From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 32 Before the Flight Lesson
Even as Harry climbed onto the comfortable big bed in the Gryffindor dormitory, the bizarre stories he had heard in Hagrid's hut kept flashing back to his mind.

A fire dragon that's over thirty feet long and can breathe flames that are powerful enough to melt steel.

A ball-escape bird that keeps flashing and moving from one place to another in an instant.

A proud, dignified hippogriff that is also good at flying.

"What a pity that I can't take the Care of Magical Creatures class until my third year..." Harry muttered to himself while lying on the bed. This was what Ron told him. Ron, who had many older brothers in Hogwarts, always knew things that Harry didn't know.

"Ron..." Harry called softly, but the only responses he got were snoring and mumbling in his sleep.

"Unicorn tail hair...Phoenix tail feathers...Hehe...They are all gold Galleons..."

During the day they talked about unicorns and phoenixes in Hagrid's hut. Ivy said that the gray cushion under his butt was made of unicorn tail hair, and if it was cleaned, it could be sold at a high price in Diagon Alley.

Harry still remembers how wide Ron's eyes were at that time. This kid, who came from a not-so-good family, had always been sensitive in this regard.

As for the phoenix, Ivy said that he once rescued a phoenix and named it "Spark", and secretly raised it in Hogwarts for a period of time. Even his wand, which was made of silver basswood, used the tail feathers of "Spark".

At that time, Harry foolishly asked, are phoenix feathers also expensive? Then why did his wand made of holly and phoenix feathers only cost seven gold galleons?

Ivy told him with a smile that the Ministry of Magic would provide certain subsidies for the young wizards' first wand to ensure that all young wizards could get their own wand.

If an adult wizard wants to replace his wand, he will have to spend a huge amount of money. The remaining wands after the first one will be charged according to the preciousness of the materials.

Harry's wand, made from phoenix tail feathers, is the most valuable of the three types of wand cores sold at Ollivander's wand shop.

In addition, the wood used to make the wand is also very particular, because not just any piece of wood can be made into a wand. Sometimes, a high-grade wand wood will be more expensive than the wand core, such as Ivy's silver basswood wand.

It is said that in the 19th century, wizards were so fond of silver basswood wands that the wood was once sold at sky-high prices. The one in Ivy's hand was custom-made at a cost of 170 gold galleons, of which 5 gold galleons were for the handwork and 165 gold galleons for the material of the wand.

"... Nimbus 2000..."

Ron's dream talk changed again. The Nimbus 2000 was a flying broom, and since Ron knew that Hagrid was a hidden rich man, he began to discuss with Harry the idea of finding some unicorn tail hair in the Forbidden Forest to sell for money.

He also said that if he had money, he would go to the Quidditch boutique in Diagon Alley and buy the best broom, which he called the Nimbus 2000.

Thinking of this, Harry suddenly sighed. A notice about flying lessons was posted on the Hogwarts notice board. They will have their first flying lesson with Slytherin next Thursday.

Harry wanted to learn to fly very badly, but the thought of taking classes with Slytherin...

In today's Potions class, Harry had had enough of the Slytherin students' ridicule. He couldn't help but sigh at the thought of making a fool of himself on a broomstick in front of Malfoy.

Sure enough, the next morning, all the first-year students who were eating in the auditorium began to discuss flying brooms and flying skills. If they were children from wizarding families, you could hear them bragging about themselves.

Some had played Quidditch since childhood (Harry still had no idea what that sport was), some had spent most of their childhoods riding broomsticks in the wilderness, some had dodged helicopters on broomsticks, and some had almost hit a Muggle hang glider on a broken broomstick. This discussion not only lasted all weekend, but it was even getting more intense as Thursday approached.

"We should ask Ivy," Ron suggested as he stuffed his cereal into his mouth. "He was a fifth-year student over a hundred years ago. He must have played Quidditch."

Harry thought he was right, so he and Ron went to the library, which was the most likely place to find Ivy. He and Ron could copy neatly written and carefully worded homework there from time to time.

"I've never played Quidditch." Ivy shrugged. "It is said that something happened last school year, so the then headmaster, Professor Phineas Black, banned the Quidditch Cup that year."

"Oh... God." Ron cried out in disappointment.

"Tap, tap, tap." Madam Pince knocked on the table with the handle of the feather duster. The three of them understood that this was a warning to them.

Ivy pointed to the door, and the three of them walked out of the library together.

"But I never said I couldn't use a broomstick." Ivy told them the news with a smile, and Harry and Ron immediately smiled.

"You shouldn't disturb Ivy!" An uninvited guest interrupted their conversation. It was Hermione.

This studious little witch spent almost all her time in the library except for eating, attending classes and sleeping. Sometimes she could be seen when Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess in the common room, but usually she was holding a book.

"Come on." Ron rolled his eyes, "We're asking for help with our studies!"

"Really?" Hermione showed a distrustful expression on her face. "Then do you mind if I listen too? You know, I am..."

Hermione didn't say anything else, but the expression on her face spoke for itself: it was the confidence of an excellent student.

"Huh." Ron curled his lips. "I don't think a wizard from a Muggle family would have any unique insights into flying brooms."

Harry saw Hermione's face immediately turn red, but before she could get away, Ivy spoke up to stop her.

"It's not a particularly useful trick. I'm sure you, as smart as you are, will be able to figure it out, but listening to me talk about it will always save some time, right, Hermione?"

Hermione blushed and nodded hesitantly, standing there without saying anything else.

"First of all, we must overcome our timidity. A broomstick is like a horse. If we are afraid, it will not be able to fly. As for the specific flying techniques, I think Madam Hooch will teach us." Ivy stretched out a finger and concluded.

"It's that simple?" Hermione sounded incredulous.

"What else? This is an essential skill for wizards." Ivy spread his hands.

(End of this chapter)