“…… Alas, what the old man of Slughorn thinks, I don't understand at all! Isn't it clear that the rewards for the course are definitely yours? Hermione? ”

One day after school started, in the Gryffindor common room, Ron was holding a book, reading and complaining lazily. And around the table he was, Harry and Hermione were doing their own thing.

"It's not really until the last minute, and no one knows what the outcome will be. If you work harder, maybe the prize will be yours......" Hermione rustled something on the parchment, not looking up.

In fact, Ron doesn't really care about any rewards, because now, at least he is very clear about his abilities. A student like him in the "good" Potions class is already lucky to be able to study in class. At the moment, he was not so much complaining as having nothing to say.

"Speaking of which, you still won the prize...... Ron said casually, flipping the page of the book in his hand, "but seriously, I really don't know what the bald old man is thinking...... What do you say, 'A gift for a lady can't be too shabby'...... Isn't the prize a potion? What's shabby and shabby? ”

"Maybe it's going to be packed?" Harry closed the notebook on his desk and stretched hard, "I remember when Aunt Vernon gave Aunt Maggie some small gifts, he seemed to have said something similar?" ”

"Anyway, I'm not interested in anything," Hermione stopped and shook the feather that was the shaft of the pen, "Didn't Professor Slughorn mention it in class?" In addition to not being able to overdose, there are some other side effects...... Since that's what Maca said, even if there's no basis for it, I still think it's best not to touch it! ”

"But what Slughorn said later, I felt right—" Harry thought for a moment, "Luck can't be measured, and it's anyone's guess whether the side effects of the elixir exist or not." ”

"Then I won't be going to Professor Slughorn's dessert tasting tonight, so you can help me find a reason then!" Hermione turned her head to look at him, "The prize is yours too, you don't have to figure it out for yourself - I don't need it anyway, and I don't want to use it." ”

"No, no, no, Hermione......" Harry said helplessly, "I guess you'd better take it this time!" You didn't go to the exam after the exam last semester...... It's not appropriate to make excuses both times, right? ”

"I-" Hermione opened her mouth and looked down at the parchment again, before she reluctantly said, "Hmm...... I'll think about it, let's talk about it after dinner! ”

……

When it comes to the small event held by Slughorn, it is natural that Maca will not be missed. Yes, he also received the old man's invitation as before, but it is still unknown whether he will be able to attend at that time.

At this moment, in the room of requirement, the "werewolf statues" that were originally placed horizontally and vertically have been placed on the position against the wall, and on the surface of the floor where they were originally located, there are faint blue lights.

This is where Maca studies the rune array and the individual rule runes.

The room was still dim, and this was arranged to eliminate other unwanted visual distractions and to observe the formation purely in the light of the formation. Right now, Maca was crouching in this large array, her eyes staring at the small rule rune floating in the center for a moment.

Around the swirling and floating rune, shards of ice crystals flew lightly and then slowly fell and disappeared, exuding a clear beauty at every moment.

It lasted for hours that she stood up and twisted her neck slightly. He was using his eyes and his ability to sense magic at the same time to observe the rules themselves, as well as the appearance of their runic forms.

Why do regular runes actually appear in such strokes? How does this have a special connection with the meaning of the rules? If he could comprehend the connection between the two, then his understanding of the cooling rune would probably be able to go further.

In this way, it is possible to comprehend another rule rune that is diametrically opposed to it. And even if it can't, it must be of great help to the understanding of other rule runes, isn't it?

In fact, he's been spending a lot of time on this.

After resting for a moment, Maca crouched down again and continued to study the cooling rune in the center of the array.

In fact, he deliberately chose the day when there was no magic class this afternoon, and he planned to think about it. But no matter how much time you have, for such a thing as studying rule runes, it is like climbing the peak of ten thousand thousands, how can it be calculated by common sense?

In this silence, time seems to pass slowly, as if it is fast, and it silently dissipates between the fingers, bit by bit. When there was a sudden "ding" sound on the table in the depths of the room, Maca suddenly straightened up and rubbed her face vigorously.

“…… Is it time to eat? Well...... So, it seems like you're really hungry? ”

As he spoke, he waved his hand suddenly, and the rule runes disappeared in an instant, and the dark blue streamers on the floor also disappeared without wind. As he walked straight to the door, the "werewolf statues" that had been placed against the wall also floated up, each falling to its original position, obscuring the rune array on the ground.

"Click-bang!"

The door to the Room of Requirement was casually closed, and soon melted into the wall behind Maca and disappeared.

"This kind of research is really time-consuming and labor-intensive...... Yes! He tilted his head as if he remembered something as he strolled along, "Seems like Slughorn's dessert is coming tonight?" Well...... Let's postpone the post-dinner research for the time being! The old man's network is still very useful......"

Now that there is no immediate crisis, Maca is no longer in such a hurry as it used to be. The road of magic is winding and long, but life is limited, and under the premise that it cannot be achieved overnight, it is also important to know how to enjoy life from time to time.

As soon as the meal arrives, the Great Hall of Hogwarts will become as lively as usual, and everyone will feel a warmth rise in their hearts when they see the scene of teachers and students gathering and enjoying themselves.

“…… After observing the beginning of the school year, the class is obviously of a higher standard than in the past, especially the ...... of several students"

As Maca sat in the faculty chair, he heard the little man Professor Flitwick talking to Professor McGonagall about his thoughts on the young wizards. And when a few familiar names appeared from each other's mouths, he also smiled.

Hermione and the others were, of course, one of several names that Flitwick had specifically named, and Maca knew that the words he had spoken in the hospital room were working appropriately.

The near-conclusive conclusion that "Voldemort will be resurrected" can bring a sense of crisis to everyone present at the time; And a suitable resurrection period can allow everyone to properly transform that sense of crisis into a driving force for progress. In between the current safe transition, it would be nice for them to be able to steadily improve.

"It's a pity that they can't actually sense the magic power, otherwise the practical content of the magic class can be deepened a lot...... It's a shame......"

He thought about it as he enjoyed his meal tonight, feeling that this kind of life was indeed beautiful.

"McLean, you haven't forgotten that little event of mine for a while, have you? I really hope you'll have time, and this time I asked Ambrosiu to get me some new sweets, which I don't have to sell in the store! ”

Slughorn, who was several seats away, poked his head out and interrupted Maca's thoughts coldly. Maca didn't mind at all, just nodded.

"Of course, I'll go......," he smiled, "Professors, aren't you going together?" ”

"Oh, actually, I've invited them, but—"

"That's not appropriate," Flitwick said in his high-pitched voice, "Slughorn has invited quite a few students, and if we guys go, they'll be uncomfortable." ”

"Look!" Slughorn spread his hands and said, "Actually, if you want me to say, the professor should mingle with the students, which will also be of great help to the teaching!" ”

"Not necessarily," Snape interjected in a rare way, hearing the old man say this, "I admit that you can get the results this way, but that doesn't mean everyone can use it." In my opinion, those students are so relaxed that they have only learned so much for seven years. ”

Maca couldn't help but smile to herself—it was clear that even Snape would be hard to deny Slughorn's abilities. But his philosophy is completely different from that of the old man, so it will inevitably be unconvincing.

"By the way," Maca thought for a moment, and suddenly asked, "I have a general idea of the situation in the senior year, but what about this batch of freshmen this year?" As you know, my courses are electives, so I don't know much about them! Can you tell us casually, professors? ”

His words made all the major professors recall them slightly, obviously comparing those freshmen horizontally in their hearts.

"There are three students who are not bad," said Professor McGonagall first, "and the first year is where everyone is still in contact and adaptation, and this stage is the easiest time to show the difference in talent. Sarah Hohenheim of Ravenclaw, Ens Taon of Hufflepuff, and Alexander Wolfe of Gryffindor – these kids are all worth looking forward to. ”

At this point, McGonagall paused, and finally added, "Of course, talent is not everything, and every student deserves our energy to guide them on the right path. ”