Truth serum is a wonderful thing, perfect for a game of Truth or Dare. It ensures certain troublemakers can't cheat by spinning up lies.
Of course, truth serum is strictly banned by both the school and the Ministry of Magic. Its consequences are far more terrifying than something like Polyjuice Potion. Professor Snape often threatens students with it, but let's be honest, that's about as effective as yelling "Screw you!" at someone. It's more bark than bite.
Then again, if we're going strictly by the rules, with everything Allen has done so far, he could single-handedly get Azkaban shut down. Not that it matters much, by the time Voldemort makes his grand return shouting "I'm back, baby!" the Dementors will already be shouting, "To hell with taxes and uniforms, open the gates for the Dark Lord!"
And sure enough, once the Death Eaters break in and start tossing Fiendfyre around, Azkaban will become a smoldering heap of cursed rubble. The Ministry didn't exactly release a press statement on the matter, but it's safe to assume the escapees were too busy torching the place to post any selfies.
Allen had already decided to brew some truth serum himself, but its price was steep, and justifiably so. The ingredients were rare and expensive, and the brewing process was even worse.
Still, Allen didn't see that as a problem. After all, if even Quirrell couldn't stir up serious trouble, what could Percy, a half-baked wizard at best, possibly do?
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Truth serum ingredients are very rare. But "very" doesn't mean "impossible to find", just "very expensive."
After coughing up a hefty sum of money, the second-hand bookstore owner finally looked a bit more cheerful. After all, nothing lifts one's spirits like a fat sheep walking willingly into the butcher's shop.
Since he had won the money through gambling, Allen wasn't too heartbroken about the cost. Until he mastered the Imperius or Legilimency curses, the expense of brewing truth serum was, unfortunately, necessary. Not that he could practice those spells anyway, all the related books were locked up tight.
Magic isn't as simple as just knowing the incantation. Even the simplest spell requires proper pronunciation, breath control, and wand movement. And that's not even considering the mental component required for something like the Patronus Charm. You could transplant someone like Naruto into this world, and he still wouldn't be able to master it overnight.
Take the Cruciatus Curse, for instance. When Harry used it, it was laughable, because no one ever taught him how to properly cast it. What does that tell you? It tells you that even in the wizarding world, knowledge and technique are the ultimate productive forces!
Just look at the MVP of the final battle, the Elder Wand! Without that wand, created with advanced magical craftsmanship, Harry's odds of beating Voldemort would've been about the same as winning the lottery.
After reserving a private room in the Room of Requirement (no unauthorized personnel allowed), Allen started brewing potions in peace. Thank Merlin he'd learned about this place beforehand, otherwise, he would've had to fight Moaning Myrtle for bathroom real estate.
Not that he came up with this idea himself. He totally stole it from Malfoy, just with zero intention of paying even a Knut in royalties.
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However, while Allen was busy brewing truth serum, things at Hogwarts were anything but quiet.
As everyone knew, the arrival of the Boy Who Lived had stirred up the entire school into a frenzy.
Unfortunately, from the very first class, this Gryffindor golden boy failed to live up to expectations.
Muggle-born and pureblood wizards are worlds apart. A Muggle-born wizard might go their whole life without even hearing of the Elder Wand, let alone believe in the superstitions of the magical world.
If Harry had been raised in the wizarding world, he probably would've scored top marks. His talent wasn't lacking, that much was clear from the exams. Especially considering he could hardly study or practice magic during the summer. His results were actually impressive... but, well, "if" doesn't change anything.
On top of that, the Hogwarts class of 1991 had its own overwhelming genius, a girl whose presence dimmed everyone else's brilliance.
Hermione Granger. Hogwarts' walking encyclopedia. Sure, Professor Snape gave her that nickname to insult her, but let's be honest, we forgive him for that one.
After all, the last time a Muggle-born wizard shone this brightly at Hogwarts, her name was Lily Evans... who is now Lily Potter.
Even if the nickname was meant as an insult, it still said something. Based on grades alone, Hermione was trouncing everyone else like she was on a mission. Poor Ravenclaw had it rough. Last year, Annie dominated the top. The year before that, Allen himself steamrolled an entire House. And don't even ask about the older years, Slytherin's status as Hogwarts' public enemy wasn't exactly unearned.
Ravenclaw's true genius wouldn't arrive until next year, and even then, it wouldn't matter. That genius wasn't exactly the academic type. Let's all take thirty seconds of silence for poor Hufflepuff. After all, Luna's nickname begins with "Loony" for a reason.
While gossip is good for the soul, painful realities still exist, like, for instance, classes.
Everyone was thrilled at the start of term, like their drinks had been spiked with cheering potions. But that enthusiasm faded fast when classes began. Otherwise, how could the Weasley twins have made a small fortune off their quick-escape skipping candies?
For electives, Allen had chosen Divination and Care of Magical Creatures.
The former? Easy grades. Sure, the professor was totally unreliable, but she did make one real prophecy. What if the system needed one someday? And even if it didn't, the class was an easy pass. Just invent some nonsense and the professor would still be delighted. A flawless subject!
As for Care of Magical Creatures, well, the current professor was competent. And by the time Hagrid took over... no worries. Allen would already have learned most of what he needed. With a bit of effort, he could probably squeeze a lot of knowledge out of Hagrid too.
Yes, everything was looking bright.
Blessings to this wonderful world!
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