Chapter 274: The Worst Schedule at Hogwarts

It took only half a lesson for Professor Kettleburn to shatter everyone's preconceptions about the Care of Magical Creatures class. Especially after getting up close with the Bowtruckles, the students realized these tiny creatures were incredibly fascinating.

Bowtruckles are a straightforward type of magical creature, unafraid to show their emotions. When given a handful of wood lice, they eagerly extend their slender arms, latch onto students' clothes, and swing back and forth. Sometimes, they'll even tuck themselves into the pockets of a young wizard's robes, enjoying a snack out of sight.

Before long, a long line of students had formed—everyone wanted a chance to spend a bit more time with the Bowtruckles. To give everyone the opportunity to interact with them, Professor Kettleburn limited the time to two minutes per student.

Seeing the demand, Professor Kettleburn even made a trip to the Forbidden Forest to bring back a fresh batch of Bowtruckles—about twenty in all. After all, the previous group had already been well fed, yet there were still dozens of students eagerly waiting their turn. Without an increase in numbers, many wouldn't get the chance to experience the creatures firsthand.

While students waited in line, Professor Kettleburn stood nearby, loudly explaining, "Because Bowtruckles never choose to inhabit trees without magical properties, the trees they guard are often ideal for wand-making. That's why wand-makers are so keen on these little fellows—they can skip the search for the right trees and simply follow the Bowtruckles."

...

Professor Kettleburn's lectures were always detailed and captivating, and he seemed to have an answer for every question.

"Professor, what would a Bowtruckle do if it found itself in a regular forest?" asked a Gryffindor student from the back of the class.

"They'd still live in the tree, but it wouldn't be as comfortable," Professor Kettleburn replied. "Imagine being asked to leave the warmth of your bed to sleep at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Not exactly cozy, right?"

"Then, Professor, if there were five Bowtruckles and six magical trees, which tree would they abandon?"

"All but the oldest one," he said with a grin. "Bowtruckles tend to stick together on one tree until they reach a certain number, and only then will they spread to another."

"What if all the trees are the same age?" someone else asked.

"Then they'd simply choose the closest one."

As the questions continued, they grew more challenging, and some students seemed to ask things just to test him. One even ventured, "Professor, how many Bowtruckles could a hungry dragon eat in one bite?"

Without missing a beat, Professor Kettleburn answered, "Based on the size of a dragon's mouth and the number of Bowtruckles on a tree, about twelve, I'd say. But Bowtruckles aren't exactly a dragon's meal of choice—they're small, quick, and have very little meat. You can't expect them to just sit there waiting for a dragon to come along!"

The students burst into applause, and the one who had asked that question clapped the loudest, his hands turning red. And just like that, the class flew by.

As the lesson wrapped up, Professor Kettleburn approached Kyle. "So, was it boring?" he asked.

Kyle shook his head. "No, it was... interesting."

Professor Kettleburn raised an eyebrow. "Honestly now?"

"Well... maybe just a little," Kyle admitted, scratching his head sheepishly.

Professor Kettleburn chuckled. "Last night, I was on the Hebrides Islands, and guess who I ran into—Newt! We chatted, and he had quite a bit to say about you. He even mentioned how you helped a Nundu give birth."

Kyle laughed awkwardly. Newt was famously shy but seemed to tell everyone everything. Worried about gaining an unusual reputation, Kyle quickly protested, "It was really all thanks to Mr. Scamander; I just helped a bit."

But Professor Kettleburn, pretending not to hear, mused, "Sounds like this year's Care of Magical Creatures class might be a little too simple for you."

"Good timing, though," he continued, "I got a letter from Professor McGonagall before class. You've signed up for quite a few courses, haven't you?"

Kyle nodded.

"Then head off to another class," Kettleburn said, giving him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. He shook his head and muttered, "It's a shame that Hippogriff didn't wait a few more days to have its foal... With your help, it might have been a little easier to handle."

As he spoke, he absently rubbed his chest, where his coat—made from some mysterious material—displayed three neat white claw marks, courtesy of the Hippogriff. Kyle couldn't help but notice, wincing a bit at the thought.

Trying to change the subject, Kyle asked, "Professor, where's your prosthetic leg?"

"Oh, I left it on the Hebrides Islands. Those big creatures can be quite a handful when they get riled up."

...

After bidding farewell to Professor Kettleburn, Kyle and Kanna headed back toward the castle. On the way, Kanna turned to him curiously.

"So, you helped deliver magical creatures?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.

"Let's just forget that happened and stay good friends!" Kyle retorted. "It was Newt who did all the work—I was just an assistant at best!"

Kanna's eyes crinkled into crescent moons as she watched his exasperated expression, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.

The second period was History of Magic, taught by the ever-droning Professor Binns. As soon as he began reciting endless lists of dates and historical figures, the classroom slipped into its usual stupor. After two years of this, the situation had only grown worse, with more students nodding off each class. Within minutes, the room filled with the sound of gentle snoring.

Strangely enough, the students seemed to have developed a peculiar skill—they could sleep soundlessly in Professor Binns' class, achieving the deepest, most peaceful rest, even if they snored back in the dormitories. It was as if the desks in the History of Magic classroom held some magical sleep-inducing power.

When class finally ended, everyone woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, quickly gathering their things and heading to the Great Hall for dinner. At the entrance, Kyle ran into the Weasley twins, who were huddled together in discussion. They stopped abruptly when they saw him, then hurried off.

"What do you think they were talking about?" Kyle asked Kanna.

Kanna shook her head, her face still bearing the faint imprint of a textbook she'd fallen asleep on. "No idea..." Kyle watched the twins' retreating figures, still puzzled, then shrugged and walked into the Great Hall.

...

The following two afternoons were scheduled with Snape's Potions class. A timetable featuring History of Magic in the morning and Potions in the afternoon on the first day of the new term—surely, it was one of the most unfortunate schedules at Hogwarts.

As they trudged out of the common room, the students' faces reflected their shared dread. Only Kanna seemed unaffected. Those who hadn't managed to finish their Potions homework stumbled along.