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Chapter 87: Beater and Hagrid
Chapter 87: Beater and Hagrid
Fertilizing the Devil's Snare was perhaps one of the most challenging lessons in first-year Herbology.
Kyle found it simple, but only because he had experience in this area, after all, he had been taking care of the biting kale for several months.
Biting kale with fangs was much more dangerous than Devil's Snare, which only knew how to bind. One mistake and Kyle might end up in the hospital wing drinking Skele-Gro potion or some other nasty remedy.
After going through that hellish phase, returning to simpler tasks was a breeze.
However, the others didn't have this kind of experience. This was their first encounter with Devil's Snare, and they were all squealing and squirming as the tendrils wrapped around them.
Some panicked as soon as the tendrils touched them, completely forgetting Professor Sprout's instructions, and started struggling instinctively.
If it weren't for Professor Sprout being there, they might have been turned into human dumplings by now.
Kyle, who was standing by, didn't waste time either. Whenever Professor Sprout was busy, he would step forward and help the entangled young witches and wizards break free from the Devil's Snare.
This action of his once again earned Gryffindor ten more points from Professor Sprout.
"Thanks, Kyle," said Ryan, shaking his arm which had been squeezed painfully. "I thought this was going to be easy when I saw you doing it, but I never imagined it would be so difficult... I can't even get close to it."
"Don't be discouraged..." Kyle patted him on the shoulder. "Just be careful not to touch those tendrils and you'll be fine."
"I'll try," Ryan sighed. "It's just a pity that Professor Sprout doesn't allow the use of Lumos. It would be so much easier."
"You're thinking too much," Kyle shook his head slightly.
Using the Lumos spell would probably cause this young Devil's Snare to wither on the spot, and there would be no point in having this lesson.
If it was just about digging a hole and adding some fertilizer, even a three-year-old child could do it. There was no need to waste a whole lesson on it.
"I'm just saying," Ryan said as he changed direction and tried to reach out again.
At this moment, Kyle also shifted his gaze elsewhere.
The others were more or less in the same situation as Ryan, but there were exceptions.
Kona, for example, successfully completed the task and became the second person to fertilize the Devil's Snare. Although her movements weren't as smooth as Kyle's, and she paused many times, overall she did quite well and managed it in one go.
There was also Cormac McLaggen from Gryffindor, but he was slower and only finished halfway through the class.
After that, the Devil's Snare seemed to get tired, as its tendrils moved much slower, giving the students more opportunities to complete their task.
By the time the class ended, more than half of the students had managed to fertilize the Devil's Snare, but they were all exhausted and couldn't wait to get back to the castle for a shower.
Professor Sprout asked them to line up in two rows, and only when everyone was standing properly did she slowly open the door of the greenhouse.
Sunlight instantly filled the entire greenhouse, and the Devil's Snare in the middle, as if stimulated, froze in place.
Kyle, deliberately standing at the back of the group, seized the opportunity when Professor Sprout wasn't looking. He quickly took out a small knife he had prepared earlier and swiftly cut off a small section of the root tendril, tucking it into his pocket.
The sunlight had a huge impact on the Devil's Snare, and even after being cut, it remained still.
"Goodbye, Kyle," Professor Sprout replied with a wave. "I recall your fondness for plants. Would you be interested in taking care of a Puffapod? It will be ready for division by your next class."
"I'd be delighted, Professor," Kyle answered, his spirits lifting at this unexpected offer.
Bidding the professor farewell once more, he quickened his pace toward the castle.
The Puffapod could wait; for now, Kyle intended to deliver the item in his pocket to the Room of Requirement on the eighth floor.
Devil's Snare, being a vine-like plant, possessed a robust survival instinct. As long as he planted this severed root tendril in soil promptly, it would thrive and grow into a full Devil's Snare plant.
As he walked, a commotion suddenly erupted from a short distance away.
Looking up, Kyle spotted a crowd running toward Hagrid's cabin, including some of the young witches and wizards from his Herbology class.
"What's going on? Has Hagrid's three-headed dog been found out?"
Frowning, Kyle made his way over to investigate.
His suspicions were confirmed. Hagrid's purchase of the three-headed dog had indeed been discovered, and now the authorities were at his doorstep.
Three Hit Wizards from the Ministry of Magic stood before Hagrid's cabin, their wands pointed at Hagrid in an unfriendly manner.
"We received a report that you purchased an unidentified magical creature back in September," one of the Hit Wizards stated bluntly. "Hand it over, and come with us to the Ministry."
"I didn't!" Hagrid exclaimed, his face reddening. "I only bought some medicine to get rid of flesh-eating slugs that time!"
The Hit Wizard pressed on, unrelenting. "But there's a witness who claims to have seen you trading magical creatures."
"He's lying!" Hagrid protested, his voice tinged with panic. "And you've already searched my room, haven't you? There's only me and Fang here!"
"Whether or not you're telling the truth remains to be seen," the Hit Wizard replied, narrowing his eyes at Hagrid's flustered expression. "If you are indeed innocent, the Ministry will clear your name. What do you have to fear? Or do you have something to hide, that you're reluctant to accompany us to the Ministry?"
His confrontational attitude riled up the young witches and wizards, who were already incensed on Hagrid's behalf.
While they might not have known Hagrid well, they remembered how this big, friendly giant had escorted them into the castle on their first day of school.
The students, especially the newcomers, cared little about the Ministry at that moment. In their eyes, Hagrid was one of them, and they naturally took his side.
A chorus of boos and shouts filled the air as they demanded the Hit Wizards leave Hogwarts at once.
A few quick-thinking students, realizing they stood little chance against the Ministry officials, dashed toward the castle to seek help.
The Hit Wizards, noticing the growing unrest, exchanged glances before simultaneously raising their wands, seemingly prepared to forcibly take Hagrid away.
Just as Kyle was about to step forward and intervene, someone else beat him to it.
"Don't make it sound so pretty," Professor Aurora said, appearing behind the three Hit Wizards. Her tone carried a hint of disdain. "Your presence here is based on hearsay, is it not?"
...
(End of Chapter)
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