A Forced Research Alliance

After the Charms class incident, Hogwarts Castle seemed to have been divided by an invisible barrier into two parts—spaces where Snape was present, and everywhere else. Through the contract, Lin Yanqing could clearly sense Snape's deliberate, all-encompassing avoidance. Even when they had no choice but to share the Great Hall or a corridor, Snape turned himself into a moving iceberg, radiating a chill that kept strangers away.

System Cub had tactfully fallen silent for several days. Only after confirming that Snape's emotional storm had calmed somewhat did it cautiously reappear.

"Host, (′?ω?`) The bonded target's emotional stability has risen back to the 'high alert' level. Long-term avoidance is not conducive to mission progress or relationship development! Cub suggests trying to shift his attention from 'rejecting you' to 'researching the contract' itself!"

[Ding! Guidance mission issued: [A Shared Mystery]]

[Mission description: Guide Severus Snape to proactively begin researching the [Soul Guardian Contract] and have at least one exchange with him regarding information about this contract.]

[Mission 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 mission description and felt a headache coming on. Getting Snape to research it voluntarily? That was harder than getting him to accept a packet of porcupine quills. But perhaps the system's idea was right. Directing Snape's excessive vigilance and thirst for knowledge toward the contract itself might be the only way to break the deadlock.

The opportunity came sooner than he had expected.

Several days later, in Potions class, Professor Slughorn eagerly announced that they would be learning to brew a simple potion called Calming Potion. It was mainly used to soothe overly tense nerves and was considered somewhat challenging new material for first-years.

"Pay attention, children!" Slughorn said in a booming voice, his large belly jutting out. "The juice of Drowsy Beans must be added while the cauldron is within a specific temperature range, and stirred seven and a half times. One stir too many or too few can greatly reduce the potion's effectiveness, or even cause mild drowsiness as a side effect!"

The students began bustling about. Lin Yanqing carefully controlled the flame and watched the thermometer. Just as he prepared to add the Drowsy Bean juice, he abruptly felt, through the contract, a powerful surge of focus and anticipation from Snape—Snape's potion was clearly about to reach that crucial temperature point.

At the very instant Snape concentrated completely and was about to pour the juice into his cauldron, Lin Yanqing felt the hand holding his bottle of Drowsy Beans tremble ever so slightly, as though tugged by a faint external force! At the same time, Snape's motion of pouring in the juice seemed to hitch almost imperceptibly as well!

They nearly completed the pouring and stirring at the same time.

But the next moment, an irresistible, profound wave of drowsiness swept over Lin Yanqing like a tide. His eyelids instantly became unbearably heavy, his vision began to blur, and his body swayed. He nearly toppled straight into his own cauldron. He pinched himself hard before barely managing to stay awake.

He struggled to look toward Snape. Snape's expression was just as terrible. He braced one hand forcefully against the worktable, his knuckles white, while his other hand pressed against his forehead. His black eyes were filled with fury and disbelief. His potion had clearly gone wrong too!

It was the contract! That damned magical resonance had interfered with them at the very moment that demanded absolute precision!

Professor Slughorn noticed their unusual condition and came over to inspect them. "Oh, Merlin!" He looked at the slightly cloudy liquid in their cauldrons, then at the way they were forcing themselves to remain alert. "It seems both of you have been caught by the mild drowsiness side effect. Your control of the heat and stirring still needs to be more precise. Come to me after class and collect a dose of Invigoration Potion."

The surrounding students cast curious or gloating looks their way. James Potter, in particular, laughed without restraint. "Looks like even Ravenclaw's top student and Slytherin's Potions genius can slip up!"

Snape's face darkened like thunder. He ignored everyone's stares and only glared at Lin Yanqing, his eyes seeming to say, Look what you did!

Lin Yanqing laughed bitterly to himself, but he knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

After class, the two of them followed Slughorn to his office one after the other, their steps unsteady, to collect the Invigoration Potion. After drinking the spicy potion, the overwhelming drowsiness quickly faded, but the mental exhaustion and the stifling frustration of being affected in sync refused to go away.

Before leaving the underground classroom and stepping onto the silent, deserted fork leading back to their respective common rooms, Lin Yanqing stopped. He knew that if he did not speak now, Snape would only retreat even deeper into his shell.

"Snape." He turned around, his voice still slightly hoarse with fatigue.

Snape immediately stopped. His body tensed like a hedgehog ready to strike back at any moment, but he did not leave at once.

"Just now... in Potions class," Lin Yanqing said, doing his best to keep his tone calm, without accusation or grievance, merely stating the facts. "You felt it too, didn't you? It wasn't a mistake. It was... that contract."

A flash of extreme irritation passed through Snape's black eyes, but he did not deny it. He too had clearly felt that uncontrollable interference from the level of the soul.

"It's affecting us," Lin Yanqing continued, looking at him openly. "Especially when we need precise control over our magic. Today it was only drowsiness. Next time... I don't know what it'll be. Avoiding it won't solve anything."

Snape remained silent, his lips pressed into a pale line. He hated the feeling of being seen through, and he hated even more the helplessness of being unable to control his own magic.

"I've looked through some materials," Lin Yanqing said, casting out the bait. "About ancient magical contracts... but there isn't much in the library. Maybe... maybe we need to..." He did not say the word "cooperate." That would be too provocative.

Snape finally spoke, his voice cold and mocking. "Together? So you can monitor me more easily? Or is this another 'accident' caused by your so-called 'special bloodline' and 'family heirloom wand'?"

His hostility remained as strong as ever, but Lin Yanqing sharply caught the fact that he had not immediately rejected the core suggestion of "researching the contract."

"I just don't want us to blow up a cauldron next time we're brewing something more dangerous because of this inexplicable interference. Or worse." Lin Yanqing used the most practical reason he could think of, one that might move a Potions enthusiast. "You don't have to believe me. But the contract is real. If you find any way to remove or control it, I... am willing to cooperate."

After saying that, he did not linger. He turned and headed toward Ravenclaw Tower. He could feel that cold gaze following him from behind until he rounded the end of the corridor.

Snape stood where he was for a long time without moving. Moonlight streamed through the high windows onto his pale face, revealing the fierce struggle in his eyes.

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

In the end, his thirst for knowledge and urgent desire to control his own fate slightly overwhelmed that intense sense of rejection.

With a dark expression, he turned toward the Slytherin common room, but he had already made a decision.

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

Meanwhile, when Lin Yanqing reached the entrance to Ravenclaw Tower and was preparing to answer the eagle-shaped door knocker's question, the system's cheerful notification rang out.

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

A thin, ancient-looking book titled A Brief Analysis of Ancient Pacts quietly appeared in Lin Yanqing's pocket.

He knew this was only the beginning. Snape's research would never go smoothly, and their "alliance" was fragile enough to collapse at the slightest touch.

But at least that tightly closed door had finally been pushed open by a crack. And Snape behind it was no longer merely angrily bracing the door shut—he had begun trying to understand the structure of the door itself.