"I'm afraid we'll have to wait a while," Harry said.
The twins exchanged a glance and asked in unison, "Why?"
"After all, you can brush it off as accidental once, but if it happens again, it'll look like you're deliberately playing a prank on a professor." Harry shrugged.
"You're right," the twins said with giggles. "Anyway, we don't have classes today. Want to have a snowball fight?"
"No, I've got something to do." Harry declined.
Just as he was about to head toward the Great Hall, Harry looked up and saw Hagrid dragging a huge fir tree inside.
At Hogwarts, only Hagrid could drag such an enormous fir tree with nothing but brute strength.
"Need any help, Hagrid?" Harry called loudly.
Hagrid's shaggy head poked out from behind the fir tree, his face wearing a kindly smile. "Thanks, but no need, Harry. Get back to the Great Hall."
Harry did not stand on ceremony with him and turned to walk into the Great Hall.
Unfortunately, Sprout had not returned the Chinese chomping cabbage to him. After all, that cabbage was the culprit that had bitten Professor Quirrell on the back of the head.
"Hey, mate." Ron was already up. "Do you know where that pot of Chinese chomping cabbage went? Neville's nearly gone mad with worry."
"Professor Sprout confiscated it," Harry answered. "I accidentally fell while carrying it, and the cabbage flew out and bit Professor Quirrell on the back of the head."
Ron leaned back tactically, staring at Harry with wide eyes.
After a long while, he dryly spat out one word. "Cool..."
It really was cool. He had thought the cabbage was an ornamental plant, never imagining it was meant for biting professors.
With the holiday drawing near, the young wizards' hearts had all grown restless.
They could