Chapter 499: Alder and Bowtruckle

The weather became a little chilly, tearing the branches of the trees in the Forbidden Forest, making bursts of wailing. Ron kept mumbling, and his dissatisfaction with Madam Pince burst out like a string of cannonballs. Harry responded absent-mindedly, his mind had already drifted to Hagrid's hut.

Harry had not seen Hagrid since the start of the school year. Even at the Sorting Ceremony, his familiar bearded face did not appear.

He had asked Professor Lupin, but the answer he got was only an ambiguous hint: Hagrid was busy with a vital mission.

As for the specific content of the mission, Lupin kept his mouth shut and did not reveal a word to him. This made Harry feel an inexplicable loss, feeling that he was intentionally or unintentionally isolated from the action plan by the Order of the Phoenix.

All students liked Professor Grubbly-Plank's Care of Magical Creatures class. Although Harry was Hagrid's good friend, he also admitted that her course was well organized.

There was neither the disgusting horror of the blasting skrewt nor the sudden surprise of the hippogriff. All the teaching content was steady and solid, and she taught the students the knowledge about magical creatures in detail.

"You mean, its trunk can be used as a wand?" Roger asked in surprise.

"Gentlemen, stop fooling around!" Grubbly-Plank wrinkled his nose, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and then he shouted loudly: "If you two don't know how to listen carefully, then leave my class!"

The clouds in the sky floated back and forth, as if they couldn't make up their minds about rain. Roger's eyes passed through the Black Lake and fell on the hillside on the opposite bank. He decided to visit the "old friend" after the Herbology class.

"Hey, coward." Ron seized the opportunity and couldn't help but taunt, which immediately attracted Malfoy's attention.

"Bowtrucks." Hermione's voice was clear and confident. "They are the guardians of trees and usually live on wand trees."

"If you want to collect leaves or branches from the trees where Bowtrucks live, you need to prepare some earthworms as gifts to attract their attention."

While drawing its head, Theodore couldn't help but complain: "This thing is really ugly, and what it eats is also disgusting."

Rog smiled and continued his taming experiment. Bowtrucks have very simple thinking and no complicated concepts. Through feeding again and again, it began to understand the intentions of the wizard in front of it.

"Should we catch it and observe it?" Daphne pointed at the Bowtruck they were assigned, looking a little overwhelmed.

After the one and a half hour class, Rog did not go directly to the auditorium for dinner like other students, but turned to the direction of the alder tree.

He weighed it casually and could clearly feel the difference in their density just by touch. The extraordinary thing about the alder tree mentioned by Professor Grubbly-Plank may be more reflected in magic.

He admitted that Professor Grubbly-Plank's teaching was indeed excellent, but he firmly believed that if Hagrid had not been stripped of his professorship by the school board, he would have been able to bring everyone the same amazing magical creatures.

Daphne looked at the dark, messy ink on the sketch and couldn't help laughing: "Haha... No wonder it disagrees."

"Gryffindor plus 5 points." Grubbly-Plank announced lifelessly, as if the cold weather took away all the enthusiasm in her heart, "Hermione is right, Bowtruckles usually live on trees that can be used to make wands. So, does anyone know what they feed on?"

As expected, Professor Sprout emphasized the importance of next year's exams as soon as the class started. Everyone listened to the same words over and over again for a day, and they just felt that their ears had calluses.

Roger squatted down and said to it in a gentle tone: "I need a branch to make the handle of the wand."

Under the professor's stern gaze, Weasley and Malfoy had to restrain their behavior. They looked at each other, their eyes full of hostility and disdain for each other.

"Country bumpkin." Hermione's answer was quick and accurate, and her voice echoed in the professor's ears.

He reached out to take back his class assignment, but the Bowtruckle held the other side of the sketch tightly. So he could only pull up the sketch and the Bowtruckle hanging on it.

"Professor, they look so fragile..." Draco walked out of the crowd, and he reached out to try to grab a Bowtruckle on the table, looking confident and reckless, "It's not dangerous."

"God of War!" Roger waved his wand, and a beam of light shot out from it, accurately cutting off the branch selected by the Bowtruckle.

This branch is thinner than the wrist, straight and even. Ask yourself, which boy can refuse a long and straight branch?

Roger held the branch without branches and leaves, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up. He waved to the Bowtruckle on the tree and promised to bring more food in return next time.

Grubbly-Plank looked around, and it seemed that Hermione was the only student in her class, and the others were either deaf or dumb.

"Well, it was planted before the summer vacation of the first grade, and it has been several years." Rogge looked at her curiously, "Professor, is there anything wrong with that tree?"

In the forest, they can be said to be the most ideal scouts. Even a dragon may not notice the branches that are so close.

As if to welcome the arrival of an old friend, the leaves swayed gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound, like a welcoming song.

Compared to the Bowtruckle in the classroom, this little guy in front of him is taller. The leaves on his head are like those of the alder tree, in an inverted egg shape.

Professor Grubbly-Plank's voice broke Harry's reverie. Her voice was rough and powerful. She said to the students sitting around: "Okay, students, let's start the class. Can anyone tell me what the names of these creatures are?"

Rogge had already learned about these cute little guys from Newt. Bowtruckles are not only the protectors of the wand tree, but they are also good at jailbreaking and picking locks.

"No! I will never change it!" Theodore stared at the little guy and ignored its protesting stomping.

"Look at this, how is it?" Rogge showed it the Bowtruckle he drew.

The Bowtruckle in the painting has two legs and three feet, and two small leaves on its head. Its thin fingers are slightly hooked upwards, especially the overbite mouth, which is almost exactly the same as its real appearance.

Then, a burst of "bang bang bang" sounds suddenly rang in my ears.

He always brings some unique creatures that make people excited. If Hagrid is still a professor, maybe he will be able to see the mysterious black creatures pulling carts outside the train station this year.

"It's obviously ugly, not my bad drawing. Look at its fish bubble eyes, bulging out like a toad." Theodore insisted, and kept arguing with the Bowtruckle until the end of the get out of class. In the end, he handed it to the professor along with the sketch.

Draco froze in place awkwardly. He looked at the sharp fingers of the Bowtruckle, curled his lips, and reluctantly retreated.

"The school must tell everyone about this, so that students who don't know the truth will not be hurt by the Bowtruckle."

I haven't seen it for a few years. It has grown into a tree about 10 meters tall. The obovate leaves are layered, and perhaps autumn is coming, some of the leaf veins are stained with a faint yellow halo.

The Bowtruckle saw his own portrait and waved his fingers excitedly, his two little eyes showing human satisfaction. Like a bold inspector, it jumped in front of Daphne and Theodore again to check the sketches they drew for itself.

This sentence aroused a ripple in Roger's heart. Since he buried Quirrell's wand, he has not paid attention to the sapling that drilled out of the small grave for many years.

Many students exclaimed, full of curiosity and surprise at this strange magical creature. The praises around made Harry more and more irritated because he couldn't contact Hagrid.

The Bowtruckle raised its little head and looked at the three big heads in front of it vigilantly. Although it was a little hesitant, it finally plucked up the courage to climb onto Roger's palm for food.

The Bowtruckle stood on a branch and jumped hard, as if telling Roger: "Use this one."

She complained softly, with a hint of disappointment in her tone: "I hope you can preview it in advance next time. Hermione, add another 5 points."

"Get to know it with food first." Roger asked Theodore to hand the earthworm to him, then stretched out his right hand, signaling the Bowtruckle to climb up.

"I just drew it as it should be." Theodore scratched his head and showed them the sketch.

"No, it's very healthy." Grubbly-Plank praised, "When I was preparing these little guys, I found that there was a Bowtruckle on the tree."

"Girls, please keep quiet!" Professor Grubbly-Plank's voice was a little serious, and she casually sprinkled a handful of what looked like brown rice for the little creatures on the table to enjoy. "Okay, Miss Granger."

"Don't mistake my kindness for weakness!" Roger's tone suddenly became heavier, and the firm voice instantly solidified the Bowtruckle's intimidation.

Each of their hands has only two slender fingers, which look more fragile than the legs of a dragonfly. On that flat, bark-like rough face, there are two round brown eyes shining.

"What did you draw?" Roger and Daphne looked at Theodore curiously.

She ignored Hermione's raised hand several times, hoping that other students would answer the question. Otherwise, her magical animal class would become Miss Granger's personal show.

"Listen, little guy, I am the owner of this tree." Roger pointed at the alder tree, with unquestionable authority in his tone, "It was a wand that lost its owner. I gave it a new life with the blood of a unicorn. Now, it has grown and needs to be pruned to make it stronger."

"In theory, it is true, but it requires the wand maker to personally check it." Professor Grubbly-Plank continued, "In my experience, the wood quality of that alder is extraordinary."

Professor Grubbly-Plank raised her wand quickly to block Draco's hand. Her voice was filled with warning: "Hey, if you don't want to lose your eyeball and install a fake eye, you can try to provoke them." After that, she retracted her wand and stared at Malfoy coldly.

Malfoy stared at him, snorted coldly, and said provocatively: "Weasley, isn't Gryffindor known for courage? If you can catch it, I will admit that I am a coward."

The Bowtruckle immediately showed its defensive instinct, baring its teeth and claws to warn the wizard in front of it. Its sharp claws waved in front of Rogge's eyes, as if to tell him not to try to break the branch.

Rogge searched the tree trunks for a long time, but still could not find the Bowtruckle mentioned by Professor Grubblan. There were too many creatures living on this big tree, and they inadvertently obscured the existence of the Bowtruckle.

After finally getting the dragon dung and herbs in close contact, Professor Sprout immediately assigned a new essay. The students wailed and reluctantly accepted the cruel reality of the fifth grade.

"Okay, come closer, get some ground turtles, and take a Bowtruckle." Grubbly-Plank pointed at the table and assigned tasks to everyone, "There are enough Bowtruckles here for three people to share, so you can observe them in more detail. I hope everyone can complete a sketch and mark the various parts of the Bowtruckle's body before the get out of class ends."

"Wow, it really listens to you." Daphne's eyes flashed with excitement. She quickly picked up the pen and began to carefully draw the body of the Bowtruckle.

The branches on the table moved at this moment, and they suddenly jumped into the air, revealing their original appearance. These small creatures, as if made of twigs, have brown, gnarled legs and arms.

Both of them are prefects, and Ron is not afraid of retaliation from the other party.

It turned its head and stared at the alder it was guarding, as if it was fighting fiercely in its heart. Finally, it gave up the food at its feet and quickly climbed back to its trunk.

The time they spent playing in the past few years had to be completely and even doubled back this year. If they failed the exam next year, they would lose the qualification to continue studying at Hogwarts.

When it was Roger's turn to hand in his homework, Professor Grubbly-Plank asked softly, "I noticed that there is an alder tree on the hillside opposite the Black Lake. Professor Snape said that you planted it?"

However, this steady teaching style made Harry miss the thrill and excitement of Hagrid's class even more.

As long as he showed the corresponding body parts as required, he could get food. After a few minutes, it had completely adapted to the role of a model, standing there and letting Roger, Daphne and Theodore draw.

He carefully examined the entire branch and put his wand aside for comparison. Compared with the long years that the rosewood tree took hundreds of years to grow into a material, the growth speed of the alder was almost in an instant, enough to ignore the passage of time.

She pointed to a pile of thin branches in front of her, and Hermione was the first to raise her hand without surprise. Her arm moved so fast that it created a refreshing breeze that blew the strands of hair on her forehead.

He stepped back and placed some earthworms next to the tree roots. Almost instantly, an ordinary branch suddenly came to life. Its sharp fingertips pierced the rough bark and swiftly rushed towards the food.

Quirrell's unusual death injected a strange glow into his wand. Combined with the power of unicorn blood, the alder tree that was born undoubtedly contained mysteries beyond Roger's imagination.

However, Roger knew very little about the profound art of wand making and could not see through its exquisiteness and extraordinaryness. He gestured to the size of his palm, cut off a section from the end of the branch, and began to make his own wand handle.