38 Moon Oak

"Hermione, you seem to have undergone a change," one of the twin sisters observed, looking at Hermione with curiosity.

"I agree, you look even more beautiful and... closer to someone," the other sister chimed in with a knowing smile.

The two chatted and speculated about Hermione's transformation, and she couldn't help but bask in the happiness of their words. She held her head high, feeling like a proud swan. She cast a glance at Lavender, who responded with a snort.

Lavender, on the other hand, seemed both annoyed and frustrated by the situation. Without a word, she opened the door and left the dormitory.

"It must be a precious magical item!"

"Perhaps it's worth thousands of Galleons; I've never seen anything like it."

The twin sisters continued their discussion, and Hermione suddenly felt that the gift might be too costly. With a thoughtful expression, she carefully removed the earrings and placed them back in their box. Miraculously, when the earrings returned to the box, they transformed into leaves once more.

"These are too expensive. I should return them to Artel," Hermione thought, her lips pursed.

While reluctant, Hermione intended to give the gift back. As the twin sisters had suggested, these leaves appeared to be extremely valuable magical items, and it didn't seem right for Artel to spend so much on a birthday present. Yet, Hermione was undeniably elated.

Looking down at the leaves in the box, her face flushed slightly. She carefully closed the gift box and took a deep breath. The air in the bedroom was fresh, imbued with a special magic that made people feel relaxed and clear-headed.

"I wonder where Artel is right now... I'll give it back to him at lunchtime," Hermione decided, placing the gift box back in her bag. She sat beside her bed, took out a book, and began to read.

A vine adorned the railing at the head of her bed, displaying a pale pink flower that emitted a delicate fragrance. For the first time, Hermione found reading in her bedroom more pleasant than the library.

Meanwhile, Artel was oblivious to Hermione's contemplation. He was focused on the self-stirring cauldron in the Room of Requirement.

"The primary Orc potion can yield about 1,000 bottles, and the basic ingredients for the Strong Orc potion require approximately 400 bottles. Centaur blood can be obtained in the Forbidden Forest, but the creatures..."

"The heart tendon of one troll is only enough for ten bottles of Strong Orc potion, and finding five hundred trolls... Where can I acquire them?"

Artel sighed. It was a daunting task to assemble a Strong Orc army of 5,000 members.

First, he needed to brew 5,000 bottles of the primary Orc potion, then create 5,000 regular Orcs, absorb their souls, and use Orc souls, troll heart tendons, centaur blood, and other materials to craft the Strong Orc potion.

The conditions for exchanging these primary restraints were incredibly demanding.

Yet, the rewards were substantial. Unlocking at a 20% degree would grant him the special ability of a Supreme Lord of the Rings directly.

"We'll have to find a way to start with wizarding families. The Malfoy family probably has an extensive collection, or perhaps we could even consider looting Gringotts and purchasing items directly with the money we acquire. After all, the wizarding world extends far beyond London..."

"During my vacations, I can explore other countries and shop for magical items."

Artel gazed at the bubbling cauldron, lost in thought about Hermione.

"Even though it's just a leaf, it's a Rivendell Moon Oak leaf. While it might be uncommon in Middle-earth, it's a unique magical item here."

That leaf had cost Artel twenty points, and it was a leaf from the Rivendell Moon Oak.

Rivendell, the elven realm, had been home to the Moon Oak tree for thousands of years. It had been bathed in countless layers of life and natural magic, endowing each leaf with special magical properties.

It had the power to keep the wearer free from dust, promote a connection to nature, enhance energy levels, and sharpen mental focus, among other benefits.

It was a thoughtful gift for Hermione, who had a deep love for reading.

After brewing a few more bottles of orc potions, Artel cleaned up and prepared to head to the Great Hall for lunch. He had History of Magic in the afternoon and was looking forward to getting some rest.

In the Great Hall, Artel spotted Hermione.

She eagerly waved at him, afraid she might miss him.

"Artel!"

Artel walked over and took a seat next to Hermione, who was looking at him with shy gratitude. She reached into her bag and retrieved the small gift box.

"Thank you for the gift, but it must have been very expensive."

"Expensive? It's just a leaf..."

Artel couldn't help but smirk.

"No, Professor Sprout said it's a magical item worth at least a few thousand Galleons... and it's truly remarkable..."

Hermione shared several facts, and Artel finally understood, smiling gently.

"It seems there's been a misunderstanding. This item isn't worth thousands of Galleons. It's just an enchanted leaf, and it doesn't work as effectively for ordinary people."

Artel opened the box and retrieved the Moon Oak leaf.

As soon as he touched it, the leaf transformed into an earring.

"This is a leaf from the Moon Oak tree. When touched by moonlight at night, it takes on the shape and color of the moon. When worn, it's imbued with natural magic, making the mind sharper and more energetic. Other than that, it doesn't have any special effects."

"Oh, and the first-time-picked leaves have a unique property. Due to their accumulation of more magical energy, they affect the surrounding environment, somewhat like casting a spell that encourages plant growth."

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