At the Forest's Edge

[Pontifex Maximus]

The interim between classes was the perfect time for Atticus to sneak down to the edge of the forbidden forest, the lake, or some other secluded part of the grounds in order to engage in one of his favorite pastimes. He often made a habit of sneaking off for up to an hour a day, gathering various plants and items of magical quality not only for the purpose of potion making (his favorite class) but in the study of herbology. He had already started a fieldbook with pressed, dried plants on the first few pages and a short description of their uses he had discovered or read about so far.

Today he found some strange feathers on the ground and the anther of a fanged geranium. (one common and one rare ingredient)

[Master Necromancer]

Sidious followed Atticus from a longer distance. He was more talented than Atticus when it came to potion making but his talent for sneaking and finding ingredients could prove useful for both of them. Sidious cut his way when Atticus was returning.

My, my what have we've been up to? He asked with a grin.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Atticus hid his impatience and perhaps disdain at being caught in this manner.

How long have you been following me? He asked in a demanding tone, his hair falling limply at the sides of his head

[Master Necromancer]

Long enough. Said Sidious with a grin.

He started walking around Atticus.

You are a smart fellow Atticus and sneaky too, both commendable qualities in my book. As I see you are interested to train your self in the arts of alchemy and as you probably may know I am far more skilled in that art than you. So why not work together?
You would get the ingredients while I keep watch and than with my help we could explore them thoroughly and more efficiently.
A proposal that would benefit us both no? He smiled.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Long enough. Said Sidious with a grin.

He started walking around Atticus.

You are a smart fellow Atticus and sneaky too, both commendable qualities in my book. As I see you are interested to train your self in the arts of alchemy and as you probably may know I am far more skilled in that art than you. So why not work together?
You would get the ingredients while I keep watch and than with my help we could explore them thoroughly and more efficiently.
A proposal that would benefit us both no? He smiled.

What, so you could use them? Have me do all the work while you benefit?

Atticus clutched the bag into which he normally put his collected ingredients.

Besides, I'm the one who found them. Maybe you're not as good as you claim to be. Besides, I'm not breaking any rules, not skiving out of any classes or out of bounds.

[Master Necromancer]

What, so you could use them? Have me do all the work while you benefit?

Atticus clutched the bag into which he normally put his collected ingredients.

Besides, I'm the one who found them. Maybe you're not as good as you claim to be. Besides, I'm not breaking any rules, not skiving out of any classes or out of bounds.

Sidious grinned in disgust and muttered more to him self.

So inelegant...

As he slowly turned away to leave for the Slytherin dorm rooms he said.

Know only that this tantrum of yours was only to your disadvantage Atticus and I only guess that you don't know even what to do with a cocatrix feather.

He slowly began to leave.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Then I will bloody well find out on my own

I don't need your help.

Atticus returned to what he was doing, retreating from the castle onto the grounds. He passed several looking items but he did not pause to inspect them. He was moving to the quidditch pitch was...or used to be. It wasn't entirely rebuilt. Under some of the burned out remains he identified some different types of mushrooms clinging feebly to the sides of the boards. Noting their appearance and odor, he continued some ways down until he found himself in the middle of a wooded area. He sat, turned his pack around, and took out the pouch he had been carrying with him. He opened his charms book and turned to a late chapter. He had seen a spell in there that might keep people like Sidious away while he worked. The spell appeared to be very complicated...it was only mentioned in passing, no instructions were given. Maybe his library book would help...

Advanced Charms was a heavy book, but Atticus didn't mind the weight so long as it gave him the information he needed. Right then. "Protego Totalum".....

The answers he needed were on page 328. Point you wand into the air, flourish to the left, and repeat the incantation "Protego Totalum." Atticus did exactly this and whispered "Protego Totalum"

Very little happened, a whisp of something transparent that seemed for a moment to want to encapsulate him within a protective barrier, but it merely lingered in the air resembling cracked egg shells.

He removed a sandwich from his bag and then found what he had been looking for, a small, plain, black box. He opened it and observed his gathering of the day, taking out his herbology textbook. He indeed knew that what he had gather was the anther of a fanged Geranium. He had plucked it delicately with his own two hands, sustaining a half-hearted bite in the process. But this feathery leaf...he had no clue...he couldn't find it in the indexes and no pictures in the book looked even close. He knew that leaves were the easiest way to identify plants, so this made no sense to him. He decided he would need advanced help...

[Magicman2051]

The forest was a silent and often claustrophobic place, the few clearings to be found were shadowed by the interplay of leaves and light in the gentle autumnal wind and flanked by strong oaks, but with winter colours slowly encroaching on the darker palette of summer it was a beautiful time to go rambling. So it was that Barthus often found himself in the forest during what spare time he could afford, and even then he was preparing for his classes. Every hollow was a potential treasure trove of samples and he could spend all day carefully examining them, picking across every few inches of soil, being careful not to disturb them.

It was on his way back from one of these rambling walks that he encountered a young first year, using an atrociously composed warding charm, and puzzling over a leaf. Not wanting to scare the child Barthus announced his presence clearly.

"Atticus, am I right?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

Whatever the professor's intentions, Atticus jumped and yelled as he heard rustling behind him. Drawing his wand he began to turn on his heel.

Sidious, you right prat!

When Atticus had actually registered the person standing before him he immediately lowered his wand and stood gaping. He had almost tried to hex his head of house...

Professor, I...I'm sorry! Its just that Sidious has been tailing me...Yes, I'm Atticus. But how did you know that?

[Magicman2051]

"Another Slytherin I take it?" Barthus had, briefly, moved to draw his wand, but decided that it was probably unnecessary.

"Regardless it is getting late, and that warding won't do you much..." he noticed that the boy had his herbology textbook out," are you out collecting samples?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

Atticus put his wand away

Yes, sorted last week. Right happy to be in it, as well, even after what happened last summer. I was just out, today...I collect plants as a hobby. Some of the kids think its a dumb thing to do, but I like it. I dry and press as well, for normal plants. I found Fanged Geraniums on the south side of the castle this morning. I think they grow wild there, professor.

And I found this....Atticus decided not to say where, or else that might lead to more embarrassing questions But I couldn't find it anywhere. Even in the advanced textbook.

Atticus held up the feathery leaf

[Magicman2051]

"I used to do the same when I was your age, starting at Hogwarts," he pondered as he examined the leaf, not taking it from Atticus, just look at it," can be scary. I used to wander around back at home searching for plants hidden under snow, we didn't have very many trees..."

He left his thoughts trail over briefly while he looked at the leaf, it could be any of several different varieties, and the adventure of discovery is best left to the young mind. In the meantime however it was getting late.

"You're right, it is a very peculiar leaf," he began," you know some plants have multiple varieties of leaf, depending on where they grow or what is happening around them. It is fascinating to see so many variations on so simple a design, isn't it?"

He left the question hang there for a moment and considered the student, he was clearly brighter than the average and had that typically smart disregard for the rules. He would need to be watched carefully for the next seven years, lest that rule breaking lead to something more dire than a chance encounter with a teacher.

"Nonetheless, it is getting late, and you should be heading back to the castle, so gather up your things and I'll walk you back."

[Pontifex Maximus]

The sun had indeed began its slow descent, so Atticus nodded and began packing up his materials.

I can search for the source tomorrow, in bounds of course. Clearly it was blown from somewhere else, any large plant shedding leaves would have left more nearby...

[Magicman2051]

Of course you will, thought Barthus as a wry smile crossed his face. If given the chance he was pretty sure this particular first year would go beyond the bounds in an instant.

"How about this, check the library and I'll keep an eye out when I'm rambling, if you can name the species I'll award Slytherin a few points," he spoke with a slightly conspiratorial tone," and I'll say that you fought off something nasty to get them."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Atticus grinned

That would show them. The bloody squid attacked me on the boats before the sorting, that had everyone laughing. Er, were you here professor, last year...?

[Magicman2051]

"No," replied Barthus, perhaps with a bit too short of a tone," I... it was complicated and not something you need to hear about. And the squid, it just looks mean, but it likes playing around."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Atticus masked his disappointment. He would have enjoyed hearing a different perspective, but perhaps Song had reason to cover up his true involvement. He would work to discover more on the subject later.

I understand...I look forward to lessons tomorrow. Perhaps I will have an answer about our mystery plant by then