After breakfast, all the Hogwarts exchange students changed into their casual clothes and headed to the small dock beside the river on the highland where Castrobruchuo was located, guided by the professors. Aside from a few proud pure-blood wizards who still wore traditional wizard robes, the rest of the students had switched to Muggle clothes. After all, there was no magic to regulate temperature and humidity outside the school grounds, and wearing thick robes in a rainforest was no easy task.
Of course, it was possible that the pure-bloods had enchanted robes that could regulate their body temperature, but from the way they were sweating profusely, that didn't seem to be the case. Ryan was genuinely concerned that some of them might collapse from heatstroke. Even though his body had been enhanced, he still felt uncomfortably hot in just a T-shirt and jeans. If he had worn a full robe, he was certain he'd be suffering too.
Ryan soon shifted his focus from his outfit to something more pressing—the boat to Mahogany Town was ready. Located downstream along the river, Mahogany Town was deep in the Amazon rainforest. To avoid overloading the Floo Network, magical teleportation between Castrobruchuo and Mahogany Town wasn't permitted.
Given both locations were situated along the river, traveling by boat was the natural mode of transport. The vessel that appeared before Ryan was an enormous canoe.
It looked like a massive tree—about six meters in diameter—had been cut in half and hollowed out to create the boat. A sunshade canopy woven from leaves had been added for cover. But despite its primitive appearance, it was clearly no ordinary canoe. As the river's current flowed beneath it, magical runes occasionally flickered on its surface, reacting subtly to the water's force.
Ryan had been slightly concerned that his outfit might be too casual and undignified, but his worries faded the moment he saw the local students already aboard. Their clothing choices were far more relaxed than his own.
For instance, David wore a short-sleeved floral shirt and beach shorts. His cousin sported a cropped top and denim shorts. There were even a few native-looking students wearing only a cloth wrap around their waists, bare-chested with nothing but a beaded necklace adorning their necks.
"Your clothes are a bit too thick," David said with a grin as he greeted Ryan. "There are magic wards and special plants surrounding Mahogany Town. The poisonous insects in the rainforest can't get in at all. No need to wrap up like that."
"I just didn't want to appear disrespectful by dressing too casually," Ryan replied quickly.
"You British are so strange. It's like you always want to look formal, even when you're supposed to be relaxing," David laughed, then pointed to the pure-blood wizards in full robes, still standing awkwardly. "Look at them—trying to save face, and suffering for it."
Ryan could only shrug in response. He had no sympathy for the pure-bloods clinging to their pride at the cost of their comfort.
Soon, with a gentle tremor, the canoe pulled away from the dock and began to drift downstream on the muddy river. Since this region was largely untouched by humans, the river had retained its wild, natural form, filled with obstacles like fallen logs and floating debris. However, the canoe—thanks to its enchantments—navigated the treacherous waters with ease. Even when some debris bumped against the side of the boat, magical shields deflected them smoothly, keeping the vessel safe and stable.
The ride was uneventful and pleasant. As the canoe slowed, they arrived at their destination without incident.
Mahogany Town earned its name from the abundance of mahogany trees growing in and around the area. The buildings—ranging from native temple-style structures to more European-styled houses—were nestled harmoniously among the towering trees. Despite the architectural variety, the town felt cohesive and uniquely enchanting.
Thanks to powerful magic, Mahogany Town—like Hogsmeade—didn't appear on any conventional maps. Not even satellite images could capture it. From the sky, all that could be seen was dense jungle. But none of that mattered to Ryan at the moment. He was too focused on the snack stand in front of him, where he was eagerly waiting for freshly made ice cream.
As soon as they arrived, Professor Sprout had informed everyone to regroup at the pier by 4 p.m., then dismissed them to explore on their own.
Unfamiliar with the layout of the town, Ryan decided to stick with Hermione, who had clearly done her research ahead of time.
They visited two or three notable historical landmarks, but soon realized that the events and architecture of a faraway continent failed to hold their interest. After a short discussion, they agreed to skip the rest of the tourist sites. This left them with plenty of free time, which Hermione immediately used to ask Ryan questions about ancient runes.
As Ryan answered her questions, the group meandered through the livelier parts of town. Before long, they reached the bustling commercial district.
As is the case in any populous area—whether magical or Muggle—food vendors had sprung up to cater to the crowds. Stalls lined the streets, tempting passersby with all sorts of snacks and sweets. Ryan, parched from both the heat and the impromptu lesson, stopped to grab an ice cream.
The street was filled with delightful chaos. British students, long deprived of such exotic street food, flocked to the vendors like bees to flowers. Ryan noticed several older students enthusiastically eating near one of the stalls. Even the professors weren't immune—Professor Kettleburn was seated on the sidewalk, munching on grilled meat with one hand and holding a frosty mug of beer with the other. He waved cheerfully when he spotted Ryan and Hermione.
As they strolled along several busy streets, enjoying various snacks and discussing magical theory, Ryan noticed something peculiar: Hermione had a noticeable fondness for sweets.
"Since when do you like sweets this much?" he asked, curious, as she carefully scooped a floating red jelly into her mouth with a spoon.
Hermione paused for a second before answering. "You know my parents are dentists, right? They weren't too fond of me eating sugary stuff growing up. But these magical desserts are different—they're low in sugar and made from natural ingredients. They don't harm your teeth at all."
That did make sense, Ryan thought, as he bit into a golden-fried snack with something soft inside. But as he chewed, his eyes widened in shock.
Why were the bugs inside still alive—even after frying?
To his surprise, the taste was actually pleasant. After getting over the initial horror, he finished the snack without wasting a bite. Still, he made a mental note to always ask about the ingredients before buying food next time.
Realizing they still had lunch ahead of them, Ryan gently pulled Hermione away from another dessert stand she was eyeing and reminded her of their prior plans.
They continued toward the bookstore they had arranged to visit earlier in the day.
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