From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 169 Dog

When Ivy saw Professor Keltborn, he was hanging out with a group of furry puppies.

These puppies all have a uniform white base coat with brown, yellow and black patches, and look very smart.

"Cuppies!" Professor Keltborn introduced. "They are less than a month old, but they are full of energy, right? They are the first class for the third grade this year."

Ivy squatted down to take a closer look at these furry little guys. Their short tails were indeed forked, just like wearing a tuxedo. In order not to attract the attention of Muggles, the Ministry of Magic requires breeders to use a painless cutting spell to cut off half of the tail of the tuxedo when the tuxedo grows to 6 to 8 weeks old.

However, there are not many Muggles living around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, so these puppies can retain their original characteristics when they grow up. The size of a crup is generally about 40 cm tall at the shoulder, and it is a small to medium-sized dog. Although it does not look intimidating, it is actually a very ferocious magical animal. They are very friendly to wizards, but extremely cruel to Muggles.

"Very energetic." Ivy scratched the puppies' chins, then swiftly dodged their overly affectionate tongues. Compared to animals with patches of various colors, Ivy prefers pure, special fur. He "protected" several magical animals with special fur colors from the Forbidden Forest more than a hundred years ago.

"I'm afraid I'll have to wait a while before I can retire." Although he was complaining, Professor Keltborn's face was always filled with a smile.

"Haha... With these furry little cuties around, I'll stay in Hogwarts no matter how long it takes!" Hagrid laughed loudly twice, and mysteriously put his head close to Professor Keltborn, and said in a voice that everyone could hear, "I'll tell you a secret. Maybe we'll be able to raise dragons in Hogwarts soon!"

"Really?" Professor Keltborn almost jumped up.

"Ivy has contributed a lot to this!" Hagrid was also very happy to be able to share the secret.

"That's great! I have to get the procedures for breeding Chimeras as soon as possible..." Professor Keltborn muttered, "Maybe Fire Dragons and Chimeras can give birth to some more special babies!"

When it comes to crossbreeding magical creatures, Hagrid's excitement is palpable, especially after being away from those "little cuties" for several months.

So the topic of the two people gradually shifted to what kind of magical animal is the cutest. Sharp teeth and claws are indispensable, and the ability to breathe fire or petrify is a bonus. If it can also fly a few circles in the air, that would be a killer.

…………

Professor Keltborn isn't the only one having some furry troubles in the castle lately.

Harry had long since made up his mind to avoid Lockhart this school year, but he soon discovered that Lockhart was not the only person he needed to avoid.

He believed that Colin Creevey had memorized his entire timetable, because Harry seemed to "run into" Colin several times every day. It seemed that for him, saying hello to the famous Harry Potter a few times was the most memorable thing in the world.

No matter how helpless or angry Harry's tone was, it couldn't shake Colin's determination. This courage to offend his idol was simply too Gryffindor!
But another prospective member of the Harry Potter Fan Club was less courageous.

Whether on the way to class, at the entrance of the Herbology greenhouse, or at the long table where the Gryffindors gathered for dinner, Harry could often feel a chill in the back of his neck from looking at them.

But when he couldn't help looking back, he could only see a bright red disappearing from his sight. It was Ron's sister Ginny, a shy girl, and Harry had hardly seen her face. In his impression, this little red figure seemed to knock over something as soon as she appeared, almost as bad as her senior Neville Longbottom.

In addition to these two junior students in Gryffindor College, there is another classmate who gives him a headache - that is his arch-enemy Malfoy.

Malfoy has always been keen on finding fault with Harry in various ways, and this year Malfoy seems to be even more extreme.

On the first Saturday after term started, Gryffindor Quidditch Captain Oliver Wood pulled his teammates out of bed one by one.

"Quidditch practice!"

So Harry, with sleepy eyes open and wearing a crooked coat and cloak, walked on the morning dew and came to the Quidditch field.

He was thankful that his fellow Quidditch players were yawning as much as he was.

The air in the locker room below the stands was warm, and Harry's eyelids felt heavy as if they were filled with lead.

"Snapped!"

Harry forced his eyes open a crack and saw that Wood had held up a large diagram and was pointing his wand at the various colored lines, arrows, and crosses on it.

Wood is in great spirits and is probably the only one still awake in the locker room: "Okay! Before we officially start training, I want to say a few words."

It’s time to play ball.

Harry told himself, and tried his best to make the slits between his eyes a little bigger.

Then he soon found out that he was extremely wrong. Wood began a long explanation to the large schematic diagram. Harry only heard one thing - Wood's tactics were the ones he spent an entire summer researching.

What a Quidditch madman.

Wood's passionate voice is comparable to that of Professor Binns, who teaches History of Magic, and perhaps even better at making Harry fall asleep.

"…That's about it!" Wood tapped the diagram with his wand, and Harry sat up straight. "Do you have any questions?"

One of the Weasley twins raised his hand: "Oliver, why didn't you tell us when we were all awake?" Wood was not happy.

"Although everyone says," Wood said sullenly, "that we lost heroically last school year, I know no one really wants to see Slytherin win the Quidditch Cup again. And I have a little news that Slytherin's coach last year, the first-year Ivy Doom, is actually going to participate in the OWLs this year!"

"He's only in the first grade! This is impossible!" Fred shouted in surprise.

Alia Spinnet and her good friend Angelina Johnson also talked about it.

"No matter what method he used, Professor McGonagall told me this herself!" Wood raised his voice and stopped the team members from discussing. "This means that our biggest enemy this year, Slytherin, is missing a crucial piece of the puzzle!"

No wonder I haven’t seen Ivy for several days, it turns out he is preparing for OWLs.

Harry thought of the stories Ivy had told him last school year, about how he went to Hogwarts more than a hundred years ago and stopped a goblin rebellion while attending school.

At that time, Ivy said that he was a fifth-grade student and had the right to attend classes freely. He often traveled through various corners of the Forbidden Forest and rescued one magical animal after another from illegal poaching dark wizards. However, he was sealed in a crystal when he was about to take the OWLs exam.

More than a hundred years have passed, and the content of the OWLs exam has certainly changed a lot. Although he has only been in the wizarding world for more than a year, Harry has already realized the importance of obtaining OWLs, because Percy from the Weasley family has obtained a total of twelve! Even Fred and George, who have never taken grades seriously, feel that they must get enough certificates.

God bless... No, I'm a wizard.

Harry thought.

May Merlin bless Ivy.

He felt a little lost, yet also relieved.

"We have a chance!" Oliver Wood persuaded. "Everyone knows what Slytherins are like. They always have arrogance written all over their faces. Winning the Quidditch Cup last year only made them arrogant and neglected training. Just imagine their expressions after they lost the game!"

Which Gryffindor doesn't have a few Slytherin rivals?
These adolescent boys and girls were immediately bewitched by Wood's rhetoric.

"Let's do a great job!" Wood waved his arm, and everyone immediately went to the Quidditch field in high spirits. Although they had not eaten breakfast yet, courage had become their spiritual food. "Good morning! The famous Scarhead Potter!" What greeted them was not the sunshine or the morning breeze, but the Slytherin Quidditch players riding on brooms to greet them.

Harry was almost speechless as he watched Malfoy sitting on a shiny Nimbus 2001 in amazement.

"Ivy isn't playing this year, so I volunteered to teach you a lesson!" Malfoy announced triumphantly.

"I hope your football skills aren't as bad as your body odor," Harry retorted automatically.

Malfoy fell to the ground with a livid face, and the other Slytherin players also stopped.

"What's going on, Malfoy?" asked Marcus Flint.

"Someone's breaking into the Quidditch pitch!" Malfoy shouted.

"'Come on'?" Wood roared, "This is our training time. We got up early just for this! You'd better get out now!"

"What's your training time?" Flint, who was as burly as a giant, landed on the ground. "Why do I see that you are the last group to arrive?"

"We just went to the locker room to discuss tactics!" Wood confronted Flint, not to be outdone, "So you shamelessly stole our court!"

"We have permission," Flint said with a sly smile, "Professor Snape's note. I, Professor Severus Snape, allow the Slytherin team to enter the Quidditch field for training and training their new Seeker. So, where is your note?"

Apparently Wood didn't have the habit of asking Professor McGonagall for notes. His chest was rising and falling violently, and he was extremely angry.

"This place is huge, Captain Wood." Flint deliberately drew out his voice. "The magnanimous Slytherin team is willing to give half of the Quidditch field to you Gryffindor team, just like sharing the House Cup. Shouldn't you say thank you?"

The laughter of the Slytherin players resounded throughout the stadium. Five other players the size of trolls also fell from the air, looking at the Gryffindor players with malicious eyes.

"Don't be fooled, Wood!" Angelina warned in a worried whisper, "He's trying to spy on your tactics!"

"Oh! If you need to consider tactical confidentiality, then I'm afraid we will have to enjoy this open space to ourselves." Flint's smile grew wider, and Wood became more and more angry.

He growled angrily and butted Flint on the chin.

However, Flint just grinned and started fighting with Wood.

"Fred! George! Help!" Angelina screamed.

"But we promised Professor McGonagall that we would never deduct points from Gryffindor!" Fred also shouted.

"Broom!" George took something out of his pocket and threw it at the other Slytherin members. Immediately a foul smell spread.

Before they could react, George rode on his Sweeping Seven Stars No. 5 and flew into the sky: "Come and chase me! Idiot!"

"Well done!" Fred shouted to his brother, also getting on his broom. "Go tell Professor McGonagall! Harry!"

Although Harry didn't want to be a deserter, a comparison of the strength of both sides made it clear that they could never be a match for the six Slytherin trolls, not to mention that these trolls had been trained by Ivy.

"You are really good at running away! Scarhead!" Malfoy also followed on Nimbus 2001.

Harry ignored him and rode his broom headlong into the castle courtyard.

Fortunately, the professors had just finished breakfast and were preparing to take a walk in Professor Sprout's newly opened fourth greenhouse to breathe some fresh air.

"Mr. Potter, what's going on..." Before Professor McGonagall could get angry, Harry jumped off his broom.

"Wood and Flint are fighting! On the Quidditch pitch!" said Harry.

"They started it!" Malfoy also shouted at the professors, and Harry then realized that Snape was also in the crowd.

"I can handle it!" Lockhart shouted like a blue peacock, "It's just a little student dispute. All it takes is a simple smile..."

"Thank you, Professor Lockhart. But I'm afraid Severus and I are their head of house." Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and said impatiently.

"Excuse me, Severus." Professor McGonagall turned around and said after taking two steps. Professor Snape gave Harry a sinister smile and followed the vice-headmaster's pace.

----

Harry sat on the steps outside Professor McGonagall's office, lowered his head and sighed sadly. Because the report was timely, he didn't have to go in with them to accept criticism, but he would rather stay in there himself.

The term had only just begun but Harry seemed to have already been dealing with bad luck.

Harry felt something wet on his hands, as if something sticky was running across them.

He looked up and saw a dark shadow squatting in front of him.

Harry was startled and adjusted his glasses with his hand, only then did he realize that the shadow in front of him was a big black dog. It had no stray hairs on its body, and its two bright black eyes were staring at Harry.

When Harry didn't move, the big black dog touched his hand with its wet nose again.

Harry carefully stroked the big black dog's fur and asked, "I've never seen you in Hogwarts. Who is your master?"

The big black dog obediently leaned over and buried its head in Harry's chest. The hot breath it exhaled tickled Harry, and he couldn't help laughing.

"So good." Harry scratched the black dog's ears, then searched his body for a while. Finally, he realized, amid the protests of his stomach, that he had not eaten anything since he got up.

"Once my friends come out, let's go to the cafeteria together, okay?" asked Harry.

"Harry?" A voice came from behind. Harry turned around and saw Hermione. "Who are you talking to?"

"A dog." Harry said lightly. Gryffindor did not deduct points for him today, which gave him more confidence when facing Hermione.

"Dogs are not allowed in school." Hermione frowned and began to recite the school rules again.

She stomped down the stairs and stood in front of Harry: "Where is the dog you mentioned?"

Harry looked around the corridor for a while but saw nothing.

(End of this chapter)