"Really?" Astoria jumped to her feet excitedly.
Horatio rolled his eyes at her. "Boiled."
Two tears streaked down Astoria's cheeks as she pulled Horatio into a tight embrace. "Thank you. Thank Merlin for letting me meet you when I was about to give up. If only I'd met you earlier, Mother wouldn't have..."
Horatio hurriedly pushed Astoria away. "I'm an alchemist, not an Element 29 alchemist from the periodic table! And why do you, like Hermione, enjoy jabbing my forehead with your ribs? It hurts, you know?"
Astoria burst into laughter through her tears, covering her mouth as she said, "Mr. Horatio, you're really interesting."
"Alright, no more joking around. I have three methods. The first is to directly use a stronger curse to devour it, then I'll undo the curse. The process will be extremely painful, but it will work quickly.
The second method is to slowly remove it with potions. That process will probably last around a year.
The third method is for me to carve a purification array onto your body and gradually clear the curse from your bloodline..."
Astoria answered before he could finish. "I choose the first one."
Horatio froze for a moment, then looked into her determined eyes. "Are you sure? This process will be truly painful. Can you endure it?"
Astoria replied resolutely, "I'm sure. This curse has tormented me for many years. No matter how painful it is, it can't be worse than the disappointment and despair I've endured for so long."
Horatio fell silent for a while. "I respect your wishes. Go inform your father and sister. I'll prepare some things."
As Astoria happily went to find her father, Horatio shook his head. He had originally planned to use her to test his Nine-Clan Elimination. Forget it. Pure-bloods were everywhere; there