"Damn it!" Dweller exclaimed.
This effect is insane!
The effect of any potion he used was now doubled.
No wonder this substandard Compound Potion suddenly had nearly the same effect as a fully finished product.
And being able to decipher a potion's recipe just by looking at it? That was too powerful!
Dweller made up his mind.
Tomorrow, he would head to the potion shop in Diagon Alley.
He would examine every potion he could find.
With this newfound ability, he could analyze different brewing methods. And combined with the entry that doubled potion effects, he could use cheaper materials and still produce extraordinary results.
Just like this time.
After his initial excitement, Dweller gradually calmed down.
"Well, with this entry, maybe I can earn some gold by optimizing potion recipes in the future. Once I have money, I can explore more secret realms and keep upgrading my entry attributes!"
He could do this!
He now had a perpetual motion machine of magical progress!
Dweller grinned as he opened his inventory.
He remembered he still had a spell proficiency card he hadn't used yet.
His recent experience in Knockturn Alley had taught him a valuable lesson—he needed a reliable way to escape quickly.
Apparition was a must.
However, he had been hesitant to practice it on his own due to safety concerns.
But now, with this proficiency card, it made perfect sense to use it for Apparition.
No more hesitation.
He activated the card.
[Ding!]
[Spell Proficiency Card has been used!]
A flood of knowledge about Apparition surged into Dweller's mind.
A normal person would've fainted from the sheer volume of information.
But Dweller was no ordinary wizard.
He was a magical genius.
He managed to withstand it.
In just a short moment, the overwhelming sensation faded, replaced by joy.
He checked his spell library.
[Apparition (Proficient / Audible)]
He'd reached proficiency instantly!
Equivalent to someone who had held an Apparition license for three years.
In other words, he could now travel almost anywhere at will.
He was officially an old driver!
Just as he was about to test his newfound skill and decide where to go first—
A voice came from behind him.
"Tom?"
Dweller stiffened and turned.
Snape stood in the doorway, staring at him with sharp eyes.
"Tom?" Snape repeated, his voice low and suspicious. "What are you doing here?"
Dweller's heart skipped a beat.
This was bad.
He struggled to come up with an explanation.
"Uh, Professor Snape, I… um…"
"Where is Dweller?" Snape's voice grew even colder.
His eyes, like a snake's, locked onto Dweller, who was still transformed into Tom.
"Oh, actually…" Dweller's mind raced in panic.
If it weren't for his entry enhancing the potion's effect, the Compound Potion would have been flawed, and Snape would have noticed something off right away.
But now, the transformation was nearly flawless.
Still, he had to come up with a good reason—fast—or he might end up getting reported to the Ministry of Magic.
"Did you go to Knockturn Alley today?"
Snape cut him off before he could say anything.
Dweller noticed Snape's hand move behind his back—gripping something tightly.
He was watching Dweller's every move.
Dweller realized the situation had completely spiraled into a misunderstanding.
He quickly waved his hand. "No, no, Professor, you've misunderstood—"
But he forgot—he was still holding his wand!
"Expelliarmus!" Snape shouted.
A red flash burst from Snape's wand, speeding toward Dweller.
But Dweller was quick.
"Protego!" he countered.
A transparent shield formed in front of him, barely blocking the disarming spell.
Magical sparks exploded on impact.
Dweller realized Snape's spell was far more powerful than his own.
Adult wizards were on another level!
But Snape didn't stop.
"Stupefy!"
A blue streak of magic soared at Dweller.
He dodged to the side and shouted back.
"Wingardium Tableosa!"
A table leg flew up and hurtled toward Snape.
Snape stepped aside gracefully and retaliated with precision.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Purple light spiraled toward Dweller.
He summoned his shield again, but his magic was starting to thin out.
He couldn't win this fight head-on.
He had to explain!
"Professor Snape, listen! I'm Dweller! I only look like this because I drank the Compound Potion! I went to Knockturn Alley just for fun!"
Snape snorted coldly, his face like thunderclouds.
"A child who hasn't even attended Hogwarts brewing Compound Potion? Do you think I'm that gullible?"
His voice was dangerously quiet, barely containing his fury.
Dweller strained to keep defending himself.
His magic reserves were rapidly draining.
He clenched his teeth.
Time to switch tactics.
"Apparate!"
Bang!
He vanished.
Snape immediately turned and cast a spell behind him.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Expelliarmus!" Dweller echoed.
Twin red flashes collided in mid-air.
Both wizards were blasted backward.
Snape's wand flew from his hand, but he stayed on his feet.
Dweller, on the other hand, crashed into the hallway wall and crumpled to the floor.
He couldn't move.
His whole body ached.
He had tried to Apparate behind Snape to disarm him, but Snape's instincts were too sharp.
The power difference was obvious now.
Snape recovered quickly, picked up his wand, and stormed toward Dweller.
He grabbed Dweller by the collar and pointed his wand directly under his chin.
"Speak! Where is that boy? Which witch did you sell him to?!"
Dweller had never seen Snape look this frightening.
He was trembling.
Everything hurt.
He felt his clothes loosening—as if they no longer fit.
Snape's expression shifted from rage to confusion.
Then—complete astonishment.
"Dweller?! It's really you?!"
His eyes widened as he watched the transformation reverse.
The boy before him slowly returned to his original form.