https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-168-Hogwarts-Real-Life-Obstacle-Course/13684978/
Chapter 169: Tree Guardian and Night Kneazle
The long line inched forward in fits and starts, resembling a slow-moving serpent when viewed from above. Harry’s trio had started near the back, but soon, ten more people had piled up behind them.
“Dinner’s almost here,” Ron said hopefully, staring ahead. “I bet everyone will rush to the Eating Hall, and then it’ll be our turn straight away.”
“Same here,” Harry replied. “I’m sure everyone else is thinking the same thing.”
Hermione nervously bit her fingernails. “Listen, Michael said they’ve put some dangerous Fantastic Beasts in… and Professor Sprout’s own plants too…”
“I really should’ve reread Magical Plants and Where to Find Them before this,” Harry sighed. “And Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them… Why isn’t the Care of Magical Creatures class until third year?”
“Probably because we don’t get to handle dangerous creatures until then,” Harry added casually.
Hermione visibly tensed.
“Should we just leave the line? I’m not sure my Shield Charm is strong enough…”
“Don’t even think about it—it’d be too embarrassing!” Ron shot back. “Look, even First Years are trying this!”
Just then, a Hufflepuff student behind them asked, “You’re new to this, right, Potter?”
Harry nodded.
“No need to worry,” the boy chuckled. “The first layer’s just ordinary animals and plants. Even a Muggle couldn’t get hurt here. Should be a breeze for you.”
“Hey, little Ron! And Harry and Hermione! I’ve been waiting for you guys!” A voice suddenly rang out from above.
Harry hadn’t even turned around when Ron groaned, “I told you not to call me that, Fred!”
“When you can tell me apart from George, I’ll stop calling you by your nickname,” the redheaded twin replied with a grin.
Ron froze. After all these years, even his mother couldn’t tell them apart—how could he?
“George, what’s in that cage?” Hermione asked.
“Great question.” George lifted the green cloth covering the large cage, revealing strange squeaks and rustling from within—like a cage full of mice. He plunged his hand in and pulled out a slender, green root-like creature with two small brown eyes and long, vine-like fingers.
“Tree Guardian!” Hermione gasped. “I know it—these are tree guardians. They’re like giant earthworms, but way smarter.”
“Good job, Hermione,” George winked. “Too bad I can’t give you extra points.” He pulled out a note, scribbled “Hermione Granger” on it, and handed it to the creature. The trinket clamped the paper between its tiny claws and, with a nervous shuffle, climbed onto Hermione’s shoulder.
Hermione stared at it, wide-eyed. “…?”
The Tree Guardian blinked at her—its eyes no bigger than sesame seeds, revealing nothing.
“Take good care of these little ones,” George said, handing one to Harry and another to Ron. “They’re from Mr. Scamander’s estate—bred for generations. They’re your scorers.”
“Scorers?” Harry repeated.
“Exactly!” George said. “Do you really think Professor Sprout’s going to follow every challenger around with a clipboard?”
He started to walk away, then paused after taking two steps. “Oh, and just so you know—if your Tree Guardian dies during the challenge, all your points vanish. Whether you get another chance? That’s the Unknown.”
“What?!” Ron shouted, panic rising. “But it’s so fragile!”
His Tree Guardian promptly tugged on his hair in protest.
“Which is exactly why it’s the ultimate test!” George waved dismissively. “They’re not endless, you know. These little ones are rare and brilliant.”
He moved on to hand out Tree Guardians to other first-timers. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged uneasy glances.
“If anything dangerous shows up, shield them first,” Hermione suggested.
Harry nodded silently.
Ron grimaced. Though Harry had been teaching him the Shield Charm, Ron still hadn’t mastered it.
He thought hard all the way to the entrance—then, suddenly, his eyes lit up. He picked up a few nutshells from the ground, used a clumsy Sticking Charm to glue them together, and fashioned a tiny, makeshift armor.
“There you go,” Ron said, gently placing the shell suit on his Tree Guardian. “Stay safe. And don’t let me worry about you.”
The Tree Guardian didn’t seem to understand, but it tapped the armor with its long fingers, as if it found it uncomfortable.
Finally, it was their turn.
Ron went in first, then Harry, and lastly Hermione.
As she stepped through the archway, she realized Harry and Ron had already vanished—gone before she even reached the entrance.
“Right,” she muttered to herself. “Of course. They wouldn’t let us go in together.”
She took a deep breath and began to move forward, testing the path.
“First layer? Shouldn’t be too hard. Right? Hmm… How about I call you Golory? Like that—do you like it?”
The Tree Guardian suddenly chirped and pointed with one tiny finger.
Hermione jumped, startled. She turned—and saw a small, snow-white rabbit.
“Oh…” Her expression softened. She took a step forward, reaching out to pet it.
The rabbit took a step back.
“Squeak!” Golory cried again.
Hermione froze. Then—suddenly—she realized.
She tried to back away, but in that moment, she was already surrounded by seven or eight rabbits.
As she turned, the white rabbit leapt forward and slammed into her full force!
In the maze, screams erupted from students all around.
Even the most ordinary animals, when they turn aggressive, can send a jolt through anyone.
Perched atop a Night Kneazle, Wade circled above, acting as an unofficial scout.
Ron was being chased by a flock of angry geese, ducking and weaving in panic.
Hermione, after shaking off the rabbit swarm, was immediately seized by a troop of monkeys. She wasn’t stuck—she just wasn’t fast enough on her reflexes.
Harry, however, was handling it well. He was already in the second ring, struggling to reclaim his glasses from a Nosedog.
Blind to the ground, he tripped repeatedly, stumbling and falling, his robes rumpled and his face flushed.
Neville finally found the tunnel between the outer ring and the second, only to step into a trap and be hoisted upside down. His luck had never been great.
Wade waited a moment, watching. When Neville kept trying to cut the vine with a Cutting Charm, Wade moved on.
Theo had just been ejected by a Little Sprite. Liam was still fighting in the third ring. A few Bewitching Birds hovered nearby, their mournful, trembling songs dragging him into a fog of sadness. He hadn’t moved in minutes.
A Red Hat crept silently behind him. If he didn’t snap out of it soon, he’d be out.
Wade spotted a House-elf waiting nearby—relieved, he turned the Night Kneazle away.
Padma had just been eliminated by a Boggart. Rolf had made it to the third ring too—most of the participants here were third-years or older.
Wade thought: Rolf came from a family of magical beast experts. His background would give him an edge. Some of these creatures even came from his family’s Trunk Space. He’d been raising them since childhood—no surprise he wasn’t fazed.
If not for the maze’s own obstacles, that little one might have breezed through to the seventh ring.
Wade observed from above. He saw Rolf stuck on a riddle posed by Professor Snape—trapped and unable to escape for now—so he continued his patrol.
“AAAAAAH—!” Suddenly, a chorus of screams ripped through the maze.
Wade’s heart jumped.
No need to command the Night Kneazle—it shot toward the sound like a bolt of lightning.
“Boom!”
In the horrified gazes of several girls, Harry was thrown backward, a crimson streak erupting from his chest!
What no one saw was the Night Kneazle, soaring high above, its hoof raised—then bringing it down hard onto the boy’s body.
(End of Chapter)
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