#34 - Return to Hogwarts

Since witnessing the great serpent guarding the mountain pear tree, Moon was certain that magical creatures existed in this world.

And if you were to calculate it that way, then the first person to tell him stories about magical creatures wasn't a Hogwarts professor or classmate.

But rather his only friend in Xilin: Brad Foster of the monastery.

As the oldest horseman family in Xilin and even Flowing Cloud City, the Foster family was familiar with everything related to horses.

Because Brad's grandfather and father were responsible for grazing the Baron of Xilin's horses before the establishment of the Federation.

After the Federation was established, they were afraid of being purged, so the whole family joined the monastery and became servants dedicated to raising horses for the monks.

As for how Moon and Brad met, it was because the horses ate the lettuce planted on the farm, and the two fought each other, later slowly becoming good friends.

When he was young, Brad would often tell Moon strange things that their ancestors encountered while raising horses, among which his favorite to tell was about a mysterious herd of wild horses under Snow Eagle Mountain.

Moon envisioned the wand core material coming from this legendary herd of wild horses, of course, ensuring that they were magical creatures.

It's just that there wasn't enough time this time; finding the willow branch and bringing it back had already taken six days.

The arduous journey back and forth caused Moon to sleep for a whole day after returning to the cabin.

He would be returning to Hogwarts tonight, and if he wanted to find Brad, he would have to wait another seven days.

......

Returning to the warm and familiar bed, listening to the slight breathing of Bouncing Bean beside his ear, Moon gradually fell asleep again.

Accompanied by the chirping of birds, Moon got up early and came to the greenhouse outside the castle.

Before returning to Xilin, only the holly tree among the three plants Moon planted hadn't changed, so he came early to observe the results.

Cedric was still asleep on the bench in the greenhouse, while the Bowtruckle had climbed onto the holly tree.

Perhaps disturbed by the sound of footsteps, seeing Moon pick up the Bowtruckle, Cedric rubbed his still sleepy eyes and walked over.

"It's a pity you didn't see it last night, the holly tree also changed, although not as much as the willow and grapevine, but it was also spectacular."

Cedric's words didn't make Moon feel regretful.

In his opinion, learning how to identify magical trees was already enough.

"It's okay, I've already gotten what I wanted, by the way, Cedric, aren't you going back to rest for a while?"

Looking at the other party's slightly tired face, Moon kindly reminded him.

"I need to go back and catch up on some sleep, so I'll leave this to you, and you need to deal with those grapes that have grown as soon as possible."

After Cedric finished speaking, he walked towards the castle, while Moon turned his head to look at the grapes placed in the greenhouse.

As a successful harvest from planting seedlings, the grapevine grew five bunches of grapes after the first absorption of the growth potion, and later it grew more and more each time.

Last night, it grew more than twenty bunches, and Moon and Cedric relied entirely on these grapes to pass the time in the evening.

Picking up a basket and filling it, Moon locked the greenhouse door and walked towards the outside of the castle.

He planned to send a basket to Hagrid, and also escort the Bowtruckle back after completing the task.

......

When Moon returned from Hagrid's hut, he had a few more branches in his hand, which he had picked up from the edge of the Forbidden Forest to practice with.

Because the number of those magical characteristic woods was not very large, he planned to try with these ordinary woods first.

Carrying the ordinary branches cut into fifteen-inch sizes and the remaining grapes back to the dormitory, his roommates were gradually waking up.

"Morning, Moon, by the way, how are your saplings growing?"

Harry woke up and greeted Moon, who was busy.

"Very successful, but I think you missed a wonderful performance."

As soon as Moon finished speaking, Ron, who was sleeping in bed, jumped up in a jolt.

"Wow! There are grapes to eat," Ron came down from the bed barefoot, picked up a grape and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Moon, you really brought the saplings to life, hasn't it only been a week?"

Moon hadn't told anyone about the plant growth potion, and among the students, only Cedric should know.

However, everyone should know about it in Herbology class this afternoon, after all, three big trees suddenly appeared outside the greenhouse, and the grapevine was also covered with the glass of the greenhouse, so it definitely couldn't be hidden.

"That's right, it's been a week, but a little magical change happened in the middle."

As Moon spoke, he picked out a cut ordinary holly branch, he planned to use it to practice today first.

"Are you really planning to make a wand?" Looking at Moon's actions, Ron asked incredulously, taking a sip of grapes.

In his opinion, Moon planting three saplings might just be because of interest, or he might also have the idea of joining Professor Sprout's club.

Anyway, no matter which aspect it was, Ron had never thought that Moon would actually make a wand.

Because not to mention that making a wand requires some professional magic, just the complicated manufacturing process is not something a first-year student can master.

"Of course."

Moon lightly shook the small wooden stick in his hand, then picked up the awakened Bouncing Bean, preparing to take it to wash up first.

"I think this shouldn't be possible," Seamus also got up from the bed at this time and joined the grape-eating army.

"Definitely not, that's a wand, I suspect even the professors might not be able to make it," Ron's tone was very firm.

In his opinion, Moon being able to make a wand was like Harry being able to win against him in wizard chess, there was no hope at all.

"Maybe it's possible, you always have to try, don't you."

Harry had always had a kind of mysterious confidence in Moon, this feeling of trust had already been established since they met at the zoo.

"I think Moon definitely can!" This was Neville's words, but no one responded to him.

After putting the washed Bouncing Bean back in the treehouse, taking advantage of the remaining time, Moon began the first step of making a wand in the common room.

First, he used a knife to cut the wooden stick into the shape of a wand, and then took out a piece of sandpaper to polish it.

Fortunately, Moon's wood carving toolbox was relatively complete, otherwise, he would have to buy another set of these manufacturing tools.

Gathering the wood chips and pouring them into the fireplace, Hermione came out of the dormitory before the wand prototype was finished polishing.

"I guessed early on that you weren't reading that book to increase your tacit understanding with the wand."

Looking at the wand prototype in Moon's hand, Hermione's expression was as if she had discovered a very deeply hidden secret, very proud.

"Don't get me wrong, I just think I need to use practice to test the knowledge I've learned."

As Moon spoke, he pushed over a stack of books and a basket of grapes.

"Also, thank you for your 'Oxford Reading Tree', as for the grapes, they're for you to eat."

Moon didn't care whether Hermione's guess was accurate, anyway, what he was going to do next couldn't be hidden at all.

......

Although he decided to make a wand, Moon didn't neglect his studies.

He still listened carefully in History of Magic class, even though Professor Binns's course was very boring.

He was carefully taking notes on the behavior of ancient wizards.

It's just that Moon hoped that the next Herbology class would come sooner.

Because he wanted to ask Professor Sprout about what exactly was going on with that magical big willow tree.