This is what Ravenclaw looks like..

Chapter 88 The Alchemist
The so-called alchemy is not an independent subject.

This is an elective course for students in grades 6 and 7, and the entry level is extremely high - after the fifth-year students have finished their OWLS exams, only students whose scores in Potions, Charms, and Transfiguration meet the requirements can take the course.

Generally speaking, you need at least two Os (excellent) and one E (good) in these three subjects. The requirements may be lowered a little during special periods, but you still need one O and two Es. Or if you take Ancient Magic Rune and get an O, the requirements can be lowered a little, and you can enter the class with two Es and one O.

"This class has very high requirements, professor."

After listening to Professor McGonagall's introduction, Andrew was a little shocked - he had seen the transcripts for the past three years, and the assessments for these three courses have always been strict, and there are not many students who can meet the requirements.

Let’s put it this way, if he doesn’t change the way he currently allocates his study time, he will definitely not be able to get into this course…

"So whenever Professor Singed sees good students, he will give them some alchemical gadgets to boost their interest."

Professor McGonagall smiled. There was a reason why the threshold for alchemy was high - this was a very expensive subject. The Ministry of Magic even had special subsidies for alchemy. Plus, the professor was really strong, so she didn't spend too much Galleons. For most students, once they entered the school, just to become a skilled hand would burn a hole in the school's finances.

Moreover, poor students cannot learn this subject. It is a far more dangerous subject than potions. Alchemy has two major branches, potion making and item manufacturing. Every year, wizards die from either of them.

Compared to the precise research of magic potions for wizards, alchemical potions have a wider range of applications and various effects - pesticides, shampoos, alchemical poison gas, fertilizers, soil modification potions...

Not to mention item manufacturing, almost all magic items involve alchemy, and there are too many examples to list.

The introductory course of alchemy itself only takes half a semester. After a brief introduction on how to apply the knowledge you have learned to alchemy, Professor Singed will start to lead students to do commissions - developing new pesticides, environmental modification potions for the growth environment of certain herbs, and which Muggle machinery the Ministry of Magic suddenly wants to copy and turn into magic, etc...

It sounds messy and like a miscellaneous job, but in fact it is the accumulation and mixed application of multiple courses. It is a top-level research and development course that selects the best from the best. If you can choose it and get an E score or above after graduation, you don't have to worry about employment problems and you can just get by in the Ministry of Magic. The excellent ones will be directly hired with high salaries to develop new things.

The only drawback is the source of students. Poor students are not accepted, but excellent students who meet the requirements may not necessarily choose alchemy - the graduates of Hogwarts are too young. Although they start working right after graduation, which makes it seem that they are just younger and the order remains unchanged, being young means being too motivated, and fewer people can concentrate on studying alchemy there.

In order to ensure that he had enough students to assist in the experiments, Professor Singed had to carry some interesting alchemy gadgets with him every day. He would give them out when he saw a good candidate, hoping that the candidate would become interested and study this promising course in the sixth or seventh grade.

The professors were also happy to see this happen - alchemy was indeed a good place to go. Even if they couldn't make the Philosopher's Stone, other things wouldn't be much worse than alchemy. Moreover, the elective courses for sixth and seventh graders were not considered to be a competition for students. It was simply a guarantee of placement for the best students they had taught...

To be honest, if the Philosopher's Stone that Professor Singed was planning to get this time was not too involved, if it was any other project, as long as it was somewhat reliable, Professor McGonagall would have approved it with reluctance, and used this application to get a batch of special funds from the Ministry of Magic.

Of course, funding can be discussed, and it's OK to lure the assistant to alchemy. Given Andrew's talent for Transfiguration, if he keeps up this learning momentum before graduation - no, if he keeps up this momentum before the fifth year, Professor McGonagall can write a recommendation letter for him when he graduates.

Moreover, judging from Andrew's performance in spells and potions, there is no need to worry about this.

...

"We'll discuss alchemy next time. If you're interested, you can learn more about it and then work harder on the corresponding subjects."

After briefly describing the alchemy courses and graduation trends, Professor McGonagall glanced at the clock. "Okay, put that thing away, Mr. Taylor, and start today's work."

"Yes, Professor."

Andrew nodded, sat down at the table and started working - today's work content made him quickly forget everything related to alchemy, and he began to curse himself.

Well, it's to deal with the reports of Peeves' damaged items and the list of medical supplies consumed by the school hospital during this time.

There are also some speculations and applications from Mr. Filch about anti-Peeves measures and Mrs. Pomfrey's application about the hospital's need for refills of potions.

'Why would I mess with it?'

-

"Hmm, that's interesting..."

Freed from the documents that were two points heavier than before, Andrew played with the lighter in his hands. Every time he pressed the button, a puff of smoke came out, and then mixed with tiny sparkles to form a star model.

But it always came out the same - Andrew guessed that it would change every day, because there was a line of small words written in gold thread under the lighter-like shell, "Divination can guide us to find the direction of the future, but the most important thing is our own decision."

"Maybe a daily random fortune-teller that uses the stars to predict what you'll encounter?"

Although Andrew didn’t know much about the details, he knew the general pattern very well. When he was in fifth grade, he had seen classmates who were talking and talking loudly with astrology books.

'I used some Transfiguration, probably two simple ones, and engraved several spells... Is the star sign fixed and random every day, or is there some divination mixed in?'

He couldn't understand this stuff - just fixing the spell on an object was not something a lower grade student could do stably. He still couldn't perform even the simplest permanent transformation due to insufficient magic power.

'But it's also good news - I met a very powerful alchemist. Although I can't get close to him, I can still be a student. The things made by seventh graders are definitely not as good, but they are not useless.'

Find an excuse to sneak in. Go there once or twice and the other party will definitely not get bored. Then take the opportunity to get to know the students and get some alchemical items - just don't make them explode.

I am not sure what is needed yet, but I have found a way.

He put down what he was holding with satisfaction, and prepared to go back to the lounge first, have lunch, and then go to the basement to finish his work.

(End of this chapter)