Hogwarts: I'm Harry's older cousin

Chapter 61. The Little Girl Picking Mushrooms (Seeking monthly votes!)

The Gryffindors were all making a fuss about Harry and Malfoy's aerial chase and didn't notice Dudley and Hermione's little actions at all. Some of the Slytherins did see it, and then they very consciously and quietly covered their eyes.

"We dare not say."

"We dare not ask."

"We don't know either."

The two of them easily crossed the lawn and jogged along the path to the edge of the forbidden forest.

Hermione's heart was pounding the whole way. As a good student, skipping class was simply taboo for her.

But it was so exciting and so fun!

Hermione's little face was rosy, like a ripe red apple.

Flying lessons that don't involve flying are so boring, I might as well take this opportunity to wander around. I've been at Hogwarts for a while now, and I've been either in my bedroom, classroom, or library. I haven't had a chance to properly explore this magical place yet.

The Forbidden Forest is fine during the day, except for the dim lighting.

Hogwarts is located in the Scottish Highlands of Great Britain, which has a temperate maritime climate. The trees here are mostly oak, maple, and beech, forming a dark, continuous expanse that can give a sense of oppression at first glance.

Of course, this only applies to the other young wizards; Dudley, on the other hand, is indifferent to it.

The place where Dali used to live was truly a place of towering mountains and winding paths, with mountains everywhere.

The Forbidden Forest is just a larger forest; the real focus is on the magical creatures and plants that inhabit it.

"Wow!" Hermione was captivated by the sights inside the Forbidden Forest as soon as she stepped onto its edge.

Sunlight filters through the leaves and branches, casting dappled green and yellow shadows on the forest floor. The light and shadow dance with the breeze, creating a harmonious and beautiful scene.

Even Hermione's previously agitated mood calmed down.

While Hermione was captivated by the scenery of the Forbidden Forest, Dudley secretly watched her from the side. He could tell that Hermione had something on her mind lately, not just the frustration of not being able to fly smoothly in flying class, but something else. However, she didn't say anything, and he didn't want to ask. He hoped that bringing Hermione to the Forbidden Forest would help her relax.

Actually, this little girl has a stubborn streak deep down, just like me.

Harry was the same way.

However, it seems that he takes after me... no, it's that his personality has become similar to mine after spending so much time with me.

Are two stubborn people attracted to each other?

Ha. You talk as if you're some kind of Stand user.

Hermione skipped ahead, full of curiosity about everything in front of her.

At this moment, she no longer seemed like the know-it-all of Gryffindor, but just an ordinary, energetic young girl.

"Here! Daddy! Come quick!"

Hermione stood under a tree that was at least a thousand years old and so large that it would take four or five people to encircle it. She waved her arms at Dudley, who walked over. Hermione pointed to the branches above and said...

"Look there!"

Sunlight streamed through the tree canopy, illuminating the trunk and making the bark's texture even clearer. Following Hermione's gaze, Dudley spotted a small, five-petaled yellow plant nestled between the trunk and branches.

St. John's wort is a relatively rare herb. It is said that the devil has imbued it with evil power; rubbing the veins of its leaves with your fingers will produce a blood-like sap. It can be used to treat anemia and menstrual problems, but its primary use is for treating puncture wounds and gunshot wounds.

Hermione chattered away like a lark, explaining the uses of the herb to Dudley.

Dali didn't offer any opinion; he simply smiled and listened patiently.

Although he recognized the herb from the very beginning.

After Hermione finished explaining, Dudley quickly climbed up the tree branch, took out a small shovel and other tools from the pouch at his waist, carefully dug out the herb, and put it into a small bottle that had been prepared beforehand.

"Great technique"

Hermione has a very strong theoretical foundation, but her practical skills are much weaker; at least she doesn't think she can do what Dudley does.

Then, thinking of how Dudley's hands, which were clearly the size of a fan, had been carefully pinching the herbs with just two fingers, Hermione couldn't help but laugh.

A silvery laugh echoed through the forbidden forest, and her pair of small, white rabbit teeth were so striking.

"Hermione, you look so beautiful when you smile. Smile more often."

Dudley's very straightforward honesty made Hermione blush, and she covered her embarrassment by punching her chest with her little fists.

That's why they say the Forbidden Forest next to Hogwarts is a natural treasure trove of potions. Dudley had already collected quite a few potions just by strolling around the area. Although none of them were particularly rare varieties, there were just so many of them that you could see one every few steps.

I won't even mention the Chinese medicinal herbs like mistletoe, houttuynia cordata, dictamnus dasycarpus, water chestnut, and rue. Dali collected a lot of them, especially the rue, he almost took the roots with him, it seems he plans to cultivate them back home.

Dudley and his colleagues also discovered the Babo tuber, which is somewhere between a magical creature and a plant.

It was a plant that looked like a large, black, slimy slug, and was extremely ugly in appearance.

However, this thing has very high medicinal value, so Dali carefully put it away.

Incidentally, its sap can cause some damage to the skin, so be sure to wear dragon skin gloves when picking it.

After Daryl put the herb away, he found Hermione standing in front of a lush, mushroom-shaped plant that seemed to be emitting a faint glow.

Clearly, even our all-knowing Miss has moments when she doesn't know.

"This is a kind of herb called 'Mushroom,' which we learn about in fourth-year herbalism class. Logically, it should belong to the fungi category like other mushrooms, but it seems that there isn't a separate subject for magical fungi in herbalism."

"The cap is very sensitive; once stimulated, it will spray spores that paralyze the entire body, which can be used to make paralyzing agents."

In theory, the mushroom itself is more precious than the babo tuber, but unfortunately, wizards in the wizarding world are only interested in its spores.

"Mushrooms themselves can be used in medicine to make power-enhancing potions."

"Unfortunately, the vast majority of wizards are not very interested in these kinds of potions."

For wizards, increasing power is meaningless; mild mana-boosting potions or mana-boosting potions are the way to go.

But this was exactly what Dudley needed, so after harvesting it even more carefully...

Acquired the mushroom, a key ingredient for potions.

"A young girl picking mushrooms, carrying a large basket on her back."

"One, two, three, four, five, five, five, five, six, seven, eight."

In high spirits, Dudley unconsciously started humming a song and pulled Hermione along even more enthusiastically as they walked and collected potions.

The two strolled slowly through a small patch of forbidden forest, and by the time they realized it, the moon was already high in the sky.

"Oops!"

Dudley suddenly realized something and was horrified.

"I missed lunchtime!"

(End of this chapter)