A rough start.

April 26th, after classes

Her blue eyes glanced around the greenhouse, as she notated who was present. Classes weren’t in session, and so the area was more scattered than typical. A small number of other students worked quietly, tending to plants or dirt plots and pots. Warily, the 2nd year Gryffindor grabbed an empty stool in an empty corner (but not empty of strange plants!) and sat down.

The heat was ever present, not to mention humidity. June tugged on the ends of her ponytailed sleek hair, lost in thought. Her return to Hogwarts was… Bad. There was no other way to describe it. She had only been back for a few days, and she felt as if she was an interloper.

In the last year, her whole world had been turned upside down.

Her beloved Mother and Father were caught facilitating an illegal and highly unethical magical creature poaching and trafficking ring. Her parents were stripped of their rights, their belongings and gold, leaving her and her older sister to be sent off to their Aunt Agatha. Her older brother, nowhere to be seen. Their ancient home, full of their history and memories, destroyed and desolate.

And to make it all worse, her sister had turned on her.

“I don’t understand her anymore…” June whispered, drawing odd shapes in the soil of the planter in front of her.

Her older sister was always studious and proud. She had always impressed upon June the importance of reputation, and bringing honor to the name of Hargrove. But the older girl still would soften for her little sister.

Not anymore. June’s only true ally had turned her back on her.

She only ever has the time to tell me how shameful I am. How it’s my duty to restore our reputation. , June thought to herself, miserably digging her fingers deeper and deeper into whatever planter she had posted against.

Typically she had the greenhouse to herself, but today was not that day. Unfortunately. The Herbology Professor was nowhere to be found, not a shocker there, so Tilly would take it upon herself to make sure no one screwed with the less polite foliage.

A few first years were fucking-about, tossing compost at each other. Walking with purpose over to them, eyes glaring with disdain. They took one look at the flaming red hair and blazing blue eyes and booked it out of the greenhouse. Her reputation preceded her.

Perfect. Two less people.

As was typical, Tilly was in her working outfit, ready to get dirty without a care in the world. Drago would be appalled if he saw her currently, very unbecoming of a society lady, but the batch of Bubotubers she had been working with had an excess amount of pus. They had gone too long, now, with a simple touch they were exploding.

Thankfully, she had her apron on, but the arms of her shirt, the ends of her skirt, shoes and some of her hair had been on the receiving end of the mess.

In the corner, away from others, Tilly noticed a fellow lion messing around with a pot. Of course Tilly knew who it was, June Hargrove. Her family disgraced, something to do with creatures and trafficking. She cared very little for the ramblings of the Daily Prophet, and even less about the inner workings of High Society.

Walking over, she heard a mumbled something, but couldn’t make out the words. Coming around to her side, Tilly leaned her backside up against the worktable next to the girl. Second year, if she was correct? Maybe third. They all looked like babies at this point. “Hey June. How are you? Anything I can help you with?”

While June felt the slight sensation of compost being vaguely flung at her direction, it didn’t register with her. What broke her out of her own spiraling thoughts was the sudden voice to the side of her.
Startled, the second year girl looked up from the mysterious plant she was messing with.

Hopefully a non-toxic or aggressive plant, but that’s a problem for slightly-future June.

Next to her stood a taller girl, with blazing hair and powerful eyes. They seemed to look down at her, to see through her angry facade. To split her down the middle and see what really festered inside: Shame and fear, and betrayal.

The gaze was not judgemental however, only knowing.

The older girl was unfamiliar to June, especially as she was donned in typical gardening equipment instead of the traditional female uniform. She seemed… comfortable, in it. Confident. It was like the whole greenhouse was her kingdom, and she was the Lord of it.

Poor June had to blink to regain her focus, like a dweeb. Or so she felt.

“I was uh… Admiring the dirt. In this planter. It seems, uh, well watered. I think.” June over-explained, not quite lying but also not being honest. She didn’t want to admit that she was hiding from the school. Or that she kind of just… Wandered here, to the greenhouse, by accident.

Her first year of Hogwarts was spent being so sleepless that she never got a real chance to memorize the complicated corridors and passage ways. The only reason she had managed to get to classes on time were her skills in following the fellow Lions from her year.

Clearing her throat, the brunette summoned her courage. She pulled her dirt and compost-y fingers out of the planter, and held out her hand for a proper handshake.

“I’m June Hargrove. What’s your name?” She asked, not at all hiding her ignorance, trying to channel any of the etiquette that she could think of.

Avery needed help.

It wasn't often he admitted it, the little boy's pride at being the best and most knowledgeable when it came to...anything...always leading him by the throat. But in this instance, Avery had to concede defeat. Plants, despite having grown up on a farm - a sheep farm, to be fair - weren't his strength, and he needed some help in the area to be able to concoct exactly the right elixir he was in the market for.

Professor Barlowe - the lady one - hadn't delved into poisons this term, and something told him that as long as he was a student of hers, she wouldn't be. He was a great scholar and took his studies seriously. Potions had come naturally to him, and it wasn't really a day or more that went by when she wasn't praising his work or study habits. But Professor Barlowe seemed to be keeping some of the stronger stuff at bay. When he'd asked her not too long ago about more...potent concoctions...she'd raised her eyebrow at him and told him to keep dreaming.

Very unprofessional, he'd thought, for a professor, but what more was to be expected from KaThRyN's mother?

So, here he was, swinging open one of the greenhouse doors in search of the red-headed plant girl. Matilda seemed nice enough, and he was sure if he asked nicely and explained his reasoning quite clearly, she'd assist him with some ingredient knowledge.

If she didn't, then he'd be forced to sneak into the Restricted Section, and it truly was his last resort. He didn't want to get expelled before he'd truly mastered becoming a mad scientist of sorts.

"Hello Matilda!" he said cheerfully as he closed the door softly behind him. "I'm here to pick your brain on plants. Deadly plants, preferably. Not so deadly that they'll actually kill, but definitely make someone think they're dying." He smiled brightly, before noticing June looking like someone had kicked her puppy. "Hello June," he said jovially, "come to pick Matilda's brain as well?"

“I was uh… Admiring the dirt. In this planter. It seems, uh, well watered. I think.”

Oh. "Alright," he said, his smile never dropping from his face, but confusion swirled behind his eyes as he glanced back at Matilda. "Anywho, Matilda. I need you to not ask questions, okay? Look," he moved closer to the older girl, slipping past June with an awkward little shuffle, "This isn't some mafia thing like the Barlowes, right? I just...need to know..."

He narrowed his eyes at her, and then at June. They were the types to be able to keep a secret, right?

Looking over the young girls, Matilda could see the struggle. Having your family in the news for all the wrong reasons was bad enough, but add to that adolescent bullying, hormones and pre-teen idiots and you had a recipe for disaster.

Suddenly, there was someone calling her name. And she recognized the voice. Crossing her arms over her chest, Matilda waited for Avery to get it all out.

"Hello Matilda! I'm here to pick your brain on plants. Deadly plants, preferably. Not so deadly that they'll actually kill, but definitely make someone think they're dying." Matilda sighed out a laugh, this was not the first time someone had come asking about poisons. For some reason everyone thought she had a list of plants that would off an enemy. Or at least make them very uncomfortable.

They weren’t wrong, she did have a list. An extensive list… with recipes.

"Hello June, come to pick Matilda's brain as well?" Avery asked June, in an upbeat chipper tone.

“I was uh… Admiring the dirt. In this planter. It seems, uh, well watered. I think.” The girl's hands were in the dirt, just sort of… there. Looking down at the pot, she could in fact confirm that it was well watered. Matilda nodded, reassuring the girl that she was correct.

All while Avery kept right on talking.

"Alright," he continued, giving Matilda a look. "Anywho, Matilda. I need you to not ask questions, okay? Look," he said, scooting past June to get closer. He was a persistent little thing. They were making first years a lot smaller than they used to.

"This isn't some mafia thing like the Barlowes, right? I just...need to know..." Her eyes went wide, and a snort of a laugh came out. Mafia, what in the hell was he talking about?!

Matilda took June’s dirt covered hand in hers, shaking it despite the mess. She was similarly covered, as per usual. ”I don’t think we were ever formally introduced. I’m Matilda Nordstrom. Resident plant girl. If you ever need help in the greenhouse, I’m you girl.”

Switching her attention to Avery she sighed. What to do with this one?

”Ok, first off, I have no idea what you're talking about. The Mafia? I think you're mistaken, and if you’re not, like I would confirm such things to you.’ She raised an eyebrow and gave him a knowing look. Snitches get stitches and all that.

”And in regards to ‘Deadly Plants,’ well. I don’t think it would be right for me to teach you what plants would kill someone. Plausible deniability and all that. But there are about thirty two different plants in here that will cause digestive upset, vomiting, headache, some light hallucinations, maybe some vivid nightmares. You know… the safe but insane sort of thing.”

The sudden presence of the eccentric Ravenclaw startled the ever-living daylights out of the unsuspecting Hargrove girl. Embarrassment surged through June, especially upon seeing the visible confusion behind the younger student’s eyes.

The thing to understand about June is that she was honest to a fault, and incredibly expressive. Her facial expressions followed this standard, and so when the brunette heard the incredible ramblings spill from the boy, June was shocked to her core.

The little pipsqueak wants to know about MINORLY deadly plants? Is he insane?, she thought, and turned to see how the older girl, who she now knew was called ‘Matilda’, responded to such disturbing subjects.

And to continue the shock-fest, the older girl just laughed. A very goofy snort that said it all: This kid was just quirky like that. Despite that strange revelation, seeing the older wild looking girl break into something as normal as a snort helped June to relax. After all, it’s not the older girl would really know much of the poisonous or toxic plants beyond what was standard curriculum, right?

“And I am June Hargrove. It’s nice to meet you, Matilda!” June chirped back, pleased that her introductions and handshake were accepted.

With that, Matilda turned to the inquiring Ravenclaw, and responded.

What happened next was the literal opposite of whatever June had anticipated. She wouldn’t be able to tell you what her expectations were, but they weren’t what she witnessed.

Matilda, just went back to disarming in June’s thought process. Plausible deniability? And what do you mean there are thirty-two plants in here that would hurt your stomach or cause hallucinations?

“Safe but insane??” She questioned out-loud. With that, June had realized something devastating: She very clearly underestimated both persons she was communicating with. Was there anything else she was ignorant to, anyone else with strangeness and duality? Could there have been a whole new side of Hogwarts that she hid herself from, by assuming the worst of everyone?

With a slightly worried look, she cast her gaze back to the planter and by extension the plants she had been fondling earlier.

“Those weren’t poisonous, were they??” She gasped, and looked at her dirt stricken hands.

”Ok, first off, I have no idea what you're talking about. The Mafia? I think you're mistaken, and if you’re not, like I would confirm such things to you."

"Well you don't have to be rude about it, Matilda Nordstrom," Avery muttered, deciding in the moment that she was now on the level of Ruth Elliot who instead of being on a friendly first name basis, they'd now switch to a professional first and last name basis. They'd only need to communicate now in the aspect of professionally helping one another. He could maintain his politeness, if only to achieve what he was after.

Had there been another plant aficionado in the area, he would have immediately moved his intentions to that person, but alas, here they were. Limited options.

”And in regards to ‘Deadly Plants,’ well. I don’t think it would be right for me to teach you what plants would kill someone. Plausible deniability and all that. But there are about thirty two different plants in here that will cause digestive upset, vomiting, headache, some light hallucinations, maybe some vivid nightmares. You know… the safe but insane sort of thing.”

"No worries, I can research in the Restricted Section." He dismissed her concern with a flippant wave of his hand, glad she was willing to see what he was actually needing here. He didn't want anyone to die. Maybe someday, but for now he was just an angry eleven year old who wanted some petty revenge on the mean girls that called him a mudblood.

Among other...unsavory, untrue things.

“Safe but insane??”

Avery glanced sideways at June, a small smile playing on his lips. "That's the best type of insane, isn't it?" he asked. He followed her gaze back to the plant she'd just had her hands in. "Likely not, June. Matilda Nordstrom would have already jumped all over you if they were. Your hands will live to see another day." He reached out to try and give her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"But if not, come up to the Hospital Wing later. I'll be on shift and can patch you up right as rain."

He turned back to Matilda Nordstrom.

"So you were saying about these plants?" He needed them. The sooner the better.

Nodding at June’s introduction, Tilly smiled. “Nice to meet you too.” As a Gryffindor Prefect, Tilly knew a little about June’s situation. She wouldn’t mention anything in mixed company, but she had to imagine that it had been difficult lately. As far as family dynamics and bad press, Tilly knew a little about that here and there, so it was possible the older girl could be a safe space if it was needed.

Avery on the other hand didn’t need a safe space, he needed a straight jacket. "No worries, I can research in the Restricted Section." Well excuse her very much. As the head library assistant, she might have a thing or two to say about that, but she would wait for another day.

“Safe but insane?? Those weren’t poisonous, were they??” Poor June looked terrified, Tilly just smiled. "Likely not, June. Matilda Nordstrom would have already jumped all over you if they were. Your hands will leave to see another day."

Avery tried to help the situation by suggesting June come up to the wing later, but thankfully that wouldn’t be needed. ”No, not poisonous at all. Those are in greenhouse… uh, another greenhouse.” Looking at Avery, she decided to keep her mouth shut about where, in fact, the deadly and dangerous plants were kept. Much higher security and under tight lock and key, it would take a lot for him to get in, but something told her it would take very little convincing before he tried.

"So you were saying about these plants?" With a sigh, Tilly looked down at the eager face, then looked at June who looked more scandalized than eager. She couldn’t blame the girl.

”Well yes, every plant in here and the other greenhouses have a multitude of uses. Some obvious, others not so much. Some outcomes might depend on if you extract oil, crush them, dry them, or eat them straight from the plant.”

Walking over a few feet, Tilly pointed to the Angelica plant. ”This one for instance. Angelica is said to ward off illness and evil spirits if carried in a talisman. You can add it to a bath and potions to help remove curses. Some believe smoking the leaves will increase visions. Depending on who you ask and what they believe, it can also help with exorcisms.” She said, smiling. She was a vault of useless plant knowledge. Very rarely would anyone ask her questions, so this was a nice treat.

”What exactly are you looking for? Because there are so many options we could be here for days and barely touch the surface. Do you want a tincture or a tea? Or maybe a syrup. It really depends on what your end game is.”

Upon hearing that the Gryffindor would not need any medical or magical intervention for her hands, June sagged with visible relief. While her family historically turned out many accomplished herbalists and arborists, hence the name of Hargrove, the latent talent must have skipped her.

The few times she had tried to keep friendly, magical indoor potted plants, they would either shrivel up within a week or unironically uproot themselves, and walk out the door. June would later find them replanted within the front yard of her old home, or never at all.

So no, herbology was not her forte.

Despite all the assurance, she still found herself self-consciously wiping her hands off on her robe.

Listening to Matilda speak about the various plants found within their current greenhouse was only slightly interesting to June. She found herself more so caring about the older girl's expression and posture, finding it endearing how passionate she was about it all.

Looking back at the younger boy, who she still hadn't quite worked up the nerve to introduce herself to, she could tell he was still thinking deviously. There could be nothing good coming about from him turning to the Restricted Section of the Library for his desired information...

Was he really a Ravenclaw? Maybe he's got some Slytherin tenancies, June thought to herself. Or at least, she meant to. Instead, in classic June-fashion, she instead blurted out,

"Are you sure you're not supposed to be a Slytherin?"

Her face bloomed as red as a tomato, eyes widening as she interrupted the conversation.

Oops.

"Are you sure you're not supposed to be a Slytherin?"

Who, him? A...a....Slytherin?! One of those stuck up pureblood jerks who possessed the cognitive capacity of a mildly concussed Flobberworm? The insult! The absolute demolition of his character! Avery was intelligent, by far the most intelligent first year Ravenclaw, despite what Kathryn Elise Barlowe thought. Slytherins didn't care about their educations the way he did. They didn't spend hours upon hours researching and studying and pondering all the mechanisms of the magical universe to ensure they were the greatest fountains of knowledge.

All they did was marry their cousins and sneer at everyone.

“Slytherins have the intellectual processing power of a damp sock."

There. Explanation enough, and June would surely know, just by his retort, that he, in fact, was not supposed to be a Slytherin. "But thank you for asking. There are no dumb questions." Although Avery could admit, silently, to himself, that that had been a dumb question.

Avery Hale. A Slytherin.

"Pah."

”No, not poisonous at all. Those are in greenhouse… uh, another greenhouse.”

"Which greenhouse?" Avery was shameless. He knew Matilda Nordstrom was being coy, but he had supplies to gather, and they were wasting time. It would be easier if she just told him. Avery wasn't the type to bite the hand that fed him. If he got caught, which he wouldn't because Laura and Dorothy were morons, Matilda Nordstorm would never be implicated with him.

He only snitched when it was important to his advancement, but he knew to keep allies close.

Matilda Nordstrom had decided, however, that he'd asked about Angelica and its hallucination properties, which, no he hadn't and couldn't give a kneazle's knee about.

WHERE. WERE. THE. DEADLY. PLANTS.

He really needed to practice his patience, but the boy felt he'd made himself quite clear about his motives and desires, here. It made sense that Matilda Nordstrom was a Gryffindor, now that he thought about it.

”What exactly are you looking for? Because there are so many options we could be here for days and barely touch the surface. Do you want a tincture or a tea? Or maybe a syrup. It really depends on what your end game is.”

"It doesn't matter the form as long as it dissolves and is tasteless." The boy's voice was flat and even as he blinked at her. "Gastrointestinal upset. Severe, preferably."

Laura would rue the day she'd called Avery Hale a mudblood.

Again, among...other things.

The silence that followed Avery's declaration was almost deafening. Matilda stared at him for a long moment before pinching the bridge of her nose.

"A damp sock?"

She glanced over at June, unable to suppress the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "I think you'll find every house says the exact same thing about the other three. Don't worry, June. You'll insult someone from each house before you graduate. It's practically a Hogwarts tradition. And if you don’t, well then you should have been a Hufflepuff."

Turning back to Avery, her expression softened into one she usually reserved for particularly stubborn mandrakes. "And no, I'm not telling you which greenhouse."

She folded her arms looking at the boy more closely. He was up to something, that was obvious. It wouldn’t shock her if this had something to do with Kate and her never ending bullies. The food fight did not change the behavior. Even so, she wouldn’t be helping him poison the children. There were probably… definitely rules against that.

"The fact that you immediately asked which greenhouse instead of accepting 'no' is exactly why I'm not telling you." His next answer earned an even longer stare.

"It doesn't matter the form as long as it dissolves and is tasteless. Gastrointestinal upset. Severe, preferably."


Her tone carried the unmistakable weight of Prefect, with a dash of older sister. "Avery. I don't know who upset you, and frankly it's none of my business, but I am absolutely not helping you poison another student. Severe will not be tolerated.

Matilda stared at him for a long moment, sighing dramatically, rubbing a bit of Bubotuber slime off the side of her apron. Crossing her arms, she gave him the look usually reserved for students about to lose points. "Avery, If you're asking me how to send someone to the Hospital Wing, the answer is no. Word would get back to Rae and I’m not about to feel her wrath. You’d be smart to learn that lesson now, by the way."

A second passed before the corner of her mouth twitched. "Now..." she said thoughtfully. "If you were asking for something that caused a rather inconvenient afternoon..."

She began counting on her fingers.

"A harmless forgetfulness potion uses mistletoe berries and valerian. Plants that can be put in shampoo that will dye their hair. Senna, can be ground up and used as a laxative. Star Fruit extract can cause hiccups in some people. There’s a voice changing potion that would take some work, but could be interesting. And if nothing else, I know a few plants that can be used in an exorcism… if you believe in that sort of thing. Pretty sure you need a priest and holy water though." She shrugged.

The useless plant knowledge stored in her head would boggle the minds of most Ravenclaws. Most of the plants in the greenhouse could be used in a number of different ways. Some helpful and healing. Others fell into a different darker category. While Matilda had a few recipes saved to study, she would never give them over to a first year with a grudge.

"I will only help if it's harmless, temporary, and preferably funny for everyone involved. If there's even a chance someone gets properly sick, we're done talking."

Looking at Avery, she narrowed her eyes.

"So. Which is it? Revenge...or a prank?"

Something about the silence, preceded by the shocked exclamation of "A damp sock!", made June burst into laughter. The young brunette tried to rope herself back under control, but instead caught the barely suppressed smile of her senior. This seemed to make it worse for her. The semi-girlish giggles very quickly devolved into unabashed chortles.

June leaned against the nearest bench, hurriedly wiping her nose. Regardless, her dignity had been thrown out the window. The girl felt much looser, and finally got herself under control as she listened to Matilda placated her blunder.

A Hufflepuff? Her? June? Definitely not.

As Matilda turned her attention back to the scheming not Slytherin, June had a chance to catch her breath and really study the younger student. Given her temperament, the studying was unsubtle as you could get.

Personally, June felt that going to all the trouble of poisoning a student's (or two) meal was... Overkill. To her, it seemed that all the offender(s) would take away is that they may have allergies or perhaps just some rancid ingredients.

To her stubby little brain, it would make more sense to approach them head on. If the Ravenclaw was smart enough to research moderately toxic plants, what's to stop him from researching some more tricky and obscure transfiguration or defensive spells?

June tried her hardest to pay attention to what the Gryffindor prefect was spieling about, the various different herbs and plants but it just whooshed over her head.

"If it's a prank, I want in." June stubbornly announced. While the technicalities escaped her, she could definitely identify one or two older girls that... deserved it. The ones who caused her escape into the greenhouses in the first place. While many more students, across all houses had given her looks or occasional nasty remarks about her family, there were two older students who were the worst.