Improved Potion

Potions were equivalent to spells—this was Vaughn's core belief. He had organized it into a paper at the age of ten and published it in the Extraordinary Potioneers Association's journal, Extraordinary Potions. It was also the reason he had always been so controversial.

Potions were a relatively independent discipline. In the eyes of many potioneers, only the fragrance rising from a cauldron could represent magic's mysterious and omnipotent side.

As long as they carried enough doses of potions, they could easily accomplish all kinds of things without "waving their wands around like idiots" or casting a heap of "flashy spells."

Not to mention that many illnesses and spell-inflicted injuries could only be treated with potions.

That made them look down proudly upon other disciplines.

Vaughn's claims had clearly violated their taboo. Not all of those people necessarily disagreed with his views, but more of them simply did not want to see change.

Some of them were old-fashioned fools intoxicated by glory; some were vested interests—after all, the more mysterious potions were, the easier they were to monopolize; and some were idiots!

That last assessment had been made by Professor Snape in the newspaper at the time.

The idea promoted in Vaughn's paper was simple—let magic participate more fully in the brewing process, just as it did when casting spells.

Like right now.

As he sprinkled powdered snake fangs into the cauldron, Vaughn drew his wand and lightly tapped the rim. A thin wisp of magic seeped into the potion.

Hermione stared wide-eyed beside him, but magic could not be seen with the naked eye. All she could see was the snake-fang powder falling into the potion.

"Snake fangs are the primary ingredient. Their role in this formula is to absorb toxins, but remember, they do not possess that function themselves. We only need their properties."

As Vaughn spoke softly, several glowing specks separated from the powdered snake fangs, while the powder that had been floating sank to the bottom of the cauldron.

"With toxin absorption resolved, the next step is detoxification and treatment. For an uncomplicated condition like boils, horned slugs and dried nettles are enough. Horned slugs are usually used to heal wounds, while dried nettles neutralize the toxins after they have been absorbed."

His wand continued tapping lightly against the cauldron. As more ingredients were added, more faintly glowing currents appeared in the potion, glimmering with a subtle pink hue.

Hermione hugged her book, her mouth slightly open as she watched everything intently.

She asked softly, "Those are...?"

"Yes, the properties of the ingredients, Hermione." Vaughn nodded and explained, "I used magic to separate them out and let you see them. In the traditional recipe for boil-curing potion, the final step—adding porcupine quills—exists to extract those properties. The quills themselves do not participate in the treatment process, so my magic saves that step!"

As he spoke, Vaughn turned off the heat and stirred clockwise five times. "Five times, no more and no less. This is another key point I mentioned before: ritual! Numbers hold magic within the ritual of this formula. Look—"

Hermione focused her gaze.

Inside the cauldron, the potion that had originally been distinctly layered and mottled with colors changed with five stirs and a wave of Vaughn's wand.

It spun and spun, then suddenly became a cauldron of deep blue potion, clear and crisp without a trace of any other color.

It looked even better than the finished product in the textbook illustration!

Before she could marvel at it, Snape glided over like a bat.

He leaned over to inspect the potion in the cauldron, and a trace of surprise appeared in his lifeless eyes.

Unable to resist, he dipped a finger into it and held it beneath his nose for a sniff. Then he looked at Vaughn. "No pungent smell of porcupine quills... You improved it?"

Vaughn nodded. "Yes, Professor."

"Using the magic extraction method you mentioned last year?"

Vaughn smiled. "Yes, but for now, it can only be used on simple potions like this. The more advanced the potion, the more numerous and complex the required ingredient properties become. It takes a great deal of time to understand them, explore them, and find the right approach."

"But I think it is meaningful. Traditional recipes usually require one or even several additional ingredients for the final property-extraction step. They inevitably affect the potion's effects, and some are even toxic... Of course, side effects and toxicity can be tolerated for the sake of successfully brewing a potion, but wouldn't it be better without them?"

Snape fell silent and said no more.

Only when he turned to leave did everyone hear him say, "Ten points to Slytherin. Vaughn Weasley, Granger, go help our Longbottom and Finnigan. I suspect they are trolls in disguise... Ron Weasley, what are you staring into space for? Why don't you learn more from your brother?"

Harry heard Ron mutter beside him, "I don't want to learn from him!"

Harry said nothing. After a moment, he quietly said, "Next Potions class, I want to partner with Vaughn."

Ron's eyes widened. "Traitor!"

On the other side, following dear Professor Snape's instructions, Vaughn and Hermione came over to Neville and Seamus's desk.

Neville was sniffling and crying. Snape had berated him so badly throughout the entire lesson that he was questioning his whole existence, and he had lost another five points.

It made him feel terribly guilty.

"Sorry, Vaughn. I'm too stupid. I can never remember it all."

"It's all right, Neville. Follow the textbook. Don't panic."

Perhaps because Vaughn had helped him before, Neville had always trusted him, even if he was a Slytherin.

Aside from his poor memory and tendency to cry, this honest, kind-hearted chubby boy was actually very obedient.

At least when facing Vaughn, whom he trusted, he listened to whatever Vaughn said and followed every instruction precisely.

Seamus, on the other hand, was much more mischievous. Or perhaps he really did possess some hidden talent. Even with Hermione watching him, when he reached the final step of the brewing process and needed to add the porcupine quills, he nearly caused an accident—

Without turning off the heat, he tossed a handful of porcupine quills into the cauldron.

Fortunately, Vaughn had been keeping an eye on him and quickly cast the Levitation Charm, stopping the quills in midair. Otherwise, the classroom might have faced a massive disaster!

Porcupine quills exposed to high heat would turn the potion into a highly corrosive liquid and cause an explosion.

This made Professor Snape dislike Gryffindor even more, and he seized the opportunity to deduct another batch of points.

When class ended, on the way back to Gryffindor, Seamus was still explaining himself to Hermione. "...I was just too nervous. Snape kept circling around me, and I was under a lot of pressure!"

Hermione's face went stern as she demanded in a clear, sharp voice, "Then why didn't you put more effort into it? The professor didn't force you to leave the heat on!"

Feeling humiliated, Seamus grew angry and stopped paying attention to her.

Ron, who had been enjoying the spectacle, turned back to Harry and said, "She takes everything too seriously. She's always making people lose face."

Seeing Hermione walk over, Harry quickly changed the subject:

"Tomorrow's the weekend. How about we go visit Hagrid?"

Hagrid had written to him today, inviting him over to his hut.

But Ron clearly didn't catch his meaning. "Sure, but we'd better not bring her. I don't want someone nagging in my ear the whole time, saying this is wrong and that is wrong..."

Hermione pressed her lips together, making Harry think of Professor McGonagall almost instantly. Her foot turned sharply, and she stormed past them, even knocking Ron off balance.

Watching the girl's retreating back, Harry sighed.

"Ron, you shouldn't have said that to her."

Ron knew he was in the wrong and merely grunted twice.