Uncontrolled Classroom and Fragile Balance

After successfully harvesting the "Twin Moonlight Moss," spring truly seemed to have arrived at Hogwarts. New green spread across the lawns surrounding the castle, and the Whomping Willow in the courtyard stretched its thorny branches. However, the almost "harmonious" atmosphere that had briefly appeared between Lin Yanqing and Snape, born from their shared adventure, vanished as quickly as sunlight in the Scottish Highlands, rapidly pulling them back to reality.

Snape meticulously secured the glass bottle containing the precious moonlight moss, reverting to his usual solitary and gloomy demeanor. In Potions class, he continued to execute every step with precision, producing results that earned Professor Slughorn's high praise. In the library, he still holed up in his usual corner, a towering pile of more profound and dangerous tomes before him, radiating an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

But something had indeed changed.

Now, when Lin Yanqing sat down in his "usual spot" in the library, Snape no longer cast icy, dismissive glares. Instead, he completely ignored Lin Yanqing, as if he were mere air. This was progress, a tacit acknowledgment based on "mutual non-interference" and "presumed existence." Occasionally, when Lin Yanqing stayed late researching books on Ancient Runes or Basic Alchemy, he could sense a palpable, albeit weary, focus emanating from Snape's direction. Snape was clearly delving into the next stage of the Stabilization Ritual, or perhaps, still hadn't given up on finding a way to unilaterally dissolve the contract.

The guidance quest released by System Cub regarding the whereabouts of the "Tranquil Spring Water" had stalled for the moment, and Lin Yanqing wasn't in a hurry to push it forward. He knew that rushing things would only disrupt 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 designed to make a target object emit a pleasant, warm golden light, and it was particularly difficult to master for those who were inwardly gloomy or emotionally volatile.

"Remember, children! Joyful intent! Think of your happiest moments!" Professor Flitwick chirped.

In the classroom, students struggled to wave their wands, but most could only manage to make the quills before them emit a faint, flickering light, or nothing at all. Lily Evans's quill steadily radiated a soft golden glow, while James Potter and Sirius Black's stations erupted intermittently with bursts of multicolored sparks, the result of prank attempts that earned them Professor Flitwick's reprimands.

Lin Yanqing focused his mind, recalling some lighthearted and pleasant memories (like the reward notification sound when successfully completing a system task), attempting to channel his magic. Warm points of light began to gather at the tip of his sandalwood wand.

Simultaneously, through the contract, he clearly felt an intense wave of resistance and irritation emanating from the other end. Snape was evidently extremely uncomfortable and repulsed by this spell that required "happy" emotions. The quill before him lay lifeless, not even a glimmer of light appearing.

Just as Lin Yanqing was about to stabilize the light, a powerful and gloomy surge of magical energy violently struck his senses through the contractual bond, originating from Snape's side!

Like a bucket of ice water poured over his head, Lin Yanqing felt his carefully gathered joyful intent instantly scatter. The warm golden light at his wand tip flickered violently a few times before extinguishing with a soft poof, replaced by a small wisp of cold, grayish-white smoke.

Meanwhile, at Snape's station, the quill before him, seemingly affected by his own uncontrolled, resistant magic, cracked down the middle with a sharp snap.

Professor Flitwick happened to be strolling nearby and witnessed this. He looked at the grayish-white smoke at the tip of Lin Yanqing's wand, then at the cracked quill on Snape's desk. The small professor paused, a hint of confusion on his face.

"Mr. Lin? Mr. Snape?" he blinked. "Your magic... seems to have encountered a slight interference? It's alright, failing on the first try is perfectly normal. Adjust your emotions and try again."

Curious glances were cast by surrounding classmates. James Potter, in particular, let out an undisguised snicker, "Looks like the Cheering Charm is too difficult for some people!"

Snape's face instantly turned ashen. He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles white. His dark eyes churned with shame and fury, but more than anything, it was a shock and anger at how easily his own magic could be influenced by another person (even indirectly). He glared fiercely at Lin Yanqing, his gaze colder and sharper than ever before, as if to say, "You again!"

Lin Yanqing offered a wry smile in his mind. This time, it truly wasn't his intentional action; the contract was at fault. When one party experienced intense emotions and attempted to wield magic, it would indeed interfere with the other, especially when performing delicate magic that required emotional cooperation.

The mishap in class that day served as a cold splash of water, waking both of them up. The so-called "balance" between them was built on shared goals and the absence of conflict. The contract itself, however, was like a ticking time bomb, capable of being 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 storm out of the classroom, leaving behind a lingering aura of low pressure.

That evening, in the Ravenclaw common room, Lin Yanqing was studying a book on magical water vein distribution, searching for clues about the "Tranquil Spring Water," when a tightly folded note was handed to him by a hesitant-looking, younger Hufflepuff boy.

"Th-that, Mr. Snape asked me to give this to you," the boy stammered before quickly scurrying away.

Lin Yanqing unfolded the note. It contained only a single line, the ink seemingly imbued with anger, almost piercing the parchment:

"Control your emotions. Don't get in the way."

It didn't mention the incident in class, but the accusation was clear. He had completely blamed Lin Yanqing for the interference.

Lin Yanqing looked at the familiar, accusatory, and commanding tone. He didn't feel angry; instead, he felt a sense of understanding. Snape's reaction was within his expectations. The man would never admit to his own emotional outbursts, only shifting the blame to external factors, especially to him, the "culprit" bound by the contract.

He held the note over a candle and watched it turn to ash.

"Host, he seems angry again... (′;ω;`)" System Cub said weakly.

"It's alright," Lin Yanqing replied in his mind, his gaze returning to the book. "He's just become more acutely aware that without resolving the contract issue, he'll never be able to fully control his magic. This will only make him more desperate for the 'Stabilization Ritual'."

And the "Stabilization Ritual" required the "Tranquil Spring Water."

He knew it wouldn't be long before Snape actively "notified" him again. It was just that next time, the other party's attitude would likely be even more unpleasant and... impatient than it was by the Black Lake.