"It's... Calming Draught..."
A hint of surprise flashed in Slughorn's eyes.
These materials could be used to brew quite a few kinds of potions.
There were two or three of them that were taught in the first and second years alone.
Unexpectedly, Argus had chosen the Calming Draught, which students only learned in fifth year and which was one of the most difficult potions to handle on the OWL exams.
As a remedy that could calm and soothe manic emotions, the Calming Draught had very strict requirements regarding the proportions of its ingredients.
If too much moonstone powder was added, it could cause the person taking the potion to fall into a drowsy state, or even an irreversible sleep.
Using too much of the essence syrup from the styrax would greatly reduce the potion's effectiveness, wasting precious magical ingredients.
Slughorn was a pure-blood from the Sacred Twenty-Eight and had taught at Hogwarts for many years, with students scattered all over the wizarding world.
These materials might be considered valuable to an ordinary potions master, but to him, they were nothing more than a trivial matter.
He wouldn't even bother to bend down and pick them up if they fell on the ground.
He watched with great interest as Argus took his next steps.
Argus, unfazed by Slughorn's observation, methodically placed the materials into the crucible.
Following the instructions from memory, he gently stirred the solution in the crucible.
Five minutes later, he poured the pale purple liquid from the crucible into a pre-prepared container.
The mist floating above emitted a cool, minty scent.
"Professor, it's done."
Slughorn stepped forward to examine it, a satisfied expression on his face.
In fact, even as Argus had been brewing the potion, Slughorn already had a conclusion in mind.
A second-year wizard who could select the correct potion recipe under these circumstances and who was also skilled at brewing complex potions not taught until fifth year.
You couldn't learn this just by handling materials in the office every day!
Talent and hard work were both indispensable!
He took several notebooks out of his suitcase and placed them on the table.
"Don't waste your potion-making talent."
"These are some of my insights on potions, which I'm sharing with you."
"If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me or Severus."
"Thank you, Professor." Argus accepted without any pretense of refusal.
"I have some questions I'd like to ask you regarding the teaching process."
Argus knew very well that this substitute teaching opportunity was a good chance for him to enhance his reputation.
He wanted to achieve the best possible results.
However, he had never taught classes before and lacked experience in this area, so he needed to learn from the deans and professors.
...
That night.
Hogwarts then announced a series of changes to the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
In addition to the extra classes, clubs were created for the fifth and seventh years, and activities were held every night before curfew in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
It was mainly for reviewing for the wizarding exams.
All fifth- and seventh-year students were welcome to participate.
"Classes are finally starting! I was going to go crazy if they didn't start soon!"
"Did the extra classes explain how they're being added?"
"Not yet, it should be announced by the dean."
"What's the deal with the club mentioned above?"
"I don't know. I'll go check it out when classes start in a couple of days, but I doubt it'll be of much use. What can you do in such a short time?"
"That's true!"
Argus listened to a group of wizards arguing around the notice board at the entrance of the hall.
Most people were pessimistic about the clubs before curfew.
This was normal, since there were very few evening study sessions in wizarding education, and they had never even heard of exam-oriented teaching.
To get them to accept it in a short time, he had to produce tangible results.
He had proposed this method to Slughorn, but his purpose was never to help them pass the exam.
To put it bluntly, whether they passed or not had absolutely nothing to do with him.
What Argus wanted was for them to learn, after passing the exam, that these methods had been proposed by him!
The joy and excitement of passing the exam would all turn into gratitude toward him.
At that time, his influence would officially expand to the entire Hogwarts!
Limited by his age, he had very few opportunities to influence older students.
This time, he must maximize his influence!
"Chief, didn't you go to see Headmaster Dumbledore? What exactly did the notice on the bulletin board mean?"
Scamander, the former top student in fourth year who had just moved up to fifth year this year, whispered in Argus's ear and asked.
As the top student, he naturally had no worries about the exam.
But he should at least ask for his classmate's opinion; he couldn't just sit around waiting and do nothing.
"Simply put, the club activities before curfew are targeted review for OWLs, all in preparation for the exam."
"If you don't have anything else to do, you should definitely attend."
Argus gave only a slight hint, and Scamander understood what he meant.
This club had greatly improved their performance!
If he could participate, then he would!
"Understood, Chief, I'll go and tell the fifth-year students right away!"
"Everyone must be present!"
...
The next day.
Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
The Slytherin and Gryffindor second-year students sat properly at the tables.
"Huh? Where did the chief go?"
Goyle sat next to Draco, craning his neck and searching for a long time, but he couldn't find Argus.
"Yeah, why didn't Argus come? Was he late?"
"Should we cover for him?"
Draco thought that Argus had been delayed by something, and looked around anxiously.
His words attracted the attention of many Gryffindor members.
They still remembered the grudge from the last battle between Slytherin and Gryffindor very clearly.
They especially loathed Argus, the chief of Slytherin!
Unfortunately, the other side hadn't given them any chance to find fault, and even if they wanted to use underhanded tactics, they couldn't find an opportunity.
And today, they had finally waited for this moment!
Several people seemed unusually excited, rubbing their hands together and waiting for the professor to arrive so they could file a complaint!
"Well, well! The head of Slytherin's House, publicly late for the new professor's first class!"
"Isn't this a blatant disrespect to the new professor?"
"Exactly, the new professor is definitely going to deduct several points from our score!"
"Tsk tsk, is this the first time the head of the house has lost points for being late? What about the most talented student at Hogwarts? He's about the same as us!"
"I'd like to see what face these Slytherins will have left to swagger in front of us!"
Several Gryffindor members looked on smugly and mockingly at the Slytherin members.
It seemed certain that the new professor would undermine Argus's authority.
Daphne looked worried.
"Pansy, the chief hasn't arrived yet! Could something have happened?"
"I remember the last time the chief disappeared, it was because he was injured in the locked room... Could it be this time...?"
"Pah, pah, pah, you jinx!" Pansy was extremely dissatisfied with Daphne's words.
"Can't you hope for something good?"
"Good news? The good news is that your top student is about to become the laughingstock of Hogwarts! Hahahaha..."
Behind them, a Gryffindor member winked and made a face, which drew laughter.
Just then, the gate in front of them slowly opened.
A figure they knew all too well appeared before them.
Argus stood on the podium with a smile and nodded in acknowledgment.
"Hello everyone, I am your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's assistant."
"From today onwards, I will be in charge of your Defense Against the Dark Arts class."
"Please open your textbooks and turn to the first page."
…
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