After leaving Professor McGonagall's office.
Douglas found a Hufflepuff student in the hall and asked for directions.
Then he headed toward the greenhouses behind the castle.
A ring of dyer's broom grew outside Greenhouse One. The flowers of this plant had an anesthetic effect.
If someone accidentally inhaled too much pollen, their body would become so overstimulated that they lost consciousness.
When Professor Sprout, who was tending the greenhouse, saw Douglas already inside.
She hurriedly shouted:
"Oh, heavens, Douglas, are you determined to make me hang a sign at the greenhouse entrance saying 'No Douglas Holmes allowed'?
Madam Poppy asked me to grow this batch of cranberries to treat diarrhea and vomiting."
As she spoke, she ran over and dragged Douglas to the greenhouse entrance with an air of distaste.
She was afraid that with every step Douglas took, he would pick something else to eat.
Douglas hurriedly gave the cranberries he had picked a careless wipe and popped them expertly into his mouth.
Then he chuckled.
Professor Sprout glared at him and said helplessly:
"Aren't you afraid those berries might be poisonous?"
Douglas shrugged and said proudly:
"Just look at whose student I am. Cranberries have considerable medicinal value.
They're especially good for the eyes."
Professor Sprout interrupted Douglas:
"Hmm, it seems you haven't forgotten everything since graduating.
Of course, I'd prefer you to remember more than just what's edible.
Well, did you need something?"
Douglas first glanced around and, after seeing that no one else was there.
He leaned close to Professor Sprout and said quietly:
"Professor, I'd like to sponsor a batch of Nimbus 2001s for our house's Quidditch team..."
Professor Sprout looked at Douglas in puzzlement:
"You want to donate seven Nimbus 2001s to the house?
Douglas, since when have you followed the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team?
Still, it's a good thing, but why are you being so secretive?"
Douglas blinked and reminded her:
"To keep the secret from getting out, of course. What if the other houses find out we have such good equipment and follow suit?"
Professor Sprout gave Douglas a scornful look.
"Do you think I don't know?
Cedric came to tell me at noon today that Slytherin had prepared a secret weapon.
Which just happened to be Nimbus 2001s, too...
But do you have that many Galleons?
I hear you've been living among Muggles. Gringotts has always imposed strict limits on large sums of Muggle currency."
Douglas quickly nodded. "I also have a considerable amount of money in the wizarding world, enough to pay for these Flying Broomsticks."
Gringotts had always imposed strict restrictions on exchanging Muggle currency for wizarding currency.
Not everyone could simply take Muggle money to Gringotts and exchange it for Galleons.
First, Muggles were not eligible to exchange anything at Gringotts.
Second, Hogwarts' Muggle students could exchange a set proportion of Galleons each year.
Third, adult wizards wishing to exchange money for wizarding currency had to provide proof of the source of their Muggle income. Money from irregular sources would not be exchanged.
There were also strict limits on the amount exchanged: no more than one thousand Galleons per year.
(Gringotts possessed various identification spells and magical contracts that could verify the source of funds.)
Fourth, there were no restrictions on wizards exchanging money for Muggle currency.
The third rule was the most crucial, as it completely limited the impact of the Muggle economy on the wizarding economy.
Because of the cultural differences between the two worlds, many wizards, even if their lives in the wizarding world were unsatisfactory.
Would discover, when they wanted to live in the Muggle world, that their lives would be even less satisfactory without magic.
Unless they abandoned their dignity as wizards, started learning Muggle knowledge from scratch, and then found jobs. Clearly, almost no one would choose to do that, since it would effectively mean their seven years at Hogwarts had been wasted.
Getting them to find manual labor in the Muggle world would be even more difficult.
After studying Douglas with a strange look, Sprout seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
Then she said:
"Let's do as you suggest, then. Consider it compensation for those things you did back then!
Just have someone deliver the brooms to my office. I'll make the arrangements!
If there's nothing else, you can leave.
Don't come hanging around the greenhouses for no reason!
As a Hogwarts professor, you should act like one. Why are you still just as you were as a student?"
With that, Professor Sprout turned to leave, leaving Douglas dumbfounded.
That was it?
Compensation?
Professor Sprout, who had just stepped into the greenhouse, said to Douglas:
"Wait a moment!"
Douglas brightened. Was she going to give him some sort of reward?
Soon, Professor Sprout came out carrying a basket.
"Madam Poppy won't need so many cranberries. Take these to eat.
Consider it a thank-you for your contribution to Hufflepuff.
If you really like them, I'll arrange for someone to plant some in the orchard."
With that, Professor Sprout turned and left.
Douglas simply could not understand why Professor Sprout had not thought of awarding him an honorary alumnus medal or something similar.
No wonder so few graduates donated to Hogwarts...
Wait...
Walking back with the basket, Douglas suddenly thought of a problem.
Hogwarts' operating funds were basically all sponsored by the School Governor Board.
He, a Muggle-born wizard, had suddenly donated a batch of broomsticks to the school.
In a sense, wasn't he encroaching on the interests of the twelve members of the School Governor Board?
A wave of belated fear washed over Douglas.
He suddenly understood why Professor Sprout had defined his actions as compensation rather than sponsorship.
He also understood why Professor Sprout had not mentioned giving him any recognition.
If she had not done that, some students' parents might very well have lodged complaints against him the next day.
In the name of doing everything for the students, they might very well pressure Headmaster Dumbledore into dismissing him.
(The School Governor Board only had the authority to appoint and suspend the headmaster. Teachers were appointed and suspended by the headmaster.)
After all, the School Governor Board did not want to see someone bypassing them to sponsor Hogwarts.
Douglas returned to his office with lingering fear. If he had been dismissed over this, it would have been terribly unfair.
The first thing he did after returning to his office was drink a cup of tea to calm his nerves.
Before long, Professor McGonagall came to invite Douglas to have afternoon tea at The Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade the next day.
When Douglas heard that several Hogwarts professors would be going, he agreed.
After Professor McGonagall left, Douglas could not help thinking of Madam Rosmerta, with her graceful figure and enduring charm.
Who had not dreamed in their youth?
Who had not harbored romantic feelings as a young man?
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