HP: Alchemy? Nah, It's Crafting

What is the one thing a timid little wizard lacks the most?

The answer is simple—Confidence!

Neville Longbottom seemed to be a textbook case. His overly domineering grandmother as his guardian, possibly coupled with some innate deficiencies, had likely contributed to his lack of self-esteem.

Hmm!

Kasen had overheard some of the other professors discussing Neville in the staff room once. 

Apparently, when Neville was younger, his family had almost mistaken him for a Squib—someone incapable of performing magic.

Great. Add that to the list of reasons for his insecurity.

To make someone confident, either they needed wealth in their pocket or knowledge in their head.

But when it came to Neville's academic performance...

Potions? A bit of a disaster. Charms? Since spellcasting leaned somewhat on belief and intention, it was no surprise Neville struggled as a kid with zero self-confidence. 

The rest—Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts—were just mediocre. Sure, he had some talent in Herbology, but what good was that in this situation? Kasen's cheat abilities didn't even come with any magical plant-related features. In fact, he hadn't even gathered all the original blocks yet. And whether his cheat allowed mods was still a mystery.

"Neville… Neville… how to deal with you.." 

As Kasen leaned against his desk, lost in thought, the sound of a knock suddenly broke his concentration.

"The door's unlocked. Come in," Kasen called out.

A small figure entered, arms stuffed full of snacks and treats. 

Kasen glanced over—it was none other than Neville, the very boy he'd just been pondering about. The pile in Neville's arms seemed to consist entirely of sweets. 

"Neville… May I call you that?" Kasen asked.

"Of course, Professor," Neville replied nervously.

"Good, my office is always open to you."

Neville shuffled forward, depositing his mountain of snacks onto Kasen's desk in one clumsy motion. Then, he just stood there, frozen in place and silent.

"Uh… may I ask what this is about?" Kasen gestured toward the sweets.

Although he had a good idea they were meant as a thank-you gift, it was always best to clarify.

After all, maybe Neville had just brought them in because he couldn't carry them any further?

"These are my way of saying thank you, Professor Kasen," Neville said, his face flushing red.

"Ah!, thank you. I gladly accept," Kasen said with a smile.

"Thank you, Professor, really" Neville replied, bowing slightly. He stood there for a moment longer, his face showing deep concentration, as though trying to decide whether to say something more or simply leave.

However, Kasen stopped him.

"Neville, next time you find yourself in a situation like this, would you choose to resist?"

Neville, who was about to leave, stopped in his tracks and hesitated. "Resist?"

"Yes, would you choose to resist?"

"Professor, I... I want to resist, but... how should I resist?" Neville looked at Kasen with a desperate hope, as if he had found a lifeline and was trying to grab onto it with all his might.

"How to resist, that's easy. I just need to know you want to resist. What curse would you use?"

Neville was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say.

"If you don't know any curses, that's fine. What Charms do you know?"

Neville remained silent.

"That's also fine. You might be a bit slower than others, but that doesn't matter. All I need you to do is promise me that next time someone tries to hurt you, you'll resist. Even if you don't know any spells, you'll use your fists. Can you do that?"

"I can!" Neville replied firmly.

"That's enough. Next time you successfully resist, come back to my office."

"I will... Professor, actually, I've learned a charm."

"Oh?" Kasen smiled.

"That's great. At least you won't need to use your fists. What charm is it?"

"The Levitation Charm. But it doesn't seem very useful."

"Everything in the world has a use, Neville. Who said the Levitation Charm can't be used in a fight? You can make someone float and then let them drop right onto the ground."

"Ah! That is..." Neville thought for a moment and nodded. "Hmm! I'll try, Professor!"

"Good. Remember, always resist. Being weak isn't scary, but being cowardly is."

As for whether Neville truly heard that last sentence, Kasen wasn't sure. The boy had bolted out of the office quite quickly.

[Neville's Approval +10]

[Neville's Trust +10]

[Neville's Approval +10]

[Neville's Trust +10]

After sending Neville off, Kasen finally found himself with a moment of peace. The mental exhaustion he'd been feeling earlier had vanished, replaced by the satisfaction of knowing that Neville now had the mindset to stand up for himself.

Kasen returned to his routine, cycling between the Great Hall, his office, the library, and the professors' lounge—essentially a four-stop itinerary.

Most of his time was spent in the library.

There, he absorbed vast amounts of alchemical knowledge, steadily building his expertise. Teaching no longer felt like bluffing his way through.

At the same time, he began attempting to analyze his unique Minecraft abilities through the lens of alchemy.

The conclusion?

Overpowered. Ridiculously overpowered.

The Philosopher's Stone, or the so-called Magic Stone, boasted its most remarkable feature: material transformation. Yet, what alchemists deemed the pinnacle of their craft seemed to Kasen like basic-level functionality.

As for the stone's life-extending magical properties?

That was more of a side project for potion masters.

To an alchemist studying the microscopic structure of matter and its transformation, extending life felt more like a side effect—a footnote in their grand pursuit. Compared to material transformation, it held no appeal whatsoever.

Kasen's plan was clear: to integrate the unique properties of his Minecraft abilities into alchemy and bring forth "Alchemy 2.0," a revolutionary curriculum for his students.

...

Time passed quickly.

By the fifth week of the term, all the assignments he'd given to his fourth-year students had already been meticulously graded.

He had graded them carefully, taking advantage of Monday's lack of classes.

Technically, he should have had a class with the third years. However, in their infinite wisdom, Hogwarts had declared a full week off for elective courses in the fifth week. This allowed the third-years time to reflect on their schedules, balancing personal and academic commitments before finalizing their choices.

This policy granted Kasen an unexpected full day off—well, half a day off. The other half was spent grading assignments diligently.

As for the assignments—credit where it's due—the fourth-year students had truly impressed. They had conducted thorough examinations of the Enchantment Table, analyzing the magical energy it emitted, the intricate patterns on its surface, and even its internal structure.

The essays turned in weren't just well-written—they were insightful.

One group even went a step further, submitting a functional replica of the Enchantment Table.

The entire class had contributed to the project:

The Slytherins, with their wealth and resources, took charge of providing the raw materials like obsidian and diamonds.

The Ravenclaws handled the precise design and assembly of the table.

The Gryffindors processed the raw materials into usable components.

The Hufflepuffs ensured constant logistical support, assisting 24/7 wherever needed.

The result? A simplified yet operational replica of the Enchantment Table, powered by densely engraved circuits of ancient runes.

And now, there it was—placed proudly in front of Kasen.