Back to Hogwarts

Ever since seeing the Great Serpent guarding the Rowan Tree, Luan had become certain that Magical Creatures existed in this world as well.

And if that was the case, then the first person to tell him stories about Magical Creatures had not been a Hogwarts professor or classmate.

It had been his only friend in Xilin: Brad Foster from the monastery.

As the longest-established family of horse keepers in Xilin and even Liuyun City, the Foster Family knew everything related to horses.

That was because Brad's grandfather and father had tended horses for Xilin's baron before the Federation was founded.

After the Federation was established, fearing they would be purged, the entire family had no choice but to join the monastery and become servants who raised horses exclusively for the monks.

As for how Luan and Brad had met, it was because the horses had eaten lettuce grown on the farm. The two had gotten into a fight, then gradually become good friends.

When Brad was little, he often told Luan strange stories about things his ancestors had encountered while tending horses. His favorite was the tale of a mysterious herd of wild horses at the foot of Snow Eagle Mountain.

The Wand Core material Luan had envisioned came from that legendary herd of wild horses—provided, of course, that they were Magical Creatures.

But there was no longer enough time this trip. Finding the willow branches and bringing them back had already taken six days.

The exhausting journey left Luan sleeping for another full day after returning to the cabin.

He would be returning to Hogwarts tonight. If he wanted to find Brad, he would have to wait another seven days.

Back in his warm, familiar bed, listening to Bouncing's soft breathing beside him, Luan gradually drifted back to sleep.

Accompanied by birdsong, Luan got up early and headed to the Greenhouse outside the castle.

Before returning to Xilin, only the holly tree among the three plants Luan had grown had shown no changes, so he had come early to see the results.

Cedric was still sound asleep on a bench in the Greenhouse, while the Bowtruckle had climbed onto the holly tree.

Perhaps his pleasant dream had been disturbed by the footsteps. Seeing Luan pick up the Bowtruckle, Cedric rubbed his bleary eyes and walked over.

"It's a shame you didn't see it last night. The holly tree changed too. It wasn't as spectacular as the willow tree or grapevine, but it was still quite impressive."

Cedric's words did not make Luan feel regretful.

To him, learning how to identify Magical Trees was already enough.

"It's fine. I've already gotten what I wanted. By the way, Cedric, aren't you going back to get some rest?"

Seeing the tired look on Cedric's face, Luan kindly reminded him.

"I should go catch up on sleep. I'll leave this place to you. And deal with those grapes as soon as possible."

Cedric headed toward the castle after saying that, while Luan turned to look at the grapes in the Greenhouse.

As the reward for successfully growing the saplings, the grapevine had produced five bunches of grapes after first absorbing the Growth Potion. After that, it yielded more with every batch.

Last night alone, it had produced more than twenty bunches. Luan and Cedric had relied on those grapes to pass the evening.

He picked up a basket and filled it with grapes, then locked the Greenhouse door and headed outside the castle.

He planned to give a basket to Hagrid and escort the Bowtruckle, whose task was complete, back with him.

When Luan returned from Hagrid's hut, he had several more branches in his hands. He had picked them up from the edge of the Forbidden Forest to practice on.

Since he did not have much wood with magical properties, he planned to experiment with ordinary wood first.

By the time he returned to the dormitory with ordinary branches cut to fifteen inches and the remaining grapes, his roommates were only just beginning to wake up.

"Morning, Luan. By the way, how are your little saplings doing?" Harry greeted him after waking up and seeing Luan bustling about.

"Very successfully, but I think you missed quite a show."

The moment Luan finished speaking, Ron sprang upright in bed.

"Wow! Grapes!" Ron climbed out of bed barefoot, grabbed a grape, and popped it into his mouth.

"You actually got the saplings to grow, Luan? Hasn't it only been a week?"

Luan had not told anyone about the Growth Potion. Among the students, Cedric was probably the only one who knew.

But everyone would likely know after Herbology this afternoon. Three Great Trees had suddenly appeared outside the Greenhouse, and the grapevine had covered the Greenhouse glass. There was no way to keep that hidden.

"That's right, it's been a week. But there were a few minor magical changes along the way."

As he spoke, Luan picked out a prepared ordinary holly branch. He intended to use it for practice today.

"Are you really planning to make a wand?" Watching Luan's movements, Ron took a bite of grape and asked in disbelief.

He had thought that Luan planted the three saplings merely out of interest, or perhaps because he wanted to join Professor Sprout's club.

Either way, Ron had never imagined that Luan actually intended to make a wand.

After all, setting aside the specialized magic required to make a wand, the complicated crafting process alone was not something a First Year student could master.

"Of course."

Luan cheerfully waved the little stick in his hand, then picked up the newly awakened Bouncing and prepared to take it to wash up first.

"I don't think that can be made." Seamus climbed out of bed as well and joined the grape-eating crowd.

"Definitely not. That's a wand. I doubt even the professors can make one." Ron's tone was utterly certain.

To him, Luan making a wand was as impossible as Harry beating him at Wizard Chess.

"Maybe he can. You always have to try, don't you?"

Harry had always possessed an inexplicable confidence in Luan. That feeling of trust had been there ever since they met at the zoo.

"I think Luan can definitely do it!" Neville said, but no one responded.

After putting the washed-up Bouncing back in the treehouse, Luan began the first step of Wand Making in the Common Room while there was still time.

He first used a small knife to carve the branch into the shape of a wand, then took out sandpaper and began polishing it.

Fortunately, Luan's box of Wood Carving Tools was fairly complete. Otherwise, he would have had to buy another set of tools.

He gathered the wood shavings and dumped them into the fireplace. Before he had finished sanding the wand blank, Hermione came out of the dormitory.

"I knew you weren't reading that book just to improve your connection with a wand."

Looking at the wand blank in Luan's hand, Hermione wore the smug expression of someone who had uncovered a deeply hidden secret.

"Don't misunderstand. I just think the knowledge I've learned needs to be tested through practice."

As he spoke, Luan pushed over a stack of books and a basket of grapes.

"Also, thank you for the Oxford Reading Tree. The grapes are for you."

Luan did not care whether Hermione's guess was accurate. What he planned to do next could not be hidden anyway.

Although he had decided to make a wand, Luan had not neglected his studies.

He still listened attentively in History of Magic, even though Professor Binns's lessons were exceedingly dull. He diligently took notes on the actions of ancient wizards.

But Luan was even more eager for the next Herbology lesson to arrive.

He wanted to ask Professor Sprout exactly what was going on with that magical Great Willow Tree.

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