Don't Talk Back to Snape

Sean's honest expression immediately crumbled; he hadn't expected Snape to reveal his true colors so directly.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But Snape continued, "Do you think that just because you have Dumbledore's favor, you can do whatever you want?"

Do you know how stupid your behavior is?

"If the Dark Lord stops at nothing, do you think you can survive with your meager cleverness?"

Snape's eyes were icy, and his expression was so dark it seemed like it could drip water.

Sean shrugged. "I choose to believe Professor Dumbledore."

Snape scoffed, "Do you think that just because you got some information from Dumbledore, you're superior and can Haughty Gaze?"

Sean was currently processing Snape's behavior in his mind. Judging from his expression, Snape probably knew quite a bit of inside information...

So, he put himself in solitary confinement because he had angered Riddle and needed to give Riddle time to calm down. Snape was indeed protecting himself... even though he was somewhat unwilling to protect the person he was protecting.

Sean casually replied, "No, Professor."

Snape was clearly disgusted by Sean's attitude. He tossed his robes aside and placed his hands on his desk. "Don't let me see such foolish behavior again, Wallerup— "

Sean blinked, curiously asking, "Professor, who do you work for? Mr. Grindelwald? Professor Dumbledore? Or Tom Riddle, though the latter doesn't seem quite right..."

Snape narrowed his eyes, slowly straightening his leaning posture, then slightly raised his chin and said stiffly, "Hopelessly arrogant... Wallerup, you're proud to know those secrets you don't deserve, aren't you? But you overestimate yourself. You don't need to worry about these things."

"Oh, I was just curious, Professor." Sean shrugged innocently.

"Stop your curiosity!" Snape roared. "Now it's your time in detention!"

Sean pursed his lips, then began his punishment under Snape's watchful eye.

He needs to pick out the rotten and smelly ones from a pile of Flobberworm; the rest will become the ingredients for the next Potions.

This was clearly not a pleasant task. The stench of the Flobberworm was worse Sean the two-month-old, uncle-in-law ranch barn. Every half hour, Sean had to stand up and get some fresh air.

Snape was writing something behind his desk, and he didn't even glance at Sean when Sean stood up, seemingly having no intention of speaking to him at all.

After painstakingly picking through a bucket of caterpillars, Sean stood up, took a few breaths of fresh air, and straightened his slightly sore back.

He glanced at his watch; it was already afternoon, but he hadn't eaten yet. Snape, on the other hand, sat there motionless, as if he didn't need to eat.

"It's agonizing..." Sean sighed, then turned his gaze to the specimen jars on the wall.

The jars were filled with things he had never seen before, strange and chilling concoctions soaking in a greenish liquid.

However, Sean was quite immune to these things and was only watching them as a novelty.

"You're here for confinement, not for a visit!" Snape's chilling voice suddenly rang out.

Sean turned his head and saw Snape's malicious gaze.

"I understand, Professor." He bent down to sit down and continue his work.

"Someone who can't even brew a decent Potions can only stare blankly at these things," Snape mocked.

"Professor, it was just out of curiosity..." Sean was a little unhappy; he had only glanced at it during his break.

"It seems the arrogant genius wants to prove he's not so stupid," Snape said. "So, what's in the square jar on the third shelf from the left?"

"Isn't this supposed to be confinement? How did I end up taking Potions knowledge test?" He muttered to himself, glancing at the jar, which contained something that looked like hay.

Sean tried to recall the knowledge in his mind but found no relevant memories.

"I don't know, Professor."

Snape's mocking voice rang out. "Looks like you can't prove anything, Mr. Wallop."

"Let me tell you, this is the Flint Grass I just talked about in the last class. When it's fresh, it can be used directly to make Potions, but after it's dried, it needs to be soaked in ice water to prevent it from spontaneously combusting, because sparks and high-temperature gases will keep coming out of the roots."

Sean glanced at the jar, and sure enough, bubbles occasionally surfaced from the roots of the hay in the water.

But the lesson didn't cover what happens after the product is dried...

"It seems you haven't thought at all about expanding on what you've learned in class, but that's to be expected," Snape said. "Fools never see their own stupidity, let alone think about how to make up for it."

Where Snape couldn't see, Sean rolled his eyes. That old bat really had a foul mouth...

"Professor, if you think I'm not learning well, why don't you let me find some books about Potions to read?" Sean couldn't help but retort.

Snape's voice was tinged with disdain. "You've only mastered the basics of Potions, and you expect to grasp something far more profound and wonderful?"

"I had a notebook I could have studied..." Sean muttered.

Then he heard the creaking sound of the chair suddenly moving backward, and the chair's owner immediately stood up.

Sean turned his head, Snape, his face grim, stepped over the desk and stood in front of Sean.

"Do you think you deserve that notebook?" Snape's voice sounded as if he had just been pulled out of a jar.

"Oh, I thought it was Professor Slughorn who gave it to me..." Sean shrugged.

Snape's face drew closer and closer, Sean could almost see the oily sheen on his hooked nose.

"Do you think you're funny, Wallerup?"

Sean's face stiffened. Damn it, he'd gotten addicted to talking back and brought up the fireworks incident...

"No, Professor."

Snape practically pinned Sean against the wall, his eyes filled with coldness.

"The thrill of discovering a secret, is that it? Let me guess, who would tell you such boring gossip and treat it as a joke?"

Snape narrowed his eyes slightly. "You know Potter quite well. Let me think, is it old Potter or Black the black dog?"

Sean really wanted to say, "You've got it wrong, I don't know those two at all..."

He gave an awkward smile, "Professor, if I told you that the fireworks were just a misunderstanding..."

Snape grabbed Sean by the collar.

"Get out of my office!"