History of Magic Notes

The dungeon was always cold and damp, its stone walls stained a murky yellow.

The shelves were filled with Glass Bottles of bizarre shapes, containing unnamable substances. Some bubbled, while others lay quietly settled at the bottom.

Steam rising from the Cauldrons hazed the entire classroom, making Professor Snape's face seem even more indistinct.

"Sean, we can do this!"

Justin quietly encouraged both himself and Sean.

Yet Sean immediately noticed Justin's slightly trembling hands.

He understood. After all, the last time, they had brewed a Cauldron of blue potion

and been harshly scolded by Professor Snape.

"Do you want me to help prepare the ingredients?"

Justin asked, somewhat nervously.

Sean gently shook his head.

"I'll be done soon."

Justin did not press further. Instead, he watched Sean prepare the ingredients, light the Cauldron, control the heat...

Every movement was precise and smooth.

Compared with the other Young Wizards around them, who hesitated with worried expressions,

Sean was progressing at least three times faster.

Potions was a precise and rigorous branch of magic.

A qualified potion-maker needed to master complex and comprehensive knowledge.

That was why Professor Snape was so demanding. If Young Wizards failed to follow Potions' strict procedures,

then only Merlin knew what might happen to those magical ingredients inside a Cauldron spitting white vapor.

Thus, the vast majority of Young Wizards merely followed the steps like machines.

Only once they became proficient would the wonders of Potions gradually reveal themselves to them.

As for Sean, he had already completely immersed himself in this mysterious branch of magic.

Skilled ingredient preparation, flawless heat control, measured stirring strength, exacting brewing times...

The Cauldron bubbled away.

Justin stared without blinking, memorizing every step as he served as Sean's assistant,

handing him ingredients and keeping track of the time.

While the other Young Wizards were still fumbling through their ingredients,

Sean and Justin had already added the final Porcupine Quills.

Professor Snape keenly noticed their extraordinary pace. His gloomy, sharp gaze fell upon the Cauldron.

In an instant, he could guess the outcome of this potion—passable, but nothing remarkable.

He gave a cold snort and looked away.

"It's time."

Sean's potion had reached its final and most critical stage.

What he recalled was not the centuries-old ritual,

but Master Libatius Borage's unrecognized innovations.

Sean spoke the incantation, and the ritual began.

This was the first time he had truly used the improved ritual.

His will was more focused than ever. It was as though he were playing the role of a potion-maker desperately brewing a cure for scurvy.

As that emotion naturally emerged, the potion underwent an essential change.

The blue-green liquid became viscous, and not a trace of impurity remained in the jelly-like brew.

You have successfully brewed a Cauldron of Scurvy Paste to Proficient standards. Proficiency +10

Justin seemed to stop breathing. With an intent expression, he compared this batch to Professor Snape's example from memory—

there was barely any difference at all.

"Sean, did we succeed?"

he asked quietly and nervously.

"Mm."

A profound exhaustion washed over him, as though he had not slept for three days.

Master Libatius Borage truly was rigorous.

"Fantastic! I knew we could do it!"

Justin let out a huge breath of relief. He carefully stored the potion in a Crystal Bottle,

then stood tall as he waited for Professor Snape's inspection.

It was completely unlike last time, when he had trembled with fear and gone pale,

and even brought a smile to exhausted Sean's face.

"You're finished?"

At that moment, Sean saw Michael peeking over. Terry beside him also belatedly turned to look.

"Of course. Sean brewed a perfect—"

Justin's words caught in his throat,

because a dark cloud swept over them.

Professor Snape's tall figure blocked the light, and his icy gaze naturally silenced all the Young Wizards nearby.

"Perfect—"

Professor Snape picked up the Crystal Bottle. A mocking curve had just formed at the corner of his mouth before miraculously fading.

He was practically stunned.

If the Scurvy Paste had merely been passable moments ago, then now it had reached the threshold of excellence.

Terrifying improvement...

"Barely passable—"

Professor Snape set down the Crystal Bottle, his voice seeming to squeeze out from his throat.

"One point each."

Then his robes swept behind him as he strode away.

"Did I hear that right...?"

Michael's eyes widened.

The Young Wizards around them also looked over in disbelief.

"That's great, Sean. We earned back the points that were deducted."

Justin was visibly excited. It seemed he had been caring about the lost points all along.

Sean simply nodded, his gaze falling upon the System Panel.

Scurvy Paste: Locked (15/30)

He was already halfway there. If he could maintain a Proficient brewing standard, then after two more attempts, he would unlock the Potions Title.

If Professor Snape awarding Ravenclaw points was only a small matter,

then after Michael spread the news,

it became Professor Snape giving Sean two hundred Gold Galleons and even cooking him two dishes.

The rumors continued all the way into History of Magic that afternoon.

History of Magic had practically turned into an unrestrained gossip class brimming with excitement.

Although the Young Wizards were not discussing only Sean, what occasionally reached his ears still left him speechless.

"Taking on a Hill Troll alone and escaping unscathed, defeating a Werewolf barehanded—"

Even Michael, the one spreading the rumors, froze when he heard that.

Do you people even know what you're saying?

Then he tilted his body to one side.

"One Hill Troll? It was three!"

he declared with great conviction.

Justin, sitting beside Sean, held back so hard that his face turned red.

Sean sighed and continued organizing his History of Magic notes.

He had built the framework and filled in the necessary material, but it still fell short of perfection.

Tuesday's History of Magic class had been adjusted slightly, with Hufflepuff attending alongside Ravenclaw.

As a result, Justin found it difficult not to look at Sean's notes. Sean had even divided the material into two levels.

All figures and historical events were arranged along a timeline.

Sean had also thoughtfully made another table of contents,

categorizing different events and people and linking them to their respective page numbers.

For example, Justin was currently reading the Collection of Eccentrics,

which included several eccentrics such as Ulysses the Odd and Wendelin the Weird.

Justin read with great interest. He no longer found History of Magic dull, nor did he have to worry about getting lost amid the tangled events and figures.

Sometimes, he could also see Sean's other notes—both were masters of Fantastic Beasts,

but what were the differences between Ms. Elfrida Clagg's and Mr. Newt Scamander's contributions?

How had those contributions accumulated layer by layer to form new Ministry of Magic regulations?

Sean had organized it all in detail.

Justin naturally read on, and before he knew it, he had finished the entire history of Fantastic Beasts.

This efficient way of studying fascinated him beyond measure.

Suddenly, he pulled himself from his immersion. His breathing gradually quickened as he said softly,

"Sean, I think this could absolutely be published. I've never seen such an interesting History of Magic!"