"What?" Miss Ginny Weasley blurted out before she could stop herself.
She looked at Professor Albus Dumbledore in surprise, blinking in confusion.
"Well… why does a bezoar neutralize poison…" Ginny murmured. "Um, I remember… Professor Arsenius Jigger wrote about it in Magical Drafts and Potions…"
"Very good," Dumbledore said kindly. "Then how did Professor Jigger arrive at that conclusion?"
"Well…" Miss Weasley faltered. Her face flushed as she lowered her voice. "I'm sorry… I don't know, Professor…"
"That's quite all right." Dumbledore smiled gently and motioned for Ginny to sit.
Below the podium, students began whispering among themselves. Clearly, Ginny Weasley wasn't the only one confused. Many found it strange that the professor would ask such an odd question.
Dumbledore swept his gaze across the room and raised his voice slightly.
"I must admit, I find this rather regrettable. From the looks on your faces, I can tell that none of you have ever truly considered this question… nor have you questioned Professor Arsenius Jigger's description in Magical Drafts and Potions."
"Of course, I mean no disrespect to Professor Arsenius Jigger," Albus Dumbledore continued calmly. "I merely question the rigor of his conclusion. For instance, he tells us only in broad terms that a bezoar can counteract poison. Yet he does not specify which kinds of toxins it is effective against, nor which it cannot neutralize."
"There are many other matters worth discussing as well—what dosage achieves the best effect; at what point an excessive dose produces harmful consequences; under what conditions, such as temperature, its effectiveness is enhanced; and under what circumstances its efficacy diminishes."
Dumbledore's words left many students staring at one another.
"In fact, if you examine A History of Magic closely, you will find relevant records," he went on. "For example, in 1379, the Roman potioneer Alvaro Cecilio mistakenly drank a vial of Lobalug venom, thinking it was Murtlap Essence. After realizing something was wrong, he immediately consumed a large quantity of bezoar."
"The result, however, was that Mr. Cecilio died three days later. In truth, Lobalug venom causes a degree of nervous debilitation but is not fatal. Although A History of Magic offers no detailed explanation, I suspect he died from bezoar toxicity due to excessive intake."
Professor Dumbledore scanned the classroom and then stopped his story.
"Do you have a question, Miss Greengrass?"
Astoria Greengrass rose from the Slytherin table.
"Um… Professor Dumbledore," she asked softly, "are you saying that in your Potions class, you intend to have us explore the principles behind how potions work?"
"Precisely. Ten points to Slytherin," Albus Dumbledore replied with a smile.
"Yes. I hope that your understanding of potions will not remain limited to the potions themselves. I want you to approach them from a deeper perspective—their mechanisms, their principles, and the transformations they produce."
...
And so began this unconventional Potions lesson.
They no longer used cauldrons or waved their wands. Instead, Albus Dumbledore had prepared a great many "adorable" white mice.
Along with them were bottles of Lobalug venom and pieces of bezoar ground into powder.
Under Dumbledore's guidance, they first administered varying doses of venom to the mice, then attempted to counteract it using different quantities of bezoar. At the same time, they cast the Engorgement Charm to accelerate the mice's development, observing the changes that appeared on their bodies.
Dumbledore also instructed them on how to use the Cutting Charm and sharp knives to dissect the mice that had died, examining the alterations in their internal organs beneath a series of strange instruments.
Finally, he showed them how to carefully record everything they observed and draw corresponding conclusions.
...
If any other professor had attempted such a radical method, they would undoubtedly have faced questions from students—and even from parents.
But when the person standing at the podium was Albus Dumbledore, things were different.
After all, Dumbledore was widely acknowledged as the greatest wizard of the twentieth century, and one of its most accomplished alchemists.
Two hours later, as the bell rang, Professor Dumbledore left the Potions classroom.
He left behind a classroom still buzzing with excitement.
"It's incredible, isn't it…"
"Especially that thing the professor called a 'microscope.' What extraordinary magic…"
"I never imagined there were so many strange little creatures living on our skin. That's terrifying…"
Students from all four houses chattered as they filed out.
"This is absolutely the most interesting Potions class I've ever attended!" Luna Lovegood declared earnestly to Melinda Bobbin beside her. She was nearly the last to rise from her seat.
"It was certainly interesting," Miss Bobbin replied, though she looked somewhat worried. "But Luna, don't forget the O.W.L.s. Will the exam content match what we're learning in class?"
"I think you're worrying too much, Melinda." Luna covered her mouth and giggled. "Don't forget—it's Professor Dumbledore teaching us. Do you really think he would let us fail our O.W.L.s?"
"That's true…" Miss Bobbin nodded and slung her bag over her shoulder.
Then she noticed Luna sitting back down.
"What's wrong, Luna? Aren't you coming?"
"Just a moment!" Luna blinked, lowering her head toward the strange instrument again. "You go on ahead. I think I've discovered something rather interesting."