Chapter 21 Herbology Tutoring

This detention seemed different from usual ones, more like a joint operation between professors.

Snape led her to Greenhouse Three, where Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, was waiting for them.

Upon seeing Jane Yu, she cheerfully stepped forward, gave her a warm hug, and pressed several sweets into her hand.

"Happy Halloween, dear child!"

Jane could have wept.

Just last week before Herbology class, she had attempted to cause trouble, hoping this seemingly good-natured witch would send her to the headmaster's office. She had cast "Incendio" on what appeared to be a Christmas cactus.

The cactus writhed, its serpentine tendrils burning in the flames until reduced to ashes.

Just when she expected Professor Sprout to burst with rage, she heard:

"Five points to Slytherin!"

Jane felt her world spinning.

The kindly witch gently scooped up a stick insect-like creature from the ashes, cooing softly:

"There, there, you're safe now."

It turned out to be a Bowtruckle that had mistaken this dangerous Devil's Snare for a Christmas cactus and had been immediately ensnared by the tendrils upon climbing its branches.

When it was about to perish in the plant's deadly grip, Jane's Incendio had saved its life.

"Well done, dear! You must have studied today's lesson about Devil's Snare in advance."

Professor Sprout beamed at her proudly and announced to the class:

"Remember, children: Devil's Snare often disguises itself as Christmas cactus to trap its prey, but it fears light and warmth! Therefore, Incendio or Lumos are your best defenses when in danger!"

She then awarded Jane another five points for her scholarly knowledge.

Jane had unexpectedly become Professor Sprout's golden student.

Thus, when Snape proposed bringing Jane to collect Bubotuber pus, she readily agreed.

For ordinary first-years, access to Greenhouse Three would have been strictly forbidden!

Jane studied the plant carefully. It was an ugly thing, resembling thick, black, slug-like organisms writhing in the soil, covered with large swellings containing yellowish-green liquid.

"Miss Yu, keep your dragon-hide gloves on, unless you fancy having your hands dissolved," Snape warned sharply.

Jane's task was to collect the pus. She needed only to position the bottle at the Bubotuber's swellings and squeeze gently - the yellowish-green pus would squirt into the bottle. The liquid was slick and sticky, emitting a strong petrol-like odor.

However, it was highly effective in treating stubborn acne. When processed into potions, it had excellent skin-whitening properties and was commonly used in cosmetics.

The task was straightforward for Jane, requiring only careful attention to avoid getting pus on her hands or in her eyes.

The Bubotuber pus, as flammable as petrol, exploded the moment flames touched it. Golden-red fire erupted throughout the greenhouse, flames shooting to the ceiling as the jar became a blazing fireball.

Surrounding plants ignited, their climbing vines burning up the walls, transforming a quarter of the greenhouse into an inferno.

Jane felt waves of remorse.

Burning down the greenhouse and destroying Professor Sprout's precious plants would surely warrant expulsion.

"Immobulus!"

Two voices cast the spell simultaneously - Professor Snape and Professor Sprout.

The flames instantly extinguished as layers of ice encased the greenhouse.

Before long, the large glass jar in the corner was filled with yellowish-green pus.

But she had been plotting mischief all along.

As Professor Snape prepared to instruct her on processing the pus, she silently apologized to both professors in her mind.

Then, with a flick of her wand, she cast "Incendio" at the mouth of the large glass jar.

"BOOM!"

The Bubotuber pus, as flammable as petrol, exploded the moment the flames touched it. Golden-red fire erupted throughout the greenhouse, flames shooting up to the ceiling as the entire jar transformed into a blazing fireball.

Surrounding plants caught fire instantly, their climbing tendrils burning all the way up to the ceiling. Within moments, a quarter of the greenhouse had become an inferno.

Jane felt waves of remorse wash over her.

Burning down the greenhouse and destroying Professor Sprout's precious plants would surely warrant expulsion.

"Immobulus!" Two voices rang out simultaneously as Professor Snape and Professor Sprout cast their spells.

The flames extinguished instantly as layers of thick ice encased the greenhouse.

"How dare you—" Professor Snape was too furious to speak, his head buzzing with rage.

He couldn't believe Jane had dared to ignite the pus right in front of two professors!

He had brought her here to learn more about Herbology and Potions, but she had betrayed his trust and expectations by attempting to burn down the entire greenhouse!

Grabbing Jane's collar, Snape decided to take her to Dumbledore immediately.

He could no longer tolerate this little demon in his Slytherin House!

She would either transfer houses or be expelled!

But Professor Sprout interrupted him.

"Severus, you should see this."

She was examining the burned plants, now reduced to ashes in their pots.

From the ashes emerged clusters of seedlings, with sturdy stems and large, green leaves covered in an oily film. As they watched, the plants grew at a visible rate, their main stems hardening, bark becoming rough, and leaves growing thicker and more numerous, appearing remarkably healthy.

"Yes, this is exactly what should happen!" she exclaimed, as if discovering something extraordinary.

Professor Snape frowned, studying the rapidly growing plants while looking questioningly at Professor Sprout.

The short witch with flowing grey hair smiled so broadly that even her fine wrinkles smoothed out:

"These magical plants were imported from Australia. I've been cultivating them for a full month in the greenhouse, but they remained as seedlings."

"Now I understand - they're Eucalyptus species. Australian bushfires are common, and these plants thrive on fire. Each fire triggers their rapid growth!"

She approached Jane, patting her shoulder kindly: "Good girl, I know you have a kind heart, but next time you plan something like this, please warn me first. I almost misunderstood your intentions."

Professor Snape had already crouched down to examine the burned Bubotuber pus.

Wearing his dragon-hide gloves, he pinched some of what appeared to be ash—no, it was a yellow, fragrant powder. He quickly sprinkled a bit on the back of his left hand and was amazed to find that not only was the waxy yellow skin not corroded, but it rapidly became fair and clear.

Extraordinary, he thought, staring at his hand in shock.

The undiluted pus was highly corrosive. Usually, wizards had to add substantial amounts of water when using it to treat acne, and even then, allergic reactions were possible.

Yet the powder from the burned pus, applied directly to his skin, caused no damage or even mild allergic response.

This definitely warranted a new research paper!

In fact, since entering Hogwarts, Jane's innovations—the mantis shrimp processing method, the color-changing giant snail grinding technique, and more—each could fill a twelve-inch paper!

But this student loved to slack off. Apart from practical coursework, she rarely submitted any written assignments.

Even when she did submit something, it was full of errors and grammatically atrocious, making him want to mark it with a 'P'.

And facing his point deductions and detentions, she remained as thick-skinned as ever, leaving him completely helpless.

He looked up, his cold, deep black eyes studying Jane, apparently contemplating something.

Finally, he announced: "Write a ten-inch paper on the processing methods and uses of Bubotuber pus, due next week. This will cancel your remaining detentions this term."

...

After Jane left, Professor Sprout complained to Professor Snape:

"Severus, forgive me for saying this, but that child really doesn't like to talk."

"She never communicates with her classmates in my class either, despite having so many brilliant ideas."

"Perhaps you could guide her more. If she had communicated better, I wouldn't have misunderstood her intentions earlier."

After Dumbledore, this was the second professor to make such a request.

Perhaps I should give this matter more thought... he pondered.

...

Meanwhile, Jane was carrying a large jar of yellow powder back to the castle.

Snape had allowed her to take the powder for research and her paper.

But the powder's skin-whitening properties had completely occupied her mind.

Right now, all she wanted was to find a bathroom quickly and give herself a face mask!