Chapter 9 - What does it mean that brown sugar ginger tea is also considered a magic potion?

Unexpectedly, even after multiple close encounters with Bruce, the Court of Owls still hadn't come to cause trouble, which saved Rune some effort.After running to several supermarkets, Rune couldn't find ginger or brown sugar. He had no choice but to seek help from the versatile House-elves at Hogwarts—or should he say, the School-elves? The reason, of course, was for ingredients!Before long, Rune received a package from the elves."Thank you, Winky," Rune happily thanked the House-elf, but the female House-elf named Winky looked very serious."No, it's what we should do. If it weren't for your reminder, we wouldn't have realized our shortcomings!" She frowned, looking at Rune apologetically: "We've just learned about the dishes from the distant Eastern country. Although complex, Winky will try her best to learn!"As she left, her mind was filled with images of giant iron woks and blazing flames. The cooking methods from that place perfectly aligned with the House-elves' common sense: stir-frying should be a war that allows no mistakes.Thus, the Hufflepuffs discovered that the House-elves, who usually bowed and curtsied with smiles, suddenly began shouting, "Fight! Fight! Fight for my master, the students, Professor, and Principal of Hogwarts!" as they battled with giant iron woks, producing various novel dishes.However, Rune had no time for that. He picked up the cauldron and began precisely cutting brown sugar and ginger, preparing for the Potion's brewing.What is the essence of a Potion? Professor Snape had personally taught him. Aside from the sarcasm, this Potion genius pointed out the reasons for ingredient selection and the purpose of each step when brewing a Potion.The selection of Potion ingredients primarily considers two factors: practical effect and symbolic effect. Practical effect refers to the results when certain materials are consumed directly, such as dragon's blood, which, when consumed directly, can make the drinker stronger and more agile. Therefore, its most basic use is to brew fitness Potions.Symbolic effect refers to what the general public widely believes a material can do. The abstract materials used in Muggle fairy tales for making Potions, such as a Witch's heel or a toad's fifth leg, serve a symbolic purpose. The latter is indeed an ingredient for certain Potions; it symbolizes impossible, non-existent concepts, used to eliminate certain unnecessary effects.So, the question arises: are some folk remedies from a certain large Eastern country also lost Potions from the past?With this thought, Rune tried it once and directly made a bowl of weakly magical, yet truly a Potion... brown sugar ginger tea. Its effects were to prevent colds and invigorate blood. Perhaps it also had special effects for women, but Rune wasn't a girl, so he couldn't feel any other effects.After adjusting the proportions for the past few days, Rune gradually found the optimal ratio of brown sugar, ginger, and water. He peeled the ginger, cut it into small pieces, and then precisely weighed the brown sugar and ginger.Taking out the weighed brown sugar, Rune placed it in the cauldron to heat. The brown sugar gradually melted. He stirred it while carefully watching the changes in the brown sugar—this was the most difficult part of the entire brewing process. Just before it changed color, Rune needed to add hot water. Heating and stirring were to maximize the medicinal properties of the brown sugar itself, while preventing discoloration was to prevent the brown sugar from turning into caramel, as caramel and brown sugar have completely different properties.Soon, the melted brown sugar reached the brink of changing color. Rune immediately added hot water, stirred until the brown sugar was completely dissolved, and then added the ginger pieces.After about five minutes of waiting, Rune removed the flame. After natural cooling, the ginger pieces had completely dissolved into the Potion, leaving only a deep red liquid, from which tiny silver lights emanated.Done!Rune happily bottled it, then thought to himself: people say the Classic of Mountains and Seas is a cookbook, but perhaps it's a medical prescription?In the Castle's dungeon.Snape looked at the Potion in front of him and nodded: "Although the technique is crude and the heat control is poor, it is indeed a Potion, and..."He frowned: "Is this a private recipe? Or have you altered some components of certain Potions?"Improving Potions is not complicated; as long as one understands the principles of Potion making, a Potion Master can relatively easily improve certain Potions. For example, Snape would enhance a Potion's effect at the cost of its taste. Most of the Potions in the Hogwarts school hospital were made by Snape, which is why some Gryffindors firmly believed Snape poisoned the Potions, making the toxins as unpalatable as possible."It's a new Potion system, Professor," Rune said. "I call it Brown Sugar Ginger Tea.""What are its effects?""Mainly, it can prevent colds, is somewhat beneficial for the stomach, and has some detoxifying effects..." Rune thought for a moment, then added: "Perhaps it also benefits the health of menstruating girls and increases the chances of pregnancy?"Snape stood up, staring intently at Rune."What's wrong...?" Rune was startled."I'll help you send it to a professional institution for testing, Rune," Snape said meaningfully. "With this one Potion alone, you could make those Pure-bloods kneel and lick your toes."Rune smiled: "That's quite disgusting."Snape snorted, motioned for Rune to leave, then grabbed the Potion from his hand and left the office in a hurry.If this can make those Pure-bloods abandon their integrity, then what could a Potion I brew from certain long objects make them do? Rune rolled his eyes and turned to Dumbledore's office. His Patronus Charm was almost complete; the white mist had condensed and taken on a faint outline, looking like a feline.It is said that a Wizard's Patronus is generally their Animagus form. Rune was quite curious, as he would certainly be studying Animagus in the future...."Concentrate your thoughts, recall your happiest memory, draw circles with your wand, and gather power for the spell...""Expecto Patronum!" Rune shouted, but a cloud of silver vapor merely contracted symbolically. This practice session was even worse than previous ones.Dumbledore noticed Rune's anxiety and softly said, "Don't be nervous, child."He reached into his pocket, fumbled around, and then pulled out a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Dumbledore frowned; it seemed he wasn't very fond of this candy: "Come, try some. New flavors from Honeydukes."Rune took three, picked a green one, and put it in his mouth. He chewed it, then made a pained expression: "It smells foul."Dumbledore chuckled, picked up a black candy, and put it in his mouth. This time, he tasted a sweet candy with a fruity flavor, but he turned down the corners of his mouth and continued chewing with a reluctant expression: "Our luck isn't very good, is it?"The two looked at each other and both laughed.