As the shockwave from the "Pee Pee Shrimp's" drift shattered the windows of the Transfiguration classroom, Kane managed to slip inside almost simultaneously with Professor McGonagall.
He hurriedly shoved the broom back into Little Pumpkin and looked at the stern-faced professor. "The third bell hasn't finished ringing, Professor! So, technically, I'm not late, right?"
McGonagall stared at him with a rigid expression. Honestly, if the Gryffindor Quidditch team weren't already full, she would have dragged him onto the pitch by his collar.
That level of drifting and tail-whipping would make for a phenonal Chaser. It was a pity they weren't short a player like they had been for a Seeker last year.
Sighing internally, she flicked her wand to repair the glass Kane had shattered before turning to the class. "No, you are not late, Mr. Heath."
Her face hardened again. "However, our progress is already falling behind!"
Hearing that, Kane felt he could probably squeeze in a light nap for the first half of the lesson. Fortunately, McGonagall spent the beginning of class discussing her inspections of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons over the holidays.
She noted that both schools had faster teaching paces and stricter discipline, causing a wave of nervous shudders to ripple through the classroom.
Hmph. So what if they learn fast? Kane thought. Do they have a 100% guaranteed Dark Wizard posing as a professor every three years, only to be taken out by a random student at the end of the term? Do they practice no-rules magical combat in the hallways 24/7?
Hogwarts was a place so "blessed" that even Voldemort had to leave his nose behind before exiting. If enemies ca, they got the shotgun; if friends ca, they still had to leave sothing behind—usually a Philosopher's Stone.
Progress and discipline ant nothing compared to that kind of "hands-on" experience.
If those schools ever showed up to show off, the Hogwarts students would ensure their "friends" tasted the full strength and accuracy of a well-aid wand.
McGonagall looked at the ignited fighting spirit in her students and felt satisfied. She needed them fired up to tackle magic with intensity.
Her gaze drifted to Kane. Today, he'd finally traded the cow-horn hat for his battered top hat (now reshaped into a cowboy hat) and a dark purple, textured leather trench coat.
He looked significantly more "normal" than last sester.
The only downside was his lack of drive; he looked as if her motivational speech had absolutely nothing to do with him—which, to be fair, was true, since the Triwizard Tournant wasn't exactly on the horizon.
Accepting his lack of enthusiasm, McGonagall began the day's lesson. But the mont she uttered the first technical term, Kane's eyes snapped open and sparkled.
Apparently, this particular top-tier student didn't need a pre-class pep talk; he just needed the syllabus.
After class, Kane inhaled his lunch in the Great Hall and bolted toward the greenhouses. Even though Professor Sprout likely wasn't there yet, he was determined to be the model of a studious wizard waiting at the door.
The weather was pleasant—not too hot, just comfortable. Kane sat on Little Pumpkin outside the greenhouse, idling until Professor Sprout finally arrived.
"You're here early, Kane! If I'd known, I would have given you this sooner." Sprout pulled a small brass key from her pocket and handed it to him.
"You can co to the greenhouse on your own now. You're currently my only assistant."
"No older students left?" Kane asked, following her inside.
"They eventually graduate. I usually only take two assistants every seven years. It's a sha you didn't co to last year," she said, leading him through the sprawling glass structure.
The greenhouse was divided into two sections. The outer ring was actual soil tilled directly into the ground, but it looked like it hadn't been turned in a while; the dirt was clumped and hard.
The central area was filled with shelves of pots containing various plants, including immature Mandrake roots.
"Mandrake roots are incredibly delicate. Despite the legends, they have a lifespan of exactly one year from growth to decay.
We have to replant them every year; there is no 'stock'... well, unless soone uses a Ti-Freezing Charm, but it's hardly worth it for a common Mandrake," Sprout explained.
She stopped briefly by the Mandrakes, perhaps rembering that Kane had "borrowed" one the previous year.
"I thought they lived forever. They look so old," Kane muttered.
"They only live a year because they age so rapidly."
Sprout led him back to the hardened patch of soil in the outer ring. "I know you want to learn Weather Charms, but we should start with the basics: the Tilling Charm.
It's a specialized hybrid of the Summoning Charm, the Levitation Charm, and the Manipulation Charm. Mastering it will deepen your understanding of all three."
She waved her wand, and several small hoes near the edge of the plot rose into the air, rhythmically digging into the earth. "I'll give you my personal notes later. You should pick it up quickly."
Kane pulled out his wand, looking eager. "Honestly, Professor, I think I've got the gist of it. Can I try with a few of those hoes?"
Sprout calmly directed half the hoes to continue working while the other half flew to a corner and landed neatly.
Kane began his attempt. Since it was a composite spell, there was no fixed incantation or wand movent; it required ntal calculation and simulation.
Thanks to Kane's "new and improved" brain, he succeeded in getting his half of the hoes to start tilling after only a few trials.
Professor Sprout was shocked. "Kane, don't waste that talent! My last two assistants started in their first year and didn't master this until their third!"
Kane smiled shyly. "It felt pretty straightforward. I just feel like the efficiency is a bit... slow."
"Perhaps you could use larger hoes?" Sprout mused.
Kane shook his head. "No. I was wondering... can we use a machine?"
"You can try. Not all machines are affected by Hogwarts' interference. I recall seeing Severus use a slide projector for his lessons once."
With Sprout's approval, Kane returned the hoes to her and sprinted off. He rummaged through Little Pumpkin's stomach, pulled out his broom, flew to his dormitory, and hauled back his Alchemy Engine.
He stuffed it into the pumpkin's mouth and brought it back to the greenhouse.
Using the parts in the pumpkin, he constructed a tilling machine that looked about as elegant as a sentient wooden barrel and set it on the un-turned soil.
Professor Sprout lowered her wand, looking curiously at the crude contraption. "Will that actually work?"
"Well..." Kane rubbed his chin. "It worked before. As for whether it works here, let's find out."
He reached out and gave the starter lever a violent pull.
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