The direction Harry pointed his wand revealed nothing unusual.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked, his voice trembling nervously.
Harry narrowed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I felt a strong presence approaching us just now."
"Are you sure you didn't imagine it?" Ron glanced around anxiously, pulling out his wand. It took him two tries to cast a simple Lumos spell. "Maybe it's just the aura of so dark magic books."
Harry shook his head. "The aura of a person and that of an object are very different."
Ron's face turned pale as he gripped his wand tightly.
"Let's find that book quickly," Ron murmured. "This place gives the creeps."
The book Most Potent Potions wasn't hard to locate, and they found it quickly.
While Ron held the light steady, Harry swiftly copied the recipe for Polyjuice Potion. He also jotted down a brief summary of the precautions spanning two pages.
Once back in the dormitory, they pored over the contents carefully.
"This potion is so complicated," Ron said, rubbing his temples.
"But it's powerful, isn't it?" Harry's eyes glead. "And it doesn't need many ingredients."
"Lacewing flies, powdered antimony, leeches…"
The combination of minerals and herbs intrigued Harry. The wild applications of certain ingredients sparked new ideas in his mind, giving him inspiration for adapting Witcher potions to this world's magic.
It wasn't until nearly 3 a.m. that Harry yawned and extinguished the lights. "Tomorrow, after we wake up, let's check the potions classroom's ingredient cabinet. If the supplies are complete, we won't have to worry about gathering materials."
Ron, already half-asleep, mumbled a groggy "Alright…" before collapsing onto his bed.
The Next Day
The potions classroom was still open, even during the holiday break, accommodating fifth- and seventh-years desperate to secure an "O" on their exams.
The student ingredient cupboard was well-stocked with herbs and minerals, but they couldn't find two of the most critical components: powdered bicorn horn and boomslang skin.
Harry took extra materials, disguising them as ingredients for three different potions, and carried them out.
Once they were safely outside the classroom, Ron exhaled in relief. "It's scary how even over Christmas, the older students can't relax."
"They weren't exactly thrilled to see us either," Harry replied with a smirk. "To them, you probably looked like a first-year prodigy working hard during the holidays."
Ron shifted uncomfortably. Being mistaken for a hard-working student wasn't a label he was used to.
"Maybe Professor Snape will have a better impression of you because of it," Harry teased. "Look at how he's been treating Hermione lately—he's actually tolerable."
"You have a strange definition of 'tolerable,'" Ron said, shivering.
In Potions class, there were three students whose work Snape always comnted on.
Harry would get a tirade of insults.
Malfoy would receive endless praise.
And Hermione—well, Snape didn't target her as viciously as Harry, but his disdain for Gryffindor ensured he never said anything positive.
"Now what do we do about the missing ingredients?" Ron complained as they walked back. "Snape's private stores must have them."
Harry shook his head. "I don't think stealing from a professor is a smart move."
Ron sighed. "Then what?"
"Hogsade," Harry replied, suddenly stopping to gaze out a nearby window. "We could check there."
Ron blinked, frowning. "But that's a third-year privilege, and you need parental permission…"
"Maybe we can ask your brothers," Harry suggested as they continued walking. "They know most of Hogwarts' secret passages. There's probably one leading straight to Hogsade."
Ron still looked worried. "But how do we explain it to them? Just tell them we need ingredients for Polyjuice Potion?"
Harry gave him an odd look. "Putting the ingredients aside, don't you want to see Hogsade?"
Ron hesitated.
"Wanting to visit Hogsade is normal for any student," Harry pressed.
Back in the Common Room
The Weasley twins, unusually, weren't out causing mischief.
"George," Harry began, sitting beside one of them. "I need your help with sothing."
"I'm Fred," the twin replied seriously.
"No, you're George," Harry corrected. "That trick doesn't work on ."
George groaned. "How do you always know?"
"I want to visit Hogsade," Harry said directly. "Can you help ?"
Fred raised an eyebrow. "Hogsade? Now? Not exactly the best ti…"
"I can't spend all of Christmas cooped up in Hogwarts," Harry reasoned. "Most of my friends went ho."
George chuckled. "Well, you've co to the right people. We know seven secret passages to Hogsade."
"And Filch only knows four," Fred added with a smug grin.
Ron cheered. "I knew you two would know!"
"Harry can go," George said, his tone turning serious. "But you can't, little Ronnie."
Ron's jaw dropped. "Why not?!"
"Harry's brilliant—he took down a troll," Fred teased. "You'd get taken down by one. Or maybe even a flobberworm."
"And Harry's mature. Except for his height, he could pass for an older student," George added.
"But you, dear Ronniekins, are still a little kid. A whiny one at that," Fred concluded.
Fuming, Ron yelled, "Fred! George!"
"Our little brother is upset," George mocked. "Should we send an owl to Mum?"
Ron clenched his fists. "One day, I'll turn you both into piles of dung."
"Two piles," Fred corrected, patting Ron's shoulder. "We're two people, after all."
"We'll bring you back so candy," George said, ruffling Ron's hair. "How about Cockroach Clusters? Dumbledore loves those."
"I think Spider Sweets would suit Ronnie better," Fred added.
Into the Secret Passage
Harry reassured Ron, "Once I know the passage, we can go together next ti."
George and Fred led Harry to a mirror on the fifth floor. George tapped it with his wand. "Reveal and Unseal."
The mirror rippled like water, revealing a hidden tunnel.
"This one's our favorite," George said as he lit his wand and led the way. "It's spacious and smooth—you can walk upright the whole way."
Fred sighed. "The downside is that it's getting old. Last year, part of the ceiling nearly hit George in the face."
"Sha it didn't," George muttered, kicking Fred lightly.
Fred dusted off his robes. "The end of this passage is in a very discreet spot in Hogsade, unlike the others. One cos out under the Whomping Willow…"
"And another in Honeydukes," George added. "We were almost arrested for trespassing last ti."
After about fifteen minutes, the tunnel led them to an abandoned house in Hogsade.
Exploring Hogsade
"Where to first?" Fred asked eagerly.
"Candy shop," Harry replied after so thought.
They bought sweets for Ron and, on the twins' suggestion, stocked up on prank items.
Harry also picked up quills, parchnt, and so books before heading to a potion ingredients store.
"Do you have boomslang skin?" Harry asked.
The shopkeeper gave him a strange look. "Boomslang skin? That's restricted, my dear boy."
Harry nodded calmly and asked about other rare ingredients, slipping powdered bicorn horn into the list. Unfortunately, it too was restricted.
He bought what he could and left the shop with Fred and George.
As they stepped outside, a hooded man approached, blocking their path.
"Students from Hogwarts?" the man asked in a low voice.
"I have what you need—bicorn horn powder, Ashwinder eggs, boomslang skin…"
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