The Great Hall.
A Gryffindor student was spreading the latest news in an exaggerated tone.
"Did you hear? Last night, the Weasley twins were caught by Professor McGonagall while roaming the Forbidden Forest after hours, and they lost fifty points! Plus a whole week of detention!"
"What? I heard they ran into Dark Wizards in the Forbidden Forest and nearly didn't make it back!"
Another Hufflepuff student objected.
"No, no, you've all got it wrong!"
A Ravenclaw student leaned over, lowering their voice mysteriously.
"My cousin helps out in the Infirmary. She said the twins were injured so badly Madam Pomfrey couldn't fix them, and they're about to be transferred to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries!"
Lynn and his three companions, sitting at the Hufflepuff Table, exchanged glances as they listened to the increasingly outlandish rumors around them.
They observed a one-second "moment of silence" for the tragic twins.
The reality was that the twins were indeed deducted points—fifty points each, which was a devastating blow to Gryffindor's House Cup prospects—plus a week of detention.
Physically, they were fine, suffering only minor shock and superficial injuries, but Madam Pomfrey insisted they remain in the Infirmary for at least 24 hours of observation before being discharged.
Just then, an Owl that looked very old, with somewhat dull feathers, flew crookedly into the Great Hall.
It seemed unable to find the person it was looking for in the Great Hall. After circling once, it flew precisely toward a red-haired, freckled Gryffindor student.
Lynn heard the Owl say, "All the same," and drop a letter beside his bowl of porridge.
When Ron saw the familiar, seemingly furious red wax seal on the envelope, his face instantly went pale, and his hands began to tremble.
"Oh no! It's a Howler! Cover your ears quickly!" Edgar, having grown up in the Wizarding World and being knowledgeable, shouted, covering his own ears first.
Lynn, William, and Ollie quickly followed suit.
However, Edgar's warning was too late. The moment Ron picked up the envelope with trembling hands, it automatically exploded!
A deafening, thunderous female voice instantly resonated throughout the Great Hall:
"Fred! George! You two little rascals!
How dare you sneak into a dangerous place like the Forbidden Forest late at night!
Do you have any idea your father and I nearly had heart attacks when we received Professor McGonagall's letter!
If Headmaster Dumbledore hadn't repeatedly assured us you were safe, I would have rushed to Hogwarts already!
Just wait, you'll have a terrible summer! And Ron! If you dare follow your brothers' example..."
The roaring lasted for a full minute, leaving Ron shrunken in his seat, wishing he could crawl under the table.
The entire Great Hall fell silent, with only the angry echoes of Mrs. Molly Weasley reverberating.
Lynn cast a sympathetic glance at the crimson-faced Ron and the redheads at the Gryffindor Table in the distance, who also couldn't look up...
After this "colorful" lunch, Lynn strolled over to the Third Greenhouse by himself.
Today was Sunday.
"Good afternoon, Professor."
Lynn greeted Professor Sprout politely, seeing her tending to a Mandrake.
Professor Sprout smiled her unique, sun-warm smile. "Hello, Lynn. Is there something you need me for at this time? A question about Herbology class?"
"Hehe..." Lynn gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Well, Professor, I wanted to ask if that vegetable patch next to the Castle, near the lawn, is privately owned?
I saw some pumpkins and... well, other things growing there.
I'd also like to cultivate a small plot nearby to grow some plants I like."
Professor Sprout wiped her forehead with her dirt-stained gloves, thought for a moment, and replied:
"Oh, you mean that plot. Rubeus Hagrid is responsible for maintaining it; it's considered Hogwarts public land.
It grows vegetables and herbs needed by the school kitchen.
If you want to clear a small area for practical use, that's an excellent idea!
However, you'll need Headmaster Dumbledore's permission.
I imagine he would be very supportive of a student developing extracurricular interests."
Just then, Lynn's gaze inadvertently fell upon a nearby seedbed, and he was astonished to find that the Dittany he had planted not long ago was already growing lushly, with several stalks even reaching the standard for harvesting!
The effect of this [Abundance] talent is truly immediate!
"Professor, um... can I harvest some of the Dittany I planted?"
Lynn asked, pointing at the thriving patch of Dittany.
"Of course, they are the fruits of your labor."
Professor Sprout readily agreed and then noticed the unusual growth rate herself. She squatted down to examine them closely, muttering:
"Truly amazing... the speed at which this batch of Dittany matured is much faster than I expected, and the quality is exceptional... Lynn, you are truly meticulous in your care."
Lynn gave a nervous laugh and quickly harvested some of the best-looking Dittany and stuffed them into his bag.
Afterward, Professor Sprout told him the password and general location of the Headmaster's Office...
Carrying the Dittany and a slight nervousness, Lynn strolled over to the huge stone gargoyle on the eighth floor of the Castle.
"Lemon sherbet," he clearly pronounced the password.
The stone gargoyle said nothing but immediately sprang to life, nimbly hopping aside to reveal the slowly rotating spiral staircase behind it.
'This password is certainly unique,' Lynn thought as he climbed the staircase. 'It sounds sweet, not at all like the preference of a hundred-year-old wizard.'
He arrived at the shimmering oak door, took a deep breath, and knocked.
"Come in," came Dumbledore's gentle voice from within.
Lynn pushed the door open, then instantly froze at the entrance—
There were quite a few people in the Headmaster's Office!
Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, and a bird was dozing on a gilded perch nearby.
Besides them, there was a middle-aged man in a striped suit who looked somewhat overweight and balding, and four wizards with serious expressions and sharp gazes who clearly weren't to be trifled with.
And... two Dark Wizards tightly bound by magic ropes, whose mouths seemed to be gagged—they were the very two from the Forbidden Forest last night!
'Woka...' Lynn's heart sank. 'Truly ill-timed! Is this an interrogation? Or handing over prisoners?'
"Um... Headmaster, is... is this a bad time for me to come?" Lynn stood at the doorway, caught between advancing and retreating.
Seeing this, the overweight middle-aged man immediately stood up, put on a professional smile, and said to Dumbledore:
"In that case, we won't impose any further, Mr. Headmaster. Thank you and Hogwarts for your assistance with this matter. We will take these two fellows back for rigorous interrogation."
He gave a signal, and the four Aurors immediately hoisted the two limp Dark Wizards, carrying them out of the office as if they were lifting small chickens.
As he passed Lynn, the middle-aged man nodded at him quite affably.
Lynn noticed a faint magic aura wrapped around the two Dark Wizards; they had clearly been subjected to powerful imprisonment spells, lacking even the strength to glare at him.
Once everyone had left, the Headmaster's Office suddenly became quiet.
Dumbledore's blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles looked at Lynn with a smile, and he pointed to the chair opposite the desk. "Now is exactly the right time, Mr. Lynn. Please sit down. What can I do for you?
Would you care for a drink? I have honey water, brown sugar water, or a cup of hot cocoa?"
As he spoke, he lightly stroked his long beard; the spot where Lynn had "plucked" it seemed to throb faintly.
This young wizard certainly has a strong grip.
Lynn sat down in the soft chair, putting on his most obedient expression. "Hehe... warm water is fine, thank you, Headmaster.
Um... Headmaster, I came today to apply for permission to cultivate a small plot of land myself, near Hagrid's vegetable patch.
I want to plant some things."
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