Potion Genius, Voldemort's Amazement

Ten minutes later... the Room of Requirement was thick with the rich scent of potion.

To outsiders, brewing potions might seem like a process that could be streamlined into an assembly line.

Just follow the book—add new ingredients at the right time when the half-finished potion is in the right state—and success is guaranteed.

But in reality, that's not the case at all.

The final result of a potion is influenced by the current time, air, temperature, ingredient state, and many other factors.

If even a single step isn't at its best, the final concentration, quantity, and potency of the potion can differ like heaven and earth.

If luck is bad, even following the textbook to the letter might reverse the potion's effects, turning a healing brew into a lethal poison.

"That's right, host, you're doing well. Boil the Mandrake, stir counterclockwise five times, and once it turns pale green, add the Alihotsy..."

The two Voldemorts had already guided Tom through one brew; now Tom was trying it himself.

"Ah... wait, host, you stirred too fast there. You can't add the Billywig Stinger yet."

Sensing Tom's misstep, Voldemort quickly spoke up to remind him.

"No, I believe my method is correct."

Tom ignored him, continuing to brew the potion on his own, his eyes fixed tightly on the bubbling liquid as if trying to see through its very essence.

[Potions Prodigy (Lv.1): You seem born to brew potions. Your eyes can see the veins within ingredients. Whether understanding or learning potions, you progress several times faster than usual.]

During the last brewing session, Tom had relied on this persona to vaguely see the state of the ingredients through the potion.

This time, to test his theory, Tom replicated the ingredient state from last time exactly, one-to-one.

Another long ten minutes of brewing...

After turning off the heat and letting it cool, another batch of Vitality Potion was ready.

Quirrell used his wand to cast telekinesis, drawing a few drops from the cauldron and examining them closely.

"Wow~"

Both Quirrell and Voldemort's faces couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"What? Did I brew it perfectly?" Tom asked curiously.

"Though it's not the best Vitality Potion I've ever seen..." Voldemort swallowed hard. "But this batch you made—its luster and thickness are completely identical to the last one. At least, I can't tell the difference with my naked eye."

Because of differences in ingredients and environment, even Voldemort couldn't brew two identical batches of potion. There would always be slight variations, just invisible to outsiders.

"Host, have you really forgotten all your magical knowledge?" Voldemort asked, uncertain.

This ability to replicate one-to-one was likely something only true Potions Masters, far beyond ordinary wizards, could achieve.

If Snape knew his stolen potion was being used so effectively, he'd surely feel gratified.

Maybe he'd even thank himself for the theft.

["Potions Prodigy" +30 progress]

"Yes, I've forgotten. Only some lingering feelings from the past remain." Tom began to act.

"Tsk~ Then there's only one explanation." Voldemort clicked his tongue and continued slowly. "This potion talent probably isn't yours, host, but comes from this body you're using?"

As the foremost user of Horcruxes in this era, he had a deep understanding of souls.

As far as he knew, many spells could kill or strip a person's soul, but none could do so completely.

Because soul and body are one. Long-term coexistence leaves them in a state of mutual intermingling—a bit of you in me, a bit of me in you.

For instance, Voldemort had used Horcruxes so many times that his soul was severely shattered, and his body, affected, had become hideous.

The body the host was using likely still had remnants of its original owner's soul.

Under the influence of those remnants, the host had gained potion talent surpassing his former self.

"So that's how it is."

After hearing the explanation, Quirrell nodded, then glanced sidelong at the strange, ugly face on the back of his head.

"In that case, Lord Voldemort, once this body of yours grows up, will its appearance be affected by the soul, becoming as ugly as the Horcrux on the back of my head?"

Quirrell had lived through the era of the wizarding war. Some who had fought Voldemort and survived said his appearance was extremely hideous, like a monster.

So according to the theory, Voldemort's soul had already been severely shattered while he was alive. Now, though resurrected, his soul should still be that ugly mess.

Thud!

Realizing he had misspoken, Quirrell quickly knelt, bowing and apologizing repeatedly to Tom.

"I'm so sorry, this subordinate has a loose tongue, speaking without thinking."

As he spoke, Quirrell slapped himself a few times.

"Hey! Hey! Stop hitting yourself!" The Voldemort on the back of his head winced.

Parasitic on Quirrell's body, he naturally shared the pain.

Good grief, the guy really didn't hold back when hitting himself.

"Alright, stop hitting him." Tom reached out and restrained Quirrell's movements.

"Once your face swells up, it's very likely to attract Dumbledore's attention."

"Yes." Quirrell realized he had made another mistake and quickly added two more "Sorry"s.

Despite Tom's current composed demeanor, he was actually somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Because his soul was intact, and his body was the original one from this life. If he didn't end up as hideous as Voldemort in the future, it was highly possible that Quirrell and Voldemort would see through him.

They were fooled for now, but they weren't stupid—given enough time together, they'd eventually catch on.

He was using them to rapidly improve himself, but at the same time, he was also taking on certain risks.

"I need to set up some insurance, just in case." Tom thought to himself.

Dong~ Dong~ Dong~

The warning bell for the upcoming class echoed from outside the Room of Requirement.

"Alright, enough talk. Let's call it here for today."

Tom bottled up all the Vitality Potions, took a sip, and hid the rest in a corner of the Room of Requirement.

The potion had a smell, so even with a magical pouch, he couldn't carry it on him. He'd just come by at noon each day for a sip.

Before leaving the Room of Requirement, Tom took another look at the potions.

Since he could achieve a one-to-one replication with [Potions Prodigy], if he could watch a true Potions master's brewing process a few more times, could he then consistently replicate potions with the best possible efficacy?

At that moment, Tom thought of Snape.

Although Snape would demonstrate potion brewing on the podium during Potions class, due to the angle, Tom could only see the side of his cauldron.

And first-year lessons usually covered the most basic potions; he'd have to advance in years to see Snape brew advanced ones.

The key point was that Snape, as a Potions master, surely knew many advanced potions not recorded in textbooks, or even ones he had created himself.

If he could fool Snape the same way he had fooled Quirrell and the other, perhaps he could persuade this Potions master to teach him.