The Dawn of Potions and the Net in the Shadows

The third week of December saw the Christmas atmosphere at Hogwarts reach its peak. A giant fir tree stood in the center of the Great Hall, adorned with golden bells and self-singing sprites. However, beneath the festive clamor, the mood within the Room of Requirement was like the sea before a storm, calm on the surface but brewing with incredible energy.

The second refinement of the Wolfsbane Potion had entered its most critical phase—the final fusion of the moonlight extract and the silverleaf grass base. This time, Snape's focus reached an unprecedented level. Every movement he made seemed precisely calculated, the threads of magic power flowing from his wand tip terrifyingly stable. Lin Yanqing, like his most loyal shadow, provided all necessary assistance with precision, sensing any ripple of magic power through their Contract and reacting in advance.

Inside the cauldron, the emerald-green base liquid and the moon-white extract slowly mingled as they swirled, emitting a cool, pure scent, like solidified moonlight. There was no bubbling, no unusual sounds, only the faint hum of harmoniously resonating magic power.

When the last drop of extract fully integrated and the liquid in the cauldron stabilized into a lustrous, pearlescent pale blue, Snape slowly lowered his wand. He stood there, staring intently at the hard-won potion, his chest rising and falling slightly. His clenched fist slowly relaxed, leaving deep nail imprints on his palm.

Success.

Although it was only a preliminary product, its efficacy yet to be verified, they had indeed overcome the shadow of previous failures and completed a theoretically viable, improved version of the Wolfsbane Potion.

Silence filled the laboratory. There were no cheers, no celebrations. Snape simply picked up a pre-prepared crystal vial treated with mithril and, with the steadiest hand, carefully poured the pale blue liquid into it before sealing the opening.

He held the vial, examining it for a long time under the dim green light. This was not a medal of victory, but their first decent weapon against an unknown danger, and proof that his own abilities could hold under immense pressure.

Lin Yanqing stood quietly to the side, not disturbing him. He could feel from the other end of their Contract a complex emotion, not of joy, but of heaviness, a mixture of exhaustion, relief, and a stronger sense of responsibility.

After a long while, Snape cautiously placed the crystal vial into a velvet-lined box, which he then put in the deepest part of his dragon-hide pocket. He turned around, his gaze finally settling on Lin Yanqing's face for the first time. Deep within his dark eyes, something akin to solid ice seemed to melt imperceptibly at the edges.

"This potion," his voice was hoarse from prolonged concentration, "needs to undergo final testing in a... specific environment." He didn't explicitly say testing on a werewolf, but they both understood. "We must ensure it's foolproof before the next full moon."

This meant their actions were about to enter a more dangerous, substantive phase.

Lin Yanqing nodded, indicating his understanding. He took out the result of his practice over the past few days—a robe with basic "Shock Absorption" runes embroidered on the lining. The lines of the runes still looked somewhat immature, but the structure was complete, faintly glowing with magic.

"Basic protection is ready," he said, displaying it with a calm tone.

Snape glanced at the runes. Without commenting on the embroidery, he gave a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgment. This silent communication, more than any words, demonstrated the trust they had built based on practical action.

"Ding dong! (??????)?? Hidden Quest [The Dawn of Potions] Complete! Successfully refined the initial version of the Wolfsbane Potion (Improved). Reward: Potion Stability Analysis (one use), System Points +100."

"New Quest Triggered: [Prepare for a Rainy Day]!"

Quest Description: The storm is coming. Before the crisis erupts, enhance the survival capabilities of yourself and your contracted partner as much as possible.

Quest Requirements: Before the start of the Christmas holiday, complete at least two defensive preparations (e.g., skillfully use the Shield Charm, successfully create advanced protective items, acquire key intelligence, etc.).

Quest Reward: Based on the quality of completion, base reward: Emergency Key (one-time use, short-range random teleportation) x1.

Failure Penalty: In the next crisis event, the risk of injury increases by 30%. (T_T)

The System's quests appeared at the opportune moment, confirming their premonition of future danger.

However, just as they had finished the potion and their guard had slightly lowered, the laboratory door—the door created by the Room of Requirement, which should have been absolutely secure—suddenly made a clear sound, unlike any anomaly they had heard before—

"Click."

Like a mechanism being triggered, or the faintest sound of a latch disengaging.

The two instantly became alert. Snape's wand pointed towards the door almost simultaneously with the sound, and Lin Yanqing instinctively gripped the Vanishing Powder in his pocket.

Outside the door, there was dead silence.

But this time, the feeling of being watched was unprecedentedly strong. It was as if a cold, venomous snake had just slithered past the crack of the door, leaving a sticky trail.

Snape's face turned ashen. He quickly walked to the door, not opening it immediately, but softly chanting an ancient, difficult-to-pronounce spell in a tone Lin Yanqing had never heard before. The tip of his wand emitted faint, wave-like magic, scanning the stone door's surface.

A moment later, he withdrew his wand, his eyes as dark as if they could drip water.

"Someone... just attempted to probe the defenses here with extremely skilled dark magic," he said coldly. "Not the usual tricks of Hogwarts. Older, more... malicious."

The Borgin Family. That name instantly surfaced in both their minds. Not only did the other party know about the existence of this laboratory, but they were already attempting to breach its defenses!

Lin Yanqing immediately thought of the [Prepare for a Rainy Day] quest the System had just issued. Clearly, the crisis was coming sooner than they had anticipated.

"This place is no longer absolutely safe," Snape concluded. He surveyed the laboratory, which held their countless nights of effort and secrets, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. "We need a new base. Immediately."

The joy of completing the potion was instantly dispelled, replaced by a sense of imminent crisis. The enemy was no longer content with warnings and peeping; they had already extended their probing claws.

The bells of the Christmas holiday were about to chime, but for Snape and Lin Yanqing, this holiday would be anything but peaceful. An invisible net, imbued with the aura of dark magic, was quietly tightening around them in the shadows of Hogwarts.