Standing by the tall window of the Room of Requirement, Blaise gazed out at the sprawling Hogwarts grounds below. "The view from up here is really quite impressive," he remarked. "Speaking of which, Sean, how did you know about this place? We've been spending almost all our time together, and I don't recall ever seeing you come up to this part of the castle before."
"I have a notebook that my grandfather gave me," Sean explained. "It contains some records about this particular room."
Blaise knew Sean possessed a notebook of some sort; he had even glanced at it on occasion, aware that it held a great deal of advanced magical knowledge. Only today, however, had he realized that the notebook was a legacy from the Head of the Bulstrode family. With this new understanding, Blaise no longer harbored any doubts about the existence or the nature of the Room of Requirement.
After carefully pouring the last of the freshly brewed Mental Recovery Potion into a waiting vial, Sean couldn't help but let out a weary sigh. He slumped onto the chair behind him, reaching up to rub his sore shoulders. "This potion-brewing business," he said, "is really not something ordinary people can do for extended periods. It's truly exhausting."
"Then are you still planning to continue cooperating with that fellow Andy?" Blaise asked.
"Cooperation is still necessary," Sean affirmed. "As you know, both my parents are… well, aside from their knowledge of the wizarding world, they aren't much different from Muggles in terms of magical ability or resources. If I were content to just coast along with my magic studies, then naturally, I wouldn't need to spend too much money. But I don't want to do that. I want to study magic in depth, to truly master it, and that requires a substantial supply of funds."
He gestured around the makeshift potions lab. "For example, right now, while maintaining my regular daily studies, I also have to manage the more difficult and demanding studies of the Potions Club. Mental Recovery Potion is practically an essential consumable for that, not to mention all the other specialized ingredients and materials I'll need. I can't keep asking my parents for money endlessly, so I have to find a way to earn it myself."
Having said this, Sean stood up and surveyed the four vials of Mental Recovery Potion resting on the table, a look of quiet satisfaction on his face.
Out of the five sets of ingredients he had started with, he had achieved considerable success. Only during the third brewing attempt had he accidentally misjudged the timing, resulting in a low-quality potion with significantly reduced efficacy. The other four attempts, however, had all yielded quite acceptable, Passed-grade products. One of them, he noted with pride, was even of perfect quality, its liquid clear and shimmering.
Of course, Sean had no intention of selling all four of these potions. He would keep two for his own personal use and give the remaining two to Andy to sell. This way, he wouldn't attract too much undue attention, and he could still earn the money he currently needed. For now, that was enough.
After completing the brewing process, Sean immediately uncorked the vial containing the perfect quality potion and drank its contents.
He felt a cool, clarifying sensation spread through his mind. His thoughts, which had become somewhat stiff and muddled from the prolonged period of intense concentration, sharpened again, becoming clear and focused. Although his physical fatigue remained unchanged, the mental exhaustion that had been weighing him down had completely vanished.
"Blaise," Sean asked, "are you still planning on going on a date later? With that third-year senior from last time?"
Hearing Sean's question, Blaise turned away from the window, coughed lightly, and said, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Well, she's still in her third year, but the senior in question… is not the same senior as last time."
"Changed again?" Sean asked, raising an eyebrow.
"How can you possibly say 'again'?" Blaise corrected Sean, his tone one of mock righteousness. "When it comes to matters of the heart, Sean, if a particular pairing is not suitable, then one simply has to change, to explore other possibilities, until one finds the right one. I am already twelve years old, you know, and there are only five short years remaining until I officially become an adult. Finding my one true love within those five years is already a very tight schedule. You must understand, I plan to get married immediately after graduation, so naturally, I have to find a marriage partner with whom I am completely and utterly satisfied."
Sean looked at Blaise, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he tried to suppress a smile.
Thinking about marriage at twelve years old?
Wasn't that just a little bit premature?
Was Blaise absolutely certain that everything that was supposed to have developed physically had, in fact, fully developed? And that all the requisite hair that was supposed to have grown had, indeed, made its appearance?
Deciding not to pursue that particular line of questioning, Sean and Blaise packed up their potion-brewing equipment and left the Room of Requirement.
Blaise, true to form, headed off on his latest romantic escapade, while Sean made his way to the Library.
However, as soon as Sean had settled into a seat and before he had even properly arranged his books, Hermione Granger appeared beside him. She leaned in and whispered, "Sean, hello. Can we talk for a moment?"
"This is the Library, Hermione," Sean pointed out. "How about we go outside to talk?"
Shaking her head, Hermione replied, "It's just some small matters, and Madam Pince isn't nearby at the moment; she's over with the fifth and seventh years. We just need to keep our voices down."
"Alright then," Sean conceded. "Just say whatever you need to say."
"Sean," Hermione began, her voice hushed but urgent, "do you know that Malfoy and Harry have apparently agreed to duel tonight?"
Sean heard this and raised his eyebrows slightly. "I am aware of this, yes," he said. "What about it?"
"I think Malfoy might be planning some kind of trick, a scheme," Hermione said, her brow furrowed with concern. "So, can you please try to persuade Harry not to go and duel Malfoy? I wanted to talk to Harry about this myself earlier, but he seemed very resistant to the idea. You and Harry are friends, perhaps he'll listen to you."
Looking at Hermione, Sean shook his head slowly. "Hermione," he said, "it's not that I don't want to persuade Harry. In fact, I've already tried to do so, but Harry is adamant. He doesn't want to give up the duel with Malfoy. I'm afraid there's no other way to convince him."
Hearing Sean's words, Hermione's brows drew even closer together. "How about… how about we both go together and try to persuade him?" she suggested. "There must be something wrong with this whole situation. If Harry goes and duels Malfoy like this, he might even get himself expelled from Hogwarts. And I don't think Harry would want to be expelled, would he?"
"Hermione," Sean said gently but firmly, "I won't go with you to try and persuade Harry again. I've already attempted it, and Harry's attitude is very firm. If I try to persuade him again, then Harry and I really won't be able to remain friends. Besides," he added, "you don't need to worry too much about Hogwarts expelling anyone. Ever since our Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, took office, no matter how badly a student behaves, Hogwarts has never actually expelled anyone, unless the Ministry of Magic directly intervenes. So, you don't need to worry about Harry being expelled for violating school rules, because that's completely impossible."
There was something else Sean didn't say: Harry Potter was very special to Dumbledore. As long as Harry didn't commit some truly heinous, unforgivable crime, Dumbledore would ensure that Harry remained at Hogwarts; he wouldn't allow Harry to leave.
Seeing Sean's resolute attitude, Hermione realized she couldn't say anything more to sway him.
In reality, Hermione didn't completely believe Sean's assertions about the impossibility of expulsion. But since Sean had already spoken so definitively, she couldn't continue to argue the point. Coupled with the fact that Madam Pince had, by now, noticed their hushed conversation and was casting disapproving glances in their direction, Hermione could only close her mouth and say no more.
Regarding Harry's impending duel, the specific details were a bit blurry in Sean's memory, but he was very clear on one crucial point: no matter what transpired, Harry would ultimately emerge safe and sound. Therefore, he wasn't overly worried about the situation. His attitude, consequently, was very calm. However, in Hermione's eyes, this calmness was perceived as typical Slytherin detachment, a lack of genuine concern for Harry's well-being.
Sean didn't have the time or the inclination to explain his reasoning to Hermione. He currently had a new, rather intriguing idea forming in his mind.
Such despicable, underhanded behavior from Malfoy… as a standard-bearing Slytherin, Sean mused, it was naturally unacceptable. Therefore, it would be quite reasonable, even expected, for him to challenge Malfoy to a Pure-Blood Duel, wouldn't it?
Moreover, Sean could also use this opportunity to gauge just how much genuine support his Grandfather truly had for him within the complex political landscape of the wizarding world.
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