save the bachelors

Chapter 4087 [Argus Filch]

"Severus, come quickly, a new dessert is here, candied pineapple, my favorite dessert. You must try it. I specially asked them to make it." Slughorn came over and said with a smile.

"Professor, may I have the honor of reading your collection of books?" Xiang Nan asked with a smile.

Slughorn was stunned for a moment, then smiled, "Of course. But don't you really want a piece of candied pineapple?"

"No, professor." Xiang Nan waved his hand, then took down the "Emerald Jade Record" and started reading.

Alchemy originated in ancient Egypt, and The Emerald Record is the earliest alchemy book; Zygmunt Bage was a 16th-century potion master who developed the laughing potion, shrinking potion, beauty potion, sleeping potion, polyjuice potion, and so on.

Arseny Giger was a 19th century potion master. The book "Magical Crafts and Potions" that first-year students at Hogwarts learn was written by him, and "Enhanced Magical Potion" is an advanced version.

Libasho Pollach is a South American pharmacist. The book Advanced Potion Making that fifth-year Hogwarts students learn is his. The Advanced Potion Making Guide is another book, but it has apparently never been published.

Slughorn was stunned when he saw this, then he started laughing.

Now that desserts and fine wines have been served, everyone present is busy socializing and enjoying themselves, except Xiang Nan, who stands here reading a book and doesn't care about anything else.

This determination made Slughorn respect him and look at him with new eyes.

Because he knows clearly that how high a person can climb and how far he can go depends not only on his starting point, but also on his talent and his will.

As long as your will is strong enough, you can achieve amazing results even if you come from a poor background.

For example, the former Minister of Magic, Nobby Ritchie, was the first Muggle-born Minister of Magic. He had no background or connections, but relied on himself to rise to a high position step by step.

So he is very optimistic about Xiang Nan.

……

At ten o'clock, the party ended. Xiang Nan took the book "The Encyclopedia of Potions" written by Zygmunt Bage, said goodbye to Professor Slughorn, and then returned to the dormitory with Gregory.

"Severus, you're at a loss. You didn't even eat those delicious manta ray caviar and North Sea golden pearl oysters. It's such a pity." Gregory said to Xiang Nan with a look of regret.

  As the name suggests, manta ray caviar is made from manta ray roe. Manta ray is a magical creature that lives along the Mediterranean coast. Its number is very rare, so its caviar is naturally regarded as a treasure.

The Golden Pearl Oyster lives in the North Sea and has a small chance of producing golden pearls, which is a very valuable ingredient for magic potions. Of course, the meat of the Golden Pearl Oyster itself is also very tender. It can be said that after swallowing it, the soul will float out of happiness.

Xiang Nan smiled and shook his head. Although he didn't get to eat caviar and oysters, he finished reading the two books "The Emerald Record" and "Enhanced Magic Potion", and also borrowed "The Magic Potions Encyclopedia" written by Zygmunt Bage. It was not a loss.

"Stop!" At this moment, an old and hoarse voice shouted. Xiang Nan turned around and saw it was Argus Filch, with James Potter and Sirius Black standing beside him.

"I caught you, right? Why didn't you guys sleep in the dormitory after curfew? Why did you run out to wander around the corridor?" Filch glared at Xiang Nan and the others with a sneer on his face, looking smug. "So, what bad things do you want to do?"

"Mr. Filch, you misunderstood. We are not violating school rules and hanging out after curfew. We were invited by Professor Slughorn to attend his party.

The party has just ended and we are heading back to the dormitory." Xiang Nan explained.

"Don't try to fool me so easily." Filch said doubtfully.

James Potter and Sirius Black had only been in school for half a month, but they had already caused a lot of trouble, which he had already recorded in his little notebook. He also saw Xiang Nan wandering around the eighth floor, sneaking around, and he didn't look like he was doing anything good. So in his opinion, Xiang Nan's words were not worth trusting at all.

"We are telling the truth." Gregory said speechlessly.

Just then Lucius Malfoy walked by. He waved and shouted, "Senior, please prove it for us. He refuses to believe us."

As the head of Slytherin, Lucius Malfoy has the power to walk around at night, of course, under the euphemistic name of "night patrol".

"How many of them went to Professor Slughorn's party?" Filch also looked at Lucius and asked.

"I didn't notice." Lucius Malfoy pouted and turned away.

"See, you still dare to lie." Filch said proudly, "Come on, follow me to the office." As he said that, he grabbed Xiang Nan, James and others and went to the office.

"This bastard~" Gregory couldn't help but curse.

……

Arrived at Filch's office in the basement.

The room was dark and dingy, with no windows, and only a solitary oil lamp hanging from the low ceiling. The air was filled with the faint smell of fried fish.

The walls were lined with wooden filing cabinets; from the labels it was clear that the cabinets contained detailed information on every student Filch had ever punished.

On the wall behind Filch's desk hung a set of shiny chains and handcuffs and leg irons. Filch was known to have frequently asked Dumbledore for permission to hang students by their ankles and from the ceiling.

Filch grabbed a quill from a jar on the desk, and took out a large roll of parchment from the desk drawer, spread it out in front of him, then picked up the long black quill, dipped it in the inkwell, and scribbled, "Name, James Potter, offense: Violation of school rules, wandering after curfew. Recommended punishment: detention for one week..."

"We are really wronged. You should ask Professor Slughorn. He will prove it for us." Gregory said depressedly.

This was the first time he was punished since he entered the school, and he was wrongly accused. He felt very uncomfortable.

"Don't tell me what to do," Filch yelled at him, startling Gregory.

James and Sirius looked indifferent. They had been to this office several times and were used to it. If they couldn't beat him, they would just be detained. It was no big deal.

"Hey, hey~" The two of them were still in the mood to look around and make faces, "Look, 'confiscated supplies, highly confidential', I wonder what's in it?"

Suddenly, James Potter pointed to a large drawer with a label saying "confiscated materials, highly confidential". Sirius was also very curious about what treasures were inside.

At this moment, James showed a sly smile, then secretly took out a firework from his magic robe, lit it and threw it into the corridor. The firework then whizzed through the corridor, making popping sounds.

"Damn it!" Filch saw this and quickly picked up the mop and rushed out.

Sirius took the opportunity to open the drawer of "confiscated supplies"...