Snape's Special Question

Snape's Special Question

In the underground classroom, the first-year students of Gryffindor and Slytherin had gathered together.

A Cauldron sat on every student's desk, heated continuously by an Alcohol Lamp. White smoke rose steadily from the cauldrons, adding a faintly unpleasant odor to the somewhat dim classroom, which was filled with all manner of specimens.

The classroom door was suddenly pushed open, and sunlight streamed in through the doorway.

Professor Snape, dressed in black robes, strode toward the podium, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"You will not wave your Wands around in my class or mutter incantations for no reason," Professor Snape said. His voice was sharp, and paired with that stern face, it was thoroughly intimidating.

"Perhaps few of you will truly appreciate the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. However, for those select few gifted students, and those with genuine ambition..." As he spoke, Snape's gaze fell upon Aaron and Draco in the front row, as though they were those select gifted students.

Draco smiled, flattered beyond measure. Aaron, however, was not so pleased. He knew very well that Snape had merely glanced at him before lowering his gaze beneath the desk.

"Gaius, do not bring pets to my class next time. If your cat accidentally falls into a cauldron, it may be melted until nothing remains."

"It won't. This little fellow is exceptionally intelligent," Aaron answered seriously.

"Hah! Potion-making is an exceedingly complicated process. The slightest mistake can ruin an entire cauldron of priceless potion. If your cat causes such a result, then..."

"I'll pay for it! Double compensation. I definitely won't let you suffer a loss, Professor," Aaron immediately said.

"And what if there are casualties?"

"The Gaius Family will take full responsibility."

Professor Snape gave the White Cat by Aaron's feet a long look. There was a trace of gravity amid his curious gaze, but he did not pursue the matter further.

He tightened his robes and turned his attention back to the students below. "I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses.

"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even teach you how to concoct a potion that grants eternal life."

At that moment, a soft scratching sound came from behind Aaron. It was the sound of a pen tip moving across paper.

Aaron instinctively looked back and saw Harry Potter writing something, so focused that he had not even raised his head.

He hurriedly gave Hermione beside Harry a look, signaling for her to stop the bespectacled student next to her from writing. These were not important notes.

Just as Hermione was about to nudge Harry's arm, Snape spoke. "Then again, perhaps some of you have already displayed extraordinary talent upon arriving at Hogwarts, and possess enough confidence to believe you need not pay attention to my lectures."

Snape walked over to Harry Potter and looked down at him. "Mr. Potter, our celebrated celebrity. Tell me, what would happen if I added Daffodil Powder to Wormwood Stem Liquid?"

Hearing this question, Aaron paused slightly. He turned to look at Professor Snape's back and sighed with some regret.

Harry froze for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"Don't know? Then let me ask you something else. Mr. Potter, if I wanted a Bezoar, where would I find one?"

"I don't know, Professor," Harry said uneasily. His heart gradually sank. He did not understand why Snape was targeting him so relentlessly. The answers to these questions might have been in books, but he was not as studious as Hermione. Besides, before school began, his aunt and uncle's family had not allowed him near anything related to magic.

He was a complete novice to the Magical World. How could he possibly know the answers?

Hermione, however, raised her right hand high upon hearing the question, but Snape simply ignored her.

"What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?" Snape continued.

Hermione raised her hand even higher, desperately hoping to answer in Harry's place.

"I don't know, sir," Harry said weakly, with a hint of grievance in his voice.

"Pity," Snape said blandly. "Clearly, fame alone is not enough.

"Isn't that right, Mr. Potter?"

Draco smiled in wholehearted agreement. Just as he was about to turn around and mock Harry Potter, he noticed Hermione's raised hand, and his face immediately darkened.

Clearly, Hermione Granger knew the answer to a question he did not.

"You need the qualifications to mock someone," Aaron said quietly. "Only when you are good enough yourself can you stand at the top with a clear conscience."

"Well said." Snape turned around sharply. "Mr. Gaius, then you may answer the questions I just asked."

"Me?" Aaron pointed at himself speechlessly, then at Hermione, whose hand was still raised high. "Shouldn't it be Hermione?"

"In my class, raising your hand the highest does not mean you get to answer," Snape sneered. "What she is doing is entirely superfluous."

He then glared at Hermione. "Now, sit properly."

Hermione immediately lowered her hand and sat up straight, though her face was full of indignation.

"You may answer my questions now, Mr. Gaius."

Aaron slowly rose to his feet. "A Bezoar is a stone taken from a cow's stomach, and it has detoxifying properties. Monkshood and Wolfsbane are both called Aconite. They are the same plant.

"As for the first question, what would happen if Daffodil Powder were added to Wormwood Stem Liquid... I don't know. You should leave that one for Harry Potter to answer someday!"

Snape paused slightly, and there was more surprise in his gaze when he looked at Aaron. "You truly are quite special. One point to Slytherin. Sit down."

"Thank you, Professor."

"As for Gryffindor, a certain student has disappointed me. One point deducted," Snape said mercilessly.

"That's not fair!" Harry said. "Aaron didn't answer all of them either!"

"Very good. Questioning a teacher's decision. Another point deducted."

Harry wanted to say more, but Hermione tugged at his sleeve. He could only lower his head helplessly.

Potions Class continued. Snape divided the students into pairs, but perhaps because Aaron had brought a pet, he was placed in a group by himself.

That suited him just fine. After all, potion brewing was the sort of work where even a minor mistake could cause an explosion or even worse consequences. Without a reliable partner, it was better to work alone.

During this lesson, Snape personally taught the students how to make a simple potion for treating boils. Aside from Aaron and Draco, most of the students, including those from Slytherin, were criticized.

Naturally, a few small accidents occurred during the brewing process. For instance, one student failed to add certain ingredients in time, turning a boil-curing potion into a boil-producing potion, which greatly enraged Snape.

However, after flying into a rage, he still sent the injured student to the infirmary with a cold expression.

After class, all the students headed toward the Great Hall to have lunch.

Harry complained nonstop along the way. "Professor Snape is really unbearable."

"Indeed. This is the first time I've seen such an unpleasant teacher," Hermione agreed, nodding emphatically.

"There's nothing strange about it.

"Snape is the head of Slytherin. He always likes picking on Gryffindor. George and Fred often have points deducted by him.

"Didn't you see how much he favors Aaron and Malfoy?" Ron said sarcastically.

"Uh... I think I heard my name. What are you discussing?" Aaron walked over and asked, his little pet following beside him.

"We're discussing a certain professor's favoritism," Ron said, looking at Aaron unhappily.

"Oh..." Aaron looked enlightened. "You mean Professor Snape? I think he's quite good!"

"What's good about him? Favoritism would be one thing, but he's so strict too."

Hearing Ron say this, Harry nodded in complete agreement.

"Strictness is necessary. Potions Class is an extremely rigorous process to begin with, and there can't be the slightest error.

"As for the favoritism you mentioned... perhaps.

"But every Head of House will instinctively favor students from their own House. That isn't too serious, is it?"

"But..." Harry wanted to say something more, but Aaron interrupted him.

"I know you may feel somewhat wronged, so I'll tell you the answer to Professor Snape's first question.

"Daffodil Powder added to Wormwood Stem Liquid can produce a very potent Sleeping Potion."

"You knew?"

All of them looked at Aaron in surprise, unable to understand why he had not answered the question in class.

"Of course I knew. Whenever I was bored in the past, I passed the time by reading.

"But Professor Snape asked you that question specifically. It has a special meaning, Harry, and you may need a very long time to figure it out."

"You know what it means, don't you?" Hermione asked. "Can you tell us?"

After pondering for a moment, Aaron shook his head. "I'm sorry, Hermione, but I really can't say.

"Harry needs to learn the answer himself, but accepting it will not be easy."