https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-121-The-Quick-Escape-Class-Candy-Series/12538232/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-123-The-Treacherous-Nature-of-the-Magical-World/12538234/
Chapter 122: Toffee with a Twist
Chapter 122: Toffee with a Twist
George rushed off, eager to get going. Since the Burrow wasn't connected to the Floo Network, he had to make a quick stop at home before heading to Diagon Alley via the fireplace. Fred had intended to join him, but as he passed a mirror, he changed his mind and turned back toward the attic.
Despite his usual nonchalant attitude, Fred did care about his appearance to some extent. He didn't want to be seen in crowded Diagon Alley looking like he did at that moment. Otherwise, he'd likely become the first joke of the new school year.
Up in the attic, Kyle was examining the twins' recent creations—a large box filled with over a dozen different candies, all of which were among the most popular varieties on the market. There were Honeydukes Honeybees, Creamy Toads, Toffee, and Chocolate Frogs.
Kyle picked up a Creamy Toad and brought it close to his nose. Beneath the sweet scent of the candy, he detected a faint bitter undertone that seemed out of place.
"Wooo..." Fred seemed to be trying to say something, but Kyle couldn't understand him.
He took out a notebook and wrote:
"This is a failed attempt. We found that only toffee can mask the taste of the Swelling Solution."
Kyle nodded and picked up a piece of toffee, bringing it to his nose. Indeed, the bitter taste was much fainter and could easily go unnoticed if one wasn't paying close attention.
However, their method of dealing with it was rather crude. They simply poked a hole in the candy and stuffed the Swelling Solution inside. With a more refined approach, they might be able to completely mask the bitter taste.
Of course, it was also possible that they simply couldn't be bothered to put in the extra effort.
After all, until they figured out the proper dosage for the Swelling Solution, their concoction couldn't even be considered a half-finished product.
Fred then handed Kyle a notebook that documented all their experimental records, clearly stating the specific reasons for each failure and the undesirable side effects produced. It was quite detailed, spanning around fifteen pages.
As Kyle flipped through the notebook, George returned, holding a paper bag filled with shriveled figs.
"You didn't need to buy so many, George," Kyle said, reaching out. "Shriveled figs only play a supporting role. One or two would have been enough."
"It's always good to be prepared," George said, handing over the bag naturally. He smiled and asked, "So, are you joining us?"
Kyle shrugged. "After a week of doing homework, I could use some fun."
"Speaking of which..." George suddenly sighed. "I can't believe you spent your precious holiday time on that homework. Percy's the same. When I went back just now, he was complaining that I disturbed him. All I did was open the door! He wasn't even doing his homework in the living room!"
"I have to say, in this regard, you're much better than him. At least you never blame your inability to do homework on us."
Kyle paid no mind to the Weasley family's usual bickering. He peeled two shriveled figs and squeezed out their juice.
Taking advantage of the moment, George retrieved a half-bottle of Swelling Solution from a nearby box. He thought for a moment, then found an empty bottle and poured out half of the solution.
Fred and George's skill in brewing potions was average, and Mrs. Weasley certainly didn't allow anyone to mess around with things like cauldrons at home.
After adding the juice from the shriveled figs, the Swelling Solution gradually began to pale, quickly turning from its original sky blue to a light blue.
Kyle nodded.
As long as it didn't turn into another color, that meant the nature of the potion hadn't changed.
He picked up the bottle and prepared to drip some on his hand to test the effect.
However, George stopped him.
"No, no, no, Kyle. That won't do," George said seriously. "We need to enlarge our tongues, not our hands."
With that, he took out a new piece of candy, dripped some of the solution on it, and popped it into his mouth.
"I really shouldn't eat this," George mumbled, his speech becoming slurred. "This taste is too strange. It's like... woo... woo..."
George's cheeks began to puff up, and his words turned into unintelligible whimpers.
It was his tongue.
Fred excitedly jumped up and down beside him, making wooing sounds as if celebrating something.
George's tongue began to swell rapidly, soon protruding from his mouth like a slick, giant snake.
"Looks like it's a success," Kyle remarked, observing George's appearance.
The shriveled fig juice had indeed neutralized part of the Swelling Solution, making it much less potent and only affecting the tongue, which had been in the most direct contact with the potion.
As long as they could figure out a way to get rid of the potion's peculiar taste so that the young wizards wouldn't notice it, their "Instant Skip Class Candy" would be truly complete.
Fred and George were thrilled.
"You're amazing, Kyle... Ha, shriveled figs," Fred exclaimed.
After the effects of the Swelling Solution wore off, George said excitedly, "You know, we were actually thinking of giving up.
"The Swelling Solution is too expensive," Fred added with a sigh. "Before this, we wasted an entire bottle."
"Five Galleons," George winced. "We really should have waited for you."
The thought of wasting five Galleons made his heart bleed.
That amount of money could have funded a small-scale battle with Slytherin if it had been turned into Dungbombs.
"Don't you have money?" Kyle asked. "One hundred Galleons each, haven't you spent it all?"
"Having money and wasting it are two different things," Fred sighed. "And now we only have thirty Galleons left. Thirty Galleons altogether."
On the first day of the holidays, when Mrs. Weasley was hitting Fred and George, she accidentally knocked their wallets out of their pockets.
The golden Galleons scattered all over the floor, almost frightening Mrs. Weasley unconscious. She thought the twins had robbed a Slytherin student at school.
Although Fred and George quickly explained where the Galleons had come from, Mrs. Weasley didn't believe them.
It wasn't until Chris came over later that the matter was clarified.
However, Mrs. Weasley confiscated the Galleons, reasoning that she didn't want them to get into trouble.
Now, Fred and George only had the money they had hidden in the boxes.
"Exactly thirty Galleons, no more, no less, just enough," they said.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
