The cellar was always cold and damp, with dark yellow stains marring the stone walls.
The shelves were crowded with glass bottles of bizarre shapes, filled with indescribable substances; some bubbled, while others settled in silent sediment.
Steam from the cauldrons filled the classroom, making Professor Snape’s face appear even more blurred and indistinct.
"Xien, we can definitely do this!"
Justin whispered, trying to bolster his own and Xien’s spirits.
However, Xien noticed the slight tremor in his hands at a glance.
He could understand; after all, the last time they had brewed a pot of blue potion, they had been severely reprimanded by Professor Snape.
"Do you want me to help prepare the ingredients?"
Justin asked, looking slightly nervous.
Xien shook his head gently.
"I’ll be done quickly."
Justin didn't press further, instead watching even more intently as Xien prepared the ingredients, lit the cauldron, and controlled the heat...
The series of movements was standard and fluid.
Compared to the other young wizards around them, who were hesitant and filled with worry, Xien’s progress was at least three times faster.
Potions is a precise and rigorous branch of magic.
The knowledge a qualified apothecary must master is complex and comprehensive, which is why Professor Snape was so strict. If the young wizards did not follow the exacting steps of potion-making, then only Merlin knew what would happen to those magical ingredients inside the bubbling, white-fuming cauldrons.
Therefore, the vast majority of young wizards simply followed the steps mechanically; only once they became proficient would the wonders of potions gradually reveal themselves to them.
As for Xien, he had completely immersed his mind in this mysterious branch of magic.
Skilled ingredient preparation, flawless heat control, moderate stirring force, rigorous brewing time...
The cauldron bubbled away.
Justin watched with undivided attention, memorizing every step and acting as Xien’s assistant, handing him ingredients and keeping track of the time.
While the other young wizards were scrambling in a panic to handle their ingredients, Xien and Justin had already added the final porcupine quills.
Professor Snape keenly noticed this unusual progress. His dark, sharp gaze fell upon their cauldron. For a split second, he could guess the outcome of this potion—qualified, but not outstanding.
He let out a cold snort and looked away.
"It’s time."
Xien’s potion had reached the final and most critical stage.
What he recalled in his mind was not the centuries-old ritual, but the unrecognized innovations of Master Libatius Borage.
Xien recited the incantation, and the ritual began.
This was his first time truly using the improved ritual.
His will was more focused than ever. He felt as if he were playing the part of an apothecary struggling to brew a potion to cure boils. As this emotion flowed naturally, the potion underwent a fundamental change at that very moment. The original blue-green liquid became viscous, and the jelly-like potion no longer contained a single impurity.
【You have brewed a pot of Cure for Boils with the standards of an adept. Proficiency +10】
Justin’s breath hitched. He focused intently, comparing this pot of potion to the example Professor Snape had shown in his memory—it was barely any different.
"Xien, did we succeed?"
He asked in a low, nervous voice.
"Mm."
A deep sense of exhaustion washed over him, feeling as if he hadn't slept for three days.
Master Libatius Borage was truly rigorous.
"Awesome! I knew we could do it!"
Justin let out a huge sigh of relief. He carefully stored the potion in a crystal vial, then stood tall and proud, waiting for Professor Snape’s inspection. It was a complete contrast to the trembling, pale-faced state he had been in last time, which brought a smile to the exhausted Xien’s face.
"You’re finished?"
Just then, Xien saw Michael poking his head around, and Terry, standing beside him, also cast a glance over, belatedly realizing what had happened.
"Of course, Xien brewed a pot of perf—"
Justin’s words stuck in his throat because a black cloud had drifted over.
Professor Snape’s tall frame blocked the light, and his cold, sharp gaze caused the surrounding young wizards to naturally fall silent.
"Perfect—"
Professor Snape picked up the crystal vial. The mocking curve of his lips had just formed, only to miraculously fade away. He was almost stunned.
If the Cure for Boils from just a moment ago had been merely qualified, then now, it had reached the threshold of excellence.
A terrifying improvement...
"Barely acceptable—"
Professor Snape set the crystal vial down, his voice sounding as if it were squeezed from his throat.
"One point—each."
With that, his robes billowed as he swept away.
"Did I hear that right..."
Michael’s eyes widened.
The circle of young wizards around them also looked over in disbelief.
"That’s great, Xien! We earned back the points we lost."
Justin seemed very excited; it appeared he had been quite bothered by the point deduction all along.
Xien nodded, his gaze falling on his panel
【Cure for Boils: Unlocked (15/30)】
He was already halfway there. If he could maintain this level of adept brewing, he would be able to unlock the Potion Title in two more attempts.
...
If Professor Snape awarding points to Ravenclaw was a small matter, then in Michael’s retelling, it had transformed into Professor Snape giving Xien two hundred gold Galleons and even cooking two dishes for him.
The rumors persisted until the History of Magic class in the afternoon.
History of Magic had almost turned into an unbridled, atmospheric gossip session.
Although the young wizards weren't only discussing Xien, the snippets that occasionally reached his ears still left him speechless.
"Single-handedly fought off a mountain troll and walked away unscathed, defeated a werewolf with his bare hands—"
Even Michael, the rumor-monger, was stunned when he heard this version.
*You guys, do you even know what you’re saying?*
Then, he leaned to the side.
"A mountain troll? It was three!"
He said with a straight face.
Justin, sitting next to Xien, was turning red from holding back his laughter.
Xien sighed and went back to organizing his History of Magic notes. He had completed the framework and filled in the necessary content, but it was still a bit short of perfect.
Tuesday’s History of Magic had been slightly adjusted; Hufflepuff was now attending with Ravenclaw, so it was hard for Justin not to look at Xien’s notes. The young wizard had even performed a secondary breakdown.
All the characters and historical events were arranged along a timeline. Xien had also made a more practical index, categorizing different events and people and matching them to their respective page numbers.
For instance, the "Eccentric Collection" Justin was currently reading included several eccentrics, such as Uric the Oddball and Wendelin the Weird.
Justin read with great interest. He no longer felt that History of Magic was dull, nor did he have to worry about getting confused by the intricate events and characters.
Sometimes he could see Xien’s other notes—both masters of magical creatures, Elfrida Clagg and Newt Scamander—what were the differences in their contributions? How did these contributions layer upon each other to form the new Ministry of Magic regulations?
Xien had organized it all in detail.
Justin naturally looked over, and before he knew it, he had finished all the history regarding magical creatures. Such efficient learning fascinated him immensely.
Suddenly, he snapped out of his immersion, his breathing quickening. He whispered
"Xien, I think this could be published! I’ve never seen such an interesting History of Magic!"