Chapter 29: Secretly Brewing Potions
Potion brewing always took a long time. Some special potions, like Felix Felicis, supposedly took half a year to brew. Considering this factor, Shawn set his action time for after the first afternoon Transfiguration class ended.
He prepared five sets of materials and brought his crystal bottles—expensive containers packaged in small boxes. Because they cost a full seven Galleons, the manager of Slug & Jiggers kindly equipped each crystal bottle with a small box. The old wizard with the long beard in the shop said, "This set of crystal bottles stored potions twice as effectively as ordinary glass bottles."
Shawn suspected he was lying. The book said that as long as you stored them properly, even potions left outdoors wouldn't spoil. Ancient wizards even stored potions in kettles. Potion-makers at that time were enthusiastic about a game of pouring different liquids from the same kettle, often amazing Muggle nobles.
In fact, it was just that potions deteriorated under certain conditions (such as exposure to light). As for whether spoiled potions would cause problems, you only needed to see whether wanted posters appeared at the castle entrance tomorrow.
Afternoon. A pure white owl swept over Shawn's head. Shawn heard its hooting calls. Walking out of the castle, the sunlight was warm, as if wanting to thoroughly bask every young wizard.
Shawn had never seen such a brilliant summer. Hogwarts and the wilderness were both gilded with a layer of golden paint. The island was like an oil painting, dotted with the golden castle.
If only Snape's classroom weren't in the dungeons, my mood would be even better, Shawn thought. This afternoon he was like an adventurer stealing treasure, needing to complete brewing the potion treasure under Professor Snape's watch.
Carrying countless thoughts, Shawn walked along a verdant stone path and pushed open the greenhouse's oak door. He had promised to collect Bubotuber pods with the professor and transplant Bouncing Bulbs to Greenhouse One.
Greenhouse One was filled with the scent of fertile soil. Fine water droplets condensed on the glass roof, gathering into trickling streams winding downward. Sprout wasn't alone today. Around her, a group of young wizards had gathered at some point—round-faced Neville, Ernie carefully watering plants, and a short, chubby little boy Shawn didn't recognize.
Professor Sprout stood beside a wooden box piled with fresh manure. Her grayish-brown hair was pulled back into a compact small bun. Under that thickly patched hat, a pair of bright eyes keenly surveyed her students. Soon, Professor Sprout patted her muddy gloves and walked toward Shawn.
"Oh, every year at this time, new students appear in the greenhouse. It's so exciting..." She opened Greenhouse One's door. "Come on, Mr. Green. We'll bring over the Bouncing Bulbs. Those dear little troublemakers are probably already impatient."
When the professor spoke, her hat always bounced harmoniously. But not today. Shawn stared at the black parts on that hat, suddenly thinking of Professor Snape's gloomy black eyes. Secretly brewing potions shouldn't violate school rules, right? Shawn thought.
When he came to his senses, he was already meeting a pair of warm, steady eyes. "My dear Mr. Green, how rare—you're spacing out?" Though asking this, Professor Sprout's eyes held no doubt. "The timing is just right. Come, dear Mr. Green. Something interesting is waiting for you."
Professor Sprout gently led Shawn toward another domed building, not responding to Shawn's puzzled look. They stopped before the domed building with a "Greenhouse Three" wooden sign. Shawn had never been here—according to Michael, the plants in Greenhouse Three were more interesting and more dangerous.
Professor Sprout took a large key from her belt and opened the door. The smell of damp fertilizer rushed over. A thorny green plant was extending its tendrils. Beside it, some bean-like green fruits jumped around in a fence. Shawn recognized these as Bouncing Bulbs, but strangely, why were Venomous Tentacula around them? And this magical plant with territorial awareness hadn't attacked them?
As Shawn observed, Professor Sprout's loud, cheerful voice rang out, covering the rustling sounds in the greenhouse. "Oh, Mr. Green, let me tell you a story: Bouncing Bulb seeds need to grow in dark, moist environments. Coincidentally, that's exactly where Venomous Tentacula gather. About a third of the greenhouse's Bouncing Bulbs coexist with Venomous Tentacula. Venomous Tentacula won't allow other plants to invade their territory. But look—the Bouncing Bulbs still grow vigorously..."
After arousing Shawn's curiosity, the plump professor continued in a deep, storytelling tone. "If you observe carefully, you'll see Fanged Geraniums towering beside them. It's the mutual deterrence between the two that gives Bouncing Bulb seeds the conditions to grow, break through the soil, and jump away. Nature is always magical. Life will find a way."
She gently bent down, her eyes full of sincere, warm light. "Bouncing Bulbs far from here are always safe, but if you're afraid of Venomous Tentacula and forever shrink in dry, hot corners, letting fruits wither, dear, that's not the meaning of life."
Shawn was somewhat shaken by the Bouncing Bulbs' story. He looked at the professor. The plump witch slowly nodded at him. "You will succeed. Don't be afraid, little one."
The professor knew what I was going to do, Shawn realized. When Shawn left the greenhouse, his heart was already calm and stable, and his body also carried the scent of soil. Although he didn't know how the professor guessed, since the professor tacitly approved and encouraged him, it meant what he was doing wouldn't violate school rules. Even if it did, the consequences wouldn't be serious.
Therefore, after the afternoon Transfiguration class, under Justin's gaze toward a warrior and Hermione's confused eyes, Shawn disappeared at the end of the corridor.
The environment gradually became cold. Those glass jars arranged along the walls, with their chilling, soaked animal specimens, appeared before his eyes again. Shawn held his breath, hoping Professor Snape wouldn't appear here. In fact, professors were all very busy, not to mention Professor Snape, who was Head of Slytherin House.
After glancing at the classroom, Shawn breathed a long sigh of relief, then quickly arranged materials on the desk and lit the cauldron. The faster his speed, the more times he could experiment. Shawn also positioned his notebook and Quick-Quotes Quill properly. Brewing data was crucial. Summarizing experience and constantly improving was the proper learning method.
The cauldron floated melodious white smoke. Shawn's emerald eyes also slowly reflected the candlelight.