Chapter 42: Notes on the History of Magic

The dungeon was always damp and cold, with dark yellow stains marring the stone walls.

The shelves were lined with glass bottles of all sorts of bizarre shapes, containing indescribable substances—some bubbling, others settling quietly.

The steam rising from the cauldrons shrouded the entire classroom in a haze, making Professor Snape's face appear even more blurred and indistinct.

"Shean, we can definitely do this!"

Justin whispered, trying to bolster both himself and Shean.

However, Shean immediately noticed his slightly trembling hands.

He could understand; after all, the last time they had brewed a batch of blue potion, they had been severely reprimanded by Professor Snape.

"Do you want me to help with the ingredients?" Justin asked, sounding a bit nervous.

Shean shook his head gently. "I'll be finished soon."

Justin didn't press further. Instead, he watched Shean process the ingredients more intently, lighting the cauldron and controlling the heat...

The series of movements was standard and fluid.

Compared to the other hesitant, worried-looking young wizards around them, Shean's progress was at least three times faster.

Potions was a precise and rigorous branch of magic.

A qualified potioneer had to master complex and comprehensive knowledge, which was 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 cauldrons.

Consequently, most young wizards simply followed the steps mechanically; only once they became proficient would the wonders of potions gradually reveal themselves to them.

As for Shean, he had completely immersed his mind in this mysterious magical discipline.

Skilled ingredient processing, flawless heat control, moderate stirring force, and strict simmering times...

The cauldron bubbled and gurgled.

Justin watched every step intently, acting as Shean's assistant, handing him ingredients and noting the time.

While the crowd of young wizards was in a frantic scramble to handle their materials, Shean and Justin had already added the final porcupine quills.

Professor Snape keenly noticed this extraordinary progress. His dark, sharp gaze fell upon the cauldron, and in an instant, he could guess the outcome of this potion—passable, but nothing outstanding.

He gave a cold snort and averted his eyes.

"It is time."

Shean's potion had reached its final and most critical stage. What he recalled in his mind was not the century-old ritual, but the unacknowledged pioneering work of Master Libau Polachi.

Shean recited the incantation, and the ritual began. This was the first time he had truly used the improved ritual.

His will was more focused than ever. He seemed to be playing the role of a potioneer struggling to brew a remedy for scabies. As this emotion flowed naturally, the potion underwent a fundamental change at that very moment.

The original blue-green liquid became viscous, and not a single impurity could be seen in the jelly-like potion.

【You have completed a full brew of Scabies Potion to the standard of a Skilled Brewer. Proficiency +10】

Justin's breath hitched. He stared intently, comparing the potion to the example of Professor Snape in his memory—it was not much different at all.

"Shean, did we succeed?" he asked in a low, nervous voice.

"Yes."

A deep exhaustion washed over him, feeling as though he hadn't slept for three days. Master Libau Polachi was truly rigorous.

"Brilliant! I knew we could do it!"

Justin let out a huge sigh of relief. He carefully placed the potion into a crystal vial and then stood tall, waiting for Professor Snape's inspection. Unlike his trembling, pale self last time, his demeanor now brought a smile to the exhausted Shean's face.

"You are finished?"

Just then, Shean saw Michael peeking over, and Terry, standing beside him, also cast a curious glance.

"Of course, Shean brewed a perfec—"

Justin's words caught in his throat, because a dark cloud was rolling in.

Professor Snape's tall figure blocked the light, and his cold gaze caused the surrounding young wizards to fall silent instinctively.

"Perfect—"

Professor Snape picked up the crystal vial. The mocking curve that had just begun to form at the corner of his mouth vanished miraculously; he was almost stunned.

If the Scabies Potion just now was merely passable, then now, it had reached the threshold of excellence.

A terrifying amount of progress...

"Barely passable—"

Professor Snape set the crystal vial down, his voice sounding as if it were squeezed from his throat. "One point... each."

Immediately after, his robes swished as he swept away.

"I didn't hear that right..." Michael's eyes widened.

The surrounding circle of young wizards also looked over in disbelief.

"That's great, Shean! We won back the points we lost!" Justin seemed very excited; it appeared he had been quite concerned about the point deductions.

Shean simply nodded, his eyes falling on his status panel

【Scabies Potion: Unlocked (15/30)】

He was halfway there. If he could maintain this "Skilled" brewing level, he would unlock the Potion Title after two more tries.

...

If Professor Snape giving Ravenclaw extra points was a small matter, then in Michael's exaggerations, it turned into Professor Snape giving Shean two hundred Galleons and even cooking him two dishes.

The rumors lasted until the afternoon History of Magic class.

History of Magic had almost turned into an unrestrained, atmosphere-filled gossip session.

Although the young wizards weren't just discussing Shean, the content that occasionally reached his ears still left him somewhat speechless.

"Fighting a mountain troll single-handedly and coming out unscathed, defeating a werewolf with bare hands—"

Even Michael, the rumor-monger, was stunned when he heard this. *Do you guys even know what you're saying?*

Then, he shifted his stance and added with great conviction, "A mountain troll? It was three!"

Justin sat next to Shean, his face turning bright red from holding back laughter.

Shean sighed and went back to organizing his History of Magic notes. He had completed the framework and filled in the necessary content, but it wasn't quite perfect yet.

Tuesday's History of Magic was slightly adjusted; Hufflepuff was attending with Ravenclaw. Consequently, Justin found it hard not to look at Shean's notes, even performing a secondary breakdown of the information.

All characters and historical events were arranged chronologically. Shean had even created a more practical secondary index, categorizing different events and figures and corresponding them to page numbers.

For example, the 【Collection of Oddities】 that Justin was currently reading included several oddities, such as the eccentric Yurick and the eccentric Windlin.

Justin read with great interest. He no longer found History of Magic boring, nor did he have to worry about getting confused by complex events and figures.

Sometimes, he could even see Shean's other notes—as fellow Magizoology Masters, how did the contributions of Lady Alfreda Crag and Mr. Newt Scamander differ? How did these contributions layer upon one another to form the new Ministry of Magic regulations? Shean had provided a detailed breakdown.

Justin naturally looked over, and before he knew it, he had finished reading all the history regarding magical creatures. This efficient way of learning fascinated him immensely.

Suddenly, he snapped out of his immersion, his breathing becoming rapid. He whispered, "Shean, I think this could actually be published. I've never seen such an interesting History of Magic!"