[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-don-t-call-me-a-wandmaker":3,"chapter-hogwarts-don-t-call-me-a-wandmaker-hogwarts-don-t-call-me-a-wandmaker-chapter-118":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hogwarts: Don't Call Me a Wandmaker",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2292370,4482,"Chapter 118: The Earthworm and the Tree-Keeper","hogwarts-don-t-call-me-a-wandmaker-chapter-118",118,"\u003Cp>The next day, the Christmas holiday began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the attack on Lockhart, far more students chose to go home for Christmas this year, and the once-bustling castle instantly became empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence, thick as snow on the ground, enveloped the entire castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet those who remained felt no ill about it; instead, they cherished this rare quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the first day of the holiday, the professors went together to Hogsmeade, reportedly to investigate the details of Lockhart’s attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry and Ron played chess in the common room, while Silven decided to take a walk—though after leaving the common room, he unconsciously found himself at the entrance to the second-floor library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after a few seconds did Silven realize—he wasn’t ready to read more complex Transfiguration books until he’d fully absorbed everything he’d already read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid was right: reading all the time wasn’t good; sometimes you needed to give yourself a break.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then let’s go see Hagrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silven made his decision quickly and left the castle for Hagrid’s cabin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grounds outside were covered in deep snow, making walking difficult; by the time Silven reached the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid was just stepping out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard all about it,” Hagrid said the moment he saw Silven, offering him an encouraging smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Believe me, Dumbledore would never expel a student based on some anonymous scribbles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wouldn’t have reminded me, I’d almost forgotten,” Silven smiled. “Few people have mentioned it to me, and I didn’t give it much thought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are you headed?” Silven asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To visit Fluffy,” Hagrid said, picking up a large iron bucket filled with chunks of bloody raw meat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tomorrow’s Christmas—I’ve prepared his favorite: moose meat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Fluffy’s name, Silven instinctively wanted to turn back—but after a moment’s thought, he changed his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can I come with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to try easing his relationship with the three-headed dog; with Hagrid beside him, safety wouldn’t be an issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Hagrid refused him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, that won’t do. Fluffy lives deep in the Forbidden Forest—students aren’t allowed in there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the school’s on holiday now,” Silven said. “And I’ve been in the Forbidden Forest before, in first year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That was different,” Hagrid shook his head. “That was punishment for detention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I didn’t think it was punishment—it was a wonderful experience. I still remember it vividly,” Silven said, glancing toward the Forbidden Forest as if he could still see the unicorn’s spirit standing before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And with you beside me, I won’t be in any danger, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course,” Hagrid said. “As long as you’re with me, no creature in the Forbidden Forest will harm you. Alright, I’ll take you in—but you must promise not to vanish again like last time. Stay right beside me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time, Silven had disappeared for a while in the Forbidden Forest—Hagrid had been terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, he’d reappeared on his own—and even led them to the dying unicorn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid still couldn’t figure out how Silven had known exactly where the unicorn was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, I promise I’ll stick with you this time,” Silven said. “But could you take me to a place where there are more tree-keepers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You like tree-keepers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mainly want to find the trees they live in,” Silven explained. “I plan to make a few wands during the holiday, but because of my Animagus transformation, I’ve been stuck in the library all year and never bought wand cores.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I order now, the owls would take days to fly back and forth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why buy at all?” Hagrid frowned. “Isn’t there enough wood in this huge Forbidden Forest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest was full of trees—more than magical creatures—and as Hogwarts’ gamekeeper, he couldn’t believe Silven would pay money for wood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many Galleons you had, you couldn’t waste them like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come with me—we’ll pass several trees where tree-keepers live. I’ve seen those little fellows many times.” Hagrid lifted the bucket and strode into the forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silven started to follow—but then remembered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, Hagrid. Give me a few minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silven ran to the nearby pumpkin patch, heaved up several large stones, and grabbed a few gray beetles from beneath them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after this did he hurry to catch up with Hagrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Forbidden Forest by day was far friendlier than at night; shafts of light fell through gaps in the leaves, forming bright columns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagrid walked beside Silven, just close enough to keep him in his peripheral vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should’ve told me sooner,” he brushed aside a bush. “When I collect unicorn tail hairs, I could’ve picked up some branches for you—no need for a special trip.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not quite what you think, Hagrid,” Silven sighed. “Choosing a wand core is far more complicated than choosing a wand body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just a branch—what’s so complicated?” Hagrid said dismissively. “Oh, we’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stopped before a massive beech tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the thickest in the area—and though a heavy snow had fallen the night before, its branches remained lush and full.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the shadows, faint green shapes could be seen peering curiously toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were tree-keepers—creatures found only on magically infused trees, and the most prized by wandmakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the scent of pine resin on Silven, a few bolder tree-keepers leapt onto the lowest branch, their dark, bright eyes studying him with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These little things like you,” Hagrid whispered. “I’ve walked this path countless times, but they’ve never approached me before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They only like the pine resin on me—it’s used to condition wand bodies. All wandmakers carry that scent,” Silven explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He extended his hand, palm up, holding one of the beetles he’d just gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, eat up. Don’t be shy,” Silven murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree-keepers on the branch grew noticeably more agitated—but didn’t immediately leap down for the beetle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silven waited patiently. After about two minutes, one greedy tree-keeper finally jumped into his hand, snatched the beetle, and scurried back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silven placed another beetle in his palm—this time, the tree-keeper descended faster. By the third beetle, a line had formed on the branch; several tree-keepers pressed close, craning their necks, eagerly waiting their turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silven was surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected the Forbidden Forest’s tree-keepers to be so well-mannered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once every tree-keeper had received a beetle, Silven made his request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In exchange, could you give me a branch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Several tree-keepers who’d gotten beetles nodded, then leapt toward the higher treetops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they returned, they carried what Silven wanted: a branch about thirty inches long, still bearing a few tender leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tree-keepers lifted the branch together, swaying unsteadily as they delivered it to Silven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you,” Silven said, satisfied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tender leaves meant the branch had been freshly cut—likely from a fine twig at the tree’s crown, where magical energy was most active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a mutually satisfying exchange, Silven followed Hagrid deeper into the Forbidden Forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this necessary?” Hagrid asked curiously. “Must a wand core come from a branch broken by a tree-keeper?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not necessarily,” Silven said. “But tree-keepers always pick the finest branch on a tree. Of course, if it’s the main trunk of a tree over a hundred years old, any part will do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought of the broomsticks taken from the Room of Requirement—but he wasn’t willing to use those.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case, I can’t really help you,” Hagrid said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up branches was one thing—but if tree-keepers had to be involved, he wasn’t sure he could manage. He’d never dealt with creatures so small.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only they could grow ten feet long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On their way deeper into the forest, Silven encountered more trees inhabited by tree-keepers. Each time, he followed the same method: trading beetles for branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These beetles were common—mostly hidden under stones in gardens and forests. Where tree-keepers couldn’t move the stones, Silven needed only one kick.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking and pausing like this, it took nearly two hours before they finally reached Fluffy’s dwelling: a vast depression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, Silven’s Transfigured lizard-skin bag held three beech branches, two oak branches, and five fir branches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as they neared the forest’s depths, the number of tree-keepers increased—but here, Silven decided not to trade further, instead instinctively drawing closer to Hagrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trees here were denser; the air itself seemed thick with danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Added to the fact they hadn’t seen the three-headed dog, Silven felt a quiet tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a thunderous rumble came from the left. Silven spun around—and saw a monstrous creature, sixteen feet tall, charging straight at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three heads opened wide, revealing fangs as sharp as daggers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so long, Fluffy’s broken teeth had regrown—and now they were larger than before. His body had also grown a full circle since last year. As he ran, the ground trembled beneath him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a blink, Fluffy reached Silven—then noticed Hagrid, who had set down the bucket and was rolling up his sleeves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, Silven saw unmistakable panic on a dog’s face. Fluffy skidded to a halt, all three heads jerking backward, claws gouging four deep furrows into the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, after smashing into a tree, Fluffy stopped before Hagrid and licked his arm with his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1521,"2026-06-20T04:03:11.805Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","90a59303e6430b13b2613745681fbf904cfdf04a6fd56ff38d76fb8ae558c416","hogwarts-don-t-call-me-a-wandmaker-chapter-119","hogwarts-don-t-call-me-a-wandmaker-chapter-117",149,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-don-t-call-me-a-wandmaker-cover.jpg"]