Just as Adrian and Mr. Diggory had agreed upon, in the following days Mr. Diggory made good on his promise with dedication. He ran into the Forbidden Forest almost every single day without fail, arriving each afternoon after his Ministry work concluded.
In truth, this regular contact with Mr. Diggory also significantly benefited Bart, not just the Ministry's diplomatic record. The conversations exchange allowed Bart in particular to gain a considerably deeper, more nuanced understanding of the wizarding world beyond the forest.
It was worth specifically mentioning and noting as a significant development that Bart, in his newly developed human form was actually capable of leaving the Forbidden Forest and venturing out into the wider world for long period of time.
This mobility seemed to be directly related to his substantial magical power consumption and efficiency, Adrian had discovered through careful observation and testing.
The fundamental magical energy required for Treant activity and consciousness basically all came from, was drawn from and sustained by, this ancient forest itself—the rich, accumulated magic in the soil, the ambient power in the air, the life force of thousands of interconnected trees and plants.
The forest was their power source.
Once individual Treants left the Forbidden Forest's magical boundaries and support network, venturing into areas without that concentrated natural magic, ordinary Treants had to consume truly enormous, unsustainable amounts of their stored magical energy just to maintain their form and consciousness.
The drain was exponential. Most couldn't last more than an hour outside the forest.
Therefore, realistically, only those particularly energy-efficient Treants, those who had developed specialized forms or natural advantages in magical conservation could remain active and conscious outside the Forbidden Forest for any long periods.
From this practical perspective, smaller-bodied Treants naturally possessed a significant inherent advantage in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.
Just like Flick, who could wander the castle grounds for days without issue.
There was also another matter worth noting: the Ministry of Magic had actually, officially established a brand new department called the Treant Liaison Office.
Although Mr. Amos Diggory remained the sole member and only employee of this newly created department in a very real bureaucratic sense, he could legitimately be considered promoted.
It was a step up from languishing in the Centaur Liaison Office doing nothing.
One particular day in mid-November, with winter truly settling in and frost appearing on windows each morning, Adrian decided to conduct a comprehensive census and assessment.
He spent several hours tallying up the approximate number of Treants currently living in the Forbidden Forest, walking through various territories and counting both active and dormant ones.
If even the smallest saplings and newly awakened young Treants were included in the count, the total population had reached nearly one thousand individual beings.
Unfortunately, and somewhat limiting their overall military capability, most of these Treants could only maintain their active form for very limited, brief periods of time before exhausting their energy reserves.
Under normal circumstances, only about one-tenth of the total population—roughly one hundred Treants could maintain their active Treant form simultaneously and continuously without rest or energy depletion.
Moreover, this population number seemed to have reached its current limit. Growth had slowed. The Treant population had increased very little over just the past month compared to previous explosive growth periods.
Perhaps they'd reached the forest's carrying capacity. Perhaps something else was limiting reproduction.
Nevertheless, even with these limitations, this was still quite an impressive, genuinely formidable figure representing a military and political force that absolutely could not be ignored or dismissed in the wider magical world.
Additionally, the types and varieties of Treants were diverse and peculiar, showing unexpected specialization. Though the vast majority belonged to the standard category of Treant Guards with similar capabilities and forms, some individual Treants had also gained or developed special, unique abilities.
Just like Wika, for instance.
Wika's true form, its original tree body before awakening to consciousness, was a rowan tree—a species known in both magical and mundane traditions for protective properties and connection to magic.
And, fascinatingly, it had retained the natural ability to bear fruit even after transformation into a Treant.
After Mr. Diggory became properly familiar and comfortable with the various Treants through his daily visits, learning names and personalities and preferences, he received an unexpected gift one afternoon: several large, beautiful, golden-color fruits from Wika's own branches.
Uncertain about whether these magical fruits were safe for human consumption, Mr. Diggory immediately sought out Adrian for expert confirmation and advice.
Better safe than poisoned.
"Can these be eaten?" Mr. Diggory asked with curiosity, his tone uncertain, as he carefully examined this unusual gift from the Treant. He turned one of the golden fruits over in his hands.
He'd never imagined in his entire career that he would one day be receiving fruit gifts from mobile, talking trees.
Adrian took one of the golden fruits from Diggory's hands, feeling its weight and texture, examining it. He weighed it thoughtfully in his hand then returned it carefully to Mr. Diggory.
"There shouldn't be any problem with consumption," he judged after a moment's consideration. "Treants wouldn't deliberately give out anything harmful or toxic to people they consider friends."
In fact, Adrian was also somewhat curious and intrigued about these mysterious fruits himself—he had received some from Wika earlier today as well.
The Tree of Wisdom's evaluation of this particular fruit had been brief: it contained pure, concentrated energy in remarkable quantities.
As for what specific effects or consequences it would have when actually consumed and digested by humans, Adrian wasn't entirely certain yet. That required experimental testing.
Human trials.
Which Mr. Diggory was helpfully about to provide.
After receiving Adrian's reassurance and confirmation, Mr. Diggory carefully, somewhat nervously took a small, tentative bite of the golden fruit.
The fruit burst immediately with sweet, refreshing juice between his lips and teeth. His eyes widened with surprise and pleasure.
Then he chewed, swallowed.
Nothing immediately happened.
"So? How does it feel?" Adrian asked with interest, watching Mr. Diggory's face for any signs of distress or unusual reactions. "Any sensations?"
"Delicious, actually," Mr. Diggory said honestly, taking another larger, more confident bite now that the first hadn't killed him. "Really quite excellent. Sweet but not cloying. Refreshing."
"That's all?" Adrian pressed thoughtfully. "You don't feel any particular changes?"
Surely it did more than just taste good.
Mr. Diggory shook his head, then proceeded to eat the entire fruit in several large bites, clearly enjoying it. He swallowed the last piece, then licked his lips with lingering satisfaction and pleasure.
It was worth noting curiously that Wika's fruit had absolutely no seed or core.
"Then it appears to be non-toxic," Adrian said matter-of-factly.
Mr. Diggory froze mid-lick, his tongue still out. Then his eyes widened with realization and alarm. "Wait just a moment... you mean you were using me as a test subject just now?"
"Oh, don't worry yourself about such minor details..." Adrian said.
About three minutes after eating and fully digesting the fruit, Mr. Diggory suddenly noticed something abnormal about his physical state—or rather, a definite change.
"Strange..." He shifted unconsciously, rolling his shoulders experimentally, flexing his hands. His face showed confusion and wonder. "I seem to feel... considerably much lighter? More energetic? Like I just woke from a perfect night's sleep?"
Though the change was subtle and hard to quantify precisely, it was quite obvious once he paid attention to it.
It felt remarkably like the refreshing, revitalizing sensation of waking from a perfect nap on a weary afternoon when you were exhausted. That moment of clarity and energy.
The accumulated physical fatigue from days of running constantly between demanding Ministry work and daily trips to the Forbidden Forest quietly dissipated.
His thinking became somewhat clearer, sharper as well. His mind felt less foggy, more focused.
"Describe the sensation more specifically," Adrian instructed, continuing to observe Diggory's condition with interest. From external appearances, Diggory showed no visible changes.
"Very familiar, actually..." Diggory said slowly, carefully experiencing and analyzing the subtle changes flowing through his body, paying attention to each sensation.
His eyes suddenly lit up with recognition. "Oh! It's remarkably like drinking a high-quality invigorating draught!"
Adrian nodded thoughtfully. A high-quality invigorating draught equivalent, then.
This meant, practically speaking, that Wika's fruit had the definite, measurable effect of replenishing energy—both physical stamina and magical reserves, apparently.
This was actually quite a positive, valuable effect for most wizards, though it didn't have particular practical use for Adrian personally. Among the potions collection he currently carried with him at all times in expanded pockets, there were already many vials of high-quality invigorating draughts.
He had better, faster options.
In fact, it wasn't just Adrian and Mr. Diggory who received this generous gift—Wika had thoughtfully distributed fruit to all the wizards and witches it knew and considered friends.
Such as the trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, for instance.
Early that particular morning, just after breakfast when most students were heading to their first classes, Flick had mysteriously approached them in the corridor. The small Treant gestured excitedly, then led the three of them on a path into the Forbidden Forest.
There, in a sun-dappled clearing, they received four beautiful golden fruits directly from Wika's hand.
Oh, actually now there were only three fruits remaining, Harry noted. Ron, perpetually hungry, had already enthusiastically eaten his entire share at the very first opportunity.
"What?" Ron had said when they'd stared at him. "I was hungry! And it looked delicious!"
Harry held his own fruit carefully, turning it over in his hands while observing Ron closely with concerned attention. He inquired cautiously, "How do you feel? Is there anything?"
Ron smacked his lips with satisfaction and lingering pleasure, savoring the memory of the taste. "Not bad at all, mate. Actually excellent. Much better tasting than those boring fruits the house-elves leave in the common room for snacks."
Harry felt somewhat helpless at this response—he hadn't been asking Ron specifically about the taste or flavor profile. He'd been concerned about safety, about magical effects.
However, judging by visual appearances and Ron's continued lack of sprouting branches or turning green, this fruit seemed to be just ordinary, harmless fruit.
So, deciding it was safe enough, Harry and Hermione each carefully ate their golden fruit as well, watching each other for reactions.
It was indeed as Ron had enthusiastically said, Harry silently acknowledged after swallowing. Although he couldn't identify precisely what species of fruit this was—it wasn't anything he recognized from the Muggle world or Hogwarts cuisine, its taste was certainly much better than the standard common room fruits.
Sweet, crisp, refreshing. Somewhat like an ordinary pear in texture, perhaps?
So naturally, the question arose: who should get the remaining fourth fruit that Wika had given them?
Just then, as they approached the entrance to the Forbidden Forest on their way back toward the castle, they spotted a familiar figure emerging from the morning mist.
It was John Selwyn, walking alone as usual.
Harry's eyes brightened immediately with the solution to their dilemma, and he waved enthusiastically to John, gesturing for him to come over and join them.
"John! Perfect timing!" Harry called out. "This is for you."
He passed over the extra golden fruit without hesitation. "It's a gift from Wika."
"Thank you, Potter," John accepted the fruit politely, examining it. Then he asked in his usual way, "However... I must ask—who is Wika exactly?"
"A good tree," Harry explained with a smile. "Very friendly. Generous. Go ahead and try the fruit—it's safe."
John didn't hesitate or question further. He directly bit into the fruit in his small hand.
"Hmm..." His young face showed a thoughtful, analytical expression as he chewed.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked immediately, startled by this unusual reaction. "Do you feel something?"
A flash of surprise crossed John's eyes. "This thing is quite extraordinary, actually... I can feel it. I feel like my magical power reserves have been replenished."
"You can sense that? That specifically?" Harry asked with surprise and admiration.
In fact, Harry had also somewhat felt the fruit's restorative effects himself.
"Ah... yes..." John paused for a moment, seeming to reconsider his words. Then he said more carefully, "Though... it might just be my imagination."
"No, you're right," Harry said, revealing a trace of admiration. "Your talent is exceptional, John."
He had once heard Adrian say that most talented wizards had a special sensitivity to magical power. This rare ability allowed them to perceive and track the subtle flow and changes of magic more precisely and consciously than ordinary wizards, who only felt magic vaguely or some not at all.
It was like perfect pitch for musicians, or enhanced color perception for artists.
And John was clearly one of such specially gifted individuals.
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