Howlers and Mandrakes (Thanks to Zhatian Gang Devotee and Liuchao Qingyu Ji for the Gifts)

The next day, Su Yu ate breakfast in the Great Hall with the Slytherins. On the tables were wheat porridge, several dishes of pickled fish and smoked meat. Through the enchanted ceiling, the sky looked dark and overcast, with low, leaden clouds pressing down. A few rays of sunlight occasionally slipped through the gaps, only to be covered again moments later.

Kurama crouched on the table, slapping the surface with her two front paws and nearly smashing it apart. Her tail had puffed into a ball, and her eyes were wide. "What is all this? Wheat porridge? Pickled fish? Smoked meat? Did that old man Dumbledore embezzle our food budget?"

Several younger Slytherin students nearby secretly glanced at her, then hurriedly lowered their heads in fear.

Fortunately, the Egg Beater appeared in time, replacing the food on the table with steaming cheesecake, pizza, sandwiches, fried eggs, roasted sausages, buttered toast, and a large platter of sliced fruit. Only then did Kurama's tail slowly settle. She snorted and lowered her head to start on her cheesecake.

Su Yu felt that Kurama was having that time of the month. Her temper was much worse than usual, but why was he feeling irritable today too? He had no idea. Could this sort of thing be contagious? But he was a boy!

Poor Su Yu could only seek a hug from Daphne. He turned around and buried his face in her arms. Daphne froze for a moment, then wrapped her arms around him. One hand gently patted his back while the other stroked his hair. She simply held him quietly, as though hugging a large cat throwing a tantrum.

Astoria stared at the scene in utter disbelief. Sitting beside her sister, she held her fork suspended in midair, her mouth slightly open and her round eyes wide. This was the prefect? Was this really her sister? Astoria felt that she might need to get to know her sister all over again.

Harry and Ron sat beside Hermione. Hermione had propped a thick copy of Walking with Vampires against the milk jug. Her brows were slightly furrowed; clearly, she was still very dissatisfied with what Harry and Ron had done yesterday.

Su Yu had only just begun eating his pizza when more than a hundred owls flew overhead. They streamed into the hall one after another, circling above the crowd before dropping letters and packages among the students. A huge, bulging parcel struck Neville on the head with a dull thud. Neville clutched his head and cried out, "Ow!" The parcel bounced onto the table and rolled twice. Barely a second later, another gray unidentified object fell into Hermione's milk jug. Milk splashed everywhere, drenching them in milk and feathers.

"Errol!" Ron shouted, lifting the soaking-wet owl out of the milk jug. The gray owl's wings drooped, its feathers plastered to its body. It looked both miserable and pitiful. Errol could not stand steadily and fell again, unconscious, rolling his eyes with all four legs in the air. It still had a wet red envelope clamped in its beak.

"Ah, no way—" Ron sucked in a breath, his face turning white at once.

"It's fine. It won't die," Hermione said, gently stroking Errol's feathers with her fingertips. Her tone remained stiff, but her movements were very gentle.

"Not it—it's this." Ron pointed at the red envelope.

Harry could not see anything special about it. It was just an ordinary red envelope, with slightly worn edges and one corner soaked through with milk. It did not look unusual at all. Yet Neville stared at it in terror, as if it might explode at any moment. He shrank backward so far that his chair nearly toppled over.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"She—she sent me a Howler." Ron looked close to fainting, his voice trembling.

Ron's attention was entirely fixed on the letter. Smoke began to rise from its four corners. White smoke curled from each corner of the envelope, growing thicker and denser.

"Open it quickly," Neville urged. "It'll be over in a few minutes!" His voice was both frightened and urgent, as if he were urging someone to pull out a thorn lodged in their flesh.

Trembling, Ron took the letter from Errol's beak, smoothed it out, and tore it open. Neville stuffed his fingers into his ears. In the blink of an eye, Harry understood why. He thought the letter had exploded. An enraged voice filled the entire hall, even shaking dust down from the ceiling.

"...stole the car! If they expel you, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised! If I get my hands on you, you'll be sorry! I suppose you never once thought about how worried your father and I would be when we discovered the car was gone..."

Mrs. Weasley's voice was at least a hundred times louder than usual as it howled through the air. Plates and spoons on the tables bounced up and down from the vibrations, while the echoes rebounding from the stone walls were deafening. Everyone in the hall turned to see who had received a Howler. Ron slumped in his chair, wishing he could curl himself into a ball and hide his scarlet face from everyone.

"...an absolute disgrace to the family! Your father has been suspended from work and questioned, and this is entirely your fault! If you dare put another foot wrong, we'll bring you straight home!"

At last, it was over, but everyone's ears still buzzed. The red envelope fell from Ron's hand onto the floor, caught fire by itself, and quickly burned to ashes. Black ash drifted through the air and slowly settled to the ground. Harry and Ron sat there for a long time without saying a word. Ron's mouth hung open, his eyes fixed on the tabletop, as though all the strength had been drained from him.

Su Yu and the others could not help laughing, and quiet murmurs soon spread through the hall.

After a while, Professor Snape came to the Slytherin table to hand out schedules. With a blank expression, he passed them out one by one. Su Yu took his and gave it a quick glance—this year, Slytherin had noticeably more shared classes with Gryffindor, at least for the whole of today.

After finishing breakfast, Su Yu hurriedly wrapped his arms around Daphne and rubbed his lips against hers. Pizza grease still clung to his lips, leaving them shiny on Daphne's. Daphne pinched Su Yu's waist in disgust. He bared his teeth in pain but refused to let go. Daphne took out a handkerchief and wiped the grease from the corner of Su Yu's mouth, then wiped her own lips as well. Kurama leaned over too, raising her face in hopes that Daphne would wipe hers as well.

Astoria had been shocked a thousand times in one morning! She felt her sister was completely lovestruck! Sitting beside them, Astoria had already put down her fork. She simply watched her sister and Su Yu, her face filled with the bewilderment of someone who did not quite understand this world.

Then the second-year Slytherin students followed Su Yu out of the castle, crossed the vegetable patch, and arrived at the greenhouses where magical plants were grown.

Because the Slytherin students were a little late, Su Yu happened to catch Lockhart boasting about himself. Lockhart wore that emerald-green robe today, spotless and without a single crease. A golden brooch was pinned at his collar, glittering under the sunlight. His neatly trimmed golden hair shone brilliantly beneath his green wizard's hat.

He actually liked wearing green hats!

"Ah, hello, everyone!" Lockhart greeted the students lined up before him with a smile. His voice was bright and syrupy, as though coated in honey. "I was just demonstrating to Professor Sprout how to treat the Whomping Willow. But I wouldn't want you to think I know more about Herbology than Professor Sprout. I merely happened to encounter a few rare plants during my travels..." As he spoke, one hand rested over his chest while the other gestured through the air. His poses were so exaggerated that he looked as though he were performing onstage.

"Greenhouse Three, children!" Professor Sprout was clearly displeased. Her voice lacked its usual cheerfulness as she strode ahead, her footsteps quick and heavy.

Everyone chattered excitedly. Usually, they went to Greenhouse One, where the plants were interesting but not particularly dangerous. The plants in Greenhouse Three were much more interesting—and much more dangerous. Professor Sprout untied a large key from her belt and unlocked the door.

At once, Su Yu smelled damp earth and fertilizer, mixed with the rich fragrance of huge umbrella-like flowers hanging from the ceiling. The greenhouse was dimmer than outside. A layer of mist coated the glass overhead, and droplets slid down it, leaving streaks of water across the wooden frames.

Su Yu was about to enter when he saw Lockhart grab Harry's hand.

"Harry!" Lockhart said, pulling Harry in front of him and placing one hand on his shoulder. His grin was so wide that his back teeth showed. Then Lockhart began boasting about himself, claiming that Harry had driven to school yesterday because he wanted attention. He also said Harry would have plenty of opportunities to become famous once he grew up, all while bragging about what he had supposedly done as a child.

Things like, "At eight, I could knock out trolls with the Disarming Charm," "At ten, I wiped out an entire nest of vampires by myself," and "At twelve, I had already published my first book." His tone was full of self-praise and the implication that Harry still had a long way to go.

Su Yu finally knew why he had been so irritable today. It was all Lockhart's fault! The man was utterly revolting.

Professor Sprout stood behind a raised bench in the center of the greenhouse. About twenty pairs of earplugs in various colors lay on the bench.

When Harry returned, Professor Sprout said, "Today, we will study Mandrake seedlings. Now, can anyone tell me the uses of Mandrakes?"

As usual, Hermione was the first to raise her hand. Her arm shot straight up, and she was nearly standing out of her chair. Her expression screamed, I know, I know, call on me!

"Mandrakes are a very powerful restorative," she answered as fluently as though she had swallowed the entire textbook. "They are used to restore people who have been cursed or transfigured to their original state."

"Excellent. Ten points to Gryffindor," Professor Sprout said, nodding at Hermione. "Although Mandrakes are highly effective restoratives, they are also extremely dangerous themselves. Can anyone tell me why?"

Daphne raised her hand as well. Hermione's hand shot up again, nearly knocking Harry's glasses off. Harry leaned back and adjusted his frames.

"A Mandrake's cry is fatal," Daphne answered precisely.

"Quite right. Ten points to Slytherin as well," Professor Sprout said with a satisfied smile. "The Mandrakes we see here are still very young." She pointed at a row of flowerpots ahead. Everyone crowded forward for a closer look. Roughly a hundred small clumps of purple-green plants grew in a line, their leaves wrinkled and crumpled.

"Everyone, take a pair of earplugs," Professor Sprout said.

Everyone scrambled to grab a pair of fluffy pink earplugs, and the scene immediately descended into chaos.

"While I teach you how to repot them, remember to keep your earplugs firmly in," Professor Sprout said. "When you may take them out, I'll give you the thumbs-up. All right—put in your earplugs."

Su Yu inserted his earplugs, and the world suddenly went silent.

Professor Sprout put on a pair of fluffy pink earplugs, rolled up her robe sleeves to reveal her sturdy forearms, and walked over to a Mandrake. She crouched down, gripped the clump of leaves tightly with both hands, took a deep breath, and pulled.

What came out of the soil was not a root, but a tiny, ugly infant covered in mud. Its skin was mottled pale green, covered in wrinkles and bumps. Leaves sprouted from the top of its head like a messy hat. Its mouth was stretched wide open, and the violent movement of its lungs made it obvious that it was cursing Professor Sprout.

Neville fainted from fright. His eyes rolled upward, his body tipped back, and he hit the ground with a thud, his limbs spread out like an overturned turtle.

What a kid. Su Yu could not help chuckling as he watched. Malfoy and the others laughed even more openly. Crabbe doubled over laughing, while Goyle slapped the table as he cackled.

Professor Sprout took a large pot from beneath the table, stuffed the Mandrake inside, and buried it up to its head with black, damp soil and fertilizer, leaving only a small clump of leaves exposed. She brushed the dirt from her hands, gave them a thumbs-up, and removed her earplugs.

"Since the Mandrakes here are only seedlings, their cries are not yet fatal," she said calmly. "However, they will render you unconscious instantly. I imagine you do not want to miss the rest of your classes on the first day of term, do you? Now, put your earplugs back in and begin working. I'll remind you when it is time to pack up at the end of class."

"One pot for every four students. The soil and fertilizer are in these bags. Be careful with the Mandrakes—they bite."

Even as she spoke, Malfoy had already been bitten. He was simply asking for it. He thought pulling them out was not fun enough and insisted on touching one. He reached out to touch a Mandrake's leaves, and it suddenly opened its mouth and bit down on his finger. But he reacted quickly, instantly releasing the Mandrake and drawing his wand, ready to cast Incendio.

Professor Sprout rushed over in fright, snatched Malfoy's wand away, pried the Mandrake off his finger, and took it from him.

From Professor Sprout's mouth, he could tell she was probably saying, "Ten points from Gryffindor." He grinned, and Pansy tapped him on the head with her wand, mouthing, "It should be ten points from Slytherin!"

The little Gryffindor lions had thought it looked easy when Professor Sprout did it, but it was not easy at all in practice. Mandrakes did not like being pulled from the earth, and they liked being shoved back in even less. They kept wriggling, kicking and thrashing with all their might, punching people with their tiny pointed fists, and baring their teeth as they cursed. Several Gryffindor girls screamed in fright. One was even kicked in the chin by a Mandrake, tears welling in her eyes.

Things were much darker on the Slytherin side. A bunch of little snakes saw that the Mandrakes still dared to bare their teeth? They pressed the Mandrakes' heads down and smashed them against the table, some even swinging them back and forth to slam them around.

Crabbe had already shoved his wand into a Mandrake's mouth. Its mouth was stretched wide open, leaving it unable to make a sound except muffled whimpers. Goyle was even more outrageous. He was threatening a Mandrake with a knife. No one knew where he had gotten it, but the blade glinted coldly under the lights.

Su Yu was utterly stunned. Who taught them this? And Goyle, you big idiot, what—were—you—doing! Where did you get a knife???

Professor Sprout looked like she was about to explode with rage. Her face was flushed red, her lips trembled, and her hands gestured wildly through the air, but with everyone wearing earplugs, no one could hear what she was shouting. The little lions trembled as they watched the little snakes. Several Gryffindor girls clung to one another, while the boys also backed away a few steps, their eyes full of terrified disbelief. Were these people insane?

Su Yu hurriedly buried all the Mandrakes in their hands again, though perhaps a little too deeply. He snatched the Mandrake from Crabbe's hand and stuffed it, roots, leaves, and all, into a flowerpot. Then he grabbed the knife from Goyle and confiscated it.

At the end of class, the Slytherin students learned that they had lost another thirty points for damaging school property and nearly making Professor Sprout faint with rage. Professor Sprout's voice still trembled as she said it. Her finger pointed at Crabbe and Goyle, jabbing several times before she finally lowered it.

But the little snakes still felt the Mandrakes had been far too presumptuous. Malfoy rubbed his bitten finger and muttered, "No Forbidden Forest tonight. We need to teach these Mandrakes a lesson." Goyle nodded beside him, his fists clenched until they cracked.

Su Yu earnestly tried to persuade them not to use violence. They were Slytherins! They were aristocrats—they could not do something so beneath them... Did he not feel even a little guilty saying that?