Chương 159: 38
Chapter 38: Baruffio's Brain Elixir
Today's task was to brew a potion for treating boils, which had no connection to the questions Snape had posed earlier.
The students were instructed to work in pairs. The necessary materials and steps were written on the blackboard.
The procedure was slightly different from what was outlined in the textbook, but it didn't seem overly complicated.
Over the summer vacation, Ethan Adrian had read extensively on potion-making, though he had only attempted to make energy cubes. He hadn't experimented with other potions, as they required diverse and often expensive ingredients, and he didn't see them as particularly useful.
Ethan was paired with Michael Stewart. They had a clear division of labor: Ethan handled snake fangs and porcupine quills, while Michael managed the slugs with tentacles and dry nettles.
They followed the instructions on the blackboard: add six venomous snake fangs to the mortar and grind them into a fine powder. Cut the porcupine quills into three-centimeter segments. Ethan completed these steps methodically, while Michael worked efficiently with his tasks.
Professor Snape prowled the classroom, his black cloak swishing behind him as he moved. He was vigilant, aware of the potential dangers in potion-brewing. A single mistake could lead to a disaster.
He still remembered vividly the incident in Flitwick's spell class a few days ago and was determined not to face a similar debacle.
"Finch-Fletchley, is your brain operating at the same level as a troll's? Stop grinding the porcupine quills into powder—they don't need to be ground!" Snape snapped.
"Zabini, did you leave your brain at home, or are your eyes faulty? The instructions clearly state that slugs should be steamed, not burned!"
Snape's presence seemed to bring chaos wherever he went. His harsh reputation and the constant scolding created a tense atmosphere, making every student nervous and prone to mistakes.
"I had hoped that not all of you were mediocre. I expected at least one or two of you to show some competence. Instead, you've proven yourselves to be a collection of fools and idiots," Snape said grimly after surveying the room. "You can be considered the worst class I have ever taught."
Ethan almost sighed in exasperation. It seemed that teachers in both the Muggle and magical worlds enjoyed making such pronouncements.
By this point, all materials had been processed and were now boiling—or rather, simmering.
Most of the work was done by Michael, with Ethan assisting. Michael demonstrated considerable talent in potion-making, although his caution had slowed the process.
On the other side of the room, Snape had moved to Cassandra vole and her group. Observing their potion, which had changed from a murky liquid to a clear azure blue with pink smoke rising, Snape's expression softened.
He took a deep breath, waving his hand over the potion to assess its aroma.
A delightful fragrance of sulfur wafted up!
"Slytherin, twenty points for you!" Snape announced, standing up and addressing the class.
Ethan noticed Cassandra's smirk, realizing she had succeeded in her potion while he and Michael were still working. He knew Cassandra's ambitions well from their encounter on the Hogwarts Express; she was determined to be the best and was quite arrogant about it.
Ethan believed he could have completed the potion faster if he were working alone. The process was straightforward; although Michael's steps were correct, his overly cautious approach had slowed them down. Regardless, they were nearing completion.
Just then, a commotion erupted behind Snape.
Neville Longbottom and Seamus Finnigan were in the same group. A mistake in their potion-making caused it to boil over, splashing everywhere. The cauldron was burned and deformed, eventually being overturned by Neville in a panic.
The first to be affected were Neville and Snape, who was facing away when the incident occurred.
Snape had not anticipated such an outcome. Not only did Neville make a mistake, but he also overturned the cauldron.
The classroom descended into chaos. The potion had become extremely corrosive, forcing students to stand on their stools to avoid the splashes. Neville was drenched in the potion, his body covered in red, swollen boils as he screamed in pain.
Snape's legs were also soaked, though he could not afford to show his discomfort. He endured the pain and used his wand to clean the spilled potion while shouting at Neville:
"Idiot! Did you put the porcupine quills in without removing the cauldron from the fire?"
Neville, in tears and unable to speak, had even developed a boil on his face.
Given the severity of the situation, Snape couldn't issue further punishment. He allowed Seamus to take Neville to the hospital wing.
In truth, Snape should be relieved that Neville's error had caused the disaster sooner rather than later. Had the crucible exploded, the entire class could have been harmed.
Ultimately, Snape reprimanded Harry Potter for not warning Neville, deducting five points from Gryffindor.
Harry clenched his teeth in frustration but remained silent, his resentment toward Snape growing.
Ethan, however, was unaffected by the incident, being far from the chaos. He moved the cauldron away from the flame, extinguished the alcohol lamp, added the porcupine quills, and stirred the potion clockwise five times.
As pink smoke rose, Ethan completed his potion.
At that moment, Ethan achieved another milestone.
**[Potion Achievement]**
The liquid that stirs excitement and confusion is indeed a potion.
Achievement Goal: Brew a potion (1)
Achievement Reward: Random potion formula
Ethan wondered if the energy cubes he had made earlier counted as potions. After all, they also required a cauldron.
This time, the potion was brewed in collaboration, not independently. Did that affect the achievement?
The potion formula he received was quite useful: Baruffio's Brain Elixir.
A potion designed to enhance brain power,Baruffio's Brain Elixir improved cognitive abilities, learning efficiency, and memory. It made learning new spells and casting faster and more effective. Even once the effects wore off, the benefits of the knowledge gained during its use remained.
The formula was simple and affordable, requiring only oil and frog brains.
Ethan felt satisfied with the outcome and the practical benefits of the potion.
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