Chapter 23: Missing Potion Ingredients

“Are you alright?”

Michael gently lifted Wizard Sean.

The young wizard was still gasping for breath.

“I’m fine.”

After a few minutes of recovery, Wizard Sean regained his composure.

He had overestimated his body, still weak from recent illness.

He decided to walk slower next time and prioritize learning to fly above all else—even above earning the scholarship.

“Alright.”

Michael lowered his brows, his gaze flickering.

Back in the dorm, Wizard Sean’s tasks became much simpler.

He only needed to face the straightforward assignments: History of Magic, Transfiguration, Potions, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

These were normally due within a week, but Wizard Sean clearly had no intention of dragging it out.

He finished his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay in half an hour,

and his Charms essay didn’t last him more than twenty minutes.

The only thing requiring attention was the one-foot History of Magic essay,

which was long, but Wizard Sean had already completed most of it last time—only the conclusion remained.

“What the hell…”

Michael, who had watched the entire scene, sat stunned,

“You just… did that… and finished three assignments?

Including that terrifyingly long History of Magic essay?”

Wizard Sean turned his head, his long eyelashes trembling slightly.

“Don’t look at me with that ‘It’s normal, can’t you do it?’ expression!”

Michael slammed his book shut,

“I swear, no one else has finished these assignments by now!”

He spoke, then quickly left the dorm, returning with two wizards behind him—

Terry and Anthony.

“Sorry to disturb you.”

Anthony greeted politely.

“Michael said there’s a Merlin…”

Terry began timidly,

but the black-haired young wizard swiftly clapped a hand over his mouth.

“Wizard Sean, look—none of us have finished.”

Michael proudly held up two sheets of parchment, each covered in nearly three inches of writing, yet still far short of the required one foot,

“So please, teach us!”

Wizard Sean was puzzled; though the workload was heavy, it shouldn’t be this difficult…

Seeing three pairs of eager eyes, Wizard Sean nodded and picked up his own parchment.

“Actually,”

Wizard Sean pointed to his handwriting,

“writing a history essay is simple. Professor Binns assigned the topic: Emeryc and the Weird Wizard Uric.

First step: draw a timeline, identify the era these two wizards lived in…”

Wizard Sean handed his drawn timeline to the three, who dared not blink,

“Then we can find their historical context—the content in History of Magic is detailed enough;

Next is step two: analyze their actions in light of that context. Hmm, the book says it well: judging a person without context is the act of a rogue;

Then step three: re-evaluate their actions and state your own argument;

Then step four: compare them with other figures and events in the records—combine historical facts with your analysis. That’s the core of a history essay;

Finally, you can write a summary, or discuss the value of your argument. Adding deeper insights won’t hurt.”

Wizard Sean seemed to remember something and opened a notebook half-filled with writing:

“Because History of Magic’s timeline is chaotic, I cross-referenced it with a timeline and books like Famous Male Witches and Strange Magical Failures and Their Lessons. You can use my notes directly.”

As he spoke, he watched the three young wizards’ eyes shift from dazed to increasingly bright,

until Michael reverently took the notebook and murmured:

“Wizard Sean, you’re the angel Merlin sent to save us…

This is my Bible…

Parchment—where’s my parchment?

I’m going to fight it three hundred more rounds!”

Terry and Anthony also burst into unimaginable enthusiasm,

flipping through the notebook,

and the dorm was filled only with the scratching of quills and the crackling of the fireplace.

Anthony’s solemn thanks still lingered in Wizard Sean’s ears,

he nodded, then effortlessly completed his Transfiguration essay.

In fact, this method could be extended to all assignments.

Wizard Sean paid no mind to the two extra people in the room,

he set aside his Potions assignment and wrote the second step in his personal notebook:

【Find ingredients for potion brewing】

He had already mastered the basic methods of ingredient preparation; as long as he had the materials, the preparatory work for brewing was done.

But where could he get the ingredients?

The enrollment checklist didn’t list any materials to buy—students used only the potion ingredients provided by Hogwarts,

so could he use them after class?

Wizard Sean wondered,

it should be possible, but Professor Snape’s approval was nearly impossible.

Wizard Sean couldn’t help picturing Professor Snape’s face, etched with refusal.

He let out a faint sigh,

if there was anything more terrifying than having no talent, it was having no talent and running into Professor Snape.

What should he do?

The question circled in Wizard Sean’s mind,

and dusk settled over Hogwarts.

Blue and bronze silk curtains hung from the ceiling, dyed by the thin moonlight streaming through the windows into a near-night ink-blue.

The air carried the faint bitterness of old pages, the soft resilience of parchment, and a coolness like air after rain.

Wizard Sean’s gaze turned toward the great arched window,

his emerald eyes veiled in the kind of fog common in Scottish autumn and winter, reflecting the flickering glow from the fireplace.

“There will always be a way.”

Wizard Sean told himself,

“This is Hogwarts—the magic of Hogwarts.”

The long night passed, and the castle awoke once more.

The first warm orange light climbed the stone statues in the corridors,

making the young wizard holding a book raise a hand to shield his eyes.

Wednesday.

Ravenclaw had no class first thing in the morning, so the first-years still slept soundly,

but Wizard Sean had risen early,

as this time used to be breakfast at the orphanage—missed meals wouldn’t be made up,

so Wizard Sean had developed the habit of sleeping and waking early.

He entered the Great Hall and devoured pumpkin soup, chicken and ham pies, and Crabbys Wizard Crisps.

Beside him, Jia Jia Siting calmly appeared with his usual gentle smile.

“Good morning, Wizard Sean.”

“Good morning.”

Wizard Sean nodded, then noticed Jia Jia Siting flipping through a thick volume: The Directory of Contemporary Famous Wizards.

“Hogwarts is amazing—if Professor Binns hadn’t assigned that one-foot essay,

I think I’d have more time to explore the castle and the kitchen beside the common room…”

At the mention of homework, Jia Jia Siting frowned slightly, shadows darkening his sunlit face.

“Mm.”

Wizard Sean’s emerald eyes brightened at the word “kitchen.”

Damn Sorting Hat, I wish I could be a Hufflepuff with free access to snacks…

He thought.

Then he noticed something strange.

“Professor Binns, did he also assign a foot-long essay to Hufflepuff?”

“Also?”

Jia Jia Siting looked up in surprise,

“Does that mean…?”