The confinement of Justin Finchrie and Neville Longbottom has been going on for two weeks.

During the first two weeks of the new semester, Matthew often saw the two of them, led by Professor Plelinger, walking up and down the hallways with heavy loads and chains, doing all sorts of chores...... And Mr. Tang is always watching them in case they are lazy.

For those students who seriously violate the school rules, the punishment at Hogwarts is actually very harsh, far from being a small fight.

As Mr. Plumger put it, "It helps students think twice before breaking school rules...... Working hard and enduring hardships are often the best teachers. ”

In addition, Mr. Pringer regrets that the old-fashioned form of punishment was abolished fifty years ago...... Hang the wrists of students who break the school rules and hang them from the ceiling for days, and after a few days, even the naughty students will become completely beneficial.

Looking at the tragic situation of these two first-year students, Matthew was a little lucky: around Halloween, Professor Rozier's "confinement" punishment that Professor Rozier had planned to inflict on himself was finally canceled under the persuasion of Professor Troca.

At the same time, he also understood why the new Hogwarts order was much better than the one he remembered.

The Weasley twins, who were remembered to be proud of breaking the school rules, have also become good students at Hogwarts, at least on the surface.

......

On a Friday at the end of January, the Slytherin first-year dorm received the content for their first after-school practice of the new term.

This Saturday, tomorrow, they will be taught by Professor Horace Slughorn, the Head of Slytherin.

At half past eight on Saturday morning, five boys who had just finished breakfast gathered at the door of the Potions classroom.

This time, however, there were no surprises...... For example, Professor Slughorn is sick or something.

The smiling Potions teacher opened the door and waited for them in the classroom.

"Good morning, boy!" he said happily.

However, his smiling eyes only looked at Matthew Wakefield and Draco Malfoy, and the other three boys were directly ignored by him.

"Good morning, Teacher Slughorn!" the five said in unison.

"This morning, we might as well practice the handling of medicinal herbs......" Walking into the Potions classroom with five people, Professor Slughorn said loudly, "Let's split into two groups first: Matthew, Draco, you two and I ...... a group"

Then he glanced at the three boys, and from the look in his eyes it seemed that he would not be able to name Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott for a while: "You three are the second group, and the three of us before were the first group!"

Like a fat walrus, Slughorn walked slowly to a large cupboard in the Potions classroom.

"The students in the second group. Slughorn said as he pulled out a handful of dried nettles, a large bottle of Flober caterpillar slime, a bag of bat spleen, and a whole piece of dried dragon liver from the cupboard: "Your mission is to take care of these—"

"Tidy up the dried nettles and put them in small bags...... And these Flober caterpillar slimes, strain them carefully three times to get rid of the small sand inside...... The bat spleen is cut into powder, and the dragon liver needs to be cut into small pieces and then put into crystal bottles. Slughorn said lightly, "Okay, that's it...... If you don't understand, you can go to the classroom inside and ask me!"

Looking at the dirty pile of potions, whether it was Crabbe, Goyle, or Noether, there was a look of disgust on their faces.

But after all, this was the teacher's order, and they didn't dare to disobey, so they began to roll up their sleeves and get ready to do it.

"Wait, little fat man!" Crabbe was about to grab the dragon liver, Slughorn suddenly called out to him, and said in some pain, "Don't forget to wear dragon skin gloves...... Such a large piece of dragon liver is worth at least 30 Galleons, and it would be terrible if you contaminated it!"

Slughorn's face showed a satisfied expression as he watched the three boys of the "second group" put on their dragon skin gloves and began to bend down to work.

Then, he looked at Matthew and Malfoy with a smile, "Matthew and Draco, you guys come with me first!"

At the same time, he pointed to the hut on the inside.

......

Unlike the cupboards outside, where medicinal herbs were piled up at will, the inner room had several tall potion shelves neatly arranged with all kinds of strange potions.

"Maybe you're interested in meeting my most proud collection!" Slughorn said with Matthew and Malfoy a little triumphant, "I dare say that there aren't many pharmacists in all of Europe, and their warehouses are more complete than mine!"

Matthew looked at the potions shelves, which contained a lot of herbs that he didn't recognize at all.

"If you have any needs in the future, feel free to reach out to me...... Borrow some, it's okay!" Slughorn said as he made his way to the nearest shelf.

He first pointed to a small bottle on his left:

"This is a Japanese puffer fish eye, which is extremely poisonous, and such a small bottle will cost at least 200 Galleons on the market......"

Slughorn's gaze returned to the dense row of crystal bottles.

"And dragon's blood...... Twenty-two kinds of fire dragon blood, except for the Ukrainian Iron Belly Dragon, I have collected all the rest!"

Then, he opened another cardboard box:

"And, of course, the African tree snakeskin...... It's also extremely precious, and a whole one on the market costs at least a hundred Galleons, and I've collected ......."

Slughorn was halfway through his words when he suddenly froze.

"Whew!" he let out a strange cry:

"Damn, I remember I had seven full African tree snake skins, why are there only six left?"

Matthew blinked slightly, and he suddenly remembered the effect of the African tree snakeskin......

"Could it be that a thief broke into here?" Draco Malfoy asked in a low voice, "Professor, why don't you see what herbs are missing?"

"That's right...... I'll look for ......," Slughorn said, a little nervous.

He didn't bother to introduce his collection to Matthew and Malfoy anymore, and began to rummage through the cabinets.

Ten minutes later—

The Potions classroom sat on the ground and said bitterly, "There's a two-horned beast missing...... Damn, these two things cost me at least 400 Galleons......"

Horns of the Horn ...... of the Horns African Tree Snakeskin ......

"Professor Slughorn. Matthew muttered, "Someone stole these two herbs from you, could it be that he wanted to ......"

"That's right, he's making a polyjuice potion!" Slughorn said, grimacing.