#138 - The essence of alchemy

Hermione was indeed a little too clever.

Munn felt that he should try to involve Hermione less in such matters in the future.

However, Munn knew very few people in the Muggle world, and he couldn't leave the school at will now, which made him a little worried.

"Who would be suitable?"

Munn recalled all the Muggles he knew.

Then, the image of a chubby uncle working at the zoo suddenly popped into his mind.

"During the holidays, perhaps I can ask Uncle Gaia and visit him at the same time."

Munn decided that he needed to find someone in the Muggle world who could help him with chores.

Especially now that he might have awakened the ability to return items to the 'Pai Yue' ship, he needed such a person even more.

"You still haven't said where your home actually is?"

Hermione, sitting on a bench in the Great Hall, continued to press for an answer.

"By the way, do you know about alchemy?"

Munn didn't respond to the curious little witch but quickly changed the subject.

"Alchemy? That's much harder than the 'Shield Charm' you just saw."

Ron, who was originally eating a bowl of fragrant Hagrid crumpets, put down his spoon and looked over after hearing about alchemy.

As the wizard in the dormitory who was recognized as the "most knowledgeable," Ron was very willing to answer other students' questions, which satisfied his strange vanity.

"Do you know why this course is only available as an elective in the sixth year? It's because it's difficult enough, and most students won't even choose it."

Munn now realized that to successfully divert Hermione's attention, all he needed was Ron.

However, to ensure that the topic continued, Munn had to go along with Ron.

"I remember the school's alchemy professor is from the Ollivander family, right?"

"Yes, Dylan Ollivander. I think in the British wizarding world, only their family can be considered to have some alchemy skills."

After saying that, Ron was about to take another bite of his crumpet when he suddenly realized something and looked at Munn.

"Munn, maybe you're really suited to studying alchemy. Haven't you already made a wand?"

"Does a wand count as alchemy?"

Munn asked curiously.

"I guess so, since both things are very difficult."

Whenever it came to specific magical issues, Ron's answers were always ambiguous.

Hermione, who was originally angry that Munn had changed the subject, couldn't wait to correct him after hearing Ron's explanation.

"Difficult means it's alchemy! What kind of logic is that, Ron?"

"Isn't it? These two things are just very difficult!"

After saying that, Ron looked at Harry, Seamus, and Neville for help.

The three young wizards nodded in response without hesitation.

"That's not true!"

Hermione refuted her classmates speechlessly and then looked at Munn helplessly.

"A wand is just a magical tool. It's a device used by wizards to guide and focus their own magical power, while alchemy focuses on creation and change. These are completely different levels of difficulty."

"Creation and change?"

After hearing Hermione's explanation, Munn couldn't help but ponder.

Munn had made a wand before.

After this magical tool was created, it didn't actually create or change anything.

Its main function was to allow wizards to more easily guide the magical power within their bodies.

"That's right. If we have to say that the knowledge we've learned now is related to alchemy, it should be Transfiguration, not wand-making."

Hermione's correct explanation quickly overturned Ron's previous speculation.

"No wonder Dumbledore had such great achievements in alchemy. He used to be a Transfiguration professor."

Ron looked at Harry specifically when he said this.

The two young wizards had obtained a Dumbledore card from a Chocolate Frog card when they were on the Hogwarts Express.

It clearly stated that Dumbledore was very successful in alchemy.

"I remember I've been keeping this card."

The explanation on the Chocolate Frog card confirmed Hermione's statement, but Munn was even more curious.

"Hermione, you haven't read the sixth-year textbooks, have you?"

Alchemy was an elective course in the sixth year, and Hermione's understanding of it made Munn suspicious.

"How is that possible? I just borrowed a lot of Transfiguration books last week, and this information was found inside."

Munn was very clear that Hermione had borrowed more than a dozen Transfiguration books from the library last week because she wanted to understand the magic of the color-changing pottery figurines.

"But I remember you were looking at color-changing spells, weren't you?"

"That's right. Alchemy encompasses a very wide range, and color-changing spells are just a small part of it."

Hearing Hermione's words, Munn knew what to do next.

He had obtained an alchemical key on the pirate ship. Although he didn't bring the key to Hogwarts now, it didn't prevent him from dabbling in some alchemical knowledge.

And now, the best way to obtain this knowledge was naturally to go to the library like Hermione.

The first-year Gryffindor wizards had a very simple Monday schedule.

One class of History of Magic in the morning, one class of Herbology in the afternoon, and then all the rest was free time.

Of course, for Munn, he had one more thing to do than others this month.

Cleaning the Potions classroom.

After Munn learned the "Cleaning Charm," this detention no longer required anyone's help.

Although Munn's "Cleaning Charm" range wasn't very large, it didn't take many spells to clean a classroom.

However, something more unpredictable was bound to happen during today's detention.

When Munn had just cleaned half of the classroom, Professor Snape rushed over.

"Professor? Are you alright?"

Professor Snape's face was already pale, but now, with the contrast of the heavy dark circles under his eyes, he no longer looked like a normal person at all.

"Alright? How could I be alright! You better explain it yourself!"

After saying that, Snape abruptly threw a scroll in his hand to Munn.

Hearing Snape's voice, which was even stricter than in Potions class, Munn curiously opened the scroll.

"Professor, you've analyzed that potion?"

After Munn clearly saw the content drawn on the scroll, he knew that this was the true secret of that potion.

"Professor, you truly are a Potions Master. It's only been... it's only been two days, right!"

"Don't be in a hurry to praise me. You better finish reading it before you speak."

Hearing Snape's serious tone, Munn unfolded the entire scroll.

Images of the potion's raw materials had all been drawn out by Snape.

A total of eight.

Munn saw the small white flower that he had analyzed.

"Swamp Lily? Able to conceal the toxicity in the potion."

After reading the description of the small white flower, Munn raised his head and looked at Snape suspiciously.

"Professor, is this a poison?"

"Poison? Not quite. I've read through all the potion books in the library from a thousand years ago. After you finish reading all the content on the scroll, you should be able to make your own judgment."

"Okay, then! Sorry for the trouble, Professor."