his hair. He watched as she seemed to consider leaving on the spot. He decided it could not hurt to include her. «Williams!» He waved at the open space next to him. He was never really that good with names, but Olivia was sweet. Sort of quiet and a bit shy, did not tend to speak much. But that was no problem. Max was outgoing and loud enough for the both of them. He had seemingly yet to reach her in terms of mutual friendship, but they would get there.

“I can’t right now, I am about to be really impressive.” That was what Max said when he looked down at her. Then he winked. Flame smiled at him. She had a feeling they could be friends after this. Max started pointing around naming plants as Flame watched him. Then she noticed out of the corner of her eye a Ravenclaw girl her age. She was looking at something Flame couldn’t see. Flame twisted her head to try and see what it was but there were plants blocking the way.Flame looked back at Max and saw that he was petting a plant. Flame laughed to herself finding this funny. She sat there listening to the professors conversation. Flame wasn’t that good at Herbology but she wasn’t horrible. She wondered if Max would help as he seemed to know everything about it. She tucked that thought away so she could ask him later. Flame heard a yell. She quickly turned around to make sure everyone was okay. The yell had come from the Ravenclaw girl she had noticed before. She looked like she was about to leave. Max called out to her calling her Williams. Flame really hoped the Ravenclaw ended up coming over to where they were because Flame wanted to meet her and ask what she had been looking at.