Harry Potter: Don't Touch the Badger's Plants

Just when Harry was confident that Ciel would definitely agree, his expression suddenly became bewildered. Without the slightest hesitation, Ciel decisively refused his invitation.

"I refuse."

Ciel looked at the bewildered Harry and felt speechless inside. It had to be said, Harry really had the self-awareness of a savior. In a place like Hogwarts, where powerful wizards gathered, where was the need for protection from a first-year student?

However, Ciel had no ill will toward this attitude. After all, after experiencing so many traumatic events, Harry could still be so enthusiastic and brave enough to step forward. This was admirable in itself.

It's just that Ciel had no interest whatsoever in joining the savior's game.

Even if he wanted three-headed dog blood to cultivate Blood Jade, now wasn't the time. After all, Quirrell was still constantly testing methods to get past the three-headed dog. If Ciel could really suppress the creature with his legendary strength and legendary vitality, and if Quirrell found out about this, that would be troublesome.

When Harry and the others finally went through the trials, it would be Ciel's opportunity to obtain the three-headed dog's blood. Moreover, by then, Ciel should be able to secure a new experimental plot in the greenhouse. That would also be the right time to start cultivating Blood Jade.

As for now, Ciel barely had room to plant the magical herbs he already possessed. Rather than taking considerable risks to join Harry and the others in pursuing benefits that might not even be useful, he might as well steadily cultivate the plants he already had.

At this time, Harry finally recovered from the shock of being refused. He urgently inquired, "Why? Ciel, I'm not lying to you. Really, there must be something very important in the castle. Someone is trying to obtain it..."

But before he could finish, Ciel calmly interrupted him.

"Sorry, Harry. I believe what you're saying. But this seems like something the professors should consider. Of course your enthusiasm is commendable, but asking a little badger to join an adventure... you're probably looking at the wrong House."

After saying this, Ciel walked around Harry and continued toward the Potions classroom.

Harry looked at Ciel's retreating figure with unwillingness, still wanting to try again. He quickly caught up, saying urgently, "Ciel, don't you want to know what's in the fourth-floor trapdoor? I guarantee you can't imagine it."

Ciel felt helpless. How could he not know what was there? Even without reading the original story, Hermione had already told him. But he really wasn't interested right now.

Just as Ciel was about to tell Harry to stop pestering him, his figure suddenly paused. A smell of garlic wafted through the air, and a stuttering voice rang out.

"Shh. K-keep it down. H-Harry Potter, you c-can't tell anyone about this."

A figure wearing a large turban emerged from the shadows of the corridor.

Harry was startled. Ciel also suddenly clenched his fists, cursing inwardly. Harry Potter, you troublemaker! Did you lead Quirrell here?

Immediately, Ciel focused all his thoughts on herbology. Frequency Charm, academic papers, Guardian Tree... After all, the original story clearly mentioned that Voldemort could peek into others' thoughts and desires. Even in his parasitic state, he could judge whether Harry was lying in the final trial with the Philosopher's Stone. He could also read from Harry's thoughts that the Stone had fallen into Harry's pocket.

Although this ability definitely couldn't be maintained constantly—it might only be so powerful when Voldemort awakened from the back of Quirrell's head. Otherwise, why would Quirrell go through the trouble of getting a dragon egg just to extract information from Hagrid? Couldn't he just read minds to know how to deal with the three-headed dog?

But Ciel didn't want to risk even the slightest chance of Voldemort peeking into his secrets.

Fortunately, Quirrell's attention was currently focused on Harry. For a young wizard with poor talent like Ciel, neither the genius wizard Quirrell nor Voldemort sleeping on his body paid any attention.

Ciel quickly said, "Professor Snape still has work waiting for me. Professor Quirrell, and Harry, goodbye."

Quirrell's gaze swept over Ciel without any reaction. In his view, Ciel's behavior was quite understandable. Quidditch, herbology, potions... nothing more than a young wizard with poor talent who knew he couldn't excel in magic, so he tried to achieve something in these areas instead. Nothing worth noting.

The only young wizard he should pay attention to was Harry Potter.

After Ciel left Quirrell's sight, he quickened his pace and continued away for about two more corridors before finally breathing a long sigh of relief. Fortunately, Quirrell's attention was completely drawn to Harry. Otherwise, he really would have been at some risk.

If Voldemort had read even the slightest bit of information about the system, that was something Ciel could never bear.

"It seems I still need to stay away from Harry, this troublemaker. Otherwise, with frequent contact, even if I don't encounter Quirrell, I'll eventually encounter Dumbledore. That might be even worse than encountering Quirrell."

At the same time, a cold glint flashed in Ciel's eyes. "I need to quickly improve my magical strength. Even if I don't actively cause trouble, historical experience has already told me that if I want to cultivate peacefully, I still need military deterrence. At least I need the strength to handle unexpected situations."

Ciel's thoughts focused on the Half-Blood Prince's textbook. Sectumsempra, combined with the enhancement provided by Piranha Algae—this was the fastest way he could think of to improve his strength.

Additionally, the progress on the Guardian Tree needed to be accelerated. After Harry Potter enrolled, dark wizards, trolls, basilisks, Dementors, werewolves... these things appeared one after another at Hogwarts. Many of them were related to dark magic.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts improvement and dark magic resistance that the Guardian Tree could provide would be very useful for defending against these dangers.

Whether it was Sectumsempra or the Sacred Tree Potion needed for Guardian Tree cultivation, both required Ciel to deal with Snape.

Ciel quickened his pace and arrived at the Potions classroom. Upon entering, he happened to see Malfoy and the others gritting their teeth while processing flobberworms.

Ciel was slightly stunned, then saw Malfoy look up and sneer at him.

"Ciel Sprout. Do you think your trick of pleasing Professor Snape can continue? Today we're going to kick you out. The Professor's potion assistant position can only be held by us Slytherins!"

But before Malfoy could finish speaking, he suddenly felt a strong sense of oppression. He gulped and involuntarily looked away from Ciel's gaze, feeling panicked.

"What... what kind of look is that? Just for stealing an assistant job, is it necessary to look at me like that?"

Ciel took a deep breath. Rarely, fighting spirit rose in his eyes. Someone came to steal his job? So many people competing for one person's position?

Workplace bullying, huh? But they got it wrong. In all these years, what Ciel feared least was workplace competition. No one understood competition better than him!

The next moment, Ciel looked down from above, surveying the serpents' labor results so far. He pulled back the corners of his mouth, sneering with disdain.

"With this level, you want to compete with me? You're just taking it easy here? Watch carefully. This is how you compete in the workplace!"

(End of Chapter)

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