Wakefulness Potion

Lucretia said softly, "Sophia, would you like to partner up? Emma looks rather nervous."

Sophia looked up at Emma's pale face, then nodded slightly.

Emma looked at Helena, then at Sophia. "Yes, I... I feel..."

Helena understood at once and turned to Emma. "It's all right, I'll guide you. I read the first five chapters of Basic Potions at home. You only need to help me prepare the ingredients. Don't worry."

Emma hugged Helena's arm in relief. "Thank you! You're so kind!"

Sophia quietly gathered her things and moved beside Lucretia, her voice as light as a breeze. "Thank you for inviting me."

Once all the first-years had gradually entered the classroom and taken their seats, the atmosphere became delicate again.

The conflict in the Great Hall that morning was clearly still fresh in everyone's minds.

An invisible dividing line seemed to run through the classroom, sharply separating the students of the two Houses.

The Slytherin students had all seated themselves on the left side of the classroom, deliberately avoiding Ravenclaw's area.

Lucretia could still feel the gazes some Slytherin students were casting at her from behind.

There was curiosity, hostility, and an indescribable sort of scrutiny.

Sophia leaned close to Lucretia's ear. "Their hostility hasn't faded yet... especially that blond boy."

Lucretia followed her gaze and saw that a Slytherin boy was indeed glaring their way, his fingers clenched tightly around his wand as though he might explode at any moment.

She asked curiously, "How did you notice all that?"

Sophia merely shook her head lightly. "I'm used to observing. Sometimes, observing is safer than speaking."

Professor Slughorn stepped to the front of the classroom and raised both hands to signal for silence.

He looked around, a pleasant smile on his face, his eyes lingering briefly on every student as though assessing their value and potential.

When his gaze swept over Lucretia, it lingered noticeably longer.

Professor Slughorn announced in his smooth voice, "Welcome to the world of Potions! In this classroom, you will learn a subtle science and a precise art. There will be no foolish wand-waving here. Most people cannot comprehend what great power lies in this quietly steaming cauldron, giving off its beguiling scents... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stop death..."

His tone was theatrical, and Lucretia was reminded of an actor on an opera stage.

Every student in the classroom was captivated. Even the Slytherin students set aside their hostility and listened intently.

Slughorn stepped out from behind the teacher's desk, several small bottles in his hands. "Of course, that takes time and talent. Let me show you a few examples of advanced potions."

He displayed several bottles of differently colored liquids on the blackboard.

From golden Felix Felicis to Veritaserum, clear as water, he even paused a little longer as he passed Lucretia and Sophia's table, giving her more time to observe the potions.

Slughorn returned the bottles to the teacher's desk. "Today, we will begin brewing a simple but practical potion: the Wakefulness Potion. This potion can help keep one alert and clear-headed, making it very useful for those who need to stay awake for long periods."

He waved his wand, and a list of ingredients and instructions appeared on the blackboard.

Mint leaves (must be cut precisely)

Lemongrass (must be sliced diagonally at a specific angle)

Floating sage powder (must be ground gently)

Moonlight dew (must be measured precisely)

Blue beetle shells (must be lightly crushed)

The students hurriedly lowered their heads and copied all the steps and techniques onto parchment.

Professor Slughorn looked around once more, then suddenly called on someone. "Safety always comes first. You must follow the instructions exactly. Miss Crouch, what do you think is the most crucial step in brewing this potion?"

Lucretia recalled what Little Barty had taught her and answered softly, "I think... it should be precise ingredient preparation and proper heat control?"

Slughorn was delighted. "A perfect answer! That is exactly what we must pay the most attention to today! Five points to Ravenclaw! Precision is crucial in Potions. Cutting a leaf too thickly or too thinly can produce entirely different results."

After collecting their ingredients from the potion cabinet, the students began heating their cauldrons and preparing to brew.

Lucretia deliberately reminded herself to follow textbook standards and not reveal too much.

She picked up a silver knife, intending to cut the mint leaves according to Professor Slughorn's instructions on the blackboard.

But when her hand touched the mint leaves, she could still sense the vitality flowing through them.

The blade naturally found the best cutting line between the veins.

As Sophia adjusted the cauldron's temperature, she watched Lucretia's movements without blinking. "Your hands understand plants. They seem to like your touch."

Lucretia stopped in surprise, but Sophia's eyes held an understanding beyond her years, as though she had seen through something.

That look was much like Headmaster Dumbledore's probing gaze when Lucretia had tended the roses in the garden that day, making them bloom in the depths of winter.

She could only answer cautiously, "I... often helped my mother tend the garden."

Sophia said nothing. After preheating the cauldron, she lowered her head and helped prepare the other ingredients.

When she handled the lemongrass, she did not look at either the textbook or the diagram on Slughorn's blackboard, directly using the best cutting angle.

The two began brewing the Wakefulness Potion with unspoken coordination.

Sophia's movements were especially composed. Just as Lucretia was about to remind her to adjust the heat, Sophia lowered the flame first, as though she had foreseen the potion was about to change color.

Slughorn patrolled the classroom, offering guidance from time to time.

When he reached Lucretia's side, he stopped to observe for a while.

Professor Slughorn's eyes lit up, and he praised her without restraint. "A very interesting technique, Miss Crouch. I rarely see first-year students use this cutting method. It really does preserve the ingredients' vitality more effectively."

Lucretia kept a calm expression and gave a shy smile. "Thank you, Professor. I... read some related books at home, and Barty demonstrated how to brew potions for me once or twice."

Slughorn became even more excited. "Little Barty truly was one of my finest students! It seems family talent really does exist! He had an exceptionally keen analytical mind when it came to Potions. And your mother—oh, you know she worked at St. Mungo's after graduating, don't you?"

Just as Slughorn was going on and on about the gifted students he had collected, an unusual hissing sound suddenly came from the other side of the classroom.

The blond Slytherin boy's cauldron began bubbling violently. The liquid had turned an ominous dark purple instead of the blue the Wakefulness Potion should have been.

Purple smoke began spilling over the rim of the cauldron, carrying a sharp acidic smell.

Several students nearby began backing away uneasily.

Professor Slughorn's expression changed, and he hurried toward the Slytherin side.

But it was already too late.

Sophia suddenly grabbed Lucretia's arm and pulled her toward herself.

She moved as though she had expected it, reacting even faster than Slughorn.

Lucretia had just begun to ask, "What..."

At that moment, the cauldron gave a muffled bang.