17 Potion-making

[AN: PLEASE CHECK OUT CHAPTER 15 AND 16, IF YOU'VE MISSED... TRASH CHAPTER IS FIXED.]

In a small and hidden room in one of the towers, I decided to conduct my potion making.

On the floor, I laid my tools and ingredients.

I have my cauldron heated and my ingredients separated by type.

Some professor was kind enough to give me all these materials for free, especially professor Slugghorn. Certainly, he has a lot of prospects for me.

I find that one tool is missing.

"Where's the crucible tong? Did I not bring it?"

I murmured when the book exclaimed, "Worry not, for I can solve any problem!"

The book opened and as it did, a crucible tong came out!

"Satisfied?"

"You! You can conjure objects?"

"Haha! You are an ignorant fellow. Of course, I can conjure any tools required for making potions, for I am the great, the only one, the magnificent book of potions!"

"Oh shut up."

"Che~ what an ungrateful child!"

"Anyway, let me read the method for [Shrinking Solution]."

"A more subtle potion than many appreciate at first savor, the Shrinking Solution causes creatures to shrink to a younger form." It said.

The [Shrinking Solution] is a potion which second year student would brew in their later year. Certainly, it was not for first year to experiment.

The book was very specific with its brewing techniques and timing. And a few short deviations would probably lessen the potion's effects and worse the brewing would fail.

I spend more than an hour and a half to finish brewing the [Shrinking Solution].

The potion was very potent compared to normal potions brewed using the method listed in the second year book.

Just one drop of it, can shrink any living creatures.

Truly, the [Book of Potions by Zygmunt Budge] is a wondrous book among the known potion books of today's era.

The recipes contained in the book were plentiful and very advance that some of it can only be found in the restricted section in the library such as the [Polyjuice Potion].

In the following days, I spend most of my time perfecting my brewing technique.

"So, how can I activate the portkey?"

"Hmm? Do you want to go in the garden now?"

"I want to take a peek."

"Entering is one thing, leaving alive is another."

"Is that dangerous?"

"Of course it is very dangerous. However, in some circumstances the level of danger dramatically decreases, such as during the Wizarding Potion Competition as there are countless expert that ensures safety for the participants of the event."

"Is that so?"

"Don't worry, there are other ways to avoid these dangers."

"Oh, then do tell."

"First is going there undetected, which means you need to reach the highest level in [Disillusionment Charm]."

"I have yet to learn it. You have to know, I have yet to reach 6th year. It is not good, anything else?"

"Hang on… Just let me finish will you?"

"…"

"Another method is by establishing a friendly trade with its inhabitants."

"Trade? And what can I trade?"

"Potions of course!"

"Let me think… let see… with my progress, I can only brew some common potions. With lack of ingredients, I have yet to brew some rare and advance potion. I assume that these inhabitants would be willing to trade only if I have a rare grade potion. Is that right?"

"Yes, it is as you say. Do you think you can't do it? Three rare potions are enough to satisfy some of them."

"I can give it a shot."

"And one more thing... If you want to use the portkey, you have to use it outside of Hogwarts. The protective charms around Hogwarts can interfere with the portkey making the transportation erratic which can lead to a disaster and death."

"I see… Then, I will think of ways to leave Hogwarts."

---

A walked my way around the corridor when students came running outside.

Someone grabbed me from behind – it was Patrick along with Silvanus.

"There's a fight outside! Tom Riddle is against William Avery and Nicolai Lestrange."

[AN: William Avery and Nicolai Lestrange, two of the original Death Eater.]

When we reached the scene, the fight is about to start.

Fighting often occurs between students.

The school would just turn a blind eye, as long as both side do not utilize any fatal spell.

There's even a club to conduct fight like this, which the school recognizes. It is called the Duelling Club and any student with a goal of becoming an auror would often join this club.

"Half-blood, you think you can fight us two?" Avery snickered.

"Just because everyone calls you genius, doesn't mean you know better than us." Lestrange said.

"Like I said, you two, good for nothings shouldn't have provoke me."

"You better not call help from a professor."

"I don't need help. I can finish the two of you in a few exchange."

"Let's see if you can say that words again after I beat you into a pulp! [Locomotor Mortis]."

The two bested Tom but they were clearly outmatched.

Tom managed to counter their spells without much effort and in a few rounds, he managed to pin them down using a [Disarming Spell] which is a second year spell.

"Haha! Is that all you've got? You lot really are good for nothings. [Flipendo]."

Tom blasted them and when they tried getting up, he blasted them again.

"Submit to me and I will spare humiliating you both." Tom said.

"NO!" They shouted.

"Then don't blame me."

He was about to use another spell when someone called him out, "Stop it Tom!"

It was Silvanus.

"What? You want to join the fun?"

"That's enough! Or I will report this matter to a teacher."

"This is a duel. And it is not quite right to stop it, until one of us admit defeat!"

"You already defeated them."

"But they didn't admit… yet. Or you wish to fight me?"

"Do you think I am afraid of you?"

"Hmmp, do you think you can do better than these useless trash?"

Silvanus stepped forward and the two were now standing a distance away facing each other.

Tom threw the first spell signaling the start of the duel.

Silvanus evaded and the spell hit the ground. He then retaliated with a jinx charm.

Indeed, Silvanus proved to be quite skillful than Avery and Lestrange. He managed to make Tom to dodge some of his spell.

Silvanus training with me proved to have paid off. And with his current condition, he can fight a less experience duelist from third year.

However, Tom knew more spells than him and he was cornered in a tree.

"You're good, but this is the end! [Serpensortia]."

Tom conjured a large snake which will attack anything (other than the caster) within a short radius. It is a favored spell by most young Slytherins.

Silvanus blasted the snake, however, he only angered it even more.

The snake bared its fangs and prepared to strike him.

However...

[Vipera Evanesca]

I casted, just as the snake was about to reach him and blasting the snake until it vanished.

"You should stop now, Tom. I will not turn a blind eye after you use a serious spell."

"You finally made an appearance. I was about to get bored."

"Ooh… Are you really waiting for me this whole time?"

"I always wanted to fight you. Aren't you the same?"

"Am I?"

"Stop pretending! I know your hands is itching for a fight."

"No, I didn't"

"Please, spare me the talking, let's fight! [Expelliarmus]."

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