Professor Sprout saw that everyone's interest had been piqued by the Venomous Tentacula, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
"Of course, achieving that level is still too early for you," she said, waving her wand. The Venomous Tentaculas quieted down again, obediently returning to their pots.
"Your task now is to repot the Mandrakes."
She turned and walked deeper into the Greenhouse, gesturing for the students to follow.
"Follow me, and watch out for the puddles on the floor."
Everyone followed the Professor to a round table, on which a circle of small flowerpots was neatly arranged, each containing a plant that was green with purple hues.
"These are Mandrakes," Professor Sprout clapped her hands, signaling for everyone to gather in a circle.
"They are a vital ingredient in most antidotes, but they are also very dangerous. Does anyone know why?"
Hermione's hand shot up instantly, almost knocking Harry's glasses off.
"Miss Granger."
"Because the Mandrake's cry is fatal!"
Professor Sprout nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good, Gryffindor gets ten points."
"Exactly. The cry of a mature Mandrake can kill anyone who hears it." The Professor took a pile of pink earmuffs from a shelf.
"So we must protect ourselves."
She handed each student a pair of earmuffs and put on a pair herself.
"Oh, blast it, these earmuffs are pinching my ears, it hurts so much."
Ron cried out in pain after putting on the earmuffs.
"Mr. Weasley, just bear with it. The tighter they are, the better the sound insulation."
"Now I will demonstrate how to repot."
Professor Sprout picked up an empty flowerpot, filled with fresh dragon dung fertilizer.
Then she carefully grasped the stem of a Mandrake and pulled it hard.
She pulled out a very ugly infant, which was the Mandrake's root.
"Ah ah ah ah!"
Even with the earmuffs on, everyone could vaguely hear the Mandrake's sharp cry.
Professor Sprout's expression didn't change as she skillfully stuffed the Mandrake into the new pot and buried it with soil.
The Mandrake's cry immediately stopped.
"Did you see? You need to be quick and decisive." The Professor clapped the dirt off her hands.
"Now, you will work in groups of four, with each group responsible for one Mandrake."
"Remember, keep your earmuffs on," Professor Sprout reminded them.
"These Mandrakes are still in their infancy; they won't kill you, but they can make you faint for several hours. I imagine you don't want to miss the first day of school, do you?"
Charlie blinked. Faint? I could just skip class and sleep all day?
Such a good thing exists?
"You guys stand back, let me do it."
Charlie rolled up his sleeves.
He grabbed the Mandrake's leaves and pulled hard.
The Mandrake was pulled out by its roots, immediately emitting a deafening cry.
Professor Sprout was somewhat surprised to see Charlie pull out the Mandrake so smoothly.
She hadn't expected Charlie's Herbology talent to be so good.
The Mandrake in his hand didn't resist as violently as it did with the other Young Wizard.
Just then, Charlie suddenly reached out and pulled off his earmuffs.
"Charlie!" Ernie exclaimed.
The piercing cry instantly flooded Charlie's ears, but he didn't feel any discomfort, only that the sound was terribly unpleasant.
["Your Majesty disregarded your teacher and acted recklessly, gaining: tyrant points + 3"]
Professor Sprout was startled by Charlie's actions.
No, if you want to sleep, we can discuss it. Why be so impulsive?
The surrounding students saw Charlie take off his earmuffs and remain unharmed, thinking the Professor was just trying to scare them.
"Charlie is fine without earmuffs, I want to take mine off too."
Ron said, grimacing, feeling like his ears were about to be pinched off.
"My ears hurt too, but Professor said to keep the earmuffs on." Harry hesitated.
Ron, however, directly imitated Charlie and took off his earmuffs.
Seeing this, Harry and several other Gryffindor students no longer hesitated and took off their earmuffs as well.
"No!"
Professor Sprout wanted to stop them, but it was too late.
"Ah ah ah ah ah!" The Mandrake's cry rang out again.
The next second.
"Thump thump thump!"
A series of falling sounds echoed in the Greenhouse.
Except for Hermione, who hadn't taken off her earmuffs, the young Gryffindors collapsed and fell asleep.
["Well done, Your Majesty, almost wiped out the whole group, tyrant points + 20"]
Charlie was still holding the Mandrake, looking at the people sleeping soundly on the ground, and said sheepishly:
"Professor, I really didn't mean to make them take off their earmuffs with me, do you believe me?"
Professor Sprout's face was flushed with anger; even with the best temper, she wanted to give Charlie a piece of her mind.
She took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions.
My own house, I'll endure.
She turned her head and saw Ron sprawled on the ground, drooling at the corner of his mouth, sleeping soundly.
Harry had fallen next to a flowerpot, his glasses askew.
Seamus was even worse, face-down in the dragon dung fertilizer.
Can't endure it one bit!
She waved her wand, sending all the Mandrakes that had fallen to the ground back into their pots.
"Hufflepuff loses twenty points!"
"Gryffindor also loses twenty points!"
Hermione was on the verge of tears. My ten points I just earned!
She hadn't done anything wrong, had diligently kept her earmuffs on, yet she was still dragged into losing points.
She wished she could demonstrate a full set of Hogwarts women's self-defense techniques on Charlie.
Charlie had an extremely thick skin; Hermione's gaze couldn't penetrate it at all.
"Professor, I have a question."
"Speak!" Professor Sprout replied crossly.
"Why didn't I faint?"
Although Professor Sprout was angry, she still answered seriously.
"The Mandrake's cry has limited effect on Wizards with strong magic, especially since these are only juvenile Mandrakes."
"But!" She suddenly raised her voice.
"That is no reason for you to disregard safety regulations!"
"Got it, got it." Charlie nodded repeatedly, looking very obedient.
Professor Sprout looked at the students on the ground, her head aching terribly.
"Charlie, you go take the unconscious students to the Hospital Wing."
She still needed to continue teaching the Hufflepuff students who hadn't fainted, and she didn't particularly want to see Charlie right now.
Charlie shrugged: "No problem, Professor."
Not having to attend class, he couldn't have asked for more.
Charlie waved his wand and cast a Levitation Charm.
Ron, Harry, Seamus, and several other Gryffindor students floated up, forming a line behind Charlie.
Upon arriving at the Hospital Wing.
Madam Pomfrey had Charlie place them on the beds.
After an examination, Madam Pomfrey said:
"Nothing serious, they'll wake up after a few hours of sleep."
Charlie felt relieved after hearing this and left the Hospital Wing.
There was still some time before class ended.
Charlie now had two choices: one, go back to class; two, go wherever he pleased.
Hesitating for even a second would be a betrayal of this free time.
Charlie decisively chose option two.
-------------------------------
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