Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 292 Chapter 292: Itchy Vine
“Little Green, I always knew you had talent, no matter what it was.”

At the entrance to the greenhouse, Bruce hummed a cheerful tune, seemingly talking to himself.

There are too many legends about this senior, and for a moment, Sheen felt that it was understandable that he would put itching powder on Lockhart while keeping it a secret from everyone.

The question is, how did Bruce discover that Professor Lockhart was a slacker?
Before he was exposed, the professors still held him in some respect.

Just like now, Professor Sprout didn't forcibly drive Lockhart away. However, after Bruce came in for a while, the warm smile on her face never stopped.

Now she looked into Sheehan's eyes and said:
"We're repotting our mandrake today. Can anyone tell me what the characteristics of mandrake are?"

The young wizards, fresh from their holiday break, were at a loss for words. That's when the usual routine from Herbology class came in handy—if you couldn't answer, no problem, just look behind you to see if there was a quiet Sheen Green.

"Mandragora, also known as mandrake root, is a powerful restorative agent."

Used to restore a person who has been transformed or cursed to their original state.

Sheen replied.

“Excellent answer, isn’t it? Let’s give Mr. Green a round of applause. He’s already showing some of the flair I had at Hogwarts.”

Lockhart interrupted, acting like a narcissistic peacock, always displaying its plumage.

This time, however, he did not receive the applause he had imagined.

"Excuse me, are you talking about Sheehan Green?"

Michael couldn't help but grin, and then said...

The young wizards in the audience all wore somewhat strange expressions. The Slytherins didn't care much about Lockhart, but at this moment they were already looking at him with disdain.

Malfoy burst out laughing.

Does this guy even know what he's saying?

Even his father doesn't dare to belittle Green now.

"Of course, what a great little wizard, isn't he? Maybe he can even catch up to me."

Lockhart continued in a smooth tone, casting an encouraging glance at Sheehan.

"So you're the rising star that Headmaster Dumbledore himself acknowledged, Professor. We underestimated you."

Michael praised, nudging Terry next to him.

Terry was counting the mandrake leaves, meticulously taking notes, and now seemed to be giving a vague response:
“Oh, according to this—you are far more capable than Headmaster Dumbledore was in his youth.”

Lockhart was jolted awake. In this school, the only person he couldn't figure out, and dared not figure out, was the headmaster.

"If we were all cornered in a phone booth by a werewolf, Dumbledore probably wouldn't have done any better than me. Want to know the details of that thrilling story? I've written it all in the book."

Okay, kids, does anyone remember? It's "Wandering with Werewolves".

Let me tell you a little secret: reading heroic books written by valiant wizards will be very useful.

He explained slowly that the Ravenclaws were no longer buying it.

Even the witches who had just looked at him with adoration now showed complicated expressions and stopped looking at him.

In a way, Mr. Green and Lockhart seem to have a lot in common.

Equally talented and knowledgeable, he published his own books.

But with Mr. Grimm's story so close at hand, the young wizards couldn't imagine anyone more outstanding.

In particular, he was acknowledged by Headmaster Dumbledore.

Lockhart encountered his first cold reception at Hogwarts; the Ravenclaws didn't buy it, and the Slytherins even gave him a cold laugh.

It was only then that Lockhart noticed the young wizard's unusual nature.

"Oh, I mean—oh oh oh—"

He suddenly felt an itch all over his body, and he had no strength to explain, only able to utter meaningless syllables. Then, as if he were tap dancing, he ran out of the greenhouse. Outside, Bruce seemed to still be there.

"Oh dear, Professor, you've run into the Itchy Vine! Do you know this plant?"

“Of course, of course I know—if I hadn’t been ambushed, I could have subdued it in just two minutes—”

Lockhart took a long time to utter a few words.

Inside the greenhouse, all the young wizards stared wide-eyed and fell silent. Some of the young witches who had once believed in Lockhart blushed with shame and looked incredulous.

"It's a real pity, otherwise I'm sure you would have a way to deal with it."

Bruce said "anxiously".

"That goes without saying, but now—"

"I'll help you. Getting close to someone as important as you has always been my dream—"

"Good boy—what are you sprinkling on me?"

"You should know this; this is the powder that relieves the effects of the Itch Vine."

"But why am I so itchy?"

"It's itchy, that means it's working—"

Professor Sprout pushed the greenhouse door shut, trying his best to save face for someone like Lockhart.

"Excellent answer, ten points for Ravenclaw."

Professor Sprout said,
"Mandragora is an important component of most antidotes. But it's also dangerous. Can anyone tell me why?"

……

Without Professor Lockhart, Herbalism class became quite normal.

Sheen deftly pulled a very ugly baby from the soil, leaves growing on its head. Its skin was light green, speckled with spots. The little fellow was clearly yelling and screaming.

Michael and the others huddled around Sheen, carrying their basins. Elsewhere, a deep red plant with sharp thorns would always reach out tentacles towards the young wizards, causing them to scream in terror.

"The compost is in that bag over there—watch out for the poisonous tentacles, they're growing teeth now."

Professor Sprout also offered this reminder.

[You have successfully processed a mandrake plant to a proficient standard. Proficiency +10]

Each plant has subtle differences, and Sheen always has a passion for these amazing plants, and he is also the fastest at processing them.

By the end of class, the young wizards were almost all drenched in sweat, their backs ached, and their bodies were covered in mud. They walked wearily back to the castle, took a shower, and then the Ravenclaw students rushed off to their Transfiguration class.

As Professor Lockhart passed the greenhouse entrance, he was already sweating profusely. He forced a smile and stood there.

"Oh, children, it took a tremendous amount of effort for me to subdue the Itch Vine. How are you all doing in the greenhouse now that I've dealt with the Itch Vine?"

A few Ravenclaw witches glanced up at him before hurrying on their way.

He didn't feel ashamed at all, but instead loudly proclaimed the treatment method for the itchy vine.

"That's a fake plant, isn't it?"

Sheen said.

"Of course it's fake, but some people need to believe it's real, otherwise it would be too embarrassing."

Speaking of this, it's not just the "Itchy Vine" that's fake.

Bruce blinked.

(End of this chapter)