Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 297 Who is the Half-Blood Prince?

Harry stared in disbelief at what was in Hermione's cauldron. He tried to convince himself that it was just a pot of water, but looking at Hermione's calm face, he knew it was just wishful thinking on his part.

Moreover, Professor Slughorn's reaction also provided the answer.

"Excellent, absolutely excellent!" he exclaimed excitedly, pulling out the small vial of Felix Felicis. "An undisputed winner! My God, it's unbelievable!"

"Here, take it, it's what you deserve!"

Hermione took the Felix Felicis, shook it, and put it in her pocket. Slughorn, his excitement slightly dampened, comforted Harry, "You've done very well, Harry. It's clear you've inherited your mother's talent in Potions. With a little more time, you can do it too."

"Thank you, Professor."

Harry was very pleased with Professor Slughorn's praise, but he was even happier to see the four Slytherins, especially Malfoy's annoyed expression.

He was even happier than when he won the Quidditch Trophy.

"That's great! Did you see Malfoy's expression just now? I bet he really wants that bottle of Felix Felicis!" Ron said excitedly as he left the classroom.

Aside from Malfoy, he didn't care who got the bottle of Felix Felicis, especially since the ultimate winner was, as expected, Hermione.

I never expected Harry's potion-making skills to be so high, when I was about the same level as him before.

"Harry, how did you do that?" Ron asked naturally after thinking about it.

"Probably just luck..." Harry replied casually, though he caught a glimpse of Malfoy standing not far away. He couldn't tell him this secret. It wasn't until dinner, when they were surrounded by Gryffindor friends, that Harry finally revealed the truth to Hermione and Ron.

"Did I hear that right?! You've been following the instructions from a book the whole time?" Ginny, who was standing nearby, immediately interjected after hearing Harry's words. "Have you forgotten what Mother said? Be careful in everything..."

"It's just an old textbook that's been scribbled on, Ginny, nothing to worry about." Harry seemed unconcerned, but apart from him and Ron, no one else thought so.

"You should still get it checked, Harry, just in case," Hermione advised. Harry thought about it and decided it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.

Hermione took the old textbook out of her backpack and placed it on the table. She then pulled out her wand, pointed it at the book, and whispered, "Form manifest!"

A soft white light fell on the textbook, but nothing happened.

"No problem." Hermione concluded directly, and the others had no objections; they had great faith in Hermione's magical abilities.

"I told you, it's just an old textbook." Harry happily put the textbook back in his backpack and patted it on.

For the rest of the week in Potions class, Harry followed the steps in the old textbook to brew potions, earning Professor Slughorn's praise each time. However, Hermione, as always, was a little better than him, which made her Slughorn's "favorite" student.

Harry wasn't jealous; in his eyes, it was only natural that Hermione was better than him. However, at the same time, he noticed something very strange—Hermione's potion-making steps were exactly the same as his!

Since the day he took out the book for Hermione to test, Hermione hadn't looked at it again. Harry did show the textbook to Ron, but he couldn't decipher the handwriting well and returned it after only a few glances.

However, Harry also learned who the textbook belonged to; he found a line of small print on the back cover: This book belongs to the Half-Blood Prince.

"A half-blood prince? Never heard of him."

On Saturday night, Harry told Hermione and Ron about it, hoping to get an answer from them... especially Hermione, but Hermione thought for a long time and couldn't think of any Potions Master whose nickname was Half-Blood Prince.

"The original owner of this textbook must have been an outstanding potion master," Ron interjected.

"Of course I know that, he improved the potion-making process!" Harry said, his gaze fixed on Hermione.

After hesitating for a long time, she finally asked softly, "Hermione, there's something I'm wondering about...

"You want to ask why my potion-making steps are exactly the same as yours, right?" Hermione put down her quill, glanced up at Harry, and then looked down again.

"You wouldn't want to know, Harry."

"Why?" Harry pressed.

Hermione didn't stop and continued doing her homework diligently, but she couldn't resist Harry's constant questioning and Ron's encouragement.

Finally, getting a little annoyed by the questions, he replied, "Ike's notes are with me; all the steps are on them."

"Strider?!" Harry exclaimed in surprise, but Ron spoke first.

"How did his things end up with you? And why did you use the same method as this 'half-blood prince'?"

"Could he be a half-blood prince? That's impossible!"

“Of course not,” Hermione said. “Harry’s textbook is clearly decades old, how could it be!”

"That's true." Harry nodded subconsciously in agreement, but then realized something. "But Hermione, why are their steps so similar?"

"I don't know, maybe outstanding people are all the same in some ways."

Harry fell silent. He wanted to refute Hermione's words, such as that it was impossible for a traitor like Strayed to do something like that, but in the end, he didn't say it.

Everyone has to admit that Strad is the best player in their class, and perhaps the best in recent years.

He didn't speak, but Ron did. Ever since what happened on the first day of school, Ron's feelings towards Ike had changed from hostility to hatred, even to the point of being somewhat pathological, with extreme opposition to anything good about Ike.

Hermione chose to ignore it and went straight back to her dorm with her homework. After all, Ron's temper flared up and subsided quickly these days; he'd forget about it the next day.

In this matter, the magic toys that Hermione confiscated played a crucial role.

"Alright, Ron." Harry stopped Ron, who was about to say something, and put the toy he had dropped back on the floor. "It's almost eight o'clock, I have to go, Ron, I'm going to be late for Dumbledore's."

"Okay, all the best." Ron paused for a moment, then smiled broadly and gave Harry his best wishes.

"Okay, wait for my good news!" Harry packed his things, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and slipped into the portrait hole. As he turned back, Ron was already completely engrossed in his toys.

(End of this chapter)