Chapter eight hundred and forty seventh I'm actually fine
As Slughorn said before class, swelling potion is not a complicated potion.
Even if the "pufferfish dismantling and knife skills training" is added to the brewing process, this basic potion may be a bit exaggerated for today's Hogwarts second-year students to prepare with their eyes closed, but it is still possible.
There won't be many mistakes.
Before the hourglass recording time on the edge of the lecture table had finished falling, almost all the students had finished cooking and were making fine adjustments.
Slughorn's eyes swept around the underground classroom, but he didn't see any obvious change in the color of any student's potion. He couldn't help but raise his eyebrows again and nodded secretly. This was something he had never encountered before in class.
.
If these children maintain their current standards, each of them will be able to take an optional advanced potions course in the future.
A 100% promotion rate was something that was completely unimaginable in the past Hogwarts.
Even if there is no extraordinary genius girl like Elena Kaslana, this is already an unprecedented new era, belonging to the new era of potions - Slughorn seemed to see something in a trance.
A student's dream.
Potions will one day become a brilliant magical art recognized by the entire magical world, rather than just a tool.
"Okay, time...is up!"
shouted Horace Slughorn as the last grain of sand fell from the hourglass.
"Please turn off the fire, stop what you are doing, and I will come to check one by one."
Slughorn walked slowly between the tables, inspecting each crucible in turn and the pufferfish dissection results placed on each operating table.
He didn't make any comments, he just occasionally stirred it, went up to smell it, or casually looked through the processed or unprocessed pufferfish tissues to check the integrity of the internal organs, eyeballs, and epidermis.
Since students below third grade complete potions in pairs, even if an additional criterion was added to today's class, it still didn't take long for Slughorn to carefully inspect the entire Potions classroom—
—And just as he had predicted before, almost all the medicines and materials were on the qualified line, and the difference was only in the subtleties.
Ten minutes later, Slughorn circled around the underground classroom and returned to the front of the classroom.
Perhaps due to some strange habit, Horace Slughorn deliberately left the two tables where Elena, Hermione, Draco and Harry were at the end during his previous inspection.
A round of inspection.
Slughorn first carefully looked at Harry and Draco's blowfish slices, then looked at the almost perfect swelling potion in the boys' cauldron, and nodded approvingly.
There was no doubt that Harry had clearly inherited her current talent and performed impeccably in Potions class.
On the other hand, Draco Malfoy, who was born in an ancient magical family, also surprised Slughorn. In his impression, very few Slatin students and Gryffindor students became partners.
example of.
As for more practical details, Draco's performance was not particularly obvious.
During the teaching process just now, Slughorn specially observed this special cross-hospital pairing. Whether it was the processing of potion materials such as puffer fish or the operation of brewing potions, more of them were led by Ha.
Leigh Potter takes the lead, while Draco Malfoy performs more auxiliary and scattered operations, playing the role of a potion assistant.
Judging from the results, crystal clear fish fillets, intact internal organs, and almost perfect potion...
Even the most picky Potions Master would have a hard time finding fault with such results. The in-class test completed by these two students can be said to have reached the level that a Hogwarts student can deliver.
Full marks”.
only……
Slughorn shrugged, did not comment immediately, and continued walking forward.
If the works presented by Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter have almost reached the level of perfection that students can achieve, then what will last year's first and second grade genius girl combinations deliver?
What kind of answer sheet?
Not to mention, among these two little witches, there is also an evil witch that is rare to see in a thousand years.
The decomposition of the pufferfish that first appeared in front of Slughorn's eyes did indeed respond to the old man's expectations.
The complete pufferfish skin, clean pufferfish eyes, and the internal organs are picked and placed in categories, and the thickness of the fish fillets looks like pieces of paper, like blooming white flower clusters quietly placed on a golden dinner plate.
As the first wizard chef in the Hogwarts kitchen, Elena Kaslana has indeed shown overwhelming skills.
"It's really a breathtaking technique, it is indeed..."
But when Slughorn saw the contents of the two people's crucible, the admiration he blurted out suddenly stopped. The old wizard frowned and smelled the potion carefully, stirred it a few more times, and a look of confusion appeared on his face.
A look of confidence.
This, what's in this crucible...
Slughorn took a deep look at the pot of slowly rising mist, which was as perfect as the potion in Harry's cauldron.
"What's the matter, Professor Slughorn?"
Elena gently held her chin and glanced meaningfully at the old wizard next to her.
"As an experienced elder, do you still have to think about such a simple and obvious comparison and such an undisputed winner? Everyone is waiting for you to announce the final result to see who is number one today.
What's the name..."
"Elena, don't be like this-"
Hermione Granger tugged on the sleeve of the little dumpling next to her angrily.
Although Hermione also admitted in her heart that the homework she and Elena completed together must be the first.
But Elena's unabashed promotion of victory in advance is a bit too arrogant - without Elena's knife skills bonus, in terms of potion quality alone, they would be in the same group as Draco and Harry.
The difference is actually not that obvious.
Even without turning her head, Hermione could feel the smiles on the faces of the two boys behind her dimming momentarily.
"Yes, yes - you're right. The undisputed winner!"
Slughorn was silent for a moment, took a breath, and spoke loudly to the entire class in the underground classroom.
"Impeccable, a perfect performance! Well done! Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter! I keep my word, and when the pot of Felixir is finished, I will give it to you two.
A small bottle, put it to good use!”
In Hermione's disbelieving eyes, Slughorn announced loudly and patted the boys' shoulders with appreciation.
The expressions on the faces of most of the little wizards in the classroom were also the same. Everyone, including Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, had a look of surprise, as if Slughorn
Well, I suddenly turned into a rabbit for everyone.
Except for Elena, a faint smile spread out from the corner of the girl's mouth.
Professor Horace Slughorn, maybe this old man is a little vain, but after all he is a qualified professor.
"Wait! Why, Professor?! Why not-"
After Hermione was stunned for a few seconds, she reacted first and stood up unconvinced.
If it was because of the slight difference, then she would admit it, but such a blatant shady story was hard for the always proud little beaver to accept. She and Elena actually lost to Harry and Draco after working together.
?!
"Well, the main reason is that the difference in potions is too big."
Slughorn replied gently, with a hint of indignity in his tone.
"Regarding this question, Miss Granger, you can think about it carefully first. If there is no answer, I can answer it after class. Although your handling of the blowfish is indeed perfect... but unfortunately, this is the Potions class.
.”
"The gap is too big?! How is this possible? We clearly -"
Hermione looked at Slug Slughorn stubbornly, blocking the old wizard's way back to the podium.
She bit her lip and glanced at Harry and Draco's cauldron unwillingly. Compared with their pot of potion, the difference between the two was not particularly obvious. It looked as if it was cooked in the same pot.
The medicine is divided into two sides.
But... this also shows the extremely high similarity between the two sides.
"——Obviously, it's almost the same..."
Hermione bit her lip hard and looked directly at Horace Slughorn with her amber eyes.
"Even if Harry, Draco and their potions are slightly better, you have to at least tell us why?"
"Okay, okay. So, Miss Granger, can you tell me what's in your cauldron?"
Slughorn sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and asked helplessly.
"Swelling potion, of course—"
"Unfortunately, what you have in the crucible is not a swelling potion."
Before Hermione Granger could finish her words, Slughorn smiled bitterly.
"To be more precise, it's not even a potion, right? Miss Kaslana. By the way, I don't recommend using the potion class's cauldron as a cooking vessel. This is a very dangerous behavior.
"
"Don't worry, Madam Pomfrey is very experienced in dealing with food poisoning."
Elena said casually, and in Hermione's eyes that were about to kill someone, she calmly picked up a piece of puffer fish fillet as thin as a feather with her black walnut "chopsticks" and dipped it in the pot of boiling "swelling potion" for a few seconds.
, slowly put it in your mouth, squinting your eyes happily, savoring the unusually tender and sweet puffer fish fillet.
"What Professor Slughorn just said is very enlightening. If the brewing of potions comes from the extraction of some more abstract elements, I suddenly tried to see if I could use magic to eliminate the potions.
magic."
"But your operating method is exactly what the professor said..."
Hermione's eyes wandered between Elena's mouth and the hot crucible water for a few seconds.
According to the description of the swelling potion, if this is really a pot of qualified potion, even if it is a potion with some efficacy, then the tongue and lips of this white-haired dumpling will have been swollen by now, and he will not be so happy at all.
Eating food in a noisy manner.
"I just follow the same operation method as in the book, but that doesn't mean the magic power is the same."
Elena raised her finger, shook it, and explained openly.
"Magic lies in the heart and is based on thoughts. Potions is also a kind of magic. In addition to the correct technique, what affects its final presentation and results is our expectations and understanding of it. When I waved the wand for the last time, I
Suddenly I thought with some curiosity, what would happen if this pot of potion was turned into a white soup with no magic power and no toxicity?"
"Yeah, judging from the results, you've got what you wanted now, right?"
Hermione said stiffly, her face getting darker and darker.
"The perfect swelling potion is not a difficult thing for you or me. Rather than completing the work step by step that can already be done alone, isn't it more meaningful to explore some new knowledge and try something?"
Elena sighed and secretly blinked at Slughorn.
"I admit that I am gambling, but..."
"It's interesting that you guys figured out a way to turn potions into non-potions."
Slughorn raised his eyebrows and glanced at the hot soup in Elena's cauldron with a complicated expression.
However, just entering the second grade, she was able to transcend complicated and profound potion reactions and processes, gain insight into the true meaning of potions, and even change the results - such a talented and unscrupulous little witch is really worrying.
Especially when she still lacks basic respect for potions, this is an extremely bad thing.
The old wizard pondered for a moment, cleared his throat, and said calmly.
"But... Miss Kaslana. This also means that you did not prepare the swelling potion I requested in this class according to the regulations, so your score for this class is - zero points. At the same time, because
Your behavior of eating in class and dangerous operations will result in five points being deducted from Ravenclaw, and you will be sent to the Potions Office for solitary confinement this Friday night."
"As for Miss Granger, as a participant, you didn't even realize that the properties of the potion had changed..."
Horace Slughorn paused, lowered his head to look at Hermione, and said slowly.
"Gryffindor, five points will be deducted, not because of your operational errors, but because you still did not realize the problem after I made my judgment, and did not understand the potion you brewed... Do you have any objections?
?”
"No, Professor." Hermione's voice sounded like a mosquito.
She shook her head slightly and sat in her seat silently.
"All in all, I hope you can learn from this."
Slughorn raised his eyebrows, passed Hermione Granger, and walked to the edge of the desk.
"Today's homework is to write a paper about the 'Swelling Potion' and explain it based on how to identify and process original magical materials in the wild environment. The length should be no less than two feet. It will be given to Snape in the next class.
professor."
"Okay, get out of class is over - let's go have lunch... kids."
As Slughorn announced that get out of class was over, the students stood up one after another, packed their things and began to leave the classroom.
Harry, who was sitting behind the two of them, was about to say something, but before he could speak, Draco Malfoy quickly covered his mouth and half-draged and half-dragged him out of the Potions classroom.
go out.
After Horace Slughorn compiled the lesson plan for a while, he left the classroom without hesitation.
The old man had a lot of things on his mind, and he was about to confront Dumbledore, the old liar. Anyway, the biggest secret in his heart had been revealed by Elena, and Slughorn now had a feeling of being broken.
sense of relaxation.
…
In less than ten minutes, only Elena and Hermione were left in the classroom.
Hermione looked at the pot of soup in front of her that seemed to be the same as the successful swelling potion, but was completely different. Her amber eyes were as calm as a puddle of stagnant water, instead of the previous look that was so angry that she wanted to kill.
Gulu——
Elena glanced at the lifeless little beaver beside her, who was like a robot, and swallowed with some fear.
Isn't that old walrus too cold?
At that time, why should we be held jointly and severally liable?!
She wasted no time winking so hard, and didn't know how to take care of the little girl's emotions. After so many consecutive blows, Elena began to worry that she might have used too much force and accidentally triggered the blackened Hermione's opening method.
"Hey, Hermione, are you okay... Do you want to try it together? It's delicious... I can boil it all for you to eat..."
Elena cautiously poked the little wings next to her.
"I'm actually fine."
Hermione said, turning her head and looking at Elena's pair of chopsticks for a moment, she asked softly.
"So, is the puffer fish delicious? Even the elixir, points, and first, these are not as delicious as a bite?"
Ruined!
It’s really over now!
The little hair on Elena's head suddenly twitched, and she instantly smelled an extremely dangerous aura.
"Actually, it's not that bad. I mean, there are actually big hidden dangers in the Felixir... If you like it, I can ask a professor to teach you how to practice it, but Hermione, listen to me. I just wanted to try it.
.”
"oh."
"Hermione, don't be angry. The confrontation just now was actually between me and Professor Slughorn. It was not intended to target you. I can explain it to you slowly later. Things are not what you think!"
"You just said that all these fish fillets can be blanched for me to eat?"
"Eh? Well, uh uh..."
"Okay, if your explanation is reasonable, I will forgive you this time."
Hermione glanced at Elena, who nodded in agreement with some pain, but could no longer suppress the coldness on her face.