Chapter 323: A Major Incident
Chapter 323: A Major Incident
Smuggling was indeed a lucrative business.
Kenneth Towle had somehow acquired a large batch of Pepper-Up Potion, which he secretly sold to students in the fifth and seventh years, earning him a small fortune in Galleons.
Fred, George, and Lee Jordan often drooled with envy whenever this topic came up.
Most students were genuinely poor, and even if their families had money, it didn't mean they had access to it. Students like Albert, who could casually pull out a handful of Galleons, were extremely rare.
However, with important exams that could determine their future prospects, many students' parents were willing to spend a few Galleons on cheating to help their children achieve better results and secure better jobs in the Ministry of Magic after graduation.
Learning from past incidents, students who had purchased Pepper-Up Potion hid it immediately and certainly wouldn't let others know about their acquisition, for fear of being invited to Snape's office for a "chat."
This precaution was undoubtedly wise. Many would question why others could cheat their way through exams with ease while they had to toil away in the library.
An even greater number of students secretly went to Professor Snape to report the matter.
Kenneth Towle, feigning innocence, claimed that he was merely helping others purchase intelligence-boosting potions to speed up their learning.
It was common knowledge that students who relied on intelligence potions to cheat were caught and made to repeat the year.
Since he dared to sell Pepper-Up Potions within the school, Kenneth Towle had naturally taken precautions. The unfortunate incident with the Ravenclaw student had served as a warning.
Even if Snape pursued the matter, it had nothing to do with him. After all, Kenneth Towle didn't sell Pepper-Up Potions; he merely helped procure intelligence-boosting potions, which the school had not prohibited, as evidenced by their inclusion in the Potions textbook.
"Lately, there's been quite a fuss about Pepper-Up Potions, and I suspect you're involved," Isabelle said as she checked her finished homework and looked up at Albert, who was engrossed in writing an essay. Her gaze fell on what he was writing.
"You've seen through me again," Albert said, raising an eyebrow.
Ever since the two of them had experienced the Forbidden Forest incident together, they often did their homework together at the Shrieking Shack, as the library didn't allow for chatting while studying.
"I have a feeling this matter has something to do with you," Isabelle said, pointing at Albert's parchment, which clearly showed an essay about Pepper-Up Potions.
"I just sold the recipe for Pepper-Up Potion to Kenneth Towle," Albert mumbled without looking up from his work, "and that guy somehow got his hands on a bunch of diluted Pepper-Up Potions."
"I recall that failed Pepper-Up Potions are poisonous, even when diluted," Isabelle said, looking at Albert as he finished his essay and then taking it to glance at its contents. "It seems like Katrina is interested in this. Have you tried it?"
"Yes, undiluted Pepper-Up Potion can enhance brainpower to a certain extent," Albert admitted. "But it's a bit dangerous, like the Felix Felicis. If you make the slightest mistake during the brewing process, it becomes poison. Additionally, taking too much at once can also lead to severe side effects. It's best to take undiluted Pepper-Up Potion under the guidance of a professional, and a small spoonful at a time is enough."
"Do you plan to sell Pepper-Up Potions at school?" Isabelle asked, her expression turning strange.
"Surely you're not… waiting for others to get poisoned from taking Pepper-Up Potions?"
"This has nothing to do with me." Albert shrugged. "Okay, I admit I had the idea to successfully brew Pepper-Up Potion in advance."
"Are you short on Galleons?" Isabelle returned the parchment to Albert. Her knowledge of Potions was decent, but she had not yet delved into such advanced potions as Pepper-Up Potion, only grasping the basics.
"You can never have too much money." Albert carefully inspected the Pepper-Up Potion recipe he had transcribed. This was the information he had obtained when he upgraded the skill to Level 2, and he intended to record it and send it to Hector Dagworth-Granger for research.
Without actually putting it into practice, it was challenging to determine which version was superior, especially since even the ingredients were slightly different.
Hector Dagworth-Granger might be able to draw some inspiration from it and further improve the Pepper-Up Potion formula.
The original Pepper-Up Potion recipe had significant flaws; otherwise, how could it have resulted in a batch of toxic potions?
"You should inherit a substantial fortune as the heir of the Wildsmiths."
"That ultimately belongs to someone else. The money I earn myself is mine to spend as I please, with no one to answer to."
"Makes sense." Isabelle nodded.
After Albert finished up, the two of them left the Room of Requirement together. Not long after they parted ways, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan popped out of hiding.
These three guys had been lurking nearby using the Disillusionment Charm, leaving Albert at a loss for words.
"You two were on a date, weren't you? And that girl earlier wasn't Katrina?" Fred exclaimed excitedly. "Caught you, and you're still denying it!"
"We were just working on the essay for the club," Albert replied.
"Really?" George asked, his face full of doubt.
"By the way, who was that just now?"
"Isabelle, Katrina's sister. She's a Ravenclaw genius like me, and we're in several clubs together," Albert said, rolling his eyes at the trio's expressions. "You guys wouldn't be much help with those essays anyway. Of course, I need to find someone brilliant to help me out."
"Also, you guys weren't just boringly waiting for me here, were you?"
"Big news!" Fred happily announced. "A Slytherin student who drank Kenneth Towle's Pepper-Up Potion has been sent to the school hospital for poisoning!"
"When did this happen?" The four of them headed back to the Gryffindor common room.
"While you were on your date," George said, his face lit up with schadenfreude. "You weren't there to see it, but Snape's face was completely twisted with rage."
"Kenneth Towle is in deep trouble now!" Lee Jordan's face mirrored George's schadenfreude.
Albert was speechless. These three guys were clearly envious of Kenneth Towle's windfall, and now they were reveling in his misfortune, even going as far as to gloat about it.
"Looks like Kenneth Towle made a big mistake," Albert shook his head.
"What mistake?"
"Usually, after brewing Felix Felicis and Pepper-Up Potion, the wizard who brewed the potion should test it themselves."
It was similar to how chefs would taste dishes made with blowfish first to ensure they weren't poisonous before serving them to customers.
Hector Dagworth-Granger, the original brewer of Pepper-Up Potion, had also done the same.
(End of Chapter)
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