The idea of cultivating a new magical herb filled Char's heart with eager anticipation. So far, his greenhouse work had focused on three main plants: marigolds, goldfish spider plants, and glow mushrooms. Each offered its own unique rewards. The marigolds and goldfish spider plants helped boost his magical strength and perception—essentially, they were slowly but surely improving his magical talent. The glow mushrooms, on the other hand, deepened his understanding of the Lumos charm, making his planting routines more efficient than ever.
And yet, as much as these plants had helped him, Char couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing. While the rewards he'd gathered so far were steadily building up his magical potential, the process was slow. Talent took time to translate into real power, and Char knew that patience was key. But there was a shadow on the horizon—a threat that wouldn't wait for him to grow at his own pace.
He remembered the name: Antonin Dolohov. In a few years, according to the history Char recalled, Dolohov would escape from prison. The Sprout family had a blood feud with him, and Professor Sprout's pain and anger over his crimes were a wound that never fully healed. Char had made a promise—to himself and to his family—that he would put an end to Dolohov's cruelty.
But to do that, he would need more than just talent and patience. He would need real strength—the kind that could stand against a hardened, dangerous wizard. The plants he was growing now, while valuable, couldn't give him that kind of power in just a few years.
So, as he walked through the castle corridors, Char mulled over a new idea. "Maybe it's time to find a magical herb that can help me in battle," he thought. "Something that can give me an edge, or at least help me defend myself and those I care about."
With this in mind, Char made his way to Professor Sprout's office. As soon as he entered, he was greeted by her cheerful voice.
"There you are, Char! I've been looking for you. The Hufflepuffs are holding a special banquet tonight to celebrate your victory in the Lumos final—and to mark our fifth week at the top of the House Cup! I thought you'd be there, but you vanished as soon as class ended."
Char smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Professor. I got caught up in my planting plans. I didn't mean to miss the celebration."
Professor Sprout sighed, shaking her head with a knowing smile. "That's just like you, Char. You've been working so hard for so long—you deserve a break. But I suppose I can't blame you for wanting to keep at it."
Char nodded, then turned the conversation to his real reason for coming. "Actually, I was hoping to start growing a new kind of magical herb. I feel like I'm ready for something different—something a bit more challenging."
Professor Sprout's expression softened. She wasn't surprised by the request; in fact, she'd been expecting it. "I thought you might say that," she admitted. "As soon as I saw how well your glow mushrooms were doing, I knew you'd be looking for a new project. And you're welcome to use any of the seeds or materials I have here. But there's a catch."
She leaned forward, her tone turning serious. "Several of our senior students are preparing to publish their herbology papers, and they need the greenhouse space. Plus, a few visiting herbologists have been on the waiting list for years. If you want to keep your glow mushroom field and start a new experimental plot, it's going to be hard to arrange—even for me."
Char's heart sank a little. He understood how precious the greenhouse resources were. If it weren't for his connection to Professor Sprout, he'd never have been given such a large experimental field as a first-year. Asking for more would be pushing his luck.
But Professor Sprout wasn't finished. She had a solution in mind. "It's difficult to arrange more space in the main greenhouse right now," she said, "but that doesn't mean you can't try something new. Not all magical herbs need soil, you know."
Char's eyes brightened. "You mean… hydroponics?"
Professor Sprout smiled. "Exactly. Many magical herbs thrive underwater, and some even prefer it to soil. If you're interested, I can show you our aquatic herb cultivation area."
With a flick of her wand, she conjured a large, transparent water tank—taller than Char himself—right in the middle of her office. "This is just the beginning," she said, her voice tinged with excitement. "There's a whole section of the greenhouse dedicated to aquatic herbs. I've already set aside a space for you."
Char felt a warm rush of gratitude. Professor Sprout had clearly been thinking ahead, preparing for this moment. She led him through a small door at the back of the greenhouse, into a vast, humid room filled with rows of water tanks. The space was almost as large as the main experimental field, and the air was thick with the scent of water and growing things.
Professor Sprout arranged several large water tanks in an open area, then turned to Char with a proud smile. "This is our aquatic herb cultivation shed. Most aquatic herbs can be grown here, except for a few that need the special environment of the Black Lake. You're welcome to use this space for your next project."
She began to introduce Char to some of the aquatic herbs. "This is gillyweed," she said, pointing to a tank filled with tangled, greenish tendrils. "It's very rare and valuable. When eaten, it gives the user gills, fins, and webbed fingers and toes—allowing them to breathe and swim underwater for about an hour."
Char studied the gillyweed with interest. He remembered reading about it in the original story—how Harry had used it to compete in the Triwizard Tournament. The reward information appeared in his mind:
[After cultivation, you will receive rewards: underwater action ability (Silver level), a small amount of mermaid language perception (Black Iron level)]
A silver-level reward! But Char knew that gillyweed was notoriously difficult to cultivate, and its rewards, while impressive, weren't quite what he was looking for. He wanted something that could help him in battle—something that could give him an edge against a powerful foe.
Professor Sprout continued the tour, showing Char other aquatic herbs: water lilies that glowed in the dark, algae that purified water, and even a type of seaweed that could be used in healing potions. Each had its own unique properties and rewards, but none quite matched what Char was hoping for.
Then, as they reached the far end of the room, Char noticed a water tank covered with a thick, opaque black cloth. "What's in there?" he asked, curiosity piqued.
Professor Sprout sighed. "That's piranha algae. It was cultivated by a former student, but it's a very demanding plant. It can't tolerate any light—even a single ray will cause it to wither. And it needs daily pruning, but not with spells or scissors. You have to pull the split ends out by hand."
She hesitated, then added, "The problem is, the algae is covered in tiny, serrated spines—like the teeth of a piranha. Every time you prune it, you end up with dozens of little cuts on your hands. They don't hurt much, but they sting, and over time, it wears you down. The student who tried to cultivate it gave up after a few weeks, and no one's wanted to try since."
As Professor Sprout spoke, the reward information for the piranha algae appeared in Char's mind:
[Grow piranha algae to get a reward - slightly improved water affinity (Black Iron Level)]
[Cultivate mature piranha algae, the reward will be upgraded to - a slight increase in water affinity (Bronze level), a very slight increase in cutting spells (Black Iron level)]
Char's heart raced. The rewards weren't as dramatic as he'd hoped, but the mention of "cutting spells" caught his attention. Maybe, just maybe, this plant could help him develop new magical skills—skills that could be useful in a fight.
He turned to Professor Sprout, determination in his eyes. "I'd like to try cultivating the piranha algae," he said. "It sounds challenging, but I think I'm ready for it."
Professor Sprout looked surprised, then proud. "Are you sure, Char? It's not an easy plant to work with. But if anyone can do it, it's you."
Char nodded. "I'm sure. I want to push myself, and I think this could help me grow in ways I haven't before."
Professor Sprout smiled, her eyes shining. "Then it's yours. I'll help you get started, and if you need anything, just ask."
As Char looked at the covered water tank, he felt a thrill of excitement. This was a new challenge—a chance to grow not just as a gardener, but as a wizard. And with each new plant, he was one step closer to the strength he would need to face the dangers ahead.
The aquatic herb shed was quiet, the only sound the gentle ripple of water in the tanks. But for Char, it was the beginning of a new adventure—one that would test his patience, his courage, and his magic.