Chapter 274: The Worst Schedule at Hogwarts
It took only half a lesson for Professor Kettleburn to shatter everyone's preconceptions about the Care of Magical Creatures class. Especially after getting up close with the Bowtruckles, the students realized these tiny creatures were incredibly fascinating.
Bowtruckles are a straightforward type of magical creature, unafraid to show their emotions. When given a handful of wood lice, they eagerly extend their slender arms, latch onto students' clothes, and swing back and forth. Sometimes, they'll even tuck themselves into the pockets of a young wizard's robes, enjoying a snack out of sight.
Before long, a long line of students had formed—everyone wanted a chance to spend a bit more time with the Bowtruckles. To give everyone the opportunity to interact with them, Professor Kettleburn limited the time to two minutes per student.
Seeing the demand, Professor Kettleburn even made a trip to the Forbidden Forest to bring back a fresh batch of Bowtruckles—about twenty in all. After all, the previous group had already been well fed, yet there were still dozens of students eagerly waiting their turn. Without an increase in numbers, many wouldn't get the chance to experience the creatures firsthand.
While students waited in line, Professor Kettleburn stood nearby, loudly explaining, "Because Bowtruckles never choose to inhabit trees without magical properties, the trees they guard are often ideal for wand-making. That's why wand-makers are so keen on these little fellows—they can skip the search for the right trees and simply follow the Bowtruckles."
...
Professor Kettleburn's lectures were always detailed and captivating, and he seemed to have an answer for every question.
"Professor, what would a Bowtruckle do if it found itself in a regular forest?" asked a Gryffindor student from the back of the class.
"They'd still live in the tree, but it wouldn't be as comfortable," Professor Kettleburn replied. "Imagine being asked to leave the warmth of your bed to sleep at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Not exactly cozy, right?"