Chinese Biting Cabbage is Really Tough, The Person Outside the Window

Hearing Lucien say, "Then that makes you my friend too,"

Hagrid was actually moved to tears.

Aside from Harry, Lucien was the first young wizard to clearly say that Hagrid was his friend.

"Oh, you're right, Lucien. I was being too sentimental."

"Friends shouldn't refuse a friend's kindness."

Hagrid took the potions from Lucien's hands, carefully placed them in a cabinet, and added a lock to the cabinet door.

Wow, Hagrid really was an honest man.

Seeing Hagrid value the things he had given him so much, Lucien was actually quite happy too.

"Hagrid, these potions are fairly easy to make. If you think they're useful, I can brew more."

Hagrid was still beaming as he nodded repeatedly.

He did not treat those potions as cheap goods just because of Lucien's words. They were all gifts and goodwill from a friend.

"Hagrid, I'll be direct. There's actually something I'd like to ask you to help—"

"Sure, no problem. What is it?"

Before Lucien could finish, Hagrid agreed readily, leaving him momentarily unable to react.

He had originally thought that with someone as straightforward as Hagrid, it was best to speak plainly.

But how had he agreed before even hearing what it was?

Forget it. Getting along with this kind of friend was pretty comfortable too.

"It's like this. I want to grow some plants, so I was wondering if you could—"

"Sure. I'll dig you a patch in the vegetable garden."

Before Lucien could finish, Hagrid agreed again, and even offered to help dig the ground.

"What do you want to grow? Juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, or great big pumpkins? You can hand those over to the house-elves in the kitchen, and they'll help cook them into dishes. Pumpkin pasties are really..."

Hagrid went on and on, and Lucien felt like he could not get a word in.

He had not expected this half-giant to be so talkative. Was it because he usually had too few people to talk to and had been holding it all in?

Besides, he had only wanted to say he was planting a few Chinese Biting Cabbages. How had this already veered into a complete guide to pastoral fruit-and-vegetable recipes?

"Ahem, Hagrid, I'll consider all that later."

"I want to plant some Chinese Biting Cabbages. Do you think that's convenient?"

Lucien's words made Hagrid fall silent. He rubbed his great beard and smacked his lips.

That made Lucien uneasy instead. Could it be that this half-giant only liked magical creatures and had no interest in magical plants? Or did he think it was too dangerous for a first-year wizard to plant Chinese Biting Cabbages, so he could not help?

Then he would have to think of a way to cordon off a piece of land in the Forbidden Forest. It would be inconvenient to look after, and he would also have to find a way to drive away magical creatures stealing the vegetables—with potions or charms...

"That thing's pretty tough. Doesn't taste good."

"What?"

Hagrid's words interrupted Lucien's thoughts.

No, what had he said did not taste good? Chinese Biting Cabbage?

He was planning to use it as a hidden weapon or set traps with it. What decent person would eat that thing?

Wait. Hagrid could gnaw through Rock Cakes as hard as bricks, yet he thought Chinese Biting Cabbage was tough. Then it really must be tough.

Looking at it that way, using Chinese Biting Cabbage as a weapon was no problem. Even if it did not bite anyone, just hitting an enemy with it would be enough to make them suffer.

Lucien told Hagrid that he was only curious about magical plants and wanted to try growing them, not that he planned to eat them.

Hagrid said that was no problem, showing no sense whatsoever that it might be dangerous for a first-year wizard to grow that thing, and promised to help Lucien take care of the cabbages.

Seeing that it was still early, Lucien, holding to the attitude that if he was going to be a teacher, he had to do his duty properly, also taught Harry how to brew the improved version of Sleeping Incense.

In any case, he had already traded the formula to Snape, and it would later be included in the textbook as well. Sooner or later, everyone else would be able to learn this basic potion.

And honestly, as Harry devoted himself fully to Potions, Lucien also discovered that the boy actually did have quite a bit of talent for Potions. Before, he had simply hated Snape too much to study Potions properly.

"When using Sleeping Incense, you need to wear a mask that keeps you clearheaded. If that really won't work, hold your breath. The version I'm teaching you is more effective, and also, for lighting it..."

Lucien also threw in a simple lesson on the Spark Charm, which was more than enough for lighting a fire.

Leaving Harry to practice on his own, Lucien planned to go plant the Chinese Biting Cabbage seeds in the vegetable garden right away.

Originally, he had wanted to trade potions with Hagrid for the seeds, since Hagrid happened to have some left over from when he had planted them before.

But Hagrid waved a large hand and gave them straight to Lucien, declaring: helping a friend grow bigger cabbages did not require payment.

Lucien could not argue with those somewhat familiar words, so he took the seeds and went out to plant them.

After Lucien left, Harry asked Hagrid, "Hagrid, here's the key. Could you go to Gringotts for me and help me look for the magic books inside..."

Early the next morning.

Ravenclaw first-years had no classes that morning, so plenty of young wizards were naturally sleeping in.

Lucien, however, had gotten up early and was already sitting in the library, studying on his own.

Rubbing his slightly sore shoulders, Lucien felt somewhat speechless.

Yesterday, he had originally used magic to dig holes and plant things, but perhaps because of the influence of the title "Diligent Little Gardener," he had suddenly wanted to try digging the soil himself.

He would never have known if he had not tried, but the moment he did, he was shocked. The speed at which he swung a hoe by hand to turn the soil was actually faster than using magic, and the moment he picked up a farming tool, it was as if he had endless ox-like strength. He had gone and plowed two extra rows in the vegetable garden.

So that was what the "diligent" in "Diligent Little Gardener" meant.

Heh. With this title, farming really could make him rich.

Lucien was reading seriously, completely unaware that at a table not far away sat a girl with long, pale-gold hair.

It was Daphne Greengrass.

The moment she came in, she had seen Lucien studying by himself, so she found a seat neither too close nor too far away, reading the book in her hands while stealing glances in Lucien's direction.

Yet every time, those beautiful, deep dark-green eyes of his were fixed on the page, not once looking toward Daphne.

Then, thinking of how Lucien had refused her invitation back then and strolled away so casually, Daphne could not help feeling gloomy.

She was clearly the eldest daughter of the Greengrass family. Whether at home or after coming to school, she had always been treated like the moon surrounded by stars. So why would he not even glance at her?

"Help, help me! It's so high up here!"

A terrified cry rang out inside the library.

It made everyone raise their heads and search for the source of the voice.

And the moment Lucien lifted his head, he saw someone hanging outside the window opposite him.

A chubby blond boy with a round face.

"Neville?!"