"These are toy knights researched by Fred and George. They can assist wizards in battles—that said, I'm not convinced these tiny knight figurines have much combat ability. But both of them insist on showing everyone." Ron looked up to introduce to Harry, "You see, we've just tested several plants, and now it's Biting Kale's turn... Though I reckon it might be because the knight is too exhausted, so he's defeated by the Biting Kale. If he'd been in better condition, the outcome might still be uncertain."
"Stop talking, pay up." Draco excitedly stretched out his hand, "Each of you owes me four Galleons—only Neville and I bet on Biting Kale winning—"
The lads around looked helpless as they dug out Galleons from their pockets and placed them in Draco's hand.
Draco, in turn, counted out half and handed them to a delighted Neville.
"See, Longbottom." Draco, despite distributing the money, didn't forget to boast, "It's so important to adhere to oneself—if I hadn't bet on Biting Kale, you might not have had this confidence."
"You're right," Neville said without looking up, carefully placing those Galleons into his wallet, then looking up again: "Alright, alright, it's Poisonous Tentacles next—who's betting on who to win? I'm betting on Poisonous Tentacles this time..."
"I'm also betting on Poisonous Tentacles," said Ginny.
"I'm also on Poisonous Tentacles," Ron raised his hand as he spoke, with everyone quickly following suit, all placing their bets on Poisonous Tentacles.
"How about you, Harry?" Fred and George mischievously asked, "Who are you planning to bet on?"
"I'll bet on Mini Knights," Harry said while seated in a chair.
Fred and George exchanged a glance, both showing looks of regret, but quickly said, "Alright, then we'll follow you and bet on Mini Knights too."
After speaking, Fred took out a miniature castle from his Dragon Skin Wallet—it looked a lot like Hogwarts castle, but a bit different.
"Come out, Mini Knights!"
As the words fell, a dozen knights, each the size of two Chocolate Frog Cards, flew out from the castle. They were draped in shiny tin foil armor, riding equally miniature, buzzing Flying Brooms, holding long glistening spikes in their hands—appearing to be their lances.
"Hey!" Draco suddenly shouted: "You never said your Mini Knights could fly—Merlin's smelly socks, why didn't you say so earlier!"
"Protests are invalid," the twin brothers exchanged a glance and clapped their hands together.
On the other side was a Poisonous Tentacle Neville had just brought out.
Though there was only one Poisonous Tentacle, its dark purple, segmented vine was already as thick as a python, the top pod lined with mucus, opening and closing, emitting a faint green, sweet and fishy poison mist.
The Poisonous Tentacle immediately sensed the presence of living beings, a thick vine lashed out like a whip, carrying a gust of rank wind.
But the Mini Knights reacted extremely fast, flying quickly apart, the vine struck only air.
Immediately afterward, the pod at the top of the Poisonous Tentacle contracted violently with a "poof," spraying a large thick green poison mist, instantly engulfing the knights at the forefront.
The onlookers gasped, Hermione even subconsciously covered her mouth.
However, something surprising happened.
The poison mist dispersed, and those knights directly hit were still steadily riding their brooms, their tin foil armor and broom handles sticky with green poison liquid, yet showed no signs of damage, instead glowing with an eerie, more majestic gleam against the poison.
The Poisonous Tentacle seemed enraged, more vines frantically flailing, continuously spewing poison mist.
Luckily, they were confined within a miniature duel arena—thus, the conditions inside wouldn't affect those outside, or else the room would be consumed by the poison mist.
Though the poison mist was dense, the knights navigated through it as if partaking in a regular morning patrol.
The poison dripped off their armor without causing any corrosion or slowing them down.
"Immune to toxins, that's the advantage of Mini Knights," Fred's introduction resonated, "You see, Poisonous Tentacle's strongest weapon is its toxins—but these knights are completely immune to its attack methods..."
"Don't forget, Poisonous Tentacle's attack prowess is excellent, even without toxins it can deal with these knights of yours!" Ron unswervingly stated.
It seemed as though proving Ron's words, the knights commenced their counterattack.
They dove in from above, their long spike lances precision-aimed at the flailing vines.
Though not like real lances causing lethal threats, every stab left a small hole on the plant's surface, instilling considerable harm on Poisonous Tentacle.
They split into small teams, some feigning attacks from the front to draw fire, others circled to the sides and back, specifically targeting joints of vines and the base of the pod with sharp stabs.
The Poisonous Tentacle was evidently also affected significantly by such assaults, its movements began slowing, swinging the vines no longer as vigorously.
Finally, a knight clearly the captain (his helmet adorned with a particularly vibrant red feather) issued a silent command.
All knights simultaneously ascended in altitude, forming a sharp triangular formation mid-air, collectively launching a final charge!
They plunged downward, thrusting their spike lances in unison into the most vulnerable parts of the Poisonous Tentacle.
The Poisonous Tentacle suddenly stiffened, all vines limply drooped, no longer moving.
Afterward, the Mini Knights elegantly pulled up their brooms, regrouping in the air, their poison-covered armor gleaming under the light—the captain with the red feather even raised his lance, saluting toward Fred and George.
"What a splendid match!" Fred clapped first, "Look at these knights, so valiant, so fearless—you see, they could even defeat the Poisonous Tentacle..."
"I think you clearly went easy during the Biting Kale round," Ron voiced dispute, "Why were the Mini Knights battling the Biting Kale not riding brooms, while these battling Poisonous Tentacle did ride Flying Brooms?"
"Because I wanted to fleece you, my dear Little Ronnie,"
George laughed heartily, gathering the Galleons from everyone's hands.
"By the way, they can actually sing 'Weasley is our King'... though the tune's a bit off," he added.
"Alright." Fred raised his head and glanced at the time, "It's getting late, if we don't go to bed now, we'll surely get scolded—"
"It's holiday time," Ron rolled his eyes and said, "If you cared to look aside, you'll see our parents are over there chatting, having quite a pleasant time..."
Harry turned and saw Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Granger happily chatting with Vivi, occasionally glancing toward him.
Not parents? How is Vivi involved too?
Oh, Vivi could be the woman to be my mother, that's fine then.
"How about another round?" Neville was still somewhat unwilling to stop—not solely because he still had a surplus of over ten Golden Galleons, "I think besides Magical Plants, we should also try letting these Mini Knights deal with some Magical Creatures, don't you think? Like... like those marked by the Ministry of Magic fewer than three X's?"
"That's far too conservative," Fred and George exchanged a glance, "Our goal is for our products to handle 5X Level dangerous Magical Creatures!"