Keeping Secrets and Potions Research

The next day, Saturday.

Vaughn, who had graced Gryffindor with his presence today, saw Harry and Ron heading toward the Forbidden Forest early in the morning, with Hermione following behind them, clutching a book.

"I'm going to keep an eye on you."

That was her answer.

Ron thought Hermione was definitely trying to get back at him. She was going to watch their every move, wait for them to make a mistake, then tattle to the professors.

But Harry did not think so. "Hermione cares more about House points than anything else. She wouldn't wait for us to mess up and get Gryffindor points deducted."

"Then what exactly does she want? Merlin's beard, every time I turn around, I see someone creeping along behind us. Do you know how terrifying that is?"

Harry did not want to know.

They went together to Hagrid's hut by the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid welcomed them warmly, and Hermione came inside too, but she spoke almost exclusively to Hagrid and ignored Harry and Ron the entire time.

There, Harry discovered a newspaper reporting that Gringotts had been robbed. Judging by the date, it had happened on the same day he and Hagrid had gone to Gringotts.

Thinking of how Hagrid had gone to Gringotts to retrieve something that day, Harry quickly connected the two events.

On the way back, he slapped the newspaper and said to Ron and Hermione, "Maybe the person who robbed Gringotts was after the thing Hagrid took away. He was being all mysterious back then, only saying that it was important."

"Look at this report: 'The vault searched by the intruders had, in fact, been emptied earlier that same day.' It has to be it! Vault 713! There was only a filthy little package inside, and Hagrid took it away. Didn't that mean it had been emptied?"

"Cool!"

Ron let out a whistle.

Then Harry seemed to remember something and looked eagerly at his two friends. "Uh, Hagrid told me not to tell anyone about this. You'll keep it secret, right?"

"Absolutely!" Ron thumped his chest hard, then started coughing.

Hermione snorted. "I've always kept my mouth shut!"

Well, that was exactly what Harry had told Hagrid at the time.

So the next day, Vaughn knew about it...

"Philosopher's Stone..."

Vaughn went to the library and found a book introducing this Alchemical Wonder. Staring at the illustration inside, he fell into thought.

Unlike when he had read fanfiction in his previous life, where many people considered it insignificant.

The more Vaughn studied Magic, the more he understood just how astonishing the Philosopher's Stone was. It could reverse matter and accomplish what even the most advanced Transfiguration could not—altering the very nature of matter and turning any metal into pure gold.

The Elixir of Life made with it was also the only thing confirmed by real examples to be capable of conquering death.

Nicolas Flamel and his wife, Perenelle Flamel, had lived an extra six hundred years because of it...

A full six centuries!

Was there anything more incredible in the Wizarding world?

Of course, that kind of immortality seemed to have side effects. Vaughn remembered seeing Nicolas Flamel appear in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in his previous life.

A comical old man with severe osteoporosis.

"Rumor has it that the LeMe Couple live in seclusion in Devon. My family is in Devon too, but unfortunately, there's no more precise location. And given how cautious they are, their hiding place has probably been protected by Magic like the Fidelius Charm. No one else would be able to find it."

"Otherwise, I'd really like to pay him a visit and have a good talk."

Vaughn had not yet come into contact with Alchemy. Books in the Hogwarts Library introduced this even more mysterious discipline, but Vaughn found them incomprehensible.

They went on at great length about "Spiritual Journey" and Void Creation, making them seem like they had been written by someone drunk.

Vaughn closed the book and was about to leave when the System Panel popped up before his eyes.

[New quest activated]

[Side Quest ①: Obtain the Philosopher's Stone]

[Reward: Alchemy Talent]

"..."

Vaughn was a little speechless. The System's quests were getting more and more outrageous.

The Philosopher's Stone was now the focus of both the Dark Lord and the White Lord. He would have to be insane to make a move on it.

Ignoring the System Panel, Vaughn returned the book. Seeing that it was getting late, he hurried to Professor Snape's office.

Honestly, Vaughn thought Snape's taste was truly terrible.

Whether it was the Potions Class classroom or his office, both had been placed in the darkest corners of Hogwarts Castle.

The moment Vaughn stepped into the corridor, he felt the gloom all around him. With taste like that, how could Snape possibly compete with James Potter?

No girl would ever like him!

But when Vaughn pushed open the office door and saw the shelves full of Medicinal Material, along with the potions Piled Full upon them...

This was amazing!

It truly smelled amazing. Many people thought potion ingredients were strange and must smell awful, but after processing, most of them gave off a peculiar fragrance.

Not to mention those bottle after bottle of potions in the cabinet, reflecting the light of the Fireplace flames and looking crystal-clear!

Snape still wore that poker face, standing in the corner like a ghost and watching Vaughn coldly.

Only when Vaughn gazed at the potions in fascination did a faint smile appear on his face—

His two days of painstakingly selecting treasures from his collection to fill the newly purchased potion cabinet had not been wasted!

It had not been easy work. They had to be valuable without looking like he was trying to Show Off, while still having educational value!

"Professor, this place of yours is a treasure vault!"

Vaughn praised him sincerely.

Snape suddenly felt very pleased. It reminded him of Friday night, when he had gone to the Headmaster's Office and shown Dumbledore Vaughn's improved Itching Potion.

The look of surprise on Dumbledore's old face had made him quite happy.

The Savior was nothing special, while his evil classmate was the real deal—a genuine Slytherin Potions Prodigy!

"Vaughn Weasley," Snape said slowly. "You will have plenty of time to look around in the future. Now, let me see what merits your Magic Extraction Method has."

"Oh? Plenty of time to look around? Professor, does that mean I can come here every weekend from now on?"

Vaughn clearly knew how to seize the important point.

Snape did not answer, which was clearly an admission. He stepped aside, revealing the Cauldron behind him. A potion was brewing inside—it was the Itching Potion.

Clearly, today he wanted to observe Vaughn's brewing process from start to finish.

Vaughn did not mind. He drew his Wand and got to work.

After that, the only sounds in the gloomy Basement were those of processing Medicinal Material and stirring, with an occasional sentence or two of conversation.

"Hmm—an unusual choice. How do you ensure that the Magic Power permeates it?"

"Familiarity with the materials, Professor. Perhaps I also have a talent for Transfiguration Studies. My Magic Power can easily observe their interiors."

"Of course, ordinary Wizards can also choose to practice extensively. Practice makes perfect."

"...Let me try."

"Certainly, Professor!"