Chapter 63: Swelling Potion

The Swelling Potion, as the name suggests, causes part of an object to swell.

Wizard Sean did not know where it was used, only that, like most potions, it carried risks.

Incorrect brewing or misuse would lead to serious consequences.

For example, during a second-year class brewing the Swelling Potion, Harry threw a firework into Goyle's cauldron to distract everyone.

Where the potion splashed, people’s arms, noses, eyes, and other parts swelled grotesquely.

Wizard Sean carefully observed every movement Professor Snape made, while his Quick-Quotes Quill recorded beside him with a soft “scratch-scratch.”

Grind two spoons of dried stinging nettles, grind three pufferfish eyes, add the two ground mixtures to the cauldron, heat for twenty seconds, wave the wand…

Professor Snape’s instructions rarely followed the textbook, often making major alterations—

If a young wizard so much as blinked and missed a step, then followed the book instead, an accident was inevitable.

Perhaps this was also one reason Professor Snape was so stern, even terrifying, toward the students.

“If your empty brains have finally managed to absorb some knowledge,”

Professor Snape waved his wand, and the brewed potion was sealed into crystal vials,

his gaze swept the room, leaving the students frozen in silence,

“then pair up and begin!”

The classroom erupted in clinking and clattering as the students trembled through their brewing.

After a while, the brewing reached its final stage.

“...add the final ingredient, heat until a layer of white foam forms on the surface…”

Jia Jia Siting, consulting his notes, looked more tense than Wizard Sean, who was stirring.

Professor Snape was still patrolling the room to prevent further accidents,

and when he reached Wizard Sean and Jia Jia Siting, he paused.

He glanced casually at the notes laid out.

Hmph—somewhat thorough, barely scraping past the passing threshold…

“Oh, Wizard Sean, why is our foam blue?”

At that moment, Jia Jia Siting asked.

Beside him, a dark cloud hovered, making his already tense frame tremble slightly.

Wizard Sean’s face was pale; he turned and gave the answer that left Jia Jia Siting stunned:

“It failed.”

Jia Jia Siting dared not look up, as if waiting for something.

“Do it again! Two fools!”

Professor Snape’s roar came as expected.

Hearing he wasn’t docked points, Jia Jia Siting exhaled in relief, then whispered:

“You look pale. Want to rest a bit? I’ll handle it.”

After Professor Snape left, Jia Jia Siting took over all the potion-brewing tasks, handling the ingredients with unusual care.

Wizard Sean, meanwhile, breathed heavily—he had underestimated the physical toll of the last potion ritual and will-guidance.

Master Bolachi’s ritual was like draining a wizard’s magical reserves,

granting a temporary peak performance in potion-brewing but leaving the wizard weakened afterward.

Right now, he clearly sensed the failure in the final stage stemmed from insufficient magical output.

He panted, then noticed some berry candies placed on the table.

“Take a break? Eat something—new flavor, berries from the Scottish Highlands.”

Jia Jia Siting said, keeping one eye on the bubbling cauldron.

Wizard Sean nodded, silently assessing his condition—he could still cast a few spells,

but for potion-brewing, he was drained.

This meant potion-brewing demanded higher magical capacity and mental willpower than spellcasting.

No wonder there were so few Potion Masters.

Wizard Sean also realized something else: the boost from wands and spells seemed terrifyingly potent.

Wizard Sean could now cast three or four Levitation Charms—with effects no worse than a potion that made someone float.

But if he tried to brew this potion now, he’d likely collapse on the spot.

As Wizard Sean silently pondered, reminding Jia Jia Siting of brewing details from his notes,

Professor Snape swept in like a storm, clutching a class roster.

“Susan Enns, Lisa DuPont,

Hmph—troll-level ingredient prep—I bet you didn’t process the pufferfish eyes to standard,”

he sneered at the two girls whose cauldron produced thick, sludgy potion,

“Minus one—each of you. And what are you waiting for?! For the potion to brew itself?!”

As Susan shrank, near tears, he moved on.

“Ernie MacMillan—if you stir one more inch to the right, get out! At least then this potion won’t explode on its own! Minus two!”

Ernie instantly stopped, pulled out his book, and trembled as he pressed his eyes against the page.

“Marginally acceptable—Michael Corner, what are you waiting for? For the potion to spoil?!”

He became a merciless point-deducting machine, his head seemingly surrounded by floating “-1,” “-2,” “-1”…

Wizard Sean and Jia Jia Siting watched as Professor Snape approached them.

As the two braced for a storm, Professor Snape paused—and ignored them.

“Phew—”

Jia Jia Siting exhaled in relief,

while Wizard Sean silently stared at the crystal vial that had appeared in his hand.

Inside was clear liquid, with a single annotation: Drink.

…

After leaving the dungeon, Wizard Sean remained dazed; the potion from Professor Snape had only one effect—restore vitality.

It resembled a Strength Potion, but its recovery of magical energy was remarkably effective.

His magic surged back almost immediately, and even his stamina climbing stairs improved.

In the dungeon,

Severus Snape stared long at the failed potion, its failure due to insufficient magical output,

his class roster faintly revealing one line:

“Wizard Sean Green, guardian: none.”

…

Great Hall.

It still buzzed with noise and energy.

Four house tables were laden with lunch plates; golden dishes and goblets glittered under hundreds of candles.

Students chattered as they ate oatmeal, bacon, and pumpkin juice.

“Wizard Sean, my mother always said sunrise is free, and sunset is too—”

Jia Jia Siting poked at a pudding, then whispered suddenly,

“so if you’re tired, rest.”

His pale gray eyes shone with sincerity,

and Wizard Sean nodded silently.

Until—

“Rabbit’s eye, the harp’s sweet tune, turn this water into wine!”

Wizard Sean was bewildered; he turned and saw Seamus sitting beside him.