When Professor Sprout suddenly stopped William, he thought she might be asking for the Devil's Snare he had taken.
But she smiled kindly and said, "Mr. Stark, Madam Pomfrey mentioned that you're skilled at brewing potions—most of the ones in our textbooks, if I recall?"
William had indeed sought Madam Pomfrey's advice on restorative potions multiple times and often helped her brew simple remedies for colds when he had free time. She was well aware of his aptitude for potion-making.
"Oh, yes, Professor," William replied promptly. "Do you need my help with something?"
"Indeed. Recently, several of the plants in the greenhouse have been damaged. From the signs, I suspect we have Doxies."
William frowned. "But aren't Doxies usually found only in Northern Europe and the Americas?"
Doxies, classified as a XXX magical creature by the Ministry of Magic, were a nuisance known for wreaking havoc on plants.
"Who knows?" Sprout said with a sigh. "Maybe it's Hagrid. He does love keeping all sorts of odd creatures.
"Honestly, I'm worried about how his menagerie of magical beasts might harm my delicate plants. The golden pumpkins I planted last time were stolen by his Niffler!"
Sprout's request was straightforward: she needed William to brew a batch of Doxycide to drive away the pests.
William was happy to oblige. The greenhouse was a treasure trove of herbs, many of which were essential for potion-making. It was a perfect opportunity to ask for some rare ingredients and pad his own supplies.
For instance, Doxy repellant required just an ounce of Bouncing Bulb sap, but William was already envisioning requesting a whole pound, sixteen times the amount needed.
As he indulged in his sweet fantasies, Professor Sprout added, almost as if to herself, "I used to ask Professor Snape for potions, but I've given up on that."
She sighed. "He always demanded far too many herbs. Last time I asked him to make an insecticide, he needed just one ounce of Venomous Tentacula sap, but he insisted on ten pounds—and still claimed it wasn't enough!"
William's admiration for Snape grew. He sighed regretfully, berating himself for not having Snape's audacity. A true role model, he thought.
Professor Sprout eyed him suspiciously. "You're not going to do the same, are you?"
"Professor Sprout, do I look like the kind of person who'd do that?" William exclaimed indignantly. "Honestly, Professor Snape goes way too far!"
He quickly added, "Cedric is a good friend of mine, and he speaks highly of you. I'd be more than happy to brew potions for you, even if I have to buy the ingredients myself.
"Of course, not compensating me wouldn't suit your reputation, and it might not sound good if word got out.
"Still, my success rate isn't always perfect, but I assure you, it'll require far fewer herbs than Professor Snape asks for!"
"…Fine," Sprout said after a pause.
The two entered the greenhouse, and William noticed a row of pots containing Mandrakes in one corner. Just last week, they had repotted the Mandrakes.
Mandrakes were potent restoratives used to reverse magical transformations and cures for various curses.
However, the cry of a mature Mandrake was fatal, making them one of the most dangerous plants in the greenhouse.
So this is one of Sprout's "delicate" plants, William thought.
Today's lesson wasn't about Mandrakes, though. Sprout stood at the center of the greenhouse behind a bench, which held twenty pairs of dragon-hide gloves.
"Today, we'll be working with Snargaluffs. Now, who can tell me what Snargaluffs are known for?"
Perhaps because William had just agreed to help her, Professor Sprout called on him. "Mr. Stark, you answer."
"The Snargaluff, also known as the Carnivorous Plant, produces pods used in antidotes to neutralize poisons from magical creatures."
"Excellent! Five points to Ravenclaw," she said, unusually generous. Most professors only awarded William one point at a time.
"Snargaluffs are a crucial ingredient in many antidotes, capable of neutralizing even rare toxins like snake venom or Graphorn poison."
She gestured toward several large pots containing plants with radiant blooms that resembled miniature suns.
Their enticing fragrance filled the air, but every Snargaluff was covered with a protective mask over its gaping maw.
"But they're also dangerous. Can anyone tell me why?"
Cho raised her hand. "Snargaluffs have sharp, venomous teeth. When hungry, they attack living creatures. There are four recorded cases of wizards being eaten by Snargaluffs in the 20th century."
"Very good! Ten points to Ravenclaw," Sprout said.
The younger students gasped and stepped back, clearly unwilling to become the fifth case.
"Don't worry, children," Sprout reassured them. "Our Snargaluffs are in their teething phase, so they're much less dangerous."
Her maternal tone reminded William of Hagrid, who still thought Fluffy was just an adorable puppy.
"Each of you, take a pair of dragon-hide gloves," Sprout instructed. "When removing the masks, never put your hands directly into their mouths."
She demonstrated, donning gloves, rolling up her sleeves, and gently peeling off the mask from the barbs on the Snargaluff's right side.
The students followed her lead, albeit cautiously.
The Snargaluffs resembled monstrous versions of the chomper plants from Plants vs. Zombies. Their enormous mouths and yellowed teeth seemed capable of swallowing someone whole.
"This is an anesthetic," Sprout explained, holding up a vial. "Brush it onto their gums to ease the pain."
She applied the liquid to a Snargaluff's mouth, then used oversized tongs to yank out one of its pointed teeth with a satisfying pop.
"After the teeth are removed, new ones will grow, and their fruit will also grow larger," she explained, her calm tone making it seem as ordinary as watering begonias.
"Four people to a pot—there are plenty of pots to go around. The compost is in the bags over there. Oh, and mind the Venomous Tentacula while you're at it," she added, slapping a crimson, thorny vine that was stealthily reaching for her shoulder.
Venomous Tentacula was a spiky green plant with active vines that attempted to grab nearby prey. Its sap and spines were both highly toxic, making its bite potentially lethal.
Despite its danger, each leaf was worth ten Galleons. Professor Sprout's greenhouse contained enough Tentacula to make any herbalist weep with envy.
Calling Hogwarts professors "wealthy" would be an understatement. They weren't just rich—they were elite intellectuals who spent their free time teaching while running lucrative side businesses.
At Hogwarts, poverty simply didn't exist.
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