Kael didn't expect that Conna's potion brewing skills were unexpectedly good.
Whether it was concocting nettle solution or grinding snake fangs, every process was done in an orderly manner. He couldn't even help out much and could only sit bored, staring at the cauldron.
Compared to the other young wizards around him who were in a flurry, Kael looked like he was on vacation.
There really wasn't much to help with, after all, potion brewing requires less hands-on activity than other courses. Most of the time was spent waiting for the potion to brew.
It's like making soup: ten minutes to prepare the ingredients, two hours to stew.
Of course, all of this assumes there are no mishaps. Otherwise, just creating a standard nettle infusion could keep some people busy for half the class.
Just like the two new Slytherin students on their left, they had already been to the cabinet for nettles seven times.
This made Snape's face exceptionally unsightly every time he looked at them, not sure if he was feeling sorry for the nettles or angry that his house produced students with intellect comparable to a "troll."
Kael glanced to his left and noticed one of the little snakes standing up again.
Perfect... that's eight times now.
"Vlada, Walker, I hope you two can use your impoverished brains a little." Snape finally couldn't hold back and coldly said to them, "If you fail to brew a standard yellow-green solution this time, I'll dunk your heads into the cauldron!"
The two Slytherin new students were petrified, especially the unlucky one heading to get the nettles, who walked as though he was going to the gallows.
Snape glared at them, swirled his robe, and moved to another pair of young wizards.
"What are you brewing, licorice syrup? Pour it out and start again!"
"Not yellow enough, pour it out and start again!"
"Pour it out!"
At this moment, Snape floated around the classroom like a bat, leaving wails in his wake wherever he went.
Listening to the calls of "pour it out and redo" around them, everyone started to get nervous, their actions increasingly careful.
But Kael wasn't affected at all. He intently watched the cauldron, and as soon as the solution turned from yellow-green to light yellow, he immediately reduced the flame to the lowest.
At the same time, Conna quickly poured the ground snake fang powder inside.
This step was successful, and soon a sweet and fishy smell floated out from the cauldron.
"Perfect." Kael nodded, turning up the flame once again.
After that, it was back to a long wait.
Kael looked at Conna, curiously asking, "Did you brew potions before starting school?"
"No." Conna was slightly taken back, shaking her head and replying, "Why do you ask?"
"Well, you have a knack for potion class." Kael marveled, "Usually when freshmen first encounter potion brewing, it's a disaster. Even the cauldron might explode."
"No way." Conna was obviously skeptical.
Kael didn't explain further; he just gestured for her to look around.
Conna skeptically lifted her head, and only then did she realize that the Magic Potion Classroom was already in chaos.
Young wizards were running around disheveled between cauldrons and the cabinets, their formerly proper attire was in shambles, and some even had smoke rising from their hair.
To those unaware, it looked like they had been hit with The Blasting Curse.
Moreover, above many people's cauldrons, various colored smoke was billowing, gathering at the ceiling into a strange grey-brown gas, accompanied by an indescribable stench.
The smell was unique—like rotten eggs mixed with the scent of scorched wool.
After only two seconds of smelling it, Conna felt her stomach churn.
Conna mumbled to herself, "How is this possible? Potions are so simple..."
She then looked towards the Slytherin section. The young wizards there were all pure-blooded, and Professor Snape was their Head of House, so it should be much better...
Turning her gaze, Conna witnessed an unforgettable scene.
The cauldron at the neighboring table exploded!
No, the potion inside the cauldron exploded.
The potion, which was liquid, suddenly started foaming violently and began expanding rapidly, filling the entire cauldron in the blink of an eye.
But it wasn't over yet.
The next moment, a massive amount of foam erupted from the cauldron, shooting straight up to collide with the classroom ceiling.
The scene was spectacular.
"Vlada, Walker, you two idiots!"
Snape felt murderous but, given his professorial instincts, didn't punish the original culprits right away. Instead, he rapidly pulled out his wand, pointing it at the still-foaming cauldron.
"Scourgify"
"Scourgify"
...
Under Snape's charm, the cauldron and foam were quickly cleaned up.
After ensuring no young wizards were injured, Snape furiously approached the two Slytherin students.
He didn't scold or deduct points; instead, he directly grabbed their collars and tossed them out of the Magic Potion Classroom.
"Go find Filch, detention!"
With Snape's enraged shout, the classroom fell silent again. Everyone shut their mouths, trying hard not to make a single sound.
Although Kael didn't have much to do, to look less idle, he decided to prepare some of the materials needed later on.
In fact, "Magic Potions and Elixirs" didn't have this step. But Snape demanded that they cut a thin slit in the side of a porcupine quill, and slugs needed to be steamed first.
He didn't specify why, but when Ryan curiously asked, Snape deducted three points, and then no one dared to speak again.
Kael took the bag of materials, picked a decent-looking porcupine quill, and decided to start with the simpler tasks.
Intentionally taking his time, Kael cut it quite slowly, taking over ten minutes to finish a porcupine quill less than 30 centimeters long.
However, this obvious idling behavior soon caught Snape's attention.
He silently appeared next to Kael, casually picked up a porcupine quill from the table, and sneered at the crooked cut, "I distinctly said to cut a straight line. What's this, dried flobberworm?
Or do you not understand what 'straight line' means?"
Huh?
Kael blankly raised his head, looking from Snape to the half-cut porcupine quill in his hand.
Wasn't this the only one he took?
Did he lose his memory?
Or did Snape intentionally take a porcupine quill from someone else as an excuse to scold him?
It shouldn't be, though. While Snape did have a tendency to deduct points shamelessly, he wasn't that despicable, right?
Plus, his last name wasn't Potter.
"Pro... Professor..."
At this moment, Conna next to him, suddenly raised her trembling hand and said in a tearful voice, "This one is the one I cut."