Two Worlds: I studied abroad at Hogwarts

Chapter 31: Beng Beng's New Friend Revealed

Before midnight, Moon once again witnessed the scene of the magical tree awakening.

Grapevines grow more slenderly than willows, so the magical fluorescence they produce has a larger range.

Until the fluorescence completely retracted, a two-meter-long section became spare wood for making wands.

Seeing that the moon was setting, Moon handed the Bowtruckle to Cedric, gave him some instructions, and ran to the dormitory alone.

Today is the day to return to Xilin, a secret Moon doesn't want anyone else to know.

After witnessing the changes of the magical trees twice, Moon has mastered the method of finding the magical trees.

He thought that the reason wizards couldn't discover such magical trees was because the Bowtruckle hid this energy, causing the magical trees to look no different from ordinary trees.

Thinking back to what he had seen and heard tonight, Moon quickly ran towards the lounge.

However, when he turned a corner of the stairs, a small, hairy ball of flesh appeared.

It's Mrs. Norris.

As the right-hand man of the castle manager Filch, this cat's name has been mentioned by Ron and Harry several times.

In the dormitory, Moon often heard his roommates complain that the cat had a very sharp nose and could always accurately catch people in the corridor.

Moon never thought that he would be the little wizard caught violating the rules, especially tonight he couldn't be the one caught.

"Woo!"

After discovering Moon's trace, Mrs. Loris was also frightened and jumped up.

Just as it was about to go back and call Filch over, a clear cry was heard.

"Ha!"

The one sleeping in Moon's pocket jumped out, and looked at Mrs. Loris with surprise in his two little eyes.

The mixed-haired cat suddenly stopped and turned to look in surprise at the Niffler who jumped out of the little wizard's pocket.

Moon was completely surprised by the cat's bouncing action. It actually ran up to Mrs. Loris and patted the cat's head.

The mixed-haired cat also made a soft meow.

"Meow~"

This scene surprised Moon very much.

Just as he was about to ask what was going on with Bounce, Filch's voice suddenly came from the stairs below.

"Oh, dear, have you spotted the wandering little wizard who made mistakes again? Don't worry~, I'll be there soon."

A flickering light came from the dim corridor. It was emitted by the oil lamp in Filch's hand.

Hearing the footsteps getting closer, Moon picked up Bengbeng and ran to another step.

"Tell me quickly, dear, where is the erring little wizard hiding?"

Filch's hoarse voice rang out from where Moon had just stood, but then the footsteps gradually faded away.

Moon didn't walk down the stairs until the footsteps disappeared, then he quickly ran towards the Gryffindor common room.

"Mrs. Norris is your new friend?"

After returning to the common room, Moon lowered his head and asked Bongbong.

The lazy little guy stretched and chirped in response.

"Okay, let's go back to bed."

Bengbeng has been accompanying Moon for the past three nights, and the little guy is now exhausted.

Moon tiptoed back to the dormitory, put Bongbong back into the tree house, and then lay down quietly on the bed.
-
After returning to Xilin, Moon first had a good sleep, and then got up to look for Uncle Neil.

The last time he parted with Neil, he said he would ask the timber merchant and let Moon go to learn how to grow fruit seedlings.

Because of the war, all trees are now controlled items.

To make gunpowder you need charcoal, and to make charcoal you have to cut down trees.

Even if some of the seedlings hadn't yet grown, they still had to contribute to the war effort. Having already worked with Neil for seven years, the timber merchant, Merrick, readily agreed to Moon's request to visit the forest farm.

The forest farm is located in the north of Xilin Town. It takes half a day by carriage to reach Merrick's forest farm when you can see a stretch of low hills.

"The trees on the four hills in front were planted only in the last ten years. The ones in the back were planted by my father, and they're thirty years old. There are even trees deeper in the mountains that are hundreds of years old, but we don't usually go there."

Riding on a horse, Merrick proudly introduced the private property belonging to their family.

Moon nodded and smiled in response, but his eyes were still searching for his intended target.

There are many kinds of trees in the forest farm, even far more than the types in the forbidden forest.

After entertaining Moon at noon, Merrick found a forest ranger.

This is a middle-aged man named Zalan Knight. He is holding a big yellow dog in his hand and has an old hunting rifle and bow and arrow on his back.

The most notable feature is that he wears a black eye patch on his right eye.

"Are you Neil Scarlett's nephew?"

After entering the dense forest, Zalan looked at Moon beside him curiously.

"Yes, it was Uncle Neil who arranged for us to come to the forest farm this time."

"Oh, then you can just tell me what you want to see. I was the one who entertained Neil last time he came. There's nothing in this forest farm that I don't know."

Zalan took a sip of the liquor in the sheepskin bag and continued to lead the way, but Moon did not answer directly.

Because he didn't know whether he could find trees with magical properties.

"You want to see them all?"

After walking for a long time, Zalan put down the sheepskin bag in his hand and stared at Moon seriously.

Finding that Moon's attitude was very serious and he was not joking, Zalan sighed helplessly, then walked to the front to lead the way.

"Well, luckily there is a temporary supply point for lumberjacks on the mountain, otherwise we would have to go back and prepare food."

Moon didn't notice the change in Zalan's expression. He simply passed by the young trees that were not old enough and followed the forest ranger deeper into the forest.

After entering the age range of thirty years, the big trees here have become lush and leafy, with their dense crowns blocking the sky, making it difficult for light to enter.

Even though it was daytime now, after entering here, Moon felt that the sun had not yet risen.

"Is there nothing here that you are looking for?"

After walking for a day and a night, the two men were now sitting on a flat hillside.

A bonfire was lit in front of them, with a cooking rack on top.

"No."

Moon answered the other person's question casually, then suddenly reacted and looked at the other person.

"How did you know I was looking for something?"

Moon came to the forest farm nominally to observe and learn, and he did not tell anyone his real purpose.

"Heh, didn't Neil tell you that I was a soldier with him for ten years? Your actions along the way can't fool my eyes at all."

Zalan pointed to his only remaining left eye, then stuffed a piece of barbecue into his mouth and continued.

"You've been looking around all day, especially at night, and you're even more diligent about checking the trees. Are you looking for some valuable wood?"

Hearing the other party say this, Moon breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems my disguise isn't good enough. I'm looking for wood, but it's not the precious wood you're thinking of."

Hearing Moon's self-destructive answer, Zalan smiled, took a sip of wine, and let out a deep breath.

"Heh, disguise is not something an eleven-year-old like you can master."

Zalan just laughed at Moon's little thoughts, and did not ask what he was looking for.

(End of this chapter)