Hearing Char's nervous words, Hermione, who had looked a bit disappointed, suddenly brightened.
"Really? You think I'm smart too? Well, it might sound like bragging, but that's what my old teachers said." She giggled, then continued, "I can't decide if I want to be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. They say Ravenclaw is for those who love knowledge, but Gryffindor is supposed to be the best house."
Hermione chattered away excitedly.
Neville, however, looked a bit down. "Cousin… did you just call me stupid?"
Char replied calmly, "Neville, look at your memory. I just said you're an amazing Herbologist. How did you forget already? Of course I gave you the Goldfish Vine because you're a genius. I'm sure you'll take great care of them."
Neville immediately perked up, carefully holding the Goldfish Vine in his hands. He glanced at Hermione warily, as if worried that this top student might somehow "poison" the plants.
Hermione didn't seem to mind. She sat down in the compartment and took out a book, but kept sneaking glances at the magical plants.
Char ignored Hermione for the moment and took out another small pot, filled with rich soil from the Sprout family greenhouse. He waved his wand.
"Terra—Laxus!"
With a gentle Soil Loosening Charm, the earth became soft and airy. Char carefully planted another Goldfish Vine seed, watered it with a bit of nutrient potion, and made sure the soil was just right—moist, but not soggy. Throughout the process, Char was meticulous, treating the little plant as if it were a work of art.
When he saw the familiar system prompt appear:
[You have successfully planted the Goldfish Vine]
[Rewards available...]
Char smiled and handed the pot to Neville with a sense of ceremony. "Neville, this new little life is in your hands now."
Neville looked very serious. "Okay, cousin. But I'm not sure how to take care of them. I mean, I know you water them every few days… do they need sunlight?"
Before Char could answer, Hermione jumped in, eager to share her knowledge from "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi."
"Goldfish Vine likes bright light—five to six hours of sunlight is ideal, but not direct midday sun. They like moisture, but not waterlogged roots. The soil should be damp but not soggy, and—"
As Hermione explained, Neville's expression went from serious to confused.
Char asked gently, "Neville, do you remember all that?"
Neville hesitated. "Maybe… fifty percent?"
Char waited a moment. "And now?"
Neville looked even more lost. "Thirty percent…"
After another moment, Neville admitted, "Cousin, I've forgotten everything. I really do have a terrible memory. Grandma was right not to let me water her flowers. I can't keep plants alive. Maybe I should give these back to you—I'll just kill them."
But Char smiled warmly. He glanced at the pot Neville was holding. The Goldfish Vine had already sprouted, and the other pots looked even greener and healthier—some of the little goldfish-shaped leaves were starting to grow.
Char patted Neville's shoulder. "No, Neville. You can forget everything Miss Granger just said. Only ordinary people need to remember all those things. But you, cousin, you're a true genius. Just do your best, and let the Goldfish Vine take care of the rest. I trust you completely. I'll be planting more soon, so I'm counting on you."
Neville's eyes lit up. For the first time, someone truly believed in him. Growing up, he'd always been scolded—by his grandmother, by relatives, by everyone who thought he'd never live up to the Longbottom name. He'd even been suspected of being a Squib and pushed from the attic to try to awaken his magic. No wonder he was so timid.
But now, Char was entrusting him with something important. Someone believed in him. Neville's heart filled with determination. He would not let Char down. He would study Herbology and help Char grow the best Goldfish Vine in Hogwarts!
Just then, a shrill laugh echoed outside the compartment door.
"What did I just hear? Did I hear right? Neville Longbottom is a genius? Merlin, if that's true, everyone at Hogwarts must be Dumbledore!"
The door slid open to reveal a boy with platinum blond hair and a sneer—Draco Malfoy. Two large boys, Crabbe and Goyle, flanked him.
Char recognized them immediately. Draco Malfoy, with his smug attitude, and his ever-present lackeys. He remembered that Malfoy had a lot of fans in the movies, but in the books, he was just a bully in his early years.
Neville shrank back, his face turning red, unable to get a word out.
Hermione, however, bristled with indignation. "Whoever you are, it's rude to eavesdrop on people's conversations!"
Malfoy sneered at her. He seemed to sense, just from her accent and manner, that Hermione wasn't from a wizarding family.
"A Muggle-born, are you? You probably don't know what the name Malfoy means," he said arrogantly, then turned his attention to Neville and Char.
"Neville Longbottom, the almost-Squib. And your cousin, the Sprout boy just brought back from the Muggle world. I hear his talent is just as bad as yours. You two and a Muggle-born—what a perfect match. I don't know why Hogwarts lets people like you in."
Char looked at Malfoy with a blank expression. "Oh? Is your father going to be headmaster of Hogwarts? Is that why you're here, getting some practice? When he's in charge, is he going to expel all the Muggle-borns and anyone with weak magic? Will Hogwarts become an elite school under Malfoy rule? I'll ask my aunt to mention it to Professor Dumbledore."
Malfoy's face froze. Even as a child, he knew some things shouldn't be said aloud. He couldn't think of a comeback, so he snorted and turned to leave.
Char was about to close the compartment door when Crabbe's eyes fell on the Goldfish Vine in Neville's hands. The green, goldfish-shaped plant reminded him of a Chocolate Frog.
"What's this? Did the Chocolate Frog Company make a new flavor? Matcha, maybe? Looks tasty." Crabbe licked his lips and reached out for the pot. "Let me have a taste."