Potions Class

When the doors to the Hospital Wing opened once again, it meant Mikel had finally fulfilled his wish and was officially discharged.

He didn't look too good, though. His steps were unsteady, and he kept retching.

Also, before today, Kyle had never imagined that a person's face could be blue.

Even the castle's most avant-garde and fashionable portraits wouldn't dare use such a bold color to paint their faces.

But Mikel had managed it.

His whole head was blue, including his forehead, nose, and lips. Even his hair and teeth were no exception.

From a distance, he looked like a giant blue dandelion.

"Kyle..."

Mikel reached out, his voice terribly hoarse. "What are you laughing at? Give me a hand, will you?"

"Nothing. I just thought of something funny." Kyle stepped forward to support Mikel, turning his head away so he wouldn't have to look at his face.

"I earned Hufflepuff twenty points yesterday."

"That really is something to be happy about." Mikel nodded and didn't ask anything else.

He genuinely didn't want to talk. He also had no idea what the nurse in the Hospital Wing had just made him drink. It tasted awful, and his throat burned. Even opening his mouth was uncomfortable.

The two of them slowly made their way toward the underground classroom.

It was worth mentioning that when they reached Pendulum Courtyard, Mikel's blue head gradually returned to normal.

It still wasn't quite back to the way it had been before, but at least it was less conspicuous. The castle was generally dimly lit, so no one would notice unless they looked closely.

It seemed Madam Pomfrey hadn't meant to embarrass him in public.

The two of them crossed the castle, but Mikel walked so slowly that, by the time they reached the underground classroom, they were inevitably late.

Snape had just finished taking attendance when he looked up and saw the two of them standing at the door.

"Late to your very first lesson. Are this year's first-years all this hopeless?" Snape drawled. "Ten points from Hufflepuff."

Mikel looked at Snape, his eyes suddenly widening. "Huh? You're the one who... Ow—"

Fortunately, Kyle reacted quickly and promptly stepped on his foot, stopping Mikel before he could finish.

Otherwise... they might never have made it out of the Potions Classroom.

Taking advantage of the moment, Kyle hurriedly said, "Sorry, Professor Snape. It won't happen again."

"Hmph. If there's a second time, it won't be as simple as taking ten points." Snape gave them a cold look. "What are you still standing there for? Get back to your seats. Five more points from Hufflepuff!"

Afraid Mikel might say something else that would get them into trouble, Kyle quickly pulled him over to an empty desk at the back of the classroom.

Snape turned his gaze away and spoke in a sinister voice. "Potions is a complex and important subject. I don't expect you to truly appreciate the wonders of a gently simmering cauldron, its white steam rising as a sweet fragrance wafts through the air.

"Nor do I expect you to understand the miraculous transformation that takes place as ordinary ingredients gradually become something greater under a fierce flame.

"Every mistletoe berry and every Bezoar in your hands will come together here, in the cauldron, forming all manner of shapes and mixtures. They are the most wondrous secrets of the Wizarding World."

Snape's voice gradually softened. "I can teach you how to enhance your reputation, brew glory, and even stop death—but only if you're not the sort of foolish idiots I so often encounter."

Snape's speech left the entire class in dead silence. The Slytherin snakes raised their heads proudly and sat ramrod straight, as if that could prove they weren't foolish idiots.

By comparison, the Hufflepuff badgers looked far less confident. They glanced at one another, and none dared meet Snape's eyes.

Mikel, in particular, had nearly buried his head under the desk once he came to his senses.

But even that was no use. What was coming was still coming.

"Drake!" Snape suddenly said. "When making Boil-Cure Potion, do you add the slugs or the Porcupine Quills first?"

What potion?

Mikel looked up in confusion and answered cautiously, "The Porcupine Quills first, Professor."

"Tch. The Porcupine Quills first..." Snape said mockingly. "If you'd opened a book before the start of term, even just to glance at one, you'd know that you need to add powdered snake fangs first when making Boil-Cure Potion!

"Your basics are this bad, and you still dare to be late? One point from Hufflepuff."

"Why aren't you writing this down!"

A rustle of quills and parchment suddenly filled the classroom.

"Open your books to the first page!" Snape returned to the lectern and said sternly. "Today, we'll be making a simple potion to treat boils.

"Though this potion is so simple that anyone with an intellect higher than a Troll's can make it, I still have to remind you to be careful... unless you want boils covering your body."

"The ingredients are in the cupboard. Now, work in pairs... Oh, right!"

Snape seemed to have suddenly remembered something and walked over to Mikel again.

He glanced down at the desk and sneered. "Although there's no need to stupidly wave a wand around in this class, given your current condition—and for the safety of the other young wizards—I don't think you need these."

Snape took the cauldron off the desk. After surveying the room, he said to Kyle, "Go work with Kanna. Don't disturb Drake while he's reading."

In the crowd, Kanna looked up in a daze, watching Kyle approach her in disbelief.

She was so done. She'd already timed it perfectly, coming into the classroom last, and still hadn't managed to avoid this?

Besides, all the other young wizards had already paired up. There wasn't an empty seat left, even if she wanted to dodge him.

Maybe she could switch with someone else?

Kanna turned to the roommate sitting behind her. She was just about to suggest switching places when Snape's voice rang out from the lectern again.

"What are you standing around for? Waiting for me to brew your potions for you?!"

At Snape's roar, the classroom immediately burst into activity.

Watching her roommate set up a cauldron and dash off to the cupboard, Kanna could only sigh to herself before turning to grind the snake fangs on the desk.

For some reason, when Snape had walked past earlier, he'd casually placed a bag on her desk.

Inside were all the ingredients needed to make Boil-Cure Potion, with three portions of each. So Kanna didn't need to go to the cupboard like the others.