The next morning, in the Potions classroom on the first basement level of the Main Castle.
The young wizards of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff filed in excitedly.
"Finally, we're going to learn how to brew potions..."
"At home, Father and Mother always stop me from doing potion experiments. To me, it's no harder than cooking a meal. But they..."
"I heard the Potions professor is one of the few remaining Potion Masters..."
The young wizards chattered away in class, expressing their love for Potions.
Cypher spotted several people practically drooling.
The corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
They had connected potions with cooking, and they were drooling over it...
Class was about to begin, yet the professor had not arrived.
The three of them sat together as a group, choosing the row of cauldrons closest to the front podium.
Luna was inhaling deeply.
It made Cypher think of a hungry little kitten.
Waiting for the professor was rather boring. Luna was working, so the other two could not chat and disturb her.
Thus, Cypher twirled his cauldron stirrer, performing tricks with it like a pen.
Iris folded her hands together and rested her head on them.
Her eyes sparkled as she acted like Cypher's devoted little fan.
The Potions professor was the renowned Potion Master—Horace Slughorn.
He was a middle-aged wizard who had graduated from Slytherin.
He always dressed himself in bright, flashy clothes, and his face constantly wore a cheerful smile.
His body was plump, with a conspicuous round belly that drew the eye.
He gave off the impression of a kindly old man.
But if you truly thought he was a kindly old man, you would be gravely mistaken.
Horace Slughorn was someone who cared greatly about fame and fortune. He often attended or hosted private gatherings, constantly cultivating ties with rising young wizards and influential figures.
To the outside world, he constantly claimed to possess extensive connections and friendships with all manner of famous people.
Now that he was teaching at Hogwarts, he also intended to cultivate fresh talent.
After all, once one of the young wizards he had invested in became a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Magic,
his retirement would be exceedingly comfortable.
In short, as a student, if you performed well enough, he would do everything possible to satisfy you, even flatter you and win you over.
Conversely, if you were an utterly ordinary wizard, he might forget your name in the blink of an eye.
The young wizards in the classroom had already all arrived.
As time passed,
everyone gradually fell silent.
They waited for Professor Horace Slughorn to arrive.
Yet even after class had begun, the professor was still nowhere to be seen.
The young wizards could no longer hold it in, and whispers filled the classroom.
Was the professor not teaching today? But no prefect had announced anything!
Just as even Cypher began to wonder whether the professor had suddenly had something come up and would not be teaching, the Potions classroom door was slowly pushed open by a large, pudgy hand.
"Was that an upright-walking walrus that just came in?"
Cypher could not help laughing, but realizing it would leave a bad impression on the professor, he immediately lowered his head.
In truth, Professor Slughorn did not care about any of the young wizards in the classroom.
He would not pay attention to whatever little antics Cypher was up to.
Because, in his eyes, all these young wizards were merely grains of sand at his feet.
Only after the course had sifted the sand from the waves would there be anyone worthy of his notice.
Professor Horace Slughorn swayed from side to side as he entered the classroom, wearing a vest stretched tightly across his upper body.
The vest could not restrain his round belly at all. Cypher could practically feel the fabric groaning in agony.
The walrus-like professor had a silver pipe set with dazzling gemstones clenched between his lips.
Considering that everyone present was a young wizard, he merely held it in his mouth without lighting it.
It was purely there as an ostentatious decoration.
Cypher fell silent. The bad taste of the wealthy.
Potion Masters really did make money. Cypher decided he would work even harder on devouring the basics of Potions when he got back.
Under the young wizards' gazes,
Professor Horace Slughorn walked to the podium.
He hurriedly swept his eyes over the students before preparing to begin class. Yes, he could not even be bothered to call roll.
Just as he was about to open his textbook and teach straight from it,
his peripheral vision caught sight of the trio in the first row.
The three of them were a handsome boy and beautiful girls, making his eyes light up.
His expression changed from stiff to ingratiating in an instant.
"All right, students, please take out your textbooks, cauldrons, scales, and the other tools needed for brewing potions. I trust you all bought them in Diagon Alley."
Professor Slughorn said with a cheerful smile, though his gaze remained fixed on Cypher's group of three.
It was as though he were teaching the lesson solely for them.
If he could not see talent, he looked at appearance instead. That was another aspect of how Horace Slughorn conducted himself.
What was more, a very handsome young wizard had been impressed by his potion-making skills just a few days ago.
"Before we begin class, I would like to show you several high-level potions, so that you may experience the fascinating effects that make potions so captivating. Ultimately, I hope their effects will inspire your interest in learning."
With that, he lifted the lids from the cauldrons already placed before the podium one by one.
"Good thing I always keep something in reserve at the start of each school year. Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to make these three young wizards admire me."
Professor Slughorn inwardly thanked his luck.
The first was an orange-yellow potion like fruit juice, followed by a snow-white potion like milk, and lastly a glittering golden potion with droplets that constantly bounced.
The three potions were placed before Cypher's group.
They could not help widening their eyes as they observed the potions' beautiful sheen.
Seemingly satisfied with the potions he had made and with the fact that all three were captivated, Professor Slughorn nodded and eagerly asked the young wizards present,
"Does anyone know what these potions are?"
What he did not know was that Cypher understood absolutely nothing and naturally wanted to examine them closely.
Iris, meanwhile, wanted to test the potion knowledge she had crammed down wholesale.
Luna, on the other hand, was analyzing them, searching for the fatal flaws in Professor Slughorn's potions.
Once Professor Slughorn's question was asked,
the three each had their own thoughts. The many other young wizards merely looked at one another.
"Professor, these potions do not seem to appear in our textbooks."
A young wizard from Ravenclaw could not help saying.
"Of course. The ones in the textbooks are all simple, easy-to-use potions, and many have substitutes. I do not think that would spark your interest. So I took the liberty of showing you several advanced potions."
Professor Slughorn admitted that his question was beyond the curriculum, but his words implied just how exceptional his skills were.
"This little fairy, you seem to know something. Could you share it with everyone?"
Seeing the understanding repeatedly flash in Iris's eyes, Professor Slughorn hurriedly addressed her in a cloying tone.
No little witch dislikes being praised! thought the walrus-like professor.
"The first potion is orange-yellow, semi-transparent, and smells like orange peel. I think it may be a Stamina Potion. After drinking it, you will remain in peak physical condition until the effects wear off."
To be honest, neither Iris nor Cypher had ever seen a Stamina Potion before. Iris had only just deduced it, while Cypher could only stare in surprise at this potion that paired perfectly with an Awakening Potion.
After a pause, Iris continued,
"The second looks as smooth as milk, with faint ice crystals gathering around it and a pungent chili scent. I would guess it is an Antidote to Common Poisons."
Though she spoke uncertainly, the surprise on Professor Slughorn's face told Cypher that Iris was correct.
"The last is Felix Felicis. Drinking it brings good luck. Its drawback is that it takes an excessively long time to brew."
Iris quickly finished describing the last potion.
"An accurate description. What is your name?"
Horace asked in a Sonorus voice.
"Iris Fergus, Professor!"
"You're Headmaster Fergus's granddaughter!"
Professor Slughorn, who never lingered at school, truly was meeting Iris for the first time.
Normally, after class, he would return to his office to complete the school's tasks before leaving the castle to enjoy himself outside.
"Very good, ten points to Ravenclaw... no, twenty points!"
Professor Slughorn shouted excitedly.
"I think you should write these down. After all, they are not things that appear in your textbooks. Perhaps one day you may be fortunate enough to drink them, especially Felix Felicis. That truly is a wonderful taste. Er, miss, do you have a question?"
The middle-aged walrus, who had just been brimming with excitement, seemed as if someone had seized him by the throat. His extravagant praise of his own prowess abruptly stopped.
If it had been anyone else, he would have simply pretended not to see them.
However, the one raising her hand was Luna from the trio.
"Professor, although Iris is not wrong, I think the flaws in these potions should be pointed out so everyone can understand them."
Then, disregarding Professor Slughorn's pale expression and trembling lips, Luna loudly explained to the students.
"This Stamina Potion was brewed using very standard methods. However, this potion begins taking effect the instant it is completed. If it is not used immediately, then within half a day at most, this entire cauldron will become orange-flavored juice. One of its important ingredients is fresh Diricawl blood. As far as I know, Diricawl blood now costs more than dragon blood. More importantly, if you do not add a small amount of Blood-Replenishing Potion formula at the proper time, you will enter a severe period of weakness after the effects wear off. It saves money and trouble, but the side effects will be unforgettable for the rest of your life."
"This Antidote to Common Poisons uses Habanero Pepper. Its heat is mild and long-lasting, but compared with Carolina Reaper, it lacks explosive intensity. If you drink this potion while facing the icy currents of a blizzard, this weakened Antidote to Common Poisons, suitable only for windless conditions, will fail. As for what benefit Habanero Pepper provides, do you see this milky-white potion? A normal potion should be a murky blood-red."
"As for the final Felix Felicis, there is nothing much to say. It was brewed entirely according to the standard procedure, and it takes exactly as long as described. Only half a year, that is."
Luna disdainfully pointed out the shortcomings of Professor Slughorn's potions one by one.
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