Aglaia's potion-making skills were astonishingly advanced. Through her showy display, Hoffa managed to glean nearly 90% of the complete formula for the magical recovery potion. If not for Slughorn's interruption, he would have secured the entire recipe.
But dwelling on Slughorn's interference was pointless now. The priority was addressing his magical limitations. If he could acquire a steady and endless source of magic, he wouldn't need to worry about the strange markings on his arm sapping his power.
More than that, he could potentially use Phantom Walk continuously—permanent invincibility, immune to any harm.
Just the thought of it was terrifying.
With 90% of the formula in hand and a few old recipes from the library, Hoffa believed he could deduce the potion's exact proportions.
His tasks were clear:
Procure sufficient potion ingredients. This wasn't too difficult; he still had 70 Galleons left from the 100 Galleons Indor had given him. Many students used owls to order supplies from Diagon Alley, and he could do the same.
Find a secure, undisturbed place to brew the potion. While the potion wasn't strictly illegal, Slughorn had already mentioned its controversial nature. It was better to avoid drawing attention.
Initially, Hoffa considered using the abandoned girls' bathroom that Hermione once frequented as the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. But then he mocked himself for forgetting—Moaning Myrtle wasn't dead yet. She was still alive and well in Ravenclaw, and that bathroom was in regular use. If he went there, he'd risk being labeled a pervert and probably end up strung up for his trouble.
After some thought, Hoffa decided to use the Room of Requirement on the eighth floor. Nowhere else would be as safe or accommodating.
However, an unexpected incident over the weekend altered his plans.
Hoffa needed a large quantity of ingredients but didn't own an owl. Miranda had one he could borrow, but Hoffa instinctively wanted to avoid using a classmate's owl. Those owls would deliver packages during meals, and if a large sack of potion materials arrived at the dining table, it would inevitably attract attention—particularly from her.
The last thing Hoffa wanted was to get reported again.
After much deliberation, he thought of Joey.
Hoffa had worked with Joey for a month and had built a decent relationship with him. The eccentric caretaker had several owls in his home, and borrowing one shouldn't be an issue. Most importantly, Hoffa wasn't worried about Joey reporting him.
For one thing, Joey's own activities were far crazier than Hoffa's—he was literally raising a Thunderbird in the Forbidden Forest.
By mid-November, the temperature had plummeted. Every morning, the edges of the Forbidden Forest were coated in white frost. Winter in England was settling in.
That weekend, when Hoffa arrived at Joey's treehouse, he found the place in chaos. The fireplace roared, making the room uncomfortably hot, and Joey was running around shirtless, wearing a pair of red mechanical goggles.
At times, Joey added wood to the fire; other times, he rushed to a table, darting back and forth in a flurry of activity.
On the table sat a hay nest, inside which lay a round, gleaming egg—the very egg that Thunderbird Talas had laid.
"What are you doing?" Hoffa asked.
"Taking care of Maya," Joey replied without looking up.
"Maya? The Thunderbird is female?" Hoffa asked, puzzled.
Joey didn't answer. He seemed completely absorbed in observing the Thunderbird egg. Hoffa doubted he had even heard the question.
Annoyed, Hoffa walked over and gave Joey a couple of firm nudges.
"Hey!"
"Hey!"
Finally, Joey seemed to snap back to reality, straightening up and removing his goggles.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I need to borrow an owl," Hoffa replied. "Can I use one?"
"Help yourself," Joey said, before bending back down to observe the egg on the table.
"Okay," Hoffa muttered as he turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Joey called out again.
"Wait a minute! I just remembered—I need to go to Knockturn Alley to buy some ingredients. I can't spare the owl right now."
"What?"
Hoffa was stunned. The timing was way too coincidental.
"What are you buying?"
"Maya is in her incubation phase," Joey explained. "She's extremely fragile right now. On top of that, this British weather isn't doing her any favors. I need special medicines to keep her alive."
Hoffa stared blankly for a moment before saying, "Actually... I need to go to Diagon Alley for ingredients too."
"Huh?"
Now it was Joey's turn to be surprised.
"You're buying ingredients? Isn't the school supply enough for you?"
"I want to make a magical recovery potion," Hoffa admitted.
"Don't be ridiculous," Joey scoffed. "That stuff sells for 20 Galleons a vial at St. Mungo's. If you can brew it, pigs might as well fly. Besides, you're too young to need that kind of thing."
20 Galleons! Hoffa was shocked. The raw materials for a single vial didn't even cost a Galleon, but the finished product sold for 20. It was just like hospitals everywhere, profiting off people's desperation. To think that a wand cost less than 20 Galleons...
If he could figure out the formula, Hoffa thought, maybe he could make some money from this in the future.
"My magic is insufficient," Hoffa explained.
"You're still a kid. Your magic will naturally increase over the years," Joey said dismissively.
Hoffa thought grimly, If I don't get this potion, I might not even pass my first-year exams, let alone survive the dangers waiting outside, like Schmidt Lutrov. With the risks ahead, solving his magic deficiency was non-negotiable.
Seeing Hoffa's silence, Joey raised an eyebrow. "You're really serious about this?"
"Yes," Hoffa nodded.
"Well, you're a true Ravenclaw, I'll give you that," Joey said with a chuckle.
He sat down, pulled out a piece of parchment, and scribbled something quickly before handing it to Hoffa.
"If you're buying, bring these back for me too. Use two owls to split the load."
It was clear that Joey didn't care at all whether Hoffa was breaking school rules. His mind was wholly focused on the Thunderbird egg. He paid no attention to anything else.
After leaving Joey's place, Hoffa decided to abandon the idea of sneaking into the Room of Requirement. He resolved to brew the potion in Joey's treehouse instead.
The Room of Requirement was too risky with so many people around the school. Someone was bound to notice eventually. But Joey's place was safer—a chaotic but secure hideout, with an eccentric old man covering for him. If trouble arose, Joey would take the heat.
Joey's owls were efficient. Three days later, the ingredients Hoffa needed arrived from Diagon Alley in large packages that nearly exhausted the two owls carrying them.
Of course, Joey's medicines also arrived. They looked black and sludgy, like something dredged from the bottom of a pond—utterly revolting.
With the materials on hand, Hoffa began carving out time each day to visit Joey's treehouse to work on the potion.
He didn't have Aglaia's level of expertise or a complete formula to follow. Hoffa expected to go through numerous trial-and-error experiments before perfecting the potion's ratios.
Time passed day by day.
On a Friday afternoon, right after finishing his classes, Hoffa quickly left the classroom and hurried toward Joey's treehouse.
On most days, Joey would stay in the treehouse's main hall, never leaving his beloved Thunderbird egg for even a moment.
But today, as Hoffa approached, he saw Joey standing by the stables near the Forbidden Forest, saddling his white horse. The horse was equipped with a scabbard, a bow and crossbow, and Joey himself carried several small glass vials glowing with an unidentifiable light. He was fully armed and ready for action.
The sight of him like this inexplicably reminded Hoffa of Geralt of Rivia.
"What are you doing?" Hoffa couldn't help but ask.
Without looking up, Joey replied casually, "Go do your thing. I'm heading into the Forbidden Forest. Looks like the centaurs are having some trouble. Oh, and help me keep an eye on Maya—don't let the room temperature drop."
Centaurs in trouble?
Hoffa was curious, but he didn't think too much about it. Joey was, after all, the gamekeeper; it was normal for him to enter the forest.
"Alright. Maya's in good hands," Hoffa assured him.
Joey mounted his horse and trotted into the forest, the sound of hoofbeats fading into the distance.
As Hoffa watched him disappear, he suddenly felt as though someone was watching him from behind.
He spun around abruptly.
The early winter grass swayed gently under the amber glow of the sunset, and the rippling surface of the Black Lake shimmered in the light.
There was no one there.
Frowning, Hoffa felt a vague unease. This wasn't the first time he'd experienced this feeling in recent days.
He shook it off and climbed the rope ladder up to the treehouse without lingering.
Inside the main hall of the treehouse, the room was as chaotic as ever. Herbs and scraps of various materials were scattered everywhere.
Hoffa glanced at the Thunderbird egg on the table. It was now completely encased in a layer of black sludge, resembling a massive century egg.
He put on Joey's special goggles and inspected the egg. (The goggles had x-ray capabilities, allowing him to see the embryo inside.) Satisfied with its condition, he added more firewood to the hearth before sitting down in the center of the room.
Three cauldrons sat in the middle of the treehouse, each containing a bubbling potion with a distinct composition. The air was thick with the potent aroma of magic.
These were the ingredients for a secondary magic recovery potion, now on the verge of completion.
If he could successfully create the potion, Hoffa wouldn't dare claim invincibility, but it would significantly alleviate his crippling magic deficiency.
Carefully, he extracted the critical components from the cauldrons, one by one, and placed them into three test tubes.
The liquids in the test tubes glowed in vivid shades of red, yellow, and green—a mesmerizing sight.
But the potion wasn't finished yet.
The most crucial step lay ahead: the ratio.
Hoffa gently set the test tubes on the table, picked up a dropper, and began transferring tiny amounts of potion from one tube to another, drop by drop.
Aglaia had said that only a handful of people in the world knew the exact ratio, but Hoffa had calculated a likely range. He just needed to test it a few more times to find the perfect balance.
However, just as he was deeply focused, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He whirled around instinctively.
Bang!
The treehouse door slammed open with a deafening crash!
Standing in the doorway was a silver-haired girl, her face alight with ecstatic triumph.
"I caught you! I caught you red-handed!"
Her expression was like that of a woman discovering her cheating husband, ready to demand a divorce and half his assets.
"Ha! Secretly brewing potions, using my recipe!"
Aglaia's chest heaved with indignation.
Hoffa's face turned pale. He had never expected her to follow him all the way here.
"You've been stalking me!?" he exclaimed.
"So what if I have?" Aglaia laughed maniacally.
"Just you wait—I'm telling Professor Slughorn!"
The situation spiraled out of control in an instant. It was as if Hoffa had suddenly stepped off a cliff and into free fall.
On most days, Joey would stay in the treehouse's main hall, never straying far from his precious Thunderbird egg.
But on this particular day, Hoffa spotted Joey standing by the stables near the Forbidden Forest, saddling his white horse. The horse was equipped with a scabbard and a bow and crossbow, and Joey himself carried several small glass vials that emitted a strange glow. He was fully armed and ready for action.
Seeing him like this inexplicably reminded Hoffa of Geralt of Rivia.
"What are you up to?" Hoffa couldn't help but ask.
Joey glanced at him briefly. "Mind your own business. I'm heading into the Forbidden Forest. Looks like the centaurs are having some trouble. Oh, and keep an eye on Maya for me. Make sure the room stays warm."
Centaurs in trouble?
Hoffa was intrigued but didn't dwell on it. Joey, as the gamekeeper, entering the forest wasn't unusual.
"Alright, I'll take care of Maya," Hoffa replied.
Joey mounted his horse and rode off, the sound of hoofbeats fading into the forest.
As Hoffa watched him disappear, he suddenly felt a prickling sensation, as if someone were watching him from behind.
He turned sharply.
The amber glow of the early winter sunset bathed the swaying grass, and the shimmering surface of the Black Lake rippled gently in the distance.
There was no one there.
Hoffa frowned, uneasy. This wasn't the first time he'd felt this way recently.
Shaking off the feeling, he climbed the rope ladder up to the treehouse.
The treehouse's main hall was its usual mess, with herbs and scraps strewn across the floor.
Hoffa glanced at the Thunderbird egg on the table. It was now completely encased in a layer of black sludge, resembling an enormous century egg.
He put on Joey's special goggles to check the egg's status. (The goggles had x-ray capabilities, allowing him to see the embryo inside.) After ensuring it was in good condition, he added more wood to the hearth and sat down in the center of the room.
Three cauldrons sat bubbling in the middle of the treehouse, each filled with a different potion. The air was thick with the potent scent of magic.
These were the ingredients for a secondary magic recovery potion, now nearing completion.
If Hoffa could successfully create the potion, it wouldn't make him invincible, but it would significantly alleviate his magic deficiency.
Carefully, he extracted the key components from each cauldron and placed them into three test tubes.
The liquids in the test tubes glowed in vibrant shades of red, yellow, and green—a dazzling sight.
But the potion wasn't complete yet.
The most crucial step remained: the ratio.
Hoffa gently set the test tubes on the table, picked up a dropper, and began transferring tiny amounts of liquid from one test tube to another, drop by drop.
Aglaia had said the exact ratio was known to only a handful of people in the world, but Hoffa had calculated a likely range. With enough trials, he was confident he could figure it out.
However, just as he was fully absorbed in his task, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. He spun around instinctively.
Boom!
The treehouse door slammed open with a loud crash!
Standing in the doorway was a silver-haired girl, pointing at Hoffa with a triumphant expression.
"I caught you! I caught you red-handed!"
Her face lit up with glee, as if she had just uncovered some scandalous secret.
"Ha! Secretly brewing potions? And using my recipe!"
Aglaia's chest heaved with outrage.
Hoffa turned pale. He hadn't expected her to follow him all the way here.
"You were spying on me!?" he exclaimed.
"So what if I was?" Aglaia burst into laughter.
"Just wait! I'm going straight to Professor Slughorn!"
The situation had spiraled out of control. In a moment, it felt as if Hoffa had stepped off a cliff into free fall.
Hoffa was momentarily startled but quickly regained his composure. Arguing with this woman was pointless; the priority now was solving the immediate problem.
What should he do?
Although the magic potion wasn't as forbidden as complex brews, his head of house, the stern and unyielding Professor Goshack, would not tolerate such actions.
He glanced at the few vials of potion on the table, the result of his hard work. These were the foundational ingredients for restoring magic, but now, they needed to be destroyed.
Making up his mind, Hoffa rushed to the table with lightning speed.
Aglaia reacted just as quickly, instantly seeing through Hoffa's plan. He was trying to destroy the evidence.
"Not happening!"
She lunged at the potion vials.
Bang!
The two of them collided with the table, causing it to shake violently. Maya almost rolled off the edge.
Aglaia grabbed a vial.
Hoffa seized her fingers.
"Let go!"
"Give it to me!"
"Let go!"
"You let go!"
"Bat-Bogey Hexes!"
Boom!
In the chaos, Aglaia attacked first. Her Bat-Bogey Hex hit Hoffa square in the chest. He staggered backward several steps and crashed into the pile of firewood in Joey's room. Bats stuck to his chest and face, making high-pitched squeaking sounds.
"Ha ha ha!"
Aglaia stuck out her tongue and made a mocking face, clutching the potion vial tightly, then dashed out the door.
"Leg-Locking Curse!"
Hoffa quickly threw off the wood and bats, pointing his wand at Aglaia.
A flash of red light.
Aglaia's legs suddenly snapped together, and before she could react, she was sent tumbling out the door and onto the platform. She screamed in frustration, "Bach, I'm going to kill you!"
With a swift motion, she aimed her wand at Hoffa.
A brilliant, dangerous blue light shot toward him.
Without hesitation, Hoffa activated his Ghost Walk spell.
He swiftly disappeared from sight.
Aglaia paused in confusion, not realizing what had happened. When she finally did, Hoffa emerged from the shadows, leaping onto her and pinning her down, snatching her wand away.
"Little witch, are you out of your mind?"
"Who are you calling a witch?!"
"You!"
"Are you even human? Why must you always oppose me?" Hoffa roared.
"You insult me, you disrespect me. Do you even know who I am? Do you know my family? I'm someone of great renown—"
Hoffa interrupted, "I don't care who you are! You're just a jealous, crazy, obsessive girl with problems!"
"Jealous? I have problems!?"
Aglaia snarled, grabbing Hoffa's face, her fingers digging into his nostrils.
"You're the one who tricked me in potion class, too arrogant to ask for help, always scheming, you're as deceitful as they come!"
"Shut up!"
Hoffa covered her mouth forcefully, but she bit him.
He tried to grab the potion again, but Aglaia reached her hand out toward the wooden platform's edge.
Hoffa stretched his hand out, and Aglaia backed away, still taunting him.
"Shameless! You're done for! Just wait until I get back to school—you'll be expelled!"
Hoffa didn't respond, determinedly reaching for the potion.
In the struggle, Aglaia ended up half hanging off the edge of the platform, both of them leaning farther and farther forward.
(End of Chapter)
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