HP: The Boy who Planted

In the depths of the Slytherin common room, the ancient and ornate wall clock struck midnight. On the hour, a golden, jewel-encrusted snake slithered out of the clock face and hissed five times, its jeweled eyes glinting in the candlelight. The sound echoed through the green-lit chamber, marking the arrival of another Friday.

For the first-year Slytherins, the chimes were a signal of both dread and hope. It had been ten long days since Snape had imposed his merciless training regimen, and the memory of every grueling hour weighed heavily on them.

"Ten days, ten days!" whispered one small snake, his voice trembling with exhaustion and anticipation. "Do you know how we survived?"

Another nodded, eyes wide with the memory. "Up at five every morning. If you didn't practice the Lumos charm enough, you didn't get breakfast. If you didn't meet your quota at night, no sleep. Forget about lunch breaks or even a moment to relax! We finally made it to this Friday."

The little snakes huddled together, their faces pale but their eyes burning with the hope that their suffering would soon be rewarded. Today was the day of the final Charms test—the Luminous Curse Final.

But this time, things were different. The four heads of house had met, and after much discussion, they had decided to combine the final test for all four houses. The notice had gone up last week: the final test would be held together, with all first-years competing side by side. The stakes were higher than ever.

Rumors had swept through the castle like wildfire. Not only would Professor Flitwick's promised tailor-made spell be awarded, and not only would there be a hefty sum of House Cup points, but there was talk of a mysterious new reward. None of the heads of house would say what it was, only that it was something they all coveted.

The gossip had an electrifying effect. Even the usually laid-back Gryffindors had begun seeking out Hermione for extra help with the Lumos charm. The Ravenclaws doubled down on their practice, and the Hufflepuffs, led by Char, quietly worked harder than ever before.

But the Slytherins, for all their natural magical talent, had never worked so hard in their lives. Even Crabbe and Goyle, who were usually hopeless at spells, had made progress. Malfoy's Lumos was now bright and steady, and Snape, for the first time, looked at his charges with something like satisfaction.

Snape stood before them, his black robes billowing, eyes sharp and cold. "Very good," he said, clapping his hands softly. Instantly, the room fell silent.

"In the past ten days, you have finally begun to act like true Slytherins," he intoned. "Now, you are ready to do whatever it takes."

He reached into his robes and drew out a tray of small, shimmering vials. The liquid inside glowed with an eerie phosphorescence.

The little snakes leaned forward, eyes wide with longing and excitement.

"This," Snape announced, "is the potion I promised you—the Phosphorescent Potion. Drink it before the test. For six hours, your magic will be enhanced when casting the Lumos charm. Rest now. Tomorrow, we win."

He swept out of the room, leaving the Slytherins to their dreams of victory.

Malfoy grinned, already imagining the look of shock and despair on Char's face when he was beaten in the final. "With this potion, we can't lose," he whispered. "All our hard work will finally pay off."

A curious little snake piped up, "What's Char Sprout been doing lately, anyway?"

Another replied, "Still spends all his time in the greenhouse. Sometimes he's at Quidditch practice, too. I heard Harry Potter is doing the same."

Malfoy sneered. "So what? They were only chosen for the team because of favoritism. My father could buy me a spot on the team with a few Nimbus 2000s. Just wait until I win the final test. Then we'll see who's really the best."

The Slytherins stayed awake, unable to sleep, their hearts pounding with anticipation. Tomorrow, they would show everyone what true ambition looked like.

While the Slytherins schemed and dreamed, Char was alone in the Hogwarts greenhouse, surrounded by the gentle glow of his magical plants. He looked around at the familiar rows of pots and beds, breathing in the earthy scent of soil and leaves. Ten days had passed in the blink of an eye.

He glanced at his system panel. The bronze luster on his "Magic Perception Improved" ability was now richer, deeper than when he'd first achieved it. He'd harvested several pots of goldfish spider plants in that time, and the endless practice with discarded broomsticks had sharpened his magical senses even further.

The silver glow of his Soil Loosening Spell was dazzling, but the Pruning Spell had advanced even faster. It wasn't gold yet, but it was far stronger than when he'd first leveled it up. And the Lumos charm—his pride and joy—was now edged with silver, not far from the next great leap.

Char reflected on his progress. "The Soil-Loosening and Pruning spells help the Lumos charm, and Quidditch has helped me relax and clear my mind. My magical perception is sharper than ever. All these things together have made my Lumos stronger."

He knew the final test would be fierce. The other houses had been preparing just as hard. Even with a nearly silver-level Lumos, victory wasn't guaranteed. But Char wasn't worried. He was excited.

"If I can push Lumos to silver—or even gold—before the test, I'll have a real chance. But even if I don't, I've done everything I can."

He looked out over his experimental field, where the glow mushrooms shimmered with soft, magical light. After weeks of care, they were finally mature, their caps glowing like lanterns in the night. Above each one floated a reward orb, heavy with promise.

Char took a deep breath, feeling the anticipation build inside him. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, and touched the first reward orb.

Instantly, the air was filled with light. The orbs burst like bubbles, their energy flowing into him in a rush of warmth and power. More and more orbs followed, until it seemed the very sky was raining magic.

Char closed his eyes, letting the sensation wash over him. He felt his magic grow stronger, his senses sharper, his mind clearer. It was as if every plant, every spell, every moment of hard work had come together in this one, perfect harvest.

When the last orb faded, Char opened his eyes and smiled. He was ready.

Tomorrow, the final test would decide the fate of the House Cup. But tonight, in the quiet glow of the greenhouse, Char knew that whatever happened, he had already won something far more important: the joy of growth, the satisfaction of effort, and the magic of believing in himself.