Skeeter

Lucretia said softly, "Sophia, want to be partners? Emma looks quite nervous."

Sophia looked up, glanced at the pale-faced Emma, then nodded slightly.

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

Helena immediately understood and turned to Emma, saying, "It's okay, I'll guide you. I've already read the first five chapters of Basic Potions at home. You just need to help me with the ingredients, don't worry."

Emma hugged Helena's arm, relieved, "Thank you! You're the best!"

Sophia quietly packed her things and moved to Lucretia's side, her voice as light as a breeze, "Thanks for the invitation."

After all the new students had entered the classroom and taken their seats, the atmosphere became subtle again.

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

It was as if an invisible dividing line had been drawn in the classroom, separating the students of the two houses.

The Slytherin students collectively sat on the left side of the classroom, deliberately avoiding the Ravenclaw area.

Lucretia could still feel some Slytherin students' gazes on her from behind.

There was curiosity, hostility, and an indescribable probing.

Sophia leaned close to Lucretia's ear, "Their hostility hasn't faded... especially that Blond Boy."

Lucretia followed her gaze and indeed saw a Slytherin boy glaring in their direction, his fingers tightly gripping his wand, looking like he could explode at any moment.

She asked curiously, "How did you notice these things?"

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

Professor Slughorn stood at the front of the classroom, raising his hands to signal for quiet.

He looked around, a pleasant smile on his face, his gaze lingering on each student for a moment, as if assessing their value and potential.

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

Professor Slughorn announced in a resonant voice, "Welcome to the world of Potions! In this classroom, you will learn a subtle science and an exact art. Here, there is no foolish wand-waving, no silly incantations, to which most of you have been accustomed. As long as this is a quiet, steaming cauldron, with its enchanting aroma, and its powerful magic... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death..."

His tone was dramatic, reminding Lucretia of an actor on an opera stage.

Every student in the classroom was captivated, even the Slytherin students put aside their hostility and listened intently.

Slughorn walked out from behind his desk, holding several small bottles, "Of course, this requires time and talent. Let me show you a few examples of advanced potions."

He displayed several vials of different colored potions on the blackboard.

From the golden Felix Felicis to the clear-as-water Veritaserum, he deliberately lingered for a moment as he walked past Lucretia and Sophia's table, giving her more time to observe these potions.

Professor Slughorn placed the small vial back on the teaching desk. "Today, we will begin brewing a simple yet practical potion: the Skeeter. This potion can help refresh the mind and is very useful for those who need to stay awake for long periods."

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

Mint leaves (require precise cutting) Lemongrass (requires oblique cutting at a specific angle) Floating Sage powder (requires gentle grinding) Moonlight dew (requires precise measurement) Blue beetle shell (requires tapping into fragments)

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

The students lowered their heads, quickly taking down these steps and techniques on their parchment.

Professor Slughorn surveyed the room again and suddenly called out, "Safety is always paramount. Be sure to follow the instructions. Miss Crouch, what do you believe is the most crucial step in brewing this potion?"

Lucretia recalled what Little Barty had taught her and replied softly, "I think... it should be the precise handling of ingredients and the appropriate heat?"

Professor Slughorn was very pleased. "A perfect answer! That is precisely what we need to pay attention to today! Five points to Ravenclaw! Precision is vital in Potions. A leaf cut too coarsely or too finely can lead to completely different effects."

After the students retrieved their ingredients from the potion materials cabinet, they began heating their cauldrons to prepare the potions.

Lucretia deliberately reminded herself to operate according to the textbook standards and not reveal too much.

She picked up the silver knife, intending to cut the mint leaves as instructed by Professor Slughorn on the blackboard.

But as her hand touched the mint leaves, she could still feel the vitality flowing within them.

The blade naturally found the optimal cutting line between the leaf veins.

Sophia, while adjusting the temperature of her cauldron, watched her intently. "Your hands understand plants very well. They seem to enjoy your touch."

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

That look was very similar to when she was tending to the roses in the garden that day, making them bloom in the harsh winter—Headmaster Dumbledore's probing.

She could only reply cautiously, "I... I often help my mother tend to the garden."

Sophia said nothing, merely lowering her head to help with the other ingredients after preheating her cauldron.

When she handled the lemongrass, she didn't look at the textbook or the diagram on Professor Slughorn's blackboard, directly adopting the best cutting angle.

The two began to brew the Skeeter in tacit understanding.

Sophia's movements were exceptionally calm. Just as Lucretia was about to remind her to adjust the heat, Sophia had already lowered the flame a step ahead, as if anticipating the potion's color change.

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

When he reached Lucretia, he stopped to observe her for a while.

Professor Slughorn's eyes lit up, and he praised her generously, "A very interesting technique, Miss Crouch. I rarely see first-year students use this cutting method; it truly preserves the herbs' potency better."

Lucretia maintained a calm expression, offering a shy smile, "Thank you, Professor. I... I've read some related books at home, and Barty has also demonstrated how to make potions to me once or twice."

Slughorn became even more excited, "Little Barty is indeed one of my most outstanding students! It seems family talent is real! He has a very keen analytical ability for Potions. And your mother, oh, you should know she worked at St. Mungo's after graduation, right!"

Just as Slughorn was enthusiastically recounting his collection of gifted students, an unusual hissing sound suddenly came from the other side of the classroom.

The cauldron of that blond Slytherin boy bubbled violently, the liquid turning a sinister deep purple instead of the blue that Skeeter should be.

Purple smoke began to spill from the edge of the cauldron, carrying a pungent, acidic smell.

Several students nearby began to retreat uneasily.

Professor Slughorn's expression changed, and he rushed towards the Slytherin's side.

But it was too late.

Sophia's hand suddenly grabbed Lucretia's arm, pulling her towards herself.

Her movement was so fast it was as if she had anticipated it, even quicker than Slughorn's reaction.

Lucretia was about to ask, "What..."

Just then, the cauldron let out a dull thud.