The Swelling Solution, as the name suggests, causes parts of an object—or person—to swell up.
Sean didn't know its exact uses, only that, like most potions, it could cause serious trouble if brewed or used incorrectly.
Take the second-year incident when Harry tossed a firecracker into Goyle's cauldron to distract everyone. The potion splashed, and arms, noses, and eyes swelled grotesquely.
So, Sean watched Professor Snape's every move closely, his Quick-Quotes Quill scribbling furiously beside him.
Grind two scoops of dried nettles, crush three puffer-fish eyes, add both to the cauldron, heat for twenty seconds, wave the wand…
Snape's instructions often diverged from the textbook, sometimes drastically.
If a student zoned out and followed the book instead of his words, disaster was likely.
Maybe that's why Snape was so stern, even intimidating, with the students.
"If your empty brains have finally absorbed some knowledge," Snape sneered, waving his wand to bottle the finished potion in a crystal vial.
His gaze swept the room, silencing the students.
"In pairs, begin!"
The classroom filled with the clinking and clattering of cauldrons as nervous students started brewing.
Soon, they reached the final stage.
"…process the last ingredient, boil until a white foam forms on the surface…" Justin read from his notes, looking more anxious than Sean, who was stirring.
Snape prowled the room, ensuring no accidents occurred.
When he paused by Sean and Justin, he glanced at their notes.
Hmph. Decent enough. Barely passing…
"Oh, but Sean, why's our foam blue?" Justin asked, voice tinged with worry.
A dark cloud seemed to loom over him, his tense frame trembling slightly.
Sean turned, calmly delivering a reply that made Justin's eyes widen in dread: "We failed."
Justin didn't dare look up, bracing for the inevitable.
"Redo it, you idiots!" Snape's roar came right on cue.
Relieved they hadn't lost points, Justin whispered, "You look pale. Need a break? I've got this."
With Snape gone, Justin took over the brewing, meticulously handling the ingredients.
Sean, meanwhile, was paler than usual. He'd underestimated the toll of the last potion-brewing ritual and its mental strain.
Master Poliak's ritual was like overdrawing a wizard's magical reserves. It could yield a high-quality potion in the short term but left the brewer weakened.
Now, Sean realized the issue in the final stage stemmed from his insufficient magical output.
Breathing heavily, he noticed some berry candies on the table.
"Take a break? Have some. New flavor—Scottish highland berries," Justin said, managing the bubbling cauldron.
Sean nodded, assessing his condition. He could still cast a few spells, but potions were beyond him for now.
It hit him: potion-making demanded not just magical strength but intense mental focus.
No wonder potion masters were so rare.
He also realized wands and spells amplified a wizard's power far more effectively. He could cast three or four Levitation Charms with ease, matching the effect of a levitating potion.
But brewing such a potion now? He'd probably pass out.
As Sean mulled this over, reminding Justin of the recipe's finer points, Snape stormed back, roster in hand.
"Susan Bones, Lisa Turpin—troll-level ingredient preparation. Did you even try to process the puffer-fish eyes properly?" he mocked the girls, whose potion was a sticky mess.
"Minus one point—each! And what are you waiting for? For the potion to brew itself?"
As Susan shrank, on the verge of tears, Snape swept away.
"Ernie Macmillan—if you stir right one more time, get out! At least then your potion won't explode! Minus two points!"
Ernie froze, nearly pressing his nose to his textbook in panic.
"Barely passable, Michael Corner. What are you waiting for? For the potion to go bad?"
Snape was a relentless point-deducting machine, his head practically steaming with "minus one," "minus two," "minus one"…
Sean and Justin braced as he reached them.
But Snape paused, then moved on without a word.
"Phew," Justin exhaled.
Sean stared at a crystal vial that had appeared in his hand, containing a clear liquid labeled simply: Drink.
---
After leaving the dungeon, Sean was still dazed. The potion from Snape was a vitality booster, similar to a Strengthening Solution but remarkably effective at restoring magical energy.
Right after drinking it, Sean felt his magic rebound, and even climbing stairs seemed easier.
In the dungeon, Severus Snape stared at the failed potion, a result of Sean's depleted magic.
His roster revealed a single line: Sean Green, Guardian: None.
---
The Great Hall buzzed with energy.
The four house tables were laden with lunch—golden plates and goblets gleaming under hundreds of floating candles.
Students chattered, enjoying oatmeal, bacon, and pumpkin juice.
"Sean, my mum always says sunrises and sunsets are free," Justin said quietly, poking at a pudding.
"So if you're tired, just rest."
His gray eyes shone with sincerity.
Sean nodded silently.
Until—
"Bunny eyes, the harp's sweet melody, turn this water into wine!" Seamus chanted beside him.
Sean blinked, turning to see Seamus grinning.