In the corridor, before Lucien could even ask, Harry took the initiative to explain.
"Lately, I've become interested in potions related to dental treatment, and I want to do some research. Lucien, do you have any books you could recommend?"
Lucien was slightly taken aback.
Potions for dental treatment?
After thinking for a moment, he took out a pen and some paper and quickly wrote down a list of books.
The chapter on Regeneration Potions in Advanced Potion-Making, A Guide to Magical Dental Care, Common Oral Charms...
Once he was finished, Lucien tore off the page and handed it to Harry.
As he did so, Lucien suddenly found the scene strangely familiar. It was just like when the Headmaster and professors recommended reading lists to him.
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he added,
"If you have questions about potion brewing or dental magic, you could actually ask Professor Snape..."
Before he could finish, Lucien noticed Harry's expression visibly stiffen.
He paused, then slowly added,
"Or you could ask Madam Pomfrey. The Hogwarts Hospital Wing should be very experienced in treating dental problems."
Harry scratched his perpetually messy black hair, looking thoughtful.
"Come to think of it, when I went with Ron to the Hospital Wing last time, Madam Pomfrey seemed to say something similar. She said Hogwarts is the best place in the British wizarding world for treating dental problems."
Harry frowned, looking puzzled.
"But why?"
Lucien thought to himself that it was probably thanks to a certain old man with a sweet tooth.
Of course, he couldn't say that aloud, so he answered vaguely,
"Maybe... they've simply accumulated a lot of experience."
Harry nodded, apparently accepting the explanation, and lowered his head to study the book list in his hand.
Lucien looked away, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
Riemann's earlier mention of Hair Growth Potions, followed by Harry's questions about dental potions, reminded him of something once again.
The Loan Quest for the emerald tablet fragment required him to sell alchemical products or potions.
Because his talent in Alchemy had improved so much, and with Master Nicolas's guidance, he had spent nearly all of the past six months focused on Alchemy and had devoted very little thought to Potions.
In any case, the Loan Quest was nearly complete. All that remained was to wait for Instant Speech to be optimised and popularised.
That process was progressing steadily. After returning home, the judges from the Exchange Competition had remained in contact, indicating that cooperation with their respective Ministries of Magic was currently being negotiated.
There was still plenty of time.
Developing a few new potions to clear his head could be considered a form of relaxation.
He already had several ideas for beauty-related potions. He had gained quite a bit of inspiration while modifying the Beauty Spring.
If he organised those ideas properly, he might be able to create something interesting.
As for Hair Growth Potions and the like...
Although he didn't need them himself, they were worth researching.
It could be considered a service to his fellow men.
...
Outside the castle.
Professor Shafiq, once again dressed in her usual clothes, walked slowly along the gravel path leading toward the lawn.
Her black curly hair hung loosely over her shoulders, and she looked listless, as though she had just suffered a crushing defeat.
In fact, she had.
Her attempt to ask Dumbledore for additional leave had failed.
The reason was perfectly reasonable. If she went on holiday, who would teach the students?
Headmaster Dumbledore had personally covered her classes for the past few days, but he seemed to have other matters to attend to later and might not have the time.
Shafiq sighed.
She had only agreed to teach Alchemy at Hogwarts because she owed Dumbledore a favour.
Otherwise, with her personality, she would have much preferred to stay shut away at home.
Despite her young age, Shafiq was already desperate to retire.
As she walked, Shafiq suddenly noticed a group of young witches and wizards gathered beside the path.
When she drew closer, she saw that they were surrounding a fountain.
Some students were queuing to collect water, while others stood nearby in small groups, chatting.
The spring water shimmered with faint magical light, making the fountain exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
Shafiq blinked.
This fountain...
Although its outward appearance was different, from the perspective of its alchemical structure, it looked remarkably similar to the Beauty Spring at Beauxbatons.
She moved closer for a better look, and her expression gradually became peculiar.
It wasn't merely similar.
It was extremely similar.
As the Alchemy professor, Shafiq was somewhat unusual in that she generally didn't remain at Hogwarts except on the days when she taught Alchemy to the upper-year students.
Because of that, this was the first time she had seen the fountain, and she hadn't yet heard any students mention it.
"What a coincidence, Angela. Are you here to see the fountain too?"
A familiar, high-pitched voice sounded behind her.
Shafiq turned around and saw the diminutive Professor Flitwick approaching with a broad smile.
"Filius," Shafiq greeted him. Then she pointed toward the fountain and asked, "What is this?"
Flitwick walked up beside her, puffed out his chest with undisguised pride.
"Lucien built it. He finished it the day after you all returned from Beauxbatons."
Shafiq's eyes widened slightly.
This magical fountain was undoubtedly a masterpiece of Alchemy. Its rune arrays and structural design radiated alchemical ingenuity and precision.
But on closer inspection, she could see that it also incorporated a considerable amount of Transfiguration, along with certain principles from Potions.
The Transfiguration aspect in particular was what gave the fountain its genuine ability to make people "beautiful."
Shafiq sighed softly.
"What an unusual approach. That boy truly is a polymath."
Hearing his colleague praise Lucien, Flitwick's smile widened until his eyes nearly disappeared into slits, his beard trembling with laughter.
"Hehe, Ravenclaw is truly fortunate to have a young wizard like Lucien."
Normally, he couldn't say things like that in front of McGonagall, Snape, or Sprout. They were all Heads of House themselves, and saying too much would sound like blatant boasting.
But when speaking with a professor like Shafiq, who had no affiliation with any particular house, Flitwick could indulge in a little bragging about his student.
He said cheerfully,
"In all my years of teaching, he's the first student I've ever encountered like this."
Shafiq nodded, her gaze still fixed on the fountain.
As she continued watching, a strange look suddenly appeared in her eyes.
A thought occurred to her.
If only Lucien were a few years older.
Then he could help cover some Alchemy classes.
That was called... a teaching assistant, yes, a teaching assistant!
The more Shafiq thought about it, the better the idea seemed.
Once Lucien graduated, she could wash her hands of the whole thing.
As long as someone was teaching Alchemy, Dumbledore wouldn't have anything more to say.
And judging by that boy's current level of Alchemy, he would certainly be more than qualified to become a professor by then.
Shafiq finally looked away from the fountain and turned toward Flitwick.
"Filius," she said tentatively, "you're Lucien's Head of House. Do you happen to know whether that boy has any plans to become a teacher in the future?"
________
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