Homecoming from Hogwarts

With anticipation, Harry, Ron and Hermione came to the Potions classroom in the basement.

The Ravenclaw students they had just met in the yard delayed them for a while, and when Harry and the others entered the classroom, it was already full of Slytherin and Gryffindor students.

The classroom was very quiet. Harry guessed that this was because everyone was confused about Professor Slughorn's style and so behaved rather reservedly.

One change that Harry was happy to see was that, unlike Snape, Professor Slughorn was finally willing to draw the curtains of the dark classroom.

However, due to the bad weather and the various steam filling the classroom, the visibility here is still very bad.

Among these mixed scents, Harry was surprised to detect the floral scent that he liked very much.

He looked around and found Draco Malfoy sitting in his usual seat, with a hint of hesitation in his cold eyes.

Before Harry could figure out what Draco Malfoy's weird look was about -
"Ahaha, the most important 'guest' is finally here!"

Professor Slughorn's voice came from behind the drifting steam, drawing everyone's attention to him.

Harry froze in place, a little at a loss, while Ron and Hermione "very shamefully" took a few steps away from him and quickly found a place to sit down.

"Come on, Harry, sit here. There's an empty seat -"

Slughorn waved happily to Harry, then pointed to the cauldrons closest to the podium.

There were some chuckles in the classroom, coming from the Slytherins. They were very happy to see that even though the professor of this course had changed, Harry was still the focus of attention.

Harry had no choice but to walk over and sit in that seat alone under the smiling gaze of Professor Slughorn.

"Well, I think we're all here--"

' said Slughorn, puffing out his chest so that the buttons on his waistcoat were about to pop off.

"Students, please take out your scales, medicine bags, and don't forget to take out your textbooks. Today we are going to learn about demulcents, which are a type of--"

Professor Slughorn returned to the podium and opened his textbook, ready to start the class -
"Professor Slughorn—"

Slughorn was interrupted by a voice behind Harry which Harry recognised as that of Parvati Patil.

"What's wrong, honey?"

Just this one reply made Harry feel relieved - Snape would never call Gryffindor students "dear", and under normal circumstances, he would not allow Gryffindor students to ask questions.

"Those crucibles--"

From the tense voice of Patil, it can be heard that she was also shocked by her own "bold" behavior, but she still plucked up the courage.
"Those crucibles. What are they?"

Patil was referring to the row of cauldrons in front of Harry, in which various potions were brewing, and Harry had discovered that one of the cauldrons was emitting the floral scent that Harry liked.

"Oh, you're talking about this—"

Slughorn smiled and said,

"My first two classes were with NEWTS students. I prepared these to open their eyes. I thought they would recognize at least one or two of them."

Sighing, Slughorn said with a hint of regret,

"But judging from the results, it seems that none of them had read the textbooks in advance during the summer vacation, and the little gifts I prepared with great effort were not given to them."

Even Harry looked at Professor Slughorn curiously.

Parvati, who was not reprimanded, excited the Gryffindor students, who always kept their heads down in this course.

"What's the gift, Professor?"

Many Gryffindor students sitting in the back left their seats and craned their heads to look at the cauldrons. Lavender asked the question for everyone.

"Well, let's do a test first--"

Professor Slughorn seemed to have made a sudden decision. He looked at the students with great interest.
"If anyone can identify these potions, I will give you the chance to obtain them. I mean, I have prepared a surprise for NEWTS students--"

With a crash, everyone, including the Slytherins, looked at Hermione, and Hermione's cheeks turned bright red.

"Oh, your eyes tell me who is the best. Miss, how should I address you?" Slughorn looked over with a little surprise.
"Hermione Granger, sir -"

Hermione took a deep breath and stood up calmly.

"So, Miss Granger, could you please describe the potions in these cauldrons for us?"

"It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces anyone who drinks it to tell the truth," said Hermione.

"Ah, very good, very good, please continue, Miss Granger -"

Slughorn smiled with satisfaction.

Harry himself could recognize the potion in the second crucible, so Hermione would certainly not make a mistake. After all, Hermione had brewed it herself.

When Hermione identified the love potion in the third cauldron and told how she identified it, Professor Slughorn's eyes lit up.

"Hermione Granger, eh Granger?"

Professor Slughorn smiled kindly at Hermione.
"Are you related to Hector Dagworth Granger, the founder of the Extraordinary Apothecary Society?"

"No, I guess not, sir. I'm a Muggle-born."

Amidst the snickers, Hermione said calmly, but then she showed some shame.

"But I don't know what's in this crucible."

Hermione was referring to the fourth small black crucible, from which potion like molten gold was splashing!

"Oh, a very strange potion. Not many people have seen it brewed, but I bet you must have heard of its name - Felicity Potion!"

"Potion of Luck!"

Hermione shouted excitedly.
“It will bring good luck to people!”

"Well said, Miss Granger!"

As everyone watched, Professor Slughorn pulled a small glass bottle with a cork from his pocket.
"This is the little prize I prepared for the NEWTS students, but they don't have the ability to take it. Since Miss Granger has secured the opportunity for you, if anyone can make a palliative that satisfies me in this class--"

Everyone's emotions were aroused. The Slytherins no longer looked at Professor Slughorn with scrutiny, but stared at the small bottle containing golden liquid with longing.

Harry noticed that Malfoy walked from his seat to the front, hunched over, looking determined to win.

"Well, Miss Granger, you've earned twenty points for Gryffindor. Now, return to your seat--"

Professor Slughorn walked back to the podium.
"All the steps for making the medicine are on the blackboard. I hope you will follow them faithfully. Of course, I don't expect anyone to be perfect. As long as..."

There was a loud scraping sound as each man drew the crucible in front of him, and then the clanking of weights being placed on the scale.

Malfoy, who wanted to put his face close to the blackboard and stare at the words, made Harry frown slightly. He turned his head and saw that Ron, who was originally at the same table with Neville, had also changed his seat for him. He shamelessly squeezed in next to Hermione.

A small potion that brings luck.

Harry's heart also began to heat up slightly. Somehow, the image of Ginny in pajamas suddenly jumped into his mind. The sweet aroma of the aphrodisiac that was still boiling in front of him became even more tempting.

Which is more effective, the foeticide or the love potion?
Harry was startled by the thought that popped into his head.

He quickly shook his head, collected his thoughts, and began to focus on his own affairs.
The Forbidden Forest is just a short distance from the Hogwarts campus.

Amosta waved his magic wand with concentration, and pieces of oak planks floated up. Soon, a two-story oak cabin with a triangular roof appeared on the site that had been cleared in advance.

"There's really no need to go to all that trouble, Mr. Blaine—"

Behind Amosta, a middle-aged man in off-white linen smock and trousers looked at the scene silently, hesitated and spoke.

"I hope you can feel the sincerity of Hogwarts, Frommid--"

Amosta focused solely on adding to Oak House and hasn’t looked back.

The man behind him looked even more hesitant when he heard this. When the last piece of board flew onto the roof, he finally couldn't help but ask,
"I know the request... maybe, but can you try to save Miss Cliona, Mr. Blaine?" (End of this chapter)