Of Deer and Flowers

Chapter Three

Classes

September 2,

Dear Kate,

Today we had our first classes and already we have a big assignment . . .

"Who do we have Herbology with again?" Remus asked.

"Ravenclaw," James answered, "and look they're already here!" Remus sighed and sat down with the other kids as the professor began to speak.

"My name is Professor Sprout. There are several green houses, but you will be working in house number one. I expect you to look at all of the plants, because by the end of this class you will have chosen groups and have assigned topics. I will take requests."

"Oh no!" Peter moaned, "I'm terrible at projects. Even in the Muggle world I got bad grades!"

"Don't worry Peter, I'll be your partner."

"Thanks Remus." The professor was still talking.

"When I say go you will get into groups of four. Two Gryffindors and two Ravenclaws, two boys and two girls please. Ready? Go!" Remus looked around and spotted Lily. Smiling he stood and led Peter over.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Lily stood as the boys walked over, "Hi how are . . ." she was cut off by a shout from Professor Sprout.

"Mr. Black Mr. Potter what do you think your doing? Dungbombs? Very inventive Mr. Potter, but I do not think that the Alinisis would appreciate such fertilizer! Five points, and if I catch you again you will be doing this project alone."

Remus sighed, "well at least they're having a good time. Who's that working with them?" Christy looked over Lily's shoulder and answered.

"Oh that's Alise," she pointed at a short Asian looking girl, "and that's Merrill." The other girl had very dark skin and her hair was kept in thousands of tiny braids.

Lily looked at the boy beside Remus and smiled. "Hi, I'm Lily and this is Christy." Peter shook her hand.

"I'm Peter. Sorry I'm not much use at projects. I always end up with a bad grade."

"Well with the right study habits it'll be easy to fix."

A few hours later Lily sat in Defense Against the Dark arts class bored out of her mind. They had been given assigned seats so Christy was across the room and Lily didn't even have a window to stare out of. As it was she was staring at the ceiling counting the number of stains.

Lily sighed her problem wasn't the class it was the teacher. Professor Attila Marshwick was a wizened old witch who tended to drone, at least until she got onto one particular subject.

"Werewolves! Very interesting creatures. They will be an ongoing study through out your years here as a student."

~*~*~*~*~*~

Late that night the first year Gryffindor boys were sitting around the common room discussing their topics from Sprout.

"Can you believe this!" James yelled outraged, "how does the Matidrid conduct it's mischief and how can one make its vines behave?"

"It's like she's giving us a lecture by making us research this." Sirius piped up, "what did you and Remus get Peter?"

"The feeding habits of the rare Mongolian Fly Trap and its magical properties."

"Ouch! Who you working with?"

"Lily and Christy."

"We got Alise and Merrill something or other."

"You mean the pretty Asian girl?" Clark asked. Sirius and James looked at each other and began doing imitations of Alise.

"No it's pronounced this way!"

"It was 1969 not 1699!"

"They're vines not tendrils!"

"Your hand writing's atrocious!" Every one cracked up at this last one and Sirius grinned, "she's a nightmare honestly!"