No matter what, Leonard had to push forward with researching an improved version of the Wolfsbane Potion.
He wasn't one for procrastination—once he decided on something, he acted immediately.
After leaving Knockturn Alley, he caught Jigger's shop just before closing and bought a pot of blooming aconite.
The wizarding world's aconite granted him 50 experience points, raising his level to Intermediate Plant Apprentice (341/500)—already past the halfway mark.
September was prime blooming season for aconite, and its clusters of little purple flowers carried a certain elegance.
Still, aconite was poisonous and hardly suitable as a houseplant. If its toxicity were strengthened, keeping it indoors would be even more dangerous. Leonard might win the friendship of plants, but he wasn't immune to poisons.
Back in his room at the Leaky Cauldron, he cracked a window for ventilation, set the pot on the sill, and activated his abilities: Growth Optimization and Root Enhancement.
The soil in the pot began to churn. Dirt-caked roots writhed and spread, draining nutrients and moisture in great gulps. Within moments, the soil turned pale gray and clumped together.
Leonard earned another 50 experience points (391/500).
At the same time, the aconite's possible enhancements unfolded before his eyes.
The first showed its vivid purple flowers turning a pure, innocent white. They released a strange fragrance that lured animals closer. But this version of aconite was dripping with toxins—the blossoms and leaves could burst with venom, spraying concentrated poison at a single bite and killing every nearby creature.
Powerful, but utterly useless for his purposes. Leonard hadn't enhanced aconite to create a weapon.
The second vision was more promising, familiar even—it resembled what he'd seen with Chomping Cabbage: the plant simmering in a cauldron, being brewed into a potion.
A medicinal enhancement. Exactly what he was hoping for.
But then came the third image—strange, unsettling. It showed a cross-section of the plant as it grew.
Its underground rhizomes withered away while its stems above the soil swelled grotesquely.
As time passed, the stems shriveled, splitting open at last to reveal a thumb-sized purple fruit.
It was bizarre.
Aconite, or wolfsbane, was poisonous in every part, but the most valuable section for medicine was the toxic rootstock.The processed main root of aconite, along with its smaller side roots, were the essential components required for brewing Wolfsbane Potion.
Yet this third enhancement erased the medicinal root entirely, replacing it with overgrown stems that eventually collapsed into producing just a single purple fruit.
"The roots wither, the stems swell—could it be that all the plant's potency is concentrating into one place?" Leonard grew intrigued and chose the third enhancement.
Even if it turned out useless, buying another pot of aconite wasn't hard. That was the privilege of having money to burn.
As the enhancement took effect, the mature aconite—whose roots had once filled the entire pot thanks to Root Enhancement—began to shrivel and recede.
Nutrients and energy poured into the stem, the whole plant withering in moments. With a sharp crack, the stem split open, revealing a purple fruit.
The aconite collapsed completely, leaving the fruit to drop into the pot.
Leonard slipped on his dragonhide gloves and picked it up. Even through the gloves it felt firm, springy—like a half-ripe mango.
Because of aconite's toxicity, he didn't dare sniff it. Instead, after rolling it in his hand a few times, he took out a small knife and sliced it open. Pale purple flesh and several seeds gleamed inside.
What if this fruit could be used as the base ingredient for Wolfsbane Potion?
Leonard stared at it, lost in thought.
This needed research.
But first, he had to test its toxicity.
It was already late. That would have to wait until tomorrow.
...
The next morning, Leonard pulled on his robes and headed for the door—just in time to see Harry Potter stepping out of the neighboring room.
Only, the Boy Who Lived looked awful. His face was drawn, shadows under his eyes so dark he looked like he hadn't slept in days. Almost like someone who'd driven himself far past his limits.
"Morning, Leonard." Harry forced a weary smile, swaying slightly as if he might faint on the spot. It was unsettling enough that Leonard worried the so-called Savior might just drop dead next door.
Clearly, that last joke had gone too far. Look what it had done to the kid.
"Uh… morning." Leonard gave him a once-over. "Harry, when was the last time you actually slept?"
"I sleep every night," Harry said quickly, though his fanatical grin betrayed him. "I just get nervous. I can't rest properly, so I get up and practice magic. I've already learned three spells! I think I might not get expelled after all."
Great. He'd gone and triggered Harry's worst fear, and now the boy was obsessing over it.
Leonard's eyelid twitched. This stubborn child had well and truly beaten him.
"I'm going downstairs for some food. Then I'll come back and keep practicing," Harry added, clearly not expecting a reply, already moving toward the stairs.
"Wait—hold on." Leonard rubbed his face and called after him. "I was planning to walk around Diagon Alley. Want to come with me?"
He couldn't just let Harry keep spiraling like this. What if the boy actually broke? He had no desire for Dumbledore to show up in the middle of the night, roast him alive, and scatter his ashes for good measure.
"Diagon Alley?" Harry blinked, hesitating. "I can't. If I don't practice, I'll fall behind. If I get expelled, it'll be a disaster."
And if you collapse on me, that'll be a disaster for me, Leonard thought grimly.
Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Studying works best with balance. Rest is as important as practice. A little relaxation will actually help you learn faster."
"You think so?" Harry considered, then nodded. "Alright… I'll pack up. What are you going there to buy?"
"Uh…" Leonard thought a moment. "I was going to check out the Magical Creatures Shop."
It wasn't a zoo, but a store that specialized in magical beasts, tucked on the south end of Diagon Alley near Knockturn Alley.
"Magical Creatures Shop?" Harry repeated, suddenly interested.
He'd never been, and it did sound exciting.
"Are you going to get a pet?" he asked.
"Uh… something like that."
...
[Upto 50 chapters ahead for now]
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