Forced Research Alliance

After the Charms class incident, Hogwarts Castle seemed to be divided into two parts by an invisible barrier—the space where Snape was, and everywhere else. Lin Yanqing could clearly sense Snape's deliberate, all-encompassing avoidance through their contract. Even in the Great Hall or corridors where they had to be in the same room, Snape would turn himself into a mobile iceberg, exuding an aura that warned others to stay away.

System Cub also wisely went silent for a few days, only cautiously emerging after confirming that Snape's emotional storm had somewhat subsided.

"Host, (′?ω?`) detected that the bound target's emotional stability has returned to the 'highly vigilant' level. Long-term avoidance is not conducive to task progress and relationship development! Cub suggests you try to shift his attention from 'rejecting you' to 'researching the contract' itself!"

[Ding! Guiding quest issued: [A Shared Puzzle]]

[Quest Description: Guide Severus Snape to proactively begin researching the [Soul Guardian Contract] and engage in at least one exchange of information about this contract with him.]

[Quest Reward: [Introduction to Ancient Contract Studies] book (System-exclusive abridged version) x1, Gold Galleons x15.]

[Failure Penalty: None. (Cub encourages exploration! (????))]

Lin Yanqing looked at the quest description and felt a headache coming on. Getting Snape to research proactively? That was harder than getting him to accept a pack of porcupine quills. But perhaps the idea proposed by the system was correct; redirecting Snape's excessive vigilance and thirst for knowledge towards the contract itself might be the only way to break the stalemate.

The opportunity came sooner than he expected.

During Potions class a few days later, Professor Slughorn enthusiastically announced that they would be learning to brew a simple potion called the "Calming Potion," mainly used to soothe overly tense nerves. It was considered a slightly challenging new topic for first-years.

"Pay attention, children!" Slughorn boomed, his belly preceding him. "The juice of Drowsy Beans must be added when the cauldron is at a specific temperature range, and stirred exactly seven and a half times. One stir more or less could greatly reduce the potion's efficacy or even cause mild drowsiness as a side effect!"

The students began to busy themselves. Lin Yanqing carefully controlled the flame, observing the thermometer. As he prepared to add the Drowsy Bean juice, he suddenly felt a strong sense of focus and anticipation from Snape through their contract—Snape's potion was clearly approaching that critical temperature point.

Just as Snape, fully focused, was about to pour the juice into his cauldron, Lin Yanqing felt the hand holding the Drowsy Bean bottle tremble slightly, as if pulled by a faint external force! At the same time, Snape's action of pouring the juice seemed to have an almost imperceptible pause!

The two completed the actions of adding and stirring almost simultaneously.

However, in the next moment, an irresistible, profound sense of drowsiness washed over Lin Yanqing like a tide. His eyelids instantly became incredibly heavy, his vision blurred, and his body swayed, nearly collapsing into his own cauldron. He pinched himself hard to stay barely conscious.

He struggled to look at Snape. Snape's complexion was also extremely pale. He leaned heavily on the workbench with one hand, his knuckles white, the other supporting his forehead, his dark eyes filled with shock, anger, and disbelief. His potion had clearly gone wrong too!

It was the contract! It was that damned magical resonance that had interfered with them at that moment requiring extreme precision!

Professor Slughorn noticed their abnormality and walked over to inspect. "Oh, Merlin's beard!" he exclaimed, looking at the slightly murky potion in their cauldrons and then at their strained expressions. "It seems you've both been affected by the mild drowsiness side effect. It appears the control over heat and stirring needs to be more precise. Come to my office after class to collect a pick-me-up potion."

Surrounding classmates cast curious or schadenfreude-filled glances. James Potter, in particular, jeered unceremoniously, "Looks like even Ravenclaw's top student and Slytherin's potions prodigy can make mistakes!"

Snape's expression was so dark it could drip water. He ignored everyone's gaze, fixating on Lin Yanqing with an expression that seemed to say, "Look what you've done!"

Lin Yanqing inwardly chuckled bitterly, knowing this was a golden opportunity.

After class, the two followed Professor Slughorn, staggering slightly, to his office to collect their pick-me-up potions. After drinking the spicy concoction, the intense drowsiness quickly subsided, but the mental fatigue and the frustrating, synchronized experience of being affected by the strange phenomenon lingered.

Before parting ways at the silent fork in the corridor leading back to their respective common rooms, Lin Yanqing stopped. He knew that if he didn't speak now, Snape would retreat even further into his shell.

"Snape." He turned around, his voice still a little hoarse from exhaustion.

Snape immediately stopped, his body tensing like a hedgehog ready to strike, but he didn't walk away.

"Earlier... in Potions class," Lin Yanqing tried to keep his tone calm, devoid of any accusation or grievance, simply stating a fact, "you felt it, didn't you? It wasn't a mistake. It was... the contract."

A flicker of extreme annoyance crossed Snape's dark eyes, but he didn't deny it. He had also clearly felt that uncontrollable interference from a soul level.

"It's affecting us," Lin Yanqing continued, looking at him with sincere eyes. "Especially when we need to control our magic precisely. Today it was just drowsiness, but next time... I don't know what it will be. Avoiding it won't solve the problem."

Snape remained silent, his lips pressed into a pale line. He hated being called out like this, and even more, he hated this powerlessness of not being able to control his own magic.

"I've looked into some materials," Lin Yanqing dangled the bait, "about ancient magical contracts... but there's very little to be found in the library. Perhaps... perhaps we need to together..." He didn't say the word "cooperate," as it was too provocative.

Snape finally spoke, his voice cold and sarcastic. "Together? So you can monitor me more conveniently? Or is this another 'accident' brought about by your 'special bloodline' and 'family wand'?"

His aggression was still potent, but Lin Yanqing keenly caught that he hadn't immediately rejected the core proposal of "researching the contract."

"I just don't want to blow up a cauldron next time we're brewing a more dangerous potion because of this inexplicable interference, or worse," Lin Yanqing used the most practical reason that might appeal to a potions enthusiast. "You don't have to believe me. But the contract is a fact. If you find any way to break or control it, I... am willing to cooperate."

Having said that, he didn't linger. He turned and walked towards Ravenclaw Tower. He could feel that cold gaze following him until he turned the corner of the corridor.

Snape stood there, unmoving for a long time. Moonlight streamed through the high window onto his pale face, reflecting the intense struggle in his eyes.

Disgust, vigilance, curiosity about unknown magic, fear of losing control of his own power, and a pure love for Potions... various emotions warred within him.

Ultimately, the thirst for knowledge and the urgency to control his own destiny slightly outweighed the strong sense of rejection.

With a dark expression, he turned and headed in the direction of the Slytherin common room, but a decision had already been made in his heart.

He would investigate. He would use every resource he could find to understand what this damned [Soul Guardian Contract] was. Not for the Ravenclaw, but for himself.

Meanwhile, as Lin Yanqing reached the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower and was about to answer the eagle knocker, the system's cheerful notification chimed.

"Quest Complete! Rewards issued! (★ ω ★) Host, you're amazing! Although he didn't explicitly agree, Cub has detected his intention to 'proactively begin researching'!"

A seemingly ancient and thin book titled A Brief Analysis of Ancient Pacts quietly appeared in Lin Yanqing's pocket.

He knew this was just the beginning. Snape's research would not go smoothly, and their "alliance" was fragile enough to shatter.

But at least, that tightly shut door had finally been pushed open a crack. And Snape, behind the door, was no longer just angrily pushing against it, but was beginning to try and understand the structure of the door itself.