Chapter 311

Half-Blood Prince?

What kind of thing is that?

John was also full of doubts when he saw this title.

Could it be some famous person?

But this handwriting looks strangely familiar, as if I've seen it somewhere.

"I don't recognize whose this is either..."

John shook his head while opening the book.

Looking at the dense annotations on it, he frowned; it was indeed very similar to his annotations, except for some differences in individual content, but it was not much different.

Of course, he didn't have time to flip through it page by page, just flipped through it roughly, and then said.

"Since it's an old book left in a storage locker, it should be something left behind or discarded by some senior."

Even if the owner comes to the door, at worst, I'll just return it to him.

As for peeking at the content on it, how would I know if this book is yours if I don't look?

"Anyway, it's just a Magic Potion textbook; the content on it is nothing more than some techniques for brewing magic potions."

"Senior, when you want to brew magic potions, if you have no clue, you can also try following it; anyway, no matter how you brew it, you won't brew any monsters or ghosts."

As he spoke, John closed the book and returned it to Harry.

Harry also nodded; yesterday in Magic Potion Class, he brewed magic potions following the content above, and he did indeed taste the sweetness.

It's just that it was still not as good as Hermione's, so he didn't get the final Felix Felicis reward.

After taking the book, Harry asked again.

"Then do you have any clues about these annotations above? Hermione said the annotations you gave her were also very similar."

"I don't know, it's probably left by some senior who is proficient in magic potions."

"My knowledge is also inherited from Professor Snape... hiss... or should I go ask Professor Snape?"

Speaking of Professor Snape, John had a flash of inspiration and remembered who the handwriting looked like.

Although there were some slight differences, Professor Snape's handwriting was also quite good-looking, just not as delicate as the one on this book.

"Or just treat it as property left by some old senior as you just said."

"If you find the owner, I will be embarrassed to keep it; I still want to rely on it to win more appreciation from Professor Slughorn...."

Harry said with some hesitation.

Having finally obtained an opportunity to improve his magic potions, and also having obtained the senior's Sunflower Treasure Manual, he didn't want to hand over this Sunflower Treasure Manual to others so quickly.

John also nodded; this made sense.

Harry did indeed need an opportunity to improve his magic potions and get closer to Professor Slughorn.

"Fine, then I won't ask."

"Senior, you can look at it when you have time; maybe there will be something useful recorded on it."

Harry nodded and put the book away.

Afterward, the two went back to the Great Hall for breakfast together.

Today was also John's turn to have Magic Potion Class.

Looking at Professor Slughorn's transparent and bright classroom, John nodded with satisfaction.

This is what you call a classroom.

I feel that Professor Slughorn's Snake House elements are all in shrewdness.

Others like pure-bloodism, looking at people with nostrils, wearing some strange snake-element accessories, or being snake-like, none of them are there.

This is what Snake House should look like.

Shrewd but not bad, ambitious but not poisonous.

Soon it was class time.

Professor Slughorn was smiling and standing beside the cauldron, while the students were waiting quietly below for him to speak.

He looked at the students below the stage, as if looking at a treasure mountain waiting to be reclaimed.

After all, who knows if these children will become big shots in the future.

"Alright, students, starting this year, your Magic Potion Class will be taught by me."

"We will have many opportunities to get to know each other in the future, so let's stop talking nonsense and start class."

Professor Slughorn was also the type to get straight to the point; after simply greeting everyone, he started the course.

"The main learning content for this semester is to learn how to formulate antidotes; to deal with different poisons, you need different antidote formulas."

"Compared to other magic potions, this is a magic potion with flexible formulas, which needs to be adjusted in real-time according to the strength of the toxicity, the speed of onset, and the constitution of the poisoned person."

"For example, for every 0.3 grams increase in the dosage of Mandrake root powder, you must simultaneously reduce 1 drop of Hellebore syrup, otherwise the potion will fail due to acid-base imbalance, and even trigger secondary poisoning."

Professor Slughorn's teaching style, compared to that pressure monster Professor Snape, was more friendly, relaxed, and had a sense of humor.

For those students with poor stress resistance, it was like being fished out of a Dementor's arms — even their breathing tasted sweet.

"Who can tell me what Gamp's Third Law is?"

Professor Slughorn looked at the students below the stage and asked with a smile, but everyone looked at each other, and no one knew what this was.

"Mr. Merick, do you know?"

Seeing this, he didn't feel strange, because this was knowledge that only senior students would come into contact with.

But now he could let the students know about it in advance.

So he looked at John; he had heard about John learning magic potions with Professor Snape, although they were all not very friendly rumors......

"Yes, Professor, Gamp's Third Law says: The total number of antidote ingredients for a mixed poison must be greater than or equal to the sum of the antidote ingredients for the individual poisons."

"It means that the antidote for a mixed poison cannot simply be mixed by taking each corresponding individual antidote in the poison."

"Instead, one must find an additional ingredient, and through a procedure close to alchemy, fuse all the antidote ingredients together to produce a brand new, more complex antidote."

After Professor Slughorn heard this, his chubby fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the podium: "Beautiful answer, John."

However, his questions weren't over, and he continued to ask.

"Then if you were accidentally poisoned now, in an emergency, how would you temporarily piece together an effective antidote without a complete formula?"

John tilted his head and thought for a while, and then answered slowly.

"Uh... I think I would stuff a Bezoar into my mouth first, and then consider whether I need to brew an antidote."

As soon as these words came out, although the students didn't understand, Professor Slughorn understood.

He laughed out loud and laughed very happily.

"Bezoar? Hahaha, very good, Merick, very good."

While laughing, he took out a yellowish-brown stone from his pocket and showed it to the students.

"Look, this is a Bezoar; usually everyone knows it is a famous detoxifying substance, and it has its presence in various antidotes."

"However, everyone has ignored one thing: the Bezoar itself is a universal antidote."

"Without any processing, just by holding it in your mouth, it can neutralize most toxins."

"Even if it can't completely detoxify you, it can buy you precious breathing time."

"Of course," he blinked and put the Bezoar back into his pocket gently, "the premise is that you must carry such a precious Bezoar at all times."

John touched his pocket; what a coincidence, he really had one...