What appeared before Char was, surprisingly, a standalone tent-like structure.
It looked unremarkable, but from Professor Sprout's tone, Char could tell there was more to it than met the eye.
Indeed.
At her signal, Char opened the door and stepped inside.
As expected.
An Undetectable Extension Charm had been cast. The interior was far larger than what the exterior suggested.
But more astonishing than the space itself was the sight within.
A five-meter-long plant workstation dominated one side. Shelves were tightly packed with commonly used Herbology potions and tools. Nearly fifty water tanks stood in neat rows, forming a dedicated aquatic plant cultivation area. Each tank was the same type Char had previously used for cultivating Piranha Algae.
And beyond that, a vast expanse of planting fields—altogether five times the size of his last experimental plot.
Though compact in scale, it had every necessary component.
This was clearly a miniature version of the Hogwarts Greenhouse.
Char stared, stunned, at the view before him.
Professor Sprout stood nearby, smiling knowingly.
Then she handed Char a bronze-colored key.
"From today onward, this small greenhouse is yours."
"While its size can't match the main greenhouse, everything else is identical."
"I think it will be more than enough for you, Char."
Char still looked dazed.
Professor Sprout chuckled gently.
"I originally considered giving you more space in the main greenhouse," she said. "But since you're starting to cultivate more dangerous plants, I figured you'd need a private, secure place."
"Then I remembered this small greenhouse—unused for over a decade due to funding cuts."
"But thanks to a recent grant, we were able to renovate it, and now, it's all yours for as long as you're at Hogwarts."
Char's heart trembled.
The setup of this small greenhouse was every Herbologist's dream in the magical world.
In his past life, such a facility would be considered a top-tier laboratory—only accessible to the most elite scholars.
He had never even imagined that one day, he would be the master of such a place.
But he also understood the tremendous effort it must have taken to make it a reality.
Especially considering everything Professor Sprout had just endured.
It must've been difficult to fight for this on his behalf.
At that moment, as if sensing Char's thoughts, Professor Sprout spoke again.
"If it helps you, Char," she said softly, "then it's worth it."
"What's more, Headmaster Dumbledore supports it."
"With his backing, even if the school board raises objections, it won't matter."
"It was his idea, too, to hold that grand ceremony for you."
"And as for the cost or trouble your aunt may face—"
She reached out and gently stroked Char's hair.
"No matter the cost," she whispered. "You're worth it."
Char was silent for a long time.
Bitterness and warmth surged in his heart.
Then, Professor Sprout continued introducing the greenhouse.
"Actually, I used this place when I was a student," she said.
"It's said to have been built over a thousand years ago by Helga Hufflepuff herself."
"Her intent was to provide a perfect environment for Herbology geniuses."
She paused and sighed with both regret and longing.
"According to records, the soil conditions back then were far superior to today."
"No matter how skilled a modern Herbologist is, or how many generations a magical family devotes to cultivating one, nothing compares to what this greenhouse once was."
"Even plants like the Whomping Willow were first grown by Helga here."
"It's said the soil beneath the Whomping Willow still contains remnants of the original greenhouse's composition."
"Sadly, as time passed—and especially after the loss of Hufflepuff's Golden Cup—its magic gradually faded."
"Now, although it's still one of the best greenhouses, it lacks the magic it once had."
"Without the nectar brewed by the Golden Cup to irrigate it, the soil can't return to its peak condition."
She looked wistfully at the walls.
"I sometimes wonder if I'll live to see the Golden Cup recovered," she murmured. "To see this place once again brimming with the magic it once held."
Char's eyes flickered.
So Hufflepuff's Golden Cup wasn't just a symbolic artifact?
It had the ability to produce nectar—delicious to drink, but also a miraculous fertilizer.
From Professor Sprout's expression, Char could sense how powerful the Cup's influence had been. Even a seasoned Herbology Master would crave such enhancement.
Of course, the Golden Cup had long been lost.
Every Hufflepuff Dean had tried to find it, all in vain.
Even Professor Sprout didn't seem to hold out hope.
But Char's heart beat faster.
Because he knew where the Golden Cup was.
In his previous life, Lord Voldemort had used deception to obtain it from an old wealthy witch before murdering her and making the Cup one of his Horcruxes.
Currently, it lay hidden in the Lestrange family vault beneath Gringotts.
If Char could obtain it, it would be an incredible boost to his cultivation efforts.
His breathing quickened.
But soon he steadied himself.
"Calm down," he muttered inwardly.
In the original story, Harry and friends had risked everything to break into Gringotts for it. The news made headlines, alerting Voldemort to their knowledge of the Horcruxes and accelerating the final war.
If Char wanted the Cup, he had to act in total secrecy.
One slip, and Voldemort would sense danger far earlier than in the original timeline.
That would spell disaster.
For now, Char had to wait.
Until he had the strength to sneak into Gringotts unnoticed, without leaving the slightest trace.
That reminded him of the Shadow Thorns reward.
Ancient Shadow Magic—
The essence of shadows was stealth and concealment.
If he could develop this magic to a high enough level, perhaps even Gringotts wouldn't stop him.
This made his next goal crystal clear: unlock the Ancient Shadow Magic reward from cultivating the Shadow Thorns.
Since Professor Sprout was nearby, he decided to ask.
"Auntie," he said, "have you ever heard of a connection between Shadow Thorns and something called Ancient Shadow Magic?"
She frowned.
After a moment of thought, she shook her head.
"I've never heard of it," she said. "Why?"
Char waved it off. "Just something I read in an old book. Might've been fictional."
Professor Sprout nodded.
"That's very possible," she said. "Earlier academic periods weren't always well-regulated. Some fake texts gained popularity."
"To really understand magic, it's best to study the works of recognized scholars."
She then gave him a few tips on how to search properly.
With that, she left him to familiarize himself with his new greenhouse.
Char sighed.
Even Professor Sprout hadn't heard of it?
It confirmed that no one had ever tried cultivating Shadow Thorns using the Invisibility Cloak instead of the Disillusionment Charm.
After all, research into Shadow Thorns was rare.
And using a Deathly Hallow as a catalyst? Even rarer.
"Worst-case scenario," he muttered, "I'll have to start from scratch."
"Maybe I'll find something in three to five days... or thirty to fifty years."
Still, he clung to hope.
"I'll keep looking through the books Auntie recommended."
"And while I'm at it, I'll also expand Devil's Snare, the Guardian Tree, and Piranha Algae plantings."
So the week that followed was the busiest in Char's life.
Every day was packed.
But the results were worth it.
The once-empty greenhouse was now brimming with life.
He transplanted the Guardian Tree, then planted ten more.
This would increase both the protection it provided and the rewards Char received from future harvests.
In the water tanks, he tripled the amount of Piranha Algae.
He even began cultivating Devil's Snare, waiting for new nodes to propagate.
Yet despite his efforts, the Shadow Thorns problem still nagged at him.
He'd already searched all references in the library—even sneaking into the Restricted Section under the Invisibility Cloak.
Still nothing.
He now knew for certain how rare Ancient Shadow Magic knowledge truly was.
And yet, he was so close to triggering the Shadow Thorns reward—just one step short.
It was deeply frustrating.
Adding to the frustration was the bottleneck in his own growth.
Several of his Charms had reached Platinum-level, where progress slowed dramatically.
Despite rigorous daily practice, he made little headway.
He understood why.
Platinum-level Charms required deeper Magic Perception, but his was still at Gold-level.
Talent now limited his advancement.
Further improvement depended on the Goldfish Vine harvest.
Fortunately, a letter from Hagrid brought some hope.
The latest Goldfish Vine batch had matured.
Char's eyes lit up.
He now had five trolls growing Goldfish Vine for him, and one harvest meant a big boost in Magic Perception.
It wouldn't make him Platinum-level yet, but it would certainly move the needle.
Excited, Char headed straight for Hagrid's hut.
The half-giant welcomed him with hot tea and freshly baked dragon liver cake.
As they chatted, Hagrid proudly showed off his dragon egg and asked for name suggestions.
"How about Norbert?" Char offered, recalling the original story.
Hagrid's face lit up.
"Norbert! Brilliant name!"
He turned to the egg. "Hear that? You're Norbert now! When you hatch, the whole Forbidden Forest will celebrate your birthday!"
Char laughed, his stress easing a little.
Then he prepared to head out to harvest the Goldfish Vine.
But Hagrid stopped him.
"Char, stay out of the Forbidden Forest for now," he said seriously. "Something strange is going on."
"Many magical beings have sensed a sinister presence."
Char's heart sank.
No doubt—it was the Two-Faced Man, hunting Unicorns for their blood.
"Understood," he replied. "You be careful too, Hagrid. Don't take it on alone."
Hagrid nodded gravely.
"That thing keeps showing up where Unicorns have been."
"It's searching for them."
"I don't know what it is, but the rumors must be true."
"Creatures as pure as Unicorns draw the darkest evils."
"The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow."
Char paused mid-step.
Hagrid's words echoed in his mind.
"The brighter the light, the deeper the shadow."
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
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