HP: The Stellar Witch [OFC]

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That day, Mother stormed into the kitchen in a fit of rage, tossing an owl aside carelessly before rummaging through the cabinets. She scattered their contents everywhere, but after finding nothing, she summoned Cocoa and demanded, "Where's that pack of potion ingredients that looks like parsley?" Cocoa replied that the young mistress had taken it.

When Senna saw the processed potion ingredients, she was slightly surprised. The preparation of such materials wasn't particularly complex, but it required a high degree of speed and precision. Any delay could result in the dissipation of their properties and a decline in quality.

"Did you process this?" she asked.

Due to the unique nature of potion ingredients and potions themselves, magic cannot be used when handling or processing them. As a result, even the most skilled Potioneers often waste significant time on ingredient preparation before brewing.

Since she couldn't brew high-level potions herself, and given the tense atmosphere in the outside world, being a Potioneer would undoubtedly attract attention from various factions. Noah still needed her care, and the situation didn't allow her to expose herself. Therefore, she could only brew mid-to-low-level consumable potions to sell, occasionally selling contraband to cover Noah's potion expenses and her own research costs.

The problem, however, was that her processing and brewing speed couldn't keep up with her buyers' demands, meaning she couldn't earn enough Galleons.

If this useless child could actually be of some use, then the food wasted on her over the past decade wouldn't have been entirely in vain.

Lys stood there obediently, holding the owl that Mother had thrown into the kitchen. She nodded, but Senna, lost in thought, didn't notice. She asked again, "Answer me, did you process this?"

Lys thought her mother was upset because she hadn't answered verbally. "Yes, Mother," she replied.

"What other potion ingredients can you handle?"

Lys listed a series of ingredients she had already worked with and others she theoretically knew how to handle but hadn't encountered yet. Senna was quite satisfied. She hadn't expected this little waste of space to actually become useful after just one year of schooling.

"Mother, the owl you threw in..." Lys held up the unconscious owl by its wing and handed it to her mother. Senna glanced at it and noticed a parchment envelope. She casually tore it open and tossed the owl aside. After reading the letter, Senna felt she should be angry, yet it seemed somewhat normal, even a bit pleasing. She couldn't quite pinpoint what was off.

It was Lys's report card for the semester:

Dear Miss Lys Black,

Here are your first-year grades for all subjects at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry:

O (Outstanding) E (Exceeds Expectations) A (Acceptable) P (Poor) D (Dreadful) T (Troll)

Astronomy: E

Transfiguration: A

Herbology: A

Potions: P

Defense Against the Dark Arts: P

Flying: D

Charms: D

History of Magic: D

Please have your guardian write to Professor Slughorn, Head of Slytherin House, to confirm whether you agree to repeat your first year. We look forward to your reply.

Senna looked at the grades again, finding it hard to believe. She had actually passed so many courses! She had actually passed!

And she even managed to get an Exceeds Expectations! Seeing the Dreadful grade in Charms felt expected, but for a moment, Senna felt a rare twinge of complexity in her heart. Other than her hair, this child actually had something in common with her.

But repeating the first year? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! A Slytherin repeating the first year would undoubtedly become a joke for many, and if word spread, someone might use the fallen Black family as a lead to track them down.

If it weren't for the fact that the Hogwarts enrollment list was bound by true-name magic, she would never have allowed this little waste to attend school under her real name.

But it didn't matter. As long as she didn't repeat the year, the only people who would know about this were the Headmaster and the Head of House. Writing to request confidentiality from these two shouldn't be too much of a problem.

"Pack your things in 10 minutes and come with me," Senna said to Lys, tossing the report card onto the stove.

Not knowing where they were going, Lys simply grabbed the suitcase she had brought home for the holidays. Cocoa, noticing the suitcase looked like it was about to fall apart, cast a repair spell on it, but it didn't help much. She ended up tying two sturdy ropes around it. Cocoa also packed the books the young mistress had been reading into a large cloth bag for her to carry.

Looking at the heavily burdened Lys, Senna frowned slightly, as if about to scold her to leave the things behind. But then, as if remembering something, she wore a slightly pleased expression and took Lys along via Apparition.

When they reappeared, they were in a dimly lit, half-underground, dilapidated house. Lys caught the mixed smell of potions in the air, somewhat reminiscent of the Potions professor's office.

In one of the rooms, two cauldrons were bubbling with potions Lys didn't recognize. Senna stepped forward to inspect them, then crushed, weighed, and added the ingredients she had brought from home.

Turning to see Lys looking around curiously, Senna tossed her a large hat with a mask attached. The hat was so oversized that it wobbled precariously on Lys's head. Senna cast a Shrinking Charm, but it became too small and needed to be enlarged again. After some fiddling, Senna was visibly impatient.

"Mother, it's fine. It won't fall off now," Lys said. It wouldn't fall off because it was now slightly too tight, pressing firmly against her face.

Lys was surprised to find that her voice now sounded a bit like a house-elf's—sharp and high-pitched.

"Welcome to Knockturn Alley, little waste. Without me here, you are absolutely, absolutely not allowed to step out of this door. Not even half a step! I hope you have some regard for your life."

Lys nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, Mother."

Ah! Mother cares about me!