At 7pm, Hermione walked into Professor Hap's office on time, as she had done for the past two months.
This time, however, she felt a little nervous.
Felix looked up and smiled when he saw that our little witch looked a little restrained, "Sit down first, I had thought you would be absent for this weekend, after all you have been here for most of the week."
Hermione gathered her courage and said, "Professor, I'm sorry we followed you because we got a lead on the Chamber of Secrets and happened to find you in the Forbidden Forest ..."
Felix was somewhat taken aback, "So I became the subject of suspicion ..."
"No Professor, you are very good, we are the ones who were too sensitive," Hermione hastened to explain, "We came across a professor during the previous academic year who is a dark wizard and tried to steal a hidden magic stone from the school."
"Oh, with an experience like that, it's no wonder you guys are paranoid. Still, I would advise you that while perhaps your intentions are good, you must act within your means, and many dangers are not varied based on whether one is despicable or noble."
Hermione nodded good-naturedly.
They spent the next five thinking hours in the Thinking Room, with Felix teaching her three magic runes.
This time was one that they repeatedly compared notes over and over, without being too exhausted or learning much. Hermione even had the extra energy to continue practicing for another ten minutes when she returned to reality, and she could barely sketch out those three magic runes.
"Very brilliant." Felix couldn't help but clap his hands in praise.
If he had been in a similar position, he wouldn't have been able to outperform her without his golden finger.
But he also noticed a flaw in this young witch, the magic she had mastered always seemed to be modest in power, not fluctuating much in terms of ups and downs - which is good to a certain extent, the spellcasting is stable and once learned, it's hard to fail.
But at some points it is also a disadvantage, as she is less likely to "explode" and be able to amplify the power of a spell with her powerful emotions.
It could be fair to say that she is more suited to being a magical scholar, studying and learning magic, rather than a spellcasting wizard like Auror.
Felix thought that perhaps when she graduated, he could ask her to become his research assistant, or - as a partner?
He couldn't be blamed for thinking this much, it's because there were too few qualified candidates available as backups, and that's what he is so unsatisfied with Hogwarts, and the wizarding world in general - the training methods are too sloppy, how many wizards graduate and still study magic tirelessly?
On the contrary, there was no shortage of such wizards in the dark market, but the point is, would he dare to hire such a person?
If I could dominate the wizarding world ... a thought came to his mind, but it is quickly discarded, that's not his path.
"It's early, you could get back early or want to watch a film together?" Felix asked the young witch as he glanced back at the time, just a little past nine.
Hermione smoothed her hair, "Oh - Professor Hap?" She stammered, "I think - I'm rather curious about a certain Potion and would like some kind of background knowledge."
"Potion?"
"Yes, you know, we learn about antidotes and basic potions in Potions class, but I've read in the book about some potions, some of the more advanced ones, possess very magical effects ..."
"Indeed." Felix thought about it, it isn't a big deal. "Potion, let see." He waved his wand and taped the ring on his left index finger, and six finger-thick vials appeared in front of him.
"The field of potion is indeed complex and magical, and although I took Professor Snape's Advanced Class, I have to say that I'm still far from being able to master the field of Potion as a whole."
Hermione is somewhat surprised that Professor Hap would hold Snape in such a high esteem?
"First one, Baruffio's Brain Elixir." Felix let the first vial on his left fly to Hermione, "It can significantly enhance the brain power of the person taking it and speed up their learning efficiency. In a way - somewhat similar to the Thinking Room."
Hermione looked at the vial in front of her, it filled with a light blue liquid, gently swirled with bright fluorescent flashes.
"Many wizards have become so addicted to the potion that they can't help themselves, and have lost the ability to think altogether because of the misuse of Baruffio's Brain Elixir." Seeing Hermione's outstretched hand tremble for a moment, he added, "But it's still okay to take it once in a while."
"Second, the Fire Protection Potion." A small vial of purple liquid flew in front of her, "Although the name isn't remarkable, it's effective against magical fire."
Hermione suddenly remembered the question Professor Snape had set during the first year quest.
It was a logical reasoning question, and one of the potions worked as a way to get through magical flames.
"Third, Felix Felicis ." A vial flew up to her, containing the least amount of potion, only a third of it, maybe two or three millilitres. But it's the prettiest - it resembled a liquid of molten gold that jumped up like swimming fish with the slightest shake, the fluid blobbing.
"Also known as a Liquid of luck, it allows the person who takes it to have all things go well, as if by magic. But misuse leads to vertigo, recklessness and arrogance ..."
"It must be very complicated to brew, right?" Hermione asked.
"Extremely complicated, it takes at least six months and one wrong step, and it can turn into a pot of poison." Felix said rather emotionally.
"Fourth one, the Wolfsbane Potion. It prevents werewolves from losing their minds after a full moon transformation, but of course, it's useless to me, merely used as a collection ..."
"Fifth, Polyjuice Potion ." Hearing this, Hermione's spirits shot up, and she stared dead at the vial that flew in front of her. "It seems you've heard of this potion as well?"
Hermione whispered, "Professor Snape mentioned it in class, it allows the person taking it to take the form of someone else."
"Yes, it's also a rather complex potion that takes a month to brew. A standard dose works for about 10 minutes to 12 hours, depending on the quality of the potion."
"What about this one?"
"Mine? Probably enough to transform one person for half an hour."
Hermione looked a little disappointed. It seemed that one still had to brew it on their own, and the question is back to square one; how were they supposed to get the professor's seal of approval and get the recipe?
Felix's explanation continued as he waved his wand and sent the last vial flying in front of her.
"The sixth one, Ecstasy. Also known as the love potion. Once taken, one will fall madly in love with the person who gives him/her the potion."
Hermione couldn't help but open her mouth wide.
"You'll realize that it's used somewhat similarly to Polyjuice Potion: polyjuice is added with someone else's hair or body tissue, thus turning them into the other person;"
"The ecstasy, on the other hand, is to add one's own hair or body tissue and give it to someone else to drink, thus making them fall in love with them."
The young witch said indignantly, "This potion is an abomination."
Felix shrugged, "Indeed, it will only give you false love, as if it were a soap bubble - like its odour, which happens to be the favourite smell of your heart."
Felix waved his wand and the cork of the vial popped out with a loud bang, "You can try the smell of it - don't worry, it's the purest form of the original liquid and not very dangerous, at least not to your sanity. "
Hermione leaned in close and sniffed gently, it smells like books, sunshine and her home in the muggle world.