Under the influence of magic, a plume of deep blue smoke rose from the cauldron.
After the smoke dissipated, the cauldron was left more than half full of a blue liquid.
"It seems to have produced considerably more than expected... Let's first test the efficacy of this potion."
Severus paid no attention to Ghost Snape within him. He muttered to himself, then picked up a piece of parchment from the desk, tapped it with his wand, and used Transfiguration to turn it into a teacup with a somewhat unstable form.
Next, Severus used a dropper to take some of the potion and dripped it onto the teacup.
Outwardly, the teacup itself showed no change in form. But whether the potion was truly effective still required a spell to determine.
Severus picked up his wand again, tapped the teacup, and used a common counter-charm for Transfiguration.
However, the counter-charm had no effect on the teacup itself. The Potion of Invariant Essence had fixed the magic attached to it, and the characteristic of a Transfiguration counter-charm is to strip the magic from the transfigured object.
The failure of the counter-charm essentially proved that Severus's potion had been successfully brewed!
But clearly, the potion itself had captured Severus's interest.
'If its function could completely fix the magic of a transfigured object, then under the influence of this potion, wouldn't it be possible to violate Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, causing the transfigured object, whose essence originally remained pre-transfiguration, to undergo a fundamental change?'
However, after just holding the teacup in his hand to study it for a while, and using Finite Incantatem and a series of other specific counter-charms on it, Severus quickly discovered that the teacup affected by the Potion of Invariant Essence still hadn't reached the point of defying Gamp's Law.
The magic fixed in the teacup wasn't permanent. Because the magic of the Transfiguration spell on it was bestowed by Severus, not inherent to itself, this resulted in the fixed magic being like water without a source… unable to be replenished, it would eventually be depleted, and the teacup would revert to parchment.
The biggest impact of the Potion of Invariant Essence on a transfigured object was to help it resist the effects of counter-charms.
But this resistance wasn't absolute. Severus could also sense that if he used a more powerful counter-charm on the teacup in his hand, or cast spells continuously, the Transfiguration on the cup could still be lifted.
After studying the brewed potion for a while, Severus found a large potion vial and filled it halfway with the Potion of Invariant Essence from the cauldron. Then, he divided the remaining half into smaller vials before finally going to bed.
After that night, Harry never had a similar dream again.
It was as if that dream was really just an ordinary nightmare, without any omen or warning.
On the second day after sending the letter asking Nicolas Flamel for help, Severus and the others received a reply.
Nicholas wrote that he intended to first visit the site where Severus found the silver whistle, and that he would send a message to Severus if he entered the forest.
After receiving this letter, Severus and Lupin didn't continue studying the silver whistle much further. Instead, they used this time to focus on teaching Harry and Draco some magic.
"Why does Dudley get to have a wand!" Draco expressed his dissatisfaction for what felt like the umpteenth time. He stared at the wand in Harry's hand as if looking at the specialized racing broom of the English National Quidditch Team's Seeker, his eyes full of envy.
Lupin patiently explained to Draco.
"Because his guardian agreed. Severus is temporarily his guardian now. As long as Severus agrees, Dudley can temporarily possess a wand."
Draco loudly exclaimed.
"You can write to my parents too! They would definitely agree to buy me a wand!"
Lupin just shrugged.
"That would require them to be present to buy it for you. It's impossible for now."
Draco glanced at Harry, who was learning Transfiguration with Severus, then turned his gaze back to Lupin. He crossed his arms.
"Without a wand, what can you even teach me?"
"The wand hasn't been a tool for wizards since ancient times. Although modern wizards are mostly inseparable from it, in certain subjects, we can temporarily do without it."
As Lupin spoke, he also raised his own wand.
"And, even if you can't have your own wand, for necessary steps that require one, I might lend you mine."
His second sentence finally made Draco's eyes, which had been set in a perpetual scowl, light up!
Although Lupin's life had been difficult before, he had always kept his wand in good condition. Even without any luxurious or exquisite wand handle like Lucius's, it was still attractive.
"But will your wand be suitable for me to use?" Even in his delight, Draco's mouth was still full of skeptical complaints.
"Ten and a quarter inches, Cypress, Unicorn hair." Lupin waved his wand, leaving a trail of silver light strands in the air, "Its compatibility is fairly common, and it's only slightly weaker in the performance of Dark Arts."
"So what are you going to teach me first? The Unforgivable Curses? Or powerful Transfiguration!" By this point, even Draco was growing impatient.
Lupin shook his head. He looked at Draco with a slight smile.
"We'll start from the very basics, of course. And if Severus is skilled in Potions and the Dark Arts, then I actually have more experience in Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Draco looked disbelieving, sizing up Lupin.
In response to his skepticism, Lupin simply said.
"My father was an expert in the field of Dark Creatures and spiritual entities. I grew up under his influence, so I'm very familiar with those Dark Creatures."
"Dark Creatures?" Draco felt puzzled again.
"Correct. Creatures like Grindylows, Red Caps, Boggarts, and such."
"Those don't count!" Draco said discontentedly, "Defense Against the Dark Arts should be the spell techniques used by Aurors, specifically targeted against various dark magic!"
Lupin patiently explained to Draco.
"What you mentioned is certainly part of Defense Against the Dark Arts. But in the magical world, the dark forces that can harm wizards aren't limited to just the dark magic of wizards themselves. Those harmful creatures are also classified under this category. According to the British Ministry of Magic's own statistics, over the past few decades, quite a few wizards have lost their lives to these Dark creatures."
"So the study of Defense Against the Dark Arts needs to be gradual. Starting out, the entry point is naturally learning to deal with those Dark creatures. As for resisting the dark magic of wizards, that comes later in the studies."
"Why can't we just skip to that later part!" Draco still refused to give up. He clearly wanted to learn the more powerful parts to prove himself superior to Harry.
Lupin simply spread his hands.
"If you had a sufficient foundation in spells, then it might be possible. But can you even perform the most basic Levitation Charm?"
This question completely silenced Draco.
Seeing that Draco seemed finally able to calm down and focus, Lupin also found a book from his suitcase. The title was [The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection].
"This is for you. It's one of my favorite books since I was a child. It basically introduces all the Dark creatures found in Europe. There's a story for each one. When I was in school, I would often use it to pass the time. It's a very good introductory read."
Draco looked reluctant as he took the book from Lupin. His expression seemed quite disdainful of this old book with its somewhat worn cover, but the way he tightly hugged it to his chest after receiving it showed that he actually cared very much about this gift inside.
A single day of teaching, of course, couldn't allow Draco to learn much practical knowledge, but the book, [The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection], completely captivated Draco.
Contrary to his usual behavior, he no longer competed or caused trouble with Harry. His free time was mostly spent reading, which actually made Harry feel somewhat unaccustomed to it.
"What are you reading? 'The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection'? What kind of book is that?"
After dinner that day, Harry finally found Draco under a tree near the tent.
Draco, who had been immersed in the story about Red Caps in the book, was very annoyed at being interrupted by Harry and looked up.
"If you have nothing else to do, go help those trolls pick their noses, instead of bothering me here!"
Harry was completely intrigued by the book Draco was holding.
"Did Remus give that to you?"
Hearing this question, Draco just raised his head disdainfully.
"Snape can give you a wand, why can't Lupin give me something?"
Harry tutted twice.
"I didn't say he couldn't. You're being too sensitive."
Draco didn't want to bother with him anymore and just refocused his attention on the book.
But the more he acted like this, the more curious Harry became about the book in his hands, feeling as if ants were crawling all over him.
"After you finish reading it, can you lend me the book?"
Harry's words made a smile unconsciously curl at the corner of Draco's mouth.
Although the book Lupin gave him was indeed very interesting, given Draco's usual habits, no matter how interesting a book was, it was far from making him forget food and sleep.
He was doing it on purpose!
Harry had discovered Draco's weakness, and Draco certainly knew how to deal with Harry.
If Harry's curiosity was piqued in certain areas, he simply couldn't control himself. Even if it meant taking risks or making mistakes, he wanted to find out what he wanted to know.
Just like last time when Draco lured him into eavesdropping on Lupin and Severus outside the research lab.
And now, Harry's curiosity about this book was clearly piqued as well.
But the more eagerly Harry acted, the more Draco refused.
"No!"
"Why not?" Harry familiarly slung an arm around Draco's shoulders, "We're friends, right? And it's not like I want to read it now… you can lend it to me after you finish!"
Draco just shook off his arm with a look of disgust.
"Who's friends with you!"
"Hey! That's not very friendly. Before, when you wanted to see my wand, I let you look at it. Now I'm just asking to borrow a book, and you're being so stingy!"
"You have the nerve to say that! When you let me look at your wand, you wouldn't even let go! I couldn't even touch it!"
"That was a gift from Professor! Besides, you haven't learned any spells. What if you waved it around carelessly and broke it?"
Draco snorted, imitating Harry's tone.
"Right, and this was a gift from Lupin to me! Besides, you're so clumsy. What if you tore it after borrowing it?"
"I swear I wouldn't!" Harry was truly hooked by Draco's bait.
Draco put on an act, his eyes unconsciously stealing glances at the wand in Harry's pocket.
"If you agree to lend me your wand to play with for two days..."
However, as soon as the words were out of his mouth, Harry protectively covered his wand like a mother hen guarding her chick.
"No! Anything but that! Any other request, just name it!"
His attitude was very firm. Harry treasured the wand Severus had given him greatly. Draco indeed hadn't systematically learned any spells yet. If he were to just give it to him to play around with, there really was a possibility he might break it.
Seeing Harry's attitude so resolute, Draco was momentarily at a loss.
But playing with a wand was just a novelty for him. At the Malfoy House, he had touched and handled both Lucius's and Narcissa's wands.
The reason he wanted Harry's wand so much was just due to some childish rivalry.
And now, since Harry was absolutely unwilling to give it, it wasn't as if Draco absolutely had to have that wand. Other demands could be quite attractive too.
"You really want to read it that much?" Draco pretended to be hesitant.
Harry nodded repeatedly.
"Young Master Malfoy, I beg of you!"
This address of 'Young Master' made Draco feel immensely pleased all over. The smile on his face was uncontrollable, and he raised his head triumphantly.
"Since you're so sincere, alright then. After I finish reading it, I can lend you this book. But on the condition that you be my attendant for one day… no, two days!"
Harry didn't agree immediately, just looked at him warily.
"What kind of attendant?"
"You have to serve me tea and water, prepare my cutlery and food at mealtimes, and at all times, you must address me as Young Master Malfoy!"
Hearing demands that sounded more like children playing house, Harry couldn't help but let his guard down.
If it was just to that extent, it was nothing to him, so he readily agreed.
"No problem!"
Draco looked at him sideways.
"Is that any way to speak to your boss?"
Seeing that Draco had already gotten into character, Harry couldn't help but take a deep breath.
"No problem, Young Master Malfoy."