Chapter 552: A Bunch of Devils
Chapter 552: A Bunch of Devils
"I hate the rain!"
"You've said that more than once."
"Why do we have to go outdoors for Care of Magical Creatures class on a rainy day?"
"Who knows?"
Although they had experienced similar situations last year, Albert still felt particularly irritable every time it rained. Having class outdoors in the pouring rain was pure torture.
The students were miserable, always returning covered in mud. Many would rather attend Dark Arts Defense class than venture out into the wilderness for Care of Magical Creatures class on such gloomy days.
The heavy rain had been falling for nearly half a month, causing the lake to swell and the grounds outside the castle to turn into a muddy mess. On the way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, it was easy to slip and fall.
As they passed the hunting lodge, Albert saw Hagrid wearing a raincoat and draining the pumpkin field.
"Those pumpkins are huge. Hagrid must have used the Engorgio charm on them," Fred muttered.
Ordinary pumpkins wouldn't grow to such gigantic proportions. Hagrid's pumpkins were each as large as a greenhouse, prompting suspicions.
"Your little sister said the same thing." Hagrid put down his farming tools and glanced at the approaching quartet. "What are you lot doing here?"
"We're about to have our Care of Magical Creatures class near Kettleburn's cabin," Albert replied.
"Oh, by the way, it looks like Professor Kettleburn is retiring?" Hagrid suddenly said. "By the end of this year, I heard him complaining about his aching back and joints just now. You know, he has a lot of old wounds, and they act up on rainy days."
"Who will take over his classes?" Lee Jordan asked.
"Probably Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank," Albert said without hesitation.
"How do you know?" The four of them turned their heads simultaneously, looking at Albert with curious expressions.
"We've met her before, remember?" Albert reminded them helplessly. "At Professor Kettleburn's forest cabin."
"Will Wilhelmina become our new Care of Magical Creatures professor?" George continued.
"It's Wilhelmina, not 'Wilermina.' And I don't know," Albert corrected him. "But if she's unavailable to teach Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts, Hagrid, you could give it a try. Maybe Dumbledore will agree to let you fill Professor Kettleburn's position."
At that moment, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan turned their heads simultaneously, eyeing Albert with strange looks. They always felt that Hagrid becoming the Care of Magical Creatures professor was unreliable.
However, Albert's words gave them a strong feeling that Hagrid might indeed become the Care of Magical Creatures professor.
"Well... I'm considering it," Hagrid said. "I heard Professor Kettleburn recommended Professor Grubbly-Plank to Dumbledore, but she's still thinking about it. She doesn't seem to be able to commit to a long-term position at Hogwarts."
"If Professor Kettleburn retires and Professor Grubbly-Plank doesn't want to stay at Hogwarts long-term, I'll submit my application to Dumbledore," Hagrid said with a smile. "You know I'm quite skilled in caring for magical creatures."
"To be honest, I'm not too keen on the idea of Hagrid becoming the Care of Magical Creatures professor," Fred whispered after they had walked away. "You know what I mean. Hagrid may know a thing or two about magical creatures, but he has no experience teaching students. And he always gives me an unreliable feeling."
"If he becomes the professor, who knows, maybe one day we'll have a Blast-Ended Skrewt in class," George agreed with Fred.
However, Albert's words earlier gave them a nagging feeling that Hagrid might indeed become the Care of Magical Creatures professor.
"It doesn't matter what you think of me. I'm just stating the facts," Albert shrugged nonchalantly. "Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank is indeed a suitable candidate to fill the position, but if she doesn't apply, Hagrid's chances of success are high."
The class was held near Professor Kettleburn's cabin, and as they approached, they heard Lockhart's miserable screams. The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor ran out of the cabin, looking disheveled.
He had been tripped by George and fell heavily to the ground, covered in mud and swallowing a mouthful of muddy water.
"Are you alright, Professor Lockhart?" Albert reached out to help Lockhart up.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I was just discussing the Snidget Egg Yolk Shampoo with Professor Kettleburn when I was attacked by his Snidgets," Lockhart explained.
After speaking, Lockhart took out a handkerchief to wipe the mud off his face. As he prepared to return to the castle, he stuffed a bottle into Albert's hand and whispered, "This is the Snidget Egg Yolk Shampoo I've developed. Take it back and try it. It really works wonders."
"What is this?"
As Lockhart walked away, George turned his attention to the bottle Lockhart had given them, examining it.
"Snidget Egg Yolk Shampoo, I guess?" Albert said casually.
"You'd better throw that thing away. It's quite dangerous. I've never heard of anyone being so extravagant as to use Snidget eggs to make shampoo. Professor Lockhart must be crazy," Professor Kettleburn said as he hobbled out with his walking stick. He grumbled nonstop, clearly displeased with Lockhart.
One couldn't blame him. Professor Kettleburn treasured his Snidgets, and Lockhart had intended to use their eggs to make shampoo, almost driving him mad. In the end, he had quietly set his Snidgets on Lockhart to chase him away.
Professor Kettleburn used magic to levitate a bucket of burning charcoal and led Albert and the others into the forest beside the cabin. There were several lush evergreen trees, under which was a large dry area with a bonfire.
The damp bonfire emitted a lot of white smoke when lit.
"Today's lesson is about how to draw blood from Fire Lizards. I introduced you to Fire Lizards last year. Currently, there's an outbreak of colds in the school, and Madam Pomfrey needs a lot of Fire Lizard blood to make stimulants," Professor Kettleburn dumped a bucket of Fire Lizards into the bonfire and distributed glass tubes to the students, demonstrating how to draw blood from the lizards.
"This is a good opportunity for you. Whoever collects the most Fire Lizard blood before the end of class will receive a special reward."
"What's the special reward?" a student asked curiously.
"This."
Professor Kettleburn took out a silver statue from his pocket and said with a smile, "It's a Snidget statue that I made using Snidget egg shells."
"That thing is probably made of pure silver," Albert commented, noticing Professor Kettleburn's fondness for Snidgets.
While everyone was attracted by the so-called special reward, the Weasley twins focused their attention on the Fire Lizards in the bonfire, seemingly planning to "rescue" them from the Care of Magical Creatures class.
"What do you want those for?" Albert asked, puzzled.
"We want to research what happens when Fire Lizards eat fireworks," Fred and George whispered in explanation.
"Are you devils?" Lee Jordan muttered, though his expression showed he was eager to join in their experiment.
(End of Chapter)
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