Old Classmates' Reunion

Cassandra's expression was utterly contemptuous, clearly saying, "You obviously want to see it, so what excuse are you making?"

But since she had already said that, she couldn't say anything more. She just gave a heavy snort and turned her head to look out the window.

Seeing her like this, Veratia turned her head and gave Harry a "problem solved" look.

Hehe.

The carriage continued its journey through the clouds, heading towards the location where Imelda was holding her class reunion, in a manor house in Northern Ireland.

Anyway, it's farther Hogwarts —at least Hogwarts isn't separated by an ocean.

"I'm actually quite curious too," Anne said, "I wonder which other old friends besides us will be attending this class reunion... But I really didn't expect that Professor Garick would also be attending."

Pabbie suddenly narrowed his eyes and asked suspiciously, "You mean you didn't expect Professor Garick to be alive too, right?"

"Hehe, it was just a slip of the tongue." Anne stuck out her little tongue, trying to get away with it cutely.

"Heh." Pabbie rolled her eyes. "That's our Hufflepuff's headmistress... But I'm really curious, why would Headmaster Black Phineas Black let such a young professor be the headmistress? Shouldn't a more senior professor be in charge of this plant?"

"Didn't Dumbledore also make Professor Snape was only twenty years old, the Head of Slytherin? What's the big deal?" Anne said with a laugh. "Perhaps it's an unwritten rule that the Herbology professor is the Head of Hufflepuff? Just like the Transfiguration Class professor is the Head of Gryffindor."

"But Professor McGonagall taught Transfiguration Class for a period of time, and during that time Dumbledore was the Head of the Department," Cassandra suddenly said.

"Actually," Veratia said, "If the Sorting Hat hadn't sorted me into Slytherin, I would have tried to go to Gryffindor... After all, I think Professor McGonagall and I should get along very well."

"You two might actually become friends," Harry said, "Because Professor McGonagall said something similar."

Veratia was overjoyed to hear Harry's words.

She said happily, "If I could choose again, I would definitely go to Gryffindor-- "

Cassandra muttered in a low voice, loud enough for everyone to hear, "What's with the traitor's swagger?"

Around 2:30 p. m., they finally arrived at the manor where the class reunion was being held.

After stepping off the carriage, they found House Elf waiting for them. The House Elf led them into the mansion.

It's clear that Imelda is someone who appreciates a high quality of life, and the decoration of her mansion perfectly reflects Slytherin's aesthetic.

Time seemed to stand still here. Under the low ceiling, suspended magic lanterns cast a dim yellow glow, and crackling firewood burned in the fireplace.

In this warm light, those faces he thought had long been buried in the dust of a century turned around one by one, looking at him with familiar yet unfamiliar smiles.

"Merlin's beard! He's really here!" a voice rang out—Giannobia Knock, the Ravenclaw who was once obsessed with Gobstones —jumped up from her chair. She looked much older, but her eyes were still bright.

"I told you Imelda could get him to agree." Sitting next to her was Priscilla Wakefield, whose long black hair was now completely gone, replaced by a head full of silver strands. Her demeanor was much more serene than in her student days, as she slowly twirled the wine glass in her hand.

Imelda, who had invited him, stepped out from the center of the crowd. She wore a dark green robe, with Slytherin silver ornaments gleaming at the collar, and the years had sculpted her into someone even more elegant and sharp.

She stepped forward, extending her hand to Harry, a subtle, friendly teasing smile playing on her lips, "Potter, it seems traveling through time has taught you punctuality, hasn't it?"

"I'm always punctual," Harry said with a smile.

"Where are your girlfriends?" Imelda asked teasingly.

"They're behind," Harry said, and four girls walked in.

It should be said that these four stunningly beautiful girls were more than enough to be the focus of the banquet.

Imelda, in particular, was extremely envious.

"Youth is wonderful..." she said with a mix of emotion and envy.

"If you can endure a hundred years of solitude." Veratia walked to her side and extended her hand. "Long time no see, Imelda."

"Long time no see, Veratia."

Imelda grasped Veratia's hand, then jokingly corrected herself, "Oh no, I should say, esteemed Ms. Grindelwald."

"Get lost," Veratia chuckled and cursed. "So, should I call you Ms. Reyes too?"

"Hahaha..." Imelda laughed heartily, as cheerful and lively as ever. She hugged Veratia, then hugged the girls in turn. When she got to Pabbie, Imelda suddenly said, "Professor Garick has been waiting for you for a long time. You're the only Hufflepuff besides her who's attending the reunion."

"Huh?" Pabbie asked curiously, "Where are the others? Why didn't they come to the party?"

"They're dead," Imelda said simply. "Some have lost contact, and we haven't been able to reach them for many years."

"Oh..."

Pabbie nodded, somewhat saddened.

She quickly cheered herself up again.

"What about the professor? Where is Professor Garick?"

"She went out for a bit, she'll be back soon," Imelda replied. "Come in and sit down, don't just stand here... You must be tired after such a long carriage ride, come in and have something to drink to soothe your throats."

As she spoke, she gestured for everyone to go inside.

The students arrived one after another, and each one was a familiar face.

If they weren't so old, Harry would have thought he had traveled back a hundred years.

"Clang clang..."

The door suddenly opened again, and a figure appeared in the doorway.

It was Professor Garick, with her hair in two braids, dressed just as she had a hundred years ago, but her appearance had aged.

Even so, one can still tell from her features that this professor must have been a beauty in her youth.

Time never defeats beauty; that's the idea.

"Classmates, I'm here!"

"Professor." Everyone stood up to welcome the professor, the only student attending the reunion.

If nothing unexpected happens, she should be the only professor still alive to attend the class reunion.

"Actually, just now, Phineas told me he wanted to attend the party—" Professor Garick drawled.

The students responded with a cheerful "Eh--", just like students whose physical education class was taken over by a main subject.

Seeing the students' cooperation, Professor Garick nodded in satisfaction and said with a smile, "However, I didn't agree. How could I let him ruin such a wonderful day?"

"Long live the professor!" everyone cheered.

In reality, so many years have passed, and people's dislike for Phineas has long since faded with time.

Even after entering society, when they encounter difficulties, they still thank Phineas.

If it weren't for his almost cramming-style education...

To some extent, Phineas was indeed doing it for the students' own good, but his methods were somewhat unacceptable.

Everyone had arrived. Harry met Lucan Brightby, who used to be close to Gareth. The once somewhat reckless Gryffindor now had several faint scars on his cheeks. It was said that he had once been the best Auror.

There were a few classmates whose names and faces Harry had to pause for a moment to recognize. They patted him on the shoulder enthusiastically and handed him a glass of frothy Butterbeer.

"I think we could get together often every year," Imelda said to Harry with a smile. "You see, as the days go by, we old folks don't know how much longer we have to live... It's always nice to be with old friends, isn't it?"

"Indeed." Harry nodded in agreement.

Friendships formed during student days are pure and untainted.

"Of course," Imelda said again. "I remember you were investigating someone called Voldemort, weren't you?"

"Hmm." Harry took a sip of Butterbeer and let out a long burp.

"That's great. I wouldn't dare drink like that now. My stomach isn't what it used to be..." Randall Prewett said from the side.

Speaking of Randall, Harry just chatted with him. By all accounts, he's Mrs. Weasley's grandfather...

This damn seniority system.

"But he's hiding in America now," Harry shrugged. "You know the American Ministry of Magic —arrogant, haughty, and those adjectives don't even begin to describe a fraction of their character..."

"If it were the America, Nerida might have some ideas," Imelda suddenly said. "But she had some things to do today, so she couldn't come to the party... She married an America, perhaps you could ask her for help?"

"Okay, I'll ask her in the group chat," Harry said, giving an OK sign.

Just then, Professor Garick, who had been chatting and catching up with Pabbie, walked over.

"Harry." She opened her arms and hugged Harry. "It's been so long since I've seen you! You've been here for a hundred years, and you never even thought to contact me? And I was so worried about you, you little rascal..."

Harry didn't know what to say, he just gave an awkward laugh.

"Where's your girlfriend, Professor?" He had no choice but to change the subject.

"She's sleeping at home," Professor Garick said with a smile. "After all, she's not a professor at the university, nor is she your classmate. I can't exactly bring her to a class reunion, can I?"

Harry thought to himself, "Of course I know. I was just changing the subject to avoid an awkward situation."

"Tell me," Professor Garick said, looking at Harry with a leisurely air, "What are your thoughts and insights?"

"Huh?" Harry didn't understand what the professor meant.

"What's it like to have four girlfriends?" Professor Garick's eyes were full of mockery. "Four, Harry. I really didn't expect you to be my most promising student..."

"Professor, I actually managed to keep the Chinese chomping cabbage alive in class..." Harry tried to Awakening the professor's memory.

Unexpectedly, Professor Garick smiled.

"The professor doesn't remember," she said. "I only remember that you dated four girlfriends at the same time; the professor can't forget that."

Harry:...

Professor, are you deliberately picking a fight?

"How are you feeling?" Professor Garick looked Harry up and down. "If you're not feeling well, you can tell me—I'm a professor of Herbology, I know exactly what each herb does..."

Harry took a deep breath.

Do I still use herbs?

I'm a humanoid Philosopher's Stone; even if Veratia and the others combined, they'd have to avoid my sharp edge!

Forget it, I won't stoop to the professor's level.

"Oh, by the way," Professor Garick said, somewhat disappointed that Harry wasn't taking the bait, but still not forgetting the important matter, "I tried cultivating the hybrid you asked me to for you, but it didn't work out... Of course, it doesn't necessarily mean your approach is wrong; it could just be that I haven't found the right method."

Hybrid varieties?

oh.

Harry remembered that when he School Opening sixth grade, he talked with Professor Garick about the knowledge of plant hybridization that he had learned in Muggle courses in his later years.

Professor Garick was immediately captivated by this knowledge, but before he could cultivate it, Harry transmigrated.

However...

Professor Garick said meaningfully, "I tried hybridizing the Venomous Tentacula with Chinese chomping cabbage, and the Chinese chomping cabbage successfully developed toxins... But I still think that although it's not very useful, it at least proves that your idea is feasible."

"It's no use?" Harry asked, scratching his head.

"Of course it's useless," Professor Garick said with a chuckle. "Look at the top predators in the animal kingdom, who carries toxins? Only those animals that don't excel at hand-to-hand combat would bother with venom... But the Chinese chomping cabbage's strength lies precisely in hand-to-hand combat. I think it's more than capable of dealing with some wizards, and adding venom would be superfluous."

But Harry didn't think so.

"But we are wizards, Professor," Harry said firmly. "If we want to defeat our opponents, any amount of damage is worthwhile, and I think poisonous Chinese chomping cabbage would be very useful."

"Really?" Professor Garick was delighted, then sighed, "But that was discovered accidentally eighty years ago. If you're interested in it, I can try to recreate it..."

"Thank you very much, Professor," Harry said happily.

Just then, Veratia walked over, holding a wine glass.

She first glanced at Professor Garick, nodded in greeting, and then put her hand on Harry's shoulder.

What are you talking about?

"Let's talk about plant hybridization," Harry said to Veratia. "Remember that hybrid plant I mentioned to you before? Professor Garick achieved that result eighty years ago!"

(End of this chapter)