Magic Extraction Method Lessons

For the rest of that day, Snape and Vaughn remained in the office.

They experimented with Vaughn's Magic Extraction Method.

Vaughn generously told Snape every technique he had developed so far. Such honesty was necessary during the development of a new technique. Since he hoped to exchange insights with others, keeping things hidden would clearly be foolish.

"The idea behind the Magic Extraction Method came from my thoughts on the essence of potions when I had just begun studying Potions."

"What exactly are potions? Why can combinations of these medicinal materials grant them all sorts of miraculous effects? Or rather, which parts of the materials give them those effects?"

"I started with the simplest Blood Replenishing Potion and set up many control groups. By adjusting the proportions of the ingredients, I tested the active ingredients and structures of Blood Replenishing Potions of different qualities, then used the final comparisons to roughly classify the components—effective, harmful, and useless waste."

Vaughn made it sound simple, but the process had actually been quite bloody.

Following the drug-testing methods from his previous life, he had prepared many lab rats.

He inflicted wounds on them, and some were even dissected to observe how the Blood Replenishing Potion took effect in the test subjects, as well as the effects caused by different grades.

Snape, who was concentrating on touching the cauldron with his wand as he listened to Vaughn's explanation, naturally thought of this as well.

But he saw no problem with it.

At heart, he was still the Death Eater who had once knelt at Voldemort's feet. The little goodness he had left would not be wasted on lab rats!

"After separating the effective components, I went back to the materials themselves and began trying to strip away their traits bit by bit. The methods I learned in Transfiguration helped me greatly in this regard."

Snape carefully sensed it. As his magic power flowed through the wand and into the cauldron, several vague outlines were reflected in his mind.

This technique really did resemble the process of learning Transfiguration!

It was simply much harder, requiring numerous techniques to keep the magic power flowing steadily.

He had to avoid interfering with the trajectories of the ingredients inside the cauldron as much as possible.

And within a limited amount of time, he had to quickly sort through the structure of the materials reflected in his mind.

Before he realized it, sweat had formed on Snape's forehead.

Yet decades of potion-brewing experience had given him an exceptional understanding of basic materials.

Even though his talent for Transfiguration was only average, Snape still managed to extract the traits of several ingredients in the cauldron before the temperature reached its limit.

This was already his sixth attempt, and he had finally succeeded. He let out a breath, withdrew his wand, and watched the distinctly layered potion in the cauldron turn a clear blue after Vaughn took over, stirred it five times, and waved his wand.

He fell into thought.

Only after a long while did he suddenly say, "It's too difficult. It requires talent—not just talent for Potions, but talent for Transfiguration as well."

Then he added, "And experience with material traits!"

"Exactly!" Vaughn sighed. "I once corresponded with a Potioneer who supported me and taught him the method, but he could never learn it. That was when I realized that the Magic Extraction Method was still very immature!"

"But it has great value," Snape replied.

Vaughn smiled.

Both of them were geniuses in Potions, so they naturally understood that no technique was universally applicable from the moment it was created. Every technique had to go through the path from development to maturity to widespread adoption.

The only thing that could affect its progress was whether it was worth continuing to develop.

Clearly, the Magic Extraction Method had that value!

Returning to his expressionless state, Snape fixed his deep eyes on the cauldron of "Itching Potion" and asked, "Do you have a specific development plan?"

Vaughn had long considered this. "I do, but it's difficult."

"Speak."

"I need access to more materials and advanced potions, so I can familiarize myself with their components and traits. There is a spell that would be of great help to me, and I hope you can teach it to me, Professor."

Snape knew what he wanted almost without thinking. "The Scarpin Transfiguration Curse?"

"Yes, Professor."

Snape's dark eyes stared at Vaughn. "You should know that the Ministry of Magic does not permit this spell to spread. It would do too much harm to the interests of Potioneers."

Vaughn nodded with a smile. "Yes, I understand. But it's all for research!"

After a moment of silence, Snape's dry, drifting voice sounded again. "What else do you need?"

"I also want to study advanced spells. As you said, the Magic Extraction Method is currently too difficult to learn. I hope to identify patterns among all materials and establish a universal model. I plan to develop that model in the form of spells, and that requires advanced knowledge of spells."

Vaughn had finally revealed his greatest goal.

That had also been his original reason for spending so much time organizing the Magic Extraction Method two years ago.

From that time onward, he had set his sights on Snape.

Vaughn, who understood Snape, knew that the other man would not refuse him.

Sure enough, Snape, still wearing his poker face, was silent for a long time before answering:

"Come to my office next Saturday. Now, go back."

"Thank you, Professor." Vaughn bowed in thanks, but when he reached the door, he stopped again and asked curiously, "How do you plan to convince Headmaster Dumbledore? I heard he has never liked Slytherin much. He may not allow you to teach me advanced spells."

Snape stood with his back to the fireplace, the only source of light in the entire Basement. Vaughn could not make out Snape's expression.

He could only hear his slow, drawn-out reply. "He will agree, Vaughn Weasley."

"As far as I know, Dumbledore is very, very appreciative of your habit of wandering through all the houses."

"Ah... is that so?"

Vaughn shrugged and turned to leave.

Dumbledore really was wary of him.

Just listen to what Snape had implied. That old man had been watching Vaughn's every move at Hogwarts!

"Tsk, tsk. The great White Lord... Tom must have scared him stiff."

Vaughn did not take the matter too seriously. He had been prepared for it ever since deciding to enter Slytherin.

He would not give up his goals merely because he was wary of Dumbledore.

Nor would he resent the world simply because Dumbledore guarded against him.

Still, he had not expected that his habit of wandering around the various houses all day would actually win Old Dumbledore's favor.

Even after returning to the Slytherin common room, Vaughn was still pondering the matter.

Could it be that Old Dumbledore thinks I have love in my heart and am a good person?

"Damn it, I just like mooching food and drinks in Ravenclaw. Why are you slandering me?"

Feeling that the evil side of his Inner Heart had been questioned, Vaughn paid Ravenclaw another visit that evening.

He laughed and chatted with the girls until late into the night before reluctantly leaving with Guoguo Tea.