Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 30: Successful Cooking
Sometimes, brewing potions seems so Muggle-like.

This has led many to believe that as long as you follow the steps, even a Muggle can brew a magic potion.

But the truth is quite the opposite.
Even if Muggles have all the ingredients and follow the instructions strictly, they still cannot make the potion.
Because brewing potions always requires some kind of magic to guide the process, and sometimes a wand is also needed.

As for the scabies medicine, its magical part comes last.
At this point, the wizard needs to make a special gesture and silently recite a special incantation.

The general meaning is:

"This gives the medicine the ability to treat scabies."

As for the preceding steps, Sheen is currently carrying them out.

In the cellar.

Dim light cast dappled patterns on the stone wall above, while the crucible, simmering slowly over a low flame, emitted white smoke and a delicate fragrance.
The empty underground room was filled only with the sound of bubbling and the soft rustling of Sheen turning the pages of "Potions and Magical Elixirs".

Professor Snape explained the important points to note when brewing potions very clearly in the very first lesson.
That is precision and rigor.

Sheen turned to the section of "Potions and Elixirs of Magic" that he needed.

Although he had already memorized it, he still set it aside for future use.

"The first step is to weigh the ingredients and boil the slugs with tentacles..."

Before the crucible reached its designated preheating time, Sheen quickly measured the four portions of material to precise standards.
Then, without stopping, they boiled the slugs with tentacles.

During the cooking process, he followed the steps and used the tools on the table to crush the venomous snake fangs and chopped the pre-soaked dried nettles.

This is where the skills he learned in the greenhouse came in handy.
He handled the selection and processing of materials to meet the required standards with remarkable ease, and still had plenty of time left over.

During his spare time, Sheen didn't stop either; he quickly recorded the amount and condition of the materials at that moment.

He didn't even miss the general state of the flames.
Although the cauldrons in the cellar are self-igniting, he'll eventually have to learn to control the flames with his wand, won't he?
Sheen always made sure to prepare in advance.

"The second step is to remove the slugs, then add dried nettles and venomous snake fangs..."

With enough time, Sheen read through "Potions and Elixirs" one more time to make sure he didn't forget any details because of nervousness.

This dark brown book, with its cover featuring images of a crucible and steam, was simply placed to the side.
The first page reveals the following: [Basic Cooking Methods: This Book is All You Need]

"The third step is to stir two circles to the left, then three circles to the right, using just the right amount of force..."

Sheen used the same force to break up bubbles, stirring the brewing potion in a fixed motion.

In fact, he was a little nervous.

Professor Snape could appear at any time, and his own practice might not even be successful.

People are always afraid of the unknown, and Sheen was no exception.

Therefore, he was exceptionally careful and meticulous.

"That's about it. Add the slugs, then take the crucible away and add the porcupine quills."

The potion-making process had clearly reached its most crucial stage. The slugs melted as soon as they were added to the cauldron, and the potion turned a pale blue color.
Sheen silently counted in his mind:
"Twenty-five, twenty-four, twenty-three..."

During this break, Sheen didn't linger; he meticulously recorded the details of the subsequent steps, including the time, the state of the materials, the heat, and so on.

Now comes the most exciting part!

Sheen stirred the cauldron, waving his arms and chanting incantations.
After the crucible bubbled for a while,
became……

A blue-green, jelly-like liquid.

Huh?
Why is it blue-green?

There was no beep from the panel, and Sheen knew for certain that he had failed.
But looking at the final effect of the medicine, he didn't fail very often.

He frowned deeply. If there was no problem with the preparation of the ingredients, then the problem must lie in the cooking process.

So, which step went wrong: stirring, controlling the heat, or the final incantation?

Or have problems with all of them?

For no apparent reason, Sheen recalled a passage from "The Theory of Magic":

However, when you master a magic spell
To truly unleash its maximum power,

Sufficient mental strength is also required.

Sheen recalled the terminology used here—a kind of magic.

Are potions also included in this category?

Sheen knew that his talent for potions was limited, just like with spells; it might take a hundred or so practices to master the technique.
But I don't have much time or materials.
Therefore, I had to take a shortcut.

He carefully took out "Advanced Potions" from his bag and scanned the obscure contents.

Soon, he discovered the description that caught his eye.

The Ministry of Magic has classified Polyjuice Potion as high-risk magic.
Because its effectiveness is greatly affected by the emotional fluctuations of the person making the decoction.
Strict supervision is required.

He didn't fully know what emotions were needed to brew the potion, but tension and mechanicalness were definitely not acceptable.

When the crucible is ignited and steam begins to rise again...
Sheen's tense body gradually relaxed, he told himself.
If Professor Snape finds out about him, then regardless of whether the exercise succeeds or fails, he's doomed.

So, is it a successful demise, or a failed demise?

The difference is significant.

His green eyes became deep and calm again, and even the way he stirred the potion took on a peculiar rhythm.

Sheehan is always good at controlling his emotions; if he couldn't do that, the child would have a terrible time at Holliss orphanage.

The nettles melted like rock candy in the crucible, and the venomous fangs sizzled as they dissolved into the medicine.
Sheen used the same technique as before, only this time...
He seemed to genuinely believe he was creating an art form.

The art of potions.

The crucible emitted wisps of white steam, and time passed quietly amidst the silence and the soft clinking of spoons against the inner walls.

When Sheen rejoined the Porcupines
The extinguished crucible seemed to absorb the last of the materials as if it were being fused together.

Sheen focused intently on completing the ritual and reciting the incantation.

This time, the crucible no longer changed slowly; it seemed to follow Sheen's will.
It surged rapidly.

In no time, the liquid turned into a jelly-like consistency, and its color became very close to dark green.

[You have successfully brewed a potion of scabies medicine to the standards of an apprentice. Proficiency +1]

Sheen's eyes were incredibly bright as he stared at the pot of dark green, jelly-like liquid, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

Then, without wasting a single second, he meticulously wrote down all the steps in his notebook.

The most important part was capitalized:
[Potion making is a delicate craft; the wizard's focus and calmness are key.]

Just as he was immersed in reflection and summarization,

On the stairs leading to the cellar, the torches suddenly flickered.
Above the cold, damp steps, the hem of a black robe suddenly billowed out.

(End of this chapter)