In the morning, during Potions class, the cold atmosphere of the dungeon swept equally across every young wizard's body, making their already tense nerves even tighter.
Walking between the cauldrons, Snape looked around, finally fixing his gaze on Harry.
Staring at his bubbling cauldron, after a long while, Snape imperceptibly nodded, then snorted coldly.
"Hmph, passable."
Then he turned to check on the other young wizards.
Harry, who had been stared at for a long time, finally let out a long sigh of relief after getting Snape's affirmation, his hand gripping the wooden handle of his stirrer slightly loosening.
Actually, ever since taking Professor Kahn's Potions survival class, Snape hadn't really scolded him much, at most just making a few sarcastic remarks when passing by.
But today was different. Thinking about the plan for later, Harry's heart hammered nervously.
He had never thought that one day he would proactively ask Snape for advice and have to try to stall for enough time.
What if Snape got impatient halfway through? What if Snape ignored him altogether?
Most importantly, if any accidents occurred, causing Ron and Hermione to be locked in the office, what should he do?
Countless failed scenarios swirled in Harry's mind, nearly causing him to forget to add the next ingredient.
No, if he kept thinking like this, this cauldron of potion would go wrong.
Forcibly suppressing his wandering thoughts, Harry focused all his attention on the potion in front of him.
The potion being taught today was the first real potion of their first year, not just a remedy for some minor ailment or a method for processing ingredients.
Truly brewing a potion meant that even a slight mistake could lead to failure.
Moreover, the ingredients for this potion were much more expensive than before. If he failed, Snape would probably scold him very harshly.
Speaking of which, one of those books seemed to mention that the stirring order here could be slightly changed...
"I didn't expect you're all like foolish trolls."
Facts proved that the ingredients for this batch of potions were indeed much more expensive than usual, so much so that until the end of class, Snape's cold voice continued to echo in the dungeon classroom.
"Out of twenty-four people, only eight finished the potion, and only three of those can be considered acceptable!"
"Giving these ingredients to you is worse than feeding them to goblins!"
Taking a deep breath and forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart, Snape spoke coldly.
"All those who failed in brewing, write a three-page essay and hand it to me next class."
With that, Snape once again looked around with that same troll-like gaze, then with a flick of his robes, floated out of the classroom.
Watching Snape leave, Harry quickly packed his things and walked out of the Potions classroom door.
Not far away, Draco Malfoy watched Harry's departing figure, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
He still remembered a few days ago, full of anticipation, wanting to find a chance to cast his newly learned spell on Potter, to make him grow a pair of pig ears.
But that day, no matter how he taunted, trying to anger Potter, he was met with a look that seemed to say he was looking at an idiot.
Harry hadn't paid any attention to him, instead talking about something with that Weasley kid. Draco could only vaguely remember words like "forbidden books" and "potions."
But he would never forget what Potter had said to him before leaving that day.
'A poor fool with his eyes covered.'
When had a member of the Malfoy family ever been so humiliated!
Even if you know Professor Kahn, whom Father strictly forbade provoking, I will let you know that the dignity of pure-bloods must not be violated!
And I want to see just what you, with your eyes uncovered, will do.
You're not going to play wizard's chess with that Ron fellow, are you? If so, I'll have a good laugh!
Thinking this, Draco packed his things and, with Crabbe and Goyle in tow, caught up with Harry, who was leaving alone.
He didn't notice that Ron and Hermione nearby had also quietly gotten up and left the classroom stealthily.
In the corridor outside the Potions office, Harry looked at Snape's back in the distance, continuously adjusting his breathing, mentally rehearsing the question he was about to ask.
He had to ensure he stopped Snape the moment he opened the door, to provide enough time for Ron and Hermione to enter the office.
This timing had to be grasped perfectly. A little earlier, and Snape wouldn't open the door. A little later, and Snape would be in the office, and even with their Invisibility Cloak, they couldn't guarantee they wouldn't be discovered.
Timing, timing...
Seeing Snape about to reach his office door, Harry took another deep breath and walked forward quickly, bowing his head just as Snape's hand was on the doorknob and speaking loudly.
"Professor Snape!"
But raising his head, he realized with some regret that Snape's hand was only resting on the doorknob; he hadn't opened the door.
And as Snape turned to look at him, he had even removed his hand from the doorknob.
It's over, it seems I called out too early!
But looking directly into Snape's cold eyes, Harry didn't dare to do anything else and recited the question he had prepared earlier.
"I have some questions I'd like to ask you about the material processing for the Swelling Solution..."
Fortunately, Snape didn't seem to notice any other purpose in his question, just made his usual sarcastic remarks before starting his explanation.
"Hmph, it seems you haven't previewed the second-year textbook, to be asking such a foolish question."
"The materials for the Swelling Solution..."
Having overcome the initial tension, Harry gradually got into the state, as if he was really asking Snape about Potions.
But now, how to get Snape to open the door became a problem.
At the end of the corridor, Draco, trailing from afar, widened his eyes, looking at the scene before him in disbelief.
What was he seeing?
Harry Potter, after class, going to Professor Snape to ask about Potions knowledge?
Was he dreaming?
Was this still the Potter he knew, the one who ignored discipline in flying class and challenged him to a duel at midnight?
You! The way you study so seriously is truly nauseating!
However, is this why you despise me?
After staring at that figure for a long time, Malfoy proudly raised his head, turned, and walked straight in one direction.
I think I understand now.
Crabbe and Goyle beside him looked at Malfoy's actions in confusion and chased after him, asking.
"Where are we going?"
"The library."
Looking straight ahead, Malfoy unhesitatingly walked toward the stairs leading to the fifth floor.
From the moment that boy-who-lived rejected him on the train, they were eternal rivals.
And as a rival, he wouldn't tolerate being inferior to the other in any way.
Although in Quidditch, he couldn't get Professor Snape to make an exception and let him join the team in his first year, in all other aspects besides Quidditch, he would surpass Potter!
Just you wait, next year, I'll surpass you in flying too!
As for now, I'll show you what a rival's attitude should be!
Watching Malfoy walking toward the library with his head held high, Crabbe and Goyle exchanged a look, both seeing in the other's eyes a confusion so clear it was free of any impurity…?
[Chapter Complete]
***
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