"I suspect she stopped me just to touch my horns."
Aiden led Harry and Ron toward the Potions classroom.
"Isn't it class time now? Why are you still wandering outside?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"The sopophorous bean needed for class was used up. Professor Horace asked me to get some from Professor Sprout."
Aiden pulled out a drawstring pouch from his Undetectable Extension Charm pocket and showed it to them.
Quickly arriving at the Potions classroom, Horace had already started his lesson inside.
"Attention to detail in the preparation phase is a prerequisite for all successful potions."
Knock knock. A knocking sound interrupted Horace's teaching.
"Oh, Mr. Prewett, did you bring back the sopophorous bean?" Slughorn turned around and spotted Harry and Ron.
"Ah, yes! And Mr. Potter, I knew you would embrace Potions. You brought a companion as well—splendid! Any friend of yours is most welcome here."
Slughorn waved his hand grandly, gesturing for Harry and Ron to enter.
"Thank you, Professor, but we don't have our textbooks," Harry said, still resistant to Potions class.
"No problem—this classroom has plenty of spare textbooks. Help yourselves," Slughorn said, pointing to the bookshelf beside them.
The two ran over to search for textbooks, while Aiden pulled the sack from his pocket and placed it on the desk.
"You actually cast an Undetectable Extension Charm in your pocket. Good idea. Perhaps we can find time to discuss it together later," Horace praised.
"My pleasure," Aiden said, exchanging pleasantries before hiding behind Ethan and Edmund.
"Why did it take so long?" Ethan leaned over and whispered.
"Met Professor McGonagall on the way. She had me bring Harry and Ron to class."
Aiden jerked his chin toward Ron and Harry scrambling for textbooks by the bookshelf.
"Seems Professor McGonagall plays favorites too."
Edmund said while handing Aiden the notes from earlier.
"It's just within the rules. After all, Professor Horace himself agreed to allow students without Outstanding grades to attend advanced Potions, and he is a Slytherin."
Aiden pushed the notes back and pulled out his own textbook.
"Don't need them. I'm quite familiar with these potions."
At the same time, his mind had already begun recalling past days of detention under Professor Snape.
Unfortunately, he could no longer use poorly brewed potions as a reason to require Aiden's detention. (Snape in Defense Against the Dark Arts class: Achoo~)
"All right, you're all here. Who can tell me what these potions are?"
Horace placed a row of potions on the joined desks. From right to left were Veritaserum, Polyjuice Potion, Felix Felicis, Amortentia...
Hermione decisively raised her hand and identified each potion one by one.
Horace remembered this girl before him because he sensed the scent of a promising student.
"Well done... uh," Horace got stuck.
"Granger, sir. My name is Granger."
"Oh, well done, Miss Granger. Five points to Gryffindor."
Horace generously gave her points, which made Hermione somewhat flustered.
"So, next let's begin today's practical lesson—Draught of Living Death. The preparation method is in the book. For students who brew the potion well, I'll reward them with one of these potions."
Horace pointed to the bubbling cauldrons on the desk, then had students go to their respective cauldrons and distributed materials to them.
Aiden pulled out materials and tossed them in casually. Years of brewing Sequence potions had formed this rough brewing style.
He could complete the specific separation of medicinal properties through fine control of magic. If not for avoiding being too conspicuous, he'd be too lazy to even light the flames.
"Mr. Prewett, you can't do that; it will explode!"
As Potions professor, Horace's eyes widened seeing Aiden's destructive methods.
However, the explosion he anticipated didn't occur. Instead, these materials immediately decomposed upon contact with the liquid in the cauldron.
The medicinal properties separated perfectly under Aiden's magical control, and the parts that needed combining were perfectly fused by him.
Soon, a cauldron of Draught of Living Death was brewed.
"Incredible, what technique is this?" Horace became interested.
"Professor, this is the use of the Qualitative Transfiguration Spell that Professor McGonagall and others published in Transfiguration Today. Transfiguration itself has extremely broad applications. Qualitative Transfiguration involves changes to the essence of things. And the separation of medicinal properties from materials in potions actually has similarities to this spell."
Aiden pointed his index finger at the potion. The liquid inside flew up and actually disassembled in the air, reverting to the original herb forms.
"Incredible, but wouldn't this violate Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration?" Horace asked, curious.
"It won't, Professor. After all, it's just extracting the original properties of matter, not involving conversion."
Aiden explained.
"Excellent work. Then as the first student to complete the potion, you'll receive the fastest brewing reward—Amortentia. Speaking of which, this stuff is rather dangerous. Please use it carefully."
Horace handed the Amortentia to Aiden. Ethan beside him leaned over and nudged him.
"Who are you going to use this on?" Ethan smiled mischievously.
"On you," Aiden said, glaring at him viciously, then...
Ethan, not paying attention to the flames, burned his Draught of Living Death.
"Damn it!" He quickly ran back to salvage it.
Draco nearby wanted to strike up a conversation with Horace. "Sir, hello. I'm the heir of the Malfoy family. I heard from elders at home that you seem to be old friends with my grandfather."
As an old Slytherin, Horace saw through Draco's attempt immediately, combined with news of the Malfoy family's recent fall from grace.
"I knew him. I was quite sad to hear he died, but it was also expected. At such an advanced age and catching dragon pox..."
Horace had no interest in Draco, answered perfunctorily a few times, and left.
After all this commotion until class ended, Horace began selecting the best efficacy award.
Since Aiden had already received a gift, Horace didn't count him.
Walking around the room, Horace was attracted by a rich scent of Draught of Living Death.
Following the scent, he came before Harry's cauldron.
Dropping in a test leaf, he watched it burn in the Draught of Living Death.
"Merlin's beard! I'd wager one drop of this Draught of Living Death could knock out the entire class."
Horace satisfactorily pulled out Felix Felicis and had Harry stand beside him.
"Come, let me fulfill my promise and award you Felix Felicis as a prize."
Harry reached out to take the Felix Felicis, but Horace pulled his hand back.
"Use it well," Horace instructed seriously.
Harry smiled at him. Horace satisfactorily stuffed the potion into his pocket.