To be honest, the situation had already reached the worst outcome Jon had anticipated.
Challenging Horace Slughorn to a potions duel was an incredibly foolish choice. The man had immersed himself in Potions for decades, serving for many years as both Head of Slytherin and Potions Professor. Even Severus Snape himself might not have been his match.
And Jon was nothing more than a student with a bit of cleverness where Potions were concerned.
But there was no other choice. It had proven that only in Potions—the one field where Slughorn was absolutely confident—would he reveal even the slightest opening. At all other times, he left Jon and the others with no chance whatsoever.
If the terms hadn't been based on Potions, Slughorn would have simply shown them the door.
This old fox was even more cunning than Jon had imagined.
...
"Mr. Hart, I believe you're being somewhat presumptuous," Slughorn said, casting Jon a regretful glance. "While I admit you possess a measure of talent in Potions, there is still a considerable gap between you and an old man like me."
Though his words sounded regretful on the surface, the pride beneath them was impossible to hide.
Being challenged by a mere youngster had clearly stirred his anger.
"Then please guide me," Jon said respectfully.
That attitude eased Slughorn's irritation slightly. He asked coolly, "So, which potion do you wish to compete with me in brewing? I'll generously allow you to choose."
"...Preferably something that can be completed in a shorter time," Slughorn added. "If you want to compete using a potion like Veritaserum, which requires a long brewing period, I won't object—but you'll have to stay here for ten days or even a fortnight."
"Thank you for your generosity. I've already decided," Jon said calmly. "How about Felix Felicis?"
"Felix Felicis?" Slughorn frowned.
...
Choosing Felix Felicis was the result of careful consideration on Jon's part.
First, Felix Felicis was a very special potion. Its effects were extremely sensitive. The first dose could grant a wizard good fortune, but taking too much carried severe toxicity. Instead of luck, it could cause dizziness, recklessness, and dangerously inflated arrogance.
Most wizards could only take it once or twice in their lifetime.
Second, the brewing process for Felix Felicis was extraordinarily complex. Any mistake could lead to unimaginable consequences. As a result, even the most accomplished Potioneers rarely had experience brewing it frequently.
For a master like Slughorn, who had lived seventy or eighty years, if there was any potion he might still be relatively unfamiliar with, Jon could only think of Felix Felicis—a potion with low consumption and an exceptionally complicated process.
Additionally, several of Felix Felicis's core ingredients were highly unstable. A single moment of inattention could blow the Potioneer—and the entire laboratory—sky-high.
If Slughorn brewed Felix Felicis alongside him, he would inevitably worry that a young man like Jon might make a basic mistake and affect him as well. That concern would force him to divert part of his attention, potentially impacting the quality of his own potion.
Of course, if sheer luck struck… and Slughorn's cauldron exploded before Jon's did, then the contest would be won without a single spell cast.
Lastly—and most importantly—Hogwarts' former Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore's predecessor, the frail old wizard in the portrait who always looked sickly and prone to coughing, had conducted extensive research on Felix Felicis. He was regarded as the most authoritative expert on the potion in the past several centuries.
Months earlier, in the Headmaster's Office, that Headmaster had taught Jon the potion sequence for Felix Felicis, along with numerous techniques to improve the success rate. Jon had memorized them carefully at the time, thinking they might prove useful someday.
All of this added a few more chances of victory for Jon Hart. Otherwise, he had no confidence whatsoever of defeating that old fox Slughorn in any other potion.
Of course, there were negative factors as well.
Namely, Jon had never attempted to brew Felix Felicis before.
In other words, this competition would be his very first attempt—something that made things rather troublesome.
...
Slughorn seemed to have guessed Jon's intentions. A faint, contemptuous smile flickered across his lips.
"Are you certain, Mr. Hart?" he asked quietly. "Felix Felicis is not a potion just any wizard can handle. Its brewing process is exceedingly complex and dangerous."
"I'm well aware, Professor Slughorn," Jon replied calmly, nodding.
"Do you need me to provide the formula and potion sequence?"
"Certainly not..."
"Very well, if that is your wish," Horace Slughorn said solemnly, nodding. "Then let us begin."
"Where shall we hold the competition?" Jon asked softly.
"Come to Slughorn Castle. There's a fully equipped Potions laboratory there," Slughorn replied. "Follow me, Mr. Hart—and Diana."
...
Following Slughorn, Jon and Mrs. Greengrass entered an inner room.
Slughorn opened a wardrobe, revealing a large safe hidden inside.
After fumbling with it for quite some time, he finally managed to open the safe. With a flourish of his wand, he lifted out what had been stored within.
It was a castle.
From a distance, it looked more like a LEGO toy.
The castle hidden inside the safe stood nearly a foot tall, though its footprint was much larger. Everything was exquisitely detailed—the gate, the fortress, the walls, even the spires—all scaled down proportionally from a real castle.
Jon estimated that if it were sold as a toy, it would fetch an impressive price.
Horace Slughorn carefully waved his wand, opening the gates of the "toy" castle.
"Welcome to Slughorn Castle. I rarely bring outsiders here," he said with a smile, turning back and spreading his arms.
"Follow me."
He strode toward the castle.
Just as he was about to step over the castle walls, the large, squat wizard suddenly vanished.
Jon blinked, then looked toward the castle gates.
There, no bigger than an ant, Slughorn stood waving enthusiastically at them.