"Professor Snape?"
Lucien asked tentatively.
Snape instantly schooled his expression back to that usual "keep away from me" glare.
Lucien had to stifle a snicker—the old bat could flip moods faster than a Snitch in flight.
"If you're up for swapping, then think about what you want in return," Snape said flatly, like he hadn't just had that emotional blip.
He summoned a sheet of parchment and a quill, letting them drop in front of Lucien as a nudge to write down the improved Sleeping Draught recipe.
As Lucien scribbled away, he pondered what to ask for in trade.
Something basic to mask scents or sounds would do the trick—recipe for a recipe, and Snape would probably bite.
Lucien didn't even doubt if Snape had stuff like that on hand. As the youngest Potions Master with a bright future ahead, the guy had to be sitting on a vault full of formulas.
As for lures to attract magical creatures? Better skip that for now—couldn't exactly ask Snape for something like that without raising eyebrows.
A first-year sniffing around for creature bait? That'd scream "I'm heading into the Forbidden Forest!"
"Professor, could I trade for a Potions recipe? Something that hides scents or muffles sounds?"
Snape nodded without missing a beat, waving over another sheet of parchment. Words started scrawling across it on their own.
He figured Lucien was just being a kid—maybe wanting it for pranks or simply to learn a new brew.
Lucien peeked at the recipe:
"Stealth Essence Oil: Apply to wrists to eliminate personal odors and quiet footsteps. Lasts one hour."
Whoa, nice one—it covered both scent and sound masking in one go.
Not bad for Snape; the man didn't mess around with mediocrity.
Totally worth the swap.
...
With the recipes exchanged, Lucien headed out of Snape's office.
Potions was a double period, and it was already midday.
He made a beeline for the Great Hall—chatting with Snape had eaten up time, so it wasn't too crowded.
He scarfed down a quick lunch and hustled to the Herbology greenhouse.
This Herbology class was Ravenclaw with Gryffindor.
Lucien had just arrived when he heard someone calling:
"Lucien, over here!"
Hermione waved lightly at him, and Harry and Ron glanced his way too.
"Afternoon, Lucien. What class did you have this morning?"
Lucien nodded to the trio and answered Hermione: "Potions."
Hiss—
Harry sucked in a sharp breath, like the memory of last Potions class was still fresh.
Hermione asked with concern: "Professor Snape didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
"I mean, you're so talented and actually put effort into studying."
Lucien thought for a sec—yeah, Snape had awarded him points and even let him snag a bonus recipe.
"Nah, he's alright."
Harry stared at him like he'd grown a second head. How could anyone think Snape was "alright"?
That's when Harry remembered Lucien's tip about taking off his glasses for Snape's class... but wait, he still couldn't brew to save his life.
Lucien fiddled with the Herbology tools, waiting for the bell.
As his fingers brushed a small trowel, a voice chimed in his head—the system:
[Ding! Congratulations, host— you've triggered a loan!]
[Loan Name: "Diligent Little Gardener" Title (Monthly Loan)]
[Loan Details: Equip this title to gain affinity with magical plants. Crops you grow will yield more and mature faster.]
[Loan Task: Plant ten Chinese Chomping Cabbages until they reach maturity.]
[Accept the loan?]
Lucien hadn't expected just touching a trowel to set it off.
Last passive trigger like this was back in Diagon Alley at the pet shop, snagging that unicorn loan.
Eyeing the loan info, he noted this was his first "title" type. Sounded like a permanent buff slapped on him.
Magical plant affinity? That had potential.
"System, how strong is this plant affinity thing?"
[Unless a magical plant is being controlled to attack, it won't go after the host on its own.]
Sweet—that covered a ton. Plenty of magical plants were aggressive, but you still needed them for Potions or alchemy ingredients.
With affinity, handling them would be a breeze.
Plus, boosted yields and shorter growth times? Super practical.
But the task made him frown.
Planting Chinese Chomping Cabbages straight-up? No biggie. But from what he'd read in Herbology books, they took at least two months from seed to mature.
This was a monthly loan—due in 30 days.
Hold up, though—the title itself shortened growth cycles.
And while flipping through Advanced Potion-Making, he'd spotted a fertilizer potion that could speed up plant ripening.
Give it a shot, and he could probably shave it down to under a month.
Perfect match!
He already had to repay the improved recipe loan (weekly)—that meant brewing three Potions.
Besides the fertilizer, he could whip up simple ones like bug repellent or weedkiller.
Knock out the recipe loan in one go.
Oh, and Chinese Chomping Cabbages? Those things could snap bones like twigs.
Once grown, they could double as sneaky weapons—chuck 'em at enemies, and they'd chase and chomp.
Sometimes a good old physical attack caught folks off guard better than a spell.
Lucien mulled it over—just needed a spot to plant.
After class, he'd ask Professor Sprout if he could borrow a greenhouse.
"System, I'll take the 'Diligent Little Gardener' loan."
[Ding! "Diligent Little Gardener" (Monthly Loan) approved!]
[Rating: Feel that farming soul awakening yet?]
Lucien spotted the title tacked onto his name on the system panel: (Diligent Little Gardener)
He picked up a small shovel in one hand and the trowel in the other.
Huh... suddenly, he kinda felt like planting something.