Lynn nodded and said, "Of course! What's it about? A new toy from Zuko's joke shop?"
Fred chuckled and replied, "What toy? This is way more exciting than toys!"
George added, "See you tonight!"
---
After saying goodbye to the Weasley twins, Lynn arrived at the underground Potions classroom.
This was a large, dimly lit underground classroom, capable of accommodating at least 20 young wizards. The shelves along the walls were packed with various glass jars containing animal specimens preserved in solution. There was also a storage cabinet for magical materials, holding various ingredients students from all years could use to brew potions.
The Potions classroom had a much colder atmosphere than the other classrooms in the castle, perhaps due to the dim lighting or the unsettling animal specimens on display.
Bang!
The door to the Potions classroom suddenly burst open as Professor Snape, dressed in a black robe, swept in with a dramatic flair, almost as if he had his own wind machine.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," Professor Snape began, his voice barely above a whisper but perfectly clear, "As there will be no foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic at all."
"I do not expect you to truly understand the beauty of a simmering cauldron, emitting shimmering fumes and subtle fragrances. You won't comprehend the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind and ensnaring the senses."
"But for the few sharp minds among you, I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper to death. However, that is only if you are not the kind of dunderheads I so often have to endure."
As he spoke, Snape crossed his arms over his chest, resembling a large bat surveying his domain.
The classroom fell silent, with everyone stunned by Snape's ominous tone.
Sitting in the back, Lynn was thrilled. After all, this was another iconic scene!
It was a shame he wouldn't be able to witness Snape grilling Harry with his famous three questions next year, as Lynn would be moving on to his second year.
The Potions class began smoothly. Snape divided the young wizards into groups and instructed them to brew a simple boil-cure potion.
Lynn was grouped with Irwin Foley, the Slytherin student he had spoken to during the previous evening's feast.
"I'll handle the ingredient preparation, and you can do the brewing. How about that?" Irwin suggested.
Lynn nodded in agreement, and Irwin quickly weighed the nettles, crushed the snake fangs, and handed the prepared materials to Lynn one by one.
Lynn, in turn, added the ingredients to the cauldron in precise order, carefully following the steps. Having already read through the potions textbook in advance, and with his past experience in chemistry classes, Lynn was far more methodical than most of the young wizards.
Before long, their potion was complete, making them the first group to finish in the classroom.
Snape approached, dipped a finger into their potion, and sniffed it.
"It's a standard potion, nothing exceptional. However, as you finished quickly without errors, Slytherin earns five points," Snape stated coolly.
---
After Potions class, it was time for lunch. Lynn and his classmates only had one more class that afternoon—Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Wallison Green, arrived punctually.
Just as he appeared on his Chocolate Frog card, Professor Green had a serious demeanor. Behind his eyes, there seemed to be a trace of sadness, as though it hinted at past experiences.
"Please put away your textbooks. You won't need them in my class. Today, we will be learning practical methods to deal with dark magical creatures," Professor Green began, his voice calm but commanding.
"Remember, you are wizards, and your wand is your best tool for handling most situations. While your textbooks might suggest you don't need to learn self-defense magic in your first year, this is my class, and I don't take suggestions from textbooks," Professor Green continued, unveiling a cage covered with red cloth.
Inside the cage was a petrified Acromantula larva, likely freshly captured from the Forbidden Forest.
"The Full Body-Bind Curse is a spell that effectively neutralizes threats, whether it's a dark magical creature or a dark wizard. This curse is one of the most suitable spells for you to learn at this stage."
"The incantation for the Full Body-Bind Curse is Petrificus Totalus. When cast, the curse binds the arms and legs of the target, rendering their entire body rigid."
"Now, observe closely. Petrificus Totalus!"
Professor Green demonstrated with a graceful wave of his wand.
A white-gray light shot from his wand's tip, hitting the Acromantula larva in the cage at lightning speed. The creature, just recovering from the previous curse, froze again instantly, its legs stiffening as it fell inside the cage.
After completing his demonstration, Professor Green brought out over twenty more cages, each containing a lively Acromantula larva.
"Your task today is to successfully cast the Full Body-Bind Curse. If you can petrify the Acromantula in front of you, you'll be considered successful. The first student to achieve this will earn ten house points!"
Hearing this, the students grew visibly excited.
The Gryffindor students, in particular, were eager to prove themselves, preparing enthusiastically for the challenge. After all, ten house points were a significant reward!
Even the Slytherins, who were equally proud and competitive, had their eyes gleaming with determination. Everyone wanted to seize the opportunity to contribute to their house's success.