#293 - Chapter 293 Harry, You Are My Godfather

April 25th, Monday evening, the setting sun gradually disappeared.

After dinner, Harry, Hermione, and Ron strolled along the path on the Hogwarts grounds towards Hagrid's hut.

"Harry, the Bafflebrain Elixir you gave me is so useful," Ron said, his face full of excitement. "During class today, I remembered everything the professors said clearly."

"Really, it's completely different from before when it went in one ear and out the other. I even listened to Professor Binns' History of Magic with great interest."

"I feel incredibly strong. I'll definitely move up a few places in the end-of-year exams this year. At the very least, I can get two more O's (Outstanding)."

"I declare that from now on, I will definitely not be the worst-performing of my brothers."

"Fred and George must be green with envy. Oh, right, they were caught by Professor Lupin for sneaking out at night, and a map was confiscated. They must be even more envious of me now."

Harry listened happily to Ron's feedback on the potion, and seeing his good friend so happy, he felt that his potion hadn't been given away in vain.

"Harry, I still think the Bafflebrain Elixir is too precious," Ron said. "I've never received such a valuable gift before."

"Do you want me to carry your schoolbag for you? Do you want me to walk behind you like a little brother? If that's not enough, you can even let me call you godfather. Of course, if you want me to warm your bed, I might consider it."

"In short, you must tell me to do something, otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

"Don't worry about it, Ron," Harry said, amused by Ron's words. "It's just a potion; it can't compare to our friendship."

"This isn't just a potion," Ron said exaggeratedly. "You could definitely sell this potion for one or two thousand Galleons, and it would still be priceless."

"In a word, just tell me directly if there's anything you need me to do. Don't be polite."

"Ron," Hermione said, unable to watch Ron act like such a sycophant, "Please act normal. You look a little too..."

Hermione couldn't bring herself to say the rest of the words.

She could actually understand Ron's feelings. After all, she had also drunk a Bafflebrain Elixir and was very clear about the effects of this potion.

It was a feeling of having your brain developed. Your whole way of thinking became much clearer, and your memory did improve a lot.

Today, she took some time to look at "Chadwick's Charms," which Harry had given her, and easily remembered the contents, which was much more efficient than memorizing the entire book before.

"In short, if you really appreciate Harry, don't let the potion he gave you go to waste," Hermione said earnestly. "Starting tomorrow, you're going to review with me. Don't put it off until the last minute again."

"I know, I know," Ron agreed readily. "I'm just too happy. After all, anyone would be happy about such a big deal."

"Even Professor Snape is different from before."

Hearing Professor Snape's name, Harry couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.

He never expected that a Golden Cauldron trophy would change the aloof Professor Snape so much.

Since returning yesterday, Professor Snape had been wandering around the school with the Golden Cauldron, saying he was looking for a suitable place to display this special trophy.

It was as if the trophy room couldn't fit it at all.

Moreover, incredibly, yesterday Professor Snape actually took the initiative to drag him to accept interviews from reporters.

Thinking of Professor Snape's praise of him in front of the reporters, Harry felt a little embarrassed.

Just as Harry was recalling the reporter interviews, he heard Ron continue.

"Harry, I didn't expect you to bring Malfoy a gift, too, a dueling manual."

"He's going to be even more smug now. You weren't there for the dueling competition this year. You don't know how arrogant Malfoy was."

Thinking of Malfoy's arrogant appearance in the arena, Ron's teeth itched with hatred.

Hearing this, Harry became interested and quickly asked, "I don't know the results of this year's competition yet. Tell me about it."

"The result is that Malfoy took first place. There's nothing to talk about."

"What about you? How did you perform this year?"

"I..." Ron's face turned slightly red. "Narrowly lost to Neville."

Hermione couldn't help but smile. "It wasn't a narrow loss. Neville was the runner-up this year. Ron didn't last long against Neville."

Neville is that powerful?!

Harry looked at Hermione in surprise, waiting for her to explain further.

Hermione didn't keep him in suspense and said with a smile, "Neville has really improved a lot. He doesn't seem timid at all now. He's become much more cheerful and confident."

"His spellcasting has also improved quickly, and he seems to have developed his own dueling style."

"He doesn't have so many fancy moves in duels. It's just Stupefy and Protego, but combined with his peculiar steps, it always gives people the feeling that they can't hit him."

Recalling Neville's performance in the dueling arena, Hermione couldn't help but show a hint of envy.

Although she knew many spells, they were a bit disorganized.

You wouldn't notice it usually, but it would become very obvious in the dueling arena.

If she wanted to improve further, she really had to consider developing her own dueling style.

"Harry, Professor Svan's quick-attack style isn't suitable for me. I'm more inclined towards Professor McGonagall's and Professor Flitwick's fighting styles."

Hermione requested, "After completing Professor Svan's instructions later, can you accompany me to the dueling club to practice?"

"No problem!" Harry glanced at the cage Ron was holding. "Hagrid is amazing. He'll definitely solve Scabbers' problem quickly. Then we'll go to the dueling club to practice."

Speaking of Scabbers, Ron's face was full of unhappiness. He looked at the rat huddled in the cage and complained with some pity.

"Professor Svan is really something, look what he's done to Scabbers."

"He used to be such a big, fat rat, and now he's almost skin and bones."

"And Scabbers used to be so energetic and lively, but now he's lying in the cage without moving, and he doesn't even react when he sees me, his former owner."

Ron felt terrible. This was the first pet that was exclusively his.

Although he now had a new pet, Scabbers still occupied a very important place in his heart.

"Ron," Hermione whispered, "Do you want to buy Scabbers back from Professor Svan?"

"Looking at it this way, the professor hasn't researched anything from Scabbers, so he'd definitely be willing to sell him to you if you wanted to buy him."

Buy him back?

How much was Scabbers worth back then?

It seemed to be two hundred Galleons.

Thinking of this number, Ron resolutely shook his head.

"No need, I just feel sorry for Scabbers and want the professor to be nicer to him."

"Besides, I don't think there's anything seriously wrong with Scabbers. Hagrid will definitely be able to cure him right away."

"Let's go faster."

Ron kicked a pebble on the side of the road and strode towards Hagrid's hut.