As it turned out, Leonard had been worrying for nothing.
These pumpkins were grown for the Hogwarts kitchens—there was no way they'd produce oversized but inedible ones.
That meant the potion Harry mentioned, the one that made them swell, didn't enlarge the pumpkins through accelerated growth. Instead, it scaled them up proportionally while they matured naturally.
That kind of enlargement potion was exactly what Leonard had been looking for.
"Mr. Hagrid," Leonard said as he returned from inspecting the patch. "May I ask you a few questions?"
"Of course, ask away," Hagrid said generously.
"Harry told me these pumpkins were treated with a growth potion. When exactly do you apply it?" Leonard asked.
"Ah, right before they're fully ripe," Hagrid explained. "That's the only way to make the pumpkins themselves grow larger. If you use it too early, it's the vines that'll grow instead—the pumpkins won't get any bigger."
So, the potion wasn't applied during the growth phase but near maturity—and it affected not only the fruit but the plant as a whole.
"What about nutrients?" Leonard continued. "Pumpkins this big must need a lot of fertilizer, don't they?"
"They sure do," Hagrid said seriously. "I got a good amount of fertilizer from Professor Sprout. These pumpkins are for Halloween, after all—can't have anything go wrong."
"Then why not just use more potion?" Leonard pressed. "If the growth potion works so well, wouldn't it be easier to just grow one enormous pumpkin?"
"Oh no, that wouldn't do," Hagrid said immediately. "Pumpkins grown that way end up tasting like potion, and if you eat too much, it makes your head swell."
So there were potion residues?
"Wait—so the enlargement potion works on people too?" Leonard asked, intrigued.
"It does," Hagrid admitted, "but it's nearly impossible to control. I remember someone once tried to turn themselves into a giant—only their arms and legs grew. Nearly tore themselves apart."
"That sounds... pretty serious," Leonard said. "Where did you get the potion, Hagrid? And how much do you use each time? How often do you apply it?"
"From Professor Sprout," Hagrid replied readily. "Two drops at a time, over three days in a row."
...
Hagrid and Leonard were deep in conversation about Growth Potions and pumpkin cultivation, with Leonard doing most of the asking and Hagrid providing the answers.
Leonard cleverly mixed his questions about plant studies and potion effects with unrelated topics, making it impossible to tell what he was really after.
At first, Harry and Neville found the discussion amusing, but as the questions grew more technical, they gradually lost track and ended up sitting blank-faced.
It was getting a bit dull.
"Harry, is Leonard always like this?" Neville asked in disbelief. "He sure asks a lot of questions."
"Yeah, he's just really eager to learn," Harry replied with a yawn.
"Then why isn't he in Ravenclaw? He doesn't seem like a Hufflepuff at all," Neville whispered.
"Not completely. Maybe he's trying to use the Growth Potion to make food bigger and last longer," Harry guessed.
"That actually makes sense," Neville nodded, mentally labeling Leonard as a glutton.
Still, Gryffindors were better in his opinion—reckless, maybe, but at least they wouldn't research potions and spells just for the sake of eating.
Before long, Leonard had squeezed out every bit of knowledge Hagrid had to offer, learning all about the Growth Potion's effects and the precautions required when using it.
Then, without hesitation, he left Harry and Neville behind and went off to find Professor Sprout.
"Oh? Interested in those giant pumpkins, are you?" Professor Sprout asked cheerfully when Leonard approached her. She was inspecting the mandrakes in the greenhouse.
These valuable potion ingredients weren't just used to teach students how to care for magical plants—they would later serve as key materials for potion-making lessons once fully grown.
To ensure each student had enough plants to work with, Professor Sprout had to tend to them with the utmost care.
"No, it's not the pumpkins. I'm more interested in the potion itself," Leonard explained. "I have a question, Professor Sprout."
"Go on, child. What would you like to know?" she said kindly.
"I was wondering—since the Growth Potion can make pumpkins larger and provide enough for the school, why not use it on magical plants? Wouldn't that greatly reduce costs?"
"Of course not, my dear boy," Professor Sprout said patiently. "Growth Potions can't affect magical power. What truly matters in a magical plant ingredient isn't its nutrients, but its unique magical essence."
"That's also why Muggles can't brew potions. They might be able to follow a recipe and mix ingredients together, but they can't channel the magic within them."
The magic within the materials...
Leonard thought back to what he had seen when strengthening plants suitable for potion ingredients. There wasn't anything particularly distinct, but his enhancements always seemed to strengthen every aspect of the plant—including its magic.
"So potion-making is actually about guiding chaotic magic into an intended form? Kind of like casting spells?" Leonard reasoned aloud. "When we stir the cauldron and add ingredients at the right moment, it's just like waving a wand and chanting to direct the flow of magic, isn't it?"
"Excellent answer," Professor Sprout praised. "You're absolutely right. That's exactly what potion-making—and even alchemy—is about. In the end, all magic comes down to the flow of magical energy."
"Actually, it's all thanks to the professors," Leonard said modestly. "Both you and Professor Flitwick have given me a lot of inspiration."
"The knowledge we teach every student is the same," Professor Sprout smiled, "but very few truly grasp the essence of magic. Still, for potion-related questions, you'd probably be better off asking Professor Snape."
"Asking you is just as good. I think your understanding of potions is even more solid than Professor Snape's," Leonard said sincerely.
Professor Sprout was indeed an excellent potion-maker. She simply preferred caring for plants over brewing at a cauldron—but that didn't mean her skills were lacking.
"Oh, don't say that," she laughed. "Everyone has their strengths. Professor Snape is exceptionally talented in both potions and spellcraft."
"Maybe," Leonard shrugged, "but if he treated all students equally, I'd be glad to ask him questions too."
"Um…" Professor Sprout hesitated, not knowing how to respond.
After all, Snape was notorious for docking Hufflepuff points without mercy. She didn't believe that a hardworking student like Leonard could be at fault, yet Snape constantly used him as an excuse to deduct marks.
It was blatant targeting. Still, kind-hearted Professor Sprout preferred not to quarrel with the younger professor—otherwise, she would have certainly gone to Dumbledore for a word.