Lucien looked at the small text on the back cover of Advanced Potion-Making and read it out softly:
"This book belongs to the Half-Blood Prince. Prince... Prince? Perhaps 'Prince' is the name?"
Hearing Lucien's quiet musing, Snape's hand, hidden in his sleeve, twitched.
He suddenly regretted pulling that book out. Who would have thought Lucien would choose it first, and have such 'sharp eyes' to spot the tiny writing on the back cover...
And why did he immediately guess the pun on 'Prince'? Snape suddenly realized why: Ravenclaws have to answer riddles just to get into their common room; their brains are sharp, and this boy Lucien is one of the best among them.
Lucien suddenly looked up at Snape, finding the old bat with his eyes fixed straight ahead, looking perfectly calm and unconcerned. A mischievous thought immediately occurred to him, and he commented:
"Even just a quick glance shows how remarkable and unique these Potions insights are. This book is a sixth-year textbook, so, hmm, the original owner of the book, 'The Half-Blood Prince,' must have been a highly accomplished genius in his youth, possessing this level of knowledge while still a student."
"Right, 'Half-Blood,' 'Prince.' It seems that ancestor must have been very proud of their wizarding surname. Could it be Prince? I wonder if it was on his mother's or father's side. Say, Professor, you must remember a student that excellent, yes?"
Listening to Lucien's "deductions," a vein throbbed on Snape's forehead, and a flash of panic crossed his deep-set eyes. He felt if he let Lucien continue, the boy would expose all of his secrets!
Snape turned his face away and cleared his throat heavily:
"A student from many years ago. I've forgotten all about him. I have a potion to brew. You may leave."
Hearing this, Lucien managed to keep his smile properly suppressed.
He vividly remembered the scene where Snape admitted to Harry that he was the Half-Blood Prince.
The reason was simple: a grown man announcing his middle-school-era "online alias," saying,
"Yes, I'm the Half-Blood Prince."
Lucien quickly put away the formula and the book, said goodbye, and left Snape's office.
Just as Lucien was about to open the door, Snape's low voice sounded again:
"That book contains several minor spells. Do not use some of the more... aggressive ones on others lightly."
"Understood. Thank you for the warning."
Inside the trunk world.
Lucien began to carefully examine the copy of Advanced Potion-Making.
Harry would have normally gotten this book in his sixth year—it's likely Snape found an opportunity to place it on the shelf, waiting for Harry to take it.
With this textbook, filled with the "Half-Blood Prince's" notes, Harry made rapid progress in Potions that year.
On one hand, the Potions Master was no longer Snape, so Harry, no longer holding a grudge, seriously delved into Potions and let his natural talent shine. On the other hand, the insights and notes written by Snape were truly exceptional and superior to the methods described in the textbook itself.
Even though they were merely Snape's ideas and experiences from his student days, the genius of a Potions Master was already apparent in his youth.
Besides the Potions knowledge, Lucien was also quite interested in the spells recorded in the book, such as the classic Sectumsempra and Levicorpus, as well as non-combat but useful curses like the Muffliato Charm, which creates a buzzing noise in the ears of those nearby to prevent eavesdropping...
He headed to the training room.
Lucien aimed his wand at an animated magical dummy and sliced lightly:
"Sectumsempra."
In an instant, the dummy was thrown backward, as if struck violently by an invisible blade.
He called the dummy back and inspected the damage. Even though Lucien had held back, the cutting curse nearly sliced the dummy in half at the waist.
The bio-mimetic skin and flesh around the massive gash continued to split open, and "blood" slowly flowed out.
Hmm, it has a sustained effect.
The greatest hallmark of Sectumsempra is its invisibility and speed, making it very difficult for an enemy to dodge.
It was genuinely useful.
"Vulnera Sanentur."
Lucien slowly traced his wand, chanting the spell like a song.
A miraculous scene unfolded, like a reversal of time: the blood on the dummy's body began to flow back, and the wound rapidly sealed itself.
This was the other feature of Sectumsempra: it could be reversed with its exclusive counter-curse.
Conventional healing magic, however, was incapable of repairing the damage caused by Sectumsempra.
After testing the other spells, Lucien was extremely satisfied.
He then left the training room and went to the level of space where Norbert was kept.
A massive magic circle was running, occasionally emitting a low hum.
In the center of the array, Norbert was sleeping soundly.
His body was more slender than that of a typical Norwegian Ridgeback, his black scales reflecting light like metal, with golden lines across them flickering faintly as he breathed.
Lucien stood at the edge of the array, his expression focused. In front of him floated the key material: a Basilisk heart that was still faintly beating.
Other materials were laid out: a Phoenix feather steeped in Dragon's blood, a solution of Mithril, energy-stabilizing crystal gems...
These materials, some rare, some common, were lined up, waiting for Lucien to use them.
He raised his wand.
A bright blue flame erupted from the tip of his wand. Over half of the Basilisk heart slowly melted in the fire, distilling a dark-green stream of energy.
At the same time, the Mithril solution, Phoenix feather, and crystal powder were mixed in proportion and sculpted into countless delicate circuit threads, which spiraled in the air like glimmering, glass-colored streams.
Lucien repeatedly reviewed the circuit model he had already constructed in his mind.
The threads immediately flew toward Norbert, integrating precisely into his body.
Lucien carefully connected the threads to the Dragon's existing magical circuits.
As the last thread sank beneath a scale, Norbert's golden markings suddenly erupted in a blinding flash of light!
Concurrently, the dark-green energy from the Basilisk heart rushed over and completely enveloped the Dragon's body.
It looked like a giant cocoon, with golden light occasionally piercing the wrapping, shining softly.
Lucien Conjured a chair and sat down. This was only an optimization of Norbert's magical circuitry, not a complete overhaul, so there wasn't much danger.
It was just that the Dragon's innate physique and circuits were so powerful that the materials required for the adjustment were extremely demanding.
Moreover, according to the system's explanation, the optimization of Norbert's circuits had to be kept within certain limits. It definitely couldn't be exaggerated to the point where he exceeded the definition of a Norwegian Ridgeback as a species.
Otherwise, it wouldn't meet the repayment standard for the "Magical Weaving Art (Loan)," which clearly required him to cultivate a "Norwegian Ridgeback" into the alpha of its species.
Lucien took out a book he had exchanged with Snape and began to read.
Time flowed on.
He was a little more than halfway through the book.
"ROAR!!!"
Accompanied by a deafening Dragon roar, the dark-green cocoon burst open, and blazing flames mixed with golden light shot skyward!
A powerful magical fluctuation swept the area, making Lucien's robes snap violently.
Moments later, a massive, dark-golden fireball crashed to the ground.
The flames dissipated, revealing Norbert's figure.
The overall change was not significant, except that the golden markings on his body were more complex, looking like exquisite bas-reliefs when not activated.
"Daddy, you didn't lie to me. It really didn't hurt."
Norbert let out a soft roar and stretched out his tongue, trying to lick Lucien's messy hair.
It couldn't be helped—Dragons, once grown, simply weren't cute. They couldn't modulate their voices; not even Aether the Thunderbird could manage that sometimes, let alone compare to creatures with built-in cuteness like Nifflers or Puffskeins.
However, since Norbert was raised personally by Lucien, he had learned to change his address, unlike when he was a hatchling and only knew how to whimper "Mama."
Lucien Grafton, twelve years and four months old, was now a Dragon Dad.
Lucien raised a hand to block Norbert's offer of free hair gel and began to explore the changes brought about by the circuit optimization.
First, the Dragon fire had changed from the usual orange-red to a dark gold. It was extremely hot and highly adhesive, difficult to extinguish, and could burn continuously until the target was consumed.
This reminded Lucien of the lasting purification fire, as the characteristic of continuous burning was very similar.
Second, he could now cover his entire body with Dragon fire, which increased his defense while further strengthening his ability for close-quarters combat.
Strictly speaking, Lucien felt that the new ability the circuit optimization gave Norbert was only the latter, an advanced development of his Dragon fire magic.
The change in the Dragon fire itself seemed more like the optimization had coincidentally activated Norbert's potential. Since the Dragon egg was originally hatched using Kirin's purification fire, it was normal to see some corresponding changes.
He vigorously scratched Norbert's cheek with both hands, making the Dragon let out a contented purr.
After playing for a while, Lucien sent Norbert back to rest.
Watching Norbert spread his wings and fly off, Lucien pulled out two enormous eyeballs. Their bright yellow vertical pupils seemed to stare straight at death.
Lucien gently let out a breath:
"Now it's my turn."