"Hogwarts: Why So Nervous? The Little Badger’s Just Planting a Tree."

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"What position do you want to play after joining the Quidditch team...?"

Shire's expression turned thoughtful.

In the original books, there was no doubt that the most iconic position in Quidditch was the Seeker. Harry Potter, as a Seeker, was a true standout in the matches. The Seeker's importance couldn't be overstated. After all, a Quidditch match could only end when the Golden Snitch was caught by the Seeker. Otherwise, it would go on indefinitely.

Shire still remembered a record-setting Quidditch World Cup match mentioned in the original story — one that had lasted for more than three months. Only when the Snitch was finally caught did the grueling match come to an end, giving the exhausted players and spectators a long-awaited release.

However, that position didn't suit Shire.

Though prestigious, the Seeker role didn't make the most of Shire's physical advantages — his strength and stamina. More importantly, Hufflepuff already had an excellent Seeker — Cedric Diggory.

The other positions, on the other hand, were relatively average in terms of skill level.

If he wanted to contribute meaningfully to the team and also play to his own strengths, the Seeker role wasn't the right choice.

As for which position was…

A moment later, Shire gave his answer.

"Beater."

Not the most glamorous role, certainly not as celebrated as the Seeker. But it played a crucial part in controlling the match's rhythm. A Beater had two main tasks: protect their teammates by intercepting bludgers and use those same bludgers to disrupt the opposing team's play.

This position demanded endurance, strength, and quick reflexes — all of which Shire had in abundance. It was a role with less spotlight but no less responsibility.

When Professor Sprout heard Shire's decision, her eyes suddenly turned misty with nostalgia.

Beater — that had been her brother's position back in the day. That brother was Shire's father.

So similar. It was almost uncanny.

After offering her congratulations, Professor Sprout quietly left the common room. But Shire noticed something strange in her demeanor and decided to follow.

When he stepped outside, he saw her standing at a window ledge in the corridor. Her eyes, fixed on the scenery outside, glistened with sorrow. There were tears threatening to fall.

"Auntie?" Shire approached gently. "What's wrong?"

Professor Sprout quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Nothing," she whispered. "Just remembered some things from long ago."

"Your father… he was also a Beater."

"He and your mother were teammates on the Quidditch team. They fell in love when they were still students."

"I used to watch their matches from this very windowsill. Every time Hufflepuff scored, your father would wave to me from the pitch."

Her voice trembled. Her hands clenched unconsciously.

"I still see it every time I close my eyes. It feels like yesterday."

"But it was all ruined. All of it—ruined by that beast Dolohov."

"Your parents… they should have had a bright future. They were so young… and then…"

At that moment, red began to seep from Professor Sprout's clenched fists.

Blood dripped from between her fingers — she had gripped her hands so tightly that she had broken the skin.

Seeing this, Shire's expression turned solemn.

"Auntie," he said firmly. "Even if Azkaban can't kill Dolohov, I swear to you, he'll pay the price."

But Professor Sprout's eyes flared with worry. She grabbed Shire's hand, her own trembling and warm.

"No!" she cried. "Shire, promise me — never go after Dolohov."

"If you ever encounter him, run. Just run. And wait. Let me deal with that monster."

Her grip tightened, her knuckles white.

Shire was silent for a long moment. Finally, he nodded. He said nothing more.

In everyone's eyes, after all, Shire was just a young wizard with low magical talent.

And Antonin Dolohov was a terror even elite Aurors struggled to subdue. Even Professor Sprout herself might not be able to win in a direct confrontation.

Shire knew that even if he declared revenge, no one would believe him.

And anyway, he wasn't one for making big speeches.

Actions spoke louder than words.

So he returned to the Greenhouse.

Back to the familiar fields and the reward orbs that were quietly forming.

The weight in his heart began to settle. He immersed himself in the repetitive, almost meditative routine of farming that others might find dull.

"Lumos."

The tip of his wand lit up. The Luminous Mushroom mycelia responded, swaying gently as though in dance, emitting vibrant signals of joy.

Above the glowing field, the reward clusters were maturing — slowly but steadily.

Then Shire noticed something on his hand.

His palm was stained with blood — Professor Sprout's blood from when she had gripped him so tightly.

He didn't mind.

After rinsing his hands in the irrigation trough and shaking them dry, he made his way toward the more distant experimental plots.

He resumed his work, casting Lumos repeatedly to stimulate the Luminous Mushrooms' growth.

And just like that, a week passed.

After his confrontation with Malfoy, Shire had finally returned to a peaceful routine. Life was back on track.

Every evening, after his demanding school schedule, he would head to the Greenhouse and work late into the night, tending to the Luminous Mushrooms.

Now, a week later, the results were remarkable.

The mycelia were thriving. Some of the Luminous Mushrooms had even begun to grow small caps, a clear sign that they were entering the final stage before maturity.

Shire's face glowed with satisfaction.

"In another week or so," he whispered, "these Luminous Mushrooms will start maturing one after another."

His eyes turned to the system panel.

Although no new Goldfish Vines had matured this past week — not even the batches he had given to Hannah and Neville — Shire's overall progress was still impressive.

His Magic Perception Enhancement ability was just shy of reaching Bronze level.

More excitingly, the glow surrounding the Pruning Charm had deepened. The once bronze light was now almost fully silver — just a little more, and it would evolve into a Silver-Level Charm.

Even Lumos, which he had used tirelessly this week, was close to advancing to Bronze Level.

Shire was optimistic: when the Luminous Mushrooms matured and he harvested the Lumos-related perception rewards, it was highly likely Lumos would become his third Silver-Level Charm.

The thought filled him with anticipation.

Then he took a deep breath and got back to work.

But just then, something caught his eye.

A flicker of red — out of place among the bluish-green mycelia.

"Huh?"

Looking more closely, he discovered a patch of mycelia unlike the rest.

A small section of Luminous Mushroom mycelia had turned dark red.

It was subtle, almost hidden in the vast field of glowing mycelia. That was likely why he hadn't noticed it until now.

Just as he was inspecting it, a line of text appeared above the mycelial patch:

"The Luminous Mushrooms you cultivated have undergone an unknown mutation."

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