Chapter 216

Although Professor McGonagall strongly opposed it, under the insistence of the two parties, the gambling contest started the next morning.

Both sides arrived at the agreed location—near the stone circle, where a ring was built.

On several wooden shelves beside the ring, countless potion materials were placed—for this gambling contest, Snape almost emptied his family fortune.

And in the center position, two potion workbenches were placed respectively.

On the workbench on Snape's side, a folding cauldron was placed, as well as knives, tweezers, pestles, mortars, and various bottles and jars, which were almost no different from the workbenches students usually used to practice potions.

And Murphy's workbench looked much stranger. Except for those strange glass instruments, there wasn't even a cauldron on his workbench, but many instrument-like appliances.

The two stood by their respective workbenches, looking at each other.

"If I lose, cancel the practical class, restore the traditional four-house dining tradition, and no longer interfere with the school's daily teaching and management." Murphy said, this was the bet they agreed on yesterday.

Many young wizards were surrounded under the stage. In fact, almost all the teachers and students in the school, except Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore, came.

After all, they had never seen two professors gambling on the spot before.

At this time, just as Murphy finished speaking, a burst of whistles and cheers sounded under the stage.

Murphy glanced, most of them were students above the fourth grade, not just Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and even Hufflepuff were there.

Regarding his education reform plan, there were not no questioning voices in the school, but as a school governor and professor, and also having Dumbledore's acquiescence, no one opposed it openly.

Snape's gambling contest today became a trigger, gathering these opposing voices.

At this moment, the gambling contest was no longer just a personal grudge between him and Snape.

It was also deciding whether his practical class and education reform plan could continue to be pushed forward.

Under these circumstances, once he lost the gambling contest, the core concept he used to support his practical class and reform plan: scientific methodology would lose its persuasiveness.

After all, that set of things made the simple "wish come true" magic so complicated, and the result was not as strong as others, isn't it painting the lily?

Therefore, even if Snape didn't propose such a bet, after he lost, the direction of things would likely become like that.

"If I lose, I will leave the school, and you can continue to push your grand plan." Snape said coldly, as if it were as simple as going to Hogsmeade to buy a bottle of wine.

The students suddenly buzzed with discussion. Professor Snape actually bet his job!

Although Murphy's bet seemed about the same, Murphy was a school governor after all, and it was said that he was very rich. Being a professor was probably just out of interest. He could still live very well without being a professor, but Professor Snape... if he left the school, where could he go?

Go work in a potion shop?

Don't forget that the potion shops in the British wizarding world are all opened by Murphy!

Murphy's excellent hearing allowed him to hear the students' discussion. After all, he was an old professor in the school. Although not many people liked Snape, this desperate bet immediately won him widespread sympathy.

"That's not necessary." Murphy smiled, "Otherwise I'd have to work hard to find a Potions professor for the headmaster. How about this, if I win, Slytherin can't be special, and you can't oppose me on the practical class matter anymore. Also, you have to promise me one thing."

"What thing?"

"I haven't thought about it yet, but it shouldn't be too difficult for you."

"What if I promise?" Snape snorted, "Will you believe my promise?"

"Whether to believe it or not is my problem." Murphy still smiled, "How about it, in fact, it's just a matter of one sentence. Even if you go back on your word, I'll admit it."

Snape stared at Murphy. He couldn't understand the other party's intention, but it was an insignificant bet anyway, and he couldn't possibly lose.

"Whatever you want."

"Make way, make way..." A short and fat witch passed through the crowd and soon arrived at the ring, "Professor McGonagall is very angry, she thinks this matter is very absurd and is unwilling to be your witness. So, let me do it."

Professor Sprout looked at the two helplessly, "Seriously, do you really want to make such a scene?"

Snape: "Hmph!"

Murphy: "Sorry to trouble you, Professor."

"Alright, alright..." Professor Sprout sighed, "The rules of the gambling contest are very simple. Using the materials here, each person will configure a potion in turn and let the opponent drink it. The opponent has ten minutes to configure an antidote before drinking the potion. After drinking the opponent's potion, you can configure your own potion for the opponent. This cycle continues until one side admits defeat or falls."

Originally Murphy suggested that they should each pick a student to refine the potion, and the two of them would only act as guidance, so that the pros and cons of the two teaching methods could be effectively reflected.

But this proposal was rejected by Snape, obviously he also knew his shortcomings.

"Of course, we are not allowed to configure lethal poison." Professor Sprout looked at the two worriedly, "You don't want to become murderers, gentlemen?"

"In addition, Madam Pomfrey will be on standby at any time. After the gambling contest ends, you will both receive treatment."

"But, the result of multiple potions combined is unpredictable... You should know this better than me, Professor Snape... I sincerely hope you can reconsider..."

But neither Murphy nor Snape said they would give up. Professor Sprout had to sigh again, "No one can stop wizards from betting their lives on a reckless duel. So, now, the gambling contest begins. You two, you can start making your own potions."

Snape seemed to have been waiting for this moment for a long time. He waved his wand, and seven or eight materials were taken to the table by him, and he actually started refining the potion immediately.

On the other side, Murphy glanced at the materials the opponent got—wormwood, sopophorous bean, asphodel root, valerian...

This...

Draught of Living Death?

This is indeed a good choice. This thing has a very strong hypnotic effect. Basically, you will fall asleep in ten seconds after drinking it, and it is impossible to have time to do other things. If you fail to identify this potion and the antidote made is wrong, you will lose directly.

And even if you recognize it, the Wiggenweld Potion that can be used as its antidote also has a high refining difficulty, and ten minutes may not be enough to complete it.

What's more, if Snape's Draught of Living Death wasn't improved, Murphy wouldn't believe it.

His idea should be to quickly make an improved Draught of Living Death before he finishes refining the potion, so that he must try the medicine first, and if he fails to crack his improved formula within ten minutes, he will lose directly.

But, since he saw through his plan, he wouldn't let him get his wish.

Murphy also waved his wand, summoned more than a dozen materials from the shelf, didn't even look at them, directly stirred them into powder with his wand, set up a large beaker, threw the materials into it, boiled them over high heat for half a minute, and poured the juice into a crystal bottle—according to the rules, the amount of potion refined by each person does not exceed this small bottle.

The crystal bottle was soon half full. Murphy picked it up, his mouth against the bottle mouth.

"Ptooey!"

A mouthful of saliva was spat in.

Then he shook the small bottle and put it on Snape's table, "Professor Snape, please."

(End of chapter)