Cedric's Quidditch selection results were ideal.
He caught the Golden Snitch in just five minutes, smoothly becoming Hufflepuff's new Seeker.
After that, he had to stay on the Quidditch Pitch all afternoon for his first team practice.
Kael only managed to see him briefly during lunch.
"Fred and George don't know any Slytherins either, but they said they'd help think of a way."
With his mouth full of steak, Cedric mumbled, "We're planning to discuss it more thoroughly this afternoon. Want to join?"
"I..."
Before Kael could speak, a loud voice came from the other end of the table.
"Hurry up, Cedric, we're starting practice."
"Okay, Captain!"
Cedric swallowed the steak with difficulty and gulped down a large glass of pumpkin juice. Turning to Kael, he said, "I'm off to practice. This year's Quidditch Cup is definitely Hufflepuff's."
With that, he quickly ran towards the Quidditch Pitch.
"Tch..."
Kael curled his lip, not feeling envious at all.
What's so great about being on the school team? He had to practice on weekends and couldn't even enjoy his meals properly, unlike Kael, who had all the time to savor the tender, juicy steak.
Kael tapped the table and ordered himself a glass of lemonade to cleanse his palate.
In the afternoon, Kael walked out of the castle holding a piece of parchment.
Planting Chomping Cabbage was more troublesome than Kael imagined. This thing had very specific environmental and climate requirements, and only a few Herbal Medicine masters could transplant it outside its native region.
However, the Room of Requirement could perfectly solve this biggest hassle; Kael just needed to sort out the fertilizer issue.
According to the "Detailed Explanation of Asian Magical Plants," under natural conditions, Chomping Cabbage takes fifty days just to sprout and two to three years to grow fully. Its growth cycle is absurdly slow.
Kael couldn't wait that long. He was planning to speed up the seeds.
After leaving the castle, Kael crossed the grass and came to a small wooden house at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
The cottage looked quite old, with varying shades of color on the roof and walls, indicating it had been repaired many times. A crossbow and a pair of rubber overshoes hung in front of the main entrance.
Kael stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Who's there... oh, Fang, back off, you'll scare people."
Accompanied by a low bark, the wooden door opened a crack, revealing Hagrid's bearded face.
"Young wizard? What are you doing here," Hagrid said, looking at Kael with a stern expression. "First-year students aren't allowed in the Forbidden Forest. Go back to the castle."
He was about to close the door when...
"Hagrid, it's me," Kael quickly said. "Remember, we've met before."
Hmm?
Hagrid gave Kael a careful look, finding him increasingly familiar.
"I remember now," Hagrid suddenly clapped his hands. "You're that troublemaker from the Chopper family. Because of you, Saban doesn't even recognize its name anymore."
"It didn't like that name, Hagrid," Kael earnestly replied. "When you name owls, you should ask for their opinion."
"I... fine, I can't argue with you." Hagrid seemed a bit anxious and asked quickly, "So why are you here?"
Kael didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked around and said, "Can we talk inside your room?"
"No!" Hagrid got even more nervous, pressing against the door. "... Uh, I mean, my room is quite messy. Let's just talk here. Besides, Fang doesn't like strangers, and I'm worried he might scare you."
"Oh, Fang is my hunting dog, and he's taller than you."
"Is that so... well, never mind then." Kael showed a surprised expression and said compliantly, "I'm here to ask if there are any Moonstruck Beasts in the Forbidden Forest."
As everyone knows, the best fertilizers in the Magic Realm are two types: dragon dung and Moonstruck Beast dung.
Dragons, surely not in the Forbidden Forest; that'll have to wait until next semester, so he's aiming for the Moonstruck Beast.
"What do you plan to do!"
Upon hearing the words "Forbidden Forest," Hagrid set aside his nervousness and said sternly, "First-year students absolutely aren't allowed in the Forbidden Forest; it's very dangerous there. Go back to the castle, or I'll report to Professor Sprout."
"No need to be so tense, Hagrid," Kael said. "I didn't plan to enter the Forbidden Forest, or I wouldn't have come to find you."
"Really?"
"Of course." Kael explained, "I just planted two little cuties and want to find some fertilizer for them."
"Oh, that makes sense. No wonder you're asking me about the Moonstruck Beast."
Hagrid cautiously squeezed out of his room and quickly turned to close the door.
He took Kael to a pumpkin patch beside the hut, and from a corner, he fetched a metal bucket. "Don't be shy; take as much as you want."
The bucket was filled with silver ball-like items the size of ping-pong balls. This stuff was Moonstruck Beast dung, and there were at least a few hundred in the bucket.
But Kael frowned.
Not good, too dark in color. By the looks of it, they've been sitting around for at least a month.
"Do you have any fresh ones?" Kael asked.
"I'm not sure..." Hagrid hesitated before saying, "But we can go have a look; follow me."
The two walked along the Forbidden Forest's edge for a while before Hagrid asked Kael to wait outside, and he went into the forest alone.
Kael agreed, silently memorizing the route and surroundings just in case.
Since Moonstruck Beasts are only classified at XX level among Fantastic Beasts and don't live deep in the forest, Hagrid came back in about ten minutes.
"Here, take these."
He handed a bag to Kael, saying, "Because Moonstruck Beasts usually stomp their dung into the soil at sunrise, I could only find this much.
If you need more next time, it's best to send me a letter beforehand by owl, and I can collect more for you."
Kael weighed the bag and estimated there were about seven or eight pieces inside.
A bit fewer than he'd like, but still enough.
Kael pocketed the bag and said with a smile, "Thank you, Hagrid."
"It's nothing," Hagrid said, scratching his head in embarrassment. "Just don't go renaming the school's owls next time."
"That was just an accident."
Back at the cottage, Kael once again requested to take a look inside.
As expected, Hagrid refused.
"Really, there's nothing to see, Kael," he said, positioning himself at the door and avoiding eye contact. "You should head back to the castle."
Kael looked at him and felt like laughing.
Hagrid really couldn't lie. Anyone would know something's up in there just by looking at him.
"Alright then, I'll head back to the castle."
Kael turned around, casually saying, "Oh, and by the way, I should remind you, a Three-Headed Dog shouldn't be kept in your room."
....