Pomona Sprout

"They are with Professor Sprout. She was Head of Cedric's house, and knew him best."

- Albus Dumbledore in 1994

Professor Pomona Sprout was the Herbology teacher and Head of Hufflepuff House. Her talented student Neville Longbottom succeeded her as the Herbology professor, but it is unknown if she shares the Herbology lessons with Longbottom or retired. Her most notable accomplishment is having prepared a draught of mandrake to revive those who had been petrified during the incident in which the Chamber of Secrets was opened for the second time in 1992. Sprout was also one of the first fighting participants in the Battle of Hogwarts, as she assisted Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick and Horace Slughorn with ousting Severus Snape from his post as headmaster.

Early life
Little is known about Sprout's early life. She attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during her youth and was sorted into Hufflepuff house, which she would later in life go on to be the head of. It is likely that Pomona achieved high marks in Herbology during her youth and went on to acquire a N.E.W.T. in the subject.

Career at Hogwarts
At some point later on during her life, Pomona Sprout became the teacher of Herbology at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and then became the Head of the Hufflepuff house, in which she formerly was a student.



1991–1992 school year
"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare...what did Professor Sprout say? - it likes the dark and damp --" "So light a fire!""

- Hermione, Harry, and Ron struggle with Sprouts Devil's Snare At the start of the 1991–1992 school year, Pomona would take on new students Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones, Ernie Macmillan and Zacharias Smith into her house of Hufflepuff. She continued to teach Herbology during this school year, and in a bid to protect the Philosopher's Stone she, along with other members of staff was required to create a challenge to prevent access to the stone. She chose to use her Herbology skills and had grown a massive amount of Devil's Snare, which would later on in the year slow down Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in their efforts to get the stone. She also taught the famous Harry Potter this year and taught him three times a week in the Herbology Greenhouses.



1992–1993 school year
As part of the Second Year curriculum Sprout taught her second year students how to work with Mandrake plants, she taught them how to pot them properly. She taught this lesson in Greenhouse 3. Also during the year, a Basilisk had attacked many students, petrifying them. After the Basilisk's attacks, Sprout was made responsible for raising the Mandrakes to full maturity, at which point their juice was used to revive the Petrified victims of said Basilisk. She used this juice to cure, Hermione Granger, Colin Creevey, Mrs. Norris, Penelope Clearwater and Justin Finch-Fletchley. It is unknown as to how she would have cured Nearly Headless Nick who was also petrified, as he was a ghost and incapable of consuming the mandrake juice.

1994–1995 school year


In 1994, Sprout showed her fourth-year class how to collect Bubotuber pus for use as a cure for persistent acne. Cedric Diggory, a student in her house was one of the Triwizard Champions to participate in the Triwizard Tournament, resulting in that she seemed to treat Harry Potter, the other Hogwarts champion, rather coldly. She later comforted Amos Diggory and his wife after the death of their son Cedric who was murdered by Lord Voldemort, whom she knew well.

1995–1996 school year
"If you're not too busy, those Mandrakes need re-potting."

- Sprout to Harry in 1995

Sprout was a non-vocal supporter of Harry Potter's story about Lord Voldemort's return. Like many teachers at Hogwarts, she detested Dolores Umbridge's presence and did her best to disobey her. On one such occasion, she awards twenty house points to Gryffindor because Harry passed her a watering can, a task which would normally receive no house points to be awarded.

She also accompanied Professor McGonagall in soothing Sybill Trelawney and taking her back to the Castle, after she was sacked by Dolores Umbridge the then-High Inquisitor. Sprout managed to show Umbridge her capability of teaching and avoided being sacked herself. She was later relieved to have Umbridge removed from school, and welcomed Dumbledore back as Headmaster.

1996–1997 school year
Sprout showed her sixth year class how to remove pods from Snargaluff trees, early in the school year. Later, after the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, Sprout met with fellow staff members Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Horace Slughorn and Rubeus Hagrid to discuss the future of Hogwarts. During the year, she was seen talking happily with Horace Slughorn, having given him plants to help for his class.

Sprout was a staunch advocate of keeping Hogwarts open after Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's death, stating that Dumbledore would have wanted it so. She also supported the suggestion that Dumbledore should be laid to rest at Hogwarts, though no Headmaster has ever received a burial there before. Sprout attended Dumbledore's funeral, where she appears cleaner than her students have ever seen her before.

1997–1998 school year
"He was roused by Professor Sprout, who was thundering past followed by Neville and half a dozen others, all of them wearing earmuffs and carry what appeared to be large potted plants"

- Pomona Sprout in 1998

Sprout continued teaching her students during the Carrows and Snape's tenure at Hogwarts. Later in the school year, she helped in the evacuation and defence of Hogwarts Castle during the Battle of Hogwarts. She led the Hufflepuff house to safety and collected numerous plants with the help of some students including Neville Longbottom to use against the attacking Death Eaters. Professor Sprout ultimately survived the battle.

Post-War
What became of her after the death of Lord Voldemort is unknown; she presumably remained teaching at Hogwarts as Herbology professor, by 2017 though she had either been replaced by Neville Longbottom or was working alongside him. Neville was one of her students in the past who was a great herbologist. It is likely that Sprout did not retire from her position until she felt a capable teacher could replace her, only stepping down when Neville expressed interest.

Magical abilities and skills

 * Master Herbologist: As being the professor of Herbology at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, she is a skilled Herbologist ranging from taking care of weak to dangerous plants.
 * Master Potioneer: As the professor of Herbology, Pomona has a skill in potion making as she is highly familiar and accustomed to the various ingredients required for potion making.

Minerva McGonagall
The relationship between Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout is largely unknown. Both are professors at Hogwarts and for the most seem to have a amiable, albeit professional relationship. When Umbridge stands to speak during the welcoming feast after her introduction by Dumledore, the two professors are both taken aback at this, and even exchange glances of disapproval. Furthermore, during the Battle of Hogwarts in 1998, Pomona was shown to have similar traits and the same views on protecting the Castle. It is, however, unknown whether they had a colleague/colleague relationship or a friendship.

Neville Longbottom
"Apparently, Professor Sprout told Professor Moody I'm really good at Herbology."

- Neville Longbottom

Pomona was always friendly with Neville Longbottom; she was quite impressed of his skill in Herbology. According to Alastor Moody (Barty Crouch Jr. in disguise) Sprout told him that Neville had an skill for Herbology.

In return, Neville always respected Sprout as one of his favourite teachers. In 1995, Neville became excited in the prospect of showing Pomona his Mimbulus Mimbletonia. Neville helped Sprout to use Devil's Snare, Mandrakes, Venomous Tentacula, and Snargaluff pods to attack the Death Eaters in the last battle.



Cedric Diggory
"Harry thought even Professor Sprout seemed distant with him - but then, she was Head of Hufflepuff House"

- Sprout in 1994

Because Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff student, Pomona respected him. When Harry Potter became the second Hogwarts champion in 1994, he felt that she had became distant with him as she was supporting Cedric. When Cedric Diggory was killed, she spoke to his parents, as she knew him best.

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley
"Quite enough chat over here! You're lagging behind, everyone else has started and Neville's already got his first pod"

- Sprout to Harry, Ron and Hermione in 1996

Pomona was usually kind to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. Shortly after Harry's interview is published in the Quibbler, Professor Sprout, rewarding him for his bravery in speaking out, awards Gryffindor house twenty points when he hands her a watering can. She helped defend Hogwarts to give time for Harry to find Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem.

Etymology

 * Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees, gardens and orchards in Roman mythology
 * Sprout is a verb meaning "to begin to grow, shoot forth, as a plant from a seed"

Behind the scenes

 * The first physical appearance of Professor Sprout in media was in the PC/N64 video game of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. This was long before any actress had been cast as Sprout, so her appearance was completely different from the later films and games. Sprout appeared as a short, not-really-overweight witch with straight black hair pulled back in a bun, a cheery face and emerald green robes. On the PS1 video game of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, also before an actress was cast as Sprout, she was featured as a short witch (a bit taller then the eleven-year old Harry Potter) wears her red hair in a long plait down her back.
 * Pomona Sprout was portrayed by Miriam Margolyes in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It has been confirmed that she will appear in the film adaptations of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
 * During most of the first six books, Sprout was the only Head of House whose name wasn't an alliteration. This was fixed when Horace Slughorn replaced Severus Snape as Slytherin Head of House. She is also the only Head of House except Slughorn who has not appeared in all the films. Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, and Severus Snape have.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (film)

Notes and references
Pomona Sprout Pomona Chourave Помона Стебль