harry potter book of crimes

Unlike the study room, which is messy and full of books, Maka's potion preparation room looks very neat. No, it's not so much neat as "strict".

In some magical stories in the Muggle world, when talking about potions, the first thing that usually comes to mind is an old witch holding a big spoon to stir a pot larger than a human being, and there is usually a pile of firewood burning underneath.

But in the magical world, that kind of situation never exists.

Not to mention how complicated and rigorous the other steps are, the type and control requirements for the magic flame are very high. If any element is not precise enough, there is a 99% chance that a pot of magic potion will be scrapped.

In fact, in Maka's potion preparation room, a series of areas are divided in detail, such as the "Biological Materials Research Area", "Magic Reaction Testing Area", "Finished Product Experiment Observation Area" and so on.

This potion preparation room was created by opening up several basements and joining them together. Just by looking at it, you will feel like "Wow! This room is so spacious!"

"I'm sorry, I asked you to help or something... This time it's mainly because we need to figure out as soon as possible what caused Kingsley to have those symptoms..."

Before entering, Maka really wanted to take the opportunity to ask Tia what her intention was in finding Snape. But seeing that the other party couldn't tell anything, he simply skipped it.

After all, the most important thing right now is to test Kingsley's blood sample first.

"...Anyway, I'm sorry to trouble you."

"...Uh, no...no, it's okay." Tia quickly shook her hands, looking a little embarrassed, "I...have always wanted to...thank you...Mr. McClain."

"Thank me for what?" Maka said casually while waving her wand and moving the tools she needed to the table, "Well, would you like to purify the Aconitum root for me first? 5 ounces after drying, is that okay?

"

"Oh...Okay, okay." Tia nodded timidly.

"Then I will write down the materials to be used first. You can go to the material storage warehouse and pick them up according to the list..." Maka said, tapping the parchment and quill on the table behind her, "By the way, please ask.

What is the most complex potion that Miss Ya has independently prepared?"

"...Compound intelligence enhancer...right?" Tia stood aside, her hands folded and hanging in front of her body, and she said a little nervously.

"Oh? Can you complete the preparation of the compound preparation independently? It seems that I can trust you to complete several steps..." Maka nodded and said, "Ah, the material list has been written, you can go and pick it up.

——The locations are clearly marked. You will understand when you look at them. The storage warehouse is over there..."

During the conversation between the two, Maka's hand almost never stopped once. After preparing the equipment, he hurriedly leaned on the table, pulled out a stack of manuscript paper, and started writing.

stand up.

He rarely uses magic to write information about research, which is one of his habits.

When Tia returned from the storage warehouse with the materials, the two stopped chatting and focused entirely on the preparation of blood test reagents.

To be honest, Maka actually discovered that Tia was quite focused on potions.

Although her technique seems to be almost dependent on textbooks and various reference materials, and her talent is obviously not outstanding, her approach of taking every detail seriously has won the favor of Maka, a research madman.

Of course, this good impression is purely out of academic respect.

Tens of minutes later, Maka gently closed the lid of the crucible, and then nodded politely to Tia.

"That's it for now." He sat back on the chair behind him and flipped over the manuscript paper. "Miss Tia, let's take a rest... Well, it seems that if there is a qualified assistant,

It will indeed improve efficiency a lot.”

"……Um."

Tia sat in the biological material preparation area on the other side and nodded weakly in response. If the place wasn't quiet enough, others might not be able to hear her.

"Ah, that's right!" Maka suddenly turned her head and said, "You said you wanted to thank me before...for what?"

When Tia heard this, she pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment, then started to speak stumblingly.

"I, I want to say...I was really...really scared when I was suddenly brought to this place. I know that they were all doubting my identity...but only you, Mr. McClain, did not even once

Give me that look."

"Later, you asked Miss Lena to take care of me all the time... It's true that the food here is delicious, the bed is very soft, and no one has ever bullied me... Moreover, you have always let me live here.

Here, it’s obvious that I don’t even have any money…”

"I, although I am very timid and dare not say anything or do anything, but I understand... it is all because of your tolerance, Mr. McClain, that other people have once questioned my existence.

It's because of you, Mr. MacLean..."

Tia spoke more fluently, although her voice was still very low and her hands were clenched tightly, silently showing her uneasiness. But this time she did not stop mid-sentence as usual, but kept insisting.

Go down.

In her words, Maka and Lena were mentioned most often, and every time they were mentioned, she would show a grateful expression.

"...So, really, really, thank you very much...I love this place."

"As long as you like it," Maka said with a smile, "As you can feel, the people here are quite nice... Although there are a lot of weirdos, everyone is very kind-hearted."

What about me? Am I kind?

Maka put a big question mark on her head.

"But..." At this point, Tia's tone suddenly dropped and she said with a hint of disappointment, "But I'm afraid I can't stay any longer... Can I... leave?"

"Huh?" Maka asked doubtfully, "What's the matter? I remember you came from the United States... Do you have a goal that needs to be accomplished in the UK?"

He paused and then added: "To be honest, the situation in the British wizarding community is very complicated during this period, and nowhere is safe outside... If possible, it is best not to act alone."

"But I...I must..." Tia grabbed the hem of her robe, "I want to find a place...I must find that place! This is the most important goal I have found while persisting in living until now.

"

"Looking for a place?" Maka looked at her and said, "Miss Tia, where are you looking for? If you look for it by yourself, I guess you will get lost again... Can you tell me? I'll give it a try.

I am quite familiar with the British magical world, maybe..."

"Ah...um..."

Tia lowered her head hesitantly, and subconsciously touched her chest with her fingertips, where a small outline was faintly visible.

"Oh, don't force it...I'm just asking." Maka waved her hand.

"No, I think you are right... I should find someone to ask." Tia said softly, "It's just that this matter... is very important to me, and I can't just ask someone...

...In this case, it seems that it would be most appropriate to ask Mr. MacLean..."

"Really? Uh... it's my pleasure." Maka put the manuscript paper in her hand back on the table, then nodded slightly.

Under Maka's slightly questioning gaze, Tia took out the silver photo pendant hidden close to her body from her collar and carefully touched the delicate texture on it.

"I've mentioned it before, right?" she said, "I grew up in a Muggle orphanage, and this pendant was stuffed in my swaddle when I was... picked up by someone.

...It should be the only meaningful memorial left to me by my biological parents."

She murmured, as if talking to herself.

"My name 'Tia' is the word engraved on the back of this pendant, and here -"

With a soft "click" sound, the silver cover of the pendant popped open automatically, and the Muggle photo appeared in front of her again.

"I've been looking at the photos here, imagining what my biological parents would be like... what they would be like if I lived with them..." she said softly, her tone

With a hint of sadness that cannot be erased.

"I was bullied all the time in the orphanage and in school... But every time I look at it afterwards, I don't seem to feel the pain in my body and heart anymore. I feel like... I have...

The meaning of continuing to live.”

"I heard the director of the orphanage mentioned that before I was sent to the orphanage, I was picked up in a woods on the outskirts of the city. In that woods, there seemed to be many terrible marks...

"

"After I was later selected to study magic in Ilvermorny, I realized that the descriptions of the traces in the woods that I heard from the Muggle dean were very much formed by battles between wizards."

"So, do you think your parents had no choice but to leave you in that forest?" Maka said thoughtfully, "...since you can stay there safely, then your parents...even

Most likely still alive?"

"Yes..." Tia nodded as expected, "And... the environment in this photo looks very much like here in the UK..."

"So you came here..." Maka stood up and walked slowly to her side, "Well... let me see..."

When Maka walked over, she shrank obviously, but she didn't show much resistance.

"Oh... it does look very similar... um..." Maka lowered her head and looked at the small photo in the pendant carefully, frowning slightly, as if comparing it with her own memory, "This looks... similar to the surrounding areas of Manchester.

Some of the small towns are somewhat similar..."

In the background of that photo, there are clusters of low-rise bungalows that give people a sense of clutter and "smoke and dust everywhere". It is undoubtedly a small town with a somewhat dignified living environment.