The magical circuits within the Mandrake were the most intricate Wyzett had ever encountered among magical plants.
At first glance, all he could see was a chaotic tangle—a mass of shifting threads that seemed to writhe and pulse with restless energy. The more he stared, the more his head swam, a dizzying sensation threatening to overwhelm him.
Perhaps it was this sheer complexity that made Mandrakes so vital to ritual magic.
Unlike the precision of modern spellwork—where a wand, a gesture, and a word could channel magic with pinpoint accuracy—ritual magic was a far broader, wilder discipline. Ancient wizards had developed elaborate, multi-step rituals precisely to tame such unruly forces, using careful exclusion and combination to achieve the effects they desired.
Fighting off the vertigo, Wyzett forced himself to focus, sharpening his attention on the Mandrake before him.
This time, he didn't limit his study to the root. He included the leaves as well.
That's when he made a breakthrough.
The leaves possessed their own magical circuits—completely distinct from those in the root. The leaf circuits were astonishingly orderly, like rows of sturdy nails driven in to anchor the chaos of the root's circuits below.
There was a subtle connection between leaves and root: he could just sense the energy in the leaves flowing, ever so slowly, into the root system.
This new discovery dulled his dizziness and spurred him on, fueling a fresh wave of curiosity.
He watched closely and found something even more fascinating—the magical energy didn't just flow one way. There was a faint, reciprocal current between leaves and root, a gentle exchange nearly imperceptible without patient, sustained observation.
…
Professor Sprout made her rounds and paused at Wyzett's workstation.
She bent down, examining his freshly repotted Mandrake. The soil was perfectly level, the plant settled at just the right depth…
She was hardly surprised by Wyzett's skill, but a satisfied smile still crept across her face.
Straightening, Professor Sprout gave Wyzett a gentle pat on the shoulder, signaling for him to follow her.
They walked over to Greenhouse Two. Only after Sprout closed the door—ensuring no stray Mandrake cries could reach them—did they remove their earmuffs.
Wyzett rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. "Is there something you need, Professor Sprout?"
"These are for you…" Sprout opened her palm, revealing several fresh, vibrant Mandrake leaves.
"Leaves from just-repotted Mandrakes like these are ideal for practicing the Animagus transformation."
"Ideal?" Wyzett kept his Oculus Magicae active. Even now, the leaves in Sprout's hand glowed with those nail-like magical circuits. Having been plucked, the circuits were static—no longer flowing.
He mulled over her words, matching them to what he saw, and a new question formed.
"Professor, does the potency of Mandrake leaves diminish as the plant matures?"
"Absolutely!" Sprout nodded. "Once a Mandrake reaches full maturity, its leaves become hallucinogenic."
"Especially in the Middle Ages, when Mandrakes were far more common—wizards would harvest the leaves and brew them into teas. Drinking it could spark inspiration…"
"But once the effects wore off, it left more than just hallucinations. It dulled the senses, and could even temporarily rob a witch or wizard of their magical abilities."
Wyzett turned the leaves over in his hand, marveling at the plant's strange duality.
As seedlings, Mandrake roots were useless for potions and their cries merely rendered people unconscious, but the leaves were perfect for Animagus practice. Once mature, the roots became powerful restoratives—prized in potion-making—while the leaves transformed into potent hallucinogens.
…
A Mandrake needed several repottings before it reached full maturity.
According to Sprout, leaves could be harvested for Animagus training up until the second repotting.
Wyzett resolved to make the most of this window, using his Oculus Magicae to analyze and deepen his understanding of the Mandrake.
After a brief detour to Greenhouse Two—where the students admired a collection of beautiful magical plants and took a moment to relax—Sprout led them back to Greenhouse Three for the remainder of Herbology.
Having glimpsed the outside world during their first repotting, the Mandrakes grew ever more curious about what lay beyond their pots.
To curb this curiosity, students were handed little wooden mallets and instructed to tap any exposed Mandrake roots—a process that felt suspiciously like magical whack-a-mole.
This technique not only discouraged the plants from poking about, but also taught them the world outside was dangerous. At the same time, it stimulated their desire to grow, making them absorb fertilizer more eagerly and speeding up their path to maturity.
Whether it was repotting or root-tapping, all these methods were special techniques Sprout had developed, tailored to the quirks of Mandrake behavior to boost their survival rates.
In the wild, of course, Mandrakes had no such help—reaching maturity was a rare feat indeed.
…
After class, Wyzett strolled through the corridors, sorting through his notes. They included not only Sprout's instructions, but also his own observations of magical circuits through the Oculus Magicae.
Taking notes was just the first step; organizing and categorizing them into something he could truly understand was equally important.
"There are no shortcuts to success—hard work is what counts!" came Lockhart's voice, bright as ever. "No wonder Professor Flitwick and the others think so highly of you!"
Wyzett looked up to see Lockhart cradling a potted Mandrake—the very one he'd repotted, by the look of it.
Lockhart flashed a dazzling smile. "Professor Sprout tells me you repotted this Mandrake yourself. No one knows Mandrakes better than I do!"
"The moment I saw it, I could tell it was different—more robust, more vibrant. Just like you!"
Wyzett nodded, edging away to put some distance between them and quickening his pace.
Lockhart didn't seem to mind in the slightest. His smile never faltered as he matched Wyzett's stride.
"Wyzett—if I may call you that! After our first class, you seemed really interested in Memory Charms. Why haven't you come to see me?"
Wyzett replied, "Professor Lockhart, the start of term has been busy—so much new knowledge to learn and research."
"If anyone else said that, I'd think they were making excuses," Lockhart said, grinning. "But you? I know you mean it!"
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