For Draco, helping the Gryffindor lion cubs was just a side effect.
Changing Hermione's perception of him is the ultimate goal of this trip.
Hermione is a sharp-minded girl who tends to overthink, so Draco has to be careful with every word and action.
His gaze fell on Hermione's control panel, and he had already made up his mind.
Draco noticed two leaves with slightly damaged edges beside her and assumed she hadn't succeeded yet.
But looking at the liquid on the glass slide, its clarity and richness were excellent, far surpassing the results of most students in the classroom.
She kept trying, clearly having extremely high standards for herself and wanting to complete this practical exercise perfectly.
"These few drops of juice are exceptionally clear and plump, and they do an excellent job of protecting the mesophyll cells," Draco praised sincerely.
He then added in a tone of equal discussion.
"I see you're trying different angles and points of force."
Hermione's shoulders relaxed almost imperceptibly, and her tense back eased slightly.
Draco's words clearly did not offend her.
Draco's gaze fell on the two slightly damaged leaves beside him, precisely pinpointing the crux of her problem:
"However, I noticed you seem to be hesitant between 'instant cut' and 'separation with the flow'."
"I've been pondering this very question myself," Draco said, his tone shifting with a hint of confusion, as if he were discussing a difficult problem with her.
Professor Sprout emphasized the importance of "skillful application," but there seems to be no consensus on which method is more effective for petioles of a certain toughness.
Upon hearing this, Hermione's tension subtly eased.
Draco's words seemed to have piqued his interest.
"I just noticed," Draco's voice softened further.
"If you gently 'touch' the junction of the leaf stalk with the tip of tweezers, you can feel the direction and toughness of the fibers there,"
His tone suggested he was sharing an unverified conjecture.
"Then it seems easier to find that 'point' if you decide whether to 'play' or 'don't.' This is just my personal feeling, it may not be correct, but... maybe you can give it a try?"
As he spoke, he made a very light tapping motion in the air with his free left hand.
Hermione turned her head for the first time, her bright brown eyes giving him a quick glance.
She didn't speak, but silently picked up the tweezers and gently touched the stem of a Dittany leaf she had chosen with the tip.
She was completely absorbed in feeling it.
A moment later, Hermione flicked her wrist with a subtle and fluid motion, without the slightest hesitation.
"Despair."
A near-perfect leaf fell to the ground with a soft thud.
She carefully placed the leaf on the glass slide and gently pressed it with tweezers, squeezing out the juice perfectly—clear, full, and flawless.
Hermione let out a very brief sigh of relief, her tense facial features softening instantly.
Then she turned to look at Draco again, her lips moved slightly, she seemed to hesitate for a moment, and finally said, "... That makes sense."
After saying that, Hermione refocused on her actions.
But his entire state of mind had changed, from the previous tense confrontation to a highly efficient and calm focus.
Draco nodded in satisfaction.
Then, without hesitation, he turned around and walked steadily away from her workbench.
Leave that space, once again, for her to be highly efficient and focused.
Draco's best course of action would be to stop there; lingering too long would only provoke her resentment.
He was heading in the same direction that Professor Sprout had followed during his inspection.
By this time, Professor Sprout had almost finished reviewing the Hufflepuff students' work.
The cheers that had been rising and falling in the greenhouse had long since subsided; most of the students had successfully completed the task.
They are sharing their findings and insights with each other.
As Draco approached, Professor Sprout's smile widened.
" Mr. Malfoy," Professor Sprout spoke first as Draco approached.
"I just saw it, not only your patient guidance of Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Finnigan, but also your... communication with Miss Granger. You did an excellent job, far exceeding my expectations."
Draco stopped a step away from her and said, "Thank you for your affirmation, Professor."
"I just did what I thought I should do."
" Neville has great potential, but he lacks confidence and needs some encouragement and the right approach."
" Seamus... is energetic and quick-witted, but once he finds the key, he will progress very quickly."
As for Miss Granger," he glanced instinctively in Hermione's direction before looking away.
"She is exceptionally talented and has extremely high standards for herself. I simply shared some observations that might be helpful to her, and I'm honored if I could have been of assistance."
Professor Sprout's admiration deepened, and she gently patted Draco on the shoulder.
Most students took the professor's actions for granted, given Draco's impressive performance that day.
Only Ron stood a short distance away, watching this scene, and muttered indignantly to Harry, "Hmph, such a suck-up! I really don't know how the professor could be fooled by his sweet talk!"
After patting Draco on the shoulder, Professor Sprout became serious:
"You not only have talent, but also a mind and a heart that understands others, Mr. Malfoy."
" Herbology, or any true discipline, needs precisely this kind of combination."
I'm so glad to see this side of you today.
Finally, she lowered her voice slightly and invited, "The greenhouse door is always open for you. If you are also curious about the other 'residents' here, or have any unique ideas, you can come and find me at any time."
[Ding--Original storyline added, Fortune Points increased by 20!]
"It's my pleasure, Professor," Draco said.
Gaining Professor Sprout's favor was undoubtedly a great help to him.
Although the students didn't know exactly what the two were saying, they were shocked to see them talking in hushed tones and acting intimately.
In their view, receiving such special treatment from the professor must mean that something extraordinary had happened.
Professor Sprout smiled with satisfaction at Draco's answer.
She straightened up, resumed facing the class, clapped her hands, and attracted everyone's attention:
"Alright, dear students, everyone worked very hard today and had a great first encounter with Dittany!"
"That concludes our formal course content," Professor Sprout announced.
"If any students are still curious about the other 'little residents' in the greenhouse and aren't in a hurry to get to the next class..."
As she spoke, her smile grew brighter, carrying an alluring excitement of sharing a secret.
"I'd be happy to sneak you a peek at our new, slightly shy ' Mimbulus mimbletonia,' or that ' Fidgety Vine ' that always wants to shake hands with people."
"Of course, those who want to leave first can line up and leave, but remember to watch out for the steps."
Professor Sprout pointed to the greenhouse door, then to the side and said:
"Those who want to stay and watch, please gather over here, but please keep quiet and don't scare our shy new friends!"