"Sean, this might be a bit forward, but… are you planning to practice potion-making on your own?"
Justin handed Sean a piece of parchment and a light blue notebook, his tone gentle with a hint of concern that was easy to miss.
"Yeah," Sean nodded. If he didn't practice to build his skills, his lackluster talent in Potions would barely get him a passing grade. As for achieving an Outstanding? The odds were so slim he wouldn't bet on it.
"You're gathering ingredients? I mean, the four for the Scabies Potion?"
Seeing Sean nod again, Justin seemed to relax, a warm and perfectly timed smile spreading across his face.
"Maybe I can help with that… Come on, there's a place I need to show you."
With that, he led a curious Sean through the Great Hall.
They descended beneath the Hogwarts entrance hall, heading down the stone staircase toward the Hufflepuff basement. The stone corridor was brightly lit with torches. Sean glanced around, a suspicion forming in his mind.
"Oh, we're passing the Hogwarts kitchens. I've got to let you in on a little secret…" Justin said with a grin, approaching a painting of a fruit bowl. He lightly tickled the pear in the picture, and to Sean's amazement, it giggled and transformed into a green door handle—the entrance to the Hogwarts kitchens.
Side quest: Food unlocked, Sean thought.
"As long as you ask politely, the house-elves will happily share food with you," Justin explained. "But one rule: never bring Peeves in here." He gave a serious nod before adding, "That's not our stop today, though. We're almost there—the Hufflepuff common room."
They reached a corner of the corridor lined with large barrels. Justin tapped the lids of the two middle barrels in the second row with a distinctive rhythm. The lids spun open, revealing an uphill passage lined with magical lanterns.
The passage led to a cozy, circular room that felt like a badger's burrow. The space was decorated in lively black-and-yellow hues, like a bustling beehive, with polished honey-colored wooden tables and round wooden doors. Cacti sat on circular racks, many of them waving or swaying at passing students. Copper-bottomed pots hung from the ceiling, sprouting curling ferns and vines that playfully brushed Sean's hair as he walked beneath them.
At the far end, a wooden fireplace was carved with dancing badgers, above which hung a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff, one of Hogwarts' four founders. She held a two-handled golden goblet, raising it in a toast to her students. Small, round windows near the ceiling sat level with the castle's grounds, offering views of swaying grass and dandelions, with the occasional glimpse of passing feet. Despite their low position, the room was bathed in constant sunlight.
"Welcome to the Hufflepuff common room!" Justin announced warmly.
Sean watched as Justin smoothly retrieved an expensive-looking trunk from beside a plush, cushioned sofa. When he opened it, Sean's eyes widened. The trunk was brimming with gleaming Galleons, scattered letters, and postcards, alongside an assortment of jars and crystal vials. Sean immediately recognized snake fangs, dried nettles, and other potion ingredients. His suspicions were confirmed, but he was still shocked—did a young wizard really buy these outrageously expensive potion materials?
"These ingredients… I don't have much use for them, but I thought you might," Justin said, his smile as warm as ever.
"I… could I buy some?" Sean asked. Justin's offer was a surprising gift, but he'd need the funds to cover it. A bundle of nettles cost one Galleon and could last for over thirty practice sessions. A jar of Horned Slugs was also one Galleon, good for about forty sessions. A vial of snake fangs and a bundle of porcupine quills each cost two Galleons and offered similar usage. That totaled six Galleons—a necessary expense.
Sean wondered if he could brew a decent potion to sell and recoup the cost.
"What are you talking about, Sean?" Justin looked surprised. "If you want to brew potions, this is my way of supporting you. I can hardly believe I get to help you for once. I always feel a bit embarrassed asking for your help so often…"
Sean was stunned, watching as Justin placed the vials and jars into his bag.
"But—"
Before Sean could protest, Justin cut in softly, "I believe you'll succeed. And if you don't, I've got more."
---
As they left the Hufflepuff common room, Justin's steps were lighter. His mother's words echoed in his mind: "My dear Finch-Fletchley, remember, everyone has different strengths, and the children of our family are always good at bringing everyone's strengths together."
Sean hadn't refused the help in the end. Gentle as Justin was, he could be more stubborn than a mule.
"If I'm only allowed to help you with Herbology or History of Magic homework but can't offer you this small bit of support, what kind of friends are we?" Justin had said.
Alright, Sean thought. Having a Hufflepuff friend is pretty great.
At noon in the Great Hall, Sean wolfed down his food. His biggest worry was solved—now he just needed to secretly brew potions and master the heat and stirring techniques. Beside him, Justin held a few of Sean's notes from Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration. Sean's progress was far ahead of the class, making his notes practically cheat codes for Justin.
Hermione, sitting nearby, sensed an unusual vibe today. Oddly, Justin was eating faster and more than usual. She suspected Sean's influence.
As they parted ways in the Great Hall, Justin said softly, "Sean, just so you know, if you run into trouble, come find me. We're friends, remember?"
Justin's sincere grey eyes reflected the glow of the fireplace. Sean nodded. The Hogwarts fires were warmer than he'd imagined—and so was Hufflepuff.
I want to be a Hufflepuff! Sean thought, cursing the Sorting Hat.
---
In the afternoon Herbology class, Sean expertly handled dried nettles in the greenhouse. While ordinary plants, when soaked in a special blue potion, they became magical ingredients for swelling solutions or Scabies Potions. Professor Sprout added that nettle essence could be used for sleeping draughts or hypnotics, though the preparation method differed.
Compared to the other young wizards' chaos—wrong potion measurements, miscut nettles, or incorrect soaking times—Sean's work was noticeably polished. At Professor Sprout's suggestion, a few struggling Ravenclaws and Slytherins gathered around him to learn.
Meanwhile, a panel in his mind kept chiming with notifications.