"River Lethe Water, Mistletoe Berries, Valerian, standard ingredients... So it's a Draught of Forgetfulness..."
Sean looked at the various ingredients laid out on the table before him and immediately guessed the practical Potions exam question. At the same time, deducing the contents of the practical exam from the ingredients was also the first difficulty of the Potions practical. As long as one could determine which potion needed to be brewed from the materials provided, they had already passed half the exam. As long as they followed the proper steps when using the ingredients, they could ensure a passing grade.
If they wanted a higher score, however, they would have to let the quality of the finished potion speak for itself.
This exam was not particularly difficult for Sean, a member of the Potions Club. But just as he was about to begin, Snape suddenly came to his side and said, "Sean, show me what you have learned in the Potions Club. The standard brewing time for a Draught of Forgetfulness is around forty-five minutes. Now, I want you to shorten it to half an hour."
Changing the time meant that Sean had to alter the standard recipe for the Draught of Forgetfulness.
Hermione was not far from Sean and naturally heard what Snape had said to him. Her first thought upon hearing that the standard brewing time was to be shortened by fifteen minutes was that Sean had offended Snape and that he was deliberately making things difficult for him. But Hermione quickly came to her senses. Sean was Snape's favorite student, and Snape did not look angry. In other words, shortening the time was possible.
Hermione stared at Sean, wanting to see whether he could accomplish it. But at that moment, Snape's disapproving gaze shot toward her. He looked