Hermione Fell into Deep Thought

"What good news?" Hermione leaned over to take a look.

"Good news from Professor Sprout. I'll just go ask her directly, though I can probably guess what it is."

Kane stuffed two fried eggs into his mouth, wiped it clean, then left the Great Hall and jogged toward the greenhouses.

Hermione, meanwhile, began stroking her chin. For even Kane to call it good news... it probably wasn't something minor...

That didn't seem right. She hadn't seen anything in the news.

Inside the greenhouse, Professor Sprout was lounging in a rocking chair, leisurely swinging back and forth with a stack of letters—or rather, deposits—in her hands. She had never looked this happy before.

Kane still remembered the expressions on his Herbology professor's and Alchemy professor's faces when they had put on the Farming Pioneer Hat. It was a pity he hadn't brought a camera then. It would have made for a wonderful keepsake.

Professor Sprout was still savoring the amusing expressions of her two professors when Kane pushed open the door and walked in.

"Ah, Kane, come take a look at this. Did you know your paper was approved?" Professor Sprout sat upright in her rocking chair and waved him over.

"I didn't receive a letter, but I did get two bags of Galleons. I figured they were payment for the paper being published."

As Kane spoke, he sat down opposite Sprout. Professor Sprout shook her head. "Not just that. There's also this."

Professor Sprout handed him more than ten letters. "These are from several Herbology masters I know. They want to order your Farming Pioneer Hat. Their addresses and magical checks are inside. You can exchange them at Gringotts."

Kane hurriedly stuffed the letters into his pocket, then suddenly felt that he needed to ask about the price of the