Chapter 745: The Real Oak-Aged Honey Wine
Chapter 745: The Real Oak-Aged Honey Wine
Hospital Wing.
Just as Kyle had said, Madam Pomfrey didn't ask what had happened, perhaps because she was too shocked to think straight at the moment.
Well, it was rare for a professor to be brought to the Hospital Wing by students, even at Hogwarts.
It wasn't until Kyle explained the situation that Madam Pomfrey finally breathed a sigh of relief.
And when she calmed down, she also noticed that Slughorn and Ron were indeed just unconscious, as Kyle had said.
"Dumbledore always finds these unreliable professors..." Madam Pomfrey couldn't help but complain, "A Potions Professor who ends up consuming a Love Potion-laced drink."
Kyle shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Madam Pomfrey wasn't wrong; although the Love Potion had no taste, it made the food appear brighter, as if coated with wax. With a keen eye, one could definitely notice it.
Wizards who frequently worked with potions should be more aware of this.
Kyle couldn't speak for others, but he was certain that Snape would never make such a rookie mistake.
So, Madam Pomfrey's words weren't entirely inaccurate; Slughorn was indeed unreliable in certain aspects.
After a few complaints, Madam Pomfrey asked Kyle to place Ron and Slughorn on separate beds.
The antidote for the Love Potion didn't take long. Madam Pomfrey took a few bottles from the shelf, pouring the potions into two cups.
"Oh no, we're out of Beefeather Brain Tonic. One of you, go and find Slughorn..." Madam Pomfrey glanced at the two on the beds and quickly corrected herself, "Um, go find Professor Snape, he should have some."
"No need," Conna quickly said, "I have some right here."
She handed a sealed potion bottle to Madam Pomfrey.
"Is this okay?"
"Absolutely." Madam Pomfrey opened the bottle and poured the potion into the cup.
She then plucked a few lavender petals from a nearby flowerpot, wrapped them in mud, crushed them, and threw them into the cup.
Within five minutes, the two antidotes were ready.
Just then, Harry rushed in, accompanied by a breathless Professor McGonagall.
"Oh dear, oh dear... Who can tell me what's going on here!" Professor McGonagall's face paled, and she almost stumbled, but Conna was quick to support her.
"Thank you, Miss Prince." Professor McGonagall said, holding her chest, "What happened in the school, what's wrong with them..."
"It's fine, Professor. They just accidentally drank the Love Potion."
Kyle stepped forward, "I think they were too playful, and I used the Sleeping Spell to bring them here easily... Well, it's also for their reputation."
"Just the Love Potion?" Professor McGonagall was taken aback, and it took her a few seconds to react, then she turned to look at Harry beside her.
He had rushed into the office, shouting about an incident, and pulled her to run here without explaining further.
Combined with the commotion and whispers in the castle, Professor McGonagall almost thought Death Eaters had invaded Hogwarts.
"I understand your concern for your friend, Potter, but when something happens, you must explain first." Professor McGonagall said, slightly annoyed.
Harry nodded embarrassedly, realizing he had been a bit too tense earlier.
"Alright, Minerva, we'll discuss your matter later." Madam Pomfrey held the antidote and said, "Please, wake one of them up."
Kyle waved his wand, and Ron immediately opened his eyes.
"Where am I, where's Romilda..."
"There's no Romilda here." Madam Pomfrey walked over and pinched Ron's mouth, forcing the antidote down his throat.
"You could've just made up a reason for him to drink it." Harry whispered, watching Madam Pomfrey, "In his current state, it wouldn't be hard."
Madam Pomfrey acted as if she hadn't heard, she was in no mood for reasons, and direct force was more efficient.
Soon, a large cup of antidote was all gone, drunk by Ron.
Harry watched anxiously as Ron struggled, then shivered, and his face showed extreme terror.
"Where am I... Oh dear, what have I done!" He grabbed his hair, wishing to hide in the headboard's crack.
"You'll be fine, just remember not to eat random things." Madam Pomfrey said, and picked up the other antidote.
Kyle waved his wand again.
Like Ron, Slughorn started howling as soon as he woke.
"Ah... Rosmerta, where are you? You're like the cloak in the love potion, your hair shines like Felix Felicis in a cauldron."
"Is Rosmerta's hair golden?" Conna asked, looking at Kyle.
"Now that you mention it..." Kyle thought, "It shouldn't be, at least not the blinding gold of Felix Felicis."
But Madam Pomfrey didn't care, she went to Slughorn's side and poured the antidote down his throat.
Seconds later...
Another scream, Slughorn arched his back, trying to hide his large body under the thin sheet.
"Alright, Professor Slughorn, we don't have time to play games with you."
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and pulled back the sheets, "Could you please tell me what on earth is going on here!"
"It's Rosmerta!" Slughorn covered his face, looking like a frost-bitten eggplant, "She gave me pineapple toffee laced with Love Potion, she knew I couldn't refuse it, I told her so."
"Ms. Rosmerta... Are you sure?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Of course." Slughorn said indignantly, then, in a manner unbefitting his agile figure, jumped straight off the bed, "No, I have to go find her and get this straight!"
"I'll go instead." Professor McGonagall glanced at him, "Now that everyone is saying you were attacked by Death Eaters, it's best you walk around the castle."
After saying this, Professor McGonagall left the Hospital Wing.
After she left, Slughorn didn't follow her suggestion to walk around the castle, but instead sat back on the bed, looking dejected.
Ron, who was beside him, seemed to be affected in the same way, both of them seemingly struck by the situation.
However, this wasn't surprising, as most people who had drunk Love Potion would be like this after waking up, especially when the whole process had been witnessed by others.
The atmosphere in the ward was somewhat awkward.
"Do you guys want something to perk you up?" Kyle said, "I have wine and honey wine here, would you like some?"
"If possible, I'd like some honey wine." Slughorn said softly, he really needed a drink now.
Kyle took out a golden cup, swirled it gently in his hand, and the originally empty cup was instantly filled with golden honey wine.
"A nice Filling Charm." Slughorn said absentmindedly.
He didn't pay attention at first, until Kyle poured the honey wine into the cup that had just been used for the potion.
Leaving the goblet, the aroma of the honey wine seemed to fill the room with a faint fragrance.
"Oh, Merlin... " Slughorn couldn't help but sniff, no longer feeling dejected.
"Kid, this must be the finest oak-aged honey wine."
"I don't know about oak, but aged, for sure." Kyle glanced at the goblet in his hand, muttering softly.
However, his voice was too soft, and only Conna could hear it.
On the other side, Slughorn was already eager to pick up the cup and take a sip, and in an instant, a satisfied expression appeared on his face.
Kyle stared at him for a while, then asked softly, "Professor, what do you think?"
"Fantastic." Slughorn savored the wine, "I spoke too soon, this isn't ordinary oak-aged, but Ironwood Oak, right!"
"Ironwood Oak... " Harry asked curiously, "What's that?"
"A magical tree, supposedly the gates of Hogwarts were built with it, allowing it to remain unchanged for a thousand years." Slughorn explained, "At the same time, it's also recognized as the best wood for storing honey wine, just that the quantity is too little, even less than the Whomping Willow."
As he spoke, he took another small sip of the honey wine.
"Professor." Kyle asked again, "You don't feel there's something off with the taste?"
"What? Of course not." Slughorn said, "This is the best honey wine I've ever had, of course, if you could get me another cup..."
Kyle ignored the latter part of his sentence, he just needed to know this wine was drinkable, the rest didn't matter.
Ever since he got the goblet back, he had been wanting to try the wine that appeared from it, but didn't dare... After all, it's been over a thousand years, who knows if this wine is still drinkable."
However, now he could confirm it, it was completely fine, and afterwards, he poured some for Ron.
Both of them had drunk the Love Potion, it wouldn't do to play favorites.
Ron had been waiting impatiently, and as soon as Kyle finished pouring, he grabbed the cup, not even noticing what Harry had said beside him, and directly poured the wine into his mouth, swallowing it down.
Seeing this whole series of actions, Slughorn frowned, such fine wine should be savored slowly, why not drink pumpkin juice to quench your thirst?
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"Ah... Much better, tastes way better than Three Broomsticks!" Ron savored the wine, then turned to Harry, "What did you say just now?"
"Nothing." Harry shook his head, looking deep in thought as he glanced at Slughorn.
As the honey wine in the cup gradually diminished, he was reluctant to drink it, only glancing at Kyle from time to time, seemingly wanting to refill it, but feeling too embarrassed to say so.
"Who brought the wine in!"
Fortunately, at this moment, Madam Pomfrey stormed over, her sharp gaze sweeping the room, finally landing on Slughorn.
"This is the Hospital Wing, Professor Slughorn, not your office!" She said coldly, "Now, take your wine and get out!"
"Actually, I..."
"Yes, Professor Slughorn, let's head back first." Kyle interrupted him, "When I brought you here, many people saw it, they seem to have misunderstood something, you have to go clarify it."
"You're right." Slughorn finally remembered Professor McGonagall's words from earlier, perhaps his mood had improved quite a bit, or perhaps he was afraid Madam Pomfrey would take away the wine, he didn't choose to continue hiding here, and stood up, holding the cup as he left the Hospital Wing.
Seeing this, the others followed suit.
Upon returning to the castle, Kyle discovered that it was indeed as Professor McGonagall had said, a complete mess.
The students had gathered in the Great Hall, discussing what had transpired, their faces etched with unmistakable fear.
But this also made it convenient... no need to run all over the castle.
As soon as Slughorn entered the Great Hall, he immediately caught the attention of the students.
"Professor Slughorn?"
"Are you alright?"
"Did you... come back to life?"
...
The whispers grew louder, buzzing incessantly.
"Quiet, everyone!" Slughorn walked to the center of the Great Hall and spoke loudly, "I'm touched by your concern, but rest assured, I merely encountered a mishap while brewing a potion."
"Then why did you lose consciousness?" someone asked.
"Good question," Slughorn said, "Do you remember my constant reminders to stay focused while brewing potions and not to be distracted? That's what happened."
"Some potions can be very dangerous if brewed incorrectly."
Although many were skeptical, seeing his energetic demeanor, they couldn't help but believe him.
After realizing it was a misunderstanding, the crowd gradually calmed down and began to leave the Great Hall.
"I guess I've completed my task, right?"
When only the five of them remained in the Great Hall, Slughorn sat on a bench and said, "I have an unusual request. Could you please forget about today's events and not mention them to outsiders?"
"Of course, no problem." Kyle said, "But Professor, how did you not notice the Love Potion?"
Slughorn turned away, seemingly not wanting to relive the embarrassing incident.
"Let's just put it behind us, okay?" he said softly, "Let's not bring it up again, as if nothing happened. Pretend you didn't see me this morning."
"Yeah, yeah..." Ron nodded repeatedly beside him, "And please don't tell anyone else, especially Lavender. I don't want her to get the wrong idea."
"Sorry, Ron..." Harry's gaze wavered slightly, "Actually, when I brought you out of the Common Room, you had already seen Lavender."
"She came to give you a birthday gift, but you told her to leave so she wouldn't delay you from calling Romilda..." Ron's throat trembled with a whimper.
Ron's face paled, and he opened his mouth, emitting a trembling whimper from his throat.
"Damn it..." He clutched his head with both hands and said angrily, "Why would Romilda Vane give me a Love Potion when I don't even know her!"
"I guess it was meant for me," Harry said softly. "The Chocolate Cauldron was her Christmas gift to me, but I threw it under the bed after Hermione warned me about the Love Potion."
"Then why did you give it to me!" Ron was confused.
"I didn't give it to you!" Harry quickly explained, "Remember? When you got out of bed this morning, you accidentally kicked some of your gifts under my bed."
Ron finally remembered after Harry's reminder.
The Chocolate Cauldron was indeed among the gifts Ron had picked up, and since the packaging was intact, he didn't think much of it and took it out with his own gifts.
Moreover, since the school prohibited students from going to Hogsmeade, he hadn't eaten chocolate in a long time, and that's why he couldn't resist taking a bite.
"Sorry." Ron lowered his head again, "But you should have thrown it away, I mean using the Scourgify spell, not just putting it under the bed."
"I... I forgot..." Harry said softly.
"Ron, is it your birthday today?" Kyle suddenly asked at this moment.
"Oh, yeah." Ron sighed softly.
"Sorry, I didn't know, and I didn't prepare a gift." Cona rummaged through her small bag and took out a bottle.
"This is the antidote to the Love Potion I just got from the Hospital Wing. Consider it my gift."
"Great, thank you." Ron took the bottle and said happily, he was truly scared.
"Here's mine." Slughorn also took out a bottle, which contained a potion.
Perhaps due to their shared experience or as a gesture of gratitude, he offered a small bottle of Felix Felicis, the golden potion shimmering in the bottle, captivating Ron's gaze.
"Felix Felicis?! Is this really for me?" Ron exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement.
"Of course." Slughorn nodded slightly, "As long as you don't..."
"I won't tell anyone about today!" Ron declared firmly.
"Okay, here's mine." Kyle also presented his prepared gift.
Compared to Cona and Slughorn's gifts, his seemed a bit meager—a large box filled with Honeyduke's candies and chocolates.
However, his gift was neatly packaged, indicating that he had prepared it in advance.
"Thanks, I haven't had these in two months... Mom doesn't let me go to Diagon Alley, and Fred and George won't give me any." Ron said,
Having received three gifts, including the precious Felix Felicis, Ron's mood improved significantly.
He immediately popped a cream candy into his mouth and shared the chocolates with Harry, not wanting to see them for a while.
...
(End of Chapter)
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