some kind of green thumb , open

[Headmistress Cerise Charmant]

cerise never really had a green thumb, despite all her efforts throughout her life. she found it fascinating the amounts of uses various plants had, but alas, her interest did not help her. during her time as a student at hogwarts, she frequently devoted time and conversation to her plants, but perhaps it was all too much. she could never hold herself back when it came to tending a plant. however, perhaps today would change her status as a herbologist.

her finger grazed a part of a baby belladona plant. as alluring as this plant's uses was, an ingredient in love potions, its aesthetic was not. its pale color, red hairs, and large leaves made it look as if it was an ugly succulent in the desert. there were beautiful succulents, and there was belladona. come to think of it, cerise wasn't even sure if belladonna was a succulent. oh, how much her background in herbology had to grow before she became greenhouse master...

she moved on. in what was probably a soundproof compartment, cerise's eyes were immediately drawn to the slender leaves of the mandrake. she winced as she recalled the piercing sounds the roots, which resembled babies, made when pulled from their earth. how grateful she was the mandrake had its own compartment - and oh dear merlin, did she hope it was soundproof. she stepped forward to the glass, and lightly placed her fingers on the glass, studying its leaves. this way, i know what leaves to avoid weeding later this week...

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi walked down the cobbled street, her shoulder bag laden with books. As she passed Mrs. Plunkett's shop, she recalled her mother asking her to pick up an order of seeds she had placed a week ago. Shrugging her bag more firmly into place, she detoured into the shop.

Mrs. Plunkett's had an earthy smell with the hint of fresh rain. It reminded her of gardening with her mother, putting her at peace. She was definitely going to miss home once term started, but she could get through it with memories like this. She walked up to the counter, covered with all manner of small plants, including one that hummed melodically and swayed back and forth. Lexi reached out and stroked the deep green leaves of the singing plant, and its tune suddenly changed to a slight waver as it leaned toward her fonger.

"I think she likes you, dear," said a familiar voice with a chuckle. She looked up to see Mrs. Plunkett shuffling up to the counter with a smile on her lined face. "She doesn't like many people. In fact, you're the first she's purred for." Lexi's eyes went wide. "Really? What kind of plant is she?"

Mrs. Plunkett lifted her hands in defeat. "I'm not quite sure, dear. She was given to me as a gift, but even with all the research I've done, I haven't been able to find her like anywhere. Now, I suppose you are here to pick up Angela's order, yes?" When Lexi nodded, the elderly shopkeeper excused herself to the back of the office to retrieve the package, and the girl turned her attention back to the mysterious little plant that continued to "purr" and snuggle her finger.

[Headmistress Cerise Charmant]

as if cerise was going to weed. at her age, it took quite an effort to make her way downwards. still, at the very least she remained somewhat healthy. the sixty-nine year old was getting ready to hit the ripe age of seventy, and part of her did not look forward to it. cerise brought her hand up to her pale, frail, getting-more-wrinkly face. there were some times where she embraced her age, and other times where she missed being able to get onto a broomstick without worrying about making the trip to winifred gwyllt's office.

lifting her chin up, cerise repeated thoughts in her head: you are just entering your prime. as the headmistress of hogwarts, an overbearing responsibility sat at her fingertips. she was chosen for the job for a reason, and although she had not much faith in herself, obviously the board of governors saw something in her.

she turned around, and started walking more around the store. as she passed the counter, she noticed a familiar brunette standing in front of the counter with her hand up to a plant. cerise smiled. it was always so amusing to bump into students outside of school, showcasing to them that she was in fact a real person with a life outside of hogwarts. but this moment felt more endearing. her hazel eyes watched as the girl whom she recognized to be a hufflepuff hold such an admirable connection with the little plant sitting on the countertop of mrs. plunkett's herbology shop.

"ah, is that you, miss knight?" cerise finally chipped in, squinting her eyes a little as she walked forward. "why, you look like quite the herbologist, my dear!" the older witch stopped, placing the palms of her hands to rest on her gray velvet dress-robe. she smiled fondly at lexi, "your mother raised you well. how has your summer been, dear? are you ready to go back to hogwarts?"

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi was whispering to the happy little plant, telling her what beautiful leaves and blossoms she had, when a voice startled her. Looking up, she saw Professor Charmant, Headmistress at Hogwarts. Her eyes lit up with recognition and she smiled. "Hullo, Professor!" she quipped, leaving the plant and walking over to the older woman. "My mum always hoped I would get into Herbology, just like her. She always has me helping her in the garden at home. I guess it stuck!"

As she politely listened to the Headmistress' compliment and query, she noted the grey velvet of her robes. That's strange, she thought. Professor Charmant was fondly known for her bright and colorful wardrobe at school, and she could hardly believe that grey belonged on her, not that she'd say anything of course. What an adult wore was their own business.

"My summer has been excellent. My parents took Megan and me to Australia for two weeks. Witches and wizards there are so interesting! They have these aboriginal spells that are so different from ours. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts so I can try some of them out! What about you, Professor? How has your summer been?"

[Headmistress Cerise Charmant]

something cerise loved to notice about students was how in the world they appeared to be influenced by their parents. it was a pleasure seeing lexi so keen on herbology, following her mother. she chuckled at the incoming fifth year's response, a warm smile making its way onto her slightly wrinkled, pale white face.

as lexi spoke, cerise nodded, her full attention on her. although her past was certainly filled with a short, wavering attention, she learned throughout the years to not be so distracted. albeit she seemed naturally fascinated in everything surrounding her, it was especially important to be so attentive when it came to being headmistress of hogwarts.

"oh, you went to australia?" cerise enthusiastically asked, happy to see the young se of eyes in front of her light up as she spoke. she beamed as lexi shared with her what she learned and observed from the aboriginal witches and wizards of where she studied, happy to see this young witch herself so excited about a different culture. "it's fascinating, isn't it? going to different countries or even villages, and seeing the difference in magic due to our different pasts and histories. oh, i'm quite happy to hear that you're excited to try what you've learned at hogwarts, miss knight. it's always good to have something to look forward to when you go back."

cerise nodded, bringing her hand up to her chin to stroke it. "hmm, well, my summer has been quite good. it's been nice to be able to take a few more days off of work." cerise was determined to stay positive around the students, not mentioning anything about her trips to the ministry. she didn't even like talking about that with staff or faculty. it wasn't a good time. "i'm quite looking forward to this new year, however. i noticed many unfamiliar, eager young faces walking through diagon alley. i can't wait for them to join us." she smiled a smile so large her eyes got a little smaller and squinted. "i am looking forward to discussing the welcoming ceremony menu with the house elves..."

taking herself back to the conversation after realizing her attention slightly wavered, cerise asked lexi, "and how has miss megan knight been? did she enjoy the trip to australia as well?"

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi looked up at the Headmistress, reminded of why this woman was her favorite professor. She always seemed so interested in the well being of her students, and had this air about her that made her easy to talk to. She smiled wide, the scar on the left side of her face crinkling a little, but doing nothing to mar the joy on her face. "I've got pictures if you'd like to see them!" she exclaimed, and dove into her bag without waiting for a response.

She pulled out a small stack of pictures, and held them out to Professor Charmant so she might look at them if she wished. "That first one is of Ayers Rock, where they hold their Quidditch games. I got to see them play. They are so amazing!" Lexi waited for the Headmistress to flip through the next few pictures, which showed them at the Sydney Opera House and the Ministry. "Megan loved the Ministry, which is underneath the Sydney Opera house. She was kind of moody for most of the trip, I don't know why. She kept complaining about not wanting to watch Quidditch."

Lexi shrugged. "I dunno, she's kind of turning into a brat. Maybe because she's turned thirteen? I heard some kids start rebelling at that age. I'm so glad I wasn't like that!"

[Headmistress Cerise Charmant]

as cerise's hazel eyes followed lexi's hands as the hufflepuff student dove into her bag, a small chuckle escaped cerise's lips. "of course i would love to see them, dear," she offered jovially, though she had an inkling vocalizing that sentence at that point was unnecessary.

cerise accepted the photographs with a closed smile, not bearing any of her aged teeth. "wow, miss knight, ayers rock must have been a beautiful place to watch a quidditch game," cerise could only imagine. pictures of witches and wizards on broomsticks flying amongst the deep red rock flashed in the photos. it was almost as good as watching the game itself! cerise shuffled the picture of ayers rock to the back of the deck of photographs, listening intently to the eager lexi knight as she spoke. the next pictures included the knight family making their way from the top of the sydney opera house, into the ministry. cerise nodded her head, awfully impressed. "your parents knew just where to take you. lucky girls."

however, a frown fell onto her face when she heard word of megan knight being moody for some of the trip. the old witch nodded her head, "ah, yes...thirteen is a very hard age. the budding point of adolescence. i'm glad she enjoyed visiting the australian ministry, though. did you get to see many of their department offices?"

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi smiled at Professor Charmant, glad that at least one person understood the plight of a girl with a sister who was becoming increasingly moody and reclusive. "She hardly ever talks to me anymore, unless she absolutely has to." She frowned. "The Ministry was Megan's thing, though. She went into as many offices as they would let her; I stayed in the main hall and looked at the statues and pictures of the old Ministers. I got bored with it, actually."

She smiled sheepishly. Government never really had interested her, and as long as it worked the way it was supposed to, it could stay that way. She much preferred action, and being in the great outdoors. Ayers rock had called to her, and she could just picture herself playing Quidditch there. "I'm looking forward to Quidditch this year," she said, changing the subject to something more exciting in her opinion. "I've been practicing hard, so hopefully Hufflepuff can win the Cup this year. It's been an awfully long time since the last time!"

[Headmistress Cerise Charmant]

cerise's frown was at that point subtle, but the slight purse of her lips remained on her face. some siblings remained close at hogwarts despite the environment different from that of their life at home, but others parted, forming identities and lives of their own. it was at this point cerise made a mental note to observe megan when she could throughout this year. puberty was a hard time. maybe she could find ways to help the dear girl through it.

the door behind cerise rang as what sounded like more students entered. cerise paid no attention to it, although the movement of some vines from the ceiling did catch her eye for a moment. her frown turned into a small smile, happy to be in such a lively environment full of not only humans, but magical plants.

the older white-haired witch did offer a laugh as lexi admitted her boredom with the ministry. the nimble lexi, seeker of hufflepuff's quidditch team, undoubtedly loved movement and excitement. "good, i'm happy to hear you will be ready to represent hufflepuff this year, miss knight," although headmistress, cerise couldn't help but cheer on her former and present house, the hufflepuff badgers. "if hufflepuff wins the cup this year, it would be well deserved. which house do you think will be your most difficult match?"

[Lexi Knight]

Before Lexi could answer, Mrs. Plunkett returned to the front of the shop, carrying a large bag filled with seeds. She gently set it on the counter, and smiled at the girl. "Now, your mother already paid for this, dear, when she placed the order. Do you need help finding anything else?"

Lexi shook her head, her brown ponytail bouncing from side to side. "No thank you, Mrs. Plunkett. I'm just talking to Professor Charmant and then looking around." She smiled politely, then turned back to the Headmistress. "Our most difficult match? I'm thinking Slytherin. I've seen Isoba, and he's been practicing a lot."

Lexi picked up the large bag, which was surprisingly light, and draped it over her arm. "Has the new Quidditch captain been picked yet?" she asked.

[Headmistress Cerise Charmant]

cerise watched the exchange between lexi and mrs. plunkett with a gentle patience. her hands both rested below her stomach, one hand grasping the other's wrist. lexi's attention turned back to cerise, and upon hearing her answer about quidditch, her eyes twinkled. it was always a pleasure watching quidditch matches between houses, and having seen isoba on the quidditch field for the past several years, that young boy certainly brought experience and competition with the house of slytherin.

"slytherin is certainly good," cerise nodded, recalling slytherin's remarkable performance in the quidditch pitch over the past several years. seldom, actually, did she not see green and silver banners with snakes up in the air and around the hallways of hogwarts after quidditch games where slytherin played. they often won. as headmistress, cerise oftentimes reminded herself to stay unbiased, although everyone probably figured she rooted for hufflepuff in silence.

she smiled at lexi's question, happy to see her eagerness. "we have not chosen the quidditch captains yet," cerise gently spoke. "i'll have a talk with the head of houses and the rest of the staff before or as school begins. perhaps it will be chosen then. are you hoping to become captain this year?" she winked with an endearing smile. cerise loved to see life and excitement in her students' eyes and actions.

[Lexi Knight]

Lexi turned bright red in the cheeks and smiled sheepishly. She had been dreaming about being captain for the Hufflepuff team since she joined as seeker in her second year. "Maybe," she said out loud, not wanting to seem too eager. "I was mostly just curious since the position is open."

She shifted the bag of seeds from one arm to the other, readjusting her shoulder bag as well. She liked talking to Professor Charmant. It was like she had another mother; one for home and one for Hogwarts. Still, she worried about taking too much of her time. "Am I keeping you from anything, Professor? You must be pretty busy!"