Early the next morning, Ciel found Harry and mentioned visiting Hagrid that day. Harry seemed somewhat crestfallen, his eyes slightly dark as if he had stayed up all night. Hearing Ciel, he took a moment to react.
"Huh? Oh, sure, no problem. I'll write to Hagrid and let him know to get ready. You can definitely go over at noon."
Ciel nodded. But looking at Harry, he couldn't help but ask, "Harry, have you been staying up late?"
Harry grinned, his fatigue momentarily forgotten. "The Advanced Potion-Making book you told me to find... hehe, it's brilliant, absolutely brilliant! Our whole dorm has been staying up late studying. Potions is truly profound." At this point, Harry lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Ciel, do you have any more potions knowledge you can teach us? Ahem... are there any other versions of Advanced Potion-Making?"
Hearing this, Ciel's expression became slightly strange. "Harry, you guys need to show some restraint."
Harry smiled awkwardly, looking at Ciel with pleading eyes. Ciel could only sigh. "Alright. In the basement Potions classroom, there's a book called One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi in the third storage cabinet. I think you'll find what you're looking for in there."
Harry was overjoyed. He couldn't help but turn and beckon to Ron and the others. Brothers! he thought. We've got new study materials!
At this time, Hermione, not far away, seemed to have vaguely overheard the conversation between Ciel and Harry. When Ciel passed by her, Hermione couldn't hold back her curiosity and quickly asked, "Ciel, how did you do it? You actually got Harry and the others to stay up late studying potions? When did they become so interested in potions?"
A flicker of guilt crossed Ciel's face, and he gave Hermione a vague answer. "Maybe they finally understand your hard work and want to share some of the burden of the House Cup points."
Hearing this, Hermione looked surprised. There was even a hint of emotion in her eyes. "Is... is that so?" She suddenly let out a light breath, as if a weight had been lifted from her heart. "So they do care about House honor after all. Maybe my attitude is usually too aggressive?"
Ciel was stunned. Huh? Then he felt even more guilty. If Hermione ever found out the truth, would she hunt him down all over the castle? If the matter reached Dumbledore's ears, and he found out that he had opened a "learning" door for the savior... Ciel subconsciously quickened his pace. Danger. Better get out of here!
Fortunately, the morning passed relatively smoothly. Nothing out of the ordinary happened. By noon, Ciel took a deep breath and headed towards Hagrid's gamekeeper's hut outside the Forbidden Forest.
Before he even arrived, he saw Hagrid's burly figure standing in front of the hut from afar, waving at him enthusiastically. Even the warm but somewhat rustic hut from the original story seemed to have been repainted. Every log was coated with wood wax oil, glowing with a reddish-brown luster in the sunlight.
When Ciel arrived, Hagrid, the simple and enthusiastic half-giant from the original story, immediately gave him a big hug that threatened to crack his ribs. "I've been waiting for you! Come, Ciel, it's getting colder. Come in, warm yourself by the fire, and have a cup of hot tea. Oh, right, and this!"
After bringing Ciel into the hut, Hagrid brought out a plate of what looked like scones. "Try this, rock cakes I baked myself."
Looking at the infamous dark cuisine that could break teeth in the original story, Ciel really had no desire to try it. But he couldn't resist Hagrid's hospitality. He carefully picked up a rock cake and took a bite. Then Ciel's eyes lit up. This cake was crispy with a bit of chewiness. It wasn't as hard as he thought. It also had a special wheat fragrance. It actually tasted good!
What surprised Ciel even more was that after eating this rock cake, a warm current seemed to emanate from within. It gave Ciel a feeling similar to when he had received Vitality Enhancement rewards. Although for Ciel's current Legendary-Tier Vitality Enhancement, the effect of this rock cake was negligible, this was definitely a good thing.
Ciel's eyes lit up as he licked his lips and asked Hagrid, "Hagrid, what are these rock cakes made of? They're delicious. Can I have another one?"
Hearing this, Hagrid's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He was so choked with emotion he couldn't speak. Finally, he opened his arms and gave Ciel another firm hug. "Ciel... I'm certain now! We definitely share the same blood. Even if we're distant, we're definitely related!"
In Ciel's bewildered gaze, Hagrid began to explain. He wasn't bad at cooking. At least the sausages he made were the best Harry had ever eaten, juicy and full of meat flavor. So how could he not know that rock cakes weren't something ordinary people could swallow? But for years, Hagrid had insisted on serving rock cakes to guests. He had even advertised this "specialty food" in the Daily Prophet.
The reason was simple. Anyone who would buy rock cakes again had a chance of having giant blood. Otherwise, a normal person might buy one out of curiosity, but who would be crazy enough to buy more? Unfortunately, over the years, besides an old wizard who bought accident insurance for his teeth and tried to commit insurance fraud with rock cakes, Hagrid had never seen anyone eat a second one. Ciel was the first. Coupled with his previous performance, it was confirmed!
For a moment, Hagrid was in tears. After so many years, he had finally found one of his own kind in the wizarding world. The huge half-giant cried, his sobs so powerful they seemed to shake the very foundations of the hut.
Ciel originally wanted to explain to Hagrid that he just had a special constitution and wasn't actually a half-giant. But seeing Hagrid like this, he felt a bit reluctant. Looking down at the plate of rock cakes, Ciel decided to just eat them first. These were made from magical wheat and various magical plants Hagrid had found in the Forbidden Forest. No wonder even Ciel could feel a warm current. In terms of value, one cake was probably worth a gold galleon! This was the value of the number one hidden rich person in the wizarding world.
By the time Ciel finished the entire plate of rock cakes, even with his constitution, he felt a bit stuffed. These cakes, meant for half-giants, were too substantial! He quickly stopped Hagrid, who was about to bake another plate.
Hiccup... "Hagrid, I can't... I really can't eat anymore."
Hagrid grinned, showing a simple and warm smile. "No problem! I'll bake some more for you, and you can take them back to your dorm. These cakes don't spoil. If you finish them, just write to me, and I'll bake more for you. Oh, right..."
Hagrid suddenly remembered something. He quickly took out a package from the cabinet. "For our first meeting, I have to give you a gift. It's getting cold, a blanket I made myself from unicorn hair. My handiwork isn't good, don't mind it."
Ciel stared blankly at the silver blanket revealed from the package. He couldn't help but gasp. How much unicorn hair must have been collected to make this one blanket? Its value was no less than some invisibility cloaks. It would probably cost hundreds, if not thousands, of gold galleons.
Ciel waved his hands repeatedly. "Hagrid, this is too valuable, I can't accept it."
After he refused several times, Hagrid's eyes suddenly reddened. He said carefully, "Ciel... do you also think it's shameful to be associated with a half-giant?" He slowly lowered his head. "I mean... it's okay, it's okay, it's perfectly normal. Haha, how could you be a half-giant? I was mistaken."
Ciel was stunned. Complex emotions churned within him. After a moment, Ciel accepted the blanket and said helplessly, "I really just thought this blanket was too expensive. But alright, we half-giants really should have a unicorn hair blanket. Thank you, Hagrid, I'll accept it then."
Hagrid suddenly looked up. Seeing Ciel, who had just claimed to be a half-giant, he broke into tears and then a smile.
After a long while, when Hagrid had finally calmed down, Ciel asked if he could see the troll. Hagrid didn't even question it. His little brother of the same kin wanted to see a troll? What was the big deal? Besides, it was perfectly normal for a half-giant to be interested in highly dangerous magical creatures, right? Arranged!
Soon, Hagrid led Ciel to an area on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. As they walked, he said, "Don't worry, I've cleared the outskirts of the forest, it's very safe now. The troll that broke into the castle before... since it was injured, I settled it here. It will definitely be happy to see you."
As he spoke, the unique stench of a troll filled the air. Ahead in the woods, there was a familiar large figure. The troll whose bones had been broken by Ciel had mostly recovered. Injuries that would require a long recovery in humans were nothing much for a troll. Moreover, Hagrid had been taking care of him during this time.
Seeing Hagrid arrive, the troll gave a happy grunt and mumbled incoherently, "Haa... grid..."
But the next moment, its small eyes saw the little wizard next to Hagrid, who had left such a deep impression on it.
Hagrid even greeted it. "Look who I brought you!"
The troll stared blankly at Hagrid. You brought this little wizard here?!
Then it let out a terrified scream and kept backing away. Finally, the troll simply collapsed onto the ground, covering its head.
"Don't hit... Surrender..."
Seeing the troll showing no resistance, Ciel's eyes flickered slightly. He took out a pot of recently planted Goldfish Vine and slowly approached the troll. At the same time, Ciel's eyes didn't blink, his gaze firmly locked on the Goldfish Vine, ready to observe the results of his experiment.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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