Full of his former self

Snape's private lessons were incredibly dull.

He barely spoke, only occasionally opening his mouth when a specially treated ingredient was needed.

In the thick smoke filling the room, Klein studied with utmost seriousness, occasionally jotting notes in his thick black book with a quill. By the time Snape finished brewing the so-called "New Hemostatic Potion," Klein had already filled a page and a half.

"Learned it?"

With a light tap of his wand on the cauldron's edge, Snape collected the brewed hemostatic agent in a pre-prepared crystal vial and asked Klein expressionlessly.

"Yes, Professor."

Klein quickly and completely recalled the brewing process in his mind and nodded affirmatively.

"Very good, now it's your turn."

The answer was slightly different from what he expected. Snape's eye twitched subtly as he moved away from the workstation.

"Yes."

Given permission, Klein immediately began brewing.

Sorting, grinding, refining, adding to the cauldron, igniting.

His movements were swift and without the slightest hesitation. Every step was as if he had rehearsed it countless times in his mind, perfectly standard.

Snape, waiting to find fault, felt incredibly conflicted.

To perfectly replicate all the steps after seeing them once? This was too exaggerated.

"In ten minutes, add the crushed Red Fence Leaf."

Regardless of what Snape was thinking, Klein diligently followed the brewing steps. When the initial brewing was complete and he needed to wait for the potion to change, he stopped, wiped his hands, and looked at the silent Snape.

"Not bad."

Even the most critical Potions Master couldn't find fault with Klein's brewing process. Staring into those Sapphire-like eyes, Snape felt both relieved and helpless.

He never expected to be troubled by a student learning too quickly one day.

"That's good."

Hearing the affirmative answer, Klein breathed a sigh of relief.

Understanding one thing led to understanding everything. As a master of Alchemy, stepping into the field of Potions gave him some extra advantages, and his mechanical, standard movements were one of them. However, his goal wasn't to become a "Master of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing," but a "Potions Master." Merely imitating and copying was far from enough; being able to create new recipes would be considered a small success.

"Be careful not to miss the time for adding ingredients."

Seeing that Klein hadn't relaxed due to the smooth process, Snape's expression softened slightly, but he still reminded him in a deep voice.

Taking a deep breath of the smoke rising from the cauldron, he narrowed his eyes and couldn't help but curl his lips.

The quality of this potion was excellent; he couldn't have done any better.

"Yes, Professor."

Klein nodded, precisely calculating the time.

Neither of them spoke again. The atmosphere in the office suddenly became heavy, with only the potion in the cauldron bubbling and emitting a dreamlike mist.

"Grindelwald, have you read Basic Herbology and Potions?"

Unexpectedly, it was Snape who broke the silence first, asking Klein in a low voice.

"Of course. It's a required reading for every potion maker."

Klein nodded.

In fact, he hadn't just read Basic Herbology and Potions; he had also memorized its advanced versions—Herbology and Potions (502nd Revision), The Art of the Cauldron, and Fascinating Potions.

In terms of theoretical knowledge alone, he was on par with Snape.

"Hmm, that must not have been easy for you."

Thinking of something, Snape's expression relaxed, and even his gloomy tone softened considerably.

"Reading is my pleasure, Professor."

Klein's heart stirred, but he dared not confirm his guess, so he followed along with the other's words.

"Seizing every opportunity to change yourself is good. I admire that about you. Of course, only that."

Unable to help himself, Snape showed a look of understanding and shared misfortune. He then inwardly cautioned himself, coughed lightly, and quickly reverted to his initial cold demeanor.

"Uh, thank you?"

Unsure how to respond, Klein felt Snape's behavior was a bit strange.

It was like...

Motherly Love overflowing?

Hiss~

He gasped inwardly and decisively abandoned that unreliable guess.

But speaking of which, Snape's change in attitude towards him was indeed rather abrupt.

What happened?

"Pay attention to controlling the heat, Grindelwald, Dumbledore told me some things about you last week."

For some reason, Snape, who was usually taciturn, seemed unusually chatty today. But he also seemed unaccustomed to it, so his expression was quite conflicted.

Klein remained silent.

"You can't choose your birth, that's not your fault. Geniuses always have to go through many difficulties."

As if comforting Klein, or perhaps murmuring to himself, Snape's tone was very, very low.

"I know."

Klein lowered his head and stirred the cauldron, understanding dawning on him.

Snape's abrupt change was definitely related to Albus the Great Deceiver, Dumbledore.

"I had an unfortunate childhood like you, but I always persisted in my studies. Diligence and pragmatism are very important. I heard you didn't stop reading even when you were wandering the streets. That's good."

Looking at Klein, Snape's eyes were filled with his own past self.

Unfortunate childhood, ambitious, exceptionally talented, handsome, long hair

Klein Grindelwald was another Severus Snape.

At least, that's what he thought.

"I will definitely work hard, Professor."

As a master of pretending to be confused when he understood everything, Klein wisely followed Snape's lead. Dumbledore wasn't exactly lying; when he first came to this world in his previous life, he had indeed suffered a lot.

"Mhm."

Nodding gently, Snape's desire to talk had passed, and he resumed his cold expression.

Klein, as the potion began to boil, added the next ingredient and continued stirring.

Time passed bit by bit, and the liquid gradually changed. He drew his wand and tapped the edge of the cauldron, and a batch of hemostatic potion was brewed.

Snape nodded.

"Alright, Grindelwald, this is your homework for today."

Personally collecting the potion Klein had brewed, Snape, feigning impatience, pulled a new piece of parchment from his robe's sleeve pocket.

"Thank you, Professor, goodnight."

Klein was not one for lingering. He took the parchment and turned to leave.

After he left the office, Snape sat down again, looking at the newly brewed "hemostatic agent" in the crystal vial, lost in thought.

If it were Klein, he should be able to perfectly inherit all his knowledge and go even further.

At this thought, a trace of spirit finally returned to his eyes, which had been dim and lifeless for years.