Slughorn is a Good Professor

Regulus stopped, turned around, and walked back to the podium.

The classroom was empty except for Slughorn, who sat behind the podium, holding Regulus's potion in his hand and examining it closely.

The pale pink liquid swayed slightly in the bottle.

"Perfect," Slughorn said with admiration. "In terms of Magic Power purity and stability, it's even better than mine."

He put the bottle down and looked at Regulus.

"Regulus, the method you just used, allowing the Magic Power of the materials to fuse on their own, is indeed effective for low-level Potions like Healing Potion."

The professor continued, "In fact, someone has done this before."

Regulus glanced up at him, but he wasn't surprised.

It's perfectly normal for the professor to be able to tell; after all, this is Potions Master, one of the most knowledgeable people in the Wizarding World when it comes to this subject. It would be strange if he couldn't figure out what the professor was doing.

And he certainly knew that his method was only suitable for low-level Potions.

At higher levels, it's not just about fusing the Magic Power of materials, but also other things.

Time, rituals, and even the wizard's own Magic Power or emotions are involved.

Those were truly high-end items; he had heard of them but rarely seen them, and they wouldn't be displayed on ordinary shelves.

But there was no need to say all that now. He simply stood there quietly, his expression more respectful than before, waiting for the professor to continue.

Slughorn's gaze was fixed on something outside the window, as if he were looking at something from long ago.

"Hundreds of years ago, before Potions developed into the system it is today, some wizards did this."

There are no standard steps, no fixed formulas, only the most direct perception and instinctive control over the materials.

They pick up a blade of grass, smell it, touch it, and they know what it should be paired with and how to use it.

The results from making it yourself are often much better than what you can achieve by simply following the steps.

He turned his gaze to Regulus: "But do you know why that method disappeared and became the step-by-step system we have today?"

Regulus thought for a moment, "Because it's too difficult?"

Slughorn nodded. "Extremely difficult."

He emphasized, "It's not something that can be done just by being talented. That method requires more than just intelligence or diligence. You need a kind of intuitive understanding of the materials, almost an instinct."

You have to be able to hear what the Magic Power of the materials is saying, to see what they want to become, to process dozens of Magic Power changes in your mind at the same time, and to react within a fraction of a second.

Even the slightest deviation will ruin the material.

He shook his head. "There are only a handful of wizards in history who can achieve this level, so every Potions Master back then was a legend."

This system now makes Potions something that can be replicated and taught.

Even those with mediocre talent can make decent potions, and geniuses won't waste materials due to momentary carelessness. This is progress.

His gaze toward Regulus turned serious. "But you did it."

Regulus remained silent, waiting for the professor to continue.

Slughorn paused for a moment, then asked, "Regulus, what do you think Potions are?"

Regulus opened his mouth to answer, but Slughorn raised his hand to stop him. "No need to answer yet, let me speak first."

He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Regulus.

Most people think that Potions is simply a matter of throwing the ingredients into a pot in order and simmering them for the right amount of time.

But they were wrong. Potions are not simply a collection of ingredients, nor even an accumulation of Magic Power reactions.

"The essence of Potions is to allow the Magic Power of different materials to accept and merge with each other under specific conditions, ultimately forming a new and complete Magic Power whole."

That whole has its own life, its own inclinations, and its own will.

A successful Potions is more like a new individual; it has its own temperament, its own personality, and its own uses.

He walked back to the table, picked up the bottle of Healing Potion, and looked at it against the light.

"For example, this Healing Potion potion, its healing properties are a product of the combined effects of Dittany, Dragon Blood, Ashwinder Eggshell, and Daisy Root."

Dittany alone can only stop bleeding, and Dragon Blood alone will only cause rampage, but when they are combined into Healing Potion, they create something entirely new.

"Something with the will to heal."

He put down the bottle and looked at Regulus again. "What you just did was sense the Magic Power of those materials and then guide them to accept and merge with each other."

But you're not creating Healing Potion; you're just making these materials into Healing Potion. These are two completely different concepts.

Regulus remained silent; the professor was right.

Slughorn continued, "Being able to do this shows that your perception and understanding of Magic Power has surpassed that of the vast majority of adult wizards."

This is talent, and it's ability, but I want to remind you of something.

His expression turned serious. "Magic Power has a life of its own, the Magic Power of the materials is magic, and the magic of the finished potion is also Magic Power."

When you guide them to merge, you are dealing with living things; they have their own inclinations, and you are shaping them into what you want them to be.

But this process will also affect you in return.

He looked into Regulus's eyes. "If you do this for a long time, you will become more and more accustomed to letting Magic Power change according to your will, which is not a bad thing in itself."

But remember, Magic Power is not a servant, it's a partner. You can guide it, but you cannot enslave it; otherwise, one day it will rebel.

Regulus's heart stirred slightly.

These words vaguely echo the invitation and control spoken by the thing Abyssal Slumber.

He nodded, his tone sincere. "I understand, Professor. Thank you for your guidance."

Slughorn stared at him for a moment, then laughed, a smile that held both satisfaction and a touch of wistfulness.

"Okay, good that you understand," he said, sitting back in his chair and relaxing. "Go ahead, from now on, you can endure my classes however you like."

But don't be too ostentatious; other students might be discouraged if they see it.

Regulus nodded. "I understand, Professor. Your words have been very helpful."

Then he bowed slightly, said goodbye to the professor, turned and walked out, pushing open the door.

When they stepped out of the Potions Classroom, Avery and the others were still waiting there.

Regulus simply nodded slightly and continued walking, and they followed.

Avery and Alex didn't think much of it; it was routine for Regulus to be kept behind by the professor. They exchanged a glance, shrugged, and didn't care.

Hermes shifted slightly back half a step, glancing at Regulus out of the corner of his eye.

He was thinking about what had happened in class earlier, guessing that the professor keeping Regulus behind must be related to this, but since Regulus hadn't brought it up, he assumed it wasn't true.

Hermes thought about his vacation.

He spent almost two whole months in the Family Training Room, with his father personally sparring with him and teaching him the truly dangerous techniques.

Variations of Dark Arts, how to quickly switch spells in battle, and how to conceal one's intentions while Spellcasting.

One day, his father took him out, and that experience made him understand what true power was.

He thought he had made great progress, both in strength and in his perspective.

But what just happened was so simple: he placed his hand on the material and then poured it out.

It's as if there are unseen wizards doing unseen things, Potions is created by itself.

Hermes found that the distance between him and Regulus had not only not narrowed, but had actually increased, because he couldn't understand the maneuver at all.

He looked away and continued walking forward.

As Regulus walked, he pondered Slughorn's words, which, in essence, were quite simple.

Don't fight against Magic Power; treat Magic Power as a partner, for Magic Power has a life of its own.

It sounded like some kind of philosophical speculation, the kind of thing an old wizard would mutter.

You must befriend Magic, you must listen to the voice of Magic Power, and so on.

But then he remembered that time in the Headmaster's Office, when Dumbledore had said something similar.

Talk to Magic.

Dumbledore and Slughorn are undoubtedly the most outstanding wizards in their respective fields.

Dumbledore recognized as the greatest wizard of this century, while Slughorn, though not quite as powerful, is undoubtedly the most professional in the field of Potions.

Their views on Magic Power and Magic were strikingly similar.

Regulus pondered his own situation, wondering what his current connection to Magic Power was.

That was neither confrontation nor communication, it was simply use.

Use it like a tool; whatever effect you need, use Magic Power to achieve it.

Magic Power is an extension of his will, an extension of his body; it's very useful and obedient, but that's all.

But Dumbledore and Slughorn both said that wasn't enough; they also needed to communicate, to obey, and to let Magic Power become their partner.

Regulus knew they were right.

Since they said it, they must have done it, and they did.

Dumbledore was the most powerful wizard, Slughorn was the most outstanding Potions Master; their paths, at least for them, were open.

But is this the only correct one?

He wanted to learn from the Dark Enlightenment of the Voldemort, which showed a completely different direction.

To dominate, to control, to make Magic Power completely submit—this is pure domination, without communication, obedience, or partnership.

Voldemort followed that path, and he reached the pinnacle of it all.

Regulus shook his head slightly; this question might be a bit premature for him.

This is more like a philosophy of Magic, or a basic attitude towards Magic —where to stand and from what perspective to understand Magic itself.

It's somewhat like a worldview.

Your worldview won't directly affect what you eat today, but it will affect how you eat for the rest of your life.

The fact that the professors were willing to talk to him about these things, and even offered to do so, shows that they believed he needed to know.

Ordinary wizards may never encounter this level of teaching in their entire lives, because it's unnecessary; they won't reach the point where they need to understand it.

If you tell them that Magic Power has a life of its own and that you should treat Magic as a friend, they'll just think you're talking nonsense.

But the professors believed that Regulus needed to know that this was both a form of recognition and an expectation.

They believe he will reach that level in the future, so they are starting to lay the groundwork and guide him now, exposing him to these top-level designs in advance.

Regulus snapped out of his thoughts and reached the Dormitory door. He pushed the door open and went inside, with Avery and the others following behind.

Avery then leaned closer, his tone filled with curiosity. "Regulus, what did the professor say to you? You've been thinking about it the whole way here."

Alex looked over as well, Hermes, sitting by his bedside, was also looking at him.

Regulus looked at the three of them, remained silent for a moment, then shook his head, his tone carrying a hint of indescribable emotion.

"Slughorn is a good professor."