"Shawn, oh, this might be presumptuous, but... are you planning to practice potion brewing alone?" Justin placed the parchment and light blue notebook in Shawn's hands. His tone was gentle, with barely noticeable concern.
"Yes." Shawn nodded. If he couldn't increase proficiency through practice, with his Potions talent, passing would be difficult enough. As for achieving Outstanding, the possibility was very low—so low that Shawn wouldn't gamble on it.
"You're looking for materials? I mean, the four ingredients for the Cure for Boils?" Seeing Shawn nod again, Justin seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. A warm and perfectly measured smile spread across his face. "Perhaps I can help... come on, I need to take you somewhere."
After speaking, he led the puzzled Shawn through the Great Hall. They walked directly below Hogwarts main hall, following the stairs leading to the Hufflepuff basement. The stone-built underground corridor was brightly lit. Shawn curiously surveyed his surroundings. He vaguely sensed something.
"Oh, we're about to pass by the Hogwarts kitchens. I have to secretly tell you this..." Justin walked toward the wall with a smile. He stopped before a painting depicting a bowl of fruit and gently tickled a pear in the painting. Shawn watched in surprise as the pear giggled, then transformed into a green door handle. Inside was the entrance to Hogwarts kitchens.
Food side quest triggered, Shawn thought.
"As long as you ask politely, the house-elves will generously give you food. But there's one thing—you can't bring Peeves inside..." Justin solemnly reminded him. "But our destination today isn't here. Look, we're almost there—the Hufflepuff common room."
They arrived before a pile of large barrels in the right corner of the kitchen corridor. Justin tapped the bottom lids of the two middle barrels in the second row with a distinctive rhythm. The lid automatically rotated open. Inside the barrel was an upward-sloping passageway with magical lanterns hanging on both sides.
It led to a comfortable, warm circular room that brought to mind a badger's den. The entire room was decorated in lively bee-like black and yellow colors, embellished with brightly polished honey-colored wooden tables and round wooden doors. Various cacti were placed on circular wooden shelves, many waving and swaying at students.
Copper-bottomed flowerpots hanging from the ceiling grew curling ferns and vines that gently combed Shawn's hair as he passed beneath them. The wooden fireplace at the end was carved with dancing badgers, above which hung a portrait of Helga Hufflepuff. She was one of Hogwarts four founders, holding a golden cup with handles on both sides, toasting her students.
Around Lady Hufflepuff, small round windows sat level with the ground at the castle's base, displaying beautiful scenery of grass and dandelions swaying in the wind. Occasionally passing feet could be seen. Although these windows were quite low, the room remained sunlit year-round.
"Welcome to the Hufflepuff common room!" Shawn heard Justin welcome him, then watched as Justin smoothly retrieved an expensive-looking trunk from beside the thick cushioned sofa. As soon as it opened, Shawn was dazzled.
First was a pile of gleaming Galleons, then scattered letters and postcards. Beside them were various jars and crystal bottles. Shawn immediately recognized materials like venomous snake fangs and dried nettles. His suspicion was confirmed, but he still felt somewhat surprised—would young wizards really buy these terrifyingly expensive potion materials themselves?
"I don't have much use for these materials, but I thought maybe you could use them." Justin radiated a warm smile.
"Can I... can I buy some?" Justin had indeed given him a pleasant surprise, but he also needed financial means to afford them. A bundle of nettles was one Galleon, probably supporting over thirty practice sessions. A jar of horned slugs was also one Galleon, probably supporting over forty practice sessions. A bottle of venomous snake fangs and a bundle of porcupine quills had similar usage, but their prices were both two Galleons. A total of six Galleons, necessary expenditure...
If I could brew qualified potions to sell, perhaps I could earn the money back? Shawn thought.
"Shawn, what are you saying?" Justin looked surprised. "If you want to brew potions, then this is my support. It's hard to believe I can give you some support. I've been wanting to say, constantly seeking your help often makes me feel somewhat embarrassed..." Shawn was somewhat stunned, then watched as Justin placed the crystal bottles and jars in his bag.
"But—" Before Shawn could speak, Justin said softly, "I believe you'll succeed. If you fail, I have another set here."
When leaving the Hufflepuff common room, Justin's steps were much lighter. His mother's words seemed to ring in his ears again: "My dear Finch-Fletchley, remember? Everyone has different strengths. And children of the Finch-Fletchley family are always good at bringing everyone's strengths together."
Shawn ultimately didn't refuse this help. The gentle Justin was sometimes more stubborn than a mule. "If I'm only allowed to help you study Herbology and complete History of Magic homework but can't provide you with support, what kind of friends are we?"
All right. Having a Hufflepuff friend is really nice, Shawn told himself.
Noon. In the Great Hall, Shawn still swept through food efficiently. The most troubling problem was solved. Next he only needed to secretly brew potions and master heat control and stirring. Beside him, Justin held several notebooks—Shawn's Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and other notes. His progress far exceeded the classroom, so these notes were basically invaluable for Justin.
Hermione, sitting nearby, keenly sensed today's unusual atmosphere. Very strange—Justin was eating faster and more. Hermione suspected Shawn had started this trend.
When separating in the Great Hall, Shawn heard Justin say softly, "Well, Shawn, no matter what, I just want you to know, if you run into trouble, you can come find me. Remember, we're friends."
Justin's sincere light gray pupils reflected the fireplace's firelight. Shawn nodded. Hogwarts fireplaces were even warmer than he'd imagined. So was Hufflepuff.
I also want to be Hufflepuff! Damn Sorting Hat!
Afternoon Herbology class. In the greenhouse, Shawn skillfully processed dried nettles. They were ordinary plants, but after special blue potion soaking, they could become magical materials for making Swelling Solution and Cure for Boils.
Oh, Professor Sprout also added: Nettle essence could be used to make sleeping draughts or hypnotics, but wizards' handling methods would change. Compared to the young wizards' confusion—wrong potion dosages, incorrect nettle cutting, wrong soaking duration—Shawn's processing appeared much more professional. Some troubled Ravenclaws and Slytherins, guided by Professor Sprout, even gathered around Shawn to learn.
At the same time, the panel notifications kept sounding.