Chapter 142: Gill Sac Grass

Just discussing how to handle the second challenge in Hagrid's Hut won't yield any clear solution.

Or just that phrase: don't rush.

With more than two months to prepare, Hermione already knows John's abilities, so safety concerns can be set aside for now.

Thus what truly needs consideration is how to locate the hidden treasure beneath the water.

Hermione says she will next help find a way to breathe underwater, as well as gather maps of the Black Lake and information on merfolk and other aquatic magical creatures.

John's task, meanwhile, is to boost physical training, swim in the icy waters of the Black Lake's edge daily to improve his water skills, and practice underwater spellcasting.

Speaking of winter swimming, John strongly suspects Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei knew the details of the second challenge in advance, which is why he deliberately took him to the Black Lake for daily swims.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain why the training aligns so perfectly with the challenge.

But John doesn't dare say more; he can only silently give Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei a mental thumbs‑up.

Perhaps he could also ask Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei about the underwater breathing issue?

When the final day of the term ends, the atmosphere at school instantly becomes relaxed and cheerful.

This year's Christmas break sees especially many students planning to stay on campus because of the ball.

However, lower‑year students can't attend the ball, so most of them still choose to go home.

Ryan and Ethan also start packing early, preparing to catch the train the next day.

Evening, Great Hall.

"Hey, John."

"Hmm? Harry (Senior)."

John is currently reading alone in the Great Hall when he looks up and sees Harry (Senior) sitting down beside him, holding a book.

"I heard from Hermione about the Golden Egg; it's lucky you thought of opening the Golden Egg underwater."

As soon as Harry sits down, he starts chatting with him beside him.

"It's also thanks to Professor Hagrid telling me about merfolk."

John smiles, flips a page, and says, "Otherwise I really wouldn't have understood that wailing, ghost‑like song."

Harry also smiles, looking at the book in his hand.

"Hermione also told me to start winter swimming in the Black Lake every day from today, and I'm not afraid she'll freeze me to death."

Hearing that, John also smiles.

Indeed, diving in at this time without an adaptation period would be unbearable.

John, too, had spent a good amount of time adapting beforehand before daring to winter‑swim in the icy water.

"By the way, John, I want to ask you something."

A moment later, Harry suddenly lowers his voice again, leaning close to John to whisper.

"What is it?"

"Ahem... it's just, do you know Qiu Zhang from our academy?"

Harry looks a bit embarrassed, hesitates, then asks in a low voice.

John lifts his head and looks at Harry oddly.

"Um, I know her, but I'm not close to her."

"Alright, thanks..."

Harry nods, a little downcast at the words.

"But Ryan seems to have spoken with Qiu Zhang; perhaps you could ask Ryan— you know, speak of the devil and he shows up."

Just as John is speaking, Ryan, having already packed his luggage, arrives at the Great Hall and walks over.

"Yo, Harry (Senior), you're here too."

Ryan greets them as soon as he arrives; the few of them are now quite familiar with each other.

"Ryan, your timing is perfect; Harry (Senior) has something to discuss with you."

"Hmm? What does he want with me?"

Ryan, just seated, is startled by John's words, then looks at Harry.

Harry has no choice but to ask Ryan again about Qiu Zhang.

Ryan smiles after listening, then shakes his head with a hint of regret.

"Harry (Senior), you actually want to invite the senior to the ball, don't you?"

"Ahem... yes."

Harry sees his intention exposed and can only nod.

Ryan looks at Harry's demeanor and says helplessly.

"She's a real blossom of our academy; people ask her out every day, and you only bring it up now— it's too late."

"She already has a dance partner now."

Hearing Ryan's words, Harry's expression freezes, and he instantly looks dejected.

"Alright..."

John looks at Harry's demeanor and feels a bit helpless.

This savior seems overly naive; he's bold enough to fight a Fire Dragon, yet still can't bring himself to ask the girl he likes.

"Luckily we invited Hermione early on."

"Senior, we need to hurry; the ball is only a week away, and you're a Warrior, you have to lead the dance."

John can only pat Harry's shoulder and say softly.

"I want to too... John, your dance partner is Hermione, right?"

"Hmm."

Hearing Harry's question, John nodded.

Harry let out a helpless sigh.

Today Harry and Ron were still fretting over a dance partner; Ron suddenly thought, since Hermione was a girl, to let Hermione choose a partner between him and Ron, but Hermione ignored him outright.

He then thought that Hermione and John were so close that they must have already made an arrangement, and now, with John's own confirmation, it was indeed so.

Now Qiu Zhang also has a dance partner, and he really doesn't know whom to invite.

Just find a random filler?

To be honest, with Harry's aura, quite a few girls actually come to ask him.

But before that he kept thinking about Qiu Zhang, so he turned them all down.

But now the ball is near, and he can no longer hesitate.

At that moment, Neville happened to walk over with Luna.

Neville wore a rare confident smile, while Luna, as always, seemed as if she were in a dream.

"Hey, Harry, you look troubled?" Neville noticed his expression and asked concernedly.

"Thanks, Neville, I'm fine."

Harry forced a faint smile and shook his head.

Then he couldn't help but ask.

"Neville, have you found a dance partner?"

Saying that, he also curiously sized up Luna.

He wasn't very familiar with Luna, only occasionally seeing John and a few others sit with her to discuss something.

Neville shyly scratched the back of his head, smiled, and pointed at Luna beside him.

"Yes, Luna is my dance partner."

Upon hearing that, Harry also showed a hint of envy.

Even Neville has found his ideal partner, while he, as a Warrior, is still fretting over it.

"What's wrong, Harry, you still haven't invited a dance partner?"

"Sigh, yes."

Harry gave up resisting, his hand languidly resting on the table as he propped his chin and admitted.

Neville, seeing his brother's demeanor, scratched his head, looked toward the Gryffindor Long Table, and then said.

"Maybe you could invite Ginny? She doesn't seem to have a dance partner yet."

"Ginny?"

Hearing Neville's words, Harry instantly straightened up.

Right, Ginny.

Harry knew Ginny well; back in second year he even saved her, so inviting her seemed a good choice.

John gave Neville a thumbs‑up.

Neville smiled shyly, then sat down here as well.

"What are you looking at?"

Neville looked at the book in John and Harry's hands and asked curiously.

"Looking for a way to breathe underwater."

John lifted the book and replied softly.

Neville blinked oddly, "Breathing underwater? Why look for that?"

John saw Neville's confusion and quietly explained that they had learned a clue about the Golden Egg, which pointed to searching for a treasure at the bottom of the water.

Neville, after listening, suddenly understood and said enthusiastically.

"Then why don't you try the gill sac herb?"

"Gill sac herb? What is that?"

This time it was Harry who asked; he had been staring off toward Ginny, his thoughts drifting, and only snapped back when he heard Neville.

"It's an aquatic plant that lets the user grow fish-like gills, helping them breathe underwater."

Hearing Neville, Harry's eyes lit up instantly.

"There's also this kind of thing?"

Neville smiled and nodded, seeming pleased that it could help.

"As expected of you, Senior Neville, not only did you help Harry (Senior) find a dance partner, but you also gave us a solution for the next challenge."

John sincerely praised, saying that although he had already consulted Professor Professor Professor Fuliwei about a spell called the Bubble‑head spell, having another option is always good.

Neville blushed from the compliment, shyly scratching his ear.