The Mastermind Was Professor McGonagall

"Basilisk... Unicorn..."

Loren was stunned for a moment, his mind unable to process it. How could these two almost completely opposite creatures be connected? Had Mr. Newt Mr. Scamander's research become so outrageous?

"It's that Basilisk that appeared in New York and Devon ..." Rolf sighed. "Ever since the Quidditch World Cup ended, everyone has thought that my grandfather kept that Basilisk. He was so angry that he couldn't sleep and took me all over the world to search for Basilisk."

"So what does this have to do with Unicorn?" Hermione asked with a strange expression.

"We've seen footage of the Basilisk, and my grandfather thought it might have albinism, which is why its scales are white. But yesterday I had a completely new idea..." Rolf said seriously, gesturing excitedly with his hands, "It might have been hatched by Unicorn!"

Loren and Hermione remained silent, while Harry and Ron seemed quite interested in the conjecture and curiously asked, "Why do you say that?"

"According to existing records, Basilisk are born from male eggs hatched by toads, so Basilisk scales are usually the same color as toads. However, this unique Basilisk is grayish-white, which is the same color as Unicorn Hair," Rolf explained.

Harry recalled the Basilisk and Unicorn he had seen and nodded thoughtfully, "But that alone isn't enough to be sure. Many animals are white, including my Hedwig."

"You're right." Rolf said seriously. "Another piece of evidence is the Basilisk's Magic Power. It only displayed petrifying Magic Power in both of its appearances. This unique Basilisk doesn't seem to have the Magic Power to take lives... I think only the Unicorn, which symbolizes purity, can purify the Basilisk's evil Magic Power."

"..."

No, that's not it. The Deluminator still contains that green Magic Power; he just hasn't used it.

Loren felt a slight toothache and couldn't help but ask, "How did you come up with such an outrageous idea?"

"I think Luna's suggestion makes a lot of sense."

"..."

"That's all," Loren and the other three said, avoiding Rolf and heading towards the Third Greenhouse.

It was late summer and early autumn, and the plants had been growing vigorously for two months, their branches and leaves lush and verdant.

Amidst a lush expanse of vegetation, the Mandrake bushes stand bare; whether young or middle-aged, their leaves have been stripped bare, giving them a rather strange appearance...

Three or four seedbeds away from the Mandrake area, Professor Sprout was displaying a very ugly plant.

In fact, they didn't resemble plants at all; they were more like large, black, slimy slugs emerging straight from the soil. Each one was wriggling slightly, and their bodies had many Winky bulges that seemed to be filled with flowing liquid.

"The Bebop Tuber," Professor Sprout cheerfully announced, "you need to squeeze it by hand to collect its pus—"

"What!?" The young wizards were all startled, their eyes widening instantly.

"Pus, dear, pus..." Professor Sprout said, "It has great value, don't waste it. Listen, you must collect the pus into these bottles. Wear your Dragon Hide Gloves, the undiluted Bubotuber Pus will cause unusual damage to the skin."

Hermione, wearing Dragon Hide Gloves, pinched a piece of Bebop Tuber and applied a little force.

Squeak!

A yellowish-green, viscous liquid spurted from the plant tuber, emitting a pungent gasoline smell.

"Ugh..." Hermione's face showed deep disgust, but her eyes were sparkling, and the process of squeezing out the pus gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.

It was a little disgusting, but satisfying.

After tidying herself up a bit, Hermione grasped another boil. Just as she was about to do something, she glanced at Loren beside her, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Are you coming?"

Loren shook his head; he'd just take a look.

Hermione nodded, not revealing her inner joy, her bright eyes fixed on the tuber again—

Squeak!

Loren, holding the bottle, kept filling it up, silently watching Hermione's mixture of disgust and amusement, his feelings a little complicated. Sure enough, trimming hooves, washing carpets, and popping pimples are disgusting hobbies etched into human genes, and even Hermione wasn't immune.

By the time get out of class was almost over, they had collected several bottles.

"The pus from the Bebop Tuber is the best medicine for treating stubborn acne. This will stop students from using drastic methods to remove their pimples," Professor Sprout said gleefully, plugging the last bottle. "Madam Pomfrey will be pleased now."

"Poor Eloise Midgen..." said Hannah Abbott, a Hufflepuff student, "She tried to use a spell to get rid of her pimples, and then her nose fell off."

"Fortunately, Madam Pomfrey managed to put her nose back on in the end." Professor Sprout shook his head. "What a silly girl..."

As a deep, resonant bell rang across the damp ground, get out of class ended, and the students dispersed.

The Hufflepuff students headed back towards the Castle for their Transfiguration Class, Gryffindor students went in the other direction for their Care of Magical Creatures.

Harry and Ron were in a hurry to see Hagrid, and they disappeared as soon as class ended, while Loren and Hermione strolled leisurely toward Hagrid's Hut at the Edge of the Forbidden Forest.

This class was with Slytherin students. Along the way, there were not only Gryffindor classmates but also some Slytherin faces. At fourteen or fifteen years old, they were in the fastest growth period. After a summer break, many of the people they still knew had grown taller and their features were somewhat unfamiliar.

Hermione cautiously observed the Slytherin passing by and whispered to Loren, "Parvati told me that the news in the newspapers is true. Many parents of Slytherin students participated in the march, were admitted to St Mungo's's, recovered and were discharged a few days before the start of school, and were fined several hundred Galleon."

Loren followed her gaze and said slowly, "I know it's true, and I also know why the Ministry of Magic is making them pay a fine."

"Why?"

"Did you notice the Mandrake platform in the Greenhouse?"

"Mandrake?"

"Yes, the entire nursery is bare, and all the extra seeds Professor Sprout planted have been used up."

Loren explained, "Treating the Basilisk's petrification requires Mandrake, which is not a common herb. The only one who can produce such a large quantity in such a short time is the one our school has prepared for the Animagus... It seems that Professor McGonagall took advantage of the situation and charged a high price, otherwise she wouldn't have imposed such a heavy fine."

"Mandrake ... Professor McGonagall ..."

Hermione's mouth opened slightly as she took a moment to process the information, her feelings somewhat complicated.

As you walk down the slope along the lawn, you can see Hagrid standing outside the cabin in the distance, holding Fang's hand in one hand. There are several open wooden boxes on the ground at his feet. Fang is whimpering and struggling to break free from its collar and get closer to the boxes.

Harry and Ron stood beside the wooden crate, cautiously peeking out to observe it, their brows furrowed tightly.

As they approached, a faint crackling sound, mixed with a faint explosion, came from inside the box.