Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

After returning to the dormitory, Ryan continued to think while enjoying pudding.

"I have to go to the Forbidden Forest."

Obviously, he has made this decision.

but...

"It's not appropriate to go directly into the Forbidden Forest. The Ravenclaw teacher said that we should not be unprepared due to impulsiveness."

Ryan remembered what the twins had said about the Forbidden Forest.

There seemed to be a large number of magical creatures and beasts in the Forbidden Forest, which was quite dangerous - this made the twins only dare to explore the Forbidden Forest briefly when they visited at night.

In fact, Ryan was also confused when he heard this.

Because at least when he was still at Hogwarts, the Forbidden Forest existed purely to isolate the outside world.

The Big Four and Ryan planted guardian trees at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and set up some spells to prevent dark creatures and dangers from entering Hogwarts and harming the young wizards inside.

So he didn't quite understand when the Forbidden Forest became a gathering place for magical creatures. It was said that there were even dark creatures in the Forbidden Forest now. Ryan doubted the authenticity of this news.

But considering that there was even a three-headed dog in Hogwarts Castle, Ryan felt that this statement was not impossible.

"I need to prepare some ways to protect myself first. The dark magic props left by Mr. Slytherin are good, but most of them are too dangerous. It's risky for me to use them with my current body!"

Ryan tutted his words and said, "It's a pity that Professor Snape seems unwilling to cooperate with me. Otherwise, I could get the potion he brewed and I wouldn't have to worry about protecting myself."

He muttered so.

However, as the successor of the Big Four, what he learned was at least complicated enough.

So soon, he had an idea.

"It might be a bit cruel to use their words on wizards, but considering that our opponents might be the beasts of the Forbidden Forest... maybe it's just right!"

Chapter 54 Professor Sprout, Magical Soil

The greenhouse at Hogwarts is located at the rear of the castle and also serves as the Herbology classroom.

The mixed smell of earth and herbs filled the area, and sunlight filtered into the room through the translucent greenhouse roof.

The greenhouse is divided into many different sheds, each of which is home to magical plants.

That is all the work of Pomona Sprout, professor of Herbology.

When Ryan knocked on the door and entered, Professor Sprout was working happily in the greenhouse like a hardworking bee.

She was humming an unknown tune, seemingly preparing materials for the next herbalism class.

She waved her magic wand at the soil on the wooden table, and pink oleander kept jumping out of the soil.

Beside her was a copper watering can, which was dancing lightly to the tune she was humming, nodding and spraying out water mist.

"Oh, Ryan."

After seeing Ryan enter the greenhouse, Professor Sprout smiled: "Why are you here? I remember that the Herbology class you chose this week is the Hufflepuff class schedule? It should be on Thursday afternoon?"

"Yes, Professor."

Ryan looked at the gentle and kind professor who looked quite like a Hufflepuff.

"I have some questions I'd like to ask you—could you please answer them?"

"Oh, of course, kid."

Professor Sprout seemed a little surprised when he heard this, but then he immediately nodded.

She waved her wand gently, and a puff of disappointed water vapor sprayed out from the spray bottle above her head and fell on the wooden table.

"Of course I'm happy to answer your questions... Come with me—this place isn't very convenient. The spores of the oleander plant can make people depressed, and you definitely don't want to spend the day in a bad mood."

She carefully wiped off the dirt on her body, smiled at Ryan, and then walked to a pillar in the middle of the greenhouse - this pillar seemed to be a tree as a whole, with green leaves on top.

"The mystery of life."

Professor Sprout tapped the tree with his wand, chanted a spell, and a door appeared in the tree.

She opened the door and motioned for Ryan to come in with her, and of course Ryan obliged.

"Minerva suggested I choose a room in the castle as an office, but I'm worried about the plants in the greenhouse—they're still too young, fragile, and need care..."

"So it's inevitably a bit messy here, and the smell isn't very pleasant."

Professor Sprout said apologetically.

"Oh, it's okay, Professor—"

Ryan glanced at his surroundings.

Vines weave across the walls, their leaves dotted with glowing berries, giving the office a vibrant emerald green hue.

Books, lesson plans and course schedules are placed on the desk in the middle of the room, and dragon leather gloves and equipment related to plant cultivation can be seen in the drawers.

Everything is very similar to Professor Sprout's appearance - he seems a little sloppy, but he is more rigorous, kind and has a solemn respect for life.

“I think it’s great.”

Ryan said from the heart.

"Oh, thank you."

Professor Sprout waved his wand and conjured up a vine stool, motioning Ryan to sit down.

"What doubts do you have?"

She got straight to the point: "What you've been learning recently shouldn't be difficult for you. Neville once told me that your attainments in Herbology far surpass his."

As she spoke, she couldn't hide her curiosity.

"Professor, this is it."

Ryan decisively told the lie he had already prepared: "I was listening to a previous episode of 'The Toots Show' some time ago, and I noticed that Mr. Tilden Toots talked about knowledge about soil. He mentioned that some herbal experts would prepare their own unique soil when growing some magical plants..."

Professor Sprout didn't find it strange to hear this.

"The Sprouting Toots Show" is one of the flagship programs of the Wizarding Radio Network 'WWN'. It is a high-quality program on herbology and is highly praised by wizards. Its host, Tilden Toots, is also a wizard who has made great achievements in herbology.

Of course, its popularity has waned a bit in recent years...most young wizards prefer to listen to the music of the Weird Sisters.

"Tilden wasn't being precise, but it was true."

So Professor Sprout also spoke.

"Soil is crucial for growing magical plants. Even within the magical world, soils with magical properties are divided into humus soil, thermal soil, and..."

She began to explain, teaching Ryan the details about the magical plant soil in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

"A true herbalist will prepare his own unique soil according to different plant species..."

"Like brewing a potion?"

"Yes, they are all a kind of sophisticated magical craft - you are interested in it?"

Professor Sprout said in surprise.

Among the many courses at Hogwarts, Herbology and Potions are always the least interesting to new wizards.

But the reasons behind the two are different.

The young wizards' dislike for Potions class mainly comes from Snape's personal charm, while their dislike for Herbology comes from the course itself.

Professor Sprout is undoubtedly a respected elder, but few children really like to squeeze the slime from plants or fertilize them with dragon manure.

At least among this class of young wizards, the only student who was willing to talk to Professor Sprout about the content of the Herbology class after class was Neville Longbottom.

Ryan was the second one, and it was obvious that he had a deeper understanding of Herbology than Neville and asked more professional questions.

"Of course... Actually, I came here today hoping you would give me some soil so I can try to make it myself."

"of course can."

Professor Sprout agreed with little hesitation.

It was rare to meet a young wizard who was interested in herbal medicine, and the basic materials for preparing the soil were not precious items, so she certainly would not be stingy.

"Before that, I might be able to teach you some basic combinations."

She even enthusiastically started giving Ryan a private lesson.

"Mixing some Baconia mucus into the soil has a good catalytic effect on stabilizing the plant's magic power, and I also like to add some Platycodon grandiflorum juice..."

She briefly introduced several ways to configure soil.

After seeing Ryan record these things very seriously and roughly analyze the principles of such configuration.

"Excellent, very solid foundation - Hufflepuff gets ten points for that!"

She praised Ryan loudly.

"It's all thanks to you, Professor. You're an excellent master of herbalism—I mean, it's hard to find someone better than you."

Ryan also praised each other commercially.

Of course, what he said was true.

Professor Sprout's attainments in Herbology are definitely not inferior to Snape's attainments in Potions.

Both are masters who stand at the top of their respective fields.

But what Ryan didn't expect was...

"I'm just an apprentice."

Professor Sprout was modest.

"The true master is Madam Helga Hufflepuff, who is not only a legendary wizard - I think she is perhaps the greatest herbalist of all time."

She said this, clearly showing great admiration for Hufflepuff.

"I've read some of her writings. She has outstanding insights into the cultivation of magical plants!"

she whispered.

"It is said that she has a secret technique that can even make a seed quickly grow into a towering tree... It's a pity that this miraculous skill has not been passed down - huh? Ryan, what's wrong with you?"

When she said this, she found that Ryan's expression seemed a little strange.