Greenhouse Probing

The second term at Hogwarts began amidst the lingering chill of the Scottish Highlands. The castle's stone walls seemed to retain the cold of winter, yet the classrooms and corridors buzzed with their usual liveliness. For Lin Yanqing and Snape, the new term meant their delicate and fragile "truce" would be tested by the daily grind of school life.

The "Resonance Crystal Powder" that Snape had tacitly accepted after Potions class became a silent wedge, driven into the invisible wall between them. Snape didn't leave any new reading lists, nor did he initiate any conversations. However, in classes like Charms and History of Magic, Lin Yanqing could feel that the cold, scrutinizing gaze from the Slytherin direction was no longer constantly dismissive. Instead, it held a degree of assessment and... calculation.

He was calculating Lin Yanqing's value, not just as a conduit to the Restricted Section, but as a potential collaborator on the joint (and forced) project of "Contract Stabilization." This calculation had nothing to do with affection; it was purely a matter of weighing pros and cons.

System Cub timely issued a new quest.

[Ding! Stage Quest Issued: [Trace of Materials]]

[Quest Description: Obtain reliable information on the whereabouts of "Twin Moonlight Moss" and relay this information to Severus Snape.]

[Quest Reward: [Mana Perception (Basic)] Skill Book x1, 20 Gold Galleons.]

[Failure Penalty: None. (Cub believes in the host! (????))]

"Twin Moonlight Moss"—this was precisely the other key material Snape had vaguely mentioned last time, needed for the Stabilization Ritual. The System was clearly pushing them towards substantive cooperation.

An opportunity arose during Herbology class a week later. This class was shared by Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, where they learned to care for a shade-loving magical plant that emitted a faint humming sound: the "Whispering Mushroom." Professor Sprout gently explained the key points as the students busied themselves among rows of potted plants.

Lin Yanqing noticed Snape standing alone in a corner of the greenhouse, tending to a rather wilted Whispering Mushroom. His movements were still precise, but they carried a sense of detachment, out of sync with the students chatting in groups of three or four. A few Hufflepuff girls stole curious glances at him, but a cold look from him immediately silenced them, and they turned back.

Mid-class, Professor Sprout received an urgent note delivered by owl and left temporarily. The discipline in the greenhouse relaxed slightly, and students began to whisper amongst themselves.

Just then, Lily Evans, holding a thick copy of A Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, hesitantly walked over to Snape.

"Severus," her voice held a friendly tone with a hint of barely perceptible hesitation, "I... I wanted to ask about the properties of Moonlight Moss. The book says it's best collected on a full moon night, but I'm not sure how to identify the 'twin' variant..."

Snape's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He stopped what he was doing, not answering immediately, nor looking at Lily. Through the contract, Lin Yanqing could feel a complex emotion surge—a tiny flicker of pleasure at being asked for professional knowledge by a familiar friend, but more than that, a sense of awkwardness and defensiveness, as if he didn't want to interact too much with Lily at this time and place, under everyone's gaze, especially... possibly being seen by a Ravenclaw.

His silence made Lily awkward, and a hint of disappointment flashed in her emerald green eyes.

Lin Yanqing knew this was an opportunity. He subtly moved a few steps closer, pretending to examine a nearby patch of Devil's Snare unfurling its leaves, and spoke in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the two of them to hear:

"The appendix of Magical Mediterranean Aquatic Plants mentions that 'Twin Moonlight Moss' usually grows in the shaded crevices of the reef on the northeast bank of the Black Lake. It only emits a dual silver-blue fluorescence on the first cloudless full moon night around the spring or autumn equinox, and it lasts for less than an hour."

As his words fell, the corner of the greenhouse fell silent for a moment.

Lily turned her head in surprise, looking at Lin Yanqing with a look of realization and gratitude: "Really? Thank you, Lin! I haven't read that book yet." She seemed happy to have found an answer and to have broken the awkward silence.

Snape finally looked up. His gaze passed over Lily, landing directly on Lin Yanqing, his dark eyes churning with emotion. There was displeasure at having his conversation with Lily (even one he wanted to avoid) interrupted, surprise at Lin Yanqing's knowledge of such obscure information, but deeper still, a tremor of having been precisely provided with the needed information.

He didn't speak, just stared intently at Lin Yanqing, as if trying to dig out his true motive for mentioning specifics like "northeast bank of the Black Lake" and "spring equinox full moon" from beneath his calm exterior. Was it showing off? A further probe? Or... was he genuinely just providing information?

Lily looked from Snape to Lin Yanqing, keenly sensing a strange atmosphere between them that she couldn't understand. Clutching her book, she thanked Lin Yanqing again and quietly told Snape, "I'll head back now, Severus," before quickly returning to her Gryffindor classmates.

Snape remained rooted to the spot, staring at Lin Yanqing. The humid, warm air of the greenhouse seemed to freeze under his gaze.

Lin Yanqing didn't avoid his gaze, nor did he offer further explanation. He simply nodded slightly, as if confirming the accuracy of the information he had just provided, then turned back to his own Whispering Mushroom, resuming his previous work.

He didn't need Snape's thanks, or even his explicit acknowledgment. He just needed to convey the information and let Snape know that he possessed what the other party needed—not just a pass to the Restricted Section, but more specific knowledge on how to resolve their shared predicament.

For the rest of the day, Lin Yanqing could continuously feel the highly active state of thought emanating from the other end of the soul bond. Snape was digesting the information, weighing it, and planning. The clue about the "Twin Moonlight Moss" undoubtedly pulled the "Stabilization Ritual" from theory towards practical possibility.

After school, on his way back to the castle, Lin Yanqing felt Snape quickly catch up from behind, then brush past him. In that fleeting moment of passing, a crumpled piece of paper landed precisely into the outer pocket of Lin Yanqing's robe.

Snape didn't stop, nor did he slow down, as if nothing had happened, heading straight for the castle gates.

Lin Yanqing's fingers touched the cool paper in his pocket, his face expressionless, but his heart stirred slightly.

Back in the Ravenclaw Tower, in a secluded corner unnoticed by anyone, he unfolded the note. It bore the same familiar, elegant handwriting and contained only one line, with no salutation or signature:

"Spring equinox. After moonrise. East side reef area of the dock."

This wasn't a request, nor a discussion, but more like an order, or a unilateral notification. He had chosen to accept the information and had directly planned the action.

Lin Yanqing crushed the note, watching the scraps turn to dust between his fingers.

He knew that the next "collaboration" would no longer be confined to silent exchanges in the library or the passing of materials in class. For the first time, under the cover of Hogwarts' night, they would head to the edge of the Black Lake for the sake of the contract that had forcibly bound them together.

"Quest [Trace of Materials] Complete! Rewards Issued! (★ ω ★) Host did a great job! He asked you out! (Though his attitude is terrible)"

The [Mana Perception (Basic)] skill book transformed into a stream of light and merged into his consciousness. Lin Yanqing closed his eyes, able to vaguely sense the subtle differences in the flow of magic in the surrounding air, especially... the unique soul bond connecting to the distant Slytherin dungeons, which was now radiating a calm and determined planning intent.

The hunt for "Twin Moonlight Moss" had been put on the agenda. And this nighttime adventure would undoubtedly become a critical turning point in the next phase of their relationship, harboring unknown dangers and variables.