Brewing the Elixir of Life

"Oof..." Oren sighed as he poked the metal spider.

"Enough with that stupid spider," Hermione said impatiently. "Come on, it's time for Defence Against the Dark Arts."

"Oof... We have to watch that idiot put on another play. What a tragedy...!"

"Those are all Professor Lockhart's real experiences!" Hermione retorted.

Oren said, "Harry, remember not to copy Hermione's Defence Against the Dark Arts homework. I feel like she could turn a two-page assignment into three pages."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Harry hasn't complained, and he's the one acting in the play."

Harry???

Did I not want to complain? I was exhausted. My heart was dead.

When the bell rang, Lockhart said, "This lesson's homework is to write a poem about my triumph over a werewolf. The best one will receive a personally signed copy of Magical Me."

Oren began applauding Harry as he came down from the platform. "Brilliant, Harry. Seriously, I think there should be a place for you at the Royal Opera House."

Harry said, "Don't worry. If that happens, I'll invite you to play the heroine in my script."

"And Oren, if you cleaned up those sunflower seed shells, your compliments might sound a tiny bit more believable."

Oren raised an eyebrow. He just liked cracking sunflower seeds while watching the fun. What had he done wrong?

Ron said, "So when are we going to trick that idiot Lockhart into giving you permission to enter the Restricted Section?"

"Wait until everyone else leaves," Hermione said quietly. "And he isn't an idiot!"

"For real?" Oren said in surprise. "This would break quite a few school rules."

"More than fifty," Hermione said calmly.

"There's something wrong with you, Hermione. You're not Hermione at all." Oren scrutinized the little witch suspiciously. "Tell me, who are you disguised as with Polyjuice Potion?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Oren. "Compared with that Heir trying to drive Muggle-born wizards out of the school, this is nothing."

Oren...

"Doggy, you've changed. You don't stubbornly cling to school rules anymore."

"Hmph!" Hermione glared at Oren and took the lead toward Lockhart. After a few casual words, she had confused Lockhart so thoroughly that he signed his name without even looking at the paper.

Outside the classroom.

"Professor Lockhart~" Oren mimicked Hermione's voice in a bizarre tone.

The little witch rolled her eyes at him. "Let's go borrow books from the Library now."

"I can't believe it," Harry said in astonishment. "He didn't even look at what was written on the paper."

Ron said, "I told you he's an idiot."

"He is not an idiot!" Hermione snapped.

"Pfft." ×3

"Ahem. You guys go ahead. I'm not going. I don't know what got into Headmaster Dumbledore, but he's started arranging... private lessons on ideology for me again."

Oren decided to put it another way and annoy the little witch.

"I'm sure my alchemy skills must have amazed him. In that area, I feel terrifyingly powerful."

"Is that spider the masterpiece of the great alchemist Oren?" Hermione said evenly. "I'm sure you'll shine brilliantly in the magical toy industry of the future wizarding world."

Oren...

"Doggy, you really have changed. You used to only get offended; you never fought back."

"Hmph!" The little witch strode away.

The remaining three exchanged looks. Harry and Ron helplessly shrugged before following Hermione away.

In the headmaster's office, Dumbledore took a sip of syrup to wet his throat after finishing the ideological lesson. "My child, what do you plan to research now?"

"I don't know. I'm out of work, and I don't want to bite lighters." Oren scratched his head gloomily. "How about continuing my research on Avada Lightning Chain?"

Dumbledore immediately understood. He could not let this little devil remain idle. He had to find something for him to do.

"How about you study potions with Snape?" Dumbledore waved his wand, summoning Potion books for third through seventh years. "You have the Philosopher's Stone, but you don't know how to make the Elixir of Life, do you?"

Oren nodded. "That's true. I've been studying how it turns things into gold."

Magic surged as Oren slapped his small hand onto the table, transforming the entire table into pure gold.

Clang! The floor groaned miserably. Fortunately, it was sturdy enough not to let the table fall through to the floor below.

Dumbledore's mouth twitched wildly. He knew about Oren's move, but seeing it in person was still quite shocking.

Then came wave after wave of heartache. He had used that table for many years. Now it truly was unusable.

"My child, can you use that move endlessly?"

"No. It's best to use an Acromantula's soul. If I use pure magic, it can easily cause ringing in my ears."

Dumbledore...

In Snape's office, Snape lowered his head as he brewed a cauldron of potion.

Oren said, "Oh? George, Fred, you two are here too? You... turned into Miss Weasley?"

George said, "Why are you here?"

Fred said, "Detention together?"

"Hehe." Oren whispered into their ears, "Dumbledore sent me here for advanced study. You two should honestly deal with those two buckets of toads."

"But why are you here? What did you get caught for?"

George gritted his teeth. "Peeves!"

Fred said, "It somehow got hold of a huge number of Dungbombs."

George said, "It keeps tormenting Filch, but we get blamed for it."

"Ahem." Oren said guiltily, "There's nothing to be done about that. Your Dungbombs sell pretty well."

Fred said, "No, someone must have supplied them to it."

George said, "There were too many. Oren, you're well-informed. Do you know who has been supplying Peeves?"

Oren said, "I... I don't."

"Phew, finally finished," Fred said. "Pro... Professor Snape, we've finished dealing with these toads."

Snape did not even raise his head. He merely waved his hand, signaling for them to get out quickly.

The twins fell silent. As Miss Weasley, neither of them could conveniently show their faces in public.

"Take these." Oren pulled out two paper bags. "Cut two holes in them and put them over your heads. Don't worry, considering your usual behavior, no one would be surprised even if you had a bathroom toilet on your heads."

The twins...

George and Fred, in their paper-bag bandit limited skins, left Snape's office.

"What are you doing here?" Snape asked, giving Oren a sidelong glance.

"Headmaster Dumbledore asked you to teach me Potions."

"Hehe. It seems he treats this place as a troll daycare."

Oren...

"You're researching that prank device of yours? Give it up. Altering faces and voices is already its limit."

Bang! Green smoke rose from the cauldron. After bottling the potion, Snape picked up one of the bottles and examined it closely.

Once he confirmed there was no problem, he turned around and stared at Oren with ill intent.

Oren said, "What is it, Professor Half-Blood Prince? Want me to test your potion?"

"Forget it." Snape withdrew his gaze. "The effect would not be obvious on you, and it could easily lead to misjudgment. Better not."

Oren's fists clenched.

"Dumbledore also asked you to teach me how to brew the Elixir of Life."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "The Philosopher's Stone is actually in your hands."

"Let's begin." For a Potions Master, brewing the Elixir of Life still held considerable appeal.

Snape picked up the Elixir of Life and said, "This potion can let someone live for a very long time—long enough to turn them into an old biscuit whose bones break in the wind."

Oren said, "Can't it strengthen the body as well?"

"No."

"Then wouldn't the Philosopher's Stone's enormous life force go to waste? What if we gave up the life force and used it solely to strengthen the body?"

Snape analyzed it calmly. "It might be possible. It should be possible to research it. But if it does not extend one's lifespan, what would be the point?"

Oren said, "Then drink both kinds together. One bottle means never getting tired, two bottles means immortality."

Snape...

Snape grabbed Oren by the collar. "Come back tomorrow at the same time. And don't let anyone else know that the Philosopher's Stone is with you."

Oren said, "Actually, if I put in some effort, I could make a Philosopher's Stone myself."

"Hmph. Boastful little troll." Snape tossed Oren out the door.

The next day, at the Quidditch pitch, inside the Gryffindor changing room.

"Don't be so nervous, Harry," Hermione reassured him. "It's just a Quidditch match."

Harry said, "I can't help being nervous. Wood said I either beat that Malfoy who bought his way onto the team, or die on the field."

"Seriously, are you sure you don't want to wear this armor? We're facing the Slytherin team this time."

Oren stood there with a suit of armor slung over his shoulder.

Harry hurriedly refused. "No. I'm afraid I won't be able to fly if I wear it."

Ron moved closer to Oren. "Oren, where did you get armor?"

"Come on, Ron. Hogwarts may not have much, but it has plenty of armor."

Hermione said, "Good luck, Harry. We need to head to the stands."

At Madam Hooch's whistle, both teams took to the air and began their dogfight.

"Is something wrong with that ball?" Oren tossed down a handful of sunflower seed shells. "Why do I feel like it's chasing Harry around and trying to smash him?"

"Oh no!" Hermione cried. "Harry was hit by the Bludger!"

Ron said angrily, "It must be the Slytherins causing trouble again. The match should be stopped."

"Harry is a tough guy. I'd bet his arm is already broken." Oren looked at Harry with solemn respect and even stopped cracking sunflower seeds.

Looking at the anxious Hermione and Ron, he said, "There's no use worrying. Just watch quietly."

Harry dived, caught the Golden Snitch with his good hand, and then fell from his broom. Fortunately, the broom was only a little over a metre above the ground.

"Look! The match is over, but that Bludger is still trying to attack Harry!" Hermione said anxiously.

She rose from her chair and pulled out her wand, about to cast a spell.

Oren pressed her back into her seat. With a flick of his finger, an invisible blade sliced the Bludger in half.

"What spell was that?" Ron asked curiously.

"That's Snape's signature spell. Want to learn it?" Oren said. "I can teach you, but if you cause trouble later, don't sell me out."

Ron...

"Forget it."

"Oh no! That idiot Lockhart is going to cast a spell on Harry. We need to get over there!" Ron grabbed the other two and rushed toward Harry.

However, the three still arrived too late.

"Um... Mr. Black, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, I'll leave it to you to take Mr. Potter to the hospital wing." With that, Lockhart slipped away.

Oren said, "How do you feel, Harry?"

Harry said, "My arm... My bones hurt."

"Arm bones? Your arm bones have already been vanished. They don't hurt anymore."

Harry...

Under Oren's reassurance, Harry nearly fainted.