days at Hogwarts

Dinner time, Slughorn's office.

Slughorn was originally supposed to take over Snape's office. He was also the head of Slytherin and professor of Potions, and he also had a huge storage room with various convenient tools for brewing potions, but his shortcomings were also obvious.

It was too damp and cold at the bottom of the Black Lake, and a fireplace had to be lit in the summer. Slughorn, who had just retired and was rehired, was too old and his body could not bear it. In addition, it was too quiet here, which did not meet his expectations.

When Scrimgeour sent people to search Snape's office, it seemed like a strong move, but he didn't pursue the matter much afterwards. He only confiscated some conspicuous prohibited items, and left the rest untouched.

Slughorn was, after all, a well-known figure who valued his reputation, so it was not easy for him to take over and handle the matter on his own. With Dumbledore's encouragement, he moved his office to the seventh floor.

It was lively now. Upstairs was the Gryffindor common room, and it was not quiet until lights-out. Even after lights-out, some night wanderers were chased everywhere by Filch. Slughorn covered up for naughty children several times. Although he sometimes treated them differently, his reputation was still very good.

Moreover, there are no other professors' offices on this floor, and the classrooms are basically abandoned, making it a perfect place to host Slug Club activities, such as inviting an outstanding student to dinner.

It was not an ordinary dinner produced by the Hogwarts kitchen, nor was it cooked by himself. Instead, Slughorn prepared the precious ingredients himself and gave them to the elves, who cooked them and served them.

"George and Fred have graduated, and the castle has become much quieter, which makes people feel uncomfortable..."

Slughorn cut open the Erumpent steak and put it into his mouth. The meat was juicy and tender, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. "I'm planning to hold a Christmas party specifically for the Slug Club. What do you think, Loren?"

"Anyone who receives the invitation must be very honored." Loren responded politely and continued to eat. High-quality ingredients in the magical world are rare, and some of them are on the edge of the law.

"Try this, Chirak fish stew..."

“It’s a wonderful taste.”

"..."

Slughorn explained the dishes on the table with a smile, and said with a little pride: "A quiet and leisurely life, comfortable material enjoyment, for an ordinary old man, there is nothing more worth pursuing than this."

Loren nodded in agreement. Someone was paying for the meal, so he must have maxed out his emotions. "These rare ingredients are not something an ordinary old man can buy, even at a high price. Only Professor Slughorn can buy them. You have connections in all fields..."

"It's not that difficult actually. It's just a Class B controlled animal and can be traded."

“It’s still the professor who has a wide range of friends.”

"Oh, it's just the accumulation of many years."

After the meal, although Slughorn only ate a piece of steak, the emotional value had filled his stomach. His walrus-like beard trembled with laughter, and the fat on his belly trembled.

After dinner, a smiling Slughorn took Loren to the storage room and showed him two potions that were being brewed. The thick, bubbling one was Polyjuice Potion, and the golden, glowing one was Felixir.

Loren's eyes stayed on the surface of the Felixir liquid. Slughorn was indeed a potion master with decades of experience. The first stage of the potion was maintained very well. As long as the next eight steps went smoothly, a pot of Felixir could produce a pint of finished product, which could be filled in 12 small glass bottles.

"The color is beautiful, isn't it?" Slughorn said softly with an obsessed look in his eyes. "Loren, I must say that friendship is only one aspect. Material enjoyment must rely on sufficient wealth. Potions is a subject that creates wealth, and Felicity Potion is the most expensive potion."

Loren did not comment. He thought the most expensive one should be Nicolas Flamel's elixir of immortality, and maybe Snape's resurrection potion in the future.

"Professor, are the next materials ready?"

"of course."

"I think we can get started."

"I can't wait."

Slughorn took out the remaining ingredients from the cabinet next to him and arranged them in order: the sea squirt head that looked like an oversized green onion, the tentacled growth on the back of the Murtra rat, the thyme concoction, the bird snake eggshell, the rue powder...

"There are nine steps to brewing the Felixir, divided into five stages with four stirring operations. After each stirring, you need to wait for the ingredients to complete the reaction... Now I will complete the operation of brewing the potion, Loren, you will be responsible for speeding up the reaction time, okay?"

Loren saw the ingredients and recalled the method of brewing the Felixir. He rehearsed the next steps in his mind: "No problem, professor."

Slughorn put the sea squash head into the silver press, continued to squeeze out the juice and added it to the crucible, stirring it quickly and vigorously, and a hint of green was mixed in the golden liquid.

"It will take about two months for the horseradish and sea onion juice to calm the magic of the fire ash snake..."

Slughorn carefully observed the liquid surface, and after confirming that it was stirred evenly, he stepped aside to give Loren room to operate. "The rest is up to you. Let me witness the magic of time."

Loren stretched out his magic wand and gently touched the gem on the right eye of the pendant on his chest. The tip of the wand was stained with a little golden light.

Ever since he obtained the time magic in the glass cover of the Department of Mysteries, he and Flamel have conducted some experiments with caution and care. He cannot bring himself back to the past or travel through the future, and can only influence matters in a small range.

With the infusion of magic power, the golden light became brighter.

Under the golden light, traces of green juice in the crucible quietly merged into the potion, and the glittering potion quickly dimmed and restrained its brilliance. Although the liquid was still golden, it no longer glowed, and was as ordinary as ordinary golden dye.

Slughorn stared at the potion in the cauldron, his light green eyes sparkling, and his breathing became rapid.

Merlin on top!

In the past, it took nearly two months to achieve this step. How long does it take now?

Less than three minutes!

What was brewing in the crucible was not elixir of life, but golden galleons, no, it was pure gold!

"Next, crush the lotus-like growths on the back of the Mothra rat and add them to the crucible, continuing to heat... followed by a spoonful of thyme and a second stirring.

“This time it will take a month.”

Slughorn looked at the crucible with excitement. The liquid inside had turned a light purple-red color and had a viscous texture. The boiling bubbles gurgled and expanded, and burst, with a flash of golden light.

"Add bird snake eggshells and stir for the third time... for a month!"

After the stirring was finished, Loren did not continue. Instead, he stopped what he was doing and turned to look at the fat professor, interrupting his urging:

"Professor, this step of waiting is necessary. The bird snake eggshell needs to absorb the magic of the full moon..."

"Look! I'm confused!"

Slughorn slapped his head and flushed, perhaps because of the wine he had drunk with dinner or because he was excited, but he paced back and forth in the room, counting on his fingers and muttering to himself.

"Full moon...full moon...the last full moon was a week ago, and the next one will be at...the end of the month! Oops, we still have to wait three weeks!"