This is a magic whistle that imitates the vibration frequency of the wings of the "Dendrophilus wasp". This creature is not only the natural enemy of the Whomping Willow, but also a social insect that most magical plants fear - they only eat plants that move.
Maka walked over, stretched out her hand and patted its thick roots exposed above the ground. The roots immediately moved tremblingly to the side, revealing a deep and dark hole.
This is a cave that slopes downward, only big enough for one person to lie down and slide down. Maka frowned, hugged the suitcase in her arms, and then jumped in and slid down.
The slope was not long, and soon Maka came to a tunnel that required bending down to move forward.
All light was cut off in the tunnel, and the surroundings were pitch black. Maka covered her head that hit the ceiling and fumbled to pull out the wand, but he couldn't help but paused halfway through, and finally put it back.
The Ministry of Magic leaves traces on every finished wand. Once any wizard under the age of 17 uses magic outside of school, he or she will be immediately monitored. Especially in such a place with few people, it is extremely eye-catching. It is better not to use it, even if he should still be within the scope of Hogwarts.
He took out a small glass bottle from the inner pocket of his coat and shook it vigorously, making a rustling sound as gravel collided.
Then a soft shimmer appeared in the darkness, and gradually became brighter. If you look carefully into the bottle, you will find that there is a strange haze of light filling it, which is getting thicker and thicker.
"When I make enough money, I will definitely buy a pocket bag that is easy to carry." Maka weighed her robe. It was filled with various bottles and cans, making it look heavy.
Some of them are potions, some are semi-finished products, and some are just materials, but without exception they are all very practical gadgets.
"... Or make one yourself." Sure enough, he still couldn't bear to part with his money bag.
While walking forward with his head lowered, he was thinking about some things that were there, and soon he felt that the tunnel was gradually tilting upward. Not long after, a vague light appeared in front.
Maka pulled out the cork of the bottle that was continuing to fluoresce. With a soft "pop" sound, the light mist inside spread in the tunnel and dissipated after a while.
The light mist in the bottle disappeared, leaving only half a bottle of fine black sand at the bottom. Maka put the cork back in.
Many potions and even simple materials can be used to exert the same effect as spells. Some are even more powerful than spells, but the threshold for use is extremely low.
Of course, you have to prepare them in advance and carry them with you at all times. But the flaws outweigh the flaws, which is one of the reasons why potions are so expensive.
As time goes by, many potion recipes have been crushed to pieces by the wheels of history, remaining in their once glorious days. But there is also a new generation of pharmacists working hard on this, whether they are restoring formulas or trying innovations, they have maintained a status that cannot be ignored in the magical world.
"...So, I will never agree to it without 200 Galleons."
In the corner of the Pig's Head pub in Hogsmeade, a little wizard wrapped in a dusty, shabby hooded cloak made of felt cloth was speaking calmly with a vague western country accent. What are you talking about.
That hoarse voice, as if his vocal cords had been sharpened with a file, made people want to frown.
Opposite him, a wizard who had wrapped his exposed skin layer by layer with a large number of bandages was bargaining with him in the same uncomfortable muffled voice. The sound made one wonder if there was a mouthful of old phlegm in his throat.
"No! Ahem, your potion is a new product. Before I see its effect... ahem... I can't sell it in my store. I can't bet on the credibility of my store."
"But as far as trying, ahem... trial products, the price is too expensive!"
The little wizard's tone remained calm, and he said calmly: "In this case, the transaction failed."
After saying that, he stood up holding on to the table and walked straight out the door.
"Oh - ahem, wait, damn it!" the bandage wizard said feebly, "I'll pay! But, ahem... you have to give me a discount - if you still want to cooperate for a long time!"
"150 Galleons, valid payment." The little wizard who had already reached the door turned back and said impatiently.
"S-ahem... deal."
The bandage wizard waved his hand feebly. He really longed for that kind of practical new product-if the effect was really that good.
That little wizard is naturally Maka in disguise. He prepared himself to avoid the biggest disadvantage that might be encountered in negotiations - his age, and then firmly gained the upper hand in the verbal exchange of words.
This was a business negotiation that both parties were relatively satisfied with. No matter how reluctant the bandage wizard is, he is determined to get this new product.
A new type of invisibility agent, what an attractive business opportunity!
After the bandage wizard tried it out, the two signed a magic contract in duplicate, finalizing the long-term deal.
"Purchase price is two hundred, split thirty-seven... a good deal!"
Maka, who returned to the Shrieking Shack, hung the broken cloak directly in the old wardrobe in the house, then spit out a small piece of stone from his mouth, and his voice finally returned to normal.
He flicked the magic contract scroll made of delicate parchment with his fingers and showed a slightly excited smile.
Of course, for now, having just received 1,200 gold galleons, he has just filled the gap in material fees consumed in previous exercises. And then he will continue to practice the preparation of other potions. It is still long before he becomes a rich man!
"No wonder there is always a sentence on the title page of a potion book that says, 'This is an endless road paved with gold galleons.'" Maka sighed, and the excitement just now had already faded with the change in her mood. Disappeared without a trace.
…
Ever since Maka figured out the sales channels for the potion, everything seemed to be going smoothly. Learning and research in various disciplines are progressing slowly but effectively with daily investment. What makes Maka particularly happy is that he has a real breakthrough in the Patronus Charm!
On a quiet night, Maka was standing in the spacious room provided by the Room of Requirement.
Yes, after a lot of time searching and recalling, he finally found the location of this place - it was located on the eighth floor of the castle, opposite the tapestry of "Troll Beating the Silly Barnabas".
God knows how many times he wandered back and forth like a fool in front of countless paintings, tapestries and stone statues in order to find the exact location!
"Call the gods to protect you!"
Maka stood upright in the center of the room, holding the wand upright in front of her like a sword, focusing all her energy and attention on the tip of the wand. As the pure silver-white light became brighter and brighter, He detached himself from Maka's wand.
For a moment, light circulated freely around Maka, forming a layer of faint silvery white mist.
Ever since Maka started practicing the Patronus Charm, he had only been able to get to this point. It can even be said that when he first tried to practice, he was able to emit this silvery white light mist full of hope and life.
But as he practiced again and again, the light mist became thicker and thicker, but he was always unable to summon his patron saint.
This made Maka begin to re-research the basic theory of this curse.
He checked a large number of classics again, but found nothing special. Most of the theories behind this curse are very vague. They just say that the user needs to concentrate on thinking and recalling those happy and beautiful things. All in all, positive emotions.
In desperation, Maka had no choice but to focus on various instances of successfully casting the Patronus Charm.
Finally, his hard work paid off, and several cases of using the Patronus Charm to save his loved ones allowed him to find a new breakthrough point. He discovered that when the user was forced by the situation and wanted to protect a specific object, that was when the magic spell showed its true power!
"...guard."
Maka recalled the scene when she first saw Luna in the cemetery.
In the setting sun, the girl's long pale golden hair exuded a faint halo. She stood in front of the cold tombstone, looking at her deceased mother without saying a word. In the entire gray-toned scene, only her back was so distinct;
Under the stars, when Maka subconsciously avoids the topic of her mother. She told him frankly that it was indeed a sad story, but one that needed to be faced head-on;
Before leaving, Maka only remembered her silver-gray eyes. In those hazy eyes, there was hidden the longing for seeing him again, a friend who was about to be separated temporarily.
As Maka recalled, the rich silver-white light mist swirling around his body suddenly surged up, turning into a translucent silver eagle that circled around him.
Maka looked at the huge eagle in front of her, with an embarrassed look on her face.
"...How should I face Dean Sprout in the future?"
Among the four houses of Hogwarts, the eagle is the symbol of Ravenclaw, which represents justice, sensitivity, severity, foresight, and aloofness.
When the Sorting Hat assigned Maka, it first considered Ravenclaw House. Although he was eventually placed in Hufflepuff for unknown reasons, it undoubtedly illustrates the fate between Maka and Ravenclaw. shallow.
At this moment, this eagle patron saint is not only related to the emotion of "hope to protect Luna", but I am afraid it is also related to this point.
"Anyway, let's go to bed first!"
Maka waved her wand to dispel the Patronus Charm, and then left the Room of Requirement dejectedly with a complicated feeling in her heart.