Morris spent an entire afternoon searching, but only found one of the books on the reading list Snape had given him.
The Hogwarts library was simply too large. Even with its detailed classification system, finding the books he needed was a major undertaking.
Fortunately, Madam Pince knew the location of every book like the back of her hand.
After he asked, Madam Pince immediately helped him find every book on the list.
She certainly lived up to her position as Hogwarts's librarian.
Morris rather regretted not asking for help sooner.
After repeatedly assuring Madam Pince that he would not damage the books, he managed to carry them back to his dormitory.
Over the following days, he buried himself in the books, almost forgetting to eat or sleep as he absorbed everything about potions.
Those complex recipes, those ancient theories of potions... unfolded before his eyes, bit by bit.
Unfamiliar and fascinating.
Unfortunately, he did not have the necessary ingredients on hand, so he could only try out some simple recipes during Potions class.
Gradually, this was no longer enough to satisfy him.
It was like making a university student repeatedly solve primary school problems. Boredom was inevitable.
On the last Saturday in October, Morris also found the potion recipe he had been searching for all this time-the Draught of Living Death.
The recipe was in Advanced Potion-Making.
It was actually the textbook for sixth-year Potions at Hogwarts.
The ingredients for the Draught of Living Death included asphodel root powder, valerian root, sopophorous beans, and over a dozen supplementary ingredients. The brewing process was even more intricate and precise.
Clearly, this was a very advanced potion.
Successfully brewing it would certainly not be as simple as making a Boil Cure.
Morris could hardly wait to try it.
But the question now was-how was he supposed to obtain the ingredients for the Draught of Living Death?
That afternoon, Morris found the Weasley Twins in the courtyard, playing marbles with a few Dungbombs.
"Ingredients for the Draught of Living Death?"
After looking over the ingredient list Morris handed him, Fred said with some difficulty, "These won't be easy to get."
"Are they expensive?"
Fred nodded. "They're all fairly uncommon ingredients. By my estimate, one batch could cost dozens of Galleons. And... if you're only ordering by owl post, getting hold of this many different kinds is practically impossible."
Morris felt a headache coming on.
By the sound of it, everything he owned would only be enough to buy the ingredients for one batch of the Draught of Living Death.
Worse still, even having the money did not necessarily mean he could buy them.
"What about Diagon Alley? Could I get them there?"
Fred thought for a moment, then nodded. "I think so, but they won't be cheap."
Hearing this, Morris felt a little relieved. As long as there was a way to buy the ingredients, that was enough.
As for the price-he would just have to find a way to earn some money.
Sure enough, wherever he went, having no money was always the biggest problem.
"Thank you, Fred, George," he said earnestly.
"Don't mention it."
George and Fred exchanged a glance, sly smiles appearing on both their faces.
They squeezed in on either side of Morris, leaning close and pinning his arms.
"What is it?" Morris asked, puzzled. He kept feeling that the twins were up to no good.
"Don't rush off just yet, Morris," Fred said, lowering his voice. "Dozens of Galleons-that's no small sum. I'm sure you can't afford it."
"And we happen to know a shortcut that would solve this problem perfectly," George added mysteriously.
Morris eyed them warily.
"What shortcut?"
"Let me make this clear first. I won't do anything illegal."
"Oh, and selling my body is out too. Unless the other person... never mind. Anyway, no!"
Both twins grinned.
"We never break the rules!" Fred raised one hand solemnly. "We're good, law-abiding students."
George winked and said quietly, "There's a potion ingredient storeroom down in the Hogwarts dungeons. I think you should know it-right next to the Potions Classroom."
"You mean..."
"Exactly what it sounds like." Fred released his arm. "George and I sneaked in before. The ingredients in there are far more comprehensive than what's on your list. They even have every processing tool you could need."
Morris frowned. "That probably isn't within the rules."
George's tone was light. "It's all school property, and as Hogwarts students, we theoretically have the 'right to use it.' It's fine."
Rubbish, Morris thought.
"Don't worry, Morris." Fred patted his shoulder again and declared confidently, "As long as we don't get caught, it doesn't count as breaking the rules."
Morris was somewhat speechless.
So this was what the twins meant by "we never break the rules"?
Those two really were afraid of nothing.
Still.
He had no objections.
Morris considered for a moment, then said, "Just asking for now-who manages the potion ingredient storeroom?"
"Professor Snape," Fred answered.
As expected. Morris nodded.
Who else could it be but Snape?
There was only one Potions professor at this school.
"The key is in the leftmost drawer of Snape's desk," George said. "It isn't locked, but there's something wrong with that drawer's runners. Lift it a little and the whole thing will come out, so you can't pull too hard."
At this, the corner of Morris's mouth twitched.
Why do you know it so well?
He suspected the twins had already done this more than once.
"Well?" Fred's tone was coaxing. "Have you thought it over? Want to join us?"
Morris did not hesitate for long.
"Of course," he said. "When do we move?"
Although he was not in that much of a hurry, he still wanted to obtain the Draught of Living Death as soon as possible if he could-even if it meant breaking school rules.
"Excellent. We recognize you as one of us now, Morris." Fred looked very pleased.
"Me too." George nodded as well.
Both wore expressions that said their plan had worked.
Morris felt that he did not actually need this recognition.
After a brief discussion, the three decided to make their first scouting trip at midnight that night, leaving the actual operation until the upcoming Halloween Feast.
During the feast, all the professors and students would gather in the Great Hall, and Snape would be no exception.
That would be their best chance to act.
"Ah, one more thing," Fred said. "You haven't learned the Disillusionment Charm, have you?"
"I already have," Morris said, denying it.
The twins raised their eyebrows in unison, a trace of surprise flashing in their eyes.
"Really?" Fred looked Morris over. "You learned the Disillusionment Charm in your first year?"
Although the Disillusionment Charm was not particularly difficult, it was not something one could master easily either.
Morris immediately demonstrated his Disillusionment Charm.
As his wand moved, his figure gradually faded, until all that remained was a faint distortion in the air.
Fred whistled.
"Not polished, but it passes," he assessed. "Enough to fool Filch and his cat."
Morris lifted the charm, and his figure reappeared.
"As long as it works," he said calmly.
He had not practiced this spell in depth. He had barely reached the point of knowing the incantation.
As magic for concealing his figure, Shadow Concealment was more practical at night.