A One-Point Difference

Quite a few spectators looked at Albert with barely concealed glee, whispering about whether he had already been eliminated.

There were also plenty of people speaking harshly and mocking him for overestimating himself, though few could understand their sarcastic barbs.

Albert was talking with Isobel and simply ignored the gossip, wearing the sort of expression that said, as long as I wasn't embarrassed, then the embarrassment was theirs.

By then, the judges had already reached the Ilvermorny School contestant's workstation. They crowded around the cauldron, inspecting the potion Williams had just brewed and quietly exchanging opinions.

"This Vitality Potion is excellent, both in appearance and aroma."

The judges quietly discussed the contents listed among the ingredients, occasionally giving it a light stir or leaning closer to smell it.

Finally, they exchanged glances, took out spoons, and scooped a little potion from the cauldron into their mouths, smacking their lips as they sampled the Vitality Potion.

"However, the effects of this Vitality Potion seem to be..."

In truth, everyone had been watching Albert brew Baruffio's Brain Elixir earlier and had neglected to observe the other contestants brewing their potions. This made things rather awkward when the judges scored the others. They could not judge based on the order in which ingredients had been added or the number of times the potion had been stirred, nor could they identify the strengths and weaknesses of Williams' improved Vitality Potion.

Thus, tasting a little Vitality Potion to test its effects was the simplest way to judge it.

As for why the judges did not test the effects of Baruffio's Brain Elixir? Vitality Potion was easy to assess, and even if something truly went wrong, the harm would not be severe. Baruffio's Brain Elixir was different. No one wanted to risk their own brain, and