Chapter 47

In the herbology classroom, Professor Sprout brought out so many different magical plants to show the children. She also brought out many common herbs and fungi like foxglove and willow bark. Currently, she was showing the students a mandrake. Mandrakes are a root vegetable that resembles small, human-like figures. Potion masters use them in potion-making and are useful for restoring consciousness to those who have been petrified. Next, she brought out another magical plant.

"This, children, is a young 'Devil's snare'," Professor Sprout said as she paced the plant pot down. She then got a branch of wood and placed it near the pot. The vines from the 'Devil's Snare' shot up and wrapped its tendrils around it. "This plant used its creepers and tendrils to ensnare anyone who touched it, binding their arms and legs and eventually choking them. The harder a person struggled against Devil's Snare, the faster and more tightly it bound them. If the victim could maintain their presence of mind and relaxed, the Snare would relax its grip on them. Struggling or resistance to Devil's Snare would cause the plant to exert a greater force of constriction. Devil's Snare preferred a dark, damp environment. It would stop its movement in the environment in front of bright light and would recoil away from the heat of fire, so a well-placed fire or light based spell such as the Bluebell Flames, Fire-Making Spell, Wand-Lighting Charm or Lumos Solem Spell would effectively drive it away from its victims."

Professor Sprout then shook the branch of wood. The tendrils of the Devil's Snare got tighter and we could hear small snaps in the quiet greenhouse. They all watched as the branch bent and they heard a loud 'SNAP' as the branch broke.

"Come on, children, I expect you to at least make some notes," Professor Sprout said as she picked up the pot and placed it back in the storeroom. She then vanished away from all the broken pieces of wood. "The incantation for the Bluebell Flames is | Frigus Ignis | and the wand movement is a simple wave. The Bluebell flames are most commonly used in the tailoring industry and around the school to light up candles. You will learn this in Professor Flitwick's class soon. The | Lumos | I hope you already know and | Lumos Solem | is a variant of | Lumos | that you can learn in your free time. The Fire-Making Charms' incantation is | Incendio | and the wand movement is two simple flicks of the wrist. We will learn that charm in your next lesson. Remember to bring your wand as well."

Herbology was a very informative class and Professor Sprout knew exactly to do to keep the class's attention. She introduced the students to eight magical plants and six normal plants while briefly describing their uses in herbology and potion making. The bell finally rung, and the professor dismissed them quickly. She also did not assign any homework, unlike Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick.

===

As soon as the four Gryffindor left the classroom, they started discussing the lesson.

"That was fun," Albert said. "Now my hand hurts from writing all those notes."

"I barely write anything," Fred said. "Those plants too distracted me and making plans for revenge."

"Me too," George said. "Can I borrow you notes, Albert, please?"

"Yeah, sure, once we get back to the Common Room," Albert said.

"Glad that's over," Lee said. "We have Defence Against the Dark Arts in the afternoon and I can't wait."

"Have you guys heard the rumour?" George said as Albert and Lee looked at him with a blank face. "It's said that the position of Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts is cursed."

"Whoever teaches there is said to have misfortune, follow them," Fred said. "No, the professors have never lasted for more than a year."

"Cursed?" Albert said. If he remembered correctly, upon his graduation from Hogwarts, Tom Riddle asked the then Headmaster, Armando Dippet, for the post as Professor for the Defence Against the Dark Arts class, because of his love for Hogwarts and passion for the Dark Arts. Professor Dippet cordially rejected Riddle's application, because he was too young at eighteen years old, but offered him to reapply after a few years if he was still interested.

Over two decades later, when Riddle resurfaced as the mysterious Lord Voldemort, he returned to Hogwarts to ask for the job once again. Albus Dumbledore had taken over as Headmaster, and knowing of Voldemort's dark intentions, rejected his application. Although Voldemort was merely using the application as an excuse to return to Hogwarts to do research into dark magic, recruit more followers and to hide his diadem Horcrux, he was still infuriated that his return to the school had been denied, despite also knowing that Dumbledore would never hire him. In revenge, Voldemort jinxed the position to ensure that no applicant of the Defence Against the Dark Arts post could keep it for more than one year.

"Yeah, cursed," George said. Just think how powerful they would have to be to make a curse that even Dumbledore could not break."

"I guess they would have to be as powerful as He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named or Grindelwald," Fred said.

"We just have to hope the new professor is any good," said Lee.

"Er, what's that smell?" Albert said.

"That, my friend, is the Dung Bomb," said Fred.

"Yeah, okay, but why can I smell it here?" Albert asked.

"That's because a third year lost a bet. As a result, they had to throw a Dung Bomb into Finch's office and in the surrounding corridors," George said.

"That absolutely reeks," Lee said. "And I have a stash under my bed."

"Dear Merlin," Albert said as he sighed.

"If you don't want them, can we have them?" George asked.

"Okay," said Lee.

"I can't wait till we do the same," Fred said as he gave a high-five to his brother.

"George, don't you remember what Finch did to you when you got caught las time?" Albert said.

"Oh yeah, I completely forgot," george said as he scratched his head.

"It's fine as long as they don't get caught," Lee said.

"Yeah, what he said." The twins said in unison.

"What are the chances you won't be caught?" Albert said, as he waited for a few seconds to create a dramatic pause. "Abysmal. Your chance of not getting caught is abysmal."

===

It was a quiet journey to the Great Hall. The twins were quiet all the time and Lee was walking on ahead to get to the Great Hall first.

"We have decided." The twins said as they looked at each other confidently.

"Decided what?" Albert raised his head and asked suspiciously.

"To complete our plan," the twins said in unison.

"What plan?" Lee asked.

"To throw Dung Bombs on Finch and in his office," the twins said seriously.

They left the two boys listening agape. They didn't know what to say to their plan.

<<Note: The incantation for the Bluebell Flame was never mentioned in cannon and there's nothing on the Harry Potter Wiki. I went to the Devil's Snare section and found the Bluebell Flame. It mentioned something about it being known as Cold fire so I used | Frigus Ignis | which in latin means "Cold Fire" .>>