Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 536: Chapter 534: Herbology Class, Returning to the Owner

Kael wasn’t sure if his words had an impact on Hermione, but at least it seemed like she was listening now.

”You’ve done a good thing,” Hagrid said. ”Hermione wanted me to join, but I refused.

”I don’t think she can make all the house-elves demand wages, but she clearly didn’t listen.”

”Oh, Hagrid, I didn’t notice...” said Kael, looking at Hagrid’s haggard appearance and the strong smell of alcohol, ”how much did you drink?”

”Oh, no,” Hagrid explained. ”I didn’t drink any; I just accidentally spilled the whiskey meant for the Abraxans.”

”Hopefully,” Kael said, ”It’s about to be the start of the school year. Don’t forget you’re still a professor, so pull yourself together.”

But upon hearing Kael’s words, Hagrid seemed even more dejected.

”I might not be a professor anymore... Parents won’t agree, just like with Lupin. Now I just hope Dumbledore can keep me as the Gamekeeper and not kick me out of Hogwarts.”

”It seems you aren’t listening to what we say either,” Kael shook his head, ”Just wait a day. After the Christmas holiday, the new edition of the Daily Prophet should be out, and you might get a surprise.”

”I don’t want to look,” Hagrid seemed somewhat agitated. ”I’ll bet that woman’s article criticizing me will still be there. I really don’t want to see those snide remarks anymore.”

”Trust me, Hagrid. This time it’s different, there’s a surprise,” Kael patted Hagrid’s arm and then returned to the castle with Conna and the others.

The school year was starting tomorrow; they needed to return the books they borrowed for homework earlier.

In the library, Kael saw Hermione sitting there, with a stack of thick books beside her.

On top were two hefty tomes... Medieval Fairy History, and House-elves: Companions or Adversaries.

This was good news; it proved Hermione had truly listened.

Kael didn’t disturb her, returned his books, and left.

The next day.

Perhaps because too many people stayed at school over Christmas, although the school year had started, there was no feeling of difference; the auditorium remained as lively as ever.

The grounds were still covered in thick snow, but the greenhouse was as hot as June, with droplets forming on the window, then condensing into icicles.

”Put on your Dragon Hide gloves and concentrate; you can’t relax for this class.”

Professor Sprout said, pointing to a long planter on the table, ”Chomping Cabbage, you should have seen it in your first year, but you couldn’t learn about it then.

”I must remind you again; Chomping Cabbage is a dangerous plant, extremely dangerous.”

Saying that, she took out a thick piece of wood and tapped the Chomping Cabbage’s planter gently.

Under everyone’s gaze, the previously quiet Chomping Cabbage suddenly opened its mouth filled with sharp teeth, and like eating a biscuit, it crushed the wood.

Everyone subconsciously took a step back, clinging to the greenhouse walls.

For most people, this was their first direct experience of the dangers of Herbology class.

Despite previously learning about many poisonous plants, like Belladonna and Fanged Geranium, the visual impact was unmatched compared to Chomping Cabbage.

Just thinking about the scene of the wood being shattered made some timid students shiver, unwilling to get closer.

”Don’t worry, be bold,” Professor Sprout said. ”I specifically chose Chomping Cabbages that aren’t fully mature; as long as you’re wearing Dragon Hide gloves, there won’t be a problem... and even if there is a special circumstance, Madam Pomfrey can handle it.

”Come on, step forward. We need to change the soil for the Chomping Cabbage today; you can’t do it from so far away.”

Under Professor Sprout’s urging, everyone cautiously moved closer.

”Look at Kael; he’s not afraid at all.” At this moment, Professor Sprout suddenly said, ”Oh, just like that, one foot away, that distance is perfect; it ensures safety while allowing soil change. Very good, Hufflepuff scores five points.”

Everyone glanced over but quickly withdrew their eyes... A champion, nothing strange about that.

When everyone gathered at the table, Professor Sprout clapped her hands and began demonstrating how to change the soil in the planter without disturbing the Chomping Cabbage.

The students watched intently, fearing to miss any detail.

Next came the practical operation, the same as before, in groups of four. With this task being more difficult, Professor Sprout also indicated that as long as four students work together to complete one soil change, it would suffice.

Undoubtedly, Kael, Conna, Mikel, and Ryan’s group finished first, taking less than ten minutes.

”Unbelievable,” Professor Sprout walked over, looking at the neat new soil in the planter and the Chomping Cabbage looking peacefully asleep, clicking her tongue in amazement, ”To achieve near perfection on the first try, and so quickly... Kael, you really have the potential to become a Magical Botanist.”

”Nothing much, just practice making perfect...” Kael said, but then quickly corrected himself, ”Uh, what I mean to say is that I followed all the steps I memorized.”

”Of course, that’s what I meant as well.”

Professor Sprout said with a smile, ”But for this job, just remembering steps isn’t enough; you need to be calm, steady-handed, and not let the Chomping Cabbage detect anything amiss throughout, which is challenging.”

”Perhaps I was lucky,” Kael said with a smile. ”I happened to encounter a less reactive Chomping Cabbage.”

Conna turned her head to the side, covering her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh audibly.

Kael’s not just lucky; he had a box full of Chomping Cabbage, nearly a few hundred of them, so changing their soil was easy.

However, Professor Sprout didn’t know all this, so as a reward, she added another ten points for Hufflepuff.

As if a whole day had passed, the bell finally rang, and everyone quickly removed their scratched Dragon Hide gloves and dashed out of the greenhouse.

Kael walked at the back, and while Professor Sprout was maintaining order, he secretly pulled out two seeds from his pocket and threw them into the nearby planter.

Hmm... seeds taken in first year, though it’s been a while, at least now they’ve returned to where they belong.

”Really hope we don’t study anything so dangerous next class.”

As Kael caught up with Conna, someone was complaining, ”Did you hear? That cabbage biting on the glove sound... Merlin, my hands were sweating.”

”I agree, but Professor Sprout said the Chomping Cabbage lesson will last a month,” a Gryffindor student sighed.

”Really? When did the professor say?”

”Just before class ended, you didn’t hear?”

”No...”

Then followed a series of sighs.

Back in the castle, as Kael just entered the hall, he noticed a tall figure.

Hagrid was talking to Sirius, and what was rare, he was smiling.

Upon noticing Kael, Hagrid immediately came over.

”You wouldn’t believe what happened.” He spread out a newspaper, pointing to an article on the front page: ”That woman... Rita Skeeter, she surprisingly said nice things about me.”

”Really?” Kael instinctively glanced at the newspaper, which still featured a photo of Hagrid caring for an injured Kneazle.

”Half-Giant: True or False, What’s behind the fierce appearance.”

”It’s hard to believe. I never would have thought a Giant was bandaging a Kneazle’s hind leg, instead of eating it.

Moreover, similar situations have occurred many times.

”When I was in school, I received a lot of help from Hagrid. He’s a kind person and the best Gamekeeper,” said someone who graduated five years ago.

And similar letters are continuously being sent.

Even the Savior, Harry Potter once publicly stated, ”We don’t care if he’s a Half-Giant.”

This makes one wonder, is Rubeus Hagrid, this giant figure with fierce looks, truly a Half-Giant, or is he just large-boned...”

Kael didn’t read further.

It had to be admitted, Rita Skeeter possessed some skill; although the article was contradictory, it managed to be quite reasonable when read.

...