From last year, new dishes have occasionally appeared in Potions class for tasting.

This is not a secret among the Hogwarts students. Although Professor Snape and Eileen have always emphasized that this is to strengthen their understanding of potions, in the eyes of most students, it is simply a classroom perk.

Sometimes the new dishes are some common dishes, which is usually when they are dealing with some unfamiliar potion techniques.

More often, the dishes that appear in Potions class are not found in the Great Hall, because they are more often imitations of certain potion brewing situations and materials used—for example, Snail Stew imitating the boil-bursting potion. Their main purpose is to allow students to master and become familiar with some conventional "laboratory operation" techniques.

Among these, the potion material handling simulation can be said to be the most complicated part for the students.

Compared to some other purely tasting and culinary entertainments, anything involving practical potion material handling mostly means mechanical practice and strict task targets.

From the depth of the winter melon peel, the thickness of the radish slices, to the average particle size of the ground ginger, the degree of muscle separation, and the completeness of the fishy line extraction...

In order to let the young wizards experience professional standards, Eileen has copied many knife skill courses from professional chefs.

Of course, in contrast, whenever there is such training that may stimulate students' rebellious psychology, the Hogwarts kitchen will prepare delicious limited-edition exclusive dishes as rewards and distribute them to the children in advance.

Over the course of two semesters, this has almost become an unwritten secret agreement in Hogwarts Potions class.

Even if Eileen described the toxicity of pufferfish a few minutes ago, facing the deliciousness from the Hogwarts kitchen, the young wizards were not afraid at all. They carefully washed their hands by the faucet and happily enjoyed the pufferfish broth.

"This... this..."

Slughorn held the soup bowl in his hand, somewhat hesitant.

In the past ten years, although Hogwarts Castle is still the same as in his memory, many details and teaching methods in the school have changed too much unknowingly, so that the old professor did not know how to speak for a while.

"Drink it, Professor, this is the responsibility of the Potions professor..."

Eileen smiled sweetly, gently blew away the heat from the bowl, and took a sip of pufferfish broth.

As the "most delicious fish," unlike other fish whose texture hardens after cooking, pufferfish still maintains its tender and delicate softness under the knife skills and meticulous stewing of the Hogwarts house elves.

Most importantly, as a fish, pufferfish has an advantage that other fish do not: it has almost no fishy smell.

In addition, because pufferfish has less fat, the deliciousness of pufferfish meat is not the greasy richness of broth. After being boiled in the soup for a period of time, a slightly sweet taste naturally appears.

Accompanied by the slightly gelatinous fish skin melting in the mouth, it can be said to be one of the very few delicacies in fish soup that does not require ginger and green onions to remove the fishy smell without affecting the taste.

"The Potions professor's... responsibility?!"

Slughorn glanced at the soup bowl in his hand with a strange expression, and his expression became even more comical.

The entire classroom was almost filled with the low sounds of drinking soup and smacking lips. Among a group of gluttonous little guys, the portly old wizard seemed a little out of place.

In all these years, Slughorn had never eaten anything in the classroom.

"Of course, because the Potions professor has the most sensitive potion perception."

Eileen nodded with a matter-of-fact expression, licked her lips with satisfaction, and explained softly.

"If something goes wrong, the professor who has eaten the same food as everyone can also determine how to deal with it as soon as possible—not to mention, you will also teach everyone how to deal with pufferfish later, so you have to finish eating it early."

"Learning how to... cook pufferfish in Potions class? Learning how to cut fish?!"

Slughorn raised his eyebrows high, snorted, and said unhappily.

"I'm sorry, Miss Kaslana, perhaps Severus thinks that teaching students to cook in Potions class is useful for potion learning, but that doesn't mean that all Potions professors will teach in his way."

"But, Professor Slughorn, you will agree, right?"

Eileen looked up, absentmindedly stroking the bottom of the bowl, and said with a chuckle.

"Because pufferfish materials are related to potions? Or is this a rule set by Professor Snape? Is that so?"

Slughorn narrowed his eyes with a hint of sarcasm and carefully looked at the silver-haired little witch in front of him.

For some reason, he began to dislike this little guy a little. From just now, Miss Kaslana's attitude and way of speaking have become more and more presumptuous, as if she were a...

"No, sir, because this is my request—Eileen Kaslana's request."

Eileen glanced at the little wizards who were burying their heads in drinking soup around her. She waved her wand gently, and the mist surrounding the two of them became slightly thicker, just enough to make the sound near the podium a little blurry.

"Hmm? Heh... Miss Kaslana, this joke is not funny."

A hint of anger appeared on Slughorn's face, and he frowned at Eileen.

As if unaware of Slughorn's displeasure, Eileen said somewhat abruptly.

"Sir, I want to ask you something."

"I don't intend to answer too many irrelevant questions for you now, Miss Kaslana..." Slughorn said coldly.

However, Eileen ignored the increasingly displeased expression on Slughorn's face.

The girl raised a strange smile at the corner of her mouth and continued to speak to herself, as if she were performing a play or reciting a script.

"Sir, I want to ask you if you know... pufferfish toxin."

"Obviously, this doesn't count as a potions-related topic. But, sir, I saw it in a book and didn't quite understand it."

"Hmm... yes... it's hard to find a book that details pufferfish toxin at Hogwarts, Professor. That's a very evil and dangerous thing, very bad, right?"

Eileen said softly, her seemingly casual tone making Slughorn's face turn pale.

"You! Wait—what are you saying? You!"

Slughorn suddenly opened his eyes wide and looked at the small witch in front of him with suspicion.

Some conversations that he had hidden deep in his memory gradually surfaced and became clearer and clearer with the girl's words.

It was as if history was repeating itself in front of him in a very ridiculous way.

Decades ago, in Hogwarts, there was a dazzling student who had said something similar to him.

More precisely, it was almost the exact same sentence, script, except that the two of them were discussing the evil Horcrux, not pufferfish toxin. Whether it was sentence structure, wording... even the pauses and forms of address...

Everything, everything was exactly the same! This could no longer be described as a coincidence.

That student's name was Tom Riddle, who was later known as the Dark Lord Voldemort.

Could it be a test from Albus Dumbledore?

Slughorn's mind flashed with such a guess, and then quickly denied it.

No!

Wrong!

This was impossible, even Dumbledore didn't know that secret.

To hide the past that he had accidentally told Tom Riddle about Horcruxes, Slughorn had modified and hidden his memories more than once.

Apart from him and the escaped Dark Lord, there should be no third wizard in this world who knew this conversation.

Unless...

"How is it possible, this... how would you know... this..."

Horace Slughorn's lips trembled, and his tone was mixed with a final expectation, hoping that everything was just a coincidence.

In a daze, he seemed to see a terrible demon slowly crawling out of the girl's shadow.

Just right, Eileen happily admired Slughorn's expression, trying to imitate that hesitant, casual, and not at all excessive flattering tone, and said unhurriedly.

"But you obviously know it very well, sir? I mean, a wizard like you—sorry, I mean, if you can't tell me, obviously—I only know that if someone can tell me, it's you—so I wanted to ask—"

Clatter—

Slughorn's hand holding the soup bowl trembled violently, and the lid collided with the porcelain, making a harsh sound.

Hot fish soup flowed down his hand, but the old wizard couldn't care less now. The old wizard looked at Eileen with a ashen face, and there was no longer any luck or hope in his heart.

"Who, who are you? Where did these words come from..."

"Is there anything wrong with those words? I saw them in a book, a very thick book."

Eileen blinked her eyes and considerately picked up a handkerchief from the desk to help the old man wipe the fish soup from the back of his hand.

"If you are willing to help me answer questions about pufferfish toxin and teach everyone how to handle pufferfish together, after this class, maybe I can help you answer some questions... Hurry up and drink the soup, Professor Slughorn, the kitchen has been preparing for a long time."

After carefully looking at the old wizard in front of her and confirming that the old man did not have any heart problems, Eileen said with a smile.

"Don't worry, I'm not like that evil guy Tom Riddle, we are justice."

"We? So... who else?"

Slughorn's eyes darted around, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

"Well, let me count..."

Eileen raised her fingers and counted softly and very seriously.

"Professor Dumbledore, my grandfather, Mr. Lemei, Mr. Scamander, and..."

"I understand... Let me think, how should pufferfish be handled—I haven't taught for so many years, I'm old, and I can't remember things, I'll calm down by myself first, and we'll talk after class later."

Horace Slughorn's eyelids trembled, and he raised his hand wearily and waved it, letting out a heavy sigh.

He didn't have many doubts about the authenticity of what Eileen said.

At Hogwarts, these things could be easily verified with just a little questioning. What he was worried about was the things behind it, as well as the plans after these long-planned showdowns and tests.

Although Slughorn still didn't know why the secret conversation had been leaked.

However, considering the magical nature of Hogwarts Castle and the rumors in the magical world over the years, as a legendary wizard who had lived in this magic school for most of his life, it was not entirely unexpected that Dumbledore had insight into all of this.

Undoubtedly, Eileen Kaslana was just a pawn, or a mouthpiece.

Not to mention the things that Tom Riddle did when he was studying at Hogwarts, even when Voldemort was at his most arrogant and invincible ten years ago, or even when the mysterious man later failed unexpectedly and eventually disappeared...

All of this, from whatever angle, was obviously not related to this little girl who had just turned eleven years old.

Of course, on the other hand...

Horace Slughorn took a sip of the hot soup in his hand, finally suppressed the palpitations in his heart, turned his head to look at the girl who was patrolling the classroom like a little angel, and sighed helplessly in his heart.

As expected of the descendant of that adult, such talent, such background, and this demonic personality.

Careless!

How could he, such a little ancestor who cannot be scolded, beaten, deceived, or coaxed, be so hot-headed at the time that he naively thought that inviting her to the "Slug Club" was a good thing?

Slughorn could even foresee that with this dark-bellied little witch joining his tea party, his right to speak might be gone from him forever.

Fortunately, however, history records that Paracelsus has always been afraid of trouble and is low-key and humble.

Even if there are those legendary wizards involved in this, it is mostly not a bad thing.

If this child was Voldemort's reincarnation or had any blood relationship with that Dark Lord, he might consider resigning and running away directly after this class. He didn't want to accompany that madman Dumbledore to save the world.

In short, after this class, he must have a good talk with Dumbledore.

After the most worried thing was revealed, Slughorn felt a sense of relief.

As for teaching students to handle pufferfish in Potions class, or involving some knife skills and cooking knowledge...

Since even the cold Severus Snape had compromised, as an old senior at Hogwarts, he had nothing to insist on.

What's more...

Slughorn raised his head and looked at the students in the classroom.

Just as Dumbledore described in his letter, the children in front of him now, this Hogwarts, may indeed create a new era.

It would be a pity for a professor to miss this opportunity.

"Ahem, everyone, if you have finished drinking the soup on the table, wash your hands and put on gloves..."

Slughorn cleared his throat, recalled how to handle pufferfish, and said with a smile.

"Next, based on Miss Kaslana's dissection illustrations, I will briefly explain some of the pufferfish organs that we may involve in potions, as well as some specific techniques and precautions for disassembling and separating them..."

Well, he's accepting it very quickly... this old grandpa?

Eileen smiled slightly, strolled around the classroom twice, and then skillfully walked to the side of the podium, began to help Horace Slughorn distribute the pufferfish for practice to each little wizard, and patiently repeated various precautions.

Under Slughorn's instructions, the little wizards began their first pufferfish dissection with trepidation.

"Well, not bad, be careful when using the knife, try not to break the internal organs..."

"Mr. Justin, don't wash the blood stains with water, use a wand... don't forget you are a wizard."

"Haven't mastered the cleaning spell yet? Okay, go to the front of the classroom and exchange for another fish—Scourgify."

Slughorn patrolled the classroom with his hands behind his back, correcting the little wizards' techniques and operations.

In fact, as long as you get over the mental hurdle, this is not much different from conventional potions class teaching, and it can more effectively utilize the class breaks.

When he walked to Eileen's side, Slughorn paused for a moment and said thoughtfully.

"This batch of pufferfish is very balanced in size..."

"Because they all come from the same farm, their sizes are naturally similar... after all, they are going to be eaten."

Eileen replied casually without raising her head. She was now holding Hermione's hand, teaching the little beaver how to perfectly break open the fish belly with one knife, take out the complete fish skin, and use the tip of the knife to pick out the pufferfish's eyes without damaging the eyeballs.

"So... these pufferfish have no poison at all?" Hermione asked in a low voice, a little surprised.

She remembered very clearly in her notebook that the last point Eileen had said about the distribution of pufferfish toxin was this.

"Don't be distracted, concentrate on feeling my strength and trajectory... the ones in the Diagon Alley pharmacy may not be."

Eileen glared at Hermione unhappily, "I'm not a devil, if I really brought that kind of highly poisonous pufferfish into the classroom, let alone whether Professor Dumbledore would agree, what about the students in the other class? Rely on Hannah?"

The toxin of pufferfish mainly comes from acquired intake. This batch of pufferfish from artificial farms is not dangerous at all.

"Sure enough... Miss Kaslana is right, it's true that it is right to be cautious."

Slughorn walked closer to their table. After hearing the girls' low estimate, a heartfelt ease and appreciation finally appeared on his round, fat face again. He understood why Dumbledore valued this little girl so much.

Putting aside those "scripted intimidation" directed by those old men, this is indeed a good child who is considerate.

"In a real potion environment, external materials are not always so reliable... well, very well done."

Slughorn casually commented, raised his head and glanced at the hourglass in front of the classroom.

Unconsciously, Slughorn had become accustomed to this new dual-line parallel teaching model.

Compared to the traditional potions class, this compact arrangement will increase the burden on students and professors, but on the other hand, it also greatly improves teaching efficiency...

Of course, the premise is that the students in each classroom can avoid too many low-level mistakes like this group of little wizards.

Hmm... reduce low-level mistakes...

Slughorn pondered for a moment and suddenly recalled the "Rules" that Eileen led the whole class to read at the beginning of the class.

So that's how it is, a chain reaction of one link after another, is this the teaching reform that Hogwarts is promoting?

It seems that tonight he really has to study and memorize the new rules and regulations.

The old wizard slowly straightened his body, looked around at the little wizards in the classroom who were still busy with their heads down, and raised his voice.

"Pay attention to speeding up the progress, there are only five minutes left. When I say stop, everyone will stop temporarily, prepare to start the next brewing operation of the swelling potion, and then continue the pufferfish cutting practice after the operation..."

"Before class is over, I will check everyone's results one by one and record the scores..."

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Hooray! Another big chapter~ Potions class is over~~

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