The First Day of School

Pomona Sprout was a short, plump, kindly-faced witch, as well as the professor of Herbology Class.

"Herbology is a fascinating and important subject."

"Today, I will teach you how to care for Valerian Shoots, which are an important component in many potions."

Wearing a dark green robe, Sprout led the students to Greenhouse One. Damon breathed in the fragrant scent of herbs lingering in the air, looking entirely at ease.

At the same time, a line of text appeared before his eyes.

Herbology -- LV1 (Beginner) 1/100

You can more easily pick up some basic herb-management techniques, but your ability to handle advanced magical plants and complex potions is still relatively weak.

"Still starting at level one? What were my Magic Points at again?"

Damon opened the system panel and found that he still had more than thirty thousand Magic Points remaining.

Then there was no need to fuss over it.

He just had to add points.

Herbology -- LV2 (Apprentice) 1/1000

You can make preliminary adjustments to plants' growing conditions and medicinal properties, and can understand more complex botanical knowledge.

Continue.

Herbology -- LV3 (Advanced) 1/10000

You can skillfully handle certain complex plant treatments. You can brew potions according to a plant's properties, and can also make innovative use of ingredients and create new combinations.

Herbology was linked to potion-making as well?

Damon raised an eyebrow and continued adding points.

Herbology -- LV4 (Expert) 1/1000000

You can quickly master how to deal with rare and dangerous plants. You can combine herbs with magic according to your needs, and have mastered the skills required to independently create advanced herbal potions.

Seeing the point requirement jump straight from ten thousand to one million, Damon silently stopped.

In the first lesson, Sprout taught the students how to care for Valerian Shoots. She asked questions from time to time, and Hermione was always the first to raise her hand and answer, earning two points for Gryffindor.

Even as she was pleased with herself, she would unconsciously glance at Damon, only to find him rather absentminded at the moment, blankly stroking the plant before him.

Perhaps he was only good at Charms?

Hermione was happy at the thought—not because she did not want Damon to be outstanding, but because she felt there ought to be something she surpassed him in.

However, Hermione was not entirely wrong. Damon truly was not that interested in Herbology, and Professor Sprout was a gentle, kind person. Damon had no intention of causing trouble in her class.

The lesson soon ended, and the young wizards happily left class and headed for the classroom where their second lesson, A History of Magic, would be held.

Then they quickly found themselves unable to smile.

The teacher of A History of Magic was the ghost Professor Binns. Throughout the entire lesson, he simply droned on in a monotonous, tedious voice. Apart from Hermione and Damon, no one could stay alert through the whole class.

However, Damon did not listen to Professor Binns's lecture. Instead, he read the textbook A History of Magic himself. To him, it was like reading extracurricular material, not particularly dull.

When class ended, Professor Binns's voice came to an abrupt halt like a preprogrammed routine, and the young wizards all let out sounds of relief.

"Harry, Neville, class is over."

Damon shook the two sleeping Boys Who Lived at his sides. They woke with bleary eyes, while Ron beside Harry woke at the same time, with drool still hanging from his mouth.

The first thing Ron saw was the meticulous Hermione in the front row. Instinctively, he wanted to make a few snide remarks, but after noticing that Damon was also in exceptionally good spirits, he held himself back.

"Damon, I'm glad to see you didn't fall asleep. But I noticed that you only buried yourself in your book and didn't take any notes. I think you should put in more effort."

Hermione lifted her chin at Damon, then swung her arms as she strode away.

"I think you should put in more effort~~" Ron finally could not hold it in any longer, repeating Hermione's words in a mocking voice. "Who does she think she is? How dare she tell Damon what to do?"

"Thank you for standing up for me, Ron." Damon looked at Ron, his azure eyes fixed directly on him. "But I think Hermione meant well. There's no need for you to talk about her like that."

"Oh, sorry, Damon." Ron had never expected Damon to say that and panicked. "I didn't mean it like that. You know."

Damon nodded without pursuing the matter, returning to the Gryffindor common room with them.

The time that followed belonged entirely to them.

"Hey, it's still early. Want to explore the castle?"

The moment they returned to the dormitory and put down their things, Ron forgot his earlier unhappiness and eagerly invited everyone along.

"I need to do my homework first. I also have to write a few letters to buy some things, so you go ahead."

Damon was the first to decline. Carrying some reference books, he left the dormitory.

"Doing homework as soon as you get back? Damon, tell me this isn't real!"

"I'm sorry, Ron, but it is."

Damon gently closed the door, leaving the others in the room staring at one another.

"What about you two?"

Ron looked to Harry first.

"I-I'll go with you!"

After hesitating for a moment, Harry ultimately could not suppress his desire for adventure and chose to forget about homework for the time being.

Seamus naturally chose adventure as well, while Neville silently went along with their decision.

The Herbology Class assignment was relatively easy. It mainly required them to write an essay based on the lesson about the characteristics and precautions of Valerian Shoots, as well as list three potions made using them as ingredients. The essay had to be no less than six inches long.

The first part was all in the book. For the latter, Damon found the answer soon after borrowing Magical Drafts and Potions from the library.

During this time, Damon ran into Hermione both in the common room and in the library. The proud young witch pursed her lips at him, a flash of approval appearing in her eyes. She seemed to appreciate his approach.

However, Damon clearly saw the competitive intent in her eyes.

At this stage, the Gryffindor spirit within Hermione had yet to awaken. She did everything strictly by the book, and even though she got along fairly well with Damon, she still regarded him as a rival.

Damon smiled and paid it no mind.

After finishing the homework for both classes in succession, Damon went to the first-floor dining hall for dinner, mentally listing the things he would later order by letter.

His roommates, back from their adventure, excitedly sat beside him and discussed everything they had seen along the way. They said Damon's failure to join them had been a tremendous loss, then warmly invited him again.

"Next time for sure. I have other things to do this time."

Damon smiled as he declined once more. This time, Ron's expression changed subtly, but because of Damon's earlier feat on the train, he did not make a scene.

As for what Ron might think, Damon did not care.