The dungeons were always cold, with dark yellow stains on the stone walls. The shelves were filled with glass bottles of various strange shapes, each containing an indescribable substance: some bubbling, others quietly settling. The vapor from cauldrons filled the entire classroom, making Professor Snape's face appear even more indistinct.
"Shawn, we can definitely do this!" Justin quietly encouraged himself and Shawn. However, Shawn immediately noticed his somewhat trembling hands. He could understand. After all, they had brewed a disastrous blue potion last time and been harshly criticized by Professor Snape.
"Need help processing materials?" Justin asked somewhat nervously.
Shawn gently shook his head. "I'll finish quickly."
Justin didn't continue asking but watched more carefully as Shawn processed materials, lit the cauldron, controlled the heat... The series of actions was textbook-perfect and smooth. Compared to other young wizards around who hesitated and looked worried, Shawn's progress was at least three times faster.
Potions was a precise and rigorous branch of magic. The knowledge a qualified potion-maker must master was complex and comprehensive. This was also why Professor Snape was strict. If young wizards didn't follow Potions' harsh steps, what would happen to those magical materials in cauldrons exhaling white vapor—probably only Merlin knew.
Therefore, most young wizards just followed the steps mechanically. Only when they became proficient would Potions' wonder gradually reveal itself to them. As for Shawn, he had completely immersed his mind in this mysterious, magical branch. Skilled material processing, flawless heat control, moderate stirring force, strict brewing time... The cauldron gurgled and bubbled.
Justin intently wrote down every step and acted as Shawn's assistant, passing him materials and recording time. When a crowd of young wizards fumbled with processing materials, Shawn and his partner had already added the final porcupine quills.
Professor Snape keenly noticed this extraordinary progress. His gloomy, sharp gaze fell on the cauldron. In just an instant, he could guess this potion's outcome: qualified, but not outstanding. He snorted coldly and looked away.
"It's time." Shawn's potion brewing reached the final and most critical stage. What he recalled wasn't the century-old ritual but Master Libatius Borage's unrecognized groundbreaking work. Shawn recited the incantation. The ritual had begun.
This was his first time truly using the improved ritual. His will was more focused than ever. He seemed to be playing a potion-maker struggling to brew potions to cure boils. When this emotion naturally flowed, the potion underwent a fundamental change at this moment. The originally blue-green liquid became viscous. Not a trace of impurity could be seen in the jelly-like potion.
[You completely brewed one cauldron of Cure for Boils at Proficient standard, Proficiency +10]
Justin's breathing had stopped. He focused intently on comparing this potion with Professor Snape's example from memory—hardly any difference at all.
"Shawn, we succeeded?" He asked quietly and nervously.
"Yes." Deep fatigue struck, feeling like not sleeping for three days. Master Libatius Borage was truly rigorous.
"Fantastic! I knew we could do it!" Justin breathed a sigh of relief. He carefully stored the potion in a crystal bottle, then stood tall waiting for Professor Snape's inspection. Completely different from last time's trembling and pale face, even making the exhausted Shawn smile.
"You finished?" At this moment, Shawn saw Michael peeking over. Terry, beside him, also belatedly cast his gaze over.
"Of course, Shawn brewed a pot of per..." Justin's words caught in his throat, because the dark cloud swept over. Professor Snape's tall figure blocked the sunlight. His cold gaze naturally silenced the surrounding young wizards.
"Perfect..." Professor Snape picked up the crystal bottle. His lips had just outlined a mocking arc when it miraculously faded. He almost froze. If the Cure for Boils just now was only qualified, now it has reached the threshold of excellent standards. Terrifying progress...
"Barely acceptable." Professor Snape put down the crystal bottle. His voice sounded squeezed from his throat. "One point... each." Then his robes swept as he departed.
"I didn't hear wrong, did I..." Michael's eyes widened. A circle of surrounding young wizards also looked over incredulously.
"Great, Shawn, we earned back the deducted points." Justin seemed very excited. It seemed he'd always cared about the point deduction.
Shawn nodded, his gaze falling on the panel:
[Cure for Boils: Locked (15/30)]
Already halfway. If he could maintain Proficient brewing level, two more times would unlock the Potions title.
If Professor Snape giving points to Ravenclaw was just a small matter, then through Michael's publicity, it became Professor Snape giving Shawn two hundred Galleons and cooking two dishes for him. The wild stories continued until the afternoon History of Magic class.
The History of Magic class almost became an unscrupulous, atmospheric gossip session. Although young wizards didn't only discuss Shawn, the content occasionally reaching Shawn's ears still made him somewhat speechless.
"Single-handedly fought off a mountain troll and escaped unscathed, bare-handedly defeated a werewolf..." Even rumor-spreader Michael froze when hearing this. You guys know what you're saying? Then he leaned over. "One mountain troll? It was three!" He said convincingly.
Justin, beside Shawn, held back until his face turned red. Shawn sighed and went back to organizing History of Magic. He completed the framework construction and filled in the necessary content, but it still lacked perfection.
Tuesday's History of Magic was slightly adjusted. Hufflepuff had class with Ravenclaw, so Justin found it hard not to look at Shawn's notes. The young wizard had even done secondary categorization. All people and historical events were arranged chronologically, but Shawn more aptly created another index table, categorizing people and events by page number.
For example, the [Eccentrics Collection] Justin was currently reading included several eccentrics including Uric the Oddball and Wendelin the Weird. Justin read with great interest. He no longer found History of Magic boring, nor did he have to worry about being confused by intricate events and people.
Sometimes he could also see Shawn's other notes: both being magical creature masters, what were the different contributions made by Lady Elfrida Clagg and Mr. Newt Scamander? How did these contributions layer upon layer to form new Ministry regulations? Shawn made a detailed organization.
This kind of learning fascinated Justin. Suddenly, he said quietly, "Shawn, I think this could be published. I've never seen such an interesting History of Magic!"