For the remainder of the day, Snape and Warren remained in the office, experimenting with Warren's magical extraction method.
Warren shared every technique he had developed thus far without reservation. In the early stages of developing a new method, such openness was necessary. Hoarding secrets was clearly foolish if one wished to exchange ideas with others.
The concept for magical extraction originated from contemplating the fundamental nature of potions during his early studies.
What is a potion? Why does combining these specific ingredients yield such extraordinary effects? Or, more precisely, which components within those ingredients produce those effects?
I began with the simplest Blood-Replenishing Potion. I set up several control groups, adjusting ingredient ratios to test the active components and structures of potions of varying quality. Then, by comparing the final results, I performed a basic classification of the components. I sorted them into active agents, harmful elements, and useless waste.
Warren made it sound simple, but the process had actually been quite gruesome.
Adhering to the experimental protocols of his past life, he had procured a large number of laboratory mice.
He would injure them, sometimes even dissecting them, to observe the efficacy of the Blood-Replenishing Potion on living subjects and how the quality of the brew influenced the outcome.
As Snape focused on tapping his wand against the side of the cauldron and listened to Warren's explanation, he naturally deduced the gruesome details.
Yet, he saw no problem with it.
At his core, he remained the Death Eater who had once knelt before Voldemort. He would not waste whatever compassion he possessed on laboratory mice.
After isolating the active components, I returned to the ingredients themselves, attempting to strip away their properties layer by layer. The methods I had learned from studying Transfiguration proved invaluable.
Snape focused intently. As his magic flowed from his wand into the cauldron, vague outlines took shape within his mind.
The technique closely resembled the process of mastering Transfiguration.
It was merely more complex, requiring finesse to maintain a steady flow of magic. One had to avoid interfering with the movement of ingredients inside the cauldron. Furthermore, one had to rapidly decipher the structure of the ingredients taking shape in the mind before the moment passed.
Unnoticed, sweat beaded on Snape's forehead. However, decades of brewing experience had granted him an intimate knowledge of even the most basic ingredients. Although his talent for Transfiguration was only average, Snape managed to extract the properties of the ingredients before the temperature could shift.
It was his sixth attempt, and finally, he had succeeded. He exhaled, withdrew his wand, and studied the stratified contents within the cauldron. When Warren took over, stirring five times and waving his wand, the liquid shifted into a clear, brilliant blue.
Snape fell silent, lost in thought. After a long moment, he spoke abruptly. "It is too difficult. It demands considerable talent, not just in Potions, but in Transfiguration as well." He added, "And experience with the properties of various ingredients."
"Yes," Warren sighed. "I used to correspond with a potioneer who championed my theories. I taught him the method, yet he never quite mastered it. That was when I realized the magical extraction technique was still in its infancy."
"But it holds value," Snape interjected.
Warren smiled. Both were geniuses in the field of Potions. They understood that no technique is universally applicable from the start. From development to maturity to widespread use, every technique must traverse that path. The only thing that could halt its progress was whether further development was worth the effort. The magical extraction method had clearly proven its worth.
Snape stared at the cauldron of Cure for Boils with dark eyes, his expression blank once more.
"Do you have a plan of action?"
Warren had already formulated a plan. "Yes, but it will be challenging."
"Go on."
"I require access to more ingredients and advanced potions to familiarize myself with their components and properties. There is a spell that would help me immensely, and I was hoping you could teach it to me, Professor."
Snape did not even need to think. He knew what Warren wanted. "Scarpin's Revelaspell?"
"Yes, Professor."
Snape's dark eyes bored into Warren. "You know the Ministry forbids sharing that spell. It would undermine the interests of too many potioneers."
Warren nodded cheerfully. "Yes, I understand. But this is all in the name of research."
After a moment of silence, Snape's thin, airy voice spoke again. "What else?"
"I also want to learn advanced spells. As you said, the barrier to entry for magical extraction is too high right now. I want to find patterns in the ingredients and build a universal model. I plan to develop that model into a spell itself. That requires advanced knowledge of spellcraft."
Warren finally revealed his true objective.
This had been his plan ever since he began developing the magical extraction technique two years ago. He had set his sights on Snape for a long time. Knowing Snape as he did, Warren was confident he would not refuse.
Sure enough, after a long silence, Snape's deadpan expression finally shifted. "Next Saturday. My office. Now go."
"Thank you, Professor." Warren nodded. But as he reached the door, he paused and asked, "May I ask how you plan to convince Headmaster Dumbledore? I've heard he isn't particularly fond of Slytherins. He might not allow you to teach me advanced spells."
Snape stood with his back to the fireplace, the only light in the office. Warren couldn't see his expression. All he could hear was that slow, drawling voice. "He will agree, Warren Weasley."
"From what I gather, Dumbledore is rather appreciative of your habit of visiting the other Houses."
"Ah, is that so?" Warren shrugged and left.
So Dumbledore was keeping an eye on him after all. Reading between the lines of what Snape had said, it was clear the old man was tracking Warren's every move at Hogwarts.
"Tsk, tsk. The great White Lord. Tom must have really rattled him."
Warren didn't let it bother him. He had been prepared for this ever since he chose to be sorted into Slytherin. He wasn't about to abandon his goals just because Dumbledore was wary of him. Nor was he about to complain just because Dumbledore was watching. What he hadn't expected was that his habit of mingling with the other houses would actually please the old man.
He was still mulling it over when he returned to the Slytherin common room. Hmm. Did Dumbledore think Warren had love in his heart and was secretly a good person? How annoying. "I just like mooching snacks off the Ravenclaw girls. Why does everyone have to slander my character like that?"
Feeling his inner wickedness had been insulted, Warren graced the Ravenclaw common room with his presence again that night. He laughed and joked with the girls until late into the evening, then reluctantly took his leave with Milo.