The lure of the Complete Guide to Poisons

Through the arched opening, he could see a boy with short, flaxen hair walking toward the castle, broomstick in hand!

"Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team!"

Snape narrowed his eyes and gazed into the distance before saying coldly, "Luo Bin, judging by your performance chasing that glass ball, you seem to have quite a talent for being a Seeker!"

Quidditch was a ball game played in the air. At either end of the pitch stood three metal poles, each topped with a large, welded iron hoop.

Sending a ball through the opposing team's hoops earned points for one's own team. Each side fielded seven players: one Keeper, three Chasers, two Beaters, and one Seeker!

The gold ball, about the size of a large hazelnut and fitted with silver wings, was called the Golden Snitch. It flew almost as fast as lightning.

Throughout the match, the Seeker's task was to catch that gold ball!

And once it was caught, the Quidditch match ended. Catching it earned the team 150 points, enough to settle which team won!

Luo Bin did not mind joining the team and having a few thrilling matches against other teams, but he did not want to waste too much time training. "Professor, I think you've misunderstood. Catching the Remembrall was pure luck!"

Snape had long since seen through the boy's ability to lie without batting an eyelid. "My eyes do not deceive me! You've been eyeing that Complete Guide to Poisons on the shelf for quite some time, haven't you?"

Luo Bin had not expected to learn so quickly. In just a few weeks, he had thoroughly mastered the thick volume of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration. He wanted to learn something new, especially anything involving poisonous creatures and substances, but a certain someone had refused him on the grounds that children should stay away from poisons!

"Professor, do you mean...?" Luo Bin stepped forward excitedly.

"There are specimens in the Potions Room as well as books. If you have no wish to study hideous poisonous creatures, don't follow me!"

With that, he turned and went downstairs. After only a few seconds' hesitation, Luo Bin followed.

Outside the castle, a group of students in green were practicing Quidditch on an open stretch of ground!

Seeing his Head of House approach, Marcus Flint, whose teeth protruded slightly, jogged over. "Professor, what brings you here?"

"Flint, this is Robin Sear. He has considerable talent as a Seeker. Put him on the pitch for this year's Quidditch matches!"

The old bat's authority in Slytherin House was no joke. Even though Flint disagreed with letting a first-year play, he did not dare object outright.

After a brief hesitation, he said, "Professor Snape, our current Seeker is Terence Higgs. He's doing very well. His broomstick is practically part of his body, and he flies with agility and grace. He's caught the Golden Snitch twice in ten training sessions!"

"Flint, do you consider a one-in-five success rate impressive? Any wizard could manage that with his eyes closed. Listen, Gryffindor has made Harry Potter its Seeker. Robin Sear is the only one who can outclass him."

Snape's tone was uncompromising, leaving no room for argument.

"But... Professor, school rules say first-years aren't allowed to play in Quidditch matches!"

"I will persuade Dumbledore. All you need to do is train him properly. As for Higgs, Luo Bin will handle him!"

Snape's gaze grew colder as he spoke. Recognizing the warning signs of his professor's rising anger, Flint hastily changed his tune. "Yes, Professor!"

Luo Bin did not need to wait for Dumbledore's reply to know that an exception allowing a first-year onto the Quidditch team was already a done deal.

That evening, while he ate in the Great Hall, a crowd gathered around him, chattering away and asking what had happened after the professor called him away during flying class!

He swallowed his roasted sausage and said casually, "Oh, nothing much. I joined the Quidditch team. Training starts next week. Hey, no need to look so surprised. Harry Potter joined a Quidditch team too, only he's on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team!"

"What? You joined the Quidditch team?! Harry, is that true?"

Hermione demanded loudly, holding her plate.

"Sorry. Wood wanted to train his Seeker in secret, and I promised him I wouldn't tell anyone. Luo Bin, how did you know?"

Harry had caused trouble during flying class, yet instead of punishing him, Professor McGonagall had rewarded him by putting him on the team. He felt both excited and guilty, his mind repeatedly conjuring images of Snape telling Luo Bin off.

"I guessed. I saw Oliver Wood enter the castle. With Charlie Weasley having left the team, it wasn't hard to work out that Professor McGonagall had picked you as Seeker!"

"Luo Bin, you're really clever!" Harry praised him sincerely.

"You're not bad yourself. I look forward to facing you on the pitch!"

With that, he squeezed through the crowd. He still had to hurry off to practice brewing potions. Behind him, Hermione sharply demanded to know why Harry had not told her something so important. Ron spoke up for Harry, but after only a few words, he and Hermione started arguing.

Tsk, children really were children. The tiniest disagreement could set them off!

That night, in the Slytherin dormitory!

As soon as Luo Bin returned, those cowards Goyle and Crabbe made excuses and left. Draco was so angry that he pounded his blankets.

Then he noticed that his roommate's eyes were red—his pupils, the whites, and even the skin around them. Combined with his dusty black robes, he looked just like a crow heralding death.

"Pfft!"

He could not help covering his mouth and snickering.

"Draco, laugh again and I'll show the whole school that footage of you dancing in your sleep!"

After leaving the Great Hall, Luo Bin had obtained the Complete Guide to Poisons and a red scorpion from Snape.

When he cut open its abdomen, its crimson blood hissed and released a red mist, leaving his eyes in their current state.

Fortunately, Luo Bin had taken a bezoar in time and used magic to purge the toxins from his body. After a night's sleep, he would be back to his lively self.

"Luo... Bin, you promised! As long as I didn't pick on you this term, you wouldn't take out the Remembrall, and you'd delete all the footage before the holidays!" Draco said indignantly.

Proud to have been born into the Malfoy family, Draco cared deeply about his dignity. Luo Bin kept that embarrassing footage of him dancing with his eyes shut in his sleep as leverage simply to ensure a peaceful environment for studying magic. After all, who could resist beating Draco up if he kept picking fights every few days?

"Heh, look how scared you are. Relax. As long as you don't provoke me, I won't take out the Remembrall. So, what scheme were you discussing with those two blockheads just now?"

Relieved that his humiliating sleepwalking secret was still safe, Draco let out a breath. "N-nothing. It has nothing to do with you!"

"Oh? On my way back, Blaise told me you challenged Harry to a duel in the Trophy Room, with Crabbe as your second!"

A flicker of guilt crossed his gray eyes, but Draco stubbornly retorted, "I have no idea what you're talking about. It's eleven. I'm going to sleep!"

With that, he pulled the covers straight over his head!

Luo Bin glanced at the mound beneath the blankets and gave a scornful smile. Draco really could not keep his composure; every emotion was written all over his face. According to the original story, the main characters would cause quite a commotion tonight.

In the original story, Harry took Ron along to accept the challenge. On the way, they ran into Hermione, who tried to stop them. After a hushed argument, they turned back to find that the ghost guarding the entrance had wandered off to have some fun. There was no getting back in.

And so, their party of two became three!