Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 54 Cooperation
Fred and George did have extensive experience in breaking school rules, and Professor Sprout hadn't really seen them.

Although she and Hagrid later patrolled the area, they did not mobilize a large force to check the student dormitories.

The only thing that made Xi Lun feel uncomfortable was that Professor Sprout was more concerned about the Whomping Willow.

For a long time afterwards, Xi Lun sneaked out through the secret passage more than once, trying to see if he could repeat the same trick and collect more branches of the Whomping Willow, but these actions all failed.

Every time he gets close to the Whomping Willow, he receives a screaming warning from Scout Tom.

This means that there is someone around, maybe Professor Sprout, or Filch or someone else, and it is definitely not safe.

Then Xi Lun would return to the castle as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, no one suspected anything... Cats are one of the pets allowed in Hogwarts, and it is normal to hear cats meowing at night.

But even so, Xilun was very angry.

It was all the fault of those two reckless guys, Fred and George, otherwise he could have gotten at least two or three more branches!

So every time he saw these two people, Xi Lun never gave them a good look, and Fred and George had no complaints about this, because it was indeed the two brothers who were holding them back.

After all, Xi Lun was able to get such a long branch without any damage, while they not only returned empty-handed, but also aroused Professor Sprout's vigilance.

Ultimately, it is because they lack business capabilities.

However, after this incident, the relationship between them and Xilun did take a step forward, and it felt like they had met too late.

In Fred's own words: The Sorting Hat is so reliable, Ciarán is a natural Gryffindor.

Xi Lun was naturally even angrier about this, and then he put the blame on the Sorting Hat. For a while, he even thought about whether he should keep the finished Whomping Willow for the Sorting Hat.

According to Xilun's original plan, this staff body was to be used to match another eight-eyed giant spider leg, but after the staff body was completed, he suddenly felt a little reluctant to part with it.

I don’t know if it’s because Xilun had been looking forward to it for too long, but he burst out with unprecedented enthusiasm when making it... This staff is simply perfect. Not only are the necessary conditions such as elasticity and hardness impeccable, it can even form a magical resonance with the engraved magic runes.

To form a magical resonance without adding a wand core... Let's put it this way, even if his grandfather Garrick Ollivander made a top-quality wand body like this, he would have to replace it with the best quality unicorn tail hair.

In comparison, a single eight-eyed giant spider leg is a bit out of reach, but a brain or a heart might be something to consider.

Xi Lun decided to wait a little longer.

As for the leg of the eight-eyed giant spider, if Xi Lun could get a second whomping willow, he could make another one, but now... don't think about it unrealistically, the grapevine is fine.

However, in this case, the finished stick body will have to be put aside for a while.

Because the school year is almost over, professors are assigning homework like crazy for the upcoming exams.

Even the first graders, who had the lightest academic workload, were tortured to the point of dizziness.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m too tired, but Xilun always feels like he has forgotten something, but every time he thinks about it carefully, he has no clue.

After several attempts, he had no choice but to give up and continue to immerse himself in various magic books, night after night, striving to complete the professors' tasks.

Until the weekend before the exam.

"What, let's go chop down the Whomping Willow together?" Xi Lun looked at the twins in front of him in disbelief, not understanding why they had such an idea.

"Do you think the last injury was too minor and you want to be beaten again? Also, don't forget that Professor Sprout has never given up on finding the culprit of that day."

"Keep your voice down!" Fred looked around and pulled Xiren to a place where there was no one.

"That's why we're looking for your cooperation," he continued. "We've thought about it. You were able to get that branch unscathed. There must be some special method, a method that won't be targeted by the Whomping Willow."

Xi Lun pursed his lips and said nothing.

"Don't worry, this is your secret, we won't ask any questions." George said. "Yes." Fred nodded, "Just like you don't ask us why we know so many secret passages."

"But we can work together."

"What do you mean?" Xi Lun asked.

Fred didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked mysteriously, "You've been out there several times before, but you always came back empty-handed, right?"

"Hmm?" Xi Lun raised his eyebrows.

"No need to deny it, we all know it." George said with a smile.

"I saw it myself," said Fred.

"And we also know that you are very lucky."

"Professor Sprout was watching nearby those times. If you hadn't retraced your steps, you would have been caught red-handed."

"But you were lucky enough to avoid it."

Xi Lun still didn't speak.

He knew that Fred and George had a magical map that could show the movements of everyone in the castle, but he didn't expect that the map could even show what was outside the castle.

In fact, Fred and George were also very surprised that Xilun could retreat without hesitation every time at the critical moment, which made them wonder if Xilun also had a live map.

But if you think about it carefully, it doesn't make sense. If Xilun had a live map, it would be impossible to go there from the beginning.

They thought about it for a long time but couldn't figure out the reason, so they could only attribute it to Xilun being lucky.

"Just tell me what you think." Xi Lun said straight to the point: "How should we cooperate?"

"Professor Sprout can't be guarding it forever. We know there's a blank period." Fred and George didn't continue to beat around the bush.

"We'll make sure no one's anywhere near the Whomping Willow during that time."

"If someone approaches, we will remind you immediately."

"During this time, you don't have to worry about anything else. Just focus on collecting branches."

"But we'll split the harvest 50-50."

"No." Xi Lun immediately shook his head after hearing this. "30/70. After all, I need to face the Whomping Willow directly, and the mission is more dangerous."

"46 is our bottom line," George said. "Intelligence is equally important. Without knowing the exact time, you have no chance of getting close to the Whomping Willow."

The two were determined, and Xi Lun nodded after hesitating for a moment.

Okay, it's a deal.

"Happy working with you then?" Fred and George extended their hands at the same time.

"Maybe." Xi Lun looked at them, "But there are some things I must tell you in advance. If I am caught by the professor, I will definitely give you up."

"Oh my God, you really should be sorted into Slytherin." George opened his mouth wide with an exaggerated expression, but there was a happy smile on his face.

"It's a pity that you don't have this opportunity."

"I hope so." Xi Lun said, and this time he also stretched out his hand and shook hands with the two of them.

(End of this chapter)