There are few things in the wizarding world that can be considered truly legendary, and this garden is one of them.
When Castrobruso College was first established, blood sacrifices and dark magic were rampant in the region. As a school that gathered many defenseless young wizards, it soon became the target of numerous evil sorcerers. Even though the first principal was said to be the most powerful wizard in the Amazon rainforest, he could not withstand the relentless assaults from those dark forces.
As time passed, the deaths of young wizards became all too common. Each time a student died, the headmaster's dream of building a sanctuary for magical learning faded further. This grim reality left the principal deeply troubled.
Desperate for a solution, the irritable principal resorted to divination—burning incense and stargazing. One night, he followed the stars and wandered into a dense forest. So focused on the sky, he failed to watch his step and fell into a hidden pit. Ironically, this accident led to the discovery of what would become the most critical invention in the school's history: the Castrobruso Garden Underground Caves.
The region held fragments of stone imbued with magic-repelling properties. While too scattered and weak for refining, their distribution was perfect for masking the subterranean caves from magical detection.
After that, the school disappeared from public sight for thirty years, hidden from the prying eyes of dark wizards. Then, in a sudden coordinated strike, the school's hidden force emerged, cleansed the land of evil, and reclaimed their place. From that moment on, the garden became a legend.
After hearing this remarkable tale, the visiting Hogwarts students finally arrived at the park entrance. It was modest—almost identical to the Forbidden Forest's entry. What made it stand out were the cobblestone path and a pair of whimsical animal statues flanking the gate.
"That's a capybara, a native species," explained a middle-aged professor emerging from the garden. "During our hardest years, our ancestors survived by raising capybaras and cultivating mushrooms."
The speaker was slightly plump, wore glasses, sported a mustache, and radiated kindness. "By the way, I'm Ferdinand Gonzalez, Professor of Herbology and Chief Magical Plant Creator at Castrobruso. You can call me Professor Ferdinand."
As everyone passed through the gates, the cobblestone soon gave way to a soft, moss-covered path leading deep into the forest. The Hogwarts students hesitated until Professor Ferdinand reassured them, "Don't worry about damaging it. In the local dialect, this moss is known as 'unkillable.' Not even a dragon can crush it. It's the same material used for cushioning in every Quidditch World Cup over the past century."
Encouraged, the students stepped cautiously onto the moss. Ryan marveled at the springy, luxurious feel underfoot—like walking on a high-end handmade carpet.
Lush plant life surrounded them in organized tiers, and magical plants were scattered throughout. Tiny bluebells shaped like wine glasses chimed with a pleasant, metallic tinkling when stirred by the wind. A tropical tree with vivid red flowers emitted a sweet, hypnotic scent.
After five or six minutes of navigating a narrow cave filled with glowing blue mushrooms, the trail opened into a wide, breathtaking valley carpeted in vibrant moss and dotted with towering tropical trees.
"So pretty," Hermione whispered, clasping her hands in front of her chest, eyes shimmering. Most of the girls wore similar expressions, while the boys, although more reserved, had clearly lit up with wonder.
At the valley's center lay a crystal-clear pond, fed by several streams trickling down from nearby hills. The water was so transparent that every pebble and aquatic plant on the bottom was visible.
All visible structures were clustered near the pond. A massive, flat stone platform had been carved out for group activities. Around it, students and teachers were setting up a barbecue—stoves in the middle, iron sticks, and metal forks laid out, and tables draped in clean, white linen covered in fresh tropical fruits.
It was clear that the day's social sporting events would blend into a night-long celebration. The school had organized a South American barbecue party for their international guests. While it seemed odd to have a cookout in such a picturesque, almost sacred place, the old saying rang true: There's nothing that can't be solved with a barbecue. And if there is—have two barbecues.
As the festivities began, everyone paired off into discussion groups and found cool, shady spots to sit beneath the trees.
Ryan, Hermione, a second-year Hufflepuff, and three younger Castrobruso students gathered together. The local group was led by David, the tall boy who'd exchanged greetings with Ryan that morning. He stepped up and shook Ryan's hand.
"I'm really looking forward to this afternoon's exchange. We learned so much from our discussion this morning."
Fatigued from their long walk under the tropical sun, the Hogwarts students gratefully accepted some fruit to cool off. In the magical world, tropical fruits were not only more vibrant and diverse in flavor—they also often had strange properties.
Ryan picked up a bizarre, apple-sized fruit that resembled red string coiled together. Its surface felt like bark, and unsettlingly, it moved slightly in his palm.
Seeing the puzzled looks on their guests' faces, David chuckled. "Ah, that's the Fire Snake Fruit. It's rare even in South America because it only keeps for six hours after picking. Most wizards outside this continent have never heard of it. But it's really easy to eat."
He retrieved a silver basin, filled it with water, added salt, and dropped the fruit inside. Almost instantly, the Fire Snake Fruit began to unfurl.
Using a leafy twig, David fished one out, bit the stem, and began sucking the juice from it. The fruit visibly shrank as he drank.
"You suck the juice straight out. Try it!"
FOR MORE CHAPTERS
patreon.com/STEPHENHART427