HP: The Boy who Planted

As the three glowing reward orbs merged into Char's body, he felt a surge of magic unlike anything before. The cumulative effect of all his careful cultivation, all those days and nights tending plants and casting spells, finally tipped over from slow, steady progress to a sudden, breathtaking leap forward.

For the first time, Char could truly feel the magic coursing through his veins. It was as if a new sense had awakened inside him: every thought, every intention, sent a ripple through his magical core. He realized that if he focused his will—if he simply picked up his wand and spoke the words—magic would answer, eager to shape the world to his wishes.

This time, the feeling didn't fade away immediately. For a full ten seconds, Char basked in the sensation, marveling at the way his body and mind seemed to hum with power. When it finally ebbed, he felt a momentary pang of loss, but also a deep, quiet satisfaction. He had crossed a threshold.

His attention snapped to his system panel. The entry for [Enhanced Magical Perception], which had been a dull, hesitant bronze, now gleamed with a rich, steady luster. Bronze level—finally, truly, unmistakably.

Char took a long, deep breath, his heart pounding with excitement. "It took so much effort to push Lumos to bronze," he thought, "but my magic perception just leapt forward after a few harvests. The planting system is incredible. Even with my weak natural talent, I can still grow stronger, step by step."

He realized that the system was his great equalizer. No matter how slow or awkward his magical progress seemed compared to the prodigies around him, as long as he kept working, the rewards would come. Give it time, keep planting, keep harvesting, and one day, he'd have magical power and perception to rival anyone in the wizarding world.

He thought about the two pillars of magical talent: strength and perception. Strength determined the raw power of a spell, the force behind every incantation. Perception, though subtler, was just as important—especially for fields like alchemy, potions, and herbology. A wizard with keen magical perception could sense the life in a plant, the delicate balance in a potion, the hidden energies in a magical artifact. It was what set apart the true masters from the merely diligent.

Char remembered how, in the original stories, Harry's magical power was said to surpass even Hermione's by the end, despite her superior book knowledge. That was the difference between raw magical strength and learned skill. But perception was another matter entirely. It was what let a genius like Snape improvise in the potions lab, rewriting the rules that others spent years memorizing.

Now, for the first time, Char felt a taste of that genius. Even if his perception was still weak by Hogwarts standards, he could sense the difference. It was like switching from a blurry, flickering candle to a steady electric lamp. Not a cannon instead of a musket, perhaps, but at least a proper firearm instead of an old flintlock.

He tried casting Lumos, just to see. The spell flowed out of him with a smoothness and clarity he'd never felt before. "It's so… easy!" he marveled. "I can feel every bit of the magic moving, every subtle shift. If I'd had this before, I could have improved Lumos so much faster. It's all about the hardware."

A new idea struck him. With his magical perception now at bronze level, maybe he could try cultivating the guardian tree again. The rewards for success were so great—improved defense against the dark arts, resistance to curses, and more. He hurried to the greenhouse, gathering the seeds and reagents Professor Sprout had given him.

He took a moment to calm himself, making sure his emotions were steady. He remembered from his last attempt how important it was to keep his mind clear and positive. He picked up a guardian tree seed, tapped it with his wand, and focused on happy, hopeful thoughts.

This time, he could actually feel the difference. The magic he poured into the seed felt lighter, more vibrant, more alive. The seed itself seemed to respond, its dormant energy stirring as if waking from a long sleep.

He soaked the seed in the potion, trying to sense the magical fluctuations inside the bottle. It was complicated—the magic of the seed and the potion mingled in ways he couldn't quite follow. After a few moments, he gave up trying to analyze it and simply followed his instincts, tapping the bottle three times and drawing three concentric circles.

"Protego-Arboris!" he intoned, his voice steady.

The seed began to vibrate, and the potion turned a brilliant emerald green. For a few seconds, it seemed as if the magic would take hold—but then the color faded, and the seed fell silent once more.

Char sighed, but he wasn't discouraged. This time, he'd gotten closer than ever before. He could see the path to success. "I'll need silver-level perception to finish this step," he realized. "And probably gold to bring the tree to full maturity. But I'll get there. By the end of the year, I'll have my first guardian tree."

Just then, Professor Sprout entered the greenhouse, carrying a petri dish with the Blood Jade—the mutated glow mushroom Char had discovered. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Char, I've almost figured out the characteristics of this Blood Jade variant!" she announced.

Char's heart leapt. He'd made the right decision, giving the Blood Jade to his aunt for study. Alone, he might have ruined it, but in her hands, it was thriving.

But before she could say more, Professor Sprout's gaze fell on the potion bottle in Char's hand. She froze, her eyes wide.

"Char… did you do this?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mix of concern and awe.

Char nodded, explaining how he'd tried the guardian tree cultivation again after his magical perception breakthrough. Professor Sprout examined the bottle, then turned to Char with a look of pride and relief.

"You're making real progress," she said softly. "But remember, some magical plants—especially those that react to blood or strong magic—can be dangerous. Always call me if you notice anything strange. Promise me."

Char nodded, feeling the warmth of her care. "I promise, Aunt."

She smiled, then turned back to the Blood Jade. "This plant is remarkable, Char. I think it could be used for powerful healing potions, maybe even more. We'll publish our findings together—you as first author, of course."

Char beamed, imagining the pride on Professor Sprout's face when they presented their research to the wizarding world.

As they worked together in the greenhouse, the morning sun streaming through the glass, Char felt a deep sense of belonging and hope. He was still just a first-year, still far from legendary or mythical power. But with every spell, every harvest, every lesson from his aunt, he was growing—slowly but surely—into the wizard he was meant to be.

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