[ CHAPTER VIII (8): "THE BASICS AND INTRICACIES OF FIFTH YEAR HERBOLOGY" ]
[ "My head hurts." ]
Torrin hadn't taken his eyes off the Herbology book aside for twirling his wand from time-to-time, and also to practice the spells he learnt the night before, merely just to entertain his brain because studying Herbology... it feels like watching paint dry.
Worse than that actually, because he has to remember each and every single detail in the book, or at the very least the summarization or main point of those lessons. Which in paint dry term, knowing when, where, and why misaligned color exist, or so why the thickness is less or more in comparison to other pain. Fuck.
He learnt about Mandrakes, something shown in the first movie, learnt by Harry and the gang 4 years back. Nasty creatures, can easily kill people if they don't know how to defend themselves; ear muffs are the answer, but without that, then comes the spells which mimic its effects.
Imperturbable Charm for example, this charm creates a barrier around a person or subject so that no noise outside can enter— like let's say, the cry of a Mandrake, which can make children faint to outright kill adults depending on the age of that said magical plant. Disgusting things really.
But sadly, the said Imperturbable Charm is taught only to higher years and up i.e. sixth-year and seventh-year students. So, for a fifth-year like Torrin, he wouldn't be able to learn it through his Charms Professor as of yet; though self study is a thing, luckily for him. Perhaps in the future, when he finally grasps the basics of magic, when he catches up.
[ "The Killing Curse would end the little booger before it could do a thing." ] He could learn the said Imperturbable Charm, and use it if he did encounter a rogue Mandrake in the wild. That, or simply use the deadly and forbidden Killing Curse.
He much prefers and likes the latter. Shame that it's not in the curriculum, for any grade year, or for any school which is telling on how banned that said spell is. But still, perhaps lesser, but still equally deadly spells would suffice— those of which aren't banned by the Ministry, like the Severing Charm.
Yeah, well, that is just in case something goes wrong in his day-to-day. Besides, he has plenty of time before trouble would arise, he's in Hogwarts after all; and no one knows of Harry Potter... yet.
Well, the Wizarding World. Or at the very least, the Wizarding Britain and anyone living in it knows him as The Boy Who Lived. But not as Harry-Harry, because the boy is yet to study at Hogwarts. He learnt this from chatting with Phineas, his unknowing broker about in-universe knowledge.
From what he learnt from Phineas, the Dark Lord— Voldemort, was defeated in 1981, October 31, by a child. A child named Harry Potter. Now, he'll be admitted on Hogwarts in 1991; which gives enough time for Torrin to prepare, because that's still 3 years away from him. Luckily.
[ ONE THOUSAND MAGICAL HERBS AND FUNGI BY PHYLLIDA SPORE ]
From the book he essentially learn about: Self-Fertilising Shrub, Chinese Chomping Cabbages, Mandrakes, Gillyweed, Dittany, Puffapod, Fanged Geranium, Aconites, Belladonna, Ginger, and other revisited lessons from first-year to fourth-year— all of which he learnt too for the first time, begrudgingly really because he missed 1-4 grade.
And also, [ "Dittany..." ] something he easily learnt because of what Prefect whatever-her-first-name-is Parkinson, said to him. A potion material sometimes, and is also eaten plainly for healing.
He remembered that one clearly, primarily because of the provocation that the weird lady Prefect said to him. And also because the System acted up after that said provocation, giving him a sacred-like mission, relating to gaining the most House Points in the span of a week. Which led to this.
Surprisingly, he couldn't contact and use any of his System's functions. Even the mission function, or viewing of anything. Aside from nameplates floating everywhere, the System is practically useless. Which furthermore caused him to study diligently, to win the bet for his ego, and to succeed the System's mission and find out what he'll receive.
From memory of the books he read, usually accomplishing those said missions gives omnipotent-like powers. If not, then a boost, something productive and helpful for him. Perhaps it might even relate to Alchemy, as his System is related to that from what he remembers.
[ "I need to get out of here." ] He doesn't know how long he has been studying, but he woke up pretty early and had breakfast early. From his estimation it must be somewhere around 1:30 to 2:00, if not, then perhaps he just missed out on Herbology.
Torrin sighed to himself, as he then jumped and stopped laying on the fine linen sheets of his bed. Something of which he still couldn't believe he owns. Technically the school does, but he uses it, so it's his. [ "The place's pretty lonely... huh." ]
As he then glanced around at the 3-person dorm room, observing. In comparison to his bed, the other two beds which belong to his roommates look clean. Neatly really, which made Torrin look like a country bumpkin. So in not wanting to be seen as one, by his roommates which he hadn't talked too yet, he then decided to fix his bed's covers and pillows, just like how a loyal, tidy, and underpaid-overwork House Elf would do. [ "Done." ]
He backed away and glanced at his bed, which is perfect, a replica of tidiness. And in seeing that, he was satisfied enough to get the hell out of his dorm and search for someone which can tell him the time. [ "Almost forgot, whoops." ] But before that, he then went back inside with hurried steps and wore his black cloak— the school's uniform.
And finally, he was satisfied enough to close the door of his room. Albeit with an unintended thud, as he had apparently used more force than he intended. He prays that the door isn't broken, or that he learns the fix-it-whatever spell— the Mending Charm much quicker, preferably today.
[ -----| SCENE BREAK |----- ]
[ "Hey, classmates, can I ask what time it issss-" ] Torrin walks up to a group of students, Slytherins, talking to one another and are seemingly younger than him. Perhaps a year younger. [ "Alrighty, understandable, have a good day." ]
And weirdly enough, contrary to what he expected. When he approached the group of students huddled together— one even having a watch strapped on his wrist, in plain view, broad as day. They all ignored him, changing tables as they then continued their conversation right after.
[ "That is... kinda rude, no?" ]
He eyed the 6 Slytherin Students with observant gaze and wonders. Then the other Slytherin Students in the Common Room which noticed what happened— some smirking, some not at all bothered. The former is what he wonders about, because since arriving, he would often see some Slytherin look at him that way, with a grin.
Weird place, but it seems the reputation of the original Torrin Thorpe is either bad or is just openly disliked by the House. Like for example, how that Prefect first-name-he-forgot Parkinson talked to him; like he's some sort of object worse than dirt under her hill, or something close to that.
[ "Lanky body, poor status, poor bloodline. Even less so in the socializing aspect of things, how unlucky is this stupid vermin? This lazed up variant." ]
He grumbles to himself, as he then climbs the circular stairs of the Common Room which will lead out. On the way, he passed by other Slytherin Students going down which changed ways when they noticed him— and also because he is talking to himself. [ "Stupid variant." ] That is scary.
In an annoyed and angry tone. Plus the face. Yes, that's clearly someone that they don't want to mess with, either intentionally or not. So instinctively they made way, something which Torrin didn't notice, as he then instead opened out the door and exited through it— no password needed for exit.
Torrin pushed open the door and got out through the entrance, acting nonchalant in case someone was looking in his direction. But it didn't stop him from observing the snake/serpent's tail from closing the entrance back again. [ "Damn, I love that." ]
In the far future he will always look at the magical tail, no doubt, whenever entering or exiting the Common Room. Why? Because simply it's a marvelous feat of magic, who wouldn't want to see that? That's fuckin' magic, bloody real magic!
Sure, he could do simple magic like lighting the tip of his wand, float something light, and turn a simple few inch tall, few inch width wooden stick into another material, something else. That's cool.
But no one is beating alchemy product type of cool, that's a whole new level. He is now starting to understand why the System given to him relates to Alchemy, because that art of magic is simply badass. And is something he wants to learn.
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[ FUN FACT: Herbology is the study of all plants and fungi, magical and mundane. Wizards and witches who specializes in this field of study were known as Herbologists. Herbologists explored the growth patterns of magical plants, their preferred habitats, cultivation techniques, and the effects of magical properties on their surroundings. They also study the uses of these plants in potion-making. ]
[ 11/05/2025 ]
[ 11/06/2025 ]