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Harry Potter: I Get Stronger by Taking Loans - 32
🕑 Added 2025-09-16 19:11:16 +0000 UTCChapter 32: Hagrid's Hut, Strict Leo
Leo and Harry arrived at the gamekeeper's grounds, positioned at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. From a distance, they could observe a small hut that appeared quite crude and was constructed rather crookedly.
When they approached closer, Leo realised the dwelling wasn't small at all. The front door alone measured approximately four metres in height.
Leo surveyed the surrounding area and noticed that not far from the house, there was a vegetable garden enclosed by wooden fencing. Many crops were flourishing inside, with the most eye-catching being those enormous pumpkins that seemed almost magically enlarged.
So Hagrid already maintained such an extensively cultivated plot. Leo thought that if Hagrid agreed to let him plant Carnivorous Cabbages directly in a corner of this vegetable garden, it would save considerable trouble.
Not only would his crops be concealed by surrounding plants and the protective fence, but he wouldn't need to worry about wild magical creatures emerging from the Forbidden Forest to consume his vegetables.
Well, with Carnivorous Cabbages, it was difficult to predict who would be eating whom.
Harry was about to knock on Hagrid's oversized door when a dog's bark suddenly echoed across the grounds. Following this warning came a massive black dog that rushed out from beside the house, regarding Leo and Harry with obvious wariness.
"Fang, what's wrong? Is someone approaching the Forbidden Forest?"
A rough, booming voice emerged from inside the dwelling. After several heavy footsteps, the door was pulled open directly.
The half-giant with thick hair and an enormous beard, whose facial features were almost impossible to distinguish clearly, poked his head outside.
"Oh, it's Harry!"
Hagrid smiled with obvious happiness and gestured for Fang to cease barking immediately.
"Who's your companion here?"
His curious gaze shifted toward Leo as he addressed Harry.
"This is Leonardo, Leonardo Grafton, a Ravenclaw student. He's my good friend!"
Leo nodded politely at Hagrid. He felt somewhat surprised to glance at Harry, not expecting that in the boy's estimation, he had already achieved good friend status so quickly.
"Excellent! Hello there, Leonardo."
"Ravenclaw house... I'm certain you must be a very clever young wizard indeed!"
Hagrid appeared genuinely pleased, both delighted that Harry had made friends so rapidly and happy that Harry had brought a companion to visit him personally.
"Please, come inside quickly. Don't be concerned about Fang. Despite appearances, he's actually a very sweet and rather timid fellow."
Leo observed Fang carefully. This imposing black dog with fierce, menacing features stood with shoulders reaching almost to Leo's chest level.
Then he looked up at Hagrid, who towered over three metres in height. Alright, this half-giant apparently considered all animals cute by his standards.
Walking into the house, Leo noticed that probably because Hagrid was accustomed to living alone, the interior was arranged rather carelessly throughout.
Hagrid located two appropriately sized stools, positioned them carefully, and had Leo and Harry sit down comfortably.
"Oh, you've arrived at perfect timing! My rock cakes just finished baking."
He brought a large baking tray before Leo and Harry, watching them with obvious expectation and pride.
These were small cakes with rough, irregular surfaces mixed with what appeared to be raisins. Slight steam still rose from their crusts, and they emitted a decent enough aroma... a sweet biscuit fragrance.
Leo reached out to select one, but the moment his fingers made contact, he sensed something was fundamentally wrong. Incredibly hard! He couldn't even compress the surface slightly.
"Go ahead, try them and tell me if they suit your taste!"
Leo smiled with practised politeness. The taste remained unclear, but his teeth probably couldn't handle the texture.
Using his sleeve as cover, he secretly directed his wand toward the rock cake and silently cast a Softening Charm.
After attempting a careful bite, Leo discovered he could barely manage to chew the magically softened pastry. Actually not bad... quite a pleasant sweet biscuit flavour.
Leo consumed the modified rock cake in small, measured bites.
However, Harry beside him managed only one experimental bite before quietly setting his portion down, staring at Leo with shocked amazement. He could actually eat that thing!
Unable to finish the challenging snacks, Harry directly presented his request to Hagrid: "Hagrid, I want to learn potion brewing with Leonardo. Could we practise here at your place?"
"Of course!"
Hagrid barely required consideration before generously agreeing with characteristic enthusiasm.
Usually very few people visited the gamekeeper's grounds. It was typically just one dog and a garden of vegetables providing him company.
Hagrid simply assumed Leo and Harry wanted to brew potions for recreational enjoyment, not recognising they intended serious academic study.
Harry expressing a desire to remain here and spend time with Leo naturally made Hagrid tremendously happy.
"Wait just a moment... you'll need proper tools and materials for potion work. Let me help you locate some supplies."
"Actually, we already have..."
Before Harry could complete his protest, Hagrid had already rushed off to rummage through his storage room enthusiastically.
After considerable clanging and crashing sounds, Hagrid returned carrying an enormous pile of equipment and materials.
"Let's see... this is a cauldron, this represents a mortar and pestle..." He began identifying items systematically. "This is Flobberworm mucus, this is Acromantula venom, these are Jobberknoll feathers..."
When Leo observed Hagrid producing basin-sized cauldrons and forearm-thick pestles, he wanted to facepalm with resignation. But when he examined those materials more carefully, his expression transformed completely.
Unicorn tail hair, Ashwinder eggs, Acromantula venom...
Hagrid actually possessed so many rare ingredients, many obtained from dangerous or extremely valuable magical creatures.
Did he go shopping throughout the Forbidden Forest every few days?
Wait... how had Leo forgotten? Hagrid genuinely loved magical creatures and maintained quite an extensive system for researching and understanding them.
It wasn't surprising he could collect so many precious specimens.
Magical creatures... Leo suddenly realised an opportunity. Could he request Hagrid's assistance?
Hagrid definitely knew the activity ranges and behavioural patterns of various magical creatures within the Forbidden Forest.
If Leo could learn these locations from Hagrid, he could quickly pinpoint specific creatures' positions.
After Aurelius awakened from his transformation, Leo would simply need to take the little Qilin to visit these documented places once.
Then through Aurelius's Apparition abilities, travelling back and forth would prove remarkably convenient.
Without needing to wander aimlessly through dangerous forest terrain, Leo would possess ample time to observe and record magical creatures systematically.
Turning to look at Harry, who was rubbing his sore cheeks, Leo discovered that tutoring this boy actually provided unexpected additional benefits.
Not only was Harry lending him books to study, but he was also providing valuable networking opportunities.
He definitely had to teach effectively... maintaining strict learning standards to help this Chosen One live up to his legendary reputation.
"Alright, Harry, you've eaten and rested sufficiently. Let's begin studying immediately!"
Harry glanced at the untouched rock cake in his hand and simply nodded with resignation.
"Eye-bright crystals should measure exactly 15 grams. You weighed 0.4 grams excess."
"Examine the recipe in your textbook again. It specifies 100 millilitres of Ashwinder egg white, but you mixed in yolk as well."
"No, the Mandrake root segments are cut one centimetre too short. Start over completely..."
As Harry processed the materials required for Eye-Brightening Potion, Leo observed from beside him, immediately identifying problems and requiring corrections.
After repeating this demanding process several times, Harry began perspiring heavily.
In Snape's Potions classes, although Harry would be targeted for criticism, Snape also had to monitor other students and couldn't watch Harry constantly.
Now the situation was entirely different. This represented one-on-one tutoring from a top student, with Leo's complete attention focused on monitoring Harry's every operation.
Unlike Snape's venomous verbal attacks, Leo's tone remained calm and measured, but his error corrections proved relentlessly timely. Every tiny mistake required immediate fixing.
This made Harry feel pursued without mercy, forcing him to restart procedures multiple times.
Finally, under Leo's intensive supervision, Harry completed all material preparation work successfully.
He began lighting the fire to heat his cauldron properly.
Taking advantage of this brief respite, Harry wanted to ask Leo if such strict standards were truly necessary. Simply practising a basic potion would probably suffice for learning purposes.
However, Harry still didn't dare voice such thoughts, fearing those words might displease Leo.
But Leo took the initiative to address the unspoken concern: "Are you wondering why I was so encouraging when teaching you herb transplanting before, but now I'm being extremely strict with your potion work?"
Harry initially wanted to deny this observation, but seeing Leo's serious expression, he nodded awkwardly in acknowledgement.
"Between classmates and friends, you can only offer suggestions. Whether to accept advice remains their personal choice, and to preserve relationships, you can't even say too much."
"But we're engaged in formal tutoring now. You're the student; I'm the instructor."
"Because of the compensation you're providing, because of the trust you're placing in me, I cannot tolerate teaching you careless, incorrect knowledge."
