Pomona Sprout

Pomona Sprout
Biographical information
Born	15 May, before 1967
Blood status	Pure-blood or half-blood
Nationality	British or Irish
Title(s)	Professor Head of Hufflepuff House Head of Herbology Madam
Physical information
Species	Human
Gender	Female
Height	Squat
Hair colour	Grey
Relationship information
Romances	Filius Flitwick (ex-boyfriend)
Magical characteristics
Boggart	Lord Voldemort
Wand	Unknown length, wood and core
Patronus	Non-corporeal
Affiliation
Occupation	Herbologist Head of the Herbology department at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (post-1975–pre-2020) Head of Hufflepuff House at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (pre-1984–pre-2014)
House	Hufflepuff
Loyalty	Sprout family Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Hufflepuff Herbology department Order of the Phoenix (during Battle of the Astronomy Tower and Battle of Hogwarts) Dumbledore's Army (during Battle of the Astronomy Tower and Battle of Hogwarts)

"I am sure Dumbledore would have wanted the school to remain open. I feel that if a single pupil wants to come, then the school ought to remain open for that pupil."

— Sprout's view on Hogwarts and education

Professor Pomona Sprout (b. 15 May) was a witch who worked as Head of Hufflepuff House and Head of the Herbology department at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She attended the school in her youth, where she was Sorted into Hufflepuff and excelled at Herbology. Some time after her graduation, Sprout returned to Hogwarts to teach.

During the 1992–1993 school year, Professor Sprout grew the Mandrakes that would later be used in the Mandrake Restorative Draught to cure those who were petrified by Slytherin's Monster. She also opposed Dolores Umbridge and her tyranny over the school in the 1995–1996 school year, which the rest of the staff were happy to join her in doing.

Sprout opposed Lord Voldemort during the Second Wizarding War. She voted for the school to remain open after the Battle of the Astronomy Tower, and assisted in ousting Severus Snape in 1998. She later took a group of students to the battlements during the Battle of Hogwarts and threw Devil's Snare and various other dangerous plants onto the invading Death Eaters.

She ultimately survived the war. By the early 21st century, Neville Longbottom taught Herbology, alongside her. By summer 2020, Professor Sprout had formally retired from her position as professor of Herbology.

Biography

Early life

First-years approaching Hogwarts Castle to begin their magical education

Pomona Sprout was born into a wizarding family of unknown degree on 15 May in Britain or Ireland. She presumably purchased her wand from Diagon Alley at the age of eleven, prior to attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

She was Sorted into Hufflepuff House upon her arrival at Hogwarts and excelled at Herbology, which may have been taught by Professor Herbert Beery at the time, and likely achieved a high-graded O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. in the subject.

Pomona and Minerva McGonagall's student time at Hogwarts overlapped by two years. Pomona was initially very homesick at Hogwarts, not having spent much time away from her parents at all. Minerva noticed this, and gave Pomona a Fanged Geranium, which she decided to name Gerald. It was because of this that the two students enjoyed an excellent relationship both then and in later years. They also helped each other learn the subjects they eventually taught. During her time at Hogwarts, she enjoyed attending Quidditch matches.

Career at Hogwarts

Earlier years

"Four to a tray — there is a large supply of pots here — compost in the sacks over there — and be careful of the Venomous Tentacula, it's teething."

— Professor Sprout teaching a class

Professor Sprout teaching her second-year class how to re-pot Mandrakes

At some point after her graduation, Sprout returned to Hogwarts as a member of the Herbology department. She taught her classes in the greenhouses at the back of the castle and used one of the greenhouses as an office. At an unknown time, Professor Sprout became Head of Department and Head of Hufflepuff House.

Professor Sprout used to bring the most interesting specimens (some of which could dance and talk) from the Herbology greenhouses to decorate Hufflepuff Basement. This was one of the reasons why Hufflepuffs were often very good in her subject.

1980s/1990s

Sprout rewarding one her Hufflepuff students with Prefect duties

Professor Sprout was Nymphadora Tonks's Head of House in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Sprout did not make her a prefect in her fifth year due to what Sprout deemed an inability to behave herself. However, Tonks presumably surprised Sprout after she earned at least five N.E.W.Ts in her seventh year.

Sometime in between 1987 and 1990, Gabriel Truman, a third-year at the time, got into a duel with a Ravenclaw Prefect who argued that the famous Arithmancer Bridget Wenlock must have been in his own house, not Hufflepuff, as she was in fact. Gabriel felt he deserved a week's worth of detentions for his own actions, but Professor Sprout went easy on him, sending him off with a warning and a box of coconut ice.

1986–1987 school year

Jacob's sibling: "If that wasn't a werewolf, what was it?"

Professor Sprout: "A Boggart. Nasty shapeshifting creature. It takes the form of the victim's greatest fear. Boggarts are defeated by laughter, so you cast Riddikulus to change it into something humorous. To my knowledge, a Boggart has never been seen in the greenhouses... I must report this to Professor Dumbledore. Class dismissed."

— Professor Sprout in response to a Boggart manifesting in the Herbology Classroom

Professor Sprout expressing concern after witnessing a boggart in the greenhouses

Professor Sprout spent the summer holidays of 1986 experimenting with dragon dung fertiliser, which she told Jacob's sibling about during the first Herbology lesson of term. She then set the class to work on tending to valerian sprigs, which were a basis for many potions. Towards the end of the class, Professor Sprout asked Penny Haywood to fetch her a plant pot, only for the girl to scream in terror when a werewolf suddenly burst out of the stack.

The rest of the class began to panic as well, but Professor Sprout stepped forward and cast the Boggart-Banishing Spell with her wand, revealing that the supposed werewolf was actually a Boggart. Professor Sprout explained to the class what a Boggart was before dismissing them to go and speak to Professor Dumbledore, as a Boggart had never appeared in the Herbology Greenhouses before.

Also during this year, she provided some earmuffs to Jacob's sibling and Penny Haywood in the Herbology Classroom, so they could uproot a Mandrake in order to extract a hidden Chocolate Frog Card in its soil.

Professor Sprout talking to Bill and Jacob's sibling

At some point during this school year, whilst Jacob's sibling was helping their friend Bill Weasley with Career Advice, Professor Sprout tasked Bill with teaching Jacob's sibling how to grow Leaping Toadstools in the Herbology Classroom to see if he was suited to becoming a Herbologist. Unfortunately, Jacob's sibling Leaping Toadstools were of poor health and unable to jump, but Professor Sprout did not discourage them, telling them all good Herbologists made mistakes before making discoveries.

At some point she noticed that Gerald was wilting, and she wasn't sure of the reason why. She initially believed that it was due to Gerald's soil being insufficient and attempted to acquire a new potting soil mix from Rubeus Hagrid, however she was called away to a Herbology conference before the soil mix was completed. She left Gerald in the care of Jacob's sibling and some other Hufflepuff students, who figured out that Gerald was wilting because the magical bond of friendship that existed between Minerva and Pomona was fading. They hosted a re-potting party in order to get everyone's spirits up again and re-forge the bond between the two Professors.

1987–1988 school year

During the 1987–1988 school year, when a Dementor was spotted on Hogwarts grounds which attacked Penny Haywood and sent her to the Hospital Wing, Professor Sprout met with Dumbledore with the the other Head of House in the Headmaster's office to discuss the incident. Jacob's sibling attended the meeting and informed them that the attack was instigated by "R", a cabal of Dark wizards.

Professor Sprout approaching Penny Haywood and Jacob's sibling in the Herbology Classroom

Also during this school year, Sprout took the Mirror of Erised from the castle without anyone's else's prior knowledge to the Herbology Classroom, so she could look into it and see her heart's desire, after she failed to grow an ailing Puffapod. Jacob's sibling and Penny Haywood found the Mirror in the classroom whilst on their mission to locate it for Dumbledore, and Sprout appeared and admitted to taking the Mirror, and expressed regret over having caused any upset over it being missing. Sprout and Jacob's sibling went to speak with Dumbledore in his office, where Sprout told them of her intentions and how she had seen herself in a greenhouse surrounded by flourishing plants in the Mirror. She and Dumbledore returned to the classroom to retrieve the Mirror, but to their confusion found it missing, and Jacob's sibling went to find it again.

Also during this school year, Jacob's sibling asked what a Niffler ate during a lesson. She said she did not know, but allowed them to take various edible plants, along with venison she fed to Snargaluffs. In a later lesson, she allowed Jacob's sibling before the start of a Herbology lesson take some Lady's Mantle from the Herbology Classroom so they could brew a Beautification Potion, after informing them to seek Rubeus Hagrid for ginger root from his garden as she had not grown any to give at the time, despite sometimes growing it for the Hogwarts house-elves and Severus Snape. Another time, Sprout taught Jacob's sibling, Charlie Weasley and Liz Tuttle how to cultivate Bubotubers in the Herbology Classroom, in preparation for the Forbidden Forest.

On 14 February 1988, Sprout taught fourth-year students how to use the Herbivicus Charm to accelerate the growth of red roses for Valentine's Day.

1988–1989 school year

Professor Sprout creating a rainstorm in the Herbology Classroom

During the 1988–1989 school year, Jacob's sibling and Liz Tuttle came to her in the Herbology Classroom and requested she create a local rainstorm inside the classroom so an Augurey could fly. She created the rainstorm with meteolojinx recanto after the students sprayed some Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent on some Flesh-Eating Slugs that were attacking Mandrakes.

Also during this year, while reviewing plants with fifth-year students in preparation for their upcoming Ordinary Wizarding Levels, Jacob's sibling asked Sprout about gathering seeds from a Venomous Tentacula, which she informed was both highly difficult and dangerous, informing them they were a Class C Non-Tradeable Substance.

1989–1990 school year

During the 1989–1990 school year at Hogwarts, Sprout grew sage, dittany and lavender in the greenhouses, which she gave to Jacob's sibling to give to the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest. She explained the various magical properties of each plant to the student.

Professor Sprout attends the memorial ceremony for Rowan Khanna

She also attended the memorial ceremony for Rowan Khanna held in the Great Hall, in honour of Rowan Khanna following their death, where she followed Professor Dumbledore's lead in raising her wand in honour of the fallen student.

Also during this school year, she ran out of Regerminating Potion, to which Severus Snape had his sixth-year Potions brew the potion for her in class.

1990–1991 school year

During the 1990–1991 school year, in response to an invasion of Doxies that was swarming Hogwarts Castle and sending lots of students to the Hospital Wing with venomous doxy bites, Professor Sprout sought to help the situation by growing cowbane, hemlock and tormentil in the greenhouses, the ingredients for Doxycide, so it could be brewed and used to eliminate the doxies. She had Jacob's sibling, Chiara Lobosca and Barnaby Lee harvest these plants in the Herbology Classroom.

1991–1992 school year

"Devil's Snare, Devil's Snare... what did Professor Sprout say? — it likes the dark and damp."

— Hermione about one of Professor Sprout's Herbology lessons

Sprout's chamber and obstacle protecting the Philosopher's Stone

Professor Sprout was still teaching at Hogwarts by the 1991–1992 school year. Just before the start of the new school year, Albus Dumbledore trusted her to contribute to the defences of the Philosopher's Stone Chambers. Sprout, being the Herbology professor, possessed considerable knowledge of plants and thus planted a large amount of Devil's Snare in her Chamber. The Devil's Snare in the chamber broke the fall of the one trying to get the Stone, but also tried to kill them. As the dangerous plant liked the dark and damp, the trick was to use fire or sunlight to force the Snare into retreat. If the victim struggled, however, the plant would tighten its grip until they were dead.

Sprout attending a Hogwarts Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin

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. The first lesson focused in recognising plants found in the Hogwarts grounds, using a copy of the Ingredient Encyclopedia as a reference. Other lessons covered the Severing Charm and the Fire-Making Spell. Sprout also lectured her students about specific plants, such as Devil's Snare.

That year, Sprout met the famous Harry Potter who was among the first-years she taught. She was also present at the End-of-Term Feast where Slytherin lost the House Cup to Gryffindor ending their seven-year winning streak, which likely pleased her immensely along with the rest of her House.

1992–1993 school year

"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."

— Professor Sprout's Mandrakes

Sprout teaching her second-year students in front of the greenhouses

As the Herbology teacher, Professor Sprout was in charge of doctoring the damaged Whomping Willow by wrapping bandages around the broken branches after Harry Potter and Ron Weasley drove a bewitched car into it. On the first day of term, Gilderoy Lockhart, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, gave her useless pointers and arrogantly made out that he was a better Herbologist than her, which made her look distinctly cross and not at all her usual cheerful self.

She was further irritated when Lockhart took Harry out of the lesson to speak to him, rudely closing the door in her face before she could make her opinion known. That day she taught her second-years how to re-pot a new growth of Mandrake, whilst also warning them about the teething Venomous Tentacula, giving the plant in question a sharp slap to make it withdraw the long feelers it had been inching over her shoulder. This lesson and the Mandrakes would later prove to be very useful.

Sprout and others observing the message written on the wall by the Heir of Slytherin

Sprout and her colleagues were understandably unnerved by the opening of the Chamber of Secrets. After Mrs Norris, the cat belonging to Argus Filch, was found petrified, Professor Dumbledore decided that they were to use a Mandrake Restorative Draught to cure her. Professor Sprout was put in charge of maturing her Mandrakes until they could be chopped up, stewed, and used by Potions Master Severus Snape for the draught.

Sprout attended the Quidditch match between the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams, sat high up in the stands with Potions Master Severus Snape, Charms Master Filius Flitwick, librarian Irma Pince and Governor Lucius Malfoy.

When the Hogwarts faculty were informed of Ginny Weasley's abduction into the Chamber of Secrets in the staffroom, Sprout was utterly horrified, clasping her shaking hand over her mouth. When Gilderoy Lockhart entered the staffroom, Sprout and the other professors goaded Lockhart to enter the Chamber and rescue Ginny, knowing perfectly well he was a cowardly fraud who would soon flee the school, much to their delight. After that, McGonagall ordered her and the other two Heads of Houses to inform their students that the school was scheduled to close due to the kidnapping. However, as Harry Potter thankfully rescued her alive from the Chamber the same day, the school was kept open.

Sprout at the End-of-Term Feast, sitting next to Madam Pomfrey

By the end of the year the Mandrakes had reached maturity and the Mandrake Restorative Draught was completed and administered to those who were petrified: Mrs Norris, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Colin Creevey, Hermione Granger, Penelope Clearwater, and the ghost of Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington. At the End-of-Term Feast, Professor Dumbledore and the rest of the school applauded Sprout for her contribution in the brewing of the Mandrake Draught. During the End-the-Term Feast, Gryffindor also won the House Cup for a second year in a row and Hagrid returned from his confinement in Azkaban.

1993–1994 school year

"Careful, Weasley, careful!"

— Sprout, as Ronald Weasley drops his Puffapod

Sprout at the End-of-Term Feast next to Madam Pomfrey

The next school year was relatively uneventful at Hogwarts. On 16 October, the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs had Herbology class together, and Sprout taught them how to harvest Puffapod beans. Ron Weasley accidentally dropped some of these beans onto the floor of the greenhouse they were working in and they instantly bloomed, earning him Professor Sprout's disapproval. During the same year, Sirius Black, a "dangerous mass-murderer", escaped from Azkaban and tried to get into Hogwarts on two occasions.

On Christmas, Pomona Sprout was one of the thirteen Christmas Feast attendants. During the Christmas feast she was privy to the tense conversation between McGonagall and Trelawney.

1994–1995 school year

Sprout: "Bubotubers. They need squeezing. You will collect the pus —"

Seamus Finnigan: "The what?"

Sprout: "Pus, Finnigan, pus. And it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles."

— The first Herbology class of the term

Sprout in her greenhouse teaching students

At the Start-of-Term Feast of the 1994–1995 school year, Professor Sprout sat next to the Astronomy Professor Aurora Sinistra, with whom she spoke.

In the first lesson of the school year, Sprout taught her fourth-year students how to squeeze pus from Bubotubers. Some of these students found this to be disgusting and Seamus Finnigan was not sure he heard her correctly. By the end of the lesson, each student had collected several pints. Sprout then gave the pints to the school's matron Madam Pomfrey, since it could be used to treat acne.

At some point early on in the school year, Professor Sprout told Bartemius Crouch Jnr (impersonating the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher Alastor Moody) how good Neville Longbottom was at Herbology. "Moody" then lent Neville some books on plants and fungi called Magical Mediterranean Water-Plants and Their Properties and another called Magical Water Plants of the Highland Lochs.

The Yule Ball that Sprout attended in December 1994

That school year the Triwizard Tournament was held at Hogwarts and one of the Triwizard Champions was sixth-year Hufflepuff Cedric Diggory, whom Sprout knew very well. Cedric was not the only Hogwarts Champion; Harry Potter had mysteriously been entered into the Tournament, an act which many in Hufflepuff perceived as an attempt to steal Cedric's glory. As such, Professor Sprout seemed to act somewhat distant towards Harry. On Christmas Day, Professor Sprout attended the Yule Ball where she danced with Professor Dumbledore.

Professor Sprout attending Cedric Diggory's memorial feast

At the end of the year, Cedric Diggory was murdered during the third task of the Triwizard Tournament on Lord Voldemort's orders. Harry Potter at the risk of his own life brought Cedric's body back to the school grounds. Sprout spoke with Amos Diggory and his wife, since she knew their son best as Head of his House. She attended the Memorial Feast in Cedric's memory and believed Harry and Dumbledore's claims that Lord Voldemort had returned.

Second Wizarding War (1995–1998)

1995–1996 school year

"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. Professor Sprout awarded Gryffindor twenty points when Harry passed her a watering can."

— Professor Sprout after Harry's interview in The Quibbler

The following school year, Dolores Umbridge was made Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts by the Ministry of Magic in accordance to the Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two. Umbridge was despised by the majority of the staff, including Sprout. When Umbridge interrupted Professor Dumbledore's welcoming speech in the middle of the Start-of-Term feast, Sprout was taken-aback and scandalised at the audacity, raising her eyebrows high enough that they disappeared into her hairline. During Umbridge's speech she was observed as exchanging a significant look with Professor McGonagall, both of them understanding the message that lay beneath the officious and flowery rhetoric.

Professor Sprout doing mock O.W.L.s with Harry Potter

The Gryffindor O.W.L.-level class was lectured by Professor Sprout on the importance of the examinations during their first Herbology class. Sprout also had the students make a practical exercise which involved using dragon dung fertiliser. She also set them a long essay for the following lesson.

Sometime this year, Sprout held career consultations with her Hufflepuff fifth-years. She also held mock O.W.L.s on the Herbology Greenhouses for those wanting to revise for the exams.

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. 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 twenty house points for Gryffindor for passing her a watering can.

Pomona Sprout in the Herbology Greenhouses

The teachers' capability of teaching was examined by Umbridge, as part of her duties as High Inquisitor. Sybill Trelawney, the Divination Professor, was sacked and almost dragged out of the castle by Umbridge. Albus Dumbledore, finding a loophole in one of the Educational Decrees, allowed the sacked Trelawney to remain occupying her premises on the North Tower. Trelawney was escorted back to the Castle by Sprout, Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick.

When a mass breakout from Azkaban was announced in the Daily Prophet, Sprout read the article in the Great Hall on the subject with great consternation, and was so intent on doing so that she failed to notice she was dripping egg yolk into her lap from her breakfast spoon.

Sprout managed to show Professor Umbridge her teaching capability and avoided being sacked herself. She would have been relieved to have Umbridge removed from the school at the end of the school year, and would have welcomed Professor Dumbledore back as Headmaster.

1996–1997 school year

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."

Sprout: "Oh, I quite agree. That enough for you?"

— A conversation at the vegetable patch

Sprout in her Greenhouse teaching N.E.W.T. students

While giving out the student timetables on 2 September, Professor McGonagall remarked that Sprout was going to be delighted to see Neville Longbottom back with an 'Outstanding' O.W.L. in Herbology that school year. To start off the year, she taught her sixth-years about various extremely dangerous plants. She also permitted them to swear loudly if the Venomous Tentacula bit them or seized them unexpectedly from behind.

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.

In late April of that school year, Sprout helped the new Potions Master, Horace Slughorn in picking 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.

Albus Dumbledore's funeral

At the end of the year, the Battle of the Astronomy Tower took place, with the Death Eaters invading Hogwarts and fighting against the students, teachers, Aurors and the Order of the Phoenix. Professor Sprout likely participated, as did Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, and Rubeus Hagrid.

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 had ever received a burial there before.

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.

1997–1998 school year

Sprout in the Great Hall during Snape's reign as Headmaster

On 1 August 1997, the Ministry of Magic was taken over by Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters. By the next school year, Severus Snape was made Headmaster of Hogwarts while his fellow Death Eaters, Alecto Carrow and Amycus Carrow became the Muggle Studies and Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers respectively. Despite the school now in the grasp of Lord Voldemort, or perhaps because of it, Professor Sprout returned to the castle to teach and protect the students.

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.

Battle of Hogwarts

"Tentacula. Devil's Snare. And Snargaluff pods… Yes, I'd like to see the Death Eaters fighting those."

— Professor Sprout prepares for the upcoming battle

Sprout preparing to stand with the Order of the Phoenix and the other defenders of Hogwarts

One night, after being woken up by Minerva McGonagall's cat Patronus, Professors Sprout, Flitwick and Slughorn, and, still in their night-clothes, went to find out what she wanted. 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.

Aware that Lord Voldemort would soon attack the castle, Sprout and the other professors set to defend the school and the students, noting that they could at least hold him up if not keep him out entirely and expressing a desire to see how the Death Eaters fared in combat with her deadly plants. 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. 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.

Pomona and others witnessing Harry Potter's final defeat of Voldemort

During the hour-long break in the Battle, Sprout helped treat wounded fighters in the Great Hall. Sprout also witnessed the duel between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort in the Great Hall. During which Voldemort's spell rebounded on him and Harry emerged the victor. After the duel Sprout, Flitwick, and McGonagall all reached to hug Harry at the same time, while everyone else joined in.

Pomona after the Battle of Hogwarts

After the bodies of the deceased were moved from the Great Hall, a celebration feast was later held. However, no one sat at their proper house tables. Teachers, parents, residents of Hogsmede, students, and others were all jumbled up and chatting among themselves. Sprout sat by Filius Flitwick and Horace Slughorn, fellow Heads of House. The three were chatting and drinking cups of tea.

Later life (1998–)

Sprout remained teaching at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as Herbology professor. By 2008, her former student Neville Longbottom had joined the Herbology department and taught the subject alongside her. She oversaw at the Sorting Ceremony at the beginning of the 2008–2009 school year with her fellow Heads of House, including Neville who had become the Head of Gryffindor.

During the Calamity, she was able to give twenty-three six-hour classes regarding everything she knew about Herbology and herbal remedies to members of the Statute of Secrecy Task Force for increased recovery, and co-teach along with Professor Flitwick on how different magical approaches, when combined with teamwork, could achieve devastating effects to enhance the efficiency of enchantments cast on a teammate.

By summer 2020, Professor Sprout had formally retired from her position as professor of Herbology. Following her retirement, she met with a Calamity Investigator working for the Statute of Secrecy Task Force, informing them of some modifications she had made to their Greenhouse Charm that would enable it to be cast more frequently in succession. She later met with the same Calamity Investigator with further modifications to the spellwork of the charm, improving the investigator's technique and increasing the amount of ingredients the charm could produce.

The same Calamity Investigator later attended a retrospective on Sprout's Hogwarts career, with the tales of her tenure at the school proving unexpectedly informative, providing lessons such as "never turn back on a teething Tentacula" and "for best results, pick Lovage at dawn".

During a Calamity surge in August and September 2020 focused on Grim Fawley's first year at Hogwarts, Sprout suddenly and clearly recalled an unfamiliar memory of a conversation with Grim in which he claimed to have developed enough influence over the Calamity to modify it and that the surge was almost entirely made of his memories of his first-year experience and his professors, with her relaying this information to Minister for Magic Hermione Granger.

Physical description

Professor Pomona Sprout

"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."

— A description of Professor Sprout in 1992

Professor Sprout was described as being a squat little witch with short, grey, wavy hair. She usually wore a patched and battered hat. Her clothes were noted to almost always be covered in dirt and earth, and her fingernails were noted to be so filthy they would have made prim and proper Petunia Dursley faint in horror. Sprout also almost always had a smile on her face.

Personality and traits

"Quite enough chat over here! You're lagging behind, everybody else has started, and Neville's already got his first pod!"

— Professor Sprout's no-nonsense attitude as a teacher

Professor Sprout's sunny and encouraging disposition

Professor Sprout was noted to be very cheerful, positive, and loyal, but was also very professional and just and would chide her students if necessary. 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. Sprout was also the most maternal of all the Heads of House, an example being when she calmed and got all of the students back to bed after the Battle of the Astronomy Tower.

"He was roused by Professor Sprout, who was thundering past followed by Neville and half a dozen others, all of them wearing earmuffs and carrying what appeared to be large potted plants."

— Sprout's bravery during the Battle of Hogwarts

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. Professor Sprout was also very brave, always ready to fight for her side. During the Battle of Hogwarts, she did not question McGonagall's decision to defend Hogwarts and immediately sought to provide whatever assistance she could, collecting various dangerous plants to fight Voldemort and his Death Eaters, showing her utmost loyalty and dedication for defending her school and standing up for what is right.

Magical abilities and skills

Sprout teaching a second-year Herbology class

"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!"

— Gilderoy Lockhart arrogantly underestimating Professor Sprout's abilities in 1992

As the Head of Herbology at Hogwarts, Professor Sprout was an accomplished and skilful Herbologist, as well as a powerful witch in her own right. Testaments to her considerable abilities were her proficiency in the subject she taught, and her participation of and survival of the legendary Battle of Hogwarts.

"We'll be repotting Mandrakes today. Now, who can tell me the properties of the Mandrake?"

— Professor Sprout teaching second-year Herbology

• Herbology: As the Professor of Herbology at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Sprout was a very accomplished Herbologist. Her talents ranged from taking care of harmless plants, such as Umbrella Flowers, and Puffapods, to more dangerous ones, such as Whomping Willows, Mandrakes, Snargaluffs, Venomous Tentaculas and even the highly lethal Devil's Snare.
• Charms: As the Professor of Herbology, Sprout was well versed in Herbology-related charms, such as the Fire-Making Spell, the Incendio Duo Spell, the Lumos Solem Spell, the Herbivicus Charm and even the Severing Charm. She was also able to conjure a non-corporeal Patronus, which was an incredibly advanced and powerful piece of protective magic and concrete evidence of her possessing superior magical ability. She was also proficient with the Boggart-Banishing Spell, Freezing Spell and Disarming Charm. Sprout was also accomplished with the atmospheric charm Metelojinx, which she once used to create a rainstorm in the Herbology Classroom so an Augurey could take flight.
• Potions: As the Professor of Herbology, Sprout was also very skilled in potion-making, as she was highly familiar and accustomed to the various ingredients required for certain potions. She also experimented with new ways of making potions, including Dragon dung Fertiliser.
• Duelling: Sprout was shown to have a considerable level of skill in duelling, given how she fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and survived. She helped her co-workers, McGonagall and Flitwick, to chase Snape out of Hogwarts. Later on, during the final battle, she took a troop of students up to the Astronomy Tower, which was noted to be a great place to work spells. She eventually survived the battle, showing her competence in martial magic.
• Defence Against the Dark Arts: Sprout was highly capable of fighting the Dark Forces, as she demonstrated when she bravely and successfully fought in the Battle of Hogwarts against the Death Eaters, highly dangerous Dark wizards, emerging herself victorious. She was also skilled at dealing with Dark creatures, as she successfully repelled a Boggart when it appeared in one the Herbology greenhouses, with the Boggart-Banishing Spell for Penny Haywood, and was also able to explain the creature's nature to students.

Possessions

Sprout's wand

• Wand: Sprout owned a wand of an unknown length, wood and core material.
• Office: While teaching at Hogwarts, she had an office in one of the Greenhouses.
• Garden: Sprout owned a garden near the Herbology greenhouses, which was full of various magical and mundane plants.
• Spellbooks: She owned several spellbooks for Herbology-related charms, such as spellbooks on the Diffindo and Herbivicus spells.
• Puffapod seedling: She kept a seedling of one of the first ever plants she managed to grow, a Puffapod, in hopes of one day having a greenhouse full of Puffapods grown from that first seedling.

Relationships

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall, her long-time friend

Filius Flitwick: "I suppose you are aware that nothing we do can indefinitely prevent You-Know-Who to enter the school, right? —"

Sprout: "But we can delay it."

Minerva McGonagall: "Thank you, Pomona."

— Filius Flitwick, Pomona Sprout and Minerva McGonagall just before the Battle of Hogwarts

The relationship between Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout dates back to when both attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The two students maintained an excellent relationship, which was kept well into their adulthood.

When Dolores Umbridge stood to speak during the 1995 Start-of-Term Feast after her introduction by Headmaster Dumbledore, the two professors were both taken aback at this, and even exchange glances of disapproval. 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.

Neville Longbottom

Neville Longbottom, Sprout's prize student

"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 with his skill in Herbology. According to Alastor Moody (Death Eater Bartemius Crouch Jnr in disguise), Sprout told him that Neville had a natural 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 her 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. Neville eventually succeeded Professor Sprout as the Herbology teacher or taught alongside her.

Cedric Diggory

Cedric Diggory, one of her students

Harry Potter: "Professor, where are Mr and Mrs Diggory?"

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

— Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore after Cedric's murder

Because Cedric Diggory was a Hufflepuff student, Professor Sprout knew him well. When Harry Potter became the second Hogwarts champion in 1994, he felt that she had became distant with him as she was supporting Cedric. After Cedric Diggory was murdered by Peter Pettigrew on Lord Voldemort's orders, she spoke to his parents, as she knew him best. It can also be assumed that during his memorial feast she felt a sense of tragedy in regards to his loss.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter, one of her students

"Harry thought even Professor Sprout seemed distant with him — but then, she was Head of Hufflepuff House."

— Professor Sprout being distant towards Harry after he became a Triwizard Champion

Pomona was usually kind to Harry Potter (as well as to his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley).

During the Triwizard Tournament, however, Sprout became somewhat distant towards Harry as she thought he was stealing Cedric Diggory's protagonism as Hogwarts Champion. After Diggory's death, Sprout became friendlier to Harry once again.

Professor Sprout rewarded twenty house points to Harry Potter for his bravery in speaking out shortly after the publication of his interview on The Quibbler about the return of Lord Voldemort, saying that she was giving them to him for passing her a watering can (defying the position of the Ministry of Magic and Dolores Umbridge, then-High Inquisitor of Hogwarts). In May, 1998, Sprout helped defend Hogwarts to give time for Harry to find Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem.

Hogwarts staff

Rubeus Hagrid: "No other headmaster or headmistress ever gave more to this school."

Filius Flitwick: "Hogwarts should be Dumbledore's final resting place."

Pomona Sprout: "Absolutely."

— Sprout and her fellow Professor discussing the Funeral of Albus Dumbledore

Professor Sprout with her colleages at Hogwarts

Professor Sprout enjoyed a very good and professional relationship with the most of Hogwarts staff. Despite her respective strong friendship with Minerva McGonagall, Sprout also very much respected Albus Dumbledore. After the Headmaster's death, Sprout was distraught.

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 disloyalty. The next year, they both tried to protect the students from Amycus and Alecto Carrow and fought at the Battle of Hogwarts and survived.

Sprout also appeared to be friendly with Horace Slughorn, the Potions Master. In 1997, Sprout helped Slughorn pick some herbs for potions. 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.

Other Hogwarts staff that she had a good relationship with were: Poppy Pomfrey, the Matron, Argus Filch, the caretaker, Rubeus Hagrid, the Care of Magical Creatures professor.

Etymology

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

Behind the scenes

Miriam Margolyes as Pomona Sprout on the set of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Pomona Sprout as she appears on Pottermore

Pomona Sprout as illustrated by J. K. Rowling

Pomona Sprout as a LEGO minifigure (2020 edition)

• Sprout is portrayed by British actress Miriam Margolyes in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
• Sprout is voiced by American voice actress Nicole Vigil in Harry Potter: Magic Awakened.
• 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. In 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. In the PS1 version, she was featured as a short witch (just a bit taller than the eleven-year old Harry Potter) wearing her red hair in a long plait down her back. Regardless of how she looked, she was voiced by Eve Karpf, who also voiced McGonagall, Hooch and the Fat Lady in the same 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. Up until the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, she was also the only Head of House (with the exception of Slughorn, who was first introduced in the sixth instalment) who had not appeared in all the films.
• In the books, Professor Sprout is described as having grey, flyaway hair, while in the films, she is depicted as having short, curly hair.
• In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, Devil's Snare plants are seen attacking giants at the beginning of the battle. This is most likely part of Professor Sprout's protection of the school.
  • Also in the film, when Filius Flitwick, Horace Slughorn and Molly Weasley are placing protective enchantments around Hogwarts Castle, a chain of spells can be seen coming from the Herbology greenhouses. This could be Professor Sprout casting the spell Protego Maxima to help protect the school quickly as Voldemort and his Death Eaters are coming to the castle.
• In early German, Italian and Portuguese translations of the first book, Professor Sprout was accidentally referred to as a male, even though chapter 8 refers to her as a "dumpy little witch".
• As Professor Sprout's name is related to plants, it is possible that a Naming Seer was consulted when she was born.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First mentioned)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (Except console versions)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game) (Mentioned only)
• 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) (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Harry Potter Trading Card Game (First identified as Pomona Sprout)
• J. K. Rowling's official site (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website)
• The Making of Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Character Vault
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault
• Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
• Harry Potter for Kinect (Voice only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened