chapter 54

In terms of breaking school rules, Fred and George certainly had extensive experience, and Professor Sprout really didn't notice them. Though she and Hagrid did patrol the vicinity later, it wasn't to the extent of mobilizing people to check student dormitories.

The only thing that made Robert feel bad was that Professor Sprout was paying more attention to the Whomping Willow. For a long time after that, Robert came outside through the secret passage more than once, hoping to use the same trick again and collect more Whomping Willow branches. But these attempts all failed.

Every time before he could get close to the Whomping Willow, he would receive a screeching warning from Scout Tom. This meant there were people around—possibly Professor Sprout or maybe Filch or others. In short, it wasn't safe. So, Robert would return to the castle as fast as possible. Fortunately, no one suspected anything. Hogwarts allowed cats as pets, so a cat meowing at night was perfectly normal.

But even so, Robert was quite angry. It was all thanks to those two reckless guys, Fred and George. Otherwise, he could've gotten at least two or three more branches! So, every time he saw these two, Robert never gave them a good look. Fred and George didn't have any complaints about this because, in truth, it was the two brothers who had held things back. After all, Robert had been able to get such a long branch without any harm, while they had not only come back empty-handed but also alerted Professor Sprout.

In the end, it was still due to their insufficient capability.

However, after this incident, the relationship between them and Robert did improve, with a sense of regret for not meeting sooner. According to Fred's original words: The Sorting Hat is simply too reliable, Robert is a born Gryffindor.

Naturally, Robert was even more angry about this and then added this debt to the Sorting Hat's head. For a while, he even thought about whether or not to leave the already completed Whomping Willow Wand for the Sorting Hat.

Originally, according to Robert's plan, this wand body was meant to be paired with another Acromantula leg. But after the wand body was finished, he suddenly felt a bit reluctant to part with it. He didn't know if it was because Robert had anticipated it for so long and burst forth with unprecedented enthusiasm during its making, but this wand body was simply too perfect. Not only were essential conditions like elasticity and hardness impeccable, but it could even form magic resonance with the carved runes.

Forming magic resonance without adding a wand core… Let's put it this way— even if Robert's grandfather, Garrick Ollivander, made such a top-quality wand body, he would have to exchange it for the finest Unicorn tail hair. In comparison, an Acromantula leg was a bit beneath it; perhaps a brain or heart could be considered instead.

Robert decided to wait a bit longer. As for that Acromantula leg, if he could get a second Whomping Willow branch, he could make another wand, but for now… he'd stop thinking unrealistically. The grapevine would do just fine.

However, with this, the finished wand body had to be temporarily set aside. The school year was coming to an end, and the professors were assigning homework like crazy in preparation for the upcoming exams. Even the first years, who had the lightest academic load, were tormented to the point of dizziness.

Robert didn't know if he was too tired, but he always felt like he had forgotten something. Yet every time he thought about it carefully, he had no clue. After several such episodes, he could only give up and continue to bury himself in various magic books, night after night, striving to complete the tasks assigned by the professors.

Until the weekend before the exams.

"What? Go chop the Whomping Willow together?" Robert looked at the twins in front of him in disbelief, not understanding why they would have such an idea.

"Are you saying you didn't get injured enough last time and want to be beaten up again?" Robert continued, "Also, don't forget that Professor Sprout has never given up looking for the culprit from that day."

"Lower your voice!" Fred looked left and right and pulled Robert to a deserted spot. "That's why we came to you for cooperation," he said. "We've thought about it. You must have some special method to get that branch without any harm, a method that won't be targeted by the Whomping Willow."

Robert pursed his lips and didn't speak.

"Don't worry, this is your secret. We won't ask about it," George said.

"Yes," Fred nodded. "Just like you don't ask why we know so many secret passages."

"But we can cooperate."

"What do you mean?" Robert asked.

Fred didn't answer directly but asked mysteriously, "You went outside several times before, but you came back empty-handed, right?"

"Hmmm?" Robert raised an eyebrow.

"No need to deny it, we both know," George said with a smile.

"We saw it with our own eyes," Fred added.

"And we also know you're very lucky," George continued.

"Professor Sprout was guarding nearby those times. If you hadn't returned the way you came, you would've been caught on the spot."

"But you were lucky enough to avoid it."

Robert still didn't speak. He knew that Fred and George had a magical map that could show the movements of everyone in the castle, but he hadn't expected that the map could even show things outside the castle.

Actually, Fred and George were also very surprised that Robert could retreat without hesitation every time at the critical moment, making them wonder if Robert had a Marauder's Map as well. But thinking about it carefully, it didn't add up; if Robert had a Marauder's Map, he wouldn't have gone in the first place.

They thought about this for a long time but couldn't figure it out, so they could only attribute it to Robert's good luck.

"Just tell me your idea directly," Robert said straightforwardly. "How do we cooperate?"

"Professor Sprout can't guard it all the time. We know a window of opportunity," Fred and George said without wasting any time. "We guarantee that no one will be near the Whomping Willow during that time."

"If anyone approaches, we'll also notify you immediately."

"During this period, you don't need to worry about anything. Just focus on collecting branches."

"But we want a fifty-fifty split of the harvest."

"No way," Robert shook his head immediately upon hearing this. "A seventy-thirty split, after all, I need to face the Whomping Willow directly. The task is more dangerous."

"Forty-sixty is our bottom line," George said. "Information is just as important. Without knowing the specific time, you won't have a chance to get near the Whomping Willow at all."

Their attitude was firm, and Robert nodded after a moment of hesitation.

"Alright, deal."

"Happy cooperation, then?" Fred and George extended their hands at the same time.

"Perhaps," Robert looked at them, "but there are some things I must make clear beforehand. If I get caught by a professor, I'll definitely turn you in."

"Oh, my goodness, you really should have been sorted into Slytherin," George said with his mouth wide open and an exaggerated expression, but he was laughing happily.

"Too bad, you won't have that chance."

"I hope so," Robert said. This time, he also extended his hand and shook hands with the two of them.

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