In the small greenhouse, Ciel had lost count of how many times he'd cast the Patronus Charm over these two days. Each time he cast the spell, that mountain-like crushing pressure left him feeling unprecedented exhaustion.
Mental fatigue was far worse than physical tiredness. He hadn't experienced this feeling of complete energy depletion, buzzing in his head, and throbbing temples for a very long time.
But these two days hadn't been wasted effort. Now the Patronus tree seed in his hand was covered with countless cracks across its surface, looking like shattered glass in a spider web pattern.
Even though his wand was still struggling to produce silvery-white mist, this Patronus tree seed seemed unable to absorb any more. Only then did he exhale deeply, examining the reward information status displayed above this seed.
The text remained blurred, flickering on and off, still in a state of transformation. He couldn't tell what specific changes were occurring. As for how long the transformation would take and what changes would result, he had never seen this state before and naturally had no way of knowing.
Shaking his head slightly: "Then I'll wait. I have nothing else to do anyway, and I can afford this time."
Then, to be safe, he prepared large quantities of Sacred Tree Potion used for processing Patronus tree seeds. He separately soaked this transforming seed and the remaining ordinary seeds in groups of Sacred Tree potions.
This way, even if this seed's transformation failed, at least the other Patronus tree seeds wouldn't be lost.
When he finished these tasks, unknowingly, dawn sunlight was already streaming into the greenhouse. The sunlight was quite intense, carrying the feeling of approaching midsummer.
Simultaneously, outside the greenhouse came a chorus of boisterous voices, chattering like birds, extraordinarily lively. He paused. Final exams were over. Why would young wizards be up at this hour?
After a moment, he glanced at the date, then realised what was happening. His expression became somewhat strange. "So today is when the young wizards completely finish their first academic year and leave school to go home? No wonder it's so lively."
Thinking this, he couldn't help feeling somewhat sentimental. A year had just passed like that. The time remaining until Anthony Dolohov's escape and the return of Death Eaters and Voldemort had grown shorter. He didn't have much time left.
While he was feeling sentimental, footsteps outside grew increasingly dense. When he opened the greenhouse door, he was stunned to find the entire first-year Hufflepuff class waiting at the door. Cedric Diggory was also there with Quidditch team members.
"What's all this about?" He was bewildered, not knowing what this grand gathering was for.
Seeing this, Cedric laughed at the little badgers: "See, I told you all. When Ciel gets into work mode, he definitely forgets everything else."
"Hey Ciel, did you forget today is departure day? Everyone won't see each other for a whole summer. Exchanging cards with contact addresses is our house tradition."
"Usually we also hold group summer homework sessions before term starts, and we need these cards to coordinate."
Hearing this, he rubbed his head with a bitter smile. Alright, he truly didn't remember Hufflepuff had such a tradition. And exchanging cards – when was the last time he'd done this? Previous life's high school graduation or elementary school graduation?
Such a distant activity really felt like a lifetime ago. Now the little badgers all held cards, looking eager to exchange with him, making his bitter smile deepen. No helping it. He couldn't refuse this.
"Okay, give me two minutes."
Then the greenhouse door closed again. When he emerged, he held dozens of cards made from silvery-white tree bark with his summer contact information:
"Please contact the Hogwarts Greenhouse mailbox or the Sprout Family Greenhouse mailbox. If neither works, try writing to the Library Collection Room."
Cedric was first to receive his card. Looking at the content, his cheek twitched: "I was just guessing, thinking it couldn't really be possible. But Ciel, you're actually planning to stay at Hogwarts during summer? Only first year. Do you need to be this intense?"
After a moment, Cedric sighed: "Well, that explains why you're so abnormally good. Fine, at least rest a bit during vacation. Come to our house's holiday gatherings when you have time."
He winked at Ciel: "At school everyone wears robes, but outside gatherings... you might be quite surprised. Our house girls are all very well-nourished."
Laughing, Cedric handed him his contact card, followed by the little badgers swarming to exchange cards. Even usually shy Hannah Abbott flushed red, whispering to him: "Um, gatherings are always at the Leaky Cauldron. I'm there every day. I mean, if you happen to pass by the Leaky Cauldron, I'll take good care of you."
He smiled and waved at Hannah, who beamed back. Then, as Cedric reminded everyone about catching the Hogwarts Express, the little badgers stumbled away.
He looked down at the pile of cards in his hands, feeling like he was back in school days. Shaking his head with an odd smile, just as he was about to return to the greenhouse, another voice called him.
It was Hermione's voice. She and Harry had come. Hermione hurriedly pulled several thick papers and books from her bag, shoving them all at him: "These are the magical linguistics materials you wanted, Ciel."
"This subject is quite obscure, but I finally found the main works in chronological order over these few days."
Then Hermione tried to appear calm and composed, but her cheeks were already subtly flushed, revealing her inner state wasn't as peaceful as she appeared. She also produced a card: "If you have any academic questions, write to me."
He looked amazed at this pile of papers and manuscripts, plus Hermione's barely concealed exhaustion. Obviously, she'd put considerable effort into finding these materials. Warmth flowed through his heart as he nodded: "I will."
Then Harry scrawled Privet Drive's address on paper: "Just in case, I mean, just in case, Ciel, you pass by this area... I might be locked in the cupboard under the stairs or locked in the old room upstairs. Anyway, I mean, see you next term."
Then Harry and Hermione also hurried away. He shook his head with amusement, muttering: "Youth is wonderful."
In just these moments, the noise around his ears had gradually faded. Even Dumbledore and the professors were all busy with arrangements for students going home. Especially after the end-of-term Forbidden Forest trial incident, they didn't want any mishaps during students' journeys home.
Except for Professor Binns, who couldn't leave, virtually all professors had to ensure every student got home safely. Hogwarts, previously bustling with activity where you might encounter night-wandering students even at night, suddenly became quiet. Seemingly only he remained.
The lonely, desolate atmosphere was unprecedentedly thick. For a moment, he almost couldn't adapt. But soon after, he turned and walked into this lonely atmosphere as if merging with it.
Loneliness was nothing new. His previous life's research path had never lacked it. He was long accustomed to this. After all, great achievements were rarely produced amid drums and cannons. Most came from chewing on loneliness through one solitary night after another.
He silently returned to the greenhouse, habitually glancing at the Sacred Tree potions soaking the Patronus tree seeds. His gaze suddenly paused, showing surprise: "Hm?"
In the other groups, Sacred Tree potion concentrations remained very high. After all, the Patronus tree seeds had just been soaked. Their internal sacred magic balancing was a lengthy process that wouldn't initially consume much Sacred Tree potion.
But that crack-covered Patronus tree seed, the Sacred Tree potion it was soaked in, had become nearly clear water. All the sacred magic power inside had been completely absorbed.
Simultaneously, he looked at the space above this seed. The reward information text seemed somewhat clearer.
"Transformation progress has improved. Could this transformation process require large amounts of Sacred Tree potion to provide sacred magic nutrients?"
This speculation arose in his mind, and his expression brightened. Soon, he prepared several more Sacred Tree potions, adding them to the vial containing that Patronus tree seed.
Under his observation, the freshly poured Sacred Tree potion immediately disappeared like being poured into a bottomless black hole at incredible speed. Among the countless cracks on its surface, one crack actually healed slightly. The healed area showed even richer silver colouring than before cracking.
Seeing this, he confirmed his earlier thoughts. So he immediately worked tirelessly, preparing all remaining Sacred Tree potion materials in the greenhouse. Even the Sacred Tree potions soaking other Patronus tree seeds, he diverted considerable amounts, leaving them only minimal quantities.
Then dozens of Sacred Tree potions were poured into the vial all at once. But the result was no different from before. This cracked seed was like an insatiable glutton. No matter how much Sacred Tree potion was provided, it remained unsatisfied. Only a few more cracks quietly healed.
Seeing this situation, his expression stiffened. At this rate, how many Sacred Tree potions would this seed's transformation require? Probably hundreds or thousands?
Thinking of such an exaggerated number, he couldn't help gasping. Though Sacred Tree potion was a mature potion with reasonable pricing, it certainly wasn't as cheap as Scabies potion. Hundreds or thousands of Sacred Tree potions – few could afford that.
Now he saw this seed as a money-devouring beast! But the more so, the more it proved this seed's extraordinary nature. His mythical-level Patronus Charm had brought unknown effects.
"Could it be Legendary level? No, that seems unlikely. But Epic level seems possible. If I could really get an Epic-level magical ability, hundreds or thousands of Sacred Tree potions would be worth it. At least I'm not paying."
He had previously signed an agreement with the Ministry. All resources needed for his Herbology research, except overly precious ones, could be supplied by the Ministry. The Sacred Tree potion, a commonly used Herbology potion, naturally fell under this.
Perfect timing. He hadn't asked the Ministry to fulfil their contract in a while. After so long, requesting a bit more this time... Minister Fudge should understand, right?
Then he immediately wrote a letter, watching an owl fly toward the Ministry. Less than half an hour later, a letter arrived at the greenhouse mailbox.
He looked puzzled: "When did the Ministry become so efficient?"
But when he read the letter, he found it wasn't from the Ministry but from Professor Sprout. Seemingly hastily written on the Hogwarts Express. What matter required Aunt to write so urgently? They'd be going home to the Sprout family together tonight anyway.
He frowned, opening the envelope to see Professor Sprout's apology:
"Sorry, Ciel. I received sudden notice from the International Herbology Association. This year's formal Herbologist qualification assessment, originally scheduled for Paris, has been suddenly moved to London during summer holidays."
"This is too sudden. There's never been such a situation before. After sending students home, I must rush to the Herbology Association to confirm various matters. I'll probably be busy with this for quite some time."
"You can stay at Hufflepuff House. The house-elves will take care of your daily needs. Or return to the Sprout family home via the Floo Network. Food is prepared there too."
"Additionally, given our excellent chance of competing for the International Herbology Association Youth Award this year, formal Herbologist status is required. So I've registered you for this qualification assessment."
"Don't worry. Ranking in the top five among applicants passes the test. It's not difficult; it's well within your capabilities. The only opponent to note is an herbologist named Ed."
"He published a paper on ancient plant cultivation this year and is considered this year's strongest Youth Award candidate. Unexpectedly, he's never taken the assessment and is in your group."
Reading Professor Sprout's letter, he wasn't too worried about the formal Herbologist assessment. After all, he'd grown so many advanced plants, and his Herbology mastery was incomparable to before.
Given the magical world's wizard population, how many could participate in one formal assessment? Ranking in the top five shouldn't be difficult.
Then he put the letter away, preparing to continue his work according to his own pace. But moments later, he suddenly seemed to remember something.
He pulled out the letter again, his gaze falling on another name Professor Sprout mentioned: "An herbologist named Ed. Could it be... him?"