Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 137: An Unexpected Encounter

At Hogwarts, alchemy is a very advanced elective course, only offered to students at the NEWT level (sixth year and above).

It is open to some students and requires them to simultaneously study multiple subjects such as Potions, Transfiguration, Herbalism, and Charms.

Because of insufficient enrollment, the course was not even offered in Harry's year.

Unfortunately, Sheehan was in the same year as Harry.

If he were to study alchemy normally, he might not even get to see a professor. Sheehan didn't even know where the alchemy office at Hogwarts was.

And alchemy is always fascinating.

Although Muggles consider alchemy to be merely crude and primitive chemistry, just as wizards know very little about Muggles, Muggles also cannot fully understand wizards' alchemy—in fact, most wizards cannot comprehend it either.

But look at what it can achieve: the Philosopher's Stone of Immortality, the Knight Bus, the Vanishing Cabinet—in short, it's a realm brimming with endless possibilities.

Since preparing to study alchemy, Sheen has paid more attention to the discussions about alchemy among senior wizards.

The castle was covered in a blanket of white snow, and the hall was filled with the aroma of lunch, with the long table piled high with food.

But around the wooden tables of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, many students still seemed preoccupied.

"I simply can't believe it,"

A Gryffindor boy listlessly poked at the potatoes on his plate. "The 'darkening' process sounds simple, but when I tried it myself, my mind just went blank."

"It's perfectly normal to have questions since you've just started learning alchemy."

A Ravenclaw girl standing nearby was putting some metal materials into her bag. She was Pamela Payton, a seventh-year student and one of the few wizards who had chosen alchemy.

"Senior Payton, are you saying that after studying for a while, I'll be able to master alchemy?"

The Gryffindor boys' eyes lit up immediately. Everyone knew that the Alchemist Master, like the Potions Master, was a walking Galleon harvester.

The thought of becoming a great figure like Professor Terra made this Gryffindor unconsciously rub his hands together.

"...Hehe, you'll get used to it after you've studied it for a while."

Pamela Payton rolled her eyes at the guy and said with a smile, "Another one with wild ideas."

After she finished speaking, the surrounding Gryffindors all let out a mournful cry.

They began to regret choosing alchemy.

Just then, a flock of owls flew into the hall, dropping bundles. A small group of wizards exchanged glances, then shakily gathered the extra reading materials inside—parchment scrolls densely covered with ancient symbols and diagrams—eliciting a new wave of lamentation.

"Another 15-inch paper!"

One student exclaimed in despair, "And they require citations of at least three 16th-century alchemical works!"

Justin peered curiously from the corner of the Ravenclaw table, then glanced at Sheehan.

If he remembered correctly, Sheen had recently been studying alchemy, and his desk was piled high with copies of "A Simple Introduction to Ancient Runes."

Judging from Sheen's notes, books like "Dictionary of Magical Script" and "Magic Phonetic Table" didn't even last a month under Sheen's care.

The snow started falling heavier and heavier from 3 p.m. Later that afternoon, Sheen and the others received an urgent message from Professor Sprout.

The snow that started last night turned into a fierce blizzard. As a result, the afternoon herbalism class was canceled. Professor Sprout was helping Sheehan and the others put socks and scarves on the mandrake.

"Neville, your earmuffs are crooked!"

Justin called out loudly, then straightened Neville's pink earmuffs.

To prepare these oddly shaped plants for the cold, Professor Sprout took out a large flowerpot from under the table, stuffed the mandrake doll into it, and buried it with damp, dark compost, leaving only the clump of leaves sticking out.

"My dear seedlings, do as I say. Our mandrakes are still just seedlings; hearing their cries will not be fatal."

She patted the mud off her hands, watched the three of them quickly finish the task, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips.

Few people can stay in a greenhouse for so long, especially when faced with repetitive and complicated work.

But think of the three young wizards in front of her; together they supported each other through torrential rain, mud, gales, and blizzards.

"Oh—how wonderful, how wonderful, there's nothing better than this—"

As the three of them left the greenhouse, wearing scarves and gloves, they were making three neat tracks in the snow when suddenly a face popped out from a snowman:

"We said we'd come find you!"

It was Fred; his entire body was inside the snowman, with only his amusing face showing.

"And I must tell you, time is of the essence!"

Another snowman spoke up, startling Neville into screaming several times.

"Where did you find this groundhog—though it's quite amusing, come with us!"

As soon as Fred and George left, the snowman collapsed. Their hurried steps made Sheen, who was following behind them, a little nervous.

"I bet you don't know anything about Professor Terra."

Fred talked as he walked, occasionally exhaling white breath.

"It took us a whole year to find her—"

George tugged at his red and black scarf, and the cold wind could only circle around his neck now.

They passed through the castle gate, entered the hall, and then walked into a secret passage.

This secret passage hides a fruit image and will only open when the fruit transforms.

"Professor Terra is always shuttling between Beauxbatons and Vagado; I bet there's not a single magic school she hasn't been to—you know Vagado?"

Fred raised an eyebrow. "Of course you'd have a hard time knowing—"

"Wagadu is a magic school located in the Moon Mountain in Uganda, Africa. It is the largest of all magic schools because it admits students from all over Africa."

Sheen answered silently.

George, noticing Fred's words caught in his throat, asked again curiously:

"So you know about Babajid Akinbad too?"

"Who is the wizard most likely to succeed Headmaster Dumbledore as the new president of the International Confederation of Wizards? I read about him in 'A History of Modern Magic'."

Sheen said in a low voice.

"Merlin—you even know Babajid Akinbad, but not Professor Terra?"

George's eyes widened. "She's a VIP in all of Vagabond, with a huge reputation throughout the alchemy world. Not only does she serve as the Ministry of Magic's alchemy advisor, but it's said she's even met Master Nicolas Flamel—rumor has it that she worked for Floo in her early years, you should have heard of it, the only company that can produce Floo Powder, and nobody knows where the entrance is."

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