Chapter -61 Date? or Mushroom Hunt.

Chapter -61.

The students were all cheering for Harry and Malfoy as they zoomed through the air, completely oblivious to the little adventure Dudley and Hermione were having. A few Slytherins noticed but quickly looked away, thinking, "We better not say anything!"

Meanwhile, Dudley and Hermione made their way across the lawn, jogging along the path toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Hermione's heart was racing—she felt a little guilty about skipping class, but the thrill of exploring was just too tempting to resist!

Her cheeks were as red as a ripe apple. The flying class had been a total snooze-fest, and she figured this was the perfect chance to discover more of Hogwarts. After all, she had been there for a while, but aside from her bedroom, the classroom, and the library, she hadn't really explored this magical place.

During the day, the Forbidden Forest was a bit dim but still inviting.

Hogwarts is nestled in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, surrounded by a temperate maritime climate. The trees—oak, maple, and beech—formed a thick, dark canopy that could feel a bit overwhelming at first glance.

But not for Dudley!

He was used to living in a mountainous area, so the Forbidden Forest felt like just a bigger version of what he was used to. The real magic was in the creatures and plants that called it home.

"Wow!" As soon as they stepped into the forest, Hermione was mesmerized by the scenery. Sunlight peeked through the leaves, casting playful green and yellow shadows on the ground. The gentle breeze made the shadows dance, and even Hermione's racing heart began to calm.

While Hermione was lost in the beauty of the forest, Dudley watched her closely. He noticed she seemed a bit troubled lately—not just about her flying lessons, but there was something else on her mind. Since she hadn't said anything, he didn't want to pry. He hoped that this little adventure would help her unwind.

It turned out that Hermione had a bit of a stubborn streak, just like him. Harry was the same way too! Maybe being around each other had made them all a little more alike.

Could two stubborn people really attract each other?

He chuckled at the thought.

Hermione bounced ahead, her curiosity shining through. In that moment, she wasn't just the brainy Gryffindor; she was a lively, ordinary girl enjoying the wonders around her.

"Over here! Dudley! Come check this out!"

She stood under a massive tree that looked like it had been there for a thousand years, big enough for a few people to hug. Dudley walked over and saw her pointing excitedly at the branches above.

"Look there!"

Sunlight streamed through the leaves, highlighting the trunk and revealing the intricate patterns of the bark. Following her gaze, Dudley spotted a small yellow plant with five petals nestled between the trunk and branches.

"Hey, that's St. John's Wort!" Hermione chirped, her eyes sparkling. "It's a rare herb that's said to have some magical properties. Rubbing the leaves can produce a juice that looks like blood, and it's used for all sorts of things, like treating wounds and even helping with anemia!"

Dudley just smiled and listened patiently, even though he recognized the herb right away.

Once Hermione finished her explanation, Dudley quickly climbed up the tree, pulled out a small shovel and some tools from his pouch, and carefully dug up the herb, placing it into a little bottle he had brought along.

"Nice job!"

Hermione admired his technique. She knew a lot about herbs but felt she wouldn't be able to do what Dudley just did. She couldn't help but giggle at the sight of him, with his big hands delicately pinching the herb.

Her laughter rang through the Forbidden Forest, and her bright smile lit up the place.

"Hermione, you look amazing when you smile! You should smile more often," Dudley said, being completely honest. This made Hermione blush, and she playfully punched his chest in embarrassment.

That's why the Forbidden Forest is known as a treasure trove for potion ingredients! Just wandering around, Dudley had already collected a bunch of herbs. While none were super rare, he found quite a few, spotting a new plant every few steps.

He gathered all sorts of herbs like mistletoe, fish mint, white ash, and water chestnut, especially taking almost all the fish mint roots, as if he planned to grow them back home.

They even stumbled upon a unique plant called the Babbler Tuber, which looked like a dark, sticky slug. It wasn't the prettiest plant, but it had great medicinal value, so Dudley carefully collected it. Just a heads up, its juice can be harmful to the skin, so it's best to wear dragonhide gloves when picking it!

After gathering that herb, Dudley found Hermione standing in front of a glowing, mushroom-like plant.

Looks like even our know-it-all had a moment of confusion!

"This is a type of mushroom we'll learn about in fourth-grade herb class! It's supposed to belong to the fungal category, but it seems magical fungi don't have their own subject," she explained excitedly.

"This mushroom umbrella is super sensitive; if you touch it, it sprays spores that can paralyze someone! It's used to make paralysis potions."

"Interestingly, the mushroom itself is even rarer than the Babbler Tuber, but most wizards are only interested in its spores."

"For wizards, enhancing strength isn't really a big deal; they're more into potions that boost magical power."

But for Dudley, this was just what he needed! After carefully picking it, he added the magical mushroom to his collection.

"A little girl picking mushrooms, carrying a big basket!"

"One, two, three, four, five, five, five, five, six, seven, eight!"

In a cheerful mood, Dudley started humming a little tune, and Hermione joined in as they strolled and gathered potion ingredients.

As they wandered through a small part of the Forbidden Forest, they suddenly realized the moon had risen high above the trees.

"Oh no!" Dudley exclaimed, his face going pale.

"we missed dinner!"

Note : Guys, some power stones will be really helpful.

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