Hogwarts Card System Chapter 026

The next morning, Ted woke up half an hour earlier. The system was right; wizards not only needed to master magic and be knowledgeable, but also needed to be physically strong.

At critical moments, he could be like Gandalf, wielding a staff-sword against enemies—and casually breaking a witcher’s leg.

So Ted had told Hermione yesterday that he would meet her in the Great Hall this morning. He wanted to get up early and go for a run.

Originally, Ted had planned to run a lap around the Black Lake.

But after standing by the Black Lake, he silently abandoned that idea.

Damn it, it would be more like Anzu flying a lap. If he ran a lap himself, he’d probably be eating lunch by the time he finished.

One lap would probably be over ten kilometers! Maybe even a half marathon!

After running for twenty minutes, Ted was panting as he cast a “Scourgify” on himself. His 11-year-old body was still too weak; he really needed to strengthen his exercise.

However, he did gain something: he got 3 experience points from running, which was better than nothing.

The main thing was that he found a new psychic ability—Mental Stimulation.

Anyone who runs long distances knows that often the body hasn’t reached its limit, but the brain thinks it has.

But if you grit your teeth and hold on for a while, you’ll enter the next stage, and your brain will enter a blank state of development limits.

Ted found a way to use psychic ability to stimulate his brain, breaking through the brain’s invisible restrictions on the body.

Of course, this ability also had dangers and couldn’t be used recklessly.

Excessive mental stimulation might cause the body’s feedback to be ignored. If the body truly reached its limit and the brain’s restrictions were gone, it might just collapse.

The next day was Charms, History of Magic, and Herbology.

Aside from History of Magic, Ted answered three more questions and got 10 points.

He didn’t get anything from History of Magic class.

Mainly, Professor Binns, the ghost teacher, was too lazy. He just drifted through the class!

He would float through the wall, not even calling names, and just start reciting the textbook.

There were no questions asked, so naturally, no points were added. It was impossible to milk him for points.

If Ted had been in college, he would have laughed himself silly with such a teacher, but now he was really uncomfortable!

Indeed, lying flat and slacking off countered all means of exploitation. Even a transmigrator with a system had no way.

On the afternoon of the third day, Snape’s Potions class finally arrived. It was a large class held once a week, with all four houses attending together.

The Potions classroom was in the dungeon. It was unclear whether this was because the cold and damp dungeon was good for storing potion ingredients or because Snape’s office was also in the dungeon.

Anyway, the environment here was not good.

Even though Hogwarts was a magic school, enveloped by a thousand years of magic, it still couldn’t change the cold and dim nature of the dungeon.

Adding to that, half the classroom walls were lined with large glass jars containing parts of magical creatures, giving it the feel of an underground specimen room in a medical research institute!

Ted had the good fortune to visit one in his previous life, right when they were doing building renovations. Various cabinets, jars, bags, and mummified bodies were casually placed around—they really weren’t afraid of theft!

It felt as terrifying as entering a Frankenstein’s monster’s laboratory.

The Potions classroom gave the first-years the same feeling. Even the little snakes from Slytherin looked pale and avoided those glass jars when attending their Head of House’s class.

Add to that Snape’s gloomy old face, dressed in a black robe with greasy black hair—it was no longer just a Frankenstein’s monster’s laboratory; they themselves were the test subjects!

Before class, Hermione had complained to Ted: “I heard Professor Snape never gives points to students from other houses!”

Ted inwardly curled his lip: Doesn’t give points? He hasn’t met me yet. Even if his heart is made of iron, my ancestors were blacksmiths! For the mission, let’s do it!

Before class, Ted used [Ravenclaw’s Wisdom (Blue)] to buff himself.

…

Ever since Snape silently glided in from outside the door like a large black bat, the indoor temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.

He scanned the students, his gaze seeming to pause for a moment on Harry.

He slightly opened his mouth, his voice carrying a hint of disdain: “You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making…” He spoke softly and slowly.

“As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic.”

“I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering steam, the delicate aroma that wafts from it, or truly grasp the subtle power of the liquid that flows through human veins, captivating the mind and ensnaring the senses…”

“I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death—if you aren’t as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.”

Ted: Listen, listen, what proper words!

I declare here, Snape, your “bloodline is pure”!

Next was Snape’s questioning session. Like Professor McGonagall, he liked to give first-years a taste of his authority.

As for who would serve as the teaching aid, let’s randomly pick a unlucky person.

Well, actually, it wasn’t random. It mainly depended on who Snape disliked.

This time, Harry was certainly no longer Snape’s target.

And the boy who miraculously survived, Neville, Snape simply wasn’t interested in.

So, Ted, who had been wearing a “silly grin” on his face ever since Snape started speaking, became his target.

From his attitude towards Hermione in the original work, it was clear that he greatly disliked students who were ostentatious and showed off. Perhaps he was influenced by James Potter and his friends.

“Epiphany! Stand up!”

“Answer me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?”

Snape suddenly turned his head, an unexpected ambush.

“A Sleeping Draught, Professor.” Ted’s smile vanished, his expression utterly calm, as if he had anticipated Snape’s ambush and was fully prepared.

“Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?”

“In the stomach of a goat.”

“What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?”

“There is no difference, they are both called aconite.”

Snape launched a triple attack, but Ted easily parried them.

Armor not broken.

However, was Snape so easily deterred?

He directly increased the difficulty; the questions were no longer limited to the first-year textbook.

“Why must slug mucus be dried after removing the slime before use?”

Ted knew this question all too well; the slugs that died by his hand could circle Diagon Alley three and a half times!

“Because slug mucus is originally a cheap material, stripping it off increases income. And not removing the slime and drying it directly would cause slight effects on many potions.”

Snape was also stunned. He truly hadn’t expected Ted to be able to answer this question—it wasn’t in the textbook but was knowledge learned through practice. At least the textbook wouldn’t mention the issue of increasing income.

“Then, what should be noted when collecting Jumping Toadstools?”

“Be careful not to collect the stalk. Jumping Toadstool stalks are highly poisonous and have strong hallucinogenic effects. If mixed into a potion, it can lead to the drinker’s death in severe cases.”

As the saying goes, red cap, white stem, eat it and lie on the board together.

This potion ingredient was a herb Ted was only allowed to handle by Mr. Slughorn in his last week working at Diagon Alley.

“Where are Grassland Grubs usually found?”

“In dark, magic-rich thickets.”

…

There was another series of five or six questions, which left the other students dumbfounded by this “rapid offensive and defensive battle.”

Then Ted finally couldn’t answer anymore.

Snape narrowed his eyes, raised his head, and put on a disdainful expression: “I thought you knew everything, you don’t need to attend this class!”

Then he roared at the other students: “What are you waiting for? Why aren’t you writing this down? Do you all know everything too?!” (Silently raging)

Snape’s inner voice screamed: What’s going on? I almost messed up?!

He still had his pride. Otherwise, if he directly asked for the Felix Felicis recipe, Ted definitely wouldn’t be able to answer.

It had to be both basic and obscure.

He himself was completely unprepared, just thinking of questions was difficult for him.

Students: Damn it, what’s going on? We didn’t do anything and still got yelled at! Getting hit by a spell even when lying down?!

The first ten minutes of the first Potions class passed with Snape showing off and asking questions.

Snape asked a lot of questions, and then actually didn’t give any points!

Ted: Damn it, Snape’s heart isn’t just made of iron, it’s made of black iron, it’s completely black-hearted!

Snape: Because he was rained on, he had to break someone else’s umbrella no matter what.

Next, he began to explain the content of the first class.

This class, in addition to basic theory and the use of tools, also taught the method for brewing a boil-curing potion.

This potion could treat many skin problems.

Potions class definitely had to be practical!

So, after Snape explained the procedure and precautions for nearly an hour, he let everyone start working.

Cauldrons, stirring rods, grinding mortars, scales, silver knives… all neatly laid out.

For some, this felt as dangerous as dissecting themselves!

“Ding~ Mission triggered:

[Young Wizard’s First Potion (Green)]

Although Snape’s character isn’t great, he does have skill. Now he has taught you the brewing method and key points for the Boil-Curing Potion, so try it yourself!

Goal: Complete the configuration of your first potion.

Reward: 200 experience, Card [Neville’s Failed Boil-Curing Potion (Green)].

Deep feelings, one gulp. Drink this one, there are three more!”

Thankfully, even though black-hearted Snape didn’t give points, it wasn’t completely without reward.

Cut the ingredients, weigh them, heat the pot with oil, add plenty of oil, fry until golden brown on both sides, and the delicious aroma immediately wafted out, making Malfoy at the next table cry with envy…