Daily News: The Prophet of Hogwarts

Chapter 302 Ryan's Soul-Questioning Device

The silent eye contact went unnoticed by Slughorn until he finished his long-winded research paper on werewolves, at which point Ryan inquired about the development of the simplified Muggle-model trial potion.

Slughorn was in high spirits, patting his chest and saying, "No problem. I specifically asked my students at the Ministry of Magic to make a list for me. It lists the most frequently used potions by Muggles. Severus and I have worked together to adapt these potions to Muggle standards."

He drew up a list of the types of potions he and Snape had improved together. There were potions for external wounds, for rheumatism and colds, for healing bones, and so on—all common ailments.

There are also tonics that Ryan specifically mentioned, which can be used for beauty, weight loss and other effects. They are called tonics because these magic potions are expensive and not cheap, and their effects are not significant; they can only be said to have some effect.

Even among wizards, there are plenty of chubby kids.

Slughorn said, "What are you going to do with these potions? They don't seem to be very useful."

In this era, a certain trend of globalization is gradually emerging. This trend will vary depending on the development of different regions. At least at this stage, this idea has been rising rapidly in continental Europe and the United States, which believes that it is a matter of course for men to spend money on women.

Women tend to anchor their self-perception through their spending—that is, how much they spend determines their social class. This creates opportunities for cosmetics, skincare products, and weight-loss drugs to exploit the market.

At the same time, this is also a natural battleground for public opinion and an absolute means of winning hearts and minds.

Ryan didn't know how to explain these things to the old gentleman. After all, as a classic English gentleman from the last century, the old gentleman naturally couldn't imagine what kind of life would force ordinary people to become, now and in the future.

All he could tell Slughorn was that these things could fetch a good price.

"Professors, I have a question for you both—Hordeal Gear." After hesitating for a moment, Ryan still asked the professors, who were both quite skilled in dark magic, this question.

After all, if you're enjoying hotpot and singing songs and suddenly get a beating from a wizard from thousands of years ago, anyone would want to know the inside story, specifically the effects of the Horcrux.

"Why are you asking this?" Snape became alert. In his mind, none of the prophets were good people, and Lane Welsh was no better student. Who knows, one day the higher-ups might want to make a couple of Horcruxes for fun.

This is terrible!

He had no choice but to be vigilant.

Slughorn broke out in a cold sweat, somewhat flustered: "Ah, you asked about that?"

"It's not that I want to make Horcruxes, it's that I was ambushed on my way out today and got beaten up." Ryan said helplessly, "The person who beat me up was a well-known figure. The fact that he was able to beat me up so well means that he has been living for a very long time thanks to Horcruxes. So I want to learn about Horcruxes."

"Who is it?"

"Hailbo".

"who!"

"Helpo!"

Snape and Slughorn both stood up, and it was clear they were both very surprised.

After a long pause, Slughorn slowly spoke, "I don't know much about Horcruxes, I only know that they exist. It is said that they can allow people to transcend death, essentially because the soul stored in the Horcrux still exists, causing the wizard to not die."

But if you're saying Horcruxes can last for thousands of years, I don't know—"

"How long can a typical Horcrux last?"

Slughorn shook his head and said, "People know that Helbo created Horcruxes because he was the founder of Horcruxes. He left a significant mark on history. Later, this kind of magic was considered too dark and was regarded as the symbol of black magic. It was collectively sealed away by all those with aspirations. This is why if a wizard creates a Horcrux later, it will basically be unknown to people."

He said it as if he had done in-depth research.

Snape scoffed. "But Horcruxes can help wizards recover quickly from fatal injuries. They can even bring the dead back to life and return them to their peak condition."

He said it as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

Ryan also said, "It's unclear whether Helbo has survived this long solely because of the Horcrux, but it's certain that the Horcrux has played a role in his survival. Perhaps the Horcrux helps him maintain his peak condition; otherwise, he wouldn't have such combat power!"

He said this as if he had personally been beaten up.

The three of them keenly sensed the implication in the others' words and quietly shut up.

"Hahahaha!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Ha ha ha ha!"

After Ryan left with the medicine list, Snape suddenly asked Slughorn, "Professor, even with magical protection, an object that stores a soul, even if it has remained intact from that time to the present without decaying, could never possibly maintain the peak of a wizard's power, right?"

Slughorn gave him a deep look: "Why didn't you tell him when he was there?"

Snape said, "From the first moment I met him, I knew he was no ordinary man, and only someone like him could lead wizards down a new path in such a dangerous environment. But I also couldn't be sure if he could maintain his current mindset and scoff at Horcruxes when he realized he was nearing the end of his life."

Wizards are generally long-lived, but he was over forty years older than Lane, and normally he wouldn't be able to see if Lane would maintain his integrity on his deathbed. However, he now held a certain fondness for the wizarding world, especially after Harry Potter—

No matter how brilliant, decisive, or resourceful a person is in their youth, they will become senile in their old age.

If a person doesn't become severely senile in old age, it means that he most likely paid the price for the mistakes he made when he was young, and that pain is something he can never forget for the rest of his life.

Take Dumbledore, for example. Despite his advanced age, he remained cautious and unwilling to wield power, preferring to confine himself to the small Hogwarts. If it weren't for the turbulent changes in the wizarding world, his original plan over the years would have been to gradually fade from public view and even help those with ulterior motives to undermine his authority.

Even though no one remembers the person involved, everyone still knows: who was the first follower of the Dark Lord, the first person to utter the phrase "for the greater good"?

Slughorn chuckled. "You think he'll make a mistake?"

Snape was very worried: "He is too talented, he has never experienced setbacks, and he is too lucky. The mentors he has met have all been able to protect him and guide him on the right path. I am not worried that he will go astray."

Slughorn patted his student on the shoulder: "You seem to think everyone will slowly decay? There's no need to think that way. You must understand, he has a teacher named Nicolas Flamel. This child wants immortality without needing any Horcruxes. How could Nicolas Flamel's last and most prized disciple not be able to forge the Philosopher's Stone?"

"I'm afraid he'll use them all at once." Snape's voice vibrated. "Just look at all the things he does to Muggles. This guy always considers the big picture and will use every means at his disposal. I bet Mr. Gale can only think about the weapons made by Lane, Penelope, and the spells that Gale and the other two develop together. He doesn't even think about the basic needs of Muggles."

19

"That's their problem; we're not the ones who can carry the torch."

"Slughorn's answer was relaxed. He didn't like being in a high position. His favorite position was second place, so he could handle things with ease—although he wasn't in the top ten in the wizarding world right now."