Professor Snape?
Lucien asked tentatively.
Snape instantly reined in his expression, returning to his unapproachable demeanor.
This action made Lucien grumble inwardly; Old Bat's face-changing speed was truly fast.
"Since you're willing to exchange, you can think about what reward you want now."
Snape said in a flat tone, as if the emotional fluctuation just now hadn't been his.
A piece of paper and a quill appeared, floating in front of Lucien, signaling him to write down the improved Sleeping Draught formula.
Lucien wrote while considering what he should exchange for.
Basically, it would be a Potion formula that could conceal his own scent or movements. Since it was a formula-for-formula exchange, Snape would probably agree.
Lucien didn't even have to doubt whether Snape had such formulas. As the most promising and youngest Potion Master, he certainly held many formulas.
As for bait-type Potions that could lure magical creatures, he decided against it for now; he couldn't ask Snape for those.
After all, for a first-year, asking for such things would be too suspicious.
Wouldn't that be openly telling others he wanted to sneak into the Forbidden Forest?
"Professor, can I exchange for a Potion formula, one that can mask scent or sound?"
Hearing Lucien's request, Snape nodded without hesitation, reaching out to make another piece of paper float over. Simultaneously, lines of words automatically appeared on its surface.
Snape simply thought Lucien was still childish, wanting to use this Potion for pranks, or simply wanting to learn a new Potion formula.
Lucien glanced at the formula:
"cloak oil, apply to wrists to eliminate personal scent and reduce noise during movement, lasts one hour."
Oh, good stuff! It actually satisfied both the need to mask scent and sound simultaneously.
As expected of Snape, he only offers quality items.
This formula exchange was worth it... After exchanging formulas, Lucien left Snape's office.
Potion Class was a double period, and it was now lunchtime.
Lucien headed straight for the Great Hall; because he had spoken with Snape for a while, there weren't many people in the Great Hall now.
He quickly ate lunch and then rushed to the Herbology Class classroom.
This Herbology Class, Ravenclaw was with Gryffindor.
As soon as Lucien arrived at the Herbology classroom, he heard someone calling him:
"Lucien, over here!"
Hermione waved gently at Lucien, and Harry and Ron also looked at him.
"Good afternoon, Lucien. What class did you have this morning?"
Lucien nodded to the three and answered Hermione's question:
"Potions."
Hiss—
Harry gasped, seemingly remembering his last Potion Class encounter.
Hermione asked with concern:
"Professor Snape didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
"After all, Lucien, you're so excellent and study so diligently."
Lucien thought for a moment. Hmm, Snape gave him extra points and let him "freeload" a new Potion formula.
"No, he's a good person."
Hearing Lucien's words, Harry looked at him in utter astonishment. How could anyone think Snape was a good person?
At this point, Harry once again remembered Lucien's advice to take off his glasses for Snape's class, but he couldn't brew Potions.
Lucien fiddled with the Herbology Class tools, waiting for the class bell to ring.
As soon as his finger touched a small hoe, the system's voice sounded in his mind:
[Ding, congratulations to the host for triggering a loan]
[Loan Name: 'Diligent Little Gardener' Title (Monthly Loan)]
[Loan Content: After wearing this title, the host will gain magical plant affinity, increased plant yield, and shortened growth cycle]
[Loan Task: Plant ten Chinese Chomping Cabbage until mature]
[Do you wish to take out the loan?]
Lucien hadn't expected that just touching a hoe could trigger a loan.
The last time such a passive trigger occurred was when he was browsing a pet shop in Diagon Alley and took out the Unicorn loan.
Reviewing the loan information, Lucien mused that it was the first time he'd seen a "title" loan.
Hmm, from the description, it seemed more like a permanent buff.
Magical plant affinity, that sounded good.
"System, what's the approximate extent of this plant affinity?"
[Unless magical plants are controlled or driven by someone, they will not actively attack the host.]
That's great! Many magical plants are aggressive, but sometimes they are needed as Potion or Alchemy ingredients.
If he had plant affinity, it would be much more convenient.
And doubling plant yield and shortening the growth cycle were also very practical.
However, this task made Lucien frown.
If it was just simply planting Chinese Chomping Cabbage, that wouldn't be a problem, but he had read in a Herbology book that Biting Cabbage takes at least two months from sowing to maturity.
But this loan was a monthly loan, needing to be repaid within 30 days.
Wait, no, the effect of this title itself could shorten the plant growth cycle.
Moreover, while reading 'Powerful Potions', Lucien had come across a fertilizer Potion that could accelerate plant maturity.
If he tried it, it should be possible to shorten the maturity time to within a month.
Then isn't this perfect?
He already had to repay the improved formula (weekly loan) loan, and now, including the Sleeping Draught and cloak oil, he still needed to brew 3 more Potions.
Besides fertilizer, well, he could also brew simple Potions like insecticides and herbicides.
This way, he could repay the formula loan incidentally.
Furthermore, Chinese Chomping Cabbage, those things could easily bite through human bones.
After they grew, they could even be used as hidden weapons or something; throw one out, and it would chase and bite enemies.
Sometimes, this kind of physical attack is more unexpected and might even be more effective than spells.
Lucien thought about it; he still needed to find a place to grow vegetables.
After class, he could ask Professor Sprout if he could use the adjacent greenhouse.
"System, I want to take out the 'Diligent Little Gardener' loan."
[Ding, 'Diligent Little Gardener' (Monthly Loan) application successful]
[Evaluation: Do you feel your farming soul awakening?]
Lucien noticed that on the system panel, his name now had (Diligent Little Gardener) appended to it.
He picked up a small shovel and a small hoe, one in each hand.
Uh, why did he feel like he really wanted to plant something?