บท 11: Chapter 11: Herbology Class
The greenhouse loomed ahead, its tall glass walls fogged up from the strange, humid climate within. To most people, a greenhouse might conjure images of tranquil gardening and the peaceful cultivation of plants. But at Wibberflop, Herbology was anything but peaceful. Henry, Jonah, and Katherine knew this better than anyone. After surviving the absurdity of the Quacker Cup, they were about to face a new challenge: Herbology with Professor Knickknack.
The trio trudged across the damp grounds toward the greenhouse, rain clouds swirling ominously overhead. Jonah, as usual, was in high spirits, while Henry and Katherine wore matching expressions of dread.
Henry (groaning):
"I've heard stories about Herbology. People say they've lost fingers in there."
Katherine (calmly):
"I'm sure they're just exaggerating."
Jonah (grinning):
"Come on, where's your sense of adventure? We just have to keep some plants alive. How bad can it be?"
They reached the entrance of the greenhouse, its iron doors creaking ominously as they pushed them open. Inside, the heat and humidity hit them like a wall. Rows of strange, carnivorous plants stretched out in every direction, each one more unsettling than the last. Some had enormous jaws lined with teeth, others were covered in sharp thorns, and a few emitted a low, dangerous growl.
At the far end of the greenhouse stood Professor Knickknack, an eccentric man with wild hair that seemed to defy gravity. His glasses were perched precariously on his nose, and he wore a grin that made the students uneasy. In front of him was a massive plant, easily the size of a small car, with thick, snapping jaws and a long, vine-like tongue that lashed out at anything that got too close.
Professor Knickknack (cooing at the plant):
"Oh, who's a good boy? Don't bite the students... too hard."
Henry, Jonah, and Katherine exchanged a glance.
Katherine (under her breath):
"This doesn't bode well."
Jonah (laughing):
"It'll be fine! Look at that thing, it's adorable!"
Henry (deadpan):
"Adorable? It looks like it wants to eat us."
Professor Knickknack turned to the class, clapping his hands together excitedly.
Professor Knickknack (cheerfully):
"Welcome, welcome, my young herbologists! Today, we'll be working with one of my favorite subjects, carnivorous plants! Now, I know some of you might be nervous about getting your hands dirty, but don't worry! As long as you feed them properly, they won't bite... too much."
Henry gulped, eyeing the plants with suspicion. Each student was handed a pot containing a smaller, though equally menacing, version of Knickknack's prized carnivorous plant. The plants, even in their tiny forms, were aggressive, snapping their jaws at anything that moved and growling softly. Jonah leaned in close to inspect his plant, which responded by snapping at his face.
Jonah (laughing as he dodged the bite):
"This little guy's feisty!"
Henry (grumbling):
"Why does everything here want to eat us?"
Knickknack began walking around the greenhouse, handing out jars of wriggling insects to feed the plants. The jars buzzed with life, and the insects inside squirmed in a way that made Henry's stomach turn.
Professor Knickknack (demonstrating):
"Now, simply drop one of these lovely insects into your plant's mouth, and it'll do the rest. But be careful! If you take too long, they might get impatient and... well, let's just say we've had a few nibbles in the past."
Henry, Jonah, and Katherine stood in a row, each staring at their respective plant with a mix of apprehension and horror. Jonah, naturally, was the first to reach into his jar and pluck out an insect, dangling it over his plant's snapping jaws.
Jonah (grinning as the plant snapped at the insect):
"Here you go, little guy! Time for lunch!"
The plant snapped up the insect in one swift motion, growling in satisfaction. Jonah seemed pleased with himself, but Henry wasn't so sure. He hesitated, holding his jar at arm's length.
Henry (nervously):
"I don't know about this. What if it bites my hand off?"
Katherine (calmly feeding her plant):
"Just drop it in quickly. The faster you are, the less chance it has to bite you."
Henry took a deep breath, reached into the jar, and pulled out one of the squirming insects. He held it above his plant, which immediately lunged for his hand. Startled, Henry dropped the insect and yanked his hand back just in time. The plant snapped its jaws around the insect, then turned its attention back to Henry with a menacing growl.
Henry (wide-eyed):
"Okay, that was way too close!"
As the lesson continued, it became clear that the plants weren't content with just a few insects. The more the students fed them, the more aggressive they became. The plants started snapping at fingers, knocking over pots, and slithering across the greenhouse floor in search of more food.
Henry's plant, which had seemed content after its meal, suddenly lunged for his leg, wrapping its vine-like tendrils around his ankle.
Henry (yelling in panic):
"Help! It's got me!"
Jonah and Katherine rushed over, trying to pry the plant off of Henry's leg. Jonah grabbed the plant's vine and yanked it away, but it only seemed to anger the creature more. It snapped its jaws dangerously close to Henry's face, its teeth glistening with saliva.
Katherine (shouting to Jonah):
"Distract it! Get another insect!"
Jonah quickly grabbed a jar of insects from the table and tossed one toward the plant. The moment the insect hit the ground, the plant released its grip on Henry and lunged for the insect, devouring it in one swift motion.
Henry stumbled backward, panting and wide-eyed.
Henry (gasping for breath):
"I hate this class."
Jonah (laughing):
"Come on, admit it, this is way more exciting than Transfiguration!"
Katherine (still calm):
"At least no one's lost a limb... yet."
The greenhouse, once a relatively organized space, was quickly descending into chaos. The plants, now fully energized by their meals, were breaking free from their pots, wriggling across the floor, and attacking anything that moved. Knickknack, still oblivious to the danger, continued to coo over his favorite plant, patting it on the head as it snapped at his sleeve.
Professor Knickknack (cheerfully):
"Oh, aren't you just the most precious thing? Yes, you are!"
The chaos in the greenhouse escalated at an alarming rate. The carnivorous plants had grown bolder, snapping at anything that came too close and knocking over pots as they slithered across the floor. Henry, Jonah, and Katherine stood huddled near the door, trying to avoid the growing mayhem. Some of the other students were having less luck; one unfortunate girl had her robe caught in the tendrils of a particularly vicious vine and was desperately trying to shake it off.
Henry (panicking as a plant lunged toward him):
"Why does it feel like every class is trying to kill us?"
Jonah (laughing, despite the danger):
"Hey, at least it's not boring!"
Katherine (calmly dodging a snapping plant):
"We need to get out of here before one of these things actually eats someone."
The trio tried to back away from the carnivorous plants, but the exit was quickly being blocked by a massive, slithering vine that had broken free from its pot. It coiled itself around the doorframe, its sharp thorns glinting menacingly.
Across the room, Professor Knickknack was still completely oblivious to the chaos unfolding around him. He continued to fuss over his prized plant, which was now twice as large as before, its jaws snapping at the air as if eagerly awaiting its next meal.
Professor Knickknack (patting the plant's oversized head):
"Oh, my sweet little Venus Gnashtrap, you're growing up so fast! Look at those beautiful teeth!"
Katherine (frustrated):
"He's completely useless."
A loud crash echoed from the back of the greenhouse as one of the plants overturned an entire shelf of pots, sending dirt and broken pottery flying everywhere. Several students screamed, scattering in every direction as more plants broke free from their restraints.
Narrator (in a deadpan voice):
"One might question the wisdom of leaving a greenhouse full of dangerous, man-eating plants unsupervised. But then again, this is Wibberflop. Where common sense goes to die."
Henry dodged another lunge from his plant, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. He grabbed Jonah by the arm.
Henry (urgently):
"We've got to get out of here! That thing's going to eat me next!"
Jonah (laughing as he pushed a vine away):
"Relax, it's just trying to get to know you... by eating you!"
Realizing that they were running out of options, Katherine made a quick decision.
Katherine (decisively):
"We're leaving. Now."
She grabbed Henry and Jonah by the sleeves and pulled them toward the side door, dodging snapping vines and snarling plants along the way. The trio ducked under a large, wriggling vine and bolted for the exit. Unfortunately, the carnivorous plants weren't about to let them go without a fight.
As they neared the door, Henry's plant, now free from its pot, lunged at his leg again, wrapping its thorny vines around his ankle.
Henry (yelling in terror):
"Not again! It's got me!"
Jonah (grabbing a nearby pot):
"I got this!"
Without thinking, Jonah hurled the pot at the plant, knocking it loose from Henry's leg. The plant recoiled, hissing angrily, but Henry was already pulling himself free.
Katherine (pushing open the door):
"Move!"
The trio burst through the door and into the relative safety of the hallway outside the greenhouse. Panting and covered in dirt, they slammed the door shut behind them, just as another plant tried to slither out. The door rattled as the plants inside continued their rampage, but at least for now, they were safe.
Henry (panting, hands on his knees):
"That was awful. Never again."
Jonah (grinning as he caught his breath):
"Come on, you've got to admit it was kind of fun."
Katherine (exasperated):
"Fun? We were nearly eaten, Jonah."
Jonah (shrugging):
"Still beats Potions class."
Once they'd caught their breath, the trio realized they had no idea where they were. They'd exited the greenhouse into an unfamiliar part of the school, a long, winding hallway that seemed to stretch on endlessly. The walls were lined with old, faded tapestries, and the floor was covered in a thin layer of dust, as though no one had ventured here in years.
Henry (looking around nervously):
"Where are we? I've never seen this part of the school before."
Jonah (glancing down the corridor):
"I think we're in the third corridor. You know, the one we're not supposed to be in."
Katherine (frowning):
"Why are we always in the places we're not supposed to be?"
They began walking cautiously down the corridor, hoping to find a way out. The walls seemed to close in on them the farther they went, the hallway growing narrower and darker. Strange creaking sounds echoed around them, and occasionally they'd hear what sounded like distant whispers, though they couldn't tell where they were coming from.
Henry (whispering nervously):
"This place gives me the creeps."
Narrator (in a mockingly ominous tone):
"Ah yes, the infamous third corridor. A place full of dark secrets, mysterious shadows, and the occasional flesh-eating portrait. Truly, a wonderful spot for our heroes to get lost."
They rounded a corner and came face to face with a large, dusty portrait of a medieval knight. The knight, his armor rusted and his expression sour, scowled down at them as they approached.
Knight Portrait (gruffly):
"What are you doing in my corridor? This area is off-limits to students!"
Jonah (grinning):
"Just passing through. Don't mind us."
The knight grumbled something under his breath about "young hooligans" and "disrespect for authority" before falling silent again.
Just as they were about to move on, the air around them suddenly grew colder, and a familiar, unpleasant smell filled the hallway. Henry groaned in recognition.
Henry (muttering):
"Oh no... not him."
With a loud PPPPRRRTTTT, Sir Humphrey the Flatulent floated through the nearest wall, his plump ghostly form materializing in front of them. Sir Humphrey, Wibberflop's most infamous and least-liked ghost, had a penchant for making grand entrances with even grander flatulence.
Sir Humphrey (bellowing dramatically):
"Ah, more rule-breaking students! What have we here, wandering where you shouldn't be? I should report you to the headmaster at once!"
As he spoke, another loud PPPPRRRTTTT echoed through the corridor, causing Jonah to burst into laughter.
Jonah (giggling uncontrollably):
"This guy never gets old!"
Katherine (wrinkling her nose):
"Why is it always him?"
Sir Humphrey (sniffing indignantly, oblivious to Jonah's laughter):
"You young ruffians have no respect! In my day, students didn't wander into restricted areas, nor did they laugh at the noble spirits of the past!"
He floated closer, his ghostly armor clanking as he moved, still releasing the occasional burst of flatulence as he berated them. Jonah was practically doubled over at this point, while Henry tried his best to maintain a straight face.
Henry (sighing):
"We're sorry, Sir Humphrey. We'll just be on our way now."
Sir Humphrey (dramatically):
"See that you do! And remember, I'm always watching... or sniffing out trouble!"
With one final, thunderous fart, Sir Humphrey disappeared through the wall, leaving behind a lingering smell that made the trio gag.
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