New chapter! Thanks for all the support!
x
Before long, the agreed time with their friends arrived.
Malfoy and Neville came early to Godric's Hollow through the Floo Network.
Unfortunately, Ron still failed to come in the end. His father Arthur had been absurdly lucky recently and won the Daily Prophet's annual Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A full seven hundred Galleons. Their family planned to use the money to travel to Egypt, because the eldest Weasley son, Bill, worked there.
Before even entering the gate, Malfoy sighed in admiration when he saw the circle of ironthorn security hedges, each taller than a person.
"I really should suggest that Father put in a circle of these as well."
Malfoy Manor had practically no defensive measures. If someone wanted to go in, they could simply go in.
It was worth mentioning that Malfoy no longer referred to Lucius with a proud "my father" expression. Instead, he used a relatively more formal tone.
Although the ironthorn security hedge could not defend against wizards, the purpose of these thorns was not true defense, but warning. If a wizard wanted to clear these thorns, it would inevitably draw the attention of the owner.
The moment they officially stepped through the large iron gate into the garden, Neville and Malfoy's eyes both lit up. It was as if they had arrived in another world, a hidden paradise.
"It isn't much worse than my family's manor," Malfoy could not help praising, even though he had seen plenty.
His family's Malfoy Manor was large, yes, but it had a hollow feeling. The only real scenery was the central fountain and that white peacock.
Dudley's place was different. The entire garden was made up of countless lawns, and each lawn was planted with a different kind of magical plant. Many of the plants were ones Malfoy could not name at all, each with its own features. Countless fairies, butterflies, and other little creatures flew among those magical plants. It was extremely beautiful.
At the very center of the garden stood a small five-story castle.
During this period, the castle had basically been modified. Dudley, Harry, and Hermione had already lived there for some time. In fact, the old Potter house was more or less repaired as well, but Harry had no intention of moving there. After all, that place did not have his parents, nor did it have Dudley. It could not be called home.
Strictly in terms of internal floor area, the castle was actually larger than Malfoy Manor. After all, it had five floors. Its footprint was slightly smaller, but if the old Potter house beside it was counted as well, then in terms of area alone, it was not inferior to Malfoy Manor.
It was not that Dudley did not want an even larger place, and it was even less because he lacked money. The main reason was that Godric's Hollow was the legendary birthplace of one of the four founders, Godric Gryffindor.
Many wizards lived here. In many cases, even if one had money, others would not sell.
It was different from a remote place like Malfoy Manor, where there was not a single person for miles around.
"Malfoy, if I were you, I would stop walking forward."
Seeing Malfoy cross a patch of magical pumpkins and continue forward, Harry kindly reminded him.
Ahead of Malfoy was a patch of cabbages.
Malfoy looked at him in surprise, then said carelessly, "They're only cabbages. What's there to worry about? Potter, have you broken your brain?"
"I think Harry is serious," Neville, who had been following behind the two, suddenly said.
As a Herbology expert, Neville could not move his eyes away once he saw that cabbage patch.
The color of these cabbages was different from the pure green one usually imagined. Instead, their green carried some orange-yellow.
Especially the outermost layer, which was orange enough to look yellow.
"What are those?"
Seeing Neville say the same thing, Malfoy finally confirmed that Harry was not joking with him. After staring at the cabbages for a while, he asked.
He could not see anything unusual.
Please forgive Malfoy. He was not very good at Herbology.
"Harry, I don't think I am mistaken, am I?" Neville asked Harry uncertainly.
There was an implied meaning in his tone. Harry understood what he wanted to ask.
"That area is an important defensive measure," Harry emphasized.
After hearing this, Neville suddenly understood.
Only Malfoy listened with a clouded expression, completely lost.
"What exactly are you two talking about?"
Neville kindly explained to him. "Those cabbages, if I am not mistaken..."
"They are Chinese Chomping Cabbages."
"Chinese Chomping Cabbages? What are those?"
Malfoy was still completely confused. Herbology truly was not his area of expertise. His progress was not much higher than other students in the same year, and he had not yet studied them.
Chinese Chomping Cabbage, simply put, was magical cabbage.
Only this cabbage was not the harmless kind in the ordinary world, peeled layer by layer and a little bitter when eaten.
This plant bit people. At its heart grew a large mouth full of sharp teeth. It was extremely aggressive. Most importantly, it was a plant that could move freely.
If there were enough of them, even a dragon could be bitten to death alive.
Directly ahead of Malfoy was an entire planting field of Chomping Cabbages.
After listening to Neville's explanation, Malfoy could not help shivering. Without changing his expression, he moved a few steps to the side, doing his best to stay away from the cabbage patch. His footsteps also became much lighter, as if he were afraid of waking the cabbages.
Nothing else needed to be said. This cabbage patch alone could raise the castle's defense by an entire level.
It was absolutely top-tier defense.
"These cabbages grow slowly and have strict requirements. They are very hard to cultivate. Big D spent a lot of effort on them," Harry introduced.
His volume made Malfoy nervous. "Shh, Potter. Keep your voice down."
A single word highlighted his cowardice perfectly.
Harry shook his head somewhat helplessly. "Relax. Without Big D's order, as long as you don't accidentally walk in there, nothing will happen. These cabbages won't come out easily."
Neville withdrew his reluctant gaze and followed the others.
As a Herbology prodigy, he naturally knew the charm of Chomping Cabbages.
Soon, they crossed the garden and arrived at the castle's front door.
"How do we get in?" Malfoy asked, looking at the bare door.
This door had been modified by Dudley. Not only did it have no handle, it did not even have a keyhole. Even if one wanted to use Alohomora, known as the thief's friend, there was nowhere to use it.
Harry glanced at him with the expression of someone looking at a country bumpkin, which made Malfoy very uncomfortable.
Then Harry walked directly in front of the door.
"Facial recognition passed."
A slightly mechanical voice rang in the ears of several people.
The door slowly opened.
"What magic is this?"
Malfoy could no longer care whether he looked like a country bumpkin or not. He only felt it was wondrous.
Harry thought for a moment and answered, "It is similar to Ravenclaw's eagle-shaped bronze door knocker. It can identify us on its own."
"Cool!" Malfoy exclaimed.
Then the three of them entered the castle.
x
x
x
If you're enjoying the story so far, consider supporting me on Patreon ❤️
You'll get weekly early access to chapters, along with some exclusive content:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheDevotedReader