Brook walked calmly toward the podium.
"Professor McGonagall."
"Your talent for Transfiguration is quite impressive."
"Thank you for the compliment."
"Can you tell me why you snapped off the head of the match?"
Brook was slightly taken aback. He had not expected Professor McGonagall to notice that detail.
Still, there was no reason he could not explain it.
So he began to explain.
"When turning a match into a needle, besides changing its shape, one also has to alter the properties of its materials.
A match is made of wood and a white phosphorus tip. Changing the properties of both materials at once is extremely difficult.
So I took a shortcut. I only transformed the wood into metal, then gradually adjusted the size and structure at both ends of the metal until it finally became a needle."
"What a genius idea."
"I merely broke the process down and reduced the difficulty."
An approving smile appeared on Professor McGonagall's face.
"While your method is not particularly suitable for advanced Transfiguration, it is indeed an effective practice method for beginners.
The hardest part of learning is one's perspective. It seems I should also consider how to better teach beginners like you."
"Professor McGonagall, your teaching is excellent. The reason I was able to gain this insight was also because of your guidance."
Professor McGonagall's smile widened.
"Ten points to Gryffindor. All right, hurry to class. Don't be late."
"Yes, Professor."
Brook left the Transfiguration classroom with Hermione, who had already packed his bag for him.
Hermione let out a sigh of relief. "Whew, you scared me to death. I thought Professor McGonagall would punish you over what happened earlier."
Brook rubbed Hermione's little head.
"Since Professor McGonagall did not punish me in public at the time, she will not pursue it afterward."
"By the way, could you explain that method you mentioned in more detail?"
"Of course, but not right now."
Hermione's face was full of question marks.
"Look at the time. Charms Class is about to start."
"Ah!" Only then did Hermione realize it. She grabbed Brook's hand and ran toward the Charms classroom.
The Charms professor was Filius Flitwick.
He was even shorter than Hermione and looked somewhat like a Goblin.
However, Goblins were not allowed to possess wands.
So Flitwick likely had Goblin blood.
Professor Flitwick's lessons were very interesting.
However, the entire lesson was theoretical knowledge. It was not yet time for them to wave their wands around freely.
That afternoon was Pomona Sprout's Herbology Class.
It was held in the greenhouses outside the castle.
She was chubby, and her smile gave people a very warm and friendly feeling.
Over the course of the lesson, she explained in detail how to cultivate several kinds of fungi and what they could be used for.
Brook stared absently at those fungal plants.
He had only one thought now.
Could these be eaten?
He was afraid that after eating them, he would end up flat on a slab.
Professor Sprout had said that these fungi could all be used for treatment.
If he boiled them for over thirty minutes, there should not be a problem, right?
As Professor Sprout announced the end of class, Brook immediately went over to her.
"Professor."
"Mr. Lott, what is it?"
"Professor, I am very interested in growing plants. Could you give me some of every kind of plant in your greenhouse? I would like to try cultivating them myself."
"That is possible, but you should know that these plants have very strict temperature and humidity requirements. I am worried you will find it difficult to keep them alive in your dormitory."
"I can build a small greenhouse in the dormitory. I am quite good at that."
"You can build a greenhouse?"
Brook nodded earnestly.
"All right, then. Since you are so interested, give it a try."
"Thank you, Professor." Brook was extremely happy.
At last, he had vegetables to eat.
Under Professor Sprout's guidance, Brook carefully transplanted each type of fungus into several small pots.
At the same time, Professor Sprout gave him more detailed cultivation procedures and requirements for controlling temperature and humidity.
Brook committed every key point to memory.
Although Hermione did not know what Brook was planning, she came over to help as well.
"Professor, um... can these fungi be eaten directly?"
"Eaten?" Professor Sprout looked puzzled.
"It is like this. To better understand the medicinal properties of the plants I grow, I usually try a little and experience their specific effects firsthand."
At those words, Professor Sprout's eyes filled with delight.
Every good herbologist tested medicine on themself.
Brook suited her tastes perfectly.
"Their medicinal properties are all mild, and they are non-toxic. You can try a little."
"That's wonderful. Thank you very much, Professor."
Brook was delighted.
"However, Mr. Lott, you must remember that not every plant is suitable for testing on yourself. If you are uncertain about anything, you may come consult me at any time," Professor Sprout reminded him seriously.
"I will, Professor. Then could you also give me some of the other foo... plants?" Brook asked tentatively.
"If you can successfully cultivate these fungi, we can consider it," Professor Sprout said with a smile.
"Thank you, Professor. Before long, I will show you the results."
Afterward, he and Hermione each carried several flowerpots as they left the greenhouse.
Seeing how carefully Brook handled them, Professor Sprout felt even more satisfied.
At the same time, she cast a somewhat resentful glance toward the eighth floor of the tower.
The Sorting Hat had clearly said Brook was suited to Hufflepuff.
Yet he had ultimately been sorted into Gryffindor.
Without Dumbledore's instructions, the Sorting Hat definitely would not have changed its mind at the last moment.
What a fine seedling!
Hermione carried a flowerpot beside Brook.
"Since when did you like growing plants?"
"These are not plants in my eyes."
Brook said this with a grin.
He was in an exceptionally good mood now.
Especially after receiving Professor Sprout's promise that she would give him more ingredients in the future, which put him in an even better mood.
Hermione looked at the plants in her arms, her face full of question marks.
"These are all food."
"You really intend to eat them!"
"Absolutely."
"All right."
Hermione knew that Brook had an unusual obsession with food.
And the Chinese food Brook made was indeed delicious.
It was just that Brook was too lazy, so she had only eaten it a few times.
"Eh! Brook, where are you going?"
Hermione suddenly realized that Brook was not taking her back toward the castle, but toward the Forbidden Forest.
"I'm taking you into the woods."
"The school rules say students are not allowed to enter the Forbidden Forest," Hermione said hurriedly.
"Don't worry. We'll just stay by the edge, not go inside."
Hermione watched Brook, who was about to enter the Forbidden Forest. She stamped her foot, but still followed him helplessly.
Brook truly had no intention of going deep into the Forbidden Forest. It was simply more convenient to handle certain things there.
"This spot will do."
(Anti-Quibbler: Filius Flitwick: 1.05 meters tall, with Goblin blood.)
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