"Professor Hess, you may have misunderstood."
Jerry stood up. Being half a head taller than Hermione, he subtly blocked most of her body and the incriminating test tube on the table behind him.
He looked straight into "Hess's" oppressive eyes, his face devoid of any panic, as if the previous fluster and intimacy had nothing to do with him.
"Miss Granger has been struggling to control the heat during the fusion stage of Graphorn horn powder and moonstone while brewing the Essence of Dittany."
Jerry's voice was steady and organized, like giving a rigorous academic report. "I once read in an ancient family tome that during the semi-finished stage of 'White Dew'—before this highly efficient healing potion is refined—there is a very unique, slightly fishy and astringent signature taste. If the taste is right, it means the ratio and heat are perfect."
Jerry paused, his gaze meeting "Hess's" all-seeing scrutiny frankly.
"So, I just let her taste the semi-finished product at this stage from my cauldron for a 'taste' comparison, so she could understand it more intuitively. When she said 'I'm full,' she meant she has fully understood the key points and knowledge of this stage."
This explanation sounded impeccable, full of rigorous logic exchanged between top students.
However, the expression on "Hess's" face didn't change a bit.
"Hess" just listened quietly, the cold, maliciously amused smile on her lips deepening.
When Jerry finished the last word, "Hess" tapped the tabletop lightly with her dark red fingernail, making a soft tap, tap sound.
"Mr. Rosier!"
"Hess" pronounced his surname word by word, as if carrying some special, heavy weight. "Your explanation... is very 'brilliant'. As a student, your thirst for potion knowledge and unique insights are truly 'admirable'."
"Hess" deliberately emphasized "brilliant" and "admirable," the mockery self-evident.
"But!"
"Hess's" voice turned cold abruptly, devoid of any warmth. "In my class, students are strictly forbidden from tasting any unauthorized potions at any stage without permission! Whether it's a semi-finished product or dregs! This is the most basic safety rule. Have you forgotten?"
"Hess" didn't bother poking holes in that lie full of loopholes. Instead, she launched a dimensional strike from the irrefutable angle of "classroom discipline."
"Miss Granger!"
Her gaze shot over Jerry's shoulder like two sharp ice picks, piercing Hermione. "Since you are already 'full' and have fully 'understood,' then go back to your own seat now. If I don't see a qualified Essence of Dittany in your cauldron before class ends, Gryffindor will lose ten points because of your 'academic exchange' today."
"Y... Yes! Professor!"
Hermione, pale-faced like a death row inmate granted amnesty, responded in a mosquito-like voice.
Daring not look at anyone, she hugged her cauldron and almost stumbled as she fled back to her original seat, shrinking her body, not daring to lift her head again.
After Hermione stumbled away, only Jerry and "Hess" remained in this small space separated by an invisible barrier.
The air seemed to freeze.
"Hess's" condescending gaze finally withdrew from Hermione's wretched back and refocused on Jerry Rosier.
There was no more teasing or playfulness in that look.
"Hess" had seen more heroes than stars in the sky, and mortals trying to grandstand before her were as numerous as the sands of the Ganges.
In her eyes, this boy before her was just another pathetic worm who thought himself clever but would soon be crushed by reality.
"Mr. Rosier!"
"Hess's" voice was like winter icicles, every word striking the marrow. "Since you claim that what Miss Granger tasted was a semi-finished product with a unique 'texture' made by your own hands..."
Bending slightly, that suffocatingly beautiful face moved close to Jerry. They were so close Jerry could even count her thick, long eyelashes.
But "Hess's" breath held none of the previous warmth, only a chill cold enough to freeze the soul.
"Then!"
"Hess" tapped the empty brown test tube on the table—still coated with a few streaks of milky white slime—with her dark red fingernail, making a crisp clink. "I'll give you a chance now to prove your 'brilliant' lie."
"Right here, in front of me, fill this test tube again with your so-called 'semi-finished product'."
Her voice dropped extremely low but carried undeniable authority.
"If you can do it, if you can really reproduce this... uniquely tasting potion, then I can pretend nothing happened and let bygones be bygones."
"Hess's" cold gaze swept inch by inch over Jerry's face, as if to see through him completely.
"But!" "Hess's" tone turned sharply, carrying undisguised contempt and mockery. "If you can't, if you just wanted to use this clumsy trick to fool me, then I don't mind letting everyone know that Slytherin House has produced a student who lies openly in class and behaves improperly. Slytherin will lose a full fifty points because of your stupidity!"
Fifty points!
This was a losing bet.
A trap full of humiliation and malice.
"Hess" could almost foresee the wretched sight of this smart-aleck boy turning pale, sweating cold sweat under her absolute pressure, and finally having to bow his head and admit his mistake.
She looked forward to enjoying this scene.
However, to her surprise, no expression she anticipated appeared on Jerry Rosier's face.
No panic, no fear, no despair.
After listening to her final judgment-like declaration, the corner of the boy's mouth slowly, bit by bit, curled up into a smile.
It wasn't a forced smile, nor a bitter smile of humiliation.
It was a heartfelt smile full of confidence, even carrying a hint of... expectation and excitement.
Like a magician about to take the stage, hearing the host announce the finale he had long prepared and was sure would stun the audience.
"As you wish, Professor Hess."
His voice was calm and polite, even carrying a cheerful tune.
Ding!
[Chain Mission Activated: The First Lesson]
[Mission Name: The Clown's Stage]
The system prompt sounded in his mind like accompaniment.
"Hess" had seen the swords of countless warriors, but never the tricks of a clown.
Jerry knew his performance was just officially starting.
He didn't start immediately. Instead, he gave "Hess" an impeccable bow, hand over heart, like a court jester about to perform for the queen.
"However, Professor, to accurately reproduce that 'taste' just now, I might need some... unconventional materials."
His eyes flashed with cunning light. "I wonder if you permit?"
A crack appeared in the ice on "Hess's" face.
She frowned. She hadn't expected that at this point, instead of breaking down, this boy was bargaining with her.
"Granted."
"Hess" spat out the word coldly. She wanted to see what tricks this clown could play.
"Thank you very much for your generosity." Jerry smiled again.
Then, under "Hess's" increasingly cold gaze, Jerry began to move.
His movements were no longer lazy like before, but became precise and efficient like a top potion master conducting a crucial experiment, even carrying a dazzling artistic sense.
Jerry didn't touch the conventional ingredients on the table. Instead, he walked straight to the cabinet at the back of the classroom where rare materials were stored.
His hand swept past valuable materials—dragon liver, mermaid scales, phoenix tears... Finally, his finger stopped on a few extremely obscure ingredients not even mentioned in Advanced Potion-Making.
"'Sneezewort' powder from the Albanian swamps... yes, need its unique stickiness and faint earthy smell."
"Juice of 'Jobberknoll', triple-distilled... excellent, provides that slightly stimulating alkaline scent."
"And... culture filtrate of 'Luminescent Fungi' from the abyss of the North Sea."
Jerry picked up the bottle of faintly glowing liquid and shook it gently. "Perfect protein source, and... the color is just right."
The items he chose were irrelevant to each other. In any known potion recipe, mixing them together would only produce a pot of toxic, useless waste.
"Hess's" brow furrowed deeper.
She was starting to not understand.
This wasn't a simple, desperate lie anymore. This boy seemed... really trying to brew something.
Jerry returned to his desk with these materials.
He cast a Cleaning Charm and a Drying Charm on the brown test tube with his wand, then stood it firmly on the rack.
Then, Jerry lit the fire under the cauldron. But instead of placing the cauldron on it, he used a clever Levitation Charm to hover the cauldron one foot above the flame, performing an extremely precise preheating.
Next, Jerry's performance began.
He didn't follow any conventional order of adding ingredients. Instead, he poured the Sneezewort powder onto a clean stone slab, then dripped a few drops of Jobberknoll juice onto it.
An amazing scene occurred. The moment the powder touched the juice, instead of dissolving, it expanded rapidly, gelatinized, and formed a semi-transparent gel-like substance.
"Hmm... not enough. Lacking a bit of... the explosive feeling of life at the moment of coagulation."
He muttered to himself.
For the first time, genuine astonishment appeared on "Hess's" face.
She couldn't understand what Jerry was doing at all. She had never heard of this way of processing ingredients.
But her intuition told her this wasn't nonsense. It contained... some extremely profound potion principle she didn't know.
A principle she hadn't mastered during her hasty study of wizard knowledge recently.
Jerry didn't stop.
He took a small silver stirring rod with a spiral pattern at the tip from his pocket.
Using this rod, he began to stir the gel rapidly with an extremely complex, irregular rhythm.
Jerry's movements became faster and faster. In the end, the naked eye could only see a silver blur.
As Jerry stirred, the color of the gel began to change wondrously.
It went from semi-transparent to gradually turbid, then from turbid, slowly precipitated a... luster approximating whey, with a faint creamy white.
Even more incredible, a strange smell began to emanate from the gel.
That smell...
"Hess's" pupils contracted violently.
That smell was almost... exactly the same as what she smelled on Jerry earlier and what just came from that test tube!
How is this possible?!
How is this possible?!
For the first time, "Hess's" breathing became disordered.
Her arms-crossed posture loosened unconsciously.
"Hess" took a step forward, leaning slightly, wanting to see the gel undergoing miraculous changes more clearly.
Just then, Jerry stopped stirring.
He picked up the stone slab and carefully scraped all the now completely milky white, sticky liquid into the cauldron hovering above the flame.
Sizzle—
A soft sound.
The moment it touched the scorching inner wall of the cauldron, the liquid didn't dry up immediately. Instead, under the high temperature, it shrank and rolled rapidly. The water content evaporated quickly, and the concentration increased visibly.
And that unique, fishy smell carrying a masculine aura became even stronger due to heating, almost solidifying into substance.
The whole process took only two or three minutes.
Jerry waved his wand, extinguishing the flame.
He took a glass dropper and drew a little of the milky white liquid from the cauldron, which had become extremely sticky and was identical in color and texture to what he had just ejaculated.
Jerry brought the dropper to his nose, closed his eyes, and sniffed gently.
Then, a satisfied smile, like an artist completing his masterpiece, appeared on his face.
Jerry turned around and handed the dropper to "Hess" in an extremely gentlemanly, irrefutable gesture.
"Professor!" His voice held just the right amount of pride and claiming credit. "Please 'taste' it. See... if this taste is exactly the same as the 'semi-finished product' Miss Granger tasted just now?"
"Hess" froze in place.
Her gaze was fixed dead on the tip of the dropper, on that suspended drop of sticky, milky white liquid emitting a rich masculine scent.
Her brain, the brain of a Queen of Gods who had witnessed millions of years of change, fell into unprecedented, huge chaos and shock at this moment.
Reason told her this was impossible.
This was some extremely clever blindfolding method she didn't know, a kind of alchemy fraud she had never seen.
But her sense of smell reported to her again and again:
The same!
The taste is exactly the same!
Whether it was the composition of odor molecules, the rate of evaporation, or the trace of aggressive life pheromones unique to this boy contained within, there was no difference from the smell of the body fluid she just smelled!
"Hess" even had an absurd illusion—if she swallowed this drop of liquid now, the taste exploding in her mouth and the texture sliding down her throat would be no different from swallowing the boy's essence!
A huge, unprecedented sense of absurdity and humiliation drowned her like a tsunami instantly.
"Hess's" gaze fell on Jerry's eyes, which held a playful smile.
From those eyes, she read a deeper, nastier provocation.
"Hess" smiled.
It wasn't anger, shame, or panic.
It was the smile of a top predator full of curiosity and desire for control when discovering an unheard-of, extremely interesting toy worth dissecting personally.
"Very... very wonderful alchemy trick, Mr. Rosier."
"Hess" spoke slowly, her voice returning to that emotionless calm precise as celestial movement. "I must admit, in the field of 'Scent Simulation', you have reached a master level I have never seen before."
"Hess" completely ignored the dropper Jerry handed over, as if it were just stained with a drop of ordinary dew.
"But!" "Hess's" tone changed. A nearly cruel, anatomist-like light flashed in her deep eyes. "A perfect replica must simulate not just the smell. Its texture, temperature, viscosity, and... the process of being 'extracted' from the 'raw material' under specific pressure and temperature... must be exactly the same."
Before "Hess's" voice fell, she made a move Jerry hadn't expected.
Instead of retreating, "Hess" took a step forward. With an absolute, irresistible posture, she squeezed Jerry completely between herself and the cold experiment table. Her open wizarding robe was like nightfall, completely isolating this square inch of space from the world.
Then, her right hand, in a slow and precise manner as if performing the most precise magical ritual, reached unhesitatingly toward Jerry's still-open trousers.
"You... Professor!"
Before Jerry could even organize resistance, that hand, seemingly boneless but carrying undeniable authority, had already grasped his scorching giant, which was still erect from the performance just now.
"Mmh..."
This time, the one making a suppressed sound was Jerry.
"Hess's" hand wasn't rough like his own, nor did it carry the gentle exploration like Katherine or Ofina.
"Hess's" palm was warm, moist, and full of power. Her fingers were long, finger pads bearing a thin layer of calluses.
Her grip was extremely professional, as if she weren't holding a boy's spear but debugging a precise and dangerous magical instrument.
"Hess's" thumb pressed accurately on his pulsing vein coiled like a small snake, while her other four fingers steadily supported his heavy sac.
"Now, Mr. Rosier!" "Hess's" voice was right by his ear, cold and filled with unquestionable command. "Let us personally 'verify'... exactly what the difference is between your 'raw material' and the new sample I am about to personally 'extract'."
With that, "Hess's" hand began to move.
Her palm wasn't light or heavy. Every upward stroke, her finger pad would accurately scrape over his tip, which had begun to secrete clear fluid.
Every downward stroke, her warm palm meat would wrap and rub Jerry's entire shaft.
Jerry felt he had become a test subject.
Every reaction, every throb of his body was accurately captured, recorded, and analyzed by this hand.
Squelch... squelch...
Water sounds, louder and stickier than ever before, rang out in the narrow space.
But this didn't come from Jerry!
The desire in "Hess's" body was clearly thoroughly ignited.
But her expression remained that of a cold researcher standing aloof.
"Hess's" movements remained unhurried, but the rhythm accelerated bit by bit.
Energy fluctuations vast as the sea even permeated into Jerry's body trace by trace through palm contact, stimulating his nerves already hypersensitive from the Bestialization Potion side effects.
Jerry's body began to tremble involuntarily.
Jerry felt his pleasure being stacked layer upon layer by an irresistible force, as if about to breach the dam of reason at any moment.
"Hmm... temperature... 0.7 degrees higher than just now... congestion increased by 12%..."
"Hess" was even broadcasting the data she sensed in a voice only Jerry could hear.
"Ready... to release?"
"Hess" seemed to sense Jerry approaching the critical point.
Her free left hand picked up another clean, thick test tube also made of opaque brown glass from the table and held it steadily under him.
"This time, inject it all too."
"Hess's" command was concise and cold.
The moment her voice fell, "Hess's" right hand exerted force abruptly. With speed and strength that could be called brutal, she stroked the giant, taut to the extreme, rapidly seven or eight times!
"Ah!"
Jerry could endure no longer, letting out a low roar mixing pain and extreme pleasure.
Pfft! Pfft!
Streams of scorching turbidity, becoming abnormally sticky from extreme stimulation, sprayed out uncontrollably, all falling into the prepared test tube.
This release was more thorough and violent than any before.
When it was over, Jerry was drained of strength, leaning against the cold experiment table, panting heavily.
And "Hess," like a scientist finishing an ordinary experiment, withdrew her hand expressionlessly.
She even elegantly pulled out a handkerchief, meticulously wiping away a trace of white liquid accidentally stained on her hand, as if it were some dirty pollutant.
Then, she placed the two test tubes filled with "samples" side by side.
One was "forged" by Jerry using potions.
The other was "extracted" by her personally just now.
Under Jerry's gaze mixing exhaustion and amazement, "Hess" elegantly picked up the test tube containing the "forgery" and uncorked it.
She brought the tube to her nose and sniffed again.
Then, she made an earth-shattering move.
"Hess" extended her crimson, small tongue tip and licked lightly at the mouth of the test tube containing the forgery.
Her brow furrowed imperceptibly.
Immediately, she picked up the test tube containing the "authentic product" and, in the same way, extended her tongue tip to lick it lightly.
After this comparison, "Hess" didn't speak immediately. Instead, she closed her eyes, like a top sommelier, repeatedly savoring the subtle differences between the two liquids blossoming on her taste buds.
A few seconds later, "Hess" opened her eyes.
In those deep eyes flashed a trace of realization, admiration, and a trace of... thicker interest determined to win.
"Amazing." "Hess" looked at Jerry, speaking in a near-equal tone for the first time. "Mr. Rosier, you are indeed a genius. I take back what I said; you are... a true potion artist I have never seen before."
"These two liquids, whether in smell or taste, have a similarity of over 99%. If not tasted personally, I could hardly tell the difference."
"Hess" held up the two test tubes side by side, observing them against the light. "There is indeed a tiny difference. The one you made with potions has a slightly rough texture, lacking a bit of... the natural lubrication and... sweet aftertaste that life essence should have."
"Hess" actually used the word "sweet aftertaste" to describe that taste.
However, this isn't a good thing. It means your blood sugar is a bit high; looks like you've been drinking too much Butterbeer lately.
Jerry didn't know how to react for a moment.
This woman, this Queen of Gods, her way of thinking was completely beyond mortal comprehension.
She turned this confrontation full of eroticism and gaming into a pure, cold academic appraisal of Potions.
Just as Jerry thought this absurd duel had come to an end, the smile on "Hess's" lips became colder and more... victorious.
"Hess" seemed to have finally found a way to completely "kill" her opponent.
"However, Mr. Rosier," "Hess" put down the two tubes of liquid, resuming the condescending posture of a professor to a student, "you seem to have forgotten one thing. Our topic today is making 'Essence of Dittany'."
"You claim this is a 'semi-finished product' of Essence of Dittany. Then..." "Hess's" voice held a smugness of finally catching the opponent's dead spot. "A real, qualified semi-finished product must be able to be converted into a finished product by adding subsequent ingredients."
"Now!" "Hess" tapped the cauldron containing the "forged" raw materials in front of Jerry with her fingertip, delivering the final judgment she believed was a guaranteed win. "Use this pot of 'semi-finished product' and turn it into a real, usable Essence of Dittany for me."
"If you can do it, fifty points to Slytherin. If you can't..." A cold smile flashed in her eyes. "You know the consequences."
In her view, this was a checkmate.
Simulating the smell and texture of a substance with potions was already a stroke of genius.
But to make this pot of "pseudo-finished product" composed of irrelevant materials like Sneezewort and Jobberknoll juice possess the medicinal properties of real Essence of Dittany and react correctly with subsequent ingredients—that was absolutely impossible!
However, facing this certain-death situation, Jerry's face once again showed that smile full of confidence and pleasure that made "Hess" uneasy.
"Of course, Professor." He chuckled lightly. That laugh was full of faint mockery for "Hess's" "mortal wisdom."
As if this was exactly the moment he had been waiting for.
Without a second of hesitation, Jerry grabbed a handful of seemingly unrelated materials: a pinch of dragon liver powder, a few drops of unicorn tears, and a crushed mandrake leaf.
With fluid, rhythmic movements, he tossed them into the cauldron of milky-white liquid—liquid that still radiated a heavy, masculine musk—following a bizarre sequence and precise dosage.
As the heat intensified, the thick, ambiguously colored fluid underwent a total metamorphosis. It began to boil violently, shifting from milky white to a pale lime, then deepening into a clear, vibrant emerald green that pulsed with a soft, radiant glow of life.
The heavy scent of raw desire and musk evaporated, replaced by the crisp, invigorating fragrance of fresh herbs—the unmistakable signature of a top-tier Essence of Dittany.
Professor Hess's expression froze completely.
"Professor."
Jerry picked up a clean glass rod and gently stirred the flawless, emerald liquid, the glass clinking softly against the cauldron. His tone was no longer playful or provocative; it was flat and factual, carrying the condescending weight of a master teaching a slow-witted student.
"You seem to have some... misconceptions regarding the formula for 'White Dew'."
Jerry turned his head, locking eyes with Hess, whose face was a mask of pure shock. He began his "lecture."
"You are likely familiar with the standard formula used in the Ministry's certification exams—the one using Graphorn horn and moonstone powder. A step-by-step process for craftsmen, following an ancient, foolproof routine. But, Professor..." Jerry's lips curled into a faint, pitying smile. "Have you ever wondered why that formula is called 'standard'? It is because it is the simplest, the safest, and the most suitable for mediocre wizards whose minds are filled only with dogma. It is a path for sheep, not a territory for lions."
He held the glass rod, dripping with emerald potion, before her eyes.
"In reality, according to the oldest Rosier scrolls, there are at least seventeen alchemical paths that lead to the result of 'Life Healing.' What I just used is the most obscure path, one that demands the highest 'transmutation' ability from the caster: The Path of Sublimated Desire."
"Desire?" Hess's lips parted slightly, the word escaping her unconsciously.
"Exactly. Desire." Jerry's eyes grew deep, as if explaining the laws of the cosmos. "Appetite, curiosity, and... lust. These things, which ordinary wizards view as 'unclean' or something to be suppressed, are actually the most primal and powerful drivers of life. They are two sides of the same coin with 'death' and 'decay.' A true Potion Master does not flee from them; he understands them, masters them, and ultimately... transmutates them."
Jerry pointed to the emerald brew.
"The starting point of this potion was a 'pseudo-essence' I simulated with Sneezewort and Jobberknoll juice, filled with masculine pheromones. It represents the 'primal urge to create.' The dragon liver powder provided the elemental 'fire' and the base for transmutation. The unicorn tears symbolize 'pure life and protection.' And the mandrake leaf? Its roots are buried in death while its leaves reach for the light; it is the perfect bridge between 'extinction and rebirth'."
"So, Professor, what you saw wasn't a trick. It was a complete alchemical loop from 'Desire' to 'Decay' and finally to 'New Life.' I simply performed a miniature reenactment of the laws that govern this universe in this small cauldron."
Every word struck Hess's soul like a hammer. For eons, she had relied on her innate, vast divine power—ancient, objective knowledge flowing through her blood. She could manifest a perfect potion out of thin air, but that was merely a manifestation of "divinity"—the presentation of a "result."
But Jerry was following a higher "Law," using basic materials to deduce, sublime, and eventually "create" a tangible truth from a "concept." These were two entirely different systems of power: one was the "Sovereign" looking down, the other was the "Sage" who understood all.
"A wizard's strength has never been about the crude control of mana, let alone the blind following of rigid dogma," Jerry concluded, his voice ringing like a final judgment. "Strength lies in endless curiosity and the courage to deconstruct and reshape everything. To a true wizard, only 'Knowledge' itself is worthy of reverence. Everything else—raw power, ancient bloodlines..."
Jerry looked at Hess. His dark eyes were no longer filled with lust, only an abyssal, cosmic indifference.
"...are merely mischievous tricks."
[Ding!] [Chain Mission: The First Lesson — The Clown's Stage: Completed!] [Evaluation: Perfect! (You didn't just give her a surprise; you gave her a 'fright.' You completely subverted a Goddess's understanding of mortal wisdom. You are the Director, she is the student.)] [Reward Issued: Hera affinity greatly increased, Family Prestige +300.] [Hera Status Update: Shocked, worldview shattered, immense humiliation, and... a trace of 'worship' mixed with fear and fanaticism.]
[Chain Mission Activated: The Second Lesson] [Name: The Goddess's 'Homework'] [Objective: Before the next Dueling Class, require Professor Hess to independently replicate the 'Desire Sublimation Path' and complete a bottle of Essence of Dittany in your presence.] [Hint: Give her knowledge, but not the answers. Guide her, but make her realize that before you, she is merely a 'student'.]
"Fifty points to Slytherin!"
The bell rang through the castle, breaking the suffocating silence in the classroom. Jerry turned and slapped the shoulder of a dumbfounded Draco Malfoy. "Let's go, Draco. I'm starving. I wonder what the Great Hall has for us today."
Jerry's back looked relaxed and breezy, as if the erotic and power-driven confrontation just now had been nothing more than a classroom game.
Outside, Malfoy could no longer contain himself. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced by naked worship. "Jerry... you are a monster! Did you see Professor Hess's face at the end? Merlin's beard, it was like you burned her textbook in front of her and summoned a better one out of thin air!"
Jerry just smiled. Malfoy only saw the victory of "points," but he had no idea that at that lab table, he had conquered something far more significant than a house score.
As they walked down the corridor, Malfoy grew quiet. His pure excitement shifted into a complex mix of hesitation and resolve. "Rosier..."
"Hmm?"
"Your... Crystal Golem Workshop!" Malfoy took a deep breath, blocking Jerry's path. "I want in. Not in the family's name... I mean, me. I want to learn. Even if I start as a basic apprentice—cleaning, hauling materials... I'll do it! I just want to learn that kind of power!"
Jerry looked at Malfoy with genuine surprise. In his memory, this scion was a cynical brat. But today, he saw a pure thirst for "Power" and "Knowledge."
"You've thought this through?" Jerry asked flatly.
"I have! I'll convince my father. I'll follow every rule!"
Jerry nodded slowly. "Fine. I agree. You can invest your own funds for a 0.5% stake. And you will be the first apprentice."
Malfoy nearly jumped for joy.
"However!" Jerry's smile turned mischievous. "As an apprentice, you need a mentor. I won't have time to teach you the drudgery of polishing crystals and engraving basic runes. So, I've found someone perfect for you."
"Who? I'll learn from anyone!" Malfoy boasted, imagining a master alchemist.
Jerry's smile widened. He enunciated every syllable: "Severus Snape."
Malfoy's face turned from red to a deathly, sickly pale. It was as if he had just swallowed a hundred slugs. "The Head... U-Uncle Severus?" his voice shook.
"Yes," Jerry said with feigned surprise. "He is the finest Potions Master of the age. His mastery of materials is unmatched. Having him supervise your basic training is like using a dragon-slaying sword to kill a chicken. You should feel honored."
Honored? Malfoy imagined Snape's dark, soul-piercing eyes and biting sarcasm. The thought of grinding crystals under Snape's "Death Stare" every day made his legs turn to jelly.
They entered the Great Hall, which was as boisterous as ever. Thousands of candles floated beneath a magical ceiling mimicking the overcast sky.
Before Jerry could sit, a figure that clashed violently with the classical atmosphere of Hogwarts cut him off like a bolt of purple lightning. It was Mei-ting Kim, the exchange professor from Asia.
Today, she looked more provocative than ever.
She eschewed the heavy, traditional wizard robes for a form-fitting, deep black trench-coat style long coat. The neckline plunged dangerously low, revealing a vast expanse of creamy skin and a deep, enticing cleavage.
But the lethal part was the hem. She had used magic to cut two breathtakingly high slits on either side. With every step, her long, shapely legs—wrapped in black fishnets—flashed through the fabric. Countless schoolboys with raging hormones stared in unison, swallowing hard.
Her wand wasn't in her sleeve; it was strapped to her right thigh with a modern, tactical-style leather garter, its metallic sheen glinting.
She strolled up to Jerry like a supermodel on a Paris runway.
"Mr. Rosier," her voice carried a raspy, electric magnetism. "Mind if I... sit here?"
Without waiting for an answer, she sat on the bench beside him. She gracefully pressed down the high slits of her coat before sitting to avoid "exposure," yet positioned herself so Jerry could catch a side view of her firm, rounded thighs through the fishnets. Malfoy, sitting opposite, looked like he had stopped breathing.
"Of course not, Professor," Jerry said with a polite, distant smile.
Mei-ting Kim appreciated his composure. She began cutting into a steak with precision and power, her silver utensils moving like scalpels. She reached into her inner pocket and pulled out a thick roll of high-quality parchment wrapped in leather, sliding it across the table to Jerry.
"What's this?" Jerry raised an eyebrow.
"I spent some time organizing it," Kim said without looking up. "A list of materials you might need for your 'Crystal Golem Workshop,' along with the latest quotes from the Asian black markets and specialized channels."
Her voice was low, meant only for Jerry.
"I've read your proposal. It's bold. But your supply chain is too... 'traditional.' The Hogwarts supply line won't satisfy a stomach as greedy as yours."
Jerry opened the scroll. His pupils narrowed. The list was terrifyingly detailed. It listed nearly a hundred rare materials: Enchanted Crystal, Mithril wire, Deep-Sea Sunken Gold, Stardust Iron... and even materials Jerry had only seen in the most ancient Rosier grimoires, like "Dragon Tear Crystals" and "Void-Worm Chitin Powder."
Each item was followed by professional code for at least three suppliers, price fluctuations, purity grades, and even... risks during transport and "customs clearance" tips.
This wasn't just a list. It was a business secret—the essence of a massive intelligence network.
"Your 'Boss' told you to give this to me?" Jerry asked.
"Yes." Kim chewed a piece of medium-rare steak like an elegant tigress savoring prey. She licked a drop of juice from her lip—a gesture of wild charm. "She saw your proposal and your recent... 'performances' at Hogwarts. She thinks you are a 'growth stock' worth meeting in person. So," Kim leaned in, the scent of perfume, leather, and a hint of blood enveloping him. "She wants to know when you are free. Find a time convenient for both of you to talk... about the 'future'."
It was a formal invitation. A recruitment from a mysterious, powerful shadow. Jerry knew that by starting his workshop, he would inevitably enter the sights of the real players beneath the surface.
As Jerry weighed the risks, a soft, bell-like voice sounded from his other side.
"Jerry? Can I... sit here?"
Jerry turned. Cho Chang stood there with her tray, looking shy yet expectant. She wore her Ravenclaw blue robes, her black hair cascading like a waterfall over her shoulders. She lacked Kim's aggressive makeup, looking pure and intellectual.
Jerry smiled warmly. "Of course, Cho." He slid over to make room for her.
Then, he turned back to Mei-ting Kim, his voice flat but carrying the effortless authority of a superior.
"As for your Boss... tell her I'm free this weekend. She chooses the location. But the time..."
"...The time must be decided by me."