Buzzing Bee Candy

"You've already done very well."

Sean shared his Yorkshire Pudding with Justin,

thinking sweets might cheer him up a little.

"Professor Snape is an idiot."

he said softly.

"Don't be sad, Hermione. Want some pudding?"

Sean loved Yorkshire Pudding, because of the old woman who liked to donate supplies to the orphanage.

She always brought plenty of pudding. It had been the best food Sean had ever eaten back then.

That was why he always chose the seats with the most pudding nearby.

"Mm."

For once, Hermione did not refuse.

And so, the three of them turned their questioning of Professor Snape into a fierce assault on the pudding.

Professors were not always fair,

Sean thought.

It depended on whether Harry Potter was nearby.

After finishing his pudding, Justin gradually began bringing up Professor Snape's "glorious" deeds.

For example, he pretended not to patrol at night, but had actually cast a Disillusionment Charm, catching five Gryffindors sneaking around after curfew in one go.

For example, he never left the school even at Christmas, capturing two couples.

For example, just now in class, because Harry had not told Neville how to brew it properly—though Harry's head was empty and he knew nothing—he had ruthlessly deducted another point from Gryffindor.

"Oh, Hermione, I'm giving these examples to tell you that if anyone was at fault here, it definitely wasn't you.

We all know Professor Snape is strict and bad-tempered. Sometimes, he doesn't even make sense."

Justin said softly.

Sean nodded silently beside him.

"If you doubt yourself, deny yourself, and make yourself sad because of someone unreasonable, wouldn't that be too foolish? Even if that person is a professor."

Justin added.

Sean nodded again.

"What do you think, Sean?"

Justin looked at Sean expectantly.

Sean thought for a moment.

"Right."

"Fine."

Justin nodded rather helplessly.

At that moment, Sean noticed Hermione trembling faintly. He pulled Justin over.

The two of them stood up and positioned themselves in front of Hermione, pretending to chat so that no one would see the young witch quietly sobbing.

"Hermione never says anything when she's wronged. I think I need to keep a closer eye on her.

She always acts like she doesn't care. The people who bully her never know how sad she really is,"

Sean heard Justin say quietly.

"And besides, how can I let her know... that she doesn't need to pretend to be strong in front of her friends?"

Sean stared blankly at Justin. He remembered that Hermione truly had few friends. Gryffindor excluded her.

Ron had even given her a nickname and mocked her, driving her to hide in the bathroom and cry.

At least before Halloween, Hermione had been all alone.

Soon, Sean let out a breath of relief.

At least now, she had two friends.

Ravenclaw's only class today was Herbology in the afternoon.

Sean had arrived before the domed building ahead of time.

Greenhouse One was filled with the damp, warm scent of earth. The glass dome filtered the afternoon sunlight into a hazy golden green.

Professor Sprout had rolled up her sleeves, her Dragonhide Gloves covered in humus as she carefully handled a plant that resembled a spider's nest.

Three Hufflepuff students gathered around a deep trough containing pumpkin-shaped plants, their scarf-wrapped heads pressed together as they gestured and discussed what they were.

"Clever little sprouts should remember that this plant is called Spider-egg. Though it looks like spider eggs, they are actually green berries with two sides.

Don't be frightened when you see its rhizomes. They aren't real spiders, but its roots.

Can anyone tell me how often Spider-egg can be harvested?"

The plump professor's question stumped the Hufflepuffs.

Neville seemed to have thought of something, but he could not get the words out. As for Ernie and the short, chubby boy, their eyes were filled with confusion.

"The book describes it as a perennial plant. It can specifically be harvested three to four times, and if cultivated well, that number may increase.

A Wizard once cultivated a Spider-egg that yielded five harvests."

A clear voice drifted over. Professor Sprout smiled warmly.

"Mr. Green, an excellent answer... child, I'm very happy to see you."

As she spoke, she directed Neville and the others to pick Crab Claw Orchids.

"Ah, warm sun, warm summer, new shoots always taking root.

Sometimes I wonder whether I simply don't have enough energy. Otherwise, how could guiding several Young Wizards at once be so difficult...

Mr. Longbottom, watch your legs! Wingardium Leviosa—"

Neville nearly spilled Dragon dung fertilizer onto his shoes, but Professor Sprout caught the bucket in time with a Levitation Charm.

"Oh! Mr. Macmillan!"

Professor Sprout cried out and hurried off to deal with Ernie, who had been surrounded by Bouncing Bulbs.

Just then, the doors opened.

A tall figure stepped into the greenhouse.

"Not every first-year Young Wizard is called Sean Green, right?"

Senior Bruce leaned against a plant shelf, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

After Herbology,

Sean thought he probably should not visit the greenhouse again for a while.

The plump professor was already sweating heavily, and after three Hufflepuffs had remained behind after Herbology, she was even more rushed off her feet.

In the greenhouse corridor,

a gentle breeze drifted through.

Senior Bruce leaned there like a statue. Sean thought he definitely had the potential to be a model.

After all, the two older witches nearby had glanced at him no fewer than ten times.

"Buzzing Bee Candy—"

Senior Bruce placed a piece of very sweet-looking candy into Sean's hand.

"Try it now?"

Curious, Sean ate the fruit juice jelly ball.

Then he heard a shout.

"Green, don't eat it! Damn it, Bruce, you bastard—"

Senior Leon's blond hair gleamed beneath the warm sunlight, but even though he strode over quickly, he was too late to stop Bruce.

Sean vaguely felt a surge of magic, then began floating upward. Senior Bruce beside him floated up as well.

"Isn't it amazing?!"

he said excitedly.

"Amazing my Merlin's underpants!"

Leon grabbed Sean and Bruce, one in each hand.

"I should just let you fly away!"

Leon shot Bruce a vicious glare.

"Sorry, Green. That's just how Bruce treats his friends.

Pist and I have both been messed with by him plenty of times.

Let me explain. Buzzing Bee Candy is a fruit juice jelly ball that makes people float into the air.

One of its ingredients is Billywig. Anyone stung by one feels dizzy, then starts drifting up into the air."

When Leon looked at Sean, his anger was clearly gone, and his voice was gentle.

"Oh, come on, Leon! You can't bear to!"

Senior Bruce still seemed to be laughing loudly.

Then Sean saw Leon let go.

"Leon! Don't! Don't! I was wrong—"

As Senior Bruce screamed in alarm, Sean saw Senior Leon smugly flick his wrist.

It turned out that at some point, he had tied a rope between himself and Bruce.

"I've always had improper methods for dealing with improper people."

Sean heard him say.