Chapter 332 Afternoon Tea Is a Port Where Information Converges

"Dobby?" Professor McGonagall said without looking up, "Yes, he told me that too. Because you are a big threat, he wants Mr. Potter to be expelled; because that stupid woman is very dangerous, so I probably wouldn't be very surprised if he told me he was going to throw Mr. Potter off the Gryffindor Tower because our onions sprouted."

"Who is going to push Potter off the tower?" Professor Sprout asked, walking into the greenhouse.

Professor McGonagall looked up and conjured two chairs for her and for Snape behind her. The carnivorous weeds have bloomed - or sprouted tusks - so tempers have been very grumpy lately. On the tree stump that was originally used as a chair was a pile of parchment piled high, all of which were papers on transfiguration.

"No one," said Professor McGonagall. "We're talking about the Malfoy house elf."

Professor Sprout said understandingly: "Oh, that elf is indeed a bit neurotic. Really, I don't think students should bring their personal elves into school. That elf Malfoy has caused you a lot of trouble Right, Minerva?"

Snape said darkly: "I hope you won't forget, Pomona, that Lucius Malfoy was not the only one who proposed allowing a private house-elf into Hogwarts. As far as I know, there are others Making a fuss, complaining, writing hundreds of letters, sending a house elf to school just so his godson could be in the spotlight—"

"Severus," Professor McGonagall warned.

"I've only met the Black elf once," said Professor Sprout. "Well, come here, Severus. Here, this is the Aconitum I told you about, and I think it might It can be regarded as a subspecies of Aconitum wolfsbane. Look at its beautiful leaves.”

Snape strode over with a sullen face, bent down, and carefully examined the herb pointed out by Professor Sprout, his aquiline nose almost touching the leaves. Anthony guessed from this that Aconitum would not bite people.

Professor McGonagall asked: "Are you still trying to improve the wolfsbane potion?"

Snape said: "Since I have to brew it every month, and there happens to be a werewolf that can be used for live experiments, I don't see why I shouldn't do it."

Professor Sprout said reproachfully: "Don't sound so scary, Severus!"

"What I said is true," Snape said smoothly. "Werewolves - living subjects - experiments."

Anthony put down his teacup and asked, "Are you talking about Mr. Lupin?" He only knew this one werewolf.

Professor Sprout nodded at him and Snape said, "No, I'm talking about Greyback."

"Who is that?" Anthony asked.

Snape looked rather impatient at the need to explain his sarcasm.

"A very famous werewolf, as you might have guessed." He added emphasis on "very famous." "He is wanted by the Ministry of Magic, but no one knows that I have him hidden in my can of peas. , feed him half a spoonful of wolfsbane potion and two toads every day.”

"You're so kind," said Anthony. "How's Mr. Lupin doing?"

"Not bad," said Professor McGonagall. "I heard he still works for Florin Fusco. Fusco is happy to have a somewhat famous clerk in his shop, and he doesn't care much about Remus. At least those reporters who want to find out the news have to buy an ice cream first - but they have almost completely forgotten about Remus, and only try to cover him when they really can't write news. Schedule an interview."

Professor Sprout said happily: "That's great! Fusco is a kind man. They will definitely get along happily."

"Remus deserves to rest for a while." Professor McGonagall shook her head slightly, "He and Sirius, both of them." She lowered her head, circled an error on the paper, and wrote on the edge of the page. A correction was made.

Snape snorted. "Keep me two inches of the roots, Pomona, and an ounce of dried flowers. I think I can do something with it."

"No problem." Professor Sprout said, "You reminded me, I still need to reply to several potion masters' inquiry letters today. Oh, and there is also Barabo's seed list... It's really a lot of things... …”

"So, tea?" Anthony asked, holding up the teapot.

Professor Sprout sighed and said slightly reproachfully: "Of course."

She walked around a bunch of snarling plants with yellow flowers, sat on the chair conjured by Professor McGonagall, took the teapot, and poured herself a cup of tea. Snape insisted that he was very busy and had no time to waste on unnecessary chatting and enjoyment. He refused Professor Sprout's invitation and left the greenhouse like a gust of wind. His overgrown black cloak almost caught on a thorny bush.

"Severus is always busy." Professor Sprout said with surprise. "By the way, Minerva, have you received Miss Bell's Herbology paper? Because I got her Transfiguration paper."

Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows slightly: "No, Gryffindor's third-year Transfiguration course is tomorrow. I'm looking forward to what she will give me."

"Don't be so harsh, Minerva," said Anthony. "At least this proves that Miss Bell has finished her paper in advance."

"Or I forgot to write my herbal paper." Professor McGonagall said. "Speaking of which, Henry, I received Miss Davis' paper at noon today. I told her that I hoped she was feeling better. She looked a little surprised. "What happened to that girl?"

"Lack of sleep," said Anthony, "but Professor Lockhart and I were talking about tonsillitis."

"What?"

"Tonsillitis," Anthony repeated. "I've always liked the sound of that word. It's like a spell, isn't it?"

Professor Sprout asked, "It's not a spell?"

"Not as far as I know. I think it means the thing in your throat swells up, like a sandbag, and every time you swallow it you're punching it. But I'm not sure. Is there a spell? After all, Professor Lockhart told me that I should just ask for his help last night because he happens to know the counter-curse for tonsillitis. Logically speaking, if there is a counter-curse, there must be a spell."

"Yes, Gilderoy always knows the counter-curse of everything," said Professor Sprout, "especially when he knows it's too late."

Anthony had rarely heard her speak so unkindly of a colleague, so he pushed the cookie box in her direction with amusement.

Professor Sprout said dissatisfiedly: "Last weekend, he wanted to instruct me on how to apply moongazer excrement to the fanged geranium. If he is still in school, I will at least let him get bitten."

She stood up slightly, took a biscuit, and stuffed the tea cup into the center of the lavender flower bulb of the carnivorous plant - it was originally hanging above Professor McGonagall's head. The flower ball immediately wrapped tightly, making a crunching sound and the sound of cracking and rubbing of porcelain pieces. Tea dripped from the petals.

Professor McGonagall straightened her hat, calmly changed her seat, used her wand to absorb the smeared ink on the parchment, and continued grading the paper.

"Sorry," said Professor Sprout, "I'm used to giving them something to grind their teeth on."

Anthony was startled and quickly turned his head to see what the carnivorous plants around him were doing. They were fiercely and silently fighting over the chair that Professor McGonagall had conjured up and belonged to Snape.

"You should have seen the way Dolores looked when she received Gilderoy's 'friendly advice'." Professor McGonagall said calmly, finishing correcting another paper, "I was in a good mood all morning. "

Professor Sprout smiled: "Okay. What happened this afternoon?"

"Mr. Thomas was found secretly selling Roger Snakes and Wolf Fang flying saucers, and Miss Bell was caught throwing dung bombs at the door of the administrator's office." Professor McGonagall said, "Also, Colin Creevey In addition to taking photos outside the Senior Investigator's office and being detained for spying on the Ministry of Magic's privacy, the Senior Investigator also helped Rita submit an application for admission to the school."

"Again?" Professor Sprout asked sympathetically.

"Yes," said Professor McGonagall, "but I heard that Gilderoy did not agree to her interview appointment."

"Whether he agrees or not, it will not hinder the quill." Professor Sprout said, "Do you remember her report that described the weird sisters as mediocre and boring? I don't believe them. was interviewed by her."

A smile flashed across Professor McGonagall's face: "That report that made you angry for a week? Yes, I remember."

Professor Sprout said: "What did she come to school for again? What did Dolores want to do?"

"I think she just can't stand having her authority challenged." Professor McGonagall said. "If Albus hadn't promised me that she would stay here for a year at most, I really doubt whether she would stay here forever. ." She crossed a "P" on a paper that was scrawled like a stormy sea and put it aside. "Hogwarts is simply her amusement park of power - she can be imprisoned and deduct points at will. , you can even rate the professor!”

"To be honest, I don't read the investigation reports she sends anymore," Professor Sprout said. "And, honestly, I just don't like the thought of Rita sniffing around Hogwarts, especially But we still have a zoo that's almost finished and five chimeras - six, if you count the one in Sylvanos."

"The students of Hogwarts are in danger, beware, people of the wizarding world!" Anthony said, "It sounds like an honest report."

Professor McGonagall put down her quill and mused, "Do you think it would be helpful if we persuade Gilderoy to be interviewed?"

"Maybe," Anthony said. "On the bright side, maybe we'll become an irresponsible school with a self-proclaimed Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. A more honest report."

Professor Sprout lamented: "What a terrible wizarding school we are."