That day's class was Herbology, held jointly with Hufflepuff. I do not know the details, but apparently Professor Kettleburn from Care of Magical Creatures caused some sort of mishap during his lesson, which led to a domino effect of timetable changes.
In any case, when we reached the area near the greenhouses, we spotted Professor Sprout, small and stout in stature. Her clothes were always caked with mud, and her trademark was a patched-up hat.
"Everyone, today we're going to Greenhouse Three!"
At once, whispers filled the air with excitement. Until now, Herbology classes had only been held in Greenhouse One, and Greenhouse Three was known to house far stranger and more dangerous plants.
When Professor Sprout removed a large key from her belt and opened the door, the sharp scent of enormous flowers hanging from the ceiling, each as large as an umbrella, mingled with the smell of damp soil and fertilizer, assaulting our noses.
"Today, we'll be repotting Mandrakes. Can anyone tell me their characteristics?"
Since Mandrakes were such a famous magical plant, quite a few hands went up besides mine. From Slytherin there were Daphne, Nott, and Draco, and from Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott.
"Very well, Mr. Macmillan, since you raised your hand first."
"Mandrakes, also known as Mandragora, are humanoid plants that become powerful restorative potions. They are used to return people who have been transfigured or cursed back to their original state."
"Excellent. Ten points to Hufflepuff."
Professor Sprout smiled at Macmillan's textbook-perfect answer.
"Mandrakes are the main ingredient in most antidotes, but they also have a dangerous side. Can anyone explain why?"
This time, Nott, Hannah Abbott, and I raised our hands.
"Then, Mr. Nott."
"If you hear its cry, you die."
Nott's concise answer earned Slytherin ten points.
"Now then, everyone, take one pair of earmuffs. When I give the signal, put them on and completely cover both ears. When it is safe to remove them, I'll give you the signal with a thumbs-up."
Once we covered our ears with the earmuffs as instructed, Professor Sprout put on her own, rolled up the sleeves of her robes, firmly grasped one of the leafy plants, and yanked it out.
What emerged from the soil was not a root, but something like a very ugly, tiny baby. Its skin was mottled pale green, and leaves sprouted from its head.
Professor Sprout pulled out a large pot from beneath the table, shoved the Mandrake into it, and covered it with dark, damp compost. Once the Mandrake was completely buried, she finally gave a thumbs-up, signaling us to remove our earmuffs.
"This Mandrake is still a seedling, so its cry is not lethal. Even so, it would certainly knock you all unconscious for several hours."
After that, Professor Sprout instructed us to work in groups of four, and I was placed with a trio from Hufflepuff.
They were Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott, who had been the first to buy Quidditch Derby, and Justin Finch-Fletchley.
Justin was the first to speak to me.
"Come to think of it, this is our first time being in the same group, Miss Celesteria. Ah, may I call you Elaina?"
"Yes, that's fine."
"Then please call us by our first names as well. Ernie and Hannah are fine with that too, right?"
As the four of us packed pots with compost made from dragon dung, we chatted for a while. Hannah, in particular, spoke to me with great interest.
"To be honest, I've wanted to talk to you like this for a while, Elaina."
She had darker blond hair than Daphne's, braided neatly, and slightly drooping eyes that gave her a gentle impression.
In terms of looks, I could not compare to Daphne, let alone myself, but with her calm personality and friendly demeanor, she was the type who unexpectedly attracted self-proclaimed "average guys" who thought, "Maybe I could get a chance if I tried."
"Well, even in joint classes, we end up sticking with our own houses anyway."
At Hogwarts, seating is not strictly assigned, but people tend to settle into the spots and groups they sit with at the start, a common school phenomenon. It is comfortable not having to change seats or friend groups every time, so the habit naturally continues.
"That said, we Slytherins probably stick too closely to our own, and end up being a bit isolated."
"Haha… I think it's good that housemates get along with each other, though."
As Hannah gave a soft, awkward smile, Ernie joined the conversation with clear enthusiasm.
"Well, actually, I've always thought that it isn't good for the four houses to be at odds with each other. Still, how should I put it… I felt a bit intimidated by you all, and ended up missing my chance to talk."
In short, he had been scared of Slytherin.
"I don't really care much about family background or anything like that, so if you'd like, how about we eat together sometime?"
"Really? Are you sure?"
When I invited them, Hannah looked delighted, but then quickly glanced at Pansy and the others with a worried expression and whispered to me.
"But… is it really okay? Won't people think it's strange?"
"Then what kind of image do you have of us?"
"Well, honestly, Elaina, your group has a bit of a scary image…"
"I see."
Well, I cannot say I am completely unaware of that.
Among Slytherins, being pure-blood means belonging to the elite class of the wizarding world. That generally implies being the child of a prestigious family, with both money and connections, taking proper care in one's appearance and manners. As a result, they naturally brim with confidence and tend to throw their weight around with both classmates and teachers.
If you compare it to the so-called school caste system, they are unmistakably the first and second tiers. Compared to other houses, Slytherin has a higher proportion of flashy rich kids, troublemakers, and the entourages that gather around them.
"By the way, could I ask what image you have of Slytherin girls?"
Since the opportunity presented itself, I decided to ask Hannah from Hufflepuff how we were viewed from the outside.
"Um, well, there's the kind of girl who seems really harsh, like a queen bee of the class."
"That would be Pansy."
"And then there's the lively, gal-like girl who seems fun."
"That would be Daphne."
"And there's this slightly rough-looking, modern delinquent girl type?"
"That would be Millicent."
"And then there's the scheming student council president type who abuses her authority."
"So someone like that exists too, apparently."
I had no idea who that last one might be referring to, but it was clear enough that none of these impressions were particularly flattering.
"Then what about from your perspective, Elaina? What kind of impression do we Hufflepuffs give off?"
"Huh? Plain?"
"Yeah… figures."
Hannah gave a wry smile and added, "I kind of knew it."
"But not everyone is plain, you know? Like Diggory-senpai, who's two years above us, or Estelle, who's a year above and tops her year academically."
"The fact that Ernie and Justin didn't get mentioned there makes Hufflepuff sound pretty harsh in its own way."
"Well, I guess that can't be helped."
"Oh? Is this what they call a traitor within the ranks?"
At Ernie Macmillan's quip, Justin Finch-Fletchley chimed in as well.
"Exactly. Believe it or not, I was actually set to attend Eton College."
…What?
Justin's bombshell made me drop the compost without thinking.
"Eton College, as in that Eton College?"
"Yes, that Eton College."
"The Eton College where the tuition costs about as much as a middle manager's annual salary?"
"Yes, the Eton College where the tuition costs about as much as a middle manager's annual salary."
"Then why did you end up coming to Hogwarts…?"
Ernie gave a strained smile at my choice of words, muttering, "End up coming…," but it really was that big a deal.
After all, Eton College is the most prestigious of elite schools in the British Muggle world, having produced as many as twenty prime ministers. Getting in virtually guarantees entry into the upper class in the future, not only because of the academic pedigree, but also because of the connections formed while attending.
More than that, the fact that he had already secured admission meant he had studied relentlessly and overcome extremely stiff competition to get there.
"I suspected you were from a distinguished family, given the double-barreled name Finch-Fletchley, but still…"
For reference, a double-barreled surname is used when two prestigious families marry and choose to preserve both family names. In most cases, having such a surname is practically synonymous with being elite.
Because I was so utterly shocked, even Ernie and Hannah, who had initially laughed it off, gradually began to look puzzled.
"Uh, I know it's a bit late to ask, but Justin… could it be that you're actually incredibly important in the Muggle world?"
"I've been telling you that ever since last year, haven't I?!"
"Sorry, Justin, I thought it was some kind of joke…"
To be fair, with Eton's tuition sitting at around forty thousand pounds a year, an absurd amount of money, it might be hard for Hannah and the others, who come from magical families where Hogwarts is essentially the only educational institution, to believe that a famous Muggle private school could charge fees that easily exceed the annual income of an average middle-class household.
"Actually, my family owns several rare metal mines in South Africa…"
"You should have said that first!"
All things considered, I'm just glad Justin finally got the recognition he deserved.
(End of chapter)
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