The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 21 Prescriptions and Information

Snape frowned deeply as he looked at the viscous venom in the glass bottle Lynch had placed on the table.

He looked at the parchment in his hand again, carefully recalling the properties of the materials on it and considering the possible consequences of combining them.

Finally, he put down the parchment, his voice low and firm: "I misspoke. You're not trying to commit suicide, you're trying to harm yourself, very, very severely."

"There are several ingredients in this, such as wolfsbane, aconite, and the venom sac of the runic snake, all of which are deadly. In particular, this bottle of venom from the giant eight-eyed spider has a color and viscosity that indicate that it is extremely concentrated. This quality of venom is extremely rare, which means that its toxicity is also unprecedentedly high."

I can't be sure that the tiny bit of fecal matter powder added to the prescription will save your life. The most optimistic outcome I can guess is that you'll be a cripple from now on!

Lynch wasn't intimidated by what Snape said. After all, he was a fairly skilled potion master, and he had had this potion recipe for several years, having studied it countless times.

In fact, this prescription was a modified version of his own, and he was fully aware of its dangers.

“For others, the consequences might be this severe,” Lynch looked into Snape’s eyes, “but I’m different, Severus. Have you forgotten? My magic is naturally greater than others; I can withstand the consequences of this potion!”

Snape's brow furrowed even deeper.

"I'm certain this potion's effects target magic and the mind. When your mind weakens, your powerful magic is no longer your shield; it becomes a noose around your neck!"

Lynch chuckled when he heard Snape compare magic to a noose.

"Ha." He straightened up, standing ramrod straight, the bright candlelight of the office illuminating him.

"Severus, my friend, you probably underestimate me. I have fought more often than any other wizard. I have walked through the gates of death far more times than you can imagine. Those pains and torments have made me who I am today."

His expression remained that faint smile: "So, my dear old friend, when I told you I could bear the consequences of this potion, you should believe that I can bear them!"

Overwhelmed by Lynch's imposing presence, Snape was speechless for a moment. He instinctively avoided Lynch's gaze and turned his attention back to the parchment on the table.

He spoke again, his tone softening: "I need to optimize and improve this prescription so that you won't die before I get what I want. Tell me the origin of this prescription."

"It comes from an ancient tribe in Africa," Lynch replied. "It's a sacrificial drink used by the tribe's shamans to communicate with the gods during important rituals."

A friend of mine stumbled upon this while searching for information about staffless spellcasting techniques at the Waggadu Magic School in Africa. The shaman there had drunk a potion and moved a statue hundreds of meters away, far beyond his capabilities.

I discovered that the true effect of this potion is to enhance the drinker's control over magic and mind for a short period of time by attacking specific areas of the brain with toxins.

Although he later fell into a near-comatose state of weakness, proving the imperfections of the prescription, I believe that the potion's effects can still play a significant role in specific situations.

The original main ingredient was the venom of the African tree snake, but the effect was too weak for me.

So I modified the prescription, replacing it with the venom of the eight-eyed giant spider, and changed several other ingredients to enhance the potion's potency.

"It also increases the chances of death," Snape continued Lynch's words.

Lynch looked at Snape: "Severus, my old friend, I've discovered that you have neither the slightest belief in me nor the slightest trust in me."

You're always worried that you won't get Lily's last words after I die, but you've forgotten what I just said: whether you agree to help me make potions or not, I will give you my memories.

It really hurts me to see me this way.

After saying that, Lin Qi extended his right index finger and gently pressed it against his temple.

He looked at Snape with a half-smile, and gently pulled his finger outward.

A silver, flowing, thread-like band of light was pulled out of Lynch's mind.

He reached out to Snape, one end of the silver ribbon attached to the pad of his index finger, the other end dangling in the air, fluttering slightly in the tiny air currents in the room.

Snape's expression froze when he saw the ribbon hanging from Lynch's finger.

He hurriedly stood up, causing the chair he was sitting on to slide backward, its four legs scraping across the floor with a screeching sound.

But Snape's attention was not diverted from the silver thread for a moment; he hurriedly opened the drawer and took out an empty glass bottle.

He uncorked the bottle and stretched out his right hand to try and place the bottle neck under the ribbon, but his palm trembled slightly and he couldn't get it right.

He reached out his left hand and grasped his right hand, trying to stop the involuntary trembling.

But the trembling became even more intense.

Suddenly, a hand caught his clasped hands, freezing his trembling hands in mid-air.

It was Lynch's outstretched left hand.

Snape looked up blankly at Lynch, only to see Lynch's dark eyes calmly staring at him.

"Let me help you, my old friend."

Lynch held Snape's hands still, and gently lowered his right hand, placing the silver thread of memory into the glass bottle in Snape's hand.

Snape retrieved the bottle and clutched it tightly to his chest.

Lynch took a step back and looked calmly at Snape.

"I need to use that potion in five days, and I hope to see it on time. The time is a bit tight, but I believe that for a potion master of your caliber, this time should be enough."

Now, I think you need some time alone, so I'll take my leave now.

After Lin Qi finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the door.

Snape didn't say a word, he just held the bottle that was so precious to him tightly.

"Oh, right!" Just as he was about to reach the door, Lynch turned to Snape as if he remembered something. "I know Dumbledore must have asked you to find out what I know. Tell him this: a few days ago, someone first visited Paris and then went to Devon. Dumbledore will understand."

After saying that, Lynch turned and left Snape's potions office, leaving Snape alone inside, lost in thought.

After a long while, Snape walked out of the Potions office.

He reached into his robes with one hand, clutching the glass bottle he treasured, and in the other hand, he held the parchment containing the potion recipe.

He stood in the underground corridor for a long time before finally climbing the steps and heading towards the top floor of the castle.