(I don't know why that was in there. Also, I think it is appropriate to put "at the time", as they learned Sirius was innocent at the end of the fifth novel.)
{{Quote|Careful, Weasley, careful!|Sprout, as [[Ronald Weasley]] drops his [[Puffapod]].|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
{{Quote|Careful, Weasley, careful!|Sprout, as [[Ronald Weasley]] drops his [[Puffapod]].|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban}}
−
The [[1993-1994 school year|next school year]], was relatively uneventful at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]. On [[16 October]], the [[Gryffindor]]s and [[Hufflepuff]]s had [[Herbology]] class together, and Sprout taught them how to harvest [[Puffapod]] beans.<ref name="PA8">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' - Chapter 8 (''Flight of the Fat Lady'')</ref>
+
The [[1993-1994 school year|next school year]], was relatively uneventful at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]. On [[16 October]], the [[Gryffindor]]s and [[Hufflepuff]]s had [[Herbology]] class together, and Sprout taught them how to harvest [[Puffapod]] beans.<ref name="PA8">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' - Chapter 8 (''Flight of the Fat Lady'')</ref>
−
During the same year, [[Sirius Black]], a "dangerous mass-murderer", escaped from [[Azkaban]] and tried to get into [[Hogwarts]]. ItispossiblethatSproutwasveryupset,asweretheotherprofessors. However, it is unknown if she learned that Sirius Black was innocent.
+
During the same year, [[Sirius Black]], a "dangerous mass-murderer", escaped from [[Azkaban]] and tried to get into [[Hogwarts]].<ref>''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' - Chapter 3 (''The Knight Bus'')</ref> It is unknown if she learned that Sirius Black was innocent at the time.
On [[25 December|Christmas]], Pomona Sprout was one of the thirteen Christmas Feast attendants.<ref name="PA11">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' - Chapter 11 (''The Firebolt'')</ref>
On [[25 December|Christmas]], Pomona Sprout was one of the thirteen Christmas Feast attendants.<ref name="PA11">''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'' - Chapter 11 (''The Firebolt'')</ref>
"Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where they learnt how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi and found out what they were used for."
That year, she taught her first years three times a week in Greenhouse One, and taught them how to care for various herbs and fungi.[3] The first lesson focused in recognising plants found in the Hogwarts grounds, using a copy of the Ingredient Encyclopedia as a reference.[9] Other lessons covered the Severing Charm[13] and the Incendio Charm.[14] Sprout also lectured her students about specific plants, such as Devil's Snare.[11]
That year, Sprout met the famous Harry Potter who was among the first-years she taught.[3]
Re-opening of the Chamber of Secrets
"We will be able to cure her, Argus. Professor Sprout recently managed to procure some Mandrakes. As soon as they have reached their full size, I will have a potion made that will revive Mrs. Norris."
During the same year, Sirius Black, a "dangerous mass-murderer", escaped from Azkaban and tried to get into Hogwarts.[20] It is unknown if she learned that Sirius Black was innocent at the time.
On Christmas, Pomona Sprout was one of the thirteen Christmas Feast attendants.[21]
Triwizard Tournament
Pomona Sprout: "Bubotubers. They need squeezing. You will collect the pus —"
Seamus Finnigan: "The what?"
Pomona Sprout: "Pus, Finnigan, pus. And it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles."
— Pomona Sprout and Seamus Finnigan on the first Herbology class of the term.[src]
On the first lesson of the school year, Sprout taught her fourth year students how to squeeze pus from Bubotubers. By the end of the lesson, each student had collected several pints, which Sprout gave to Poppy Pomfrey, the school matron, since it could be used to remedy acne.[22]
That school year the Triwizard Tournament was held at Hogwarts and one of the Triwizard Champions was sixth yearHufflepuffCedric Diggory,[25] whom Sprout knew very well.[4]
Cedric was not the only Hogwarts Champion; Harry Potter had mysteriously been entered into the Tournament.[25] As such, Professor Sprout seemed to act somewhat distant towards Harry.[26]
"The teachers were of course forbidden from mentioning the interview by Educational Decree Number Twenty-Six, but they found ways to express their feelings about it all the same. [For instance,] Professor Sprout awarded Gryffindor twenty points when Harry passed her a watering can."
The GryffindorO.W.L.-level class was lectured by Professor Sprout on the importance of the examinations during their first Herbology class.[31] Sprout also had the students made a practical exercise which involved using dragon dung fertiliser. She also set them a long essay for the following lesson.[31]
Sometime this year, Sprout held career consultations with her Hufflepufffifth-years.[32] During this school year, Professor Sprout also held mock O.W.L.s on the Herbology Greenhouses for those wanting to revise for the exams.[33]
After Harry Potter took part in an interview for The Quibbler about the events at Little Hangleton the previous June, he was put in detention by Professor Umbridge.[34] The rest of the teaching staff, however, found the interview an act of bravery on Harry's behalf and, being forbidden of discussing it per the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Six, found other ways to express their feelings; Pomona awarded Harry a large amount of house points for passing her a watering can.[34]
Sprout managed to show Professor Umbridge her teaching capability and avoided being sacked herself.[34] She was later relieved to have Umbridge removed from the school and welcomed Professor Dumbledore back as Headmaster.
Protecting Hogwarts from Death Eaters
Professor Sprout teaching a class.
Horace Slughorn: "… I do thank you for taking the time, Pomona. Most authorities agree that they are at their most efficacious if picked at twilight."
Pomona Sprout: "Oh, I quite agree. That enough for you?"
Not long after, Sprout had her sixth year class harvesting Snargaluff pods. She chided Harry, Ron and Hermione for being slow; as they were still strapping on their protective gear (and talking), while Neville had already harvested his first pod. The trio's first pod bounced free while they were trying to open it, and rebounded off the glass roof of the greenhouse, knocking Professor Sprout's battered hat off.[37]
After Professor Dumbledore's death, Sprout met with fellow staff members Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, Horace Slughorn and Rubeus Hagrid to discuss the future of Hogwarts. She was a staunch advocate of keeping the school open, 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.[41]
Sprout attended Dumbledore's funeral and led the Hufflepuffs down to the grounds where the ceremony was held, looking cleaner than she ever had been before; without a single patch on her usually battered hat.[42]
The Carrows were put in charge of all discipline and punishments, though Sprout and the staff never sent students to them if they could avoid it. She also, with the other Heads of House, tried to protect the pupils from Alecto and Amycus.[46]
Battle of Hogwarts
One night, Professors Sprout, Flitwick and Slughorn, heard a disturbance in one of the corridors and, still in their night-clothes, went to find out what it was. They found Minerva McGonagall duelling Snape to the death, and, after being defeated, Snape then ran into a classroom, chased by Flitwick, Sprout and McGonagall, and flew out of the window, escaping them.[45]
Aware that Lord Voldemort would soon attack the castle, Sprout and the other professors set to defend the school and the students.[45] Sprout retreated to the greenhouses, collecting various dangerous plants, and, with the help of a dozen of her students (namely Neville Longbottom), lobbed Mandrakes and everything else over the battlements and onto the Death Eaters.[45] She took a troop of of-age students up to the Astronomy Tower, where they could easily work spells and drop plants such as Venomous Tentaculas and Snargaluffs.[45]
Sprout also witnessed the duel between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort in the Great Hall and, after Voldemort's spell rebounded on him, Sprout, Flitwick and McGonagall all reached to hug Harry at the same time, while everyone else joined in.[47]
A celebration feast was later held, but no one sat in their proper house tables; teachers, parents and students were all jumbled up.[47]
"Professor Sprout was a squat little witch who wore a patched hat over her flyaway hair; there was usually a large amount of earth on her clothes, and her fingernails would have made Aunt Petunia faint."
Professor Sprout was described as being a small and squat woman with grey, flyaway hair.[6] She usually wore a patched and battered hat.[6] Her clothes were noted to almost always be covered in dirt and earth, as were her dirty fingernails.[6] Sprout also almost always had a smile on her face.[6]
Personality and traits
"The heir of Slytherin. Left another message. Right underneath the first one. 'Her skeleton will lie in the Chamber forever'. [Professor Sprout clasps her hands over her mouth]"
Professor Sprout was noted to be very cheerful, positive and loyal,[6] but was also very professional and just and would chide her students if necessary.[37] Thus, Sprout possessed all of the virtues and aspects belonging to Hufflepuff House. She was kind and nurturing to the students, and surely encouraged Neville Longbottom's penchant for Herbology because he was anxious to show her his Mimbulus Mimbletonia.[49] She also seemed horrified when she learnt that Ginny Weasley had been kidnapped by Salazar Slytherin's Basilisk and taken into the Chamber of Secrets, clasping her shaking hand over her mouth in shock.[50]
Magical abilities and skills
Professor Sprout.
"Just been showing Professor Sprout the right way to doctor a Whomping Willow. But I don't want you running away with the idea that I am better at Herbology than she is!"
Master Potioneer: As the HerbologyProfessor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Sprout had a skill in potion making as she was highly familiar and accustomed to the various ingredients required for potion making.[9] This fact is exemplified when one considers that she allowed the Potions Club to gather in her greenhouses.[51]
Expert Duellist: Professor Sprout may have also had some skill in duelling and Defence Against the Dark Arts, since the former Herbology Professor fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and survived.[47] Also during that battle, she took a troop of students up to the Astronomy Tower, which was noted to be a great place to work spells.
Relationships
Minerva McGonagall.
Minerva McGonagall
Filius Flitwick: "I suppose you are aware that nothing we do can indefinitely prevent You-Know-Who to enter the school, right? —"
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 stood to speak during the 1995Welcoming Feast after her introduction by Headmaster Dumbledore, the two professors are both taken aback at this, and even exchange glances of disapproval.[52] Furthermore, during the Battle of Hogwarts on 2 May, 1998, Pomona was shown to have similar traits and the same views on protecting the Castle against Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters.[45]
Neville Longbottom.
Neville Longbottom
"Apparently, Professor Sprout told Professor Moody I'm really good at Herbology."
In return, Neville always respected Sprout as one of his favourite teachers. In 1995, Neville became excited in the prospect of showing her his Mimbulus Mimbletonia.[49] Neville helped Sprout to use Devil's Snare, Mandrakes, Venomous Tentacula, and Snargaluff pods to attack the Death Eaters in the last battle.[45] Neville eventually succeeded Professor Sprout as the Herbology teacher.
Because Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff student, Professor Sprout knew him well.[4] When Harry Potter became the second Hogwarts champion in 1994, he felt that she had became distant with him as she was supporting Cedric.[26] When Cedric Diggory was killed, she spoke to his parents, as she knew him best.[4]
Professor Sprout possibly had a good relationship with the most of Hogwarts staff. Except her friendship with Minerva McGonagall, Sprout also respected very much Albus Dumbledore. After the Headmaster's death, Sprout was very sad.
She was always friendly with Filius Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw house and Charms professor. Both Sprout and Flitwick supported Albus Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix, although they were not official members. After the death of Dumbledore, Flitwick and Sprout (along with others) sat and discussed about it and about Severus Snape's loyalty. The next year, they both tried to protect the students from Amycus and Alecto Carrow and fought at the Battle of Hogwarts.
Sprout also appeared to be friendly with Horace Slughorn, the Potions Master. In 1997, Sprout helped Slughorn pick some potion herbs. She left towards her Greenhouses after she had collected enough for Slughorn's third year class, with some to spare. Slughorn also proceeded to steal some Venomous Tentacula leaves while Sprout was not around. However, he fought at the Battle of Hogwarts with Sprout.
She possibly didn't like so much Severus Snape, the former Potions Master and Head of Slytherin house. It was possible that she didn't trust him as much as Dumbledore did. After Snape killed Dumbledore, Sprout started to dislike him. She helped kick him out off of the school after the battle had started. However, her opinion changed when Harry Potter made sure that everyone knew that Snape was always loyal to the Order of the Phoenix.
In Roman mythology, Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees, gardens and orchards.[54]Sprout is a verb meaning "to begin to grow, shoot forth, as a plant from a seed".[55]
The first physical appearance of Professor Sprout in media was in the PC/PS1 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. On the PC version, 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 version, she was featured as a short witch (just a bit taller then the eleven-year old Harry Potter) wearing her red hair in a long plait down her back. File:Pomalego.jpg
Pomona as a Lego minifigure.
Sprout in the first video game
During most of the first six books, Sprout was the only Head of House whose name was not an alliteration. This was changed when Horace Slughorn replaced Severus Snape as Head of Slytherin House in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She is also the only Head of House (with the exception of Slughorn, who was first introduced in the sixth installment) who has not appeared in all the films.
