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After distributing excited students into various cars—Anthony specifically called back several students rushing into the rain, arranged them in his car—they finally embarked on the last leg to the botanical garden.
Anthony closed car doors for students (and used his gaze to stop them exploring that pile of buttons and handles inside). Sat in the passenger seat. "Thank you, Mr. Lind."
"You're welcome," Lind said. "Not easy getting here, was it?"
"Not bad," Anthony said. "Thanks to students' cooperation."
The student in the back seat stuck his head between front seat gaps. Asked curiously, "Are there points, Professor?"
"Well..." Anthony glanced back. "If I were you, I'd sit back now, Mr. Toller."
"Hmm?"
"Your chips are about to be finished," Anthony reminded.
While he bought raincoats, students also bought things that interested them at the station convenience store. Like Mr. Toller, his friends obviously were also very curious about sour cream flavored chips. Were quietly using two fingers to pinch them from the silver-gleaming package. Then silently put them in their mouths.
With Toller's cry of alarm, Anthony leisurely leaned back into the passenger seat.
Lind laughed. "When we reach the garden you can eat first at the entrance."
"Everyone should have already prepared picnic food," Anthony said. Turned to look at students settling financial disputes in the back. "Did you bring lunch?"
"Brought it, Professor," Toller said. Patted his bulging pocket. "Chicken pie."
"No wonder that dog keeps looking at you," his friend said. "I brought some too. Bacon sandwich and cupcakes." He unzipped his backpack. Showed Anthony the messy hat, sunglasses, tissues, owl food, and his lunch inside.
Toller said, "Cupcakes are good." Reached to take the cake from the other's bag.
"Don't eat in the car, gentlemen," Anthony said. "I don't want to regretfully learn a month later Mr. Lind's seat got a big hole chewed by rats."
Lind smiled. "It's fine. This is the botanical garden's car. As long as you can clean it, I don't care what happens here."
Wipers swept back and forth across the windshield. Made the red light ahead suddenly clear. Then submerged by meandering rainwater into turbulent light.
"I was a bit surprised when I got the call," Lind said. Hand on the steering wheel. Made small talk. "I was wondering what method you'd use to come over... You used the phone quite skillfully, Professor Anthony. By the way, if it's not presumptuous, the subject you teach is...?"
Anthony smiled. "A subject requiring skillful phone use."
"What?"
"Full name is Muggle Studies," Anthony said. "Also, gentlemen, this isn't this year's final exam question." He heard Toller quietly discussing with his friend the order Anthony inserted coins and picked up the phone.
"Wait, Professor Anthony—Mr. Lind—"
Anthony nodded. "Mr. Lind knows." In fact, even if this was a completely Muggle botanical garden, from the garden's reply and Professor Sprout's statement, very likely most staff knew about magic's existence.
"Are you also a Hogwarts graduate?" the student asked curiously. "Can we really work in Muggle society?"
Lind said, "Regrettably, I'm not. I'm the Muggle you study."
The next instant, Anthony felt Exploding Snap cards detonate beside his ear. Everyone was talking.
"Sorry—"
"How would Muggles know—"
"Oh no, did I just violate the Statute of Secrecy?!" a quite prominent voice wailed. "Will I be expelled?"
"Oh wait! There are exceptions! I heard Midgen say wizard Muggle relatives can know magic exists. The Statute allows it."
Before departure, Anthony specially asked Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress Professor McGonagall to explain Statute provisions and punishment measures to everyone... As a living violation case, Anthony felt this lesson shouldn't be taught by himself.
After all, if students asked him "But what if I unconsciously used magic," perhaps he'd honestly tell them "Headmaster Dumbledore can solve all problems," rather than Professor McGonagall's "Then you'd better restrain your unconscious magic, miss, or we'll all be very regretful."
In the suddenly heated discussion, there were also several rustling sounds. Toller's friend was eating chips again. Anthony glanced. He was carefully cupping his hand. Being careful not to let food crumbs fall in the car.
Anthony decided to Scourgify every car when no one could see. Thanks to his dear cat, his Scourgify was quite skilled.
The green light came on. Lind slowly started the car. "I belong to exceptions among exceptions. As far as I know, no magical people among relatives I know."
Anthony asked curiously, "Then why?"
Mr. Lind grinned. "If you also encountered fourteen times when searching for rare plants branches trying to dig out eyeballs—" Bowtruckles, "leaves gleaming like copper coins—" Alihotsy, "screaming fruits—" Screechsnaps, "baby-like roots that directly knock people out—" Mandrakes, "and such things..."
"God," Anthony exclaimed. "Really not easy." This past year, he increasingly understood how dangerous magic was for people without magic (and completely unprepared to encounter magic).
"Plants? That was the easiest part," Mr. Lind said. Followed his colleague's car ahead. Drove into the botanical garden's side entrance. "We're almost there."
Anthony put on his raincoat. Back seat students followed suit. Pulled out warm, wrinkled raincoats from seat sides and under backpacks.
When the car stopped, Anthony saw outside already stood a group of drenched Hogwarts students. Some remembered to wear raincoats. Some just stood under eaves in short sleeves and shorts. Cheerfully talking with friends about something.
He quickly opened the door. Got out to check everyone's condition. Again thanked botanical garden staff. Thanked them for braving rain to the station despite the trouble to bring students over.
"It's fine. They're quite likeable," a lady smiled. Anthony remembered she was the first car's driver. "Very lively. Also very curious."
Anthony smiled and accepted her praise on students' behalf. "Thank you. I won't be modest for them." He also thought they were great.
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