Chapter 26: A Plan for Revenge, Another Harvest

(TL NOTE: I am SO SORRY!!!!)

Professor Sprout's angry eyes immediately lit up. "Ciel, you have a way?"

He nodded, his mind already piecing together a plan. He recalled the details of a specific event from the original story: the first joint Flying lesson between Gryffindor and Slytherin, scheduled for this Thursday. In that class, Neville lost control of his broom and broke several bones. Malfoy, gloating, took the Remembrall Neville had dropped, leading to Harry's heroic aerial chase and his subsequent recruitment as the youngest Quidditch Seeker in a century.

But Ciel's focus wasn't on Harry. It was on Malfoy. With his vengeful personality, and having just been humiliated in front of the entire school, Malfoy would undoubtedly target Neville again, especially given their now well-known connection. The Remembrall incident was almost certain to happen.

Ciel's eyes narrowed. "Aunt," he asked, "is there any magical plant that can be hidden inside a Remembrall?"

Professor Sprout was momentarily stunned, then her expression turned thoughtful. "You mean, a plant that can disguise itself as a Remembrall? Let me think…" A moment later, her eyes lit up. "There is. It's called Mirror Grass. It can perfectly imitate the appearance of any object it touches. It's an extremely rare and valuable herb, often used by unscrupulous merchants to pass off common plants as more expensive ones. Unless you're a seasoned Herbologist, you'd never be able to tell the difference."

She looked at Ciel, a slow, dawning smile spreading across her face. "You want to forge a Remembrall," she said, her voice full of delighted understanding, "and have Malfoy snatch it himself. Then, whatever happens next… it will be his own fault. Severus will be speechless!" She clapped her hands, her previous anger replaced by a mischievous glee. "But Mirror Grass is just a disguise. We'll need to hide something inside to teach that boy a lesson. How about a Biting Cabbage?" she suggested, her eyes twinkling. "When that little brat snatches the fake Remembrall, the cabbage will wake up and give his restless hand a good bite!"

Ciel gasped. Good heavens, he thought. They say not to provoke an honest person, and they're right. When my aunt gets angry, she doesn't hold back. A Biting Cabbage was a dangerous plant, restricted by the Ministry of Magic.

He shook his head. "Too conspicuous," he said. "Let's use something else. Something that isn't forbidden but will still make Malfoy suffer."

Professor Sprout snorted, a little disappointed that she couldn't inflict a more severe punishment. But then her expression brightened. "I have just the thing," she said, a wicked gleam in her eye. "It won't cause any real harm, but it will certainly let Mr. Malfoy know that Hufflepuff is not to be trifled with."

Meanwhile, in his office, Snape was seething at Malfoy. "You idiot," he hissed, his voice a low, dangerous whisper. "If you're going to play dirty, don't get caught. Do you have any idea what the consequences would have been if that girl had actually died? Even your father couldn't have saved you from expulsion!"

Malfoy stood before him, pale and trembling, not daring to speak.

"This time, I'll let it slide," Snape said coldly. "Don't let it happen again."

After Snape swept from the room, Malfoy finally let out a shaky breath, his fear quickly curdling back into a familiar, resentful anger. "Ciel Sprout," he muttered, clenching his fists. "This is all your fault. I'm not finished with you." But the memory of Ciel's terrifying strength, of his apparent invulnerability, sent a chill down his spine. He wasn't foolish enough to confront him directly, not until he had learned more powerful magic.

Then, a new thought took root. Thursday's Flying class… that clumsy oaf Neville was Ciel's cousin. Dealing with him would be the next best thing. And Neville was so easy to bully. A cruel smile spread across Malfoy's face. He couldn't wait for Thursday to arrive.

Ciel explained his plan to Neville. "We're going to need your cooperation to make this work," he said. "The entire house will help you prepare over the next few days."

Neville, looking as if he had just been entrusted with a sacred quest, was so nervous he could barely speak.

Ciel smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. "Neville, you have to believe in yourself. I've always felt you have infinite potential."

A flush of excited color rose in Neville's cheeks. No one, not even his own family, had ever expressed such unwavering faith in him. This trust filled him with a powerful sense of responsibility. "I'll work hard, Cousin Ciel," he said, his voice firm. "I won't let you down."

After watching Neville leave, Ciel made his way to the hospital wing. Hannah was resting there, and though she hadn't been seriously injured, Professor Sprout had insisted she stay for two days of observation. When Ciel walked in, he found her diligently watering her Goldfish Vines. The pots in her hands were now almost entirely orange-red, just a shade away from full maturity. A sense of satisfaction washed over him. She truly was his number-two cultivator.

"Ciel," she said, her face full of gratitude. "I don't know how to thank you." She had been groggy when she first woke up, but she now knew the full story of how he had saved her.

"Don't worry about it," he said with a mysterious smile. "We're Hufflepuffs; we look out for each other. Besides, you've raised these Goldfish Vines so well. That's the biggest thank you I could ask for." He paused. "By the way, Hannah, you have two more days here, right? It must be terrible, not being able to attend class."

Hannah's expression was a mixture of pain and, surprisingly, relief. "Yes," she said, catching herself. "It's terrible."

Ciel's face was a mask of empathy. "I brought today's notes," he said, producing a thick stack of parchment. "You can review from your sickbed so you don't fall behind."

Hannah's expression crumpled. She reluctantly took the notes and began to read. "Basic principles of Charms… basic principles of Transfiguration…" Within moments, she covered her head with a groan. "My head… it hurts. Ciel, I think I need to rest."

Ciel looked at the Goldfish Vines, which had now turned a vibrant, perfect orange-red, and smiled. "Then you should rest well. I won't bother you."

As he left the hospital wing, three shimmering orbs of light detached from Hannah's bedside table and flew toward him, merging into his body.

[Your planted Goldfish Vine has matured]

[You have received the reward - Slight Increase in Magical Perception]

[...]

(End of Chapter)

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