You Still Aren't As Foolish as a Troll

When Dylan arrived at Professor Snape's Office, he gently knocked twice on the door.

"--"

The next moment, the door moved on its own, opening a crack.

Dylan immediately saw Professor Snape sitting beside the desk. The man looked grim, as though he had just woken up.

He blinked, carefully pushed the door all the way open, and then walked inside.

"Good morning, Professor. You're up early."

"Come straight in. Don't close the door, because you'll be leaving soon anyway."

A mocking look flashed across Professor Snape's face.

"As for getting up early... I heard that whenever you ask others for guidance, as long as they aren't in class, you chase them with questions from morning till night. Naturally, I wouldn't dare neglect you."

"..."

This sarcastic little act is actually pretty cute.

A smile appeared on Dylan's face.

"Thank you for waiting for me in your office so early in the morning, Professor."

He shifted the backpack he had brought around to the front, then took out a notebook.

It was his notebook.

He pulled out a pen, but before he could reach the desk—

"Swish."

Professor Snape merely pointed his wand, and a chair appeared.

Dylan dropped into it without the slightest hesitation.

"Mr. Hawkwood, I hope my early rising will allow me to hear something worthwhile, rather than pointless drivel."

In fact, Snape had never stayed up late, much less slept in.

He had said that simply because he wanted to, giving himself a convenient excuse to mock Dylan. Nothing more.

However, hearing Snape's deep voice, as though it had been forced up from the depths of his throat, an ordinary Young Wizard sitting there might truly have been frightened into a blank mind.

Yet the smile on Dylan's face did not fade. He opened his little notebook and rapidly flipped to the section where he had recorded his notes on Potions.

"Professor Snape, when conducting an in-depth study of Potions, the first thing that made me curious was something."

Snape's brows first drew together slightly, then slowly rose. The ends lifted a little, pulling at the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

Those black eyes swept coldly over and fixed on Dylan.

Extremely dismissive and indifferent.

Dylan, however, continued without being affected. "In fact, whenever I study any theory, I can't help trying to investigate its essence."

"What exactly are you asking?" Snape's voice was slightly hoarse.

It was not a rough hoarseness, but silk that had been rubbed with sandpaper, deep yet carrying a hint of delicacy.

He also controlled the volume perfectly. He did not need to raise his voice for it to echo throughout the entire office.

"Starting from the basic principles of magic, can a Potion be affected by external factors?"

Snape frowned. "A question that sounds profound but is actually meaningless!"

"Of course a Potion can be affected by external factors. Now, Mr. Hawkwood, leave my office immediately!"

After hearing Dylan's question, the impatience on Snape's face was impossible to suppress.

Of course, he had no intention of suppressing it either.

But Snape also noticed something.

This Young Wizard was genuinely very bold!

When an ordinary Young Wizard faced him, he only needed a single look to frighten them into becoming a Little Quail.

But when it came to Dylan, his cold expression was practically a joke!

Everyone would feel ashamed because of his vicious words.

But this fellow did not!

As a professor, he couldn't possibly use a magical attack on a Young Wizard, could he?

"You've wasted the precious time of the Potions Class professor. Your house must therefore lose—"

Before Snape could finish speaking,

what happened next was even more unexpected: Dylan directly interrupted him!

"Professor, you haven't understood what I really mean."

Dylan's expression was serious. Completely ignoring Snape's increasingly ugly expression, he continued on his own. "By external influences, I mean..."

"Can a Potion be affected by the Trajectory of the Stars, as well as changes in the Moon Phases?"

At these words, even Professor Snape was stunned.

His greasy hair half-concealed his cold, pale face. His Thin Lips were pressed into a cold line, yet now they curved upward.

The grim expression on his face softened slightly because of Dylan's question. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed a little, and beneath his raised brows, his eyes opened somewhat wider.

"You've studied the Trajectory of the Stars as well?"

Snape raised his sharply knuckled hand. With a lift of his wand, the half-open door shut completely with a click.

What a tsundere.

Dylan huffed inwardly.

Snape's brows furrowed again.

He gazed deeply at the Young Wizard before him.

As a Legilimens, he would not use a Legilimency Spell on a Young Wizard.

Yet he could clearly sense the excitement radiating from Dylan.

Mistaking it for smugness, he said coldly, "What, do you think you know a great deal?"

Dylan blinked and hurriedly shook his head.

"How could I? I haven't even finished reading the books in the school's library. How could I be considered knowledgeable?"

He meant that sincerely.

At this, Professor Snape slightly restrained his expression, and his mouth produced a deep sound like a cello.

"In the Magical World, the stars and Moon Phases are often believed to contain tremendous power. Investigating their connection with Potions—"

"requires an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and brewing mechanisms of Potions, as well as the application of ancient magical knowledge and mysterious forces."

"It is good that you were able to think of this, but you've thought too far ahead. With your current lack of knowledge, even if I gave you part of the answer, you would not be able to understand it."

Dylan smiled faintly. "Since you've given me an affirmative answer, then allow me to tell you what I've deduced."

Snape looked at him noncommittally, but ultimately did not continue hurling insults.

"To my knowledge, the specific Magic Fluctuations released by the Trajectory of the Stars may resonate to a certain degree with Potion ingredients."

"That could affect the fusion of ingredients during brewing, the activation of their properties, as well as the timing and duration of their effects. All of these might be influenced by the Trajectory of the Stars."

"As for changes in the Moon Phases... I believe that the changes in the strength and nature of the energy they reflect may have certain connections with the beginning of brewing, the reaction process, and the strength and stability of a Potion's effects, among other things I am currently unable to understand."

The muscles in Professor Snape's face tensed almost imperceptibly, tugging at the fine wrinkles around his eyes.

A fleeting trace of surprise passed through those deep black eyes. His Thin Lips tightened and dipped downward slightly before immediately returning to normal.

"The mind of you little Kid is not as foolish as a Troll's, at least."

"Uh."

Dylan stared at Snape.

Was that... a compliment?

"Since you really have some knowledge of Potions and astrology, I can tell you a few things as well."