When Char saw the rewards that piranha algae could provide, his eyes sparkled with excitement. The water affinity bonus, as the name suggested, would make him more comfortable and adaptable in water. While it might not be as dramatic as the effects of gillyweed—which could give someone gills and webbed fingers—it would still allow him to move more freely underwater. And if he stacked the reward to a high enough level, he might even be able to stay submerged for much longer than usual.
With his legendary vitality already giving him remarkable endurance, Char imagined he could physically dive into the Black Lake—something few students would dare to try. The Black Lake was a treasure trove of magical creatures and plants: giant squid, merpeople, and countless rare aquatic herbs that even experienced herbologists and potion masters fought over. If Char could build up his water affinity, he might one day be able to explore the lake's secrets for himself.
But what truly caught Char's attention was the other reward: the bonus to cutting spells. This was exactly the kind of combat enhancement he'd been hoping for. He knew that powerful spells like the Severing Charm—famously used in the Half-Blood Prince's potions textbook—could be devastating in a duel. If the piranha algae's bonus could strengthen those spells, and if he could raise both the spell and the bonus to legendary levels, the results might be extraordinary. Perhaps even powerful enough to rival mythical abilities—and strong enough to defeat a wizard as dangerous as Dolohov.
There was another benefit, too: the cutting spell bonus might also improve his pruning spells, making his gardening even more efficient. For Char, this was a perfect combination—something that could help him both in battle and in his beloved greenhouse.
As for the difficulty of growing piranha algae, Char wasn't worried. The plant required complete darkness, but Char's newly acquired gold-level night vision meant he could see perfectly even in pitch black. And the sharp, serrated spines that had driven previous students to despair were nothing to him, thanks to his legendary vitality.
With his mind made up, Char turned to Professor Sprout. "I want to grow this," he said firmly.
But Professor Sprout's expression darkened. She rarely refused Char's requests, but this time, she hesitated. "No," she said, her voice unusually stern. "You can plant anything else, but not piranha algae."
There was a haunted look in her eyes, as if she was remembering something painful. "The last student who tried to grow it ended up with his hands covered in tiny cuts every day. Madam Pomfrey had to treat him constantly, but the wounds would just come back the next time he tended the algae. He told me that every time he put his hand into the tank, he felt a deep fear—like he was being watched by something hungry. He started having nightmares about being eaten by piranhas. He lost almost twenty pounds in a few weeks."
She clenched her hands tightly, her concern for Char written plainly on her face. "You're the last of the Sprout family, Char. I have to look out for you."
Char listened quietly, but his resolve didn't waver. Among all the aquatic herbs he'd seen, piranha algae offered the most promising rewards. If he chose something else, his progress would be much slower. After a moment, he spoke again, his voice steady and sincere.
"It's because I'm the last of the Sprout family that I've been given so many opportunities. I have to be worthy of them. My parents are watching over me, and they left a blood feud for me to settle. I can't let myself get too comfortable—I need to keep moving forward, even if it means a little pain."
He smiled reassuringly at Professor Sprout. "I'll be careful. If it really becomes too much, I'll stop. But I want to try."
Professor Sprout's expression shifted, torn between worry and pride. Finally, after a long struggle, she sighed. "You always have your own ideas, don't you?" she said, her voice soft with resignation.
She reached into a drawer and pulled out a thick, light-proof bag. "Inside are piranha algae seeds. When you spread them in the water, they'll quickly grow into long, thin fronds covered in tiny serrated spines. You'll have to reach in every day to remove the weak or dying fronds and help the healthy ones attach to the tank walls. And you'll have to do it all in complete darkness—no spells, no tools, just your hands."
She hesitated, then added, "They even seem to play hide and seek with you. You'll have to use your fingers to find and separate them. Are you sure you still want to do this?"
Char nodded, his determination unwavering.
With a sigh, Professor Sprout handed him the bag and began to explain the precautions in detail. She covered his water tank with thick black cloth, leaving only a small gap for him to work through. "Be careful," she said, her voice thick with concern.
Char took the bag and crawled into the narrow space between the black cloth and the tank. Inside, it was pitch black—not a single ray of light could penetrate. He would have to work entirely by feel and by memory, just as the previous student had.
Most people would have been terrified. The darkness, the unknown, the sharp spines waiting to bite—it was enough to give anyone nightmares. But Char had gold-level night vision. To him, the darkness was no obstacle. The tank might as well have been lit by the midday sun.
Without hesitation, Char opened the bag and sprinkled the piranha algae seeds into the water. Almost immediately, the seeds began to swell and spread, sending out long, thin fronds covered in tiny, serrated spines. The algae grew at an astonishing rate, filling the tank with a tangle of greenish-black tendrils.
Some of the fronds were healthy and vibrant, while others were weak and pale. The weak ones had to be removed to keep the rest strong, and the healthy ones needed to be gently pressed against the tank walls to help them grow.
This meant reaching his hand into the water, right into the midst of the sharp spines. For most people, it would have been agony—a constant barrage of tiny, stinging cuts. But Char's skin, toughened by his legendary vitality, was almost impervious to the spines. To him, they felt more like the gentle prickles of a massage brush than the teeth of a piranha.
As he worked, Char let out a soft hiss. Professor Sprout, waiting anxiously outside, called out, "Char? Are you all right? If it's too much, you can stop!"
But Char's next sound was one of surprise, not pain. "Auntie," he said, his voice bright with amusement, "it doesn't hurt at all. It feels crisp and tingly—kind of refreshing, actually. This piranha algae massage is pretty good!"
Professor Sprout blinked, then laughed in relief. "You're something else, Char. Only you could turn something so dangerous into a spa treatment."
Char grinned and went back to work, his hands moving deftly through the water. He could see every detail of the algae's growth, every spine and frond, and he worked with a care and precision that would have been impossible for anyone else.
As he tended the piranha algae, Char felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. This was a new challenge, a new way to grow—not just as a gardener, but as a wizard and as a person. The rewards would come in time: greater water affinity, stronger cutting spells, and maybe, just maybe, the power he would need to face his family's greatest enemy.
The greenhouse was quiet, the only sounds the gentle ripple of water and the occasional rustle of leaves. But for Char, it was the beginning of a new adventure—one that would test his courage, his magic, and his heart.
__________________________
"Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed the chapter, please consider donating Power Stones and joining our patreon
[patreon.com /coolperry]
for early access to future chapters.(+30 chapters)