He toiled away in his garden, venting out his frustration on the weeds that had sprouted. It had been weeks since his interview and he hadn’t heard anything from the school.

“Professor McGonagall said that they will be reaching their decision soon,” he told his flowers. “I guess they had a lot to think about with all the other candidates and such.”

As he continued to pull away, he accidentally pulled out one of his plants from the soil.

“Sorry,” he moaned as he tried to replant the shrub. After he reseated it in its soil, he gave a deep sigh as he sat amongst his garden. The flowers mimicked their tender gardener, hanging their petals low as he lowered his head in despair.

“It’s probably just as well. I mean…who would tend to you while I’m away teaching? Who will beat the weeds and turn the mulch while I’m at Hogwarts?”

He tried to prepare himself for the worse by consoling himself with empty words. He wanted the job badly, but he didn’t want to be disappointed in the process. “Well, if worse comes to worse, I can get a small business loan and open up that flower shop we’ve been talking about.”

Just then and owl descended into the foliage, dropping a large envelop in his lap.



Dear Mr. Longbottom,

After careful consideration, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted as the new Herboloby professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Please review your packet and have your class lessons ready before the start of the new term. New professors will be required to meet a week before the first day, in order to go over the school rules as well as prepare the school supplies lists that will be sent to the students.

We look forward to having you on the staff, Professor Longbottom.



The more he read the letter, the more he couldn’t believe it. But every time he did read it, his eyes would always rest on the words: Professor Longbottom.

All he could do was sit there and smile in disbelief. Yet the plants around him bloomed wide open, as if to say 'congratulations'.