After the term started, the professors eased up on library and nighttime checks because they had to grade assignments, and naturally, they didn't have time to patrol at night.
That night, after being well-behaved for two weeks, Kael couldn't wait to open the library doors with the Marauder's Map in hand.
The new bookshelf in the trunk was ready, and it couldn't just stay empty; Kael planned to fill it up in the remaining half of the term.
Even though this task was quite daunting, as long as he slept one hour less each day and worked a bit harder, he should be able to accomplish it.
Kael, holding his wand, easily made his way to the Restricted Area.
This time, he didn't pick books off the shelf in the usual order; instead, he carefully identified each book's title, only pulling out the ones he needed and setting them aside.
After more than half an hour, Kael found three books in total, all related to the Basilisk.
"Deadly Gaze"
"Medieval Exploration: Those Gradually Disappearing Ancient Species"
"How to Make a Rooster Lay Eggs"
However, it seemed like something strange mixed in among them.
Kael held the last book with a black cover, about the thickness of a notebook, and wondered how this thing got into the Restricted Area.
However, Newt and Hagrid would probably love this book, and it was perfect to transcribe now to give them as a Christmas gift next year.
Since he hadn't been on a night venture here for a long time, plus he looked at quite a few books this time, Kael stayed in the library until dawn before leaving.
In the days that followed, he returned to the busy state he was in before the holiday.
The Quidditch training started again.
Fortunately, Harris wasn't as strict with them as the other teams; even if a match was approaching, it was still only three regular practices a week.
In contrast, Gryffindor was different; Wood had become insane in his effort to prepare for the upcoming match, holding practices almost every afternoon.
Even in the continuous rainy days after heavy snow, Kael could see their figures on the Quidditch Pitch.
Fred and George complained more than once, saying that Wood was turning into a training maniac and didn't care about their well-being.
Fred also mentioned that if this continued, they might all end up in the Hospital Wing before the match even started.
However, Kael suspected that they were playing the sympathy card, as the next match was against Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.
Apart from Quidditch training, Kael would find time to visit Hagrid's hut on the weekends.
He found that ever since Hagrid started paying attention to the Fantastic Beasts in the Forbidden Forest, his hut always contained various surprises.
"Here you go, Kael, Unicorn Hair."
In the room, Hagrid poured Kael a cup of tea and handed him a small bag, "I remember you like these things, so I collected some for you, all naturally fallen."
Kael took the bag and opened it for a look... there were over a dozen long silver hairs inside, in perfect condition.
"So many..." Kael said in surprise, "Did you collect all these recently?"
Unicorns don't shed fur like Crups, especially their tail hair... Without wizard intervention, it takes about half a year for one to fall off.
Who would have thought Hagrid could pick up so many in just a few weeks? Could there be a Unicorn herd in the Forbidden Forest?
"Most of them were left behind earlier." Hagrid casually said while putting the copper pot on the stove, "I initially wanted to weave them into a mat, but the tail hair is too bright, and they don't look good mixed together, so I picked them all out."
"There were originally more, but I couldn't find them; the rest are all here, just for you."
"Alright..." Kael twitched his mouth.
It's just like Hagrid to use Unicorn hair for a mat and then dislike the tail hair for being too bright, what an eye-opener.
"By the way, Kael..."
At this moment, Hagrid awkwardly said, "About the spider replenishment potion you promised... how's it going?"
"Of course, I'm not trying to rush you, just curious... yeah, just curious."
"Almost done," Kael thought for a moment and said, "I tested it once on Lee Jordan's pouch spider, and it worked quite well.
Next, I just have to add the Eight-Leaf Flower, but this plant is pretty rare, and it'll take two weeks for Diagon Alley to deliver it."
The Eight-Leaf Flower is a very fragile ingredient, only useful when fresh and very demanding in its growing environment; the wrong lighting or temperature can quickly cause it to wither.
So those Magic Potion Shops usually don't prepare stock in advance; they pick it when needed.
Of course, its price isn't cheap; one plant costs twenty-nine Galleons, and payment must be made in advance, with no returns accepted.
Even so, Kael didn't hesitate to place the order.
Not mentioning these dozen or so Unicorn tail hairs, they were nothing compared to the nearly two pints of Acromantula Venom Hagrid provided earlier.
"Eight-Leaf Flower..." Hagrid pondered and asked, "Is it the plant with eight leaves, purple in the middle, yellow or red around the edges?"
"That's right, when they mature, their petals will turn from red to yellow," Kael said, "Is there such a plant in the Forbidden Forest too?"
"Yes," Hagrid nodded and said, "I just saw them yesterday while patrolling the Forbidden Forest, near where the Unicorns reside."
"Can you take me there?" Kael asked expectantly, "I promise not to wander off."
"No!" Hagrid refused without hesitation.
The Unicorns live deep in the Forbidden Forest, where it's too dangerous, and he couldn't agree to let Kael go.
"If you need it, I can bring some in a few days." Hagrid said.
"Need it, definitely need it," Kael nodded repeatedly, "But when you gather the Eight-Leaf Flower, it would be best if you could dig them up with the soil, as much soil as possible, and remember to send me a letter in advance, I'll wait for you at the cabin."
Hagrid nodded and seriously noted Kael's words.
"Bring them up with the soil, got it. Oh, by the way, do you still need... ahem, spider venom?"
"The amount you gave before is already sufficient." Kael shook his head.
While Hagrid himself might not mind, Kael felt embarrassed taking and taking from him alone.
Moreover, Acromantula Venom isn't used frequently, one pint is enough to last him until graduation.