"Six."
"The cerebrospinal fluid of a Mooncalf, mixed with nectar collected at dusk, is undergoing an iridescent phase change."
"After the seventh cycle from blue to gold, the purity should have reached 90 percent, suitable for advanced memory potions. However..."
"Continue." A nearly imperceptible look of satisfaction flashed across Snape's face.
"The moon phase in the last two days hasn't been that distinct. Dragging it out will cause it to lose potency," Rock said, looking at Snape with a calm expression.
"Tell me, how did you deduce that this flask of liquid was this material? Was it a lucky guess or did you happen to see the data?" Snape's mouth twitched as he asked.
"Professor, during the holidays I read Advanced Potion-Making, and it just happened to cover this content."
Snape narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone softening a bit. "You've finished reading Intermediate Potion-Making?"
"Yes, Professor," Rock nodded.
"How many potions in it have you mastered?" Snape leaned forward, his hands resting on the workbench.
"Except for the more complex transformation potions, I can basically brew them all."
"From now on, besides Thursdays, eight o'clock on weekend evenings. Do not be late. Remember to bring your current brain—we will verify if your present decent talent is sufficient to bear requirements more demanding than mediocrity."
Snape raised his eyebrows, looking directly at Rock.
Rock was stunned for a moment, then speculated, "Professor Snape, are you planning to..."
"I do not wish to hear any content of today's conversation within the school, unless you plan on scrubbing all the toilets in Hogwarts for the next few school years."
Snape frowned, clearly displeased that Rock had guessed his intention.
"Yes! Professor, I will work hard," Rock said with a smile. "So, is there any extracurricular homework to complete?"
"Since you enjoy homework so much," Snape's mouth twitched, and he snorted coldly, "bring the Antidote from Intermediate Potion-Making on the weekend evening."
Rock nodded. "Okay, Professor."
Antidotes, a common item in O.W.L. practical exams. Although I haven't reached an above-passing level yet, a week is enough.
Leaving Snape's office, Rock walked towards the study room.
Along the way, some young wizards greeted Rock. Clearly, they were very grateful for his operations in Potions class just now.
Rock felt inexplicably amused. Professor Snape actually has the effect of farming favorability.
Back in the study room, the people inside came forward one after another. Theo observed Rock exaggeratedly. "I thought you were getting corporal punishment."
Rock rolled his eyes. "Which year's almanac are you talking about?"
"Then why did it take you so long to get here?" Michael asked curiously. "We've been waiting for you here for a long time, and we were even thinking about whether to go find the Head of House."
"I brewed a potion, so it took a bit longer. Let's go, time to eat." Rock greeted everyone to go to the Great Hall. Regarding Snape's warning, at least for now, it was better not to say too much.
Scrubbing Hogwarts toilets... Rock had no doubt Snape would actually follow through.
"Children, come over here!"
Professor Sprout clapped her hands, wearing a pair of dragon-hide gloves, signaling the students to come for class.
The atmosphere in Herbology class was the favorite of all young wizards because Professor Sprout was very kind and didn't have too many demands.
Moreover, Ravenclaw always had classes with Hufflepuff, so the atmosphere was even more comfortable.
Professor Sprout waved her wand and placed a huge box in the center, looking at the young wizards. "Turn to page one hundred and twenty-three of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi—today we are going to learn about an extremely dangerous vine plant that actively entangles, Devil's Snare."
As Professor Sprout spoke, she raised her hand and opened the box in front of her. A emerald green vine was swaying constantly inside.
Sunlight shone down through the transparent shed of the greenhouse, causing the Devil's Snare in the box to shrink inward continuously.
"Alright, this is Devil's Snare. Do you feel it's not as dangerous as I said?" Professor Sprout looked at the many young wizards.
The young wizards looked at each other. Indeed, they really couldn't see any dangerous state of the Devil's Snare in the box.
"Then, please step back a bit," Professor Sprout said loudly, then felt it wasn't safe enough. "Come, come, everyone come behind me."
Confirming that all young wizards were behind her, Professor Sprout waved her wand. The partitions in the greenhouse immediately became less transparent, faintly blocking out the sunlight outside. The visibility inside the entire greenhouse continued to decrease.
As Professor Sprout's action was completed, the Devil's Snare inside the box seemed to welcome vitality and began to spread towards the outside of the box.
"Next, I will show you why Devil's Snare is considered an extremely dangerous magical plant," Professor Sprout said softly. "Who can give me a piece of parchment?"
Rock was standing next to Professor Sprout. Hearing this, he handed over a piece.
"Thank you." After taking it, Professor Sprout threw the parchment towards the Devil's Snare. With a wave of her wand, the parchment turned directly into a small bird before landing.
The chirping sound directly caused the Devil's Snare in the box to become restless, spreading towards the position of the small bird.
Seeing this, Professor Sprout drove the small bird to fly to the other end, her expression extremely solemn.
As the small bird flew, some students also noticed the movement of the Devil's Snare in the box. Although there were no objects for the Devil's Snare to climb, its obvious volume had become large enough.
Whoosh—
At the moment when Professor Sprout drove the small bird to fly slightly lower, the Devil's Snare moved directly, like a beast lying in wait for a long time, entangling the small bird directly. The more the small bird struggled, the tighter the vines constricted.
Professor Sprout withdrew her wand, and the small bird turned back into parchment before being crushed.
"Now, do you understand?" Professor Sprout asked softly.
Gulp—
The young wizards swallowed their saliva one after another. It was hard to imagine how desperate it would be if this happened to a person.
After losing its target, the Devil's Snare spread out towards the surroundings again, endless.
Professor Sprout snapped her fingers. Instantly, the partitions of the greenhouse returned to their original transparent appearance. Sunlight poured in, and the Devil's Snare seemed to encounter a natural enemy, shrinking back into the box again.
"Children, now let's return to the textbook."
Professor Sprout closed the box of Devil's Snare again and locked it, then looked at the young wizards. "So who can accurately state the habits of Devil's Snare?"
Rock raised his hand. "Professor, Devil's Snare likes dark and damp environments."
"Correct. What about its weaknesses?" Professor Sprout nodded with satisfaction and asked again.
"It hates light and warmth, such as the Lighting Charm or Fire-Making Spell. Of course, the most important thing is to stay calm. If you panic, the Devil's Snare will constrict tighter. If you can stay calm and stop struggling, its entanglement speed will slow down, and we can take countermeasures accordingly."
"A perfect answer. Three points to Ravenclaw."
Professor Sprout clapped her hands lightly and looked at the students. "What Mr. Scamander said is the most precise answer. Children must remember it. In the face of darkness, calmness and knowledge are more effective than brute force."
"Yes! Professor!"
The students nodded in response. Professor Sprout continued to talk about some habits of Devil's Snare, and even mentioned that a plant relaxant could also have a certain effect on Devil's Snare.
However, in times of crisis, magic spells were still the most direct.
"So, does anyone want to come up and demonstrate?" Professor Sprout asked.
"Me!" Theo raised his hand directly. Looking back, he smiled involuntarily; everyone in their study group had raised their hands.
Even Adam, who usually had little courage, was the same.
"Good, then line up one by one." Professor Sprout nodded with satisfaction and activated the Devil's Snare again according to the measures just now.
Rock was at the front of the line, his wand already in hand, ready.
Professor Sprout looked at Rock and said softly, "Mr. Scamander, there is one point I need to clarify in advance. Even an adult troll might be taken down when facing Devil's Snare, so be prepared."
"Yes, Professor!" Rock nodded.
Seeing that Rock was truly ready, Professor Sprout retreated to Rock's side, ready to protect him.
"Then, begin."
After speaking, Professor Sprout opened the box again, and the Devil's Snare spread out once more.
All the young wizards' breathing slowed down involuntarily, watching quietly. Rock waited; the current Devil's Snare was far from reaching the effect of posing a threat.
The Devil's Snare spread around. Upon reaching a certain range and detecting Rock's position, it began to move towards him. Professor Sprout didn't disturb Rock but took out her wand, ready at any time.
When the Devil's Snare was about to reach within one meter of Rock's feet, Rock waved his wand. "Lumos!"
A bright light exploded violently like a flashbang. The Devil's Snare that had just approached retreated rapidly as if seeing a ghost.
Rock blinked and rotated his wrist slightly. The light decreased continuously.
The Devil's Snare, having retreated halfway, slowed down and began to spread out tentatively again.
Rock smiled lightly and chanted in a low voice. The light on the wand turned directly into countless specks of fluorescent light, moving towards the Devil's Snare, forming a gentle circular fluorescent dust mist that wrapped the Devil's Snare from the outside.
Variation—Lumos Corona. Prison of Radiance.
"Very beautiful," Professor Sprout sighed softly.
Rock nodded. Then the fluorescent dust mist rotated and flowed, emitting even more dazzling light, pressing the Devil's Snare back into the box.