After successfully gathering the Twin Moonlight Moss, spring at Hogwarts seemed to have truly arrived. The grass around the castle was tinged with fresh green, and the Whomping Willow in the courtyard had unfurled its thorny branches. Yet between Lin Yanqing and Snape, the almost "harmonious" atmosphere that had briefly emerged from their shared adventure vanished as quickly as sunshine in the Scottish Highlands, swiftly pulling them back onto the tracks of reality.
Snape carefully stored away the glass vial containing the precious Moonlight Moss and returned to his usual solitary, gloomy, and indifferent manner. In Potions class, he still executed every step with precision, producing results that earned Professor Slughorn's lavish praise; in the library, he still curled up in his usual corner, surrounded by more advanced and dangerous tomes, radiating an aura that warned strangers to stay away.
But some things had indeed changed.
Now, whenever Lin Yanqing took a seat in that "old spot" in the library, Snape no longer shot him cold looks of expulsion. Instead, he ignored him completely, as though Lin Yanqing were merely air. It was progress—a tacit acceptance based on "not interfering with each other" and "acknowledged existence." Occasionally, when Lin Yanqing stayed late researching books on Ancient Runes or Basic Alchemy, he could sense from Snape's side a focus that was nearly exhausted yet still stubbornly sustained—he was clearly delving deeper into the next step of the Stabilization Ritual, or perhaps he still had not given up on finding a way to dissolve the contract unilaterally.
The guidance quest issued by System Cub regarding the whereabouts of the Tranquil Spring Water had made no progress for the time being, and Lin Yanqing was in no hurry to press ahead. He knew that rushing would only destroy the hard-won, fragile balance they currently had.
However, the contract itself was far from settled.
A few days later, in Charms class, Professor Flitwick began teaching them a new spell that required precise magical control and emotional stability—the [Cheering Charm]. This spell was meant to make the target object emit a pleasant, warm golden glow, and it was especially difficult for those with gloomy hearts or volatile emotions to master.
"Remember, children! Thoughts of joy! Think of the things that make you happiest!" Professor Flitwick reminded them in his shrill voice.
Around the classroom, the students tried their best to wave their wands, but most could only make the quills before them emit weak, flickering light—or produce no reaction at all. Lily Evans's quill steadily gave off a soft golden glow, while James Potter and Sirius Black kept producing chaotic bursts of multicolored sparks in their attempts at mischief, earning Professor Flitwick's rebukes.
Lin Yanqing calmed his mind and recalled some relaxed, pleasant memories—such as the reward notification sound when he successfully completed a system quest—as he tried to guide his magic. Warm points of light began gathering at the tip of his Sandalwood Wand.
At the same time, through the contract, he clearly felt an intensely strong wave of resistance and irritation from the other end. Snape was obviously deeply uncomfortable with and repulsed by a spell that required the emotion of "happiness." The quill before him remained lifeless, without even a trace of light.
Just as Lin Yanqing was about to stabilize the glow, a powerful, gloomy surge of magic suddenly came from Snape's side, crashing violently into his senses through the bond of the contract!
As though ice water had been poured over his head, Lin Yanqing felt the pleasant thoughts he had just gathered scatter instantly. The warm golden light at his wand tip flickered violently a few times before going out with a soft puff, replaced by a small wisp of chilly gray-white smoke.
On Snape's side, the quill before him seemed to be affected by his own out-of-control, resistant magic. With a crack, a thin fissure split it down the middle.
Professor Flitwick happened to be pacing nearby and saw the scene. He looked at the gray-white smoke at the tip of Lin Yanqing's wand, then at the cracked quill on Snape's desk. His small body paused, and a trace of confusion appeared on his face.
"Mr. Lin? Mr. Snape?" He blinked. "Your magic... seems to have experienced a slight interference? It's all right. Failing on the first attempt is perfectly normal. Adjust your emotions and try again."
The surrounding students cast curious looks their way. James Potter even let out an undisguised sneer. "Looks like the Cheering Charm is too difficult for some people!"
Snape's face instantly turned ashen. He clenched his fist hard, his knuckles whitening, while humiliation and fury churned in his black eyes. Yet stronger than either was his shock and anger that his magic could so easily be affected by someone else—even indirectly. He glared at Lin Yanqing, his gaze colder and more piercing than ever, as if it were saying: "You again!"
Lin Yanqing smiled bitterly inwardly. This time, it truly had not been his doing. The contract was the culprit. When one party's emotions became intense and he tried to wield magic, it could indeed interfere with the other party, especially during delicate magic that required emotional cooperation.
This accident in class was like a basin of cold water, waking them both. Their so-called "balance" had been built upon a shared goal and the temporary absence of conflict. The contract itself, however, was like a ticking bomb that could be detonated at any moment by either party's emotional or magical fluctuations, dragging them into mutual embarrassment—or even danger.
After class, Snape was the first to rush out of the classroom, leaving behind a retreating figure shrouded in low pressure.
That evening, Lin Yanqing was in the Ravenclaw common room studying a book on the distribution of magical waterways, trying to find clues about the Tranquil Spring Water, when a nervous-looking younger Hufflepuff boy he did not recognize handed him a note folded into a tight square.
"Um... Mr. Snape asked me to give this to you." The boy ran off as soon as he finished speaking.
Lin Yanqing unfolded the note. There was only one line, written with such fury that the ink seemed ready to pierce the parchment:
"Control your emotions. Don't get in the way."
It did not mention what had happened in class, but the accusation was obvious. Snape had placed the blame for the interference entirely on Lin Yanqing.
Looking at that familiar, commanding tone filled with displaced anger, Lin Yanqing did not feel angry. Instead, he understood. Snape's reaction was exactly what he had expected. That guy would never admit that he had lost control of his emotions. He would only blame external factors, especially his contract-bound "culprit."
He held the note over the candle flame and watched it turn to ash.
"Host, he seems angry again... (′;ω;`)" System Cub said timidly.
"It's fine," Lin Yanqing replied in his mind, his gaze returning to the book. "He has only realized more clearly that unless the contract is resolved, he will never be able to fully control his magic. That will only make him more desperate for the Stabilization Ritual."
And the Stabilization Ritual required Tranquil Spring Water.
He knew it would not be long before Snape took the initiative to "notify" him again. Only next time, the other man's attitude would probably be even worse—and... more impatient than it had been by the Black Lake.
Before you continue