Besides this opulent potion laboratory, there was also a small library and an alchemy room fortified with intricate defensive magic circles.
"If there was a kitchen, I think I could stay here for a year without going out," Thomas murmured, gazing mesmerized at the piles of precious alchemical materials.
"Why do you need a kitchen?" Aegis asked, confused.
"Because we need to eat," Thomas rolled his eyes.
"I need to eat too, I want roast chicken!" Aegis immediately said.
..."Next time, for sure." They both had to eat in the Great Hall; how could he bring back a roast chicken for it under everyone's watchful eyes? They'd have to get familiar with the school and find out where the kitchen was.
"Severus ~" Aegis looked plaintively at the other black-haired boy, but Severus completely ignored him, already beginning to sort the potion ingredients on the shelves, separating the usable ones.
As for the withered plants, he didn't discard them; he believed Thomas would surely find a way.
"I want roast chicken! Roast chicken! Roast chicken!" Aegis gently rubbed his big head against Thomas, trying to act spoiled.
When a little snake does this, it's acting spoiled; when a giant python does it, Thomas felt as if his lungs were about to be pushed out: "Alright, alright, I get it, you want a roast chicken! Stop it!"
With a 'bang,' Daisy appeared before them, holding a fragrant roast chicken: "little master Thomas, this is the meal you wanted."
Thomas froze for a moment.
Wow!
He felt that the House-elf left behind by Slytherin was much more useful than the Basilisk he had left behind!
Thomas named Severus's failed potion byproduct 'Snow Cypress Fragrance' and sold it at a high price to Avery, who had always wanted it, obtaining a mail-order catalog from Devlin and Bance's shop.
After flipping through the Wizarding World general store's mail-order catalog, Thomas decisively wrote down 'toolbox' and 'chainsaw' below 'two-way mirror' and 'gas mask.'
This was his personal list of school supplies needed before the start of next year.
Before he learned how to cut with magic, he desperately needed some practical Muggle tools!
The shop owner, Devlin, received a mail order brought by a Hogwarts Owl.
Unlike the usual lists requesting Quidditch equipment, Memory Balls, or other magical artifacts, the items listed on it made Devlin frown—ten wooden boards?
Devlin looked around; the shop was filled with all sorts of goods, everything imaginable, but there were no piles of wooden boards.
However, as an experienced merchant, he felt this might be a new business opportunity, after all, Hogwarts students always brought unexpected surprises.
He went to the timber wholesaler, selected various types of wood, and easily used magic to cut the huge logs into the small wooden boards Thomas had requested in his letter.
He took ten wooden boards, wrapped them, wrote down the price, and used six Owls to pull them, sending them back to Hogwarts, and placed the other clearly-grained wood materials on a prominent shelf.
In the afternoon, Thomas and Severus hurried across the lawn between the towers, rushing towards the outdoor grounds for Flying Class.
Thomas had used all his strength to drag Severus out of the potion laboratory, and now, they were almost late.
Suddenly, Thomas sensed a dangerous aura.
He immediately stepped in front of Severus, stopping his younger brother's steps forward, and the two stood in the middle of the lawn.
A huge package crashed onto the grass in front of them, kicking up swirling dust and grass clippings.
This scene happened so suddenly, "What the..." Thomas blurted out, his voice tinged with disbelief and shock, his eyes quickly scanning the surroundings, trying to find the 'culprit.'
What kind of 'Hogwarts young wizard Murder Mystery' script is this? Sherlock isn't even here, so why is 'Final Destination' suddenly playing out?
Severus was also startled, his face quickly turning pale.
Soon, several Owls descended from the sky, panting and resting on the large package.
Their feathers were disheveled, their wings half-spread, and they occasionally let out urgent "hoo-hoo" calls.
..."Sorry," Thomas understood the Owls' accusations and couldn't help but feel amused and helpless.
Because the Slytherin Common Room was underwater, Owls couldn't enter, and they usually delivered goods to the Great Hall when the Slytherin young wizards were eating breakfast.
But ever since they had the House-elf Daisy, Thomas and Severus hadn't eaten in the Great Hall for several days.
So, for an entire morning, they could only circle above Hogwarts with this heavy package until they found the two of them!
Meeting the Owls' reproachful gazes, Thomas immediately released his Wood Element Ability to replenish their lost stamina, which made the Owls return to their docile state.
The leading Barn Owl hopped twice, pressing against Thomas's finger, trying to absorb more wood element energy.
Thomas stroked its feathers and took out the payment from his pocket, placing it in the small pouch tied to its leg.
This was the signal that the mission was complete; a hint of reluctance flashed in the Barn Owl's eyes, but it immediately flapped its wings and soared high, carrying the payment and its companions as they left the Hogwarts sky and began their journey home.
"What did you buy?" Avery and Mulciber leaned closer.
"Some wood," Thomas said concisely, looking at the large package on the ground with a troubled expression.
Although he had also drawn a spatial magic circle in his robe pocket, it couldn't hold something this big.
"I'm going back to the dormitory for a moment; you two keep an eye on Severus for me."
"I also..." Severus started to speak but was interrupted by Thomas: "Being late will cost the House points."
Sure enough, Severus stopped talking; he really was a little snake who loved Slytherin!
"Wingardium Leviosa." The Levitation Charm he had just learned came in handy, and Thomas walked all the way to the Slytherin Common Room, holding his wand and carrying the large package of wooden boards.
"Did we agree to that?" Avery asked Mulciber beside him, drawing out his words, but his eyes were glancing at Severus.
"Boring," Severus coldly spat out two words and continued towards the Flying Class grounds, Mulciber silently following beside him.
"Hey, Severus, don't go!" Avery immediately chased after him, "Can I call you that? What exactly did your brother buy? Is he planning to deal with little Lestrange?"
"Shut up!"
Although Thomas had rushed back as quickly as possible, Hogwarts was simply too large, and by the time he reached the lawn where Flying Class was held, he was indeed late.
Thomas wiped the fine sweat from his forehead; a means of transport must be put on the agenda!
On the wide lawn, the Slytherin and Gryffindor First-year Students stood in two distinct rows.
In truth, they had only just stepped through the gates of Hogwarts and couldn't even call each other by name, yet the air was thick with a subtle and tense atmosphere of confrontation. This animosity seemed to be innate.
Thomas's sudden appearance attracted everyone's attention.
Unfriendly glances were cast his way from both Slytherin and Gryffindor.
The Slytherin students looked at Thomas with coldness mixed with displeasure.
They had never imagined that the first young wizard to be late would come from Slytherin; this was simply 'a great disgrace'!
On the other side, the Gryffindor students were more direct, openly displaying their schadenfreude.
James Potter and Sirius Black's voices were particularly prominent.
They stood side by side, shouting at Thomas: "Snape, did you get lost in the Castle? Or are you doing your evil 'secret experiments' somewhere again?"
Madam Hooch, the Flying Class instructor known for her strictness, frowned, staring at the young wizard who dared to be late for the first class, equally displeased...