Chapter 243

This time even Ron didn't refute; Professor Murphy was not like other professors at all; he never deducted points or anything, and in his class, he never dampened the students' curiosity; he encouraged them to take risks.

He even actively covered up their mistakes for them.

He never lectured any student from the high-and-mighty perspective of a professor; even if you made the stupidest mistake, he would tell you, "Oh, this is a very pioneering operation; let's see what happens next."

He simply didn't look like a professor, but more like their friend.

If it were him, perhaps even if they really stole the Magic Stone, he would plead for them.

"Why don't we just tell Professor Murphy directly? He might believe us. And he seems to have a grudge against Snape too." Ron said.

Stealing the Magic Stone was too risky after all; if Professor Murphy was really willing to believe them, then he might be able to stop Snape.

This proposal was immediately agreed upon by several young wizards, and even Tom felt it was worth a try.

He also really wanted to know how Professor Murphy viewed the Magic Stone.

……

The first week of school, practical class.

The development progress of the Weasley brothers' enhanced version of Goblin Gold Coins was gratifying.

To reduce costs, they used a one-millimeter diameter gold foil as a "gold coin" and, after performing the Greed Whisper ritual, found that it could still achieve the effect of long-distance communication.

It's just that the gold foil was too small, and the sound emitted was so faint that it couldn't be heard at all, and the foil was extremely fragile; let alone carrying it, even the vibrations produced during communication could tear it apart, so they encapsulated the foil in a copper plate and finally solved this problem after applying a "Sonorus" spell to the copper plate.

However, "Sonorus" is an instantaneous spell, and it is difficult to permanently attach it to an object; currently, they are studying how to permanently add spell effects to objects through rituals—this process is vividly called "enchanting" by Murphy.

Murphy greatly appreciated the twins' ability and brains to solve problems, and if the problem of object enchanting could be solved, it wouldn't just be a matter of a magic phone; the wizarding world might directly see a large number of magic items, the value of which would be immeasurable.

To support the twins' magic research, Murphy directly invested one thousand gold Galleons to purchase various experimental materials and equipment, and at the same time disbanded several groups with little research progress and incorporated them into the twins' group, managed by them, to arrange experimental tasks.

Besides the twins, another group that had some progress was the Qiu Zhang group.

During the winter break, after a month of practice, they were about to touch the threshold of the Ancestral Spirit.

Qiu Zhang, who had the highest talent, was already able to summon a shapeless spirit, but she still couldn't shape it into the form she wanted.

In the research on Polyjuice Potion, they seemed to have developed a new potion, but they didn't report its specific effects to Murphy, only saying that further verification was needed.

After the experimental class, Harry and the others came to block Murphy again.

"Professor, we think there is something you might need to know."

Half an hour later, Murphy finished listening to their account, and he nodded, "I am surprised that you actually know what is behind the corridor. You suspect that Snape is plotting the Magic Stone?"

"Yes, Professor, you wouldn't not believe us too, would you?"

Murphy didn't deny it immediately, "Why do you suspect Snape?"

Harry told about Snape he saw on Halloween night and also about Snape being bitten by the big dog.

Murphy nodded, "It sounds very suspicious indeed. Then what do you think is Snape's purpose for getting the Magic Stone?"

Ron said: "The Magic Stone can bring wealth and immortality; it's not strange for anyone to want it."

Murphy was noncommittal, "The Magic Stone can turn stone into gold, that's true, but with Professor Snape's ability, if he wants to get gold, there are too many ways—I mean if he doesn't care about the law, there's no need to use the Magic Stone. If it's just for wealth, then the risk he's taking seems a bit too big."

Tom understood, "You mean, he is obtaining the Magic Stone for the Elixir of Life."

"I mean, the reason for any rational wizard to seek the Magic Stone should be the Elixir of Life; only the Elixir of Life is the irreplaceable value of the Magic Stone."

Harry said: "Then Snape must want the Elixir of Life."

Murphy asked again: "Why would Snape want the Elixir of Life? He is only in his thirties; isn't it a bit early to consider the problem of aging now? And immortality doesn't seem to be an illegal thing; if Professor Snape wants to study the Elixir of Life, I think it might be even simpler to ask Headmaster Dumbledore or Nicolas Flamel about alchemy questions with his status."

Tom keenly understood Murphy's meaning, "Then if a wizard wants to secretly seize the Magic Stone, his purpose must not be simply to obtain the Elixir of Life. But something else……"

"Professor, I have seen in books that the Elixir of Life can also be used as a potion to reshape the body. Is this true?"

Murphy nodded, "Yes. However, whether it is the Elixir of Life or the formula for reshaping the body, neither is so easy to get."

Harry and Hermione were both thoughtful, but Tom thought more.

Whether it is Voldemort (the notebook) or himself wanting to resurrect, both need these two things, but where can one get these two formulas?

"Professor, do you think Professor Snape knows these two formulas?" Tom asked.

"It's possible; after all, Professor Snape's potion level is still very high."

"But you defeated him in the potion duel." Harry said.

"I have very different understandings of potion making from Snape. The result of the duel was that I won, but it doesn't mean I know more potions than Snape. At the very least, I don't know these two potion formulas."

"Alright, young wizards, I think your worries are likely redundant. Even if Snape knows these two formulas, who does he want to resurrect?"

……

"I think Professor Murphy is right." Hermione said, "We can't find a reason why Snape must get the Magic Stone."

"But this is all Professor Murphy's speculation; maybe Snape is really just a greedy guy." Harry said, although he didn't quite believe it himself.

"Although I don't want to say it like this, Harry, I think you suspect Snape, maybe just because you hate him," Hermione said, "just like he hates you."

Harry was silent.

"Maybe we should go and ask Professor Snape directly." Tom said.

"What?" Ron was stunned, "What do you want to ask him? Hi, Professor Snape, I suspect you are preparing to steal the Magic Stone, but I don't have evidence; can you give me a clue?"

"No, I'm just going to discuss the Elixir of Life with him." Tom said, "You know, he doesn't consider me particularly annoying. Maybe he will satisfy a little of my curiosity."

He at least has to figure out whether Snape has the formula or not.

The notebook recently released another task, and Tom guessed that it was highly likely related to the formula, but he didn't even look at it.

It doesn't matter; anyway, his goal is also resurrection; no matter what is said on that notebook, the things he has to do won't change much.

(End of chapter)