A Potions Class Without Targeting?

Ding, ding, ding—

At eight o'clock the next morning, the alarm clock by Andy's bed rang right on time.

"Mm..."

Without even opening his eyes, Andy casually switched off the alarm and prepared to go back to sleep.

Ding, ding, ding—

The alarm continued ringing. Andy grabbed it and squinted at it.

"Huh? I can't turn it off?"

Still half-asleep, Andy sat up in bed, intending to see what was going on.

The alarm suddenly stopped.

Andy looked around and finally realized that this was no longer his bedroom at home, but the Ravenclaw Boys' Dormitory.

The alarm clock was a magical item. Its switch was just for show; only when Andy got out of bed would it stop ringing.

"Ha—"

Andy let out a long yawn, reluctantly climbed out of bed, and shuffled to the bathroom in his slippers to wash up.

After spending five minutes tidying himself up, Andy returned to the dormitory and found that his three roommates were still sleeping in.

"Terry, Michael, Anthony! Get up already. It's past eight, and class starts at nine."

Having woken his roommates, Andy felt that he had done more than enough.

Without caring what they did next, Andy changed into his Hogwarts uniform, picked up his textbooks, and left the dormitory.

The Great Hall was on the first floor, while the Potions Class Classroom was in the basement, so they were more or less on the way.

Since he still had plenty of time, Andy decided to familiarize himself with Hogwarts's staircases first.

After all, he would be living here for the next seven years. He couldn't possibly fail to find his way around, could he? Heading downstairs all the way and asking ghosts for directions whenever he encountered them, Andy took about ten minutes to reach the Great Hall on the first floor.

When he arrived at the Ravenclaw table, Andy found that Hermione had not only arrived long ago, but had already finished breakfast. She was currently flipping through Magical Potions and Potions, doing some final review.

That was right! For other Little Wizards, it was previewing. But for Hermione, it was revision.

She really was hardworking!

Andy smoothly sat beside Hermione, took a bite of Pumpkin Cake, and greeted her, "Morning!"

"Morning!" Hermione replied without looking up from her book.

"Didn't you already memorize the textbook?" Andy asked casually. "Why are you up reading so early?"

"That's right!"

Hermione looked at Andy solemnly. "Our first class is about to begin. I think we'd better go through the textbook again."

Andy actually understood Hermione's way of studying quite well.

A Three-Good Student, after all! But this method did not work quite as well in the magical world.

"Fine, then good luck!" Andy continued eating.

Hermione glanced at Andy. "Aren't you going to preview?"

"I read through the textbook once before school started."

After swallowing his food, Andy said, "I'm the hands-on type. Instead of spending time reading textbooks, I'd rather try brewing a pot of potion myself."

Hermione immediately asked curiously, "So, did you succeed?"

"Of course!" Andy replied as if it were only natural.

After finishing breakfast, Andy sat in his chair and stared blankly into space.

Although he had been up for a while, he was still sleepy.

It had been the same when he lived at home. After about half an hour, he would wake up properly.

At eight forty, Andy's three roommates arrived at the Great Hall.

They had originally intended to sit with Andy, but when they saw him sitting with Hermione, the three boys immediately wore knowing, suggestive smiles.

Andy waved at them and made no move to join them.

Brats were nowhere near as interesting as a cute little girl, right?

Ten minutes later, Hermione closed her book, stood up, and said to Andy, "Class starts in ten minutes. Are you still going to sit here daydreaming?"

The Potions Class Classroom was in the castle's basement, which was much colder and gloomier than the main building. But since it was September, the basement felt more cool than cold.

As he entered the classroom, Andy looked around.

The walls were dark, and glass jars lined them, their animal specimens soaking inside and looking thoroughly creepy.

Long wooden tables were set with copper scales and various jars of ingredients, while more than twenty Cauldrons stood between them. There was also a Stone Basin in the corner, probably for washing hands.

Andy and Hermione found seats and sat down.

At exactly nine o'clock, Snape entered the classroom wearing a billowing black robe. He strode to the front, swept his narrowed eyes over the room, and picked up the roll call list.

"You are here to learn the precise science and exact art of potion-making."

Snape's voice was barely louder than a whisper, yet everyone heard every word clearly.

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic."

"I do not expect you to truly understand the beauty of a softly simmering cauldron giving off white steam and fragrant wafts, nor will you truly understand the wondrous magic of liquids flowing into people's veins, bewitching their minds and clouding their will."

"I can teach you how to brew fame, bottle glory, and even stop death—but there is one condition: you must not be the usual bunch of idiots I so often encounter."

After Snape finished his opening speech, the classroom fell completely silent.

"Collins!" Snape suddenly called.

Andy: "?"

"If I asked you to find me a bezoar, where would you look?" Snape asked.

Are you trying to get one for free?

"Uh... if you gave me a Galleon, I could go to Diagon Alley and buy one for you."

Maybe he could even skim a little profit off the top.

Andy continued, "If you don't give me money, I can take one out of a goat's stomach. But first, you'll have to find me a goat."

Snape snorted through his nose and said in a sinister tone, "Answering a question does not require so much nonsense."

"If, while brewing a Cure for Scabies Potion, I added the porcupine quills without extinguishing the fire, what would happen?"

Andy had wanted to be cheeky again, but after catching Snape's icy stare, he answered honestly, "The potion would dissolve the Cauldron, release acidic green smoke, and make a sharp hissing sound. Any splashed potion would be corrosive, and contact with the skin would cause dense red, swollen boils."

Snape's gaze swept over the others. "Why aren't you writing that down? This is the mistake you are most likely to make when brewing a Cure for Scabies Potion!"

The classroom immediately filled with the scratching of quills against parchment.

"Today," Snape said, "I will teach you a simple potion for curing scabies."

As Snape spoke, he waved his wand, and the detailed steps for brewing the Cure for Scabies Potion immediately appeared on the blackboard.