At 1:30 PM, Karl Orolin really couldn't hold on any longer.
Although Professor Flitwick's descriptions were vivid, interesting, and packed with useful information, Karl had a Herbology Class at two o'clock.
That was the class of the current Hufflepuff powerhouse, Professor Pomona Sprout.
Never mind having the guts of a bear or leopard, even if he had eaten a Godzilla whip, Karl wouldn't dare skip his own Dean's class.
So, he weakly raised a hand, "Professor, I need to go to Herbology Class."
"Ah? So soon? Time really does slip away silently!"
Professor Flitwick stopped, looking very reluctant; he hadn't had such a pleasant chat in a long time.
After all, other Professors had heard about his competition experiences too many times.
"Alright Karl, let's stop here for now. You are always welcome to come to me if you have any questions."
"Perhaps you should have been a Ravenclaw, though Hufflepuff is not bad either."
"What I mean is, as long as you keep your passion for learning, you will definitely achieve great things."
Karl stood up and bowed to Professor Flitwick, "Thank you, Professor. I will keep your teachings in mind. See you next class."
Leaving the Charms Class classroom, Karl didn't dare delay for a moment and ran back to the common room via the infuriating magic staircases.
He swapped "The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1)" and "Magical Theory" for "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi".
Having learned his lesson, he also brought along "Dark Arts: A Guide to Self-Protection".
Just as Karl was about to leave, he suddenly remembered that Herbology Class was with Gryffindor.
So he thought for a moment and took a few copies of "the lion, the witch and the wardrobe" that the publisher had given him from his trunk.
Better safe than sorry; it could serve as promotion and potentially save his life.
...
With sparks flying, Karl finally arrived at the greenhouses behind the Castle before class started.
"Why is it always such a close call?"
Professor Pomona Sprout was a gentle lady; she had a build similar to Mrs. Molly Weasley and always wore a kind smile on her face.
Karl listened to the lecture attentively while enduring the gnashing glares from the little Gryffindor lions.
When it was time to group up to plant dittany, Katie Bell and Cormac came over directly.
"Karl Orolin! You big liar!"
The little girl looked furious, looking as if she wanted to pounce on him and take a bite.
"Exactly! You made me lose face!"
Cormac stared at Karl angrily. How had he not noticed before that this big-eyed, thick-browed guy could actually tell such lies!
"Can't help it, looks are innate. You need to have confidence. If you're really afraid of losing face, you can stay a bit further away from me."
"Pfft—hahaha... *cough cough*!"
Not only did Katie lose her composure, but Shabi and Stebbins, who were preparing to come over to help, also burst out laughing.
"You! You! You..."
Realizing what happened, Cormac wanted to punch Karl right in his handsome face.
"Hey~ Mr. McLaggen, don't get excited. Tell me exactly what happened first."
Seeing Cormac busy taking deep breaths, Karl shifted his gaze to Katie.
"It's that dragon Smaug you made up. Cormac thought it was something to be proud of that none of us got eaten this time, so he asked the prefect in public how many people had been eaten in previous years, and then we first-years got laughed at."
Karl sympathetically patted Cormac on the shoulder. This kid was quite bold; couldn't he have asked in private?
"Sorry brother, nobody wanted this to happen. Actually... you two, put down what's in your hands!"
Shabi and Stebbins didn't pay attention to the shovels that had inexplicably appeared in their hands, glaring at Karl with gritted teeth.
"Smaug was made up by you? There's no dragon in the Sorting Hat at all?"
"Calm down! I am your dear roommate!"
"Not anymore!"
"What happened to being brothers?"
"Bad memory! Forgot!"
Karl sighed, "Actually, it wasn't just you who were tricked; it was all the first-year students. Would it make you feel better to think of it that way?"
Although he didn't get an answer, Karl knew that made it even worse.
Because his Dean had gone out to get fertilizer, other Little wizards from Hufflepuff and Gryffindor gathered around with unfriendly expressions.
"Ahem! I won't pretend anymore. I'll lay my cards on the table: actually, I am a best-selling author."
"Because you are my dear classmates, I made an exception to share this story with you first."
"Aren't you touched?"
The Little wizards said in unison: "What do you think?!"
Cormac curled his lip in disdain, "You? A best-selling author? Who would believe that? We won't be fooled again!"
Karl held a copy of "the lion, the witch and the wardrobe" in each hand, lifting them up to show everyone.
"Take a look, everyone! A fantasy novel that both Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall approve of!"
The Little wizards: (⊙o⊙)
No way? You're serious?
Although they wanted to beat up Karl more than read a novel, he said Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall liked it!
Katie took a book and flipped through it; the author's name was indeed Karl Orolin.
"You didn't prepare these as props, did you?"
"I swear on my honor!"
The Little wizards: (¬_¬)
Do you even have that?
"Alright, if you don't believe me, you can go verify it with Professor McGonagall."
Seeing the Little wizards' attention shift to the novel, Karl quickly intensified his efforts.
"I feel very guilty for hurting everyone, so when the story of Smaug is published, I will gift one copy to every first-year student to express my apologies!"
"I believe that kind and generous as you are, you will forgive me, right? You will, right?"
The Little wizards' moods softened. Although, well... he did say we were kind and generous.
"Everyone can take the books back and pass them around to read. I hope you will like them."
"If you think they're pretty good, remember to help me promote them. Thanks, thanks!"
After Karl's glib talk, the Little wizards felt a bit dizzy:
Actually, it wasn't that serious; there was no need to pursue it further, and besides...
He can write stories! And he shared it with us first! He apologized! And he's even giving everyone a book!
He's actually not that bad!
Let's help promote it!
Karl: Plan successful!
Little wizards are still so naive!
...
After Herbology Class ended, Karl waved goodbye to the little Gryffindor lions.
He even thoughtfully told them to take the books and find upper-year students to use the Duplication Curse to make more copies, otherwise the circulation would be too slow.
Then the Hufflepuffs went in groups to the fourth floor of the Castle and entered the classroom to wait for class.
Karl didn't hesitate to choose a seat furthest from the podium; nothing personal, just for safety.
After all, this was Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, and the Professors were "one-year disposables".
Just ask around the world, what other magic school can be this arrogant?
Only Hogwarts!
The current Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Professor was an ordinary middle-aged Wizard named Elvis Heller.
Karl knew this Professor was destined to last only one school year, or perhaps even disappear halfway through.
Because the one teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts Class next year would be Professor Quirrell, who was currently teaching Muggle Studies.
Just as Karl was zoning out, Professor Heller walked into the classroom.
He stood on the podium, his calm gaze sweeping over the Hufflepuffs.
"Class starts!"