Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Herbology Class Part 2
The smell of Sir Humphrey's parting gift lingered unpleasantly in the air as Henry, Jonah, and Katherine continued their journey through the mysterious third corridor. The hallway stretched on like a labyrinth, its walls lined with faded tapestries depicting battles and scenes of magical history. Dust swirled in the faint beams of light that filtered through cracked windows, and the floor creaked ominously with every step they took.
Henry (still holding his nose):
"I swear, that ghost is worse than the plants."
Jonah (laughing):
"Oh, come on. You have to admit he's hilarious. I think he gets better every time."
Katherine (dryly):
"Only you would find a farting ghost funny."
They continued down the corridor, turning corners and walking through archways that all looked the same, hoping to find a way back to more familiar parts of the school. But the deeper they went, the more the hallway seemed to twist and turn, as though it were deliberately trying to confuse them.
Katherine (frowning as they reached another dead end):
"This can't be right. We've been walking in circles."
Henry (sighing):
"I told you this place is a maze. We're never getting out of here."
Just as they were about to turn back, they heard a faint rustling sound coming from one of the walls. Henry froze, eyeing the tapestries warily.
Henry (whispering):
"Did you hear that?"
Before anyone could respond, the nearest tapestry, a faded depiction of a wizard battling a dragon, suddenly rippled as though it were alive. A moment later, the dragon on the tapestry roared to life, its painted form shifting and moving as it glared down at them with glowing eyes.
Tapestry Dragon (snarling):
"Trespassers! What are you doing in the third corridor?!"
The trio took a step back, startled by the sudden outburst. But before they could answer, the dragon was joined by a chorus of voices from the other tapestries. Every painting and portrait along the hallway sprang to life, their inhabitants glaring down at the students with various expressions of annoyance, disapproval, and disdain.
Portrait of Lady Drowsby (scowling):
"More troublemakers, I see. Wandering where they don't belong. Typical."
Portrait of Lord Tuttle (grumbling):
"Back in my day, students had respect! None of this sneaking around nonsense. What has the school come to?"
Portrait of Sir Reginald (snobbishly):
"Just look at them, dirty robes, unkempt hair. Disgraceful!"
Henry, Jonah, and Katherine exchanged uncomfortable glances as the portraits continued to berate them, each one offering their own critique of the students' appearance and behavior.
Jonah (trying not to laugh):
"I think we've stumbled into the Hall of Grumpy Old People."
Henry (muttering):
"More like the Hall of Never-Shut-Up."
Katherine (deadpan):
"Let's just keep moving."
As they tried to move on, the talking portraits seemed determined to make their journey as unpleasant as possible. One particularly snooty portrait of a 17th-century duke, dressed in full regal attire, leaned forward and glared down at Jonah.
Duke Portrait (sniffing disdainfully):
"Look at that posture! You stand like a sack of potatoes, boy! Where is your dignity?"
Jonah, to his credit, only grinned wider at the insult.
Jonah (mimicking the duke's voice):
"Oh no, I've offended the sack-of-potatoes community! Whatever will I do?"
Henry (laughing despite himself):
"You really need to stop encouraging them."
Further down the hall, another portrait, a dour-looking old witch in a pointy hat, pointed a bony finger at Katherine, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Witch Portrait (hissing):
"And what's this? A girl with improper wand technique! Back in my day, students were taught to hold their wands correctly. You should be ashamed!"
Katherine rolled her eyes, clearly done with the entire situation.
Katherine (sarcastically):
"Thank you for your completely unnecessary input."
The portraits didn't stop there. One after another, they hurled criticisms and complaints at the trio as they made their way down the corridor, each portrait finding something new to pick on.
Narrator (amused):
"Ah yes, the portraits of Wibberflop. Always ready to offer their unsolicited opinions, whether you want them or not. If only they could be silenced with a simple spell, alas, we can't all be so lucky."
After what felt like hours of enduring the portraits' endless tirades, the trio finally reached the end of the corridor, where they found a large, ornate wooden door. The door was carved with intricate designs of swirling vines and animals, and standing guard in front of it was a painting of a knight in gleaming armor. The knight had a stern expression on his face, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he gazed down at them.
Knight Portrait (gruffly):
"Halt, trespassers! If you wish to pass, you must answer my riddle."
Henry (groaning):
"Of course. A riddle."
Jonah (grinning):
"Oh, I love riddles! What's the question, Sir Knight?"
The knight nodded solemnly and crossed his arms.
Knight Portrait (grandly):
"Very well, here is your riddle: I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?"
The trio exchanged glances, thinking over the riddle. Jonah tapped his chin, clearly enjoying the challenge.
Jonah (musing):
"No mouth, no ears, but comes alive with the wind... hmm. Oh! It's an echo, isn't it?"
The knight's stern expression faltered, and he grumbled under his breath.
Knight Portrait (reluctantly):
"That... is correct. You may pass."
With a flick of his sword, the knight gestured toward the door, which creaked open slowly. Beyond it, they could see a narrow staircase leading downward, the air growing colder and mustier with each step.
Katherine (smirking slightly):
"Nice work, Jonah. Let's get out of here."
Grateful to be leaving the talkative portraits behind, the trio hurried through the door and down the staircase. The sound of the portraits' grumbling voices grew fainter as they descended, though they could still hear a few last insults echoing from above.
Portrait of Lady Drowsby (calling after them):
"And don't think we didn't notice those untied shoelaces!"
Once they were safely out of earshot, Jonah burst out laughing.
Jonah (laughing):
"I can't believe we just got insulted by a bunch of paintings!"
Henry (chuckling):
"That's Wibberflop for you. Even the walls have opinions."
Katherine (sighing in relief):
"At least we're finally out of there. Now let's figure out where this staircase leads."
As they made their way down the winding stairs, the air grew cooler, and the dim light of the corridor faded into shadows. But for the first time since they'd escaped the greenhouse, they felt like they were finally heading in the right direction.
The winding staircase eventually led Henry, Jonah, and Katherine back into the familiar halls of Wibberflop Academy. As they descended the final steps, the distant, echoing grumbles of the portraits above finally faded, leaving behind only the soft, musty sounds of the castle's lower levels. The air was cooler here, and the walls felt damp as though they had ventured deep underground.
Henry (relieved):
"Thank Merlin, I thought we'd be stuck listening to those portraits forever."
Katherine (smirking):
"At least now we know which corridor to avoid next time."
Jonah (still laughing to himself):
"Yeah, but I kind of want to go back and ask them what they think about my hair."
They reached the bottom of the staircase and found themselves in a small, dimly lit hallway lined with tall, narrow windows that let in just enough light to cast eerie shadows on the stone walls. It was a far cry from the chaos of the third corridor, but it still didn't feel like they were in the clear just yet.
Katherine (peering down the hallway):
"This looks like the back route to the greenhouse. Maybe we can sneak back without running into any more… surprises."
Henry (sarcastically):
"Knowing our luck, that's a long shot."
The trio followed the narrow hallway until they spotted a heavy wooden door at the end. From behind it, they could hear faint, rustling sounds, the unmistakable sound of plants, leaves brushing against each other, and vines moving across the floor. The greenhouse was just on the other side, and it didn't sound like things had calmed down since they'd left.
Henry (nervously):
"You don't think the plants are still...?"
Katherine (deadpan):
"If Knickknack is still in charge, I'm guessing they're worse."
Jonah, ever the optimist, grinned and reached for the door handle.
Jonah (cheerfully):
"Only one way to find out!"
He pushed the door open, and the trio stepped back into the chaos they had hoped to escape. The greenhouse was an even bigger disaster than before. Pots had been overturned, dirt covered the floors, and vines snaked across every surface, creeping up walls and wrapping around anything they could find. A few students were still trapped in the grasp of carnivorous plants, their cries for help barely audible over the cacophony of snapping jaws and growling leaves.
Henry (wide-eyed):
"It's worse! How is it worse?!"
The plants had clearly broken free of their confines. Massive Venus flytraps snapped their jaws hungrily at anything that moved, and a large, writhing vine, thick as a tree trunk, slithered across the floor, knocking over anything in its path. Henry barely dodged it as it came barreling toward them.
Katherine (grabbing Henry's arm and pulling him aside):
"Watch out!"
Professor Knickknack, oblivious as ever, was standing in the middle of the chaos, still fussing over his prized plant, which had now grown to an alarming size. The plant's massive jaws snapped dangerously close to his head as it reached out to grab a nearby table, crushing it in one swift motion.
Professor Knickknack (completely unfazed):
"Oh, you're such a growing boy! Just look at you!"
Henry, Jonah, and Katherine exchanged incredulous glances. It was clear Knickknack wasn't going to do anything to stop the chaos, which meant it was up to them to figure out how to save themselves and the remaining students.
Henry (panicking as another vine slithered past him):
"We have to do something, or we're going to end up as plant food!"
Jonah (laughing as he ducked under a snapping plant):
"Maybe we can reason with them? Tell them we taste terrible!"
Katherine (focused, her wand out):
"No, we need a plan. These plants are acting like predators, they're hungry, and Knickknack's feeding them hasn't helped."
Katherine's sharp mind quickly came up with a solution. She remembered the sleeping potion that Jonah had been working on in Potions class. It wasn't perfect yet, but it could put the plants to sleep, at least long enough to get everyone out of the greenhouse safely.
Katherine (turning to Jonah):
"Jonah, do you still have that sleeping potion you've been tinkering with?"
Jonah's face lit up, and he pulled a small, shimmering vial from his pocket. The potion inside was a strange, glowing purple, and it bubbled ominously as he held it up.
Jonah (grinning):
"I never leave home without it!"
Henry (eyeing the potion warily):
"Are you sure that stuff's safe?"
Jonah (shrugging):
"Safe? Probably not. But it's better than being eaten by a giant plant."
Katherine (nodding decisively):
"It'll have to do. If we can pour this into the water supply, it should spread through the greenhouse and put the plants to sleep."
The water supply for the greenhouse was located at the far end of the room, near a large, bubbling fountain that fed into the plants' irrigation system. The only problem? It was surrounded by some of the most dangerous-looking plants in the greenhouse, including a massive Venus flytrap that had just swallowed a chair whole.
Henry (groaning):
"Why is the water supply always in the worst possible place?"
Jonah (grinning as he pocketed the potion):
"Because it wouldn't be Wibberflop if it were easy!"
With the potion in hand and a plan forming, the trio began their careful, but frantic, journey across the chaotic greenhouse. They ducked under vines, dodged snapping plants, and narrowly avoided being crushed by a large cactus that had decided to uproot itself and walk around on spiky legs.
Henry (frantically jumping over a wriggling vine):
"Why are the plants walking?! Plants aren't supposed to walk!"
Katherine (calmly):
"This is why Wibberflop's greenhouse is a restricted area. You'd think we would have known that before signing up for this class."
They finally reached the water supply fountain, which was gurgling merrily despite the carnage surrounding it. The only obstacle now was the giant Venus flytrap, which stood between them and the fountain, its enormous jaws snapping every few seconds.
Jonah (grinning):
"No problem. We just need to distract it while I dump the potion into the water."
Katherine (nodding):
"I'll handle the distraction."
Katherine aimed her wand at a nearby shelf of gardening tools and, with a flick, sent the entire shelf crashing to the ground. The noise caught the flytrap's attention immediately. It turned its massive head toward the sound, growling low in its throat as it prepared to strike.
Katherine (calling to Jonah):
"Now!"
Jonah didn't waste any time. He dashed to the fountain, uncorked the vial of sleeping potion, and dumped the glowing purple liquid into the water. The potion swirled in the fountain for a moment before being sucked into the irrigation system, spreading through the greenhouse.
As the potion made its way through the water supply, the effects were almost immediate. The plants, once aggressive and ravenous, began to slow down. Their snapping jaws closed, and their writhing vines became sluggish. The giant Venus flytrap, which had been preparing to lunge at Jonah, let out a sleepy growl before slumping over, its massive head resting on the floor.
Henry (watching in relief as the plants relaxed):
"It's working!"
Katherine (nodding, satisfied):
"The potion should keep them asleep long enough for us to get out of here."
With the plants now peacefully dozing, the students who had been trapped began to crawl free from the vines and jaws that had held them captive. Professor Knickknack, still oblivious to the disaster, patted his now-sleeping plant on the head with pride.
Professor Knickknack (smiling fondly):
"What a good boy. So well-behaved!"
Henry, Jonah, and Katherine exchanged looks of disbelief.
Jonah (grinning):
"We actually survived that."
Henry (sighing):
"Barely."
With the plants finally subdued, the greenhouse became eerily quiet. The once chaotic environment now resembled a scene from a fairy tale, a peaceful, albeit slightly unsettling, jungle of snoozing carnivorous plants. The remaining students cautiously tiptoed out of their leafy prisons, looking dazed and grateful to still be in one piece.
Henry (wiping dirt off his robes):
"I can't believe we made it through that."
Jonah (grinning proudly):
"Told you it'd be fun! Besides, now we know how to put plants to sleep. That'll come in handy... probably."
Katherine (brushing off her sleeves, ever practical):
"Let's just hope we don't have to do that again."
As the students slowly began to make their way out of the greenhouse, Professor Knickknack, blissfully unaware of the disaster he had overseen, stood proudly by his massive, now peacefully sleeping, Venus flytrap. He beamed at the students as though nothing unusual had happened.
Professor Knickknack (clapping his hands):
"Well done, everyone! I must say, today's lesson has been a tremendous success! Just look at how much you've all learned about caring for magical plants!"
Henry, Jonah, and Katherine stared at him in disbelief.
Katherine (muttering under her breath):
"Caring for them? We almost became their lunch."
Henry (deadpan):
"Does he even know what just happened?"
Jonah (shrugging, still amused):
"I doubt it. But hey, at least we survived. That's what matters, right?"
Knickknack, still oblivious, continued to pat his beloved plant on the head, cooing at it as though it were a giant, toothy puppy.
Professor Knickknack (affectionately to the plant):
"Oh, you're such a good boy. You didn't bite too many students today, did you? No, no, of course not!"
After what felt like an eternity in the greenhouse, the trio made their way back to the Quackers House common room, their robes still covered in dirt and leaves. The common room was a welcome sight, a cozy space filled with overstuffed chairs, a crackling fireplace, and the familiar quacking of the house's mascot, a perpetually enchanted rubber duck that waddled around the room.
Henry (collapsing into one of the chairs with a groan):
"I don't think I've ever been so happy to see this place."
Jonah (flopping down next to him):
"You and me both, mate. That was probably the best Herbology class we've had all year!"
Katherine (sitting down more gracefully, though she was clearly exhausted):
"If that's what you call a good class, I'd hate to see what a bad one looks like."
They sat in silence for a moment, letting the warmth of the fireplace and the relative peace of the common room wash over them. Outside the window, the sun was setting, casting the grounds of Wibberflop in a golden light. For the first time all day, it felt like they could finally relax.
Narrator (cheerfully):
"And so, our brave heroes have survived yet another day at Wibberflop, defying the odds and somehow managing not to be devoured by their Herbology assignments. Truly, a triumph of both luck and sheer stubbornness."
Jonah glanced over at the enchanted rubber duck as it waddled past, quacking softly to itself.
Jonah (grinning):
"You know, I think we should start a petition to make rubber ducks the new school mascot. They're a lot less likely to eat us."
Henry (laughing):
"Honestly, that might be the best idea you've ever had."
Katherine (smirking):
"I'm not sure the other houses would go for it, but it's worth a shot."
As the trio settled into their seats, the conversation drifted back to the day's events, the near-disastrous Herbology class, the encounter with the farting ghost, and their unexpected adventure in the third corridor.
Henry (shaking his head):
"It's weird, isn't it? We've been here for months, and it still feels like every day is a new level of ridiculous."
Katherine (nodding thoughtfully):
"That's Wibberflop for you. There's always something trying to kill you, or at the very least, annoy you to death."
Jonah (grinning):
"But that's what makes it fun! Come on, admit it, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else."
Henry and Katherine exchanged a look. Despite all the chaos, the near-death experiences, and the general madness of Wibberflop, there was something about the place that felt... right. It was unpredictable, sure, but it was also exciting. And as much as they liked to complain, there was nowhere else they'd rather be.
Henry (smiling slightly):
"Yeah, I guess you're right. It's never boring, that's for sure."
Katherine (smirking):
"And we haven't been expelled yet, so we must be doing something right."
The trio laughed, their spirits lifting as they reflected on their unlikely victories and close escapes. For now, at least, they could enjoy a moment of peace before the next inevitable disaster struck.
Just as they were starting to relax, a small, enchanted envelope fluttered into the common room, carried by a miniature owl that looked far too grumpy for its size. The envelope hovered in front of Henry's face, waiting impatiently for him to take it.
Henry (groaning as he reached for the envelope):
"What now?"
He opened the envelope and pulled out a small, official-looking piece of parchment. As he read it, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Henry (staring at the letter):
"We've been signed up for... the Quacker Cup? Again?"
Jonah (bursting out laughing):
"Brilliant! Round two!"
Katherine (sighing):
"Here we go again."
Narrator (dryly):
"Ah, the joys of school life. Just when you think you've caught a break, something ridiculous shows up to remind you that peace is a luxury you don't have time for. But don't worry, dear reader. I'm sure this will go swimmingly."
With that, the trio exchanged one last look of shared exasperation before breaking into laughter. After all, if Wibberflop had taught them anything, it was to expect the unexpected, and to always keep an eye out for the next absurd adventure waiting just around the corner.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone