Hufflepuff Common Room

"Sean, oh, this may be a little presumptuous, but... are you planning to practice brewing potions on your own?"

Justin placed the parchment and pale blue notes in Sean's hands, his tone gentle and carrying a barely perceptible concern.

"Mm."

Sean nodded. If he couldn't increase his proficiency through practice,

then with his Potions Talent, it would be a struggle just to pass.

As for achieving an Outstanding, the possibility was so low that Sean would not gamble on it.

"You're looking for ingredients? I mean, the four ingredients for Scabies Potion?"

Seeing Sean nod again, Justin seemed to let out a breath of relief,

his face blooming with a warm, perfectly measured smile.

"Perhaps I can help... Come on, I need to take you somewhere."

After saying that, he led the puzzled Sean through the Great Hall.

They passed directly beneath Hogwarts' entrance hall and headed down the stairs leading to the Hufflepuff basement.

The stone underground corridor was brightly lit.

Sean curiously looked around, vaguely sensing something.

"Oh, we're about to pass the Hogwarts Kitchen. Let me secretly tell you this..."

Justin walked toward the wall with a smile,

stopping before a painting of a bowl of fruit. He lightly tickled one of the pears in the picture,

and Sean watched in surprise as the pear giggled and turned into a green doorknob.

Behind it was the entrance to the Hogwarts Kitchen.

The Gourmet Side Quest has been triggered.

"Just ask politely, and the House-elves will generously give you food,

but there's one thing: you can't bring Peeves in here..."

Justin reminded him solemnly.

"However, this isn't our destination today. Look, we're almost there—the Hufflepuff Common Room."

They arrived before a stack of large barrels in the corner on the right side of the kitchen corridor.

Justin tapped the lids of the two middle barrels in the second row in a distinctive rhythm.

The lids rotated open on their own, revealing an uphill passage inside the barrels, its walls lined with Magic Lanterns.

It led to a cozy, warm circular room that brought to mind a badger's sett.

The entire room was decorated in lively black and yellow, like a bee's colors,

with gleaming honey-colored wooden tables and round wooden doors.

All sorts of cacti sat on circular wooden shelves, many of their pots waving and swaying at the students,

while copper-bottomed flowerpots hanging from the ceiling sprouted curling ferns and vines.

When Sean passed beneath them, they even gently combed his hair.

At the far end, the wooden fireplace was carved with dancing badgers, and above it hung a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff.

One of Hogwarts' four founders, she held a Golden Cup with handles on both sides, toasting her students.

Around Helga Hufflepuff, small round windows sat level with the ground outside the base of the castle,

showing beautiful views of grass and dandelions swaying in the wind, and sometimes the feet of passersby.

Though the windows were quite low, the room was bathed in sunlight all year round.

"Welcome to the Hufflepuff Common Room!"

Sean heard Justin say.

Then he watched Justin smoothly pull a suitcase that looked decidedly expensive

from beside a thick, cushioned sofa.

The moment it opened, Sean's eyes were dazzled.

The first thing he saw was a pile of glittering Galleons, followed by scattered letters and Postcards.

Beside them were all kinds of jars and Crystal Bottles.

Sean recognized Viper Fangs, Dried Nettle, and other ingredients at a glance.

His suspicion had been confirmed, but he was still somewhat surprised—

There really were Young Wizards who bought these terrifyingly expensive potion ingredients themselves?

"I have no use for these ingredients, but I thought perhaps you might."

Justin wore a warm smile.

"I... can I buy some of them?"

Justin had indeed given him an unexpected surprise, but he also needed the money to pay for them.

A bundle of nettle cost one Gold Galleon and could probably support more than thirty practice sessions.

A jar of Horned Slugs also cost one Gold Galleon and could probably support more than forty practice sessions.

A bottle of Viper Fangs and a bundle of Porcupine Quills could be used about as many times,

but each cost two Gold Galleons.

Six Gold Galleons in total. A necessary expense...

Sean thought.

If he could brew passable potions and sell them, perhaps he could earn the money back?

"Sean, what are you talking about?"

Justin looked surprised.

"If you want to brew potions, then this is my support.

It's hard to believe I can actually offer you some support. I've always wanted to say this—constantly asking you for help often makes me feel a little embarrassed..."

Sean was a little stunned. Then he watched Justin put the Crystal Bottles and jars into his bag.

"But..."

Before Sean could speak, Justin said softly:

"I believe you'll succeed. And if you fail, I still have another set here."

When they left the Hufflepuff Common Room,

Justin's steps were much lighter. His mother's words seemed to echo in his ears again:

"My dear Finley, do you remember? Everyone has different strengths,

and the children of the Finley Family have always been good at bringing together everyone's strengths."

In the end, Sean did not refuse the help. Gentle Justin could sometimes be more stubborn than a donkey.

"If I'm only allowed to help you study Herbology and finish your History of Magic homework,

but I'm not allowed to offer you even the slightest support, then what kind of friends are we?"

Fine.

Sean told himself.

Having a Hufflepuff friend was nice.

At noon,

in the Great Hall,

Sean continued to devour his meal.

His most troubling problem had been solved. Next, he only needed to secretly brew potions and master the heat and stirring.

Justin, sitting beside him, now had several notebooks in his hands—Sean's notes for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration Class, and more.

His progress was far ahead of the lessons, so to Justin, these notes were basically cheat codes.

Hermione, seated nearby, keenly noticed the unusual atmosphere today.

It was strange. Justin was eating faster and more than usual.

Hermione suspected Sean had started the trend.

When they parted in the Great Hall, Sean heard Justin say softly:

"Mm, Sean, no matter what, I just want you to know

that if you run into trouble, you can come to me. Remember? We're friends."

The fireplace's glow reflected in Justin's sincere pale gray eyes, and Sean nodded.

Hogwarts' fireplaces were even warmer than he had imagined.

So was Hufflepuff.

I want to be a Hufflepuff too!

Damn Sorting Hat!

During Herbology Class that afternoon,

in the Greenhouse,

Sean skillfully handled the Dried Nettle.

They were ordinary plants, but after being soaked in a special blue potion,

they could become magical ingredients for making Swelling Solution and Scabies Potion.

Oh,

Professor Sprout also added:

Nettle Essence could be used to make Sleeping Draught or Sleeping Potion, but Wizards used different methods to process it.

Compared with the Young Wizards' frantic fumbling—

wrong potion measurements, incorrectly cut Dried Nettle, soaking times that were too long or too short...

Sean's work looked far more professional. Under Professor Sprout's guidance, several troubled Ravenclaws and Slytherins even gathered around Sean to learn.

At the same time,

notifications from the System Panel continued to sound.