Unlike the study, which is littered with books, Maca's potions preparation room looks very neat. No, it's not so much neat as "strict".

In some magical tales of the Muggle world, potions are usually first thought of by an old witch stirring a pot larger than a human with a large spoon, usually with a firewood underneath.

But in the wizarding world, that would never happen.

Not to mention how complex and rigorous the other steps are, the types of magic flames and the requirements for control are very high. If any of these elements are not precise enough, a pot of potions will have a nine-in-ten chance of being scrapped.

In fact, in Maca's potions preparation room, a series of areas such as "Biomaterials Research Area", "Magic Reaction Test Area", "Finished Product Experiment Observation Area" and so on are divided into a series of areas.

The potions preparation room, which was formed by connecting several basements together, makes people feel "Wow!" just by looking at it! This room is so spacious! "That's a feeling.

"Sorry for asking you to help or something...... This time it's mainly because we need to figure out as soon as possible what caused Kingsley's symptoms......"

Before entering the door, Maca did want to take the opportunity to ask Tia what her intentions were for Snape. But seeing that the other party didn't seem to be able to say anything, he simply skipped it first.

After all, the most important thing right now is to test Kingsley's blood sample first.

“…… In short, I'm sorry for you. ”

“…… Uh, no...... No, it's okay. Tia quickly shook her hands, looking a little cramped, "I...... I've always wanted to ...... Thank you...... Mr. McLean. ”

"Thank me for what?" Maca waved her wand and moved the tools she needed to use to the table, and said casually, "Well, can you help me purify the aconitum root first?" 5 ounces after drying, no problem, right? ”

"Oh...... Good, okay. Tia nodded timidly.

"Then I'll write down the materials I'm going to use first, and you can go to the material storage and pick them up according to the list......" Maca said, tapping the parchment and quill on the table behind her, "By the way, what is the most complicated potion that Miss Tia has ever prepared independently?" ”

“…… Compound intelligence enhancer...... Right? Tia stood to the side, her hands folded in front of her, a little nervous.

"Oh? Is it possible to prepare the compound preparation independently? It seems that there are several steps that can be safely handed over to you to complete......" Maca nodded, "Ah, the bill of materials has been written, you can go and pick it up - the locations are clearly marked, you can see it when you go and see it, the storage is over there......"

During the conversation between the two of them, Maca's hand barely stopped. After preparing the equipment, he hurriedly lay on the table again, pulled over a stack of manuscript paper, brushed and handwritten.

When there is material about research, he rarely writes in magic, which is a habit of his.

When Tia returned from the vault with the materials, the two stopped chatting and focused entirely on the preparation of the blood test.

Truth be told, Maca actually discovered that Tia's concentration in Potions was quite high.

Although her approach has a sense of near-dependence on textbooks and references, and her talent is clearly not outstanding, her seriousness in every detail has won the favor of Maca, a research maniac.

Of course, this favor is purely out of academic respect.

Dozens of minutes later, Maca gently closed the lid of the cauldron and nodded politely at Tia.

"That's it for now," he said, sitting back in the chair behind him, flipping through the manuscript paper he had just written, "Miss Tia, take a break, too...... Well, it seems that if you can have a qualified assistant, it will indeed improve the efficiency a lot. ”

“…… Well. ”

Tia sat in the biomaterial preparation area on the other side, nodding weakly in response. If it weren't for the silence of the place, no one might be able to hear it.

"Ah, yes!" Maca suddenly turned her head and said, "You said you wanted to thank me before...... Thank me for what? ”

When Tia heard this, she first pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment, and then stumbled to speak.

"I—I mean to say...... I was suddenly brought to this place, really...... Really scared. I know they're all suspicious of my identity...... But only you, Mr. McLean, didn't show that kind of look once. ”

"Later, you let Miss Lena take care of me all the time...... Really, the food here is delicious, the beds are soft, and no one has really bullied me...... And I've always let me live here, even though I don't even have the money......"

"I, I'm very timid, I don't dare to say anything, I don't dare to do anything, but I understand...... It's all because of your tolerance, Mr. McLean, that everyone else has questioned my existence at one time, and it's all because of you, Mr. McLean, that you ......."

Tia spoke more and more fluently, though her voice was still small, her hands clenched tightly, silently showing unease. But this time, she didn't stop halfway through the conversation as usual, but kept going.

In her words, the most mentioned ones are Maca and Lena, and every time she mentions them, she shows a grateful look.

“…… So, really, really, thank you so much...... I loved this place. ”

"It's good to like it," Maka said with a smile, "and as you can see, the people here are pretty good...... Although there are many weirdos, everyone is very kind-hearted. ”

What about me? Am I kind?

Maca put a big question mark on her head.

"But......" At this point, Tia's tone suddenly sank, and she said with a slight loss, "But I'm afraid I can't stay any longer...... I, I can ...... Leave? ”

"Huh?" Maca wondered, "Is there something wrong?" I remember you were from the United States...... Is there a goal that needs to be accomplished in the UK? ”

He paused, then added, "To be honest, the situation in the British wizarding world is very complicated during this time, and it is not safe anywhere outside...... If possible, it is best not to act alone. ”

"But I'm ...... I must ......," Tia tugged at the hem of her robe, "I'm going to find a place...... I have to find that place! This is the most important purpose that I have found in my life until now. ”

"Looking for a place?" Maca looked at her and said, "Miss Tia, where are you looking for?" If you look for it yourself, I guess you'll get lost again...... Can you tell me about it? I'm still familiar with the British wizarding world, maybe ......."

"Ah...... Hmmm......"

Tia hesitated and lowered her head, her fingertips subconsciously touching her chest, where a small outline faintly appeared.

"Oh, don't force it...... I'm just asking. Maca waved her hand.

"No, I think you're right...... I should have asked somebody. Tia said softly, "It's just that this thing is ...... for me It's very important, it's not just someone to ask...... In that case, it seems that it is best to ask Mr. McLean......"

"Really? Belch...... My pleasure. Maca put the manuscript paper back on the table, and bowed slightly.

Under Maca's slightly questioning gaze, Tia took the silver photo pendant hidden close to her collar and carefully touched the delicate texture on it.

"I mentioned that before, right?" She said, "I grew up in a Muggle orphanage, and this pendant was ...... When someone picked it up, it was stuffed in my swaddling clothes...... It should be the only meaningful memento left to me by my biological parents. ”

She muttered, as if talking to herself.

"My name 'Tia' is engraved on the back of this pendant, and here—"

With a soft click, the pendant's silver lid popped open, and the Muggle photo reappeared in front of her eyes.

"I've been looking at the pictures here, imagining what my birth parents would be like...... What would it be like if I lived with them......" she said softly, with a hint of sadness in her tone that could not be erased.

"I was bullied in the orphanage and at school...... But every time I look at it afterwards, I don't feel the pain in my body or heart, I feel like ...... There is a meaning to continue to live. ”

"I heard the director of the orphanage mention that I had been picked up in a wooded area on the outskirts of the city before I was taken to the orphanage. There seem to be a lot of terrible traces in that wood......"

"It wasn't until I was drafted into Ilvermorny to study magic that I realized that the descriptions of the woods that I heard from the Muggle Dean were very similar to those formed by a battle between wizards."

"So, do you think your parents left you in that forest as a last resort?" Maka said thoughtfully, "...... Since you can stay there safely, what about your parents...... Is it even possible that it is still alive? ”

"Yes...... Tia nodded indeed, "and...... The environment in this photo looks a lot like the ...... here in the UK."

"So you're here......" Maca stood up and walked slowly over to her, "Hmm...... Let me see ......"

As Maca walked in this direction, she visibly shrunk back, but she didn't show much resistance.

"Oh...... It's really like ...... Hmm......" Maca looked down at the small photo in the pendant, frowning slightly, as if comparing it with her own memory, "this looks like ...... It's a bit similar to some of the small towns around Manchester......"

In the background of that photo, the low, patches of bungalows make people feel a sense of "smoke and dust", which is undoubtedly a town with a somewhat dignified living environment.