Chapter 73: Draco Striving for Improvement
In the afternoon, Ethan brewed four more pots of potions. Besides the Cure for Boils he'd brewed the night before, he also brewed three other potions of varying difficulty to check whether he had truly mastered the application of the spell.
The result satisfied him. All four pots succeeded; not a single one failed.
He murmured to himself, "Not bad, not bad. Today's task is considered complete. From now on, I only need to brew one pot of potion every day. In the evening, I can go to the library to learn something new. The Flight spell is really too difficult!"
This afternoon, Draco watched him work on potions quietly.
"Want to learn potion brewing?" Ethan asked, having noticed Draco's interest all afternoon.
"Mm." Draco didn't know what he meant but still nodded.
"Have you asked the Professor? What did he say?"
"Rejected." Draco looked desolate.
"Is that so?" Ethan thought for a moment, weighing his time and abilities before an idea struck him.
"How about this, Draco? Although I don't know why the Professor rejected you, I think if I teach you part of the knowledge myself, he shouldn't object, right?
But I've been busy recently. You saw it too; I really don't have much time to teach you.
How about this? I'll ask the Professor if I can give you a copy of my notes."
"I'll organize the notes, and you copy one for self-study. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. If I don't know, I'll ask the Professor again. What do you think?"
Draco was stunned at first. He didn't expect Ethan to want to satisfy his wish in this way, but he still thanked him warmly: "Thank you, Ethan."
"You're welcome. Helping you study can also consolidate my knowledge. I'll go ask for the Professor's opinion first. If he agrees, I'll organize the materials and give them to you." He waved his hand.
He felt this wouldn't actually take much time, but building a good relationship with Draco might be useful in the future. After all, this was the future young Death Eater handpicked by Voldemort.
He went to Snape's office first.
This professor's answer was: "As you wish, but content regarding the Separation Charm and such cannot be taught to others for the time being."
Ethan understood. He went back to tell Draco the good news first, then headed to the library to organize his notes.
After Ethan left, Draco jumped up from his chair excitedly.
Before Ethan had given him the notes, Draco had planned to reread the current potions textbook first to reinforce what he remembered.
He really hadn't been able to answer the questions Snape asked that morning. He decided to ask his family to mail him a copy of Advanced Potion-Making.
No time like the present. He started writing the letter immediately. He wanted to improve, no, he was determined to improve, and make Snape look at him with new eyes!
Ethan brought several large notebooks to the library to meet Hermione. Harry and Ron were there too, rushing to finish the homework they hadn't completed that week.
Exchanging a glance with Hermione was their version of a greeting. Ethan spread out his notebooks and began organizing, sorting through his knowledge system.
"Oh, so that's how it works. Why didn't I notice that before?"
"Hey, this can be done here too. I'll try the effect next time."
While organizing notes and integrating knowledge, he constantly had new ideas and new discoveries.
Two hours passed quickly. Ethan looked at the smaller portion of notes not yet organized and took them back to the dormitory to continue organizing.
Finally, just before going to bed, he finished organizing a thick stack of potions notes.
He put down his quill, stretched his back, and taking out the section on Snape's secret teachings, Ethan took out his wand. "Geminio!"
The remaining stack of notes was quickly duplicated.
"Draco, this copy is for you. Copy it as soon as possible. I don't know how long the Doubling Charm can last. If they disappear and you haven't finished copying, you can ask me to make another copy." Handing these notes to Draco, Ethan went to wash up.
Draco looked at the secret notes Ethan had left on the table without putting them away. His heart itched like a cat was scratching at it.
He peeked at Goyle and Crabbe to make sure they weren't paying attention before quickly moving to Ethan's desk and glancing at the content on it.
He couldn't duplicate it. Never having practiced the Doubling Charm, he could only stare helplessly.
He didn't dare turn the page either, afraid of being discovered while peeking at Ethan.
Hearing footsteps from outside, Draco retreated quickly, accidentally bumping his calf on the stool. "Ow!" he yelped, hopping on one leg a few times before falling onto the bed.
Goyle and Crabbe, who were debating what candy to ask the older students to buy next time, shuddered and turned their heads to look at Draco.
"Bumped myself. You guys busy yourselves." He rolled up his trouser leg, looked at the somewhat bruised calf, gently covered it with his hand, intending to rub it, and planned to go to the Hospital Wing for treatment tomorrow.
Ethan, who had come back from washing up, glanced at his leg. "I know a spell that can heal some minor injuries. Want me to try casting it? Disclaimer first, after learning it, I only tested it on some animals and haven't cast it on humans yet. It might not succeed."
"Try it. It hurts a bit." After Draco covered it with his hand and rubbed it slightly, he began to grimace in pain.
"Don't move, take your hand away. Yes, just like that."
Ethan asked Draco to get ready and then chanted the spell at the injury: "Episkey!"
"Is it better? I see the bruised area is slightly smaller." The spell's effect wasn't particularly good. He didn't know if it was because this spell wasn't quite right for the job.
The book said it could treat minor injuries, citing bleeding wounds as examples. When he had tested it on such wounds before, the effect was quite good.
"Maybe a little better?" Draco wasn't sure either.
"I'll try a few more times."
He held his wand and cast the spell again and again.
Finally, after a dozen more castings, the bruise on Draco's leg disappeared.
"It really doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you, Ethan." He covered it with his hand and rubbed it again; there was no pain anymore.
"As long as it's healed. Go to sleep—it's getting late." Ethan put down his wand, yawned, tidied up the notes on the table, climbed onto his bed, and fell asleep.
"Alright, you two, get some sleep early too. Buying candy takes all weekend anyway. Your candy for this week just arrived; what's the rush? Discuss it tomorrow." Seeing the two were getting worked up and looked like they were going to argue, Draco quickly stepped forward to persuade them.
The two looked at each other, snorted at the same time, and went back to their beds to rest.
Draco glanced at Ethan's desk, suppressed his urge to peek at the remaining notes, and also got into bed.
Snores echoed through the dormitory, while in the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts, a figure was wandering.
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