The Potions Professor's Unusual Enthusiasm

"You'll have plenty of time to chat later, hurry up, or Slughorn will nag us for ages if we're late."

Little Barty said as he pulled Lucretia's wrist and turned to leave.

Regulus spread his hands at the three girls, showing a helpless smile, his expression clearly saying, This is just how I am, don't mind me.

As they passed through the Great Hall, Little Barty maintained a distance of a few steps, occasionally looking back to see if she was keeping up.

Regulus yawned as he walked, asking, "Sister, are Ravenclaw beds soft? Shall we ask the house-elves to add a few more Cushioning Charms for you later? I heard your common room has the most beautiful astronomical ceiling, but in terms of comfort, Hufflepuff is still the best."

Lucretia nodded, "Mm, the star map on the ceiling is also beautiful. You can see the stars at night, just like the real night sky."

They turned into the corridor leading to the dungeons and ran into a few Slytherin students.

Leading the group was Miss Rosier, followed by her two cronies.

The group paused when they saw them, their steps slowing.

Miss Rosier was about to speak when her gaze fell on Lucretia, her expression carrying a hint of disdain.

Little Barty's face darkened when he saw that look.

He reached out and put his arm around Lucretia's shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. The gesture was natural and firm, as if making a declaration.

Regulus pretended not to notice, maintaining an elegant smile, "Good afternoon, Miss Rosier. I heard you'll be very busy these next few weeks?"

Seeing Little Barty's dark expression, the girls quickly nodded and hurried past them, leaving only a few hushed whispers behind.

Little Barty's hand remained on Lucretia's shoulder until the girls were far away.

Regulus then turned and asked, "Sister, I knew your Levitation Charm would be great, but how is Transfiguration Class?"

Lucretia glanced at Little Barty and whispered, "A bit... peculiar."

Little Barty immediately looked down at her, "What do you mean? Is something wrong?"

She thought for a moment about how to explain, "It's nothing major, it's just... Professor McGonagall said my method of transfiguration is a bit different, and she wants to give me extra guidance on Wednesday afternoon."

Little Barty frowned, "Why do you need extra guidance?"

Regulus chimed in, "Her Natural Magic might conflict with the principles of Transfiguration, right?"

Lucretia looked at him, somewhat surprised, "How did you know?"

Regulus smiled and shrugged, "Just a guess. Transfiguration requires forcibly changing an object's essence, which might be difficult for you to adapt to, Sister."

Little Barty's tone softened slightly, but he still stared at Lucretia, "You hit the nail on the head, Regulus. What exactly happened?"

In the dim corridor of the dungeons, Lucretia finally revealed the truth, "I tried to turn a matchstick into a needle, but it... it wouldn't listen to me. It grew leaves and turned into a small sapling."

Mr. Little Barty wasn't disappointed; instead, he smiled, "Quite impressive. Professor McGonagall's expression must have been priceless."

Mr. Regulus also chuckled, "Let me guess, she frowned first, then adjusted her glasses, and finally gave that look like 'I've discovered something peculiar'? Last time we learned Transfiguration, a boy from another house turned the required rat into a glass bottle with a pig's tail. Professor McGonagall had that exact expression."

Lucretia looked at them, somewhat incredulous, "Aren't you worried? I thought Transfiguration grades were very important..."

Mr. Little Barty's tone was unusually gentle, "No one can excel at everything. Besides, you managed to make a matchstick sprout, which is far more difficult than turning it into a needle. I don't care about your Transfiguration grade, but Professor McGonagall's guidance might help you control your magic."

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

Mr. Regulus nodded in agreement, "Yeah, and don't worry, Potions will definitely suit you better. People with a talent for plants can always sense the properties of medicinal ingredients. I bet my sister will continue to earn points for the house in class."

They arrived at the entrance of the Potions Classroom. Several first-year students from Ravenclaw and Slytherin were already waiting.

Professor Slughorn was standing at the door, enthusiastically greeting the students.

His eyes lit up when he saw them, then fell on Lucretia, "Ah! Mr. Little Barty and Mr. Regulus! This must be Miss Crouch! I've heard so much about you, my dear child, come here!"

Mr. Little Barty's expression twitched subtly. He simply nodded, and when he turned to Lucretia, his tone returned to its usual brevity.

"Be careful in Potions class. Don't touch unfamiliar ingredients. Remember to Scourgify your school uniform after class."

Lucretia nodded, "I will."

Mr. Regulus patted her shoulder, "Then we'll head to the classroom too. Sister, take care of yourself. I'll pick you up after class later."

Professor Slughorn eagerly stepped forward, almost snatching her hand, and glanced at the departing Mr. Little Barty and Mr. Regulus.

"Ah! Miss Crouch! Your brother and Mr. Regulus are both star pupils in my club, and now I finally welcome another Crouch!"

He affectionately placed a hand on Lucretia's shoulder and led her into the classroom, lowering his voice.

"I heard about the little commotion in the Great Hall this morning. Truly unfortunate. But don't worry, I've already spoken with Miss Rosier. She'll be confined for two weeks, working with Mr. Filch."

Professor Slughorn winked, awaiting her gratitude.

Before Lucretia could respond, he surveyed the room again, guided her towards the front seats, and continued loudly.

"As far as I know, your mother had an extraordinary talent for Potions in her student days! I dare say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. If you've inherited the Crouch family's talent, we might see you at my little gatherings very soon!"

Professor Slughorn solicitously selected a seat right in the middle for her.

As she sat down, Lucretia's cauldron and various equipment, which had been in her dormitory, floated over from a corner of the classroom.

Seeing her surprised look, Professor Slughorn winked, "Oh, Miss Crouch, don't worry. This is the magic of Hogwarts. Otherwise, we couldn't possibly have you all carrying such heavy cauldrons every time, could we?"

Lucretia smiled sheepishly and nodded.

As soon as she opened her Potions textbook, the first-year students from Ravenclaw and Slytherin began to file into the underground classroom.

Helena immediately walked to the front row upon seeing her.

Emma followed behind, her expression one of extreme caution. "Oh my god, why is it the front row... I'm completely clueless about Potions, I'll definitely mess it up. What if it explodes?"

Helena, on the other hand, looked excited, shaking her shoulders. "Great, from this angle we can see every word on the blackboard clearly!"

She put down her heavy schoolbag, which clearly contained more than one Potions textbook.

Sophia was the last to enter.

She quietly walked to the seat by the window, deliberately avoiding the crowded areas.

She put down her backpack alone and calmly arranged her cauldron and tools, every movement exuding a composure born of being accustomed to solitude.

Lucretia noticed her sketchbook was also placed by the table, a corner of it slightly exposed.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.