Hogwarts' Golden Glory

Only after the two brothers repeatedly assured him were they spared the embarrassment of making a fool of themselves in the auditorium.

Kane still trusted the abilities of these two men in handling this rumor.

The morning mist at the edge of the forbidden forest had not yet dissipated.

As Kane was counting the mandrakes at the back door of the greenhouse, the ground suddenly began to vibrate rhythmically.

Looking up, Hagrid's mountain-like figure was walking towards him through the vegetable garden.

Covered in packages of all sizes, it looked like a walking Christmas tree.

"Kane!" Hagrid's voice shook a few pumpkin leaves off... "I need to talk to you!"

Hermione peeked out from the greenhouse.

The morning dew-dampened curly hair looked like it was covered in a spider web.

She watched in astonishment as Hagrid removed the creaking bundles from his body.

When one of the copper-rimmed wooden boxes fell to the ground, it startled the nearby goblin, who scurried back into his hole.

"First!" Hagrid wiped the dew from his beard and untied the most conspicuous red package.

"This is a thank you gift for granting Norber legal status and for helping him deliver the dragon to the farm!"

Inside the package was a box made of dragon skin.

The moment she opened it, Hermione gasped.

Twelve bottles of salamander blood were neatly stacked, each gleaming with a rare golden-red luster.

"Salamander blood..."

Hermione's fingertips trembled as she hovered above the bottle's opening. "The 'Fantastic Beasts Blood Properties' book says an ounce of this purity is worth fifty gallons!"

Kane simply nodded and tapped the preservation charm on the lining of the box with his wand.

Hagrid grinned and pulled over a cold metal box.

"This is an apology! It's all my fault for drinking too much and talking nonsense at Pig's Head Bar..."

Hagrid's voice suddenly lowered, his thick fingers nervously twisting his beard, "It's all because of Draco and Harry..."

The moment the iron box was opened, it revealed a black object.

Hermione's scream startled a flock of Bowtruckles: "Groundbats?! This...this is impossible! These creatures are extremely rare! And they only exist in the tropics!"

Kane finally raised an eyebrow and picked up the other's digestive fluid crystals with his dragon-skin glove.

This thing can be used to improve amnesia potions.

However, he had no interest in the amnesia potion.

"This was found in Papua New Guinea," Hagrid said proudly, puffing out his chest. "This is something my husband and I..."

"Hagrid!" Hermione exclaimed, jumping up and down in panic. "This is a protected species! Killing it is illegal!"

Hagrid looked around frantically, then whispered, "I was sleeping at the time. Either I killed him, or he killed me! Only the two of you know this, so don't tell anyone else!"

Hermione's eyes widened, wider than Galleons': "Merlin's beard!"

Hermione never expected that such a small creature could pose a threat to Hagrid.

"The groundbat always attacks sleeping wizards, and once the prey suffocates, it will eat it right there in bed! And it will devour it completely."

Hermione felt nauseous upon hearing Kane's explanation.

Kane had already closed the iron box and shifted his gaze to the remaining packages.

Hagrid immediately perked up and, like a child showing off his toys, began to unpack them one by one:

—A curse-resistant glove woven from unicorn mane

—The Veela's Tears Encased in Amber

—A whole barrel of octopus venom

Hermione's lips trembled, and a string of unconscious sparks flew from the tip of her wand.

Kane simply took a plain little bottle from his dragon-skin pouch and handed it to Hagrid: "A painkiller for Luwei, with honey added."

Last time he tested Luwei's power, and this guy's magic resistance was even comparable to that of a fire dragon.

No wonder Voldemort went to such lengths to find out how to beat the game with Lou Williams.

Hagrid suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon: "You...you won't accept my gift?"

Kane, who was checking the venom seal, looked up upon hearing this and said, "I'll take it."

"But you don't look at all..." Hagrid gestured with his large hand, "...happy?"

Kane pulled a list from his glove, then drew an arc in the air: "I need these materials to make the antidote. If you insist on giving me a gift..."

Hermione leaned closer for a look and then let out a shriek like a groundhog: "Sleepy Beans?! Two-Eared Grass?! Poison Tentacles?! Moonflower?! Motra Rat Tentacles?!...This isn't a shopping list, it's a suicide guide!"

Hagrid, however, snatched the list with a grin: "Easy! I got plenty of these things during a patrol of the Forbidden Forest..."

Kane calmly put away the other person's package.

Hagrid suddenly said, "I almost forgot! Ferenze asked me to tell you that there's been a problem with one of their rituals, and it might take a while."

Kane nodded, after all, such a magical ritual was not something that could be easily performed.

Hagrid saw that Kane had accepted his gift and that he had completed his message, so he turned to leave.

"The dragon breeding farm will have a summer course on destiny next month. If you have time, you can go and learn how to raise dragons."

Hagrid's eyes widened instantly, and he turned around.

He froze on the spot as if struck by lightning, then waved his arms wildly, almost crushing the herbs beside him: "Merlin's beard! Kane, you—!"

"I definitely have time! I'll go learn how to professionally raise dragons right now!"

After Hagrid finished speaking, he ran off with his massive body.

Hermione looked like she was about to faint.

"Kane, those materials... I mean... you know their value, right?"

Kane continued processing the mandrake without stopping: "I know."

"Then why... I mean..." Hermione stammered, "at least act a little surprised!"

"Because I have a lot of these materials at home, and even now I have a lot at school."

"Besides, if I'm short of potions, I can just ask Professor Snape, and he'll definitely give me some."

Hermione opened and closed her mouth several times before finally managing to squeeze out, "Okay, okay."

After dealing with the mandrake, the two returned to the auditorium.

A commotion suddenly arose from the direction of the auditorium, and Mischievous Ghost's shrill laughter pierced the corridor: "The naughty child who spoke ill of Young Master Kane will be punished~"

As they reached the entrance to the auditorium, they saw Peeves hanging a group of trembling Hufflepuff students upside down in mid-air.

The students' robes were folded down and covered their heads.

The underwear with the words "I am a gossip" printed on it was exposed—clearly the work of the mischievous devil.

"Petty! Let them go!" Hermione shouted.

Mischievous Ghost floated up to Kane and gave an exaggerated bow: "Yes, sir! We'll change the game for them right away!"

He then proceeded to stuff the students into the bucket of pumpkin juice.

Kane gently raised his hand: "That's enough."

"Well done, you little devil, let them go for now."

After saying that, he turned and walked toward the Slytherin table.

The mischievous sprite behind him shrieked, "Did you hear that? If I catch you gossiping again, next time I'll stuff you into the ink sac of a giant squid!"