Chapter 74: Collection

　　 The confinement of Justin Finley and Neville Longbottom has lasted for two weeks.
In the first two weeks of the new semester, Matthew often saw the two of them under the leadership of Professor Pringle, carrying heavy objects and chains, walking up and down the corridor, doing all kinds of things. Such chores... and Mr. Tang is always watching them to prevent them from being lazy.
　　 For those students who seriously violate the school rules, Hogwarts' punishment is actually very harsh, far from being a trivial matter.
　　 As Mr. Pringle said: "This helps students think twice before violating school rules... Work and hardship are often the best teachers."
In addition, Mr. Pringle also regrets that the old-fashioned punishment method was cancelled 50 years ago...Hanging the wrists of the students who violated the school rules and hanging them from the ceiling for several days; Generally, after a few days, the naughty students will be completely obedient.
　　 Looking at the tragic situation of the two first-year students, Matthew was a little grateful: At the beginning, around Halloween, Professor Rozier's "confinement" punishment that he was going to impose on him was finally cancelled under Professor Troca's persuasion.
　　 At the same time, he also understood why this new Hogwarts order was much better than the one in the memory.
　　 The Weasley twin brothers who are proud of violating school rules in memory have also become good law-abiding students at Hogwarts, at least on the surface.
　　……
　　 On a Friday at the end of January, Slytherin’s first-year dormitory received the content of their first practice after class in the new semester.
　　 This Saturday, which is tomorrow, they practice after class this time, the instructor is Professor Holas Slughorn, Dean of Slytherin.
　　 At 8:30 on Saturday morning, five boys who had just finished breakfast gathered at the entrance of the potions classroom.
　　 But this time, there was no accident...For example, Professor Slughorn was sick.
　　 The smiling potions teacher opened the door and waited for them in the classroom.
　　 "Good morning, boy!" he said very happily.
　　 But his smiling eyes only looked at Matthew Wickfield and Draco Malfoy. The other three boys were ignored by him.
　　 "Good morning, Teacher Slughorn!" the five said in unison.
"This morning, we might as well practice the treatment of medicinal materials..." Professor Slughorn said aloud as five people walked into the potions classroom, "Let’s split into two groups first: Matthew and De Laco, you two go with me..."
Then, he glanced at the three boys again. Judging from his eyes, it seemed that Crabbe, Gore, and Nott would be unable to name them for a while: "You three are the second group; and we three Is the first group!"
　　 Slughorn, like a chubby elephant, walked slowly to a large cabinet in the potions classroom.
"Students from the second group." Slughorn said as he took out a large handful of dried nettles, a large bottle of Flobber caterpillar mucus, a bag of bat spleen, and a whole piece of dried nettle from the cupboard. Dragon Liver: "Your mission is responsible for these"
"Take the dried nettles neatly, and put them in a small bag... and these Flobber caterpillar mucus, carefully filter them three times to remove the small sand inside... Cut the bat spleen into powder, and the dragon liver needs Cut it into small pieces and put it into a crystal bottle." Slughorn said lightly: "Okay, that's it... If you don't understand, you can ask me in the classroom inside!"
　　 Looking at the dirty potion medicinal materials, whether it's Crabbe, Gower or Knott, there was an expression of disgust on his face.
　　 But this is the teacher's order after all, they dare not disobey, one by one they started to roll up their sleeves and prepare to do it.
"Wait, little fat guy!" As Crabbe was about to grab the dragon liver, Slughorn suddenly called to him, and said with a bit of heartache, "Don't forget to wear dragon leather gloves... such a big piece. Dragon liver is worth at least 30 gallons, it would be too bad if you contaminated it!"
　　 Watching the three boys of the "Second Group" put on dragon leather gloves and began to bend down to work, Slughorn's expression was only showing satisfaction.
　　 Then, he smiled and looked at Matthew and Malfoy: "Matthew and Draco, you follow me first!"
　　At the same time, he pointed to the hut inside.
　　……
　　 Different from the cabinet outside where the medicinal materials were piled up arbitrarily, there are a few tall potion racks in the inner room, on which are neatly arranged all kinds of strange potion medicinal materials.
"Perhaps you are interested in seeing my favorite collection!" Slughorn said with Matthew and Malfoy triumphantly: "I dare you to say that there are not a few pharmacists in Europe. They have warehouses. The herbs are more complete than mine!"
　　 Matthew looked at the potions racks, there were a lot of medicinal materials that he could not recognize at all.
　　 "If you have any needs later, you can always find me...borrow some, it doesn't matter!" Slughorn said as he walked to the shelf closest to them.
　　 He first pointed to a small bottle on the left hand side:
　　 "This is Japanese puffer fish eyes~EbookFREE.me~ which is extremely toxic; such a small bottle costs at least two hundred gallons on the market..."
　　 Slughorn looked at the dense rows of crystal bottles again.
　　 "There are also dragon blood... 22 types of fire dragon blood, except for the Ukrainian iron belly dragon, I have collected all the others!"
　　 Then, he opened another paper box:
　　 "Of course there is African tree snake skin... also extremely precious. A whole piece on the market costs at least 100 gallons, and I have collected enough..."
　　 Slughorn was half-talking, and suddenly he was taken aback.
　　 "Wow!" He let out a strange cry:
　　 "Damn, I remember I obviously have seven intact African tree snake skins, why are there only six left?"
　　 Matthew blinked slightly, he suddenly remembered the role of African tree snake skin...
　　 "Could it be that a thief broke in here?" Draco Malfoy asked in a low voice, "Professor, would you like to see what medicine is missing?"
　　 "That's right... I'll look for it again..." Slughorn said nervously.
　　 He had no longer bothered to introduce his collection to Matthew and Malfoy, and began to search through the cabinets.
　　 ten minutes later
　　The potions classroom sat down on the ground, and said with a sorrow: "There is still a double-horned horn missing...Damn, these two things cost me at least 400 gallons..."
　　 The horns of a double-horned beast...African tree snake skin...
　　 "Professor Slughorn." Matthew murmured: "Someone stole these two medicinal materials from you. Could it be that he wanted to..."
　　 "Yes, he is preparing the compound decoction!" Slughorn said with a sullen face.