No Trip Goes to Waste

"George, how are we supposed to find our Prewett cousin?"

Fred asked.

"Prewett cousin." George savored the title under his breath.

It felt very fresh to him.

He had only ever called Uncle Prewett by that surname before, but now Uncle Prewett had become Cousin Prewett.

"Do you even need to ask?" George said. "Bring out our little treasure. Come on."

The two exchanged a grin, found an empty corner, pulled out a battered piece of parchment, and lightly tapped it with their wands.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The moment the words left his mouth, countless ink lines suddenly spread across the old parchment like a spiderweb, linking together and rapidly extending into every corner.

Then several lines of large green cursive letters appeared at the top.

[Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs]

[Gentlemen who offer their aid to all magical mischief-makers]

[Are proud to present]

[The Marauder's Map]

The map carefully marked every part of Hogwarts. It was also covered in tiny black names.

Severus Snape's name was charging through a cluster of names, presumably teaching students.

Several students' names were also running from a classroom toward the Hospital Wing. Who knew whether they had blown up another cauldron.

Albus Dumbledore's name was pacing around in the Headmaster's office.

There was nothing unusual about that. He did it often.

The classrooms and common rooms had the most people, their names packed so densely together that some were impossible to make out.

"You search the top," George said.

"You search the bottom," Fred added.

The two only looked at the first letter of each surname. Whenever they saw one beginning with P, they paid closer attention, and soon found Silan's name.

"Look, he's here."

"Where's he going?"

"Looks like the greenhouses."

"Then let's go."

After class, Silan and Neville headed toward the greenhouses together.

Only after they had set up a greenhouse in the Room of Requirement did they realize that even the cleverest housewife could not cook without rice. They had a greenhouse, but no seeds to plant.

So they planned to ask Professor Sprout for some seeds.

Classes had apparently just ended around the greenhouses, and students were leaving in twos and threes.

Professor Sprout was in no hurry to leave. She was still inside, tending to her flowers and plants.

Whenever he came to the greenhouses, Silan could not help marveling that several Hogwarts professors were secretly wealthy.

Snape's private storeroom held large amounts of precious potion ingredients. Sprout's greenhouses grew valuable herbs worth hundreds of Galleons. Hagrid's Forbidden Forest also contained countless magical creature products that could be sold for money.

That was all money!

If Hogwarts had a rich list, aside from old Dumbledore, who could firmly hold first place with a whole room full of treasures, these three would definitely make the list.

The more Silan looked, the greener his eyes became.

If he did not earn it, he was losing out!

"Is there something you need?" Professor Sprout asked.

"Hello, Professor Sprout." Silan put on the expression of a well-behaved student. "The two of us have some questions about Herbology that we would like to ask you. We hope we are not disturbing you."

After speaking, Silan gave Neville a meaningful look, telling him to say something too.

"Yes, Professor. I'm very interested in the growth and cultivation of Dittany," Neville said, following Silan's lead.

They had come to seek advice about Herbology, and Professor Sprout immediately smiled.

What two studious little fellows.

There was not a single conscientious teacher in the world who did not like enthusiastic, eager-to-learn students willing to humbly seek guidance.

"Oh, I see." Professor Sprout beckoned to them. "Come into the greenhouse with me. I'll show you the Dittany seedlings I'm currently cultivating."

Silan smiled and nodded. This was exactly according to plan.

First, he would pretend to be a studious good student asking for guidance. Once he had grown closer to the teacher, he would ask for some seeds.

Seeds that might be precious elsewhere were simply things Professor Sprout had lying around here.

There was no helping it. She truly had too many.

Although Silan had initially intended to pose as a good student to ask for seeds,

Professor Sprout's explanations of Herbology were so easy to understand, vivid, and interesting

that he found himself listening with rapt attention without even realizing it.

Only after Professor Sprout had finished explaining Dittany's growth habits and cultivation essentials did Silan come back to himself.

"Professor Sprout, your explanation was incredible. I really want to buy a few seeds and try cultivating them myself." When he reached the latter half of the sentence, Silan deliberately used an exaggerated tone.

It suited the appearance of an eleven-year-old boy faced with something new and fascinating.

Neville nodded beside him. "Me too."

"Oh, there's no need to make things so troublesome." Professor Sprout waved her hand. "I have some right here. Take them and use them."

As she spoke, she grabbed a handful of Dittany seeds from a nearby table.

She wrapped them in a piece of parchment and handed them to Silan.

I've been waiting for you to say that.

Silan put on an embarrassed expression. "Th-this... I truly don't know how to thank you, Professor."

"It's all right. They're only some Dittany seeds." Professor Sprout chuckled. "There are plenty more of these here."

"Still, do you have somewhere to cultivate herbs? Dittany is very hardy once it grows up, but the seedlings are quite fragile."

Silan steadily caught the seeds. "Yes, Professor. Once we've cultivated them, we'll have to trouble you to inspect their quality for us."

"Haha, certainly. I'm looking forward to it."

Before Silan and Neville left the greenhouse, Professor Sprout also gave each of them several Dittany leaves.

Dittany could be used to make potions and also had healing properties.

Placing Dittany leaves on a wound, or eating them, could stop bleeding and help the wound heal.

Dittany was also a primary ingredient in healing potions.

Silan had chosen Dittany seeds for two reasons. First, they were not especially precious, making them easier to obtain without attracting attention. Second, the healing potions made from them sold well.

Once he had cultivated them, Silan could use them to make healing potions and earn money.

"Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Prewett, if you have time, you may come here and help me."

As Sprout saw them out of the greenhouse, she suddenly said, "Of course, I can give you some nice herb seeds in return."

Although Herbology was a required course from first year through fifth year, its main content was cultivating various plants. It was not as interesting as Charms, nor as exciting as Potions.

As a result, many students did not pay much attention to the subject.

Now that students had voluntarily come to seek her guidance, she wanted very much to nurture them.

After Silan and Neville exchanged a glance, they nodded in agreement.

Neville thought that this would give him more chances to learn about herbs and live up to Silan's expectations.

Silan thought that there were quite a few good things in this greenhouse. The more often he came, the better. Today he could pluck a leaf; tomorrow he could pocket a seed.

No trip would go to waste.

Having achieved their goal, Silan and Neville were about to hurry toward the Room of Requirement when they saw the Weasley twins approaching them.

Both of them were looking at him with broad smiles.

Silan found it rather strange. What are they up to? Are they here to sell me Dungbombs?