Chapter 287: Blast-Ended Skrewts
"Sean, prepare yourself recently. At the end of this month, you need to go to the Ministry of Magic, and I'll accompany you to attend the triennial Golden Cauldron Awards ceremony. You have a high probability of winning an award, so be mentally prepared."
"Winning an award? Because of the new Wolfsbane Potion?"
"Not just the new Wolfsbane Potion, but also your previous new mental restoration potion. Of course, there's also some contribution from the improved Forgetfulness Potion, but that's secondary. The main issues are the new Wolfsbane Potion and the new mental restoration potion. The improvement of these two potions counts as major contributions to the magical world, so you have a high probability of winning."
Sean didn't have much concept of the Golden Cauldron Awards ceremony, but anything his Head of House specifically sought him out to mention probably wasn't trivial.
"I understand, Professor. I'll prepare seriously."
"Good, that's good. Also, what are your plans moving forward?"
Sean knew very well that his Slytherin Snake King was asking about his next research project. But research projects weren't something easily found, and besides, his focus moving forward wouldn't be on new research projects. His previous papers had exhausted Sean's accumulated knowledge. He needed to continue enriching his knowledge base before he could have new ideas and research directions.
Regarding his Head of House, Sean had nothing to hide. Except for preparing Transfiguration and Alchemy research, he told Snape everything else in detail.
Hearing Sean's words, Snape also nodded, feeling what Sean said made sense.
So Snape recommended some books to Sean.
"I have a reading list here. Take it back and find these books to read. This semester is indeed a good time for accumulation. From now on, I'll give you a reading list every month. You must finish all these books."
"..."
Sean was speechless. He knew his Head of House couldn't possibly let him off so easily.
Speaking of Sean's current level in Potions, it had truly reached quite a high standard, qualifying to be called a master. Combined with his imaginative ideas and the new potion-brewing methods created by integrating chemistry, the master title was well-deserved. However, regarding the accumulation of Potions knowledge, Sean still had many deficiencies, and his experience was vastly different, especially when compared to Snape.
Every time Sean made great strides in Potions, he understood even more clearly Snape's achievements in the field.
It was like a distant mountain. When you walked toward it, you always felt it was right in front of you and you'd reach it soon. But as you walked, you discovered you were still just as far from that mountain, as if you'd never gotten closer.
Snape watched Sean leave his office with a bitter expression, a faint smile creeping across his lips.
Of course he knew Sean still had a Transfiguration paper on his hands, and he also needed lots of time to study Alchemy, nearly reaching the level of beginning in-depth research and writing papers. He knew all this, but he didn't mention it.
It was fine to research other things.
But you had to finish the books he assigned first.
No matter what, Potions must be first priority!
After all...
His own time might not be much.
Thinking this, Snape raised his hand to grasp his left arm. Everyone with a Dark Mark on their left forearm knew very well. That Dark Lord had returned, his power gradually recovering. Once the Dark Lord truly returned, what awaited Snape would be the most dangerous double agent lifestyle.
At that time, he absolutely wouldn't have time to teach Sean anything anymore.
Moreover, Sean's reputation was growing, and he had previously confronted the Dark Lord directly. He might well become a target of the Dark Lord and other Death Eaters. Then he and Sean would be enemies, not friends. So only by quickly teaching Sean everything he knew could Snape set his mind at ease and continue being a double agent.
Early the next morning, Sean got up and went for a run outside, then ate breakfast and prepared for his first class.
The first day's morning classes were all outdoor courses. First was Divination, and second was Care of Magical Creatures with Gryffindor.
Also, it must be said that early on the first day of school, Sean had once again received his Time-Turner from Snape, to be used for courses that still had scheduling conflicts.
However, the morning courses had no conflicts. Only in the afternoon were there two classes scheduled simultaneously.
Having had a full year's experience with this last school year, Sean was completely accustomed to it.
For the first day's morning courses, Divination was fine. With Sean's abilities, he could handle Divination class with ease.
Rather, it was Care of Magical Creatures class. Seeing the Blast-Ended Skrewts that Hagrid brought out, Sean couldn't help but sigh. He had thought that by resolving last year's Buckbeak incident, Hagrid might have changed somewhat. But now it seemed he really hadn't changed at all. These Blast-Ended Skrewts were disgusting things that made people feel physically uncomfortable. Sean really didn't want to touch them at all.
Seeming to see the uncontainable disgust on Sean's face, Harry sidled up to him and whispered: "Sean, I know these things are disgusting, but Hagrid means no harm, right?"
Sighing helplessly, Sean looked at Harry: "If it were malicious targeting, I could use my wand and fists to fight back. It's precisely this kind of well-meaning disgust that's most helpless. It seems last year when I had you pass along my words to Hagrid, he didn't listen at all."
Hearing Sean's words, Harry was left speechless.
Actually, Harry, Ron, Hermione and the others had already been trying their best to like Hagrid's classes. But even so, they couldn't help feeling disgusted by the Blast-Ended Skrewts, let alone others.
On the Slytherin side, if not for Sean standing there, Malfoy and the others would have already exploded. Even as it was, they just stood aside, coldly watching the Blast-Ended Skrewts with no intention of following Hagrid's instructions to interact with them.
Soon, Hagrid also noticed the resistance from all the Slytherins and more than half the Gryffindors. This left Hagrid very confused and very hurt. He had thought raising a novel, cute magical creature from infancy could make students more interested in class. However, Hagrid obviously hadn't realised that his standards for what made magical creatures "cute" were quite different from normal people. The Blast-Ended Skrewts he found cute were, in the students' eyes, just disgusting things they didn't want to touch.
The first class returned empty-handed.
Sean and the others went directly back to Hogwarts, while Harry and the others had to stay behind to help Hagrid deal with the Blast-Ended Skrewts, even though they also found them very disgusting.