They are also masters of potions, but everyone's preparation habits and research directions are always different. For example, Snape is better at preparing potions with more elaborate and complex steps. The more highly skilled the preparation process is, the more it reflects the difference between his level and that of ordinary potion masters.
As for Slughorn, a veteran potion master, his strengths obviously lie in his extensive research on various potion theories and his solid techniques gained through extensive preparation experience.
Just looking at the various theories and practical techniques he mentions from time to time during his lectures, as well as the ease and ease with which he picks them up, you can tell that his reserve of potions knowledge is extremely astonishing.
"...The last point, yes! Professor McLean also mentioned the Ariot blade just now. I believe everyone has been exposed to it in past courses. So, can anyone help me recall this material? "
Slughorn first explained the specific effects of the vitality tonic, and by the way, he also appropriately named the properties of some of the main raw materials. After that, he started asking questions for the first time in this class.
Needless to say, our Miss Granger already had her hands in the air.
In fact, she had almost given up the option of raising her hands to speak in Snape's class. After all, no matter how she raised her hands, Snape would ignore her, and she would get no benefit at all except sore shoulders. Even Hermione, who is as active in learning as she is, has lost the urgent need to answer questions to add points to the academy in her Potions class life year after year.
But now, she can raise her hand in Potions class again! It's better than drinking a warm cup of butterbeer in Hogsmeade.
"Oh, Miss Granger?" Slughorn smiled at her and nodded.
"The ariot tree, also known as the hyena tree, has leaves that can induce hysteria and uncontrollable laughter in creatures. Therefore, chopped ariot leaves are often used to make 'dance' The Potion of Laughter', is one of its main ingredients. And...the molasses produced by the heartbreak bug can cure the symptoms caused by the leaves, and only a small spoonful is needed."
"Well, that's very true," Slughorn said with satisfaction, "Even I can't say it better. However, the heartbreak bug is an endangered species today, and the molasses it produces has become quite expensive as a result. I hope everyone Being able to pay attention to that.”
After saying this little reminder, he continued on with what he had just said.
"Yes, you all heard it - Ariote leaves make people laugh, so that's why it was the basis for the Laughter Potion. But actually, the vitality tonic we're about to learn about now also needs it because it's The effect of making people laugh is based on the extra energy it provides."
Slughorn paused and chuckled: "Professor Severus Snape, who used to teach you Potions class, is also a very famous Potions Master in the wizarding world. I think he is talking about the Potion of Laughter. It must have been specifically mentioned in the course - during the preparation process, the chopped Ariot leaves should not be stirred too vigorously, otherwise the ingredients that can cause laughter will be destroyed!"
"But this time, we are going to destroy it, because we don't want to have to smile at others when taking the vitality tonic, do we? On this point, please compare the two potions. The difference sticks in your mind - I mean, if you want to get more points on your OWLs."
He shrugged to show that he was thinking of everyone.
"So, the preparation process of the vitality tonic is relatively simple, and the most difficult part is stirring when adding the chopped Ariote leaves. Vigorous stirring will destroy the ingredients that make people laugh, and it will also Produce a relatively large magic vortex reaction. Although Professor McLean has prepared white pistil flowers for you, I hope you still need to be more careful during the preparation process... "
The "magic vortex reaction" that Slughorn calls is simply that the magic liquid in the crucible forms a magic vortex because the stirring speed is too fast. If this reaction, which is relatively common during potion preparation, occurs too violently, a sad phenomenon of frying the pot will occur.
It can be seen from the death of Luna's mother that the process of studying curses sometimes involves fatal dangers. Similarly, some very scary situations can occur during the preparation of potions.
Among the many accidents that are difficult to prevent, the frying pan can be said to be a baptism that every potion preparer will experience. If you have never fried a pot, you would be embarrassed to tell others that you know how to prepare potions.
However, even if such an accident will follow you throughout your potions-making career, it is still a bad accident that is best avoided if possible. Because depending on the medicine you make, its dangers cannot be generalized.
The world-famous Magic School Potions Championship was permanently suspended due to a bombing during a certain final. According to records in the history of magic, the competition scene at that time was particularly brutal, and even left a poisonous swamp in Northern Europe that cannot be completely eliminated to this day.
"Okay, then, next, it's time for Professor MacLean, whom you have been waiting for, to make his debut!" Slughorn said happily, "Today, he and I will demonstrate collaborative preparation techniques for everyone!"
The name of this technology sounded a bit unfamiliar, and even Hermione, who had read a lot of various books, shook her head under the gaze of several Gryffindors, indicating that she was not clear about it.
"Please don't worry too much, because this potion preparation skill has not been officially included in your textbooks, so you can't find it in the list of potion skills." Slughorn specifically explained, "However, everyone You must still remember that your Professor MacLean once won two annual silver awards from the academic journal "Practical Potion Master", and one of the research papers was about this very ingenious potion. Preparation Tips!”
As he was talking, he suddenly leaned forward and pretended to whisper: "... I think that since you are students of Hogwarts, why not be one step ahead of the students of other schools?"
Since ancient times, potion preparation has usually been a one-man job. Because although two-person cooperation theoretically will greatly reduce the difficulty of preparation, when you actually try it, you will find that there will actually be more interference between them. Potions is a very delicate subject, so this interference is often fatal to a pot of potions.
However, Maka discovered many preparation techniques that could be split during the process of personal preparation, especially those complex techniques that required multi-tasking, which he split into simpler two-person cooperation techniques.
There is no doubt that this standardized preparation technology due to splitting and summarization will definitely make the preparation of certain pharmaceuticals easier and more conducive to the development of popularization.
"Actually, I didn't expect that the summary paper that I handed to Professor Snape at that time would be submitted to Professor Dumbledore," Maka spread her hands and said with a smile, "If you have any special ideas in the future, Remember to write it down and show it to your Professor Slughorn, maybe you can win a prize by the way?"
After saying that, he and the old man Slughorn stood face to face on both sides of the crucible in front of the classroom. Then Slughorn stretched out his wand and tapped lightly on the edge of the crucible. On the other side, Maka reached out and picked up the silver knife on the round table, and quickly and neatly cut up a wrinkled brown dried fruit.
Both of them are very familiar with the not-so-difficult medicine such as Vitality Tonic, and know every step and every detail. According to the technical breakdown summarized by Maka, there was no lag in the movements of the two people, and their respective division of labor became quite clear and smooth.
Slughorn's evaluation of Maka's technique just now was very accurate - it is an ingenious potion preparation technique, because it is not complicated to say, and even students can easily understand most of the tricks. .
This is sometimes the case in academic circles, whether it is Muggle science or wizard magic, the so-called progress often starts with a humble summary. But the establishment of another type of standardization will open up a new world for the entire discipline.
Everyone watched as Maka and Slughorn cooperated tacitly, and the whole step of preparing the raw material base liquid was easily completed. When prepared independently, it cannot be so brisk. After all, this is a medicine that can only be learned in the fifth grade.
"professor!"
When Slughorn put down the glass rod in his hand and was about to analyze some of the techniques he had just demonstrated, a voice told him to stop what he was saying.
"Mr. Longbottom?" the old man asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
Neville, who had been very introverted since he was a child, suddenly raised his hand to speak. This was a big news. Now most of the students turned their heads and looked at his table, so that Harry, Ron and Hermione who were at the same table with him He was also surrounded by surprised looks.
"...Pan, Pansy Parkinson...Miss, push me a paper ball..." Neville said awkwardly with his not very sharp tongue.
"What's written on it?" Slughorn raised his eyebrows, and a trace of doubt flashed across his chubby old face.
It was a normal thing to pass some small notes in class. This old man was obviously not a strict professor, so he didn't pay much attention to these small actions.
"I haven't... not looked at it yet." Neville spread his palms and moved them to the side, as if he wanted to get further away from the snakes.
Maka casually glanced at Parkinson in Slytherin House, only to find that her face was a little pale.