"Brilliant," Magnus said brightly, "Love plants. They are like green pets." Then Emmy entered. "Ey Emmy!" He waved. "'Ow are you? Eh, seems like we got 'alf Hufflepuff, and 'alf Ravenclaw. So would that be Huffleclaw or Ravenpuff?" He chuckled merrily. To Amanda he said, "no worries, I answer to 'oy you' just as well. In fact, when the coppers ran after me on the streets of London they often called me that." His eyes were twinkling with laughter.

"Sure, I would take a paper badge. Actually my parents and I thought I was going to be sorted into Ravenclaw. My dad is a Ravenclaw". She told Magnus

Millie smiled at Aderyn. "I do enjoy bringing Hufflepuff goodness wherever I go". She turned to Amanda. "Yes, we're right next door. I love to bake and I find it really relaxing, so the house elves have given me permission to use the kitchen when they aren't preparing a meal. Then I leave the goods in the common room or bring them to clubs. Sometimes I'll go to a random person and just hand them a plate and tell them to take it to their common room".

(sorry for the delay. I've been house sitting and have had limited access to a computer)

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/rphdSYC.png[/img] "Welcome Amanda, Millie, and Emmy! I am so happy to have you join us this term!" Gaia was grinning at the turnout. It was an exciting term and she was ready.

"Has everyone gotten one of the welcome packages? I see some of you have started trying to find a way for your book to bloom. Keep in mind that flowers take different types of care better than others. Think of what you do with your plants in your own garden. What do you do?" Gaia had a mischievous grin she was hoping someone would figure out the last part to open their books.

"Magnus, I believe your snake will find me a good friend. Mostly because Wade is one of my favorites and he also lives in our dormitory. She is welcome here any time but she has rules to follow just like the rest of us." Gaia took a look Dixie and winked. "I do see many of you are interested in healing plants. I like that! I will see what I can round up! I brought some seeds from my aunt, but I am not sure what she sent us!"

(( ))

Magnus pulled out his sketch book. He flipped through the pages and stopped at a painstakingly drawn and coloured Ravencalw crest. He preformed a severing charm and presented Millie with the drawing. "Ere you go." He said with a smile.

His book smelt like porkpies and old books. Love potion did this too, he thought. Smelt like what you liked the most. He picked his book up, gave it a kiss and said, "I talk to me plants all the time. Even if I got weird looks from people." He tickled one of the leaves and petted it--not caring if one of the girls thought this was strange. He hadn't had any pets until he was adopted so plants where his pets.

Dixie perked up a bit and hissed in his ear. "Don't know if I'm right, but I fink she's saying she'll behave. And maybe she'll visit you in your dorm. Of course she could be commenting on the weather too." He wished he was a parslemouth.

Millie laughed and took the badge from Magnus. "Thanks!" she pinned it to her chest and laughed again.

Millie smiled. "That's for the welcome gift! I'm really happy to be here." She opened her book and started flipping through to find what she needed to do

Aderyn looked around as she heard Emmy's voice and she grinned widely. Raising her wand, she pointed it at the other girl and murmured an incantation, turning the stripes on Emmy's robes blue and bronze instead of their original black and yellow.

"There, now you fit right in!" She said with a giggle.

As the others all chatted amongst themselves, she waved Emmy over to take a seat with her and turned her attention once more to the book in her lap. Perhaps it needed a bit of plant food?

[img align=left]https://i.imgur.com/rphdSYC.png[/img] As everyone chatted and enjoyed the celebration Gaia paid close attention to Magnus () who had actually figured out the final step to open the book "It seems you have made quite a lot of progress, Magnus! If you notice you can see some of the words and plants pictures within the book. Now if everyone can grab their books and find a place on the table we will bloom your books!" Gaia closed her own book and waited for it to close again. "As you can see once you are done the book will seem closed off, but just a few words will open it back up." Gaia giggled and took the book in her hands and clearly said "You are as lovely as Acid Pops!" and her book opened.

"You see the books respond to your personality. What you smell from the book is an enchantment, but also the characteristics of the plant itself." Gaia left her seat and began walking around the group. "First you find some soil. Set it under your book. Then water it and give it some sunshine. Once that is done and a long stream of pollen is released talk to your book. This is the final step for your book to respond to you." Gaia went around the table as everyone began to work on their book "If for any reason it did not open, close your eyes, and touch your book with your palm. This will allow the book to tell you what it needs. Your bond will be special. It is the main reason I chose this book for us this term. i thought it would be a great tool for those who love Herbology as well as those who struggle with Herbology." Gaia walked to her spot and grinned.

And Waited...

((Tomorrow at some point the celebration will end and a new session will begin. We are starting small and fun! ^_^)) ( )

Magnus was glad Millie liked her faux Ravenclaw badge. He hadn't noticed, until Gaia said something that his book had faint words. The only thing he had missed was soil, so once that was added, the book bloomed and opened. He was beaming so hard his mouth hurt. "I bet it'll open with something like 'Porkpies are the best.'" Actually, he thought, that sounded good. He tucked into his rucksack and pulled one out, undid the wrapping and started munching as he carefully perused the book, making sure not to get food on it.

Millie had often wondered if she was a Ravenclaw but she always remembered she belonged in Hufflepuff. Still though, Magnus's badge was really cute.

followed the directions and started talking to her book. It didn't respond, so she switched to French. Once she started speaking in French, it opened up. "Apparently my book prefers to be told it's pretty in French."

Magnus giggled and said, "Well, you know, they say French is the language of love."

CAPTAIN POST

[img align=left] https://i.imgur.com/1VEhSzR.png [/img]”Hello everyone! I am really excited about this week! Not only will we work on basic plant and gardening skills, but also get to interact with small magical plants! Some of you might know what Succulents are, muggles used them as low maintenance plants in their homes, but did you know wizards and witches have been working with magical succulents for some time now?” Gaia continued her explanation “it has been recognized that some succulents and even small cactus can provide remedies and other useful abilities we didn’t know about, but keep in mind these are small plants. The effects are temporary and most times won’t last for very long. Think of them as detectors or first aid tools… that are alive.” Grinning she walked towards the blackboard “succulents are not the only plants we will work with for this session! We will also begin to grow individual Dirigible Plums and a greenhouse one.”

Blackboard

https://i.imgur.com/GqijwtS.png ">

Dirigible Plums:

• Are an orange radish-like fruit and grow upside-down on small bushes.
• "Dirigible" means "able to be guided". The word "dirigible" in the name of these plums could refer to their being shaped like airships, or to their guiding the thoughts of the wearer.
• Most Commonly Found in Ottery St. Catchpole, England.
• It is used to enhance the "ability to accept the extraordinary".

Working with seeds – Seedlings – Care: (You will need your planting/gardening tools, small pot, enriched soil, enhanced water, seeds, and parchment and quill for note taking if you wish)

• We have seeds and new seedlings ready to be potted. You may choose either one just keep in mind the seed will take a little longer to grow. Once you choose return to your working space. You will fine a few small rocks scattered around the table. you may use some for water filtration in your pot.
• After adding the rocks (or not) add your soil and a little water to activate the minerals. Once you are happy with your soil place your seed or seedling and cover slightly with soil.
• Then add some water and let it get comfortable in its new home.

Pointing at the board "Here I have some facts and basic instructions. You are all welcome to grow as many as you would like. You can even take one or two to your common rooms or dormitories. The rest can stay here, on the tables, or around the gardens rocks. We will also grow two bushes inside the greenhouse and one outside. This will help us understand their growing patterns, needs, and other things we might learn from sun exposure and water. Are there any questions so far?"

( )

Magnus' mouth dropped. "I get ta 'ave me very own Dirigible plumb?" They were his favourite fruit.

[img align=left] https://i.imgur.com/1VEhSzR.png [/img] "That you do! You can even decorate the outside of your pot for added flare! Just nothing that will hurt the plant and fruit!" Gaia grinned.

()

For a moment, he wanted to leap over to her and hug her, but he forced himself to stay put. "Oooh I'll 'ave to give it a name!" His eyes widened aghast--hurting the plant or fruit was a crime. However his smile was too bright and almost hurting as he thought of having his own plum plant. His mind swirled with ideas of decorating his pot too. He wondered if he should choose a seedling or a seed... maybe one of each? Could he do that? Then he'd have raised one from the start but have one to already look at and fawn over. "Can I start decorating the pot now?" His own excitement of the plum plant made him completely forget about the succulents as well.

Beth ran to the greenhouse. "Sorry I'm late!" Beth said upon entering. She waved hello to the group of students. She was excited to start planting some seeds.

"Seems like a lot of things like the French language".

Millie took a deep breath and smiled. The book smelled like lavender, the sea, and fresh baked cookies.

She read the black board a few times to make she understood what the lesson was for the day.

She waved to Beth as she came running in. "Hi Beth"

() "Yeap, you may choose whatever pot you like and get started!" Gaia turned to the new comer and grinned "Hi Beth! () Glad you could join us! We are starting to work on dirigible plums. Feel free to find a spot and begin."

"Don't really know any French meself," he said to Millie. "All right!" He said to Gaia happily. "'Ello Beth," he said waving to her. Claiming his pot, he conjured up some paints from inside his bag and began designing the pot. He painted a sign with wood grain and the name of the plant "Dedra Dirigible Plum" then he began to paint the plant on the other side.

[img align=left] https://i.imgur.com/1VEhSzR.png [/img] "Everyone is doing a great job so far! We will now add some more plants to our work. We have some succulents here for you to learn from and study before we plant some ourselves! I brought this ones from home, but for us to use we will begin them from seeds with proper care they should be seedlings in a month or so! Some of these will begin showing their abilities faster than others. In the case of the flower one it will bloom around every third month mark." Gaia began setting grown succulents on the demo table as everyone gathered around. "I will add the descriptions to the blackboard to help identify each plant."

Beginning from left to right seven different succulents. First was a Calcareum Limelight almost lime green in color that turned yellow for a brief moment when Gaia touched it, a green and purple Echeveria that made the girl seem taller for a moment, three smaller plants where grouped together their flowers varied in color; light pink, dark pink almost purple, and copper red. Next was a plant about six inches tall with a closed bulb on top. Is it a flower or is it fruit? Rounding up all the succulents is a clear bowl with a succulent floating on top, a Rosette, with fleshy leaves soft and smooth to the touch.

Gaia gave the members a few minutes to look at the succulents before continuing.

(( ))

Magnus finished painting his pot and was planting his plum in, talking to 'her' as he patted the last bit of soil around. Magnus went to look at the succulents. He stopped at the small plants grouped together with their flowers. He liked these ones a lot and felt highly drawn to them for some reason. "What are these?" He asked.