Chapter 381: Harry Helps Out

"This is Veritaserum," Harry identified the things in the pots as he walked past one cauldron after another. "This is Amortentia, this is... oh, this is Felix Felicis!"

"This is top-notch good stuff," Luo En looked at the small pot with golden foam with great interest. Ever since it was changed to Slughorn teaching, his attitude toward Potions class had improved a lot.

"I knew this wouldn't stump you at all," Slughorn leaned behind them with a smile. "How about it, want to win a small bottle of Felix Felicis as a reward after class?"

"Of course, who wouldn't want to?" Luo En's eyes lit up all of a sudden.

"We will try our best," Harry said a bit more tactfully, but he was equally curious about this potion.

Slughorn patted them on the shoulder and then started the first class of the sixth year.

Harry and Luo En sat in front of Hermione and Neville, chatting in low voices. Harry knew that Zhang Qiu had done it before. Just in the first class when Slughorn first came to Hogwarts, she had won a small bottle of Felix Felicis from this fat old man.

"How did Zhang Qiu do it?" Luo En asked.

"She just performed well enough," Harry said. "When Slughorn first came to Hogwarts, he urgently needed to establish his good reputation, so he took out Felix Felicis directly."

"You mean, he just deliberately wanted to find an excuse to give Felix Felicis to a student," Luo En nodded. "Actually, it doesn't matter who it's given to, as long as Felix Felicis is given out, it can help Slughorn establish a good image?"

"But does this mean Slughorn has a lot of Felix Felicis?" Neville propped up half his body and joined their conversation.

"Yes, he seems to be very good at brewing this," Harry tilted his head slightly and answered him.

"Then why doesn't he drink it himself? I think he can drink it often if he is very good at brewing it," Luo En said with some confusion.

"One theory is that Felix Felicis is poisonous," Neville explained. "The toxins will accumulate in your body, so the amount of Felix Felicis a person can drink in a lifetime is limited. He has to pick the most important days to drink it."

"But there is a clear rule that Felix Felicis cannot be used in any organized competitions and exams. You can only drink it on ordinary days," Harry knew this because Krum had mentioned it during a chat.

"Then how do you know which ordinary day is suitable?" Luo En asked back.

"The more mediocre approach is before a wedding, and before having a baby, things like that," Neville said. "Of course, these are just the practices of some old conservative wizards. You can also take a sip before the final battle with Voldemort, but now there is probably no Voldemort."

"Actually, all of this is the choice of fate," Harry said thoughtfully. "Every bottle of Felix Felicis, from the moment it is made, to being obtained by someone, to being drunk, is a predestined fate in the dark."

"I seem to have heard you say that it's not that we drink Felix Felicis and get good luck, but that on the day we are luckiest, we will suddenly want to drink a little Felix Felicis—if there happens to be some at that time," Luo En looked at Harry, his eyes a bit unfocused.

"But another theory I heard is that Felix Felicis has nothing to do with fate. It just enhances your various attributes and brings you unparalleled confidence," Neville interjected from the back row. "This is like the story of the 'Fountain of Fair Fortune'."

"... Please turn 'Advanced Potion-Making' to page ten. We still have more than an hour, so use this time to brew a Draught of Living Death well," Slughorn's voice interrupted their whispering. "I know this is much more complicated than the potions you have brewed in the past, and I don't expect anyone to complete it perfectly. However, the person who does the best will win this small bottle of Felix Felicis. Start now."

Harry scratched his head with some embarrassment. He felt it was a bit of an unfair victory: back in the first year, in order to let him find a way to pass the three-headed dog, Dumbledore specially used the Mirror of Erised to show him the configuration method of the Draught of Living Death, and he even practiced it many times in front of the mirror.

However, Luo En seemed to have forgotten that matter, and he was frantically flipping through that copy of "Advanced Potion-Making." Harry sighed gently. Even if just to make Luo En happy, he decided to help him win this bottle of Felix Felicis.

While dealing with his materials casually, he paid attention to Luo En's movements, constantly recalling what he had seen in the mirror six years ago in his mind.

"You should use the side of a silver short knife to squeeze it. This is easier to get juice than slicing," Harry patted Luo En on the shoulder. "There is a problem with what's written in the book. Think about it, if you want to get the juice of the Sopophorous Bean, you have to squeeze it, right?"

"Ah? Squeeze?" Luo En was stunned for a moment. "Listen to you, buddy, if it's wrong, it's on you."

He squeezed the Sopophorous Bean with the side of the short knife, and the bean immediately exuded a large amount of juice. Luo En happily put the juice into the cauldron, and the potion suddenly turned into a beautiful pale lilac color.

"Truly miraculous," Luo En grinned.

"Yes, if you have seen Zhang Qiu smash garlic—this is nothing great, it's just that the person who wrote the book is a bit stubborn," Harry shrugged. "Also, after you stir counterclockwise seven times, stir clockwise once."

"Is that so?" Luo En started stirring suspiciously.

"Occasionally changing direction will make it form faster. I guess this is related to some fluid mechanics principle," Harry said. "However, I first discovered this because if you keep stirring in the same direction, your hand will be sore."

Before the clock reached the end of class, Luo En's potion had become as clear as water—this meant he had made an almost perfect Draught of Living Death, and even Slughorn couldn't help but walk to his front in advance.

"The undisputed winner!" he said loudly. "Too outstanding, Harry, you inherited your mother's ingenuity. This Draught of Living Death is perfect!"

"Oh, Professor, this potion was made by Luo En," Harry reminded him.

"Is that so?" Slughorn looked a bit unbelievable. "I find it hard to believe... did you really complete it yourself?"

"I don't believe it," Draco, who had stepped forward, said with his arms crossed. "Harry must have helped him."

Under Slughorn's sincere gaze, Harry didn't have the heart to lie, and he whispered: "Yes, Professor."

"Ah, great, Harry!" Slughorn's tone didn't change. "Obviously you also inherited your father's noble brotherly loyalty. Since you want to give the prize to your friend, then I announce that Luo En Wei Wei Silai has won my Felix Felicis."

"Students whose potions haven't turned pale pink, you don't have to do it anymore," Slughorn greeted. "Come over and see Mr. Wei Wei Silai's perfect work."

"Yes, that's how it is," Luo En said triumphantly to Draco. "Why, are you unconvinced?"

Neville also stretched his neck and leaned toward them. He said with some emotion: "Sure enough, Harry, you have this talent."

Harry turned his head back. He noticed that Hermione's cauldron also presented a pale pink color, but she was looking at Harry with a very complicated expression.

Probably because I stole her limelight, Harry thought with some embarrassment. Yes, Luo En, who had the Minister of Magic as his father, didn't really need Felix Felicis, but Hermione, who was thinking about applying to university, might be able to take a sip before the interview.

However, things had reached this point, and Harry didn't want to think about these things anymore. He and Luo En had won the prize by their own strength.

Amidst the sour gazes of several Slytherin students, Luo En laughed and stuffed the small bottle of golden liquid into his robe, hooked Harry's shoulder, and walked out of the classroom.

Outside the classroom stood a girl carrying a schoolbag. Harry looked closely and realized it was Hannah.

"Hi, Hannah, are you waiting for Neville?" he greeted casually.

"Yes, we agreed to eat together and then go to the library," Hannah showed a dignified smile.

"Oh right, it's time to eat," Luo En laughed, putting his arm around Harry's shoulder and passing by her. "I feel like my appetite is wide open."

"We'll go to the library after eating," Harry said. "If we can run into Zhang Qiu, it's just right to discuss the energy bottle matter."

"Yes, yes, I actually have some ideas, one of the bottles I want to choose a sword," Luo En whispered. "As for the other one, I actually don't have a very good idea, just a little bit of a train of thought..."

"Then are you planning to extract the sword you got in the Avalon Hidden Realm?" Harry thought for him. "Or use Gryffindor's sword? Or the Seven Deadly Sins?"

"I'll use Gawain's sword," Luo En said seriously. "That's the sword that truly belongs to me. I don't want to borrow someone else's sword to act as my own strength."

"Yes, Zhang Qiu said that the fit is also very important. However, I think it's better to be cautious. We can make decisions early, but we don't necessarily have to act in a hurry."

"Indeed, what I'm thinking is," Luo En said in a tone suppressing excitement, telling a genius idea, "I can drink a little Felix Felicis before choosing the energy bottle. This will be very helpful. Perhaps I can come up with other inspirations by then."

"I think this is a good idea," Harry nodded. "Of course, if you are not in a hurry to choose an energy bottle, I actually want to say, let's drink it on the day we select players."

"Oh right, this way we can also take the opportunity to see if there is a chance to select one or two geniuses," Luo En said excitedly.

They switched, sometimes talking about the Knight System, sometimes talking about Quidditch, and walked toward the Great Hall in high spirits—and the one holding the extra textbook seemed to have become an extra person. ===== CHAPTER 382 =====