Chapter 17: College Life and Talent

During the welcoming feast, the long tables of the four houses buzzed with distinct energies. The fledgling eagles of Ravenclaw were already deep in discussion, debating their favorite books and the fields of magic that most intrigued them. The young snakes of Slytherin were busy establishing their rigid hierarchy, with pure-blood scions reiterating the rules of status and power to their less-connected housemates. And the lions of Gryffindor, as always, were a whirlwind of boisterous chatter, with Harry Potter sharing stories of his unusual family life with Ron and Neville, and Hermione eagerly grilling the prefect, Percy, about advanced Transfiguration. The liveliness, however, belonged to them. There was no such clamor at the Hufflepuff table. The new badgers were silent, their focus entirely on the magnificent feast before them. The older students, meanwhile, were already giving them sage advice. "Don't eat too much," one of them instructed. "Our common room has its own kitchen, the only one of the four houses. You can find delicious food there any time, far better than this. You have to save room for a late-night snack!" The first-years were practically moved to tears. Life here is too good! All thoughts turned to the promise of a second feast, so much so that Dumbledore's later warnings about the Forbidden Forest and the forbidden third-floor corridor went completely unnoticed. Not that they had ever considered going on an adventure in the first place. Why go out at night when you could be sitting by a warm fire, drinking tea, and eating snacks? Ciel found himself growing more and more satisfied with his choice. In Gryffindor or Slytherin, his passion for planting might have made him an outcast. But in Hufflepuff, where everyone preferred to stay in, hobbies like gardening, tea ceremonies, and baking were considered perfectly normal. No one would bat an eye at his horticultural pursuits. Finally, the long ceremony ended with the school song. The prefects led their respective houses back to the common rooms. But true to their word, a second, even more lavish feast was waiting for the Hufflepuffs. After the new badgers had eaten until they could barely move, they stumbled off to their dormitories and fell into the softest beds they had ever known, asleep almost instantly. Life in Hufflepuff was just that comfortable. Ciel sat on his own bed, a sense of surrealism washing over him. Hogwarts. It's really started. He took a deep breath. It still doesn't feel quite real. I should plant something to calm my nerves. [You have successfully planted a Goldfish Vine] [You have successfully planted a Goldfish Vine] [...] As the familiar text shimmered into existence above the small pots, his thoughts began to clear. Hufflepuff would shield him from the constant conflicts between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and from the secret struggles of Dumbledore and Voldemort. But he knew this peace was temporary. One day, the great war from the original story would come, and even Hufflepuff would not be spared. And more importantly... a cold glint flashed in his eyes. In a few years, the Death Eater Antonin Dolohov would likely escape from Azkaban. Ciel could ignore the grand battles of fate, but that monster... Dolohov must die. With his current magical talent, killing a wizard of Dolohov's power would be suicide. But with his Planting System, it might not be impossible. I need to plant as much as I can, especially magical plants with rare rewards. And for that, I need stronger Magical Perception. The Goldfish Vine is crucial. He took a quick inventory. He had given twenty-two pots to Neville and the other Hufflepuffs. Eighteen seeds remained. That should be enough. I'll place them near the confusing magical staircases. Every time someone forgets which way to go, they'll get a little boost. Planting any more would be inefficient. Forty pots, with a steady supply of forgetfulness, should mature quickly. Five days passed. The new students began to settle into the rhythm of Hogwarts life, and the differences in their talents were already becoming apparent. Hermione Granger, just as in the stories, was a star pupil, earning a rare smile from Professor McGonagall in Transfiguration. Several Ravenclaws excelled in Charms. At the staff table, quiet discussions were already underway. "What do you think of this year's students?" "Granger's talent is exceptional. Aside from her raw power, she has no flaws." "And Harry Potter?" "Average in Astronomy, he lacks patience. But his magical core is undeniably strong. He'll be able to learn powerful magic early. Gryffindor has Potions today. I remember Lily's talent in the subject was extraordinary; I expect Harry will be the same." The conversation inevitably turned to the less promising students. "That Longbottom boy... he's so careless." "We can't blame him. We know he was subjected to an Obliviation Charm to forget certain... painful things." "And Seamus Finnigan... that boy has a genius for making any spell explode." Finally, they spoke of Ciel. Both Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick sighed with regret. "A very clever child. Strong comprehension, excellent concentration. If his magical talent were just average, even slightly below average, he would achieve great things. But... alas. Such a pity." At that moment, Professor Sprout arrived, her expression unreadable. The other professors quickly changed the subject, but she had heard enough. She clenched her fists, a look of fierce determination in her eyes. I will not let his talent be a limitation. No matter the cost, I will gather the ingredients for the Talent Growth Potion. Meanwhile, Ciel, who hadn't come down for breakfast, was unaware of their pity. Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared. His low magical power was temporary. In just four short months, the Marguerites in the Sprout family greenhouse would mature, and everything would change. His focus now was on the Goldfish Vines. He stood waiting at the bottom of a staircase, one of the most confusing forks in the entire castle and the only way to the Potions classroom. Soon, the figure he was waiting for came hurtling toward him, his face a mask of panic. "I'm going to be late!" Neville wailed. "If I'm late for Potions, I've heard it's a disaster! Oh no, not this staircase again! Which way do I go?" As Neville spun in frantic circles, a fervent glint appeared in Ciel's eyes. He could see three distinct orbs of light floating in Neville's pocket, and a new line of text shimmered into existence before him. [Your planted Goldfish Vine has matured] [Reward Available: Magical Perception (Slight Increase)] *** (End of Chapter) [Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!] [www. 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