Who: Andrew Kirke / Demelza Robins What: Feeding the plants Where: Herbology Greenhouses When: Whenever suits you, but after classes! Warnings/Rating: TBD
The glass in the greenhouses had long ago started to frost over, and inside it was bitterly cold even without the whistling December wind to cut at him through his robes. Andrew Kirke was tall and thin, and it meant he was hardly insulated against the winter weather. His glasses fogged up from the heat of his breath, which was visible in the air, and his frozen fingers were jammed haplessly into his pockets. He didn't have a pair of gloves -- not even a pair of gardening gloves, which he'd probably need.
Andrew didn't really go in for academics, but he wasn't stupid, and he wasn't disinterested, just abominably lazy. He'd discovered, however, that Professor Sprout kept in a greenhouse to the back, away from the classes, a slew of little blood-thirsty venus flytrap plants, and that entertained him. The simple parallax between himself and Little Shop of Horrors in looks alone was enough to make him grin like a lunatic, and enough to make him venture out in the bitter cold to look after one he'd grown attached to.
Of course, it didn't talk like Audrey II. It wouldn't grow so big. And it ate insects, not human blood -- but the snapping trap and the way it flowered when prey was present was brilliant. He'd only found them the day before, and today he meant to work out just exactly what all it would eat.
This was what Herbology should have been about, for fuck's sake.
It hadn't been hard to get a few insects from the potions stores -- the more innocuous ingredients weren't even locked up. It was just as well that plenty of brews called for live additions. He had a few crickets, two spiders, and some fat, wriggly mealworms.
"Hello," he greeted the plant, and removed his glasses to wipe them clear, "say 'feed me'."
Silence. Oh well, worth a try. Andrew was so engrossed in setting out his jars and positioning the plant pot that he failed to realise he had left the greenhouse door lying wide open.