Chapter 306: Returning from the Break
Chapter 306: Returning from the Break
Starlight bathed the entire Centaur Village, casting a hazy, misty glow over everything. Only the main road was dotted with flickering torches, held by centaurs illuminating the path to the Altar.
As the crowd gathered before the Altar, the infant was placed in a wooden cradle at the front. Bettie and Bane, the parents, stood on either side of the cradle.
When everyone had assembled, the parents knelt before the Altar and began to pray silently. The clearing fell into a profound silence, with only the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze breaking the quiet. Even Liam and Hermione, who had no understanding of centaur rituals, were moved by the sacred atmosphere and stood still, solemn and silent.
After about ten minutes, the arch of the Altar began to emit a series of emerald-green light points, like fireflies. These points then converged on a bare branch placed on the altar behind the arch.
As the branch absorbed the green light, it visibly sprouted tender green buds. Liam heard Hermione gasp in disbelief beside him. In all the books she had read, centaurs were known for astrology and divination, but never for other forms of magic.
Bettie stepped forward and picked up the branch. She dipped it into a wooden cup of Clear Water on the altar and sprinkled a few drops onto the infant's forehead, saying, "May the Power of Nature protect you, my child."
The water droplets evaporated quickly, but Liam felt the Natural Power within them enter the child's body. This power would enhance the child's vitality, helping them survive the vulnerable infant stage.
After blessing their child, Bettie and Bane held the branch together and passed through the arch, entering the forest behind it. This part of the forest was different from the others; while the rest was covered in thick snow, this small area was filled with the vibrant life of spring.
Bettie and Bane quickly chose a small clearing and planted the branch. After planting it, they poured the Clear Water from the cup into the small hole. The branch, watered, grew rapidly in a green glow until it reached about Liam's height.
"Thank you all for attending our Freshman Foal's Tree Planting Ceremony. May nature be with us", Aunt Betty said, holding the infant as she bid everyone farewell. Liam exchanged a few words with them and then left with Wolf.
"Hermione, why do centaurs use magic, yet the Ministry of Magic and most wizards know nothing about it?" Hermione asked Liam on the way back, still amazed by what she had seen.
"Traditional wizards often consider themselves superior, looking down on those who cannot perform magic and non-human intelligent beings. This arrogance leads them to devalue and even ignore the powers of other creatures. For example, in the British Ministry of Magic, being assigned to the Centaur Office is often a sign that one is close to being fired. How can wizards truly understand other intelligent beings under such conditions?"
"True, arrogance. After excluding other beings, they even create hierarchies among wizards. Why do some people always feel the need to belittle others to feel superior?" Hermione sighed.
"Because they can only show their nobility by belittling others. Most pure-blood wizards have intermarried with Muggles; otherwise, they would have died out due to the problems caused by inbreeding. Most so-called pure-bloods refuse to admit this. Evidence of this is the scarcity of wizards who still possess bloodline magic power today. Faced with this situation, how else could they maintain their supposed nobility?" Liam said with a hint of disdain.
It was already the early hours of the morning when they returned to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The lights in Hagrid's Hut had long since been extinguished, and even the horses in the stables were fast asleep. Fortunately, it was the holiday season, and the professors' patrols were not as strict. This allowed Liam and his friend to return to the Common Room without any trouble.
"Goodnight, sweet dreams!" After saying goodnight, Liam went straight to his dormitory and slept until lunchtime the next day. Thanks to the Christmas holidays, no one noticed anything amiss.
When the Christmas break ended, the second Tournament event on February 24th seemed to loom much closer. According to Percy, this time it was likely to involve some form of combat. Using magic on humans often involved legal issues, and different regions had varying regulations. For example, the Ministry of Magic in Northern Europe had a much narrower definition of dark magic compared to the British Ministry of Magic.
However, Liam wasn't worried. If it came to combat experience, he felt that all the other participants combined might not have as much as he did. Even the most experienced Durmstrang students would likely not have the kind of battle-hardened experience Liam had, forged in the crucible of countless conflicts.
The grounds were still covered in thick snow, but fortunately, the greenhouses at Hogwarts were kept at a high temperature to ensure the growth of the Mystic Plants from warmer climates. This caused the windows to be fogged up with a fine layer of condensation, making it impossible to see the grounds outside.
The weather made outdoor classes particularly unpleasant, but Hagrid seemed to be in an unusually good mood lately, perhaps due to recent romantic success. For once, he didn't have the class continue breeding Flobberworms. Instead, he introduced a highly rare Golden Snidget to the class.
Everyone was openly enchanted by the small bird, which was flying at high speeds in a large circular cage. The Quidditch enthusiasts were especially captivated. As everyone knew, the Golden Snitch was created as a substitute when the Golden Snidgets became endangered to protect the species.
After flying for a while, the bird perched on a horizontal bar in the cage. It was round and plump, with a long, slender beak, golden feathers, and eyes that resembled rubies, making it look like a piece of exquisite jewelry.
"Oh, it's so beautiful!" Lavender Brown exclaimed. "How did Hagrid get it? I heard that Golden Snidgets are extremely rare now, and only a few reserves have any left."
"This is thanks to the generous help of Headmistress Maxime", Hagrid's booming voice echoed. "She allowed us to see this very rare bird. Look at its feathers; in the past, many potions required them. That's why their numbers plummeted due to overhunting. Thankfully, we've found substitutes and started to understand the importance of protecting them—"
The students were all pressed against the cage, marveling at the beautiful bird. From Hagrid's lecture, it was clear that his knowledge of these creatures was as extensive as his knowledge of monsters.
By the end of the class, every student expressed their satisfaction. Many of the girls, in particular, hoped Hagrid would continue this approach, as the slimy Flobberworms were truly disgusting.
(End of Chapter)
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