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Thanks to Crazy Dave's plant-breeding expertise, even though the Mandrake could sing, dance, and perhaps do even more, it was still just a plant. Ryan quickly mastered its characteristics after observing it for a few minutes. He then pulled it out, changed the pot, and repotted it in one swift motion. When he finished, he looked around and saw his classmates still struggling with their Mandrakes.
Yes, they were struggling—some were even wrestling with the plants. Ryan noticed several of his classmates getting their fingers bitten by the Mandrakes.
Ryan's efficient repotting earned Gryffindor an additional five points. After the Herbology class, he seized the opportunity to ask Professor Sprout a question that had bothered him in his previous life: Why, in the original story, did so many students get petrified and have to wait for the Mandrakes in the greenhouse to mature? Why didn't they simply buy mature Mandrakes elsewhere?
Of course, Ryan's question was more specifically about why he had never seen Mandrakes sold anywhere outside of Hogwarts.
Professor Sprout replied proudly, "At least in all of Europe, only Hogwarts has successfully cultivated Mandrakes. Wild Mandrakes are hard to find until they mature. Once mature, they crawl out of the soil in search of a suitable place to bloom and bear fruit. That's why it's rare to see them for sale on the market."
Ryan thanked Professor Sprout for the explanation and ran back to the castle to shower and change. He couldn't shake the feeling that the Mandrakes reminded him of the legendary ginseng dolls from folklore. Ryan made a mental note to use his own plants as leverage to negotiate with Professor Sprout for a Mandrake to study.
Later, in Transfiguration class, Ryan and Hermione each earned Gryffindor another five points by successfully turning beetles into beautiful buttons. Despite this success, Ryan felt pressure once again. He had practiced in the grocery store all summer, whereas Hermione hadn't touched her wand during the break, yet she was still his toughest competition.
Ryan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Both British and foreign parents cared about their children's academic performance, but unfortunately, his parents only knew Hermione as a classmate. Losing to her in every comparison felt bitter.
After lunch, Ryan faced the last class of the day. If it weren't for the fact that every professor had the authority to deduct house points, he might have skipped it.
Yes, the next class was with Gilderoy Lockhart—renowned novelist, memory thief, Order of Merlin Third Class, honorary member of the League Against the Dark Arts, and five-time winner of Witcher Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award. Lockhart had the unique ability to turn a classroom into a fan meeting, and later, a complete disaster.
But skipping wasn't an option, so Ryan grudgingly dragged himself to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, burdened by the weight of several thick novels in his bag.
Upon entering the room, he noticed the atmosphere was unusually loud. Many girls wore excited expressions, eagerly chatting about Lockhart. The classroom's vibe reminded Ryan of a celebrity fan meeting.
Luckily, the enthusiastic fans crowded the front, leaving a quiet corner in the back where Ryan could sit. He stacked his seven books in front of him, effectively blocking his view of the front of the classroom, and prepared to zone out for the duration.
When the bell rang and everyone was seated, Lockhart made his entrance. He walked in confidently, cleared his throat, and immediately silenced the room. He picked up a copy of Wandering with Trolls from a student in the front row, showing off his winking photo on the cover.
"I," he said, pointing dramatically at his image, "am Gilderoy Lockhart, Third Class of the Order of Merlin, Honorary Member of the League Against the Dark Arts, and five-time winner of Witcher Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award! But I didn't drive away the Banshee of Banbury with just a smile!"
"If you're not here to brag, then what are you doing?" Ryan muttered under his breath.
Lockhart paused, as if waiting for applause. Sure enough, a chorus of giggles erupted from his fanbase. Energized by their reaction, he continued, "I see you've all bought my complete set of works—excellent! Let's start with a quiz today. Don't be nervous; it's just to see how thoroughly you've read my books and how much you've understood..."
This "complete set" nearly bankrupted Ron's family, Ryan thought sourly. What a shameless way to make money. In his heart, Ryan drew a giant X over Lockhart's face. If the man had seemed annoying in the books, the real version was even worse.
For the next thirty minutes, the class worked on Lockhart's so-called quiz. It was filled with questions that belonged in a fan club questionnaire, such as Lockhart's favorite color and his birthday. Ryan couldn't help but wonder if Lockhart intended to start his own fan club at Hogwarts.
As Ryan scribbled his answers half-heartedly, he couldn't help but think that the Ministry of Magic should implement regulations to prevent this kind of commercial exploitation in schools.
After enduring thirty minutes of pointless questions, Lockhart spent another ten minutes grading the quizzes aloud, emphasizing his greatness at every opportunity. Hermione earned five points for Gryffindor by answering every question perfectly.
Ryan looked at Hermione, who was sitting next to him, in shock. She covered her mouth and mouthed, "I just have a habit of memorizing everything I read."
Lockhart continued his dramatic lecture, eventually pulling out a large cage covered by a cloth. "Now—prepare yourselves!" he declared. "You are about to face the most terrifying creatures the wizarding world has ever known! But don't worry—as long as I'm here, no harm will come to you. Just stay calm."
Ryan's eyes narrowed as he recognized the cage. Without hesitation, he packed up his belongings. He knew exactly what was inside and didn't want his things damaged.
With a flourish, Lockhart uncovered the cage, revealing a dozen Cornish Pixies. In one respect, Lockhart was right—these little creatures were dangerous.
Though they had no magical abilities, Cornish Pixies were mischievous, agile, strong for their size, and incredibly cunning. They also worked as a team, making them a challenge for even adult wizards. And Lockhart had just released all of them for the sake of showing off.
What followed was pure chaos. The Pixies flew around the classroom, knocking over books, pulling hair, and generally causing mayhem. Lockhart's attempt to control them was laughable.
Ryan was well-prepared, though. As the Pixies began their rampage, he pulled out his wand and muttered, "Immobulus!" A wave of freezing magic swept over a group of them, suspending them in mid-air.
Hermione followed his lead, and together they managed to subdue the majority of the Pixies. Meanwhile, Lockhart stood at the front of the room, frozen in shock, before awkwardly claiming, "Well... that was just a demonstration. I wanted to see how you would handle it!"
Ryan rolled his eyes. If this was Lockhart's idea of teaching, it was going to be a very long year.
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