This busy life continued up until the eve of Halloween.
Early in the morning, Kael woke up to the sweet and enticing smell of roasted pumpkins wafting through the corridors. Even better, Harris announced in the common room that next week's Quidditch practice was canceled.
He felt the previous training sessions were a bit too intense, and considering the perfect performance by both Kael and another new team member, he decided to give everyone a break before the official match.
Kael was naturally very happy with Harris's decision, as it meant he could finally relax a little next week.
Perhaps to align with Halloween, even the classrooms had more pumpkins than usual.
During the morning's Transfiguration Class, Professor McGonagall used pumpkins as props and had the young wizards attempt to transform them.
Her requirement for the day was very simple: they could transform the pumpkins into anything, as long as it wasn't a pumpkin in the end.
Kael, as usual, was the first to finish. He transformed the pumpkin into a statue resembling one by the castle gate.
Of course, it was a smaller version.
The statue took a few slow steps on the table, then swung its giant sword, splitting the pumpkin on Conna's table into two, scattering seeds everywhere.
Conna was furious. She wiped the pumpkin seeds off her face and glared at Kael, her little white teeth grinding loudly as if she might pounce on and bite him at any moment.
"Oops, my mistake, it was an accident!" Kael hurriedly apologized.
He had originally intended to slice the pumpkin open but forgot that the sword was merely a facade he had conjured.
Professor McGonagall rare to smile, teased, "For your ungentlemanly behavior, Hufflepuff loses one point. Be more careful next time. It was also quite dangerous."
"I understand, Professor," Kael whispered.
Professor McGonagall nodded and, glancing at the lifelike statue, continued, "Excellent Transfiguration Technique, Hufflepuff gains eleven points."
Because there wasn't a fixed transformation requirement, it was much simpler than usual, so many people completed the task.
By the end of the class, the Transfiguration Classroom looked like a storeroom with items like logs, buckets, and pillows scattered everywhere.
Among those who remained, some had only half-completed the task, with their transformed objects still retaining pumpkin characteristics.
For example, Ryan, while he transformed the pumpkin into the shape of a Quaffle, the surface was still yellow, looking as if the Quaffle had been wrapped in a pumpkin skin.
Nonetheless, Professor McGonagall still considered his work as passing.
As for those who simply hollowed out a few holes in the pumpkin and claimed they had made a lantern, Professor McGonagall was not lenient, increasing their assignment length from one foot to three feet.
Missing such an easy task deserved punishment.
...
The afternoon was Herbology Class.
Before class, Professor Sprout placed a pot of curious plants that had never been seen in the greenhouse on a bench at the front.
"Armor Pumpkin!"
Professor Sprout said with a smile, "Does anyone know what it is?"
Probably knowing that the young wizards couldn't answer, Professor Sprout glanced directly at Kael.
"Armor Pumpkin, also known as Iron Pumpkin, is very hard and often used as Alchemy Materials. Its vines can also be paired with Gillyweed to make a Magic Potion that allows underwater breathing."
"Very good, Hufflepuff gains ten points!" Professor Sprout said happily.
"The Armor Pumpkin is a very rare magical plant. Due to its hardness, it grows in a unique way.
Every time it grows a circle, it must shed its shell."
She pointed to the pot in front of her.
Only then did everyone notice there was a piece of yellow pumpkin skin shaped like a wrist guard inside.
"Does anyone know what this shell is used for?"
Kael raised his hand and said, "People usually use these shells to protect precious plants from goblins or other creatures.
This is also where the Armor Pumpkin gets its name."
"Absolutely correct, Hufflepuff gains another ten points."
Professor Sprout said, "The shell of the Armor Pumpkin is the best guard for fragile plants; even a mature fire dragon would find it hard to bite through it."
The greenhouse was silent, the young wizards looking at that unassuming pumpkin shell incredulously.
In their hearts, fire dragons were considered one of the most fearsome and powerful magical creatures.
Even a fire dragon finding it hard to bite through was a testament to its hardness.
The name "Armor" is indeed fitting.
"Now let's continue the class."
Professor Sprout clapped her hands to attract everyone's attention, "Additionally, I have decided to make this pumpkin shell a prize for the student who performs best in today's class."
Everyone subconsciously looked at Kael.
Judging from Kael's performance earlier, it seemed almost impossible for anyone to surpass him.
Professor Sprout seemed to have guessed everyone's thoughts too. She laughed and said, "I must remind you all; this class has yet to start. What was just discussed was merely an introduction to the Armor Pumpkin and not part of the class curriculum."
With that, she walked around the bench to stand beside a row of wooden stakes nearby.
"Last week, we learned how to fertilize Jumping Mushrooms; today, we'll learn how to collect their spores…
You haven't forgotten, have you? Jumping Mushrooms are very sensitive to noise, and you must stay quiet to approach them."
Everyone nodded quietly.
All of them wanted the prize, so they crouched near the stakes, carefully reaching out with the brushes in their hands to the Jumping Mushrooms, not daring to breathe.
By the end of the class, Professor Sprout was very pleased, having never conducted such an easy class.
No one poked at the plants randomly, and no one tried to touch the poisonous tentacles. Everyone was very focused, and the problems most commonly encountered were completely absent in this class.
"This was the best Halloween ever."
A delighted Professor Sprout awarded two points to each house and, per the pre-class arrangement, awarded that Armor Pumpkin shell to Kael.
Kael, using a much-weakened Scourgify, finished his collection work half a class early.
After Herbology Class ended, everyone began orderly leaving the greenhouse.
Standing at the doorway, Kael turned back for one last look at the Armor Pumpkin in the corner before reluctantly walking away.
He felt this plant would make a good neighbor for the Chomping Cabbage; if possible, bringing some back to accompany them would be nice.
Unfortunately, there was only one pot, and Professor Sprout was keeping a close watch. Throughout the entire class, he didn't find a suitable opportunity.
...