Chapter 718: Kona's Moment to Shine
Chapter 718: Kona's Moment to Shine
By the time Kyle and Kona exited the Room of Requirement, it was already nearing the afternoon class time, so they headed directly to the underground classroom without returning to the common room.
The next two periods were Potions classes in a row, and it was also their first time attending Slughorn's class.
When they arrived in the corridor outside the underground classroom, there were already quite a few people inside, including Autumn. She was sitting at the table closest to the lectern with a few other Ravenclaws.
Kyle and Kona entered the classroom.
Slughorn's personality was completely different from Snape's. Before this year, you would never see any sunlight in this place, and the lighting depended entirely on the torches that were lit year-round.
Moreover, the surrounding decor had a creepy feel to it, with various animal entrails and leeches' mucus readily visible. It didn't look like a classroom at all but rather resembled the shops in Knockturn Alley that sold Dark magic items and illegal potions.
However, Slughorn was different. He didn't like those gloomy decorations.
The torches on the walls had been removed, and the various bottles and jars had been put away (or perhaps taken away by Snape)
, replaced by crucibles that were emitting white smoke and steam.
The curtains had been drawn open for the first time, and Slughorn seemed to have cast a spell on the windows, making them resemble the ceiling of the Great Hall. For the first time, Kyle could see the bright sunshine outside while in the underground classroom.
It felt quite refreshing.
"Look, that's the Reviving Potion," Kona whispered beside him.
The Reviving Potion was the potion she had invented for the Extraordinary Potion-Maker Association assessment. Its effect was similar to the Wake-Up Potion, keeping one's spirits uplifted but with a difference.
If the Wake-Up Potion was a stimulant, then the Reviving Potion was like coffee. While it couldn't suppress fatigue, it could keep one's mind clear throughout the day. Each had its pros and cons.
What Kona hadn't expected was that her potion hadn't been officially announced yet, but it was already being used in Potions class.
"Looks like Professor Slughorn does have some connections," Kyle whispered.
The two of them sat down by the crucible containing the Reviving Potion, and as they approached, Kyle caught a faint whiff of mint, like a cool breeze gently caressing his cheeks. It felt pleasant.
"Now then, students," Slughorn said, his plump figure appearing and disappearing in the steam as he stood on the lectern. "Before class starts, I've prepared a few special potions to broaden your horizons. But let me clarify, this is absolutely not meant to be difficult; it's purely out of personal preference... I believe that these magical potions may spark your interest in this subject."
"So, let's start with this one." He pointed to the nearest crucible. "Does anyone know what this is?"
The crucible contained a pale blue potion that emitted white smoke.
"I know, it's the Pepper-Up Potion!" Autumn was the first to raise her hand.
"Very good." Slughorn said happily, "It is indeed the Pepper-Up Potion, one of the graduates' favorite potions. But I must say, using it during exams is illegal, and it will invalidate your grades.
"However, drinking a small amount during regular studies is perfectly fine."
"How about this one?" He pointed in another direction.
The potion in this crucible didn't look as pleasant as the previous Pepper-Up Potion. It was grayish-white and gooey, resembling cement.
Not a single person in the classroom raised their hand.
Professor Slughorn looked a little disappointed, but just as he was about to give the answer,
"It's the Invisibility Potion," Kona said, raising her hand.
"Absolutely correct," Slughorn said, a little surprised and delighted.
"Yes, the Invisibility Potion. Applying it to your body will make you disappear... But to be honest, I probably would never use this."
"Why not?" a Hufflepuff boy asked, puzzled. He was the closest to the crucible, peering at the gooey substance inside.
"Any guesses?" Slughorn asked with a smile, his gaze falling on Kona.
"I suppose it's because of the nature of the Invisibility Potion," Kona said. "It has to be tightly adhered to the body, and it loses its effect if it falls off. And giant's mucus is the best adhesive."
Giant's mucus?
Ugh!
The Hufflepuff boy took two steps back and covered his mouth as he dry-heaved.
The other students also backed away slightly.
"Don't be so dramatic, it's just a potion ingredient," Slughorn said. "You should know that during wartimes, this potion could be a lifesaver. It's one of the most valuable things to have."
Despite his words, no one wanted to get closer, especially those sitting next to the crucible. The thought that the smell wafting around them included giant's mucus made them eager to move to a farther spot.
But it was class time, so Slughorn would definitely not agree.
In addition to these potions, there were also potions in the classroom that could enhance one's strength, like the Invigoration Draught, and the Dandelion Draught, which allowed one to fly after drinking it.
And these two potions were also identified, one by Kona and the other by a Ravenclaw boy.
"Well, I admit I may have underestimated you," Slughorn said. "Seventh-years do have a more extensive knowledge of potions."
Slughorn slowly walked to the last crucible, where Kyle and Kona were sitting.
"But I must say, there's no way you could know what this last potion is.
"Of course, those who have been following the association might be puzzled as to why the new member list hasn't been announced yet, right?"
Slughorn continued, "That's because the list won't be released until after Christmas. However, fortunately for me, one of the wizards in charge of the assessment this year is my student. So, after the assessment, he eagerly shared the inside scoop with me."
A murmur spread through the room as everyone marveled at Professor Slughorn's well-connected sources, which only served to inflate his ego further.
"Professor..." Kyle suddenly interjected nonchalantly, "what if someone here already knew what this potion was?"
"Then I'll give them a hundred points," Slughorn said offhandedly, clearly not expecting that possibility.
"Well then." He cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce to you, this magnificent creation..."
"The Reviving Potion," a familiar voice whispered, interrupting Slughorn.
He turned toward Kona, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"How... how could you possibly know... wait." He seemed to realize something. "Who are you?"
"Kona Prince," she replied.
"Prince... Prince..." Slughorn muttered, his eyes widening as the realization dawned on him. "Of course! Yes, Prince... you must be the young lady who participated in the Extraordinary Potion-Maker Association assessment last month, am I right?"
The room erupted in chatter once more, and this time, the volume was even louder as all eyes turned to Kona.
"Yes, I did participate in the assessment, and the Reviving Potion is indeed my creation." Kona nodded, "But I don't know if I passed or not."
"I can assure you, there won't be any issues. Trust me, I have insider information." Slughorn winked, "Oh, and please keep this to yourself. According to the rules, it's not supposed to be disclosed."
He then turned to Kyle and said reproachfully, "You did this on purpose, didn't you? Just waiting to see me make a fool of myself?"
"Sorry, Professor, I thought you knew," Kyle said, "Didn't you check the list? Kona's name is right there."
"I really should have taken a look," Slughorn said, a bit annoyed with himself. He preferred to know every student personally rather than relying on a list.
But he never expected that this habit would lead to such an embarrassing moment.
However, Slughorn wasn't truly angry. The fact that Kona Prince was in his class far outweighed any embarrassment he felt.
"Well then, it's time for me to keep my promise." Slughorn said, "Fifty points to Hufflepuff... no, make that a hundred. I forgot I'm no longer the Head of House and don't have the authority to give large point bonuses, but rest assured, I'll speak to Dumbledore about it."
Kona shook her head, indicating that she didn't mind. In her opinion, fifty points were already more than enough, especially since she knew Kyle's suggestion hadn't been well-intentioned.
"You've earned this score fair and square."
Slughorn said, "And your potion is quite impressive. I've been adding a bit of it to my breakfast every day, and it helps me stay alert and prepare for each class throughout the day."
"Thank you for your kind words, Professor."
Kona felt a sense of pride hearing the renowned Potion Master praise her work.
"Well, today has certainly been full of surprises." Slughorn waved his wand, and the crucibles on the tables vanished. "But now, we should get started with the lesson. Open your books to page twenty-two in Advanced Potion-Making."
Hearing this, the intrigued students reluctantly took out their textbooks.
"Professor, you still haven't told us what's inside this one." A Ravenclaw boy pointed at a small black crucible on the lectern.
The liquid inside resembled molten gold or golden fish, leaping and splashing within the crucible without spilling a single drop.
"Ah, you've finally noticed it." Slughorn smiled, "It's a rather peculiar little potion, and I suspect some of you might know what it is."
"It's Felix Felicis, sir!" Autumn exclaimed excitedly.
"Also known as Liquid Luck!" someone next to her added.
"Indeed, five points to Ravenclaw." Slughorn said, "I must say, teaching seventh-years is a breeze. It seems Severus' Advanced Potions class is truly rigorous."
Just as Kyle had predicted, Slughorn used the Felix Felicis as a prize for this class, mirroring what he had done with the previous year.
The entire classroom buzzed with excitement, and the students seemed astonished by the new Potions professor's generosity.
Felix Felicis, just given away like that?
Standing at the lectern, Slughorn surveyed the scene, reminiscent of the one from the previous year, and nodded in satisfaction.
As an old professor, he was well aware that his biggest challenge was gaining the students' recognition.
And this was his strategy—a small bottle of Felix Felicis was all it took to win them over, a bargain indeed.
Of course, he couldn't afford to do this with every year group, no matter how vast his personal fortune.
His primary targets were the sixth and seventh years, and for the lower years who weren't in Snape's Advanced Potions class, he had other methods.
"Let me repeat myself.
"Yes, a portion. You will find that this is not something that can be accomplished in a short time, as the increasingly cumbersome process and longer duration are the biggest differences in a seventh-year Potions class.
"Accordingly, the difficulty of making the potion will also increase. Because if anything goes wrong during the process, all previous efforts will be in vain.
"Good luck."
No one could refuse a small bottle of luck potion, and as soon as Slughorn finished speaking, everyone eagerly flipped through their copies of Advanced Potion-Making.
Slughorn had already prepared all the necessary ingredients in advance, placing them in the storage cabinet by the door, including the Fluxweed that had been decocted for twenty-one days.
This task didn't require much skill, and even second or third-year students could accomplish it; it just needed patience, so Slughorn didn't see the need to waste any more time on it.
Everyone got up to get what they needed, but there weren't many who had attended Snape's special class, so it wasn't as crowded as it would have been in the years before fifth grade when they were getting their ingredients.
By the time Kyle got his Fluxweed that had been picked during the full moon, someone was already working on the Lacewing Flies.
Everyone anxiously worked on their own tasks but couldn't help but keep an eye on others' progress, afraid of falling behind.
The only person in the classroom who didn't seem to be doing anything else was Kona, whose gaze remained fixed on the crucible in front of her.
Kyle added three portions of Fluxweed to his crucible, followed by two bundles of Lacewing Flies. When the potion in the crucible gradually turned a light yellow, he immediately picked up his wand and stirred the potion clockwise three times.
The potion transformed into a light pink color, the ideal state.
At this point, Kyle no longer needed to keep a constant eye on it.
He put down his wand and began to calmly process the Billywigs on the table, and Kona's pace seemed to be even faster than his.
"Kyle," Kona asked quietly, "What do you think is Professor Slughorn's criteria for grading this class? Is it based on this class alone or after the potion is completed?"
"It should be after everything is done," Kyle replied after a moment's thought.
Given the time constraint, they would only be able to brew the Fluxweed solution in this class, which was just a portion of the Compound Potion, and it would be difficult to use it as a grading standard.
After dealing with the Billywigs, Kyle added two more spoonfuls of Fluxweed solution to his crucible and began to finely grind it. This was also the most time-consuming part, as the finer the Fluxweed powder, the more stable the potion's effect would be.
Sixty minutes later, the potion in the crucible had turned a tea brown color, and Kyle quickly adjusted the fire to its minimum. He then added four portions of Billywigs and the previously ground Fluxweed powder.
"Bang!"
Just then, a loud bang sounded in their ears.
Kyle's first reaction was that someone's cauldron had exploded, and indeed, a Ravenclaw boy seemed to have been observing their progress and, in his eagerness, had neglected his own potion.
This oversight caused him to forget to lower the heat before adding the Fluxweed powder.
When the boiling Fluxweed solution met the Fluxweed powder, it was like pouring flour into a fire, causing an instant explosion.
"Shield Charm!"
Kona's voice rang out, and the splashing potion was blocked just inches from Kyle's body.
"Thanks," Kyle said, still a little dazed from the sudden incident.
"No problem," Kona shook her head. "I smelled a faint burnt scent and guessed someone's cauldron was about to explode. Good thing I reacted in time."
But others weren't so lucky, as the splashing potion rained down on everyone, causing them to cry out in pain from the scalding liquid.
Even Professor Slughorn wasn't spared, and Kyle saw two drops of the potion land on his bald head.
"You must lower the flame before adding the Fluxweed powder. Why is someone still making such a basic mistake?" Slughorn muttered as he rubbed his head, waving his wand to make the offending drops of potion disappear.
"Five points from Ravenclaw," he said sternly.
The Ravenclaw boy looked a little dejected, clearly not wanting to miss out on the chance for Felix Felicis.
"Well, considering it's your first mistake..." Slughorn sighed, "It will take a few more days to complete the potion. After class, I'll allow you to use this classroom for another hour. Remember, just one hour."
"Thank you, Professor," the boy said happily, then rushed towards the storage cabinet.
The Fluxweed solution needed to be decocted for another 20 hours before proceeding to the next step, and Slughorn had likely adjusted the timing so that tomorrow morning would also be a Potions class.
If this Ravenclaw boy worked quickly, he might still be able to catch up with the others.
Half an hour later, the dismissal bell rang.
Professor Slughorn slowly walked between the tables, inspecting each crucible in turn.
After checking each one, he would tap the table with his wand, and a fine line would appear around the crucible.
This was to prevent anyone from tampering with another student's potion during non-class hours.
This step hadn't been necessary before, but ever since he witnessed the thick tension between Gryffindor and Slytherin a couple of days ago, he felt it was necessary to take this precaution.
While it was a bit troublesome, it was better than wasting two class periods.
(End of Chapter)
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