Potions Class (Part 2)

Potions Class continued. Snape divided the students into pairs and instructed them to mix a simple potion for treating scabies.

Snape stalked around the classroom in his long black cloak, watching them weigh Dried Nettle and crush Snake Fangs. Nearly every student received criticism; only Malfoy and Damon were spared. Even so, Snape looked at Damon like a venomous snake, as though he were ready to sneer at him at any moment.

Just as he was showing everyone how perfectly Malfoy had boiled the Horned Slugs, Damon suddenly reached out and firmly clasped Neville's chubby hand—the one holding a Porcupine Quill.

"Wait, Neville." Damon's voice was calm and steady. "You need to take the cauldron off the fire before adding the Porcupine Quill."

Neville jumped in fright and hurriedly let go, his face full of panic and gratitude. "Oh, my God, thank you, Damon! I almost messed it up."

Of course he had.

If Damon had not been keeping an eye on Neville, this alternative Boy Who Lived would have knocked over the potion, covered himself in swollen red scabies, and howled in pain.

"Oh, Mr. White. It seems you are quite enthusiastic about 'helping' your classmates."

Snape's tone held not the slightest warmth, dripping with sarcasm.

"But have you forgotten that you are not the teacher of this class? How dare you interrupt my lesson?" He paused, seemingly savoring the moment of mockery. "If you are so proficient in Potions, perhaps I should consider letting you substitute for me and see what you can do for us."

The atmosphere in the classroom instantly froze. No student dared make a sound, except Malfoy, who snickered.

Harry frowned, just about to speak up in Damon's defense when Ron kicked him beneath the cauldron.

"Don't do anything stupid," he whispered. "I heard Snape is especially unreasonable."

Damon did not respond immediately. Instead, he silently glanced at the steaming potion in the cauldron.

Then he said softly:

"Professor, since your standards are so strict, I naturally will not disappoint your expectations."

He walked to the worktable and elegantly picked up a spoon, beginning from the very first step. His movements did not pause in the slightest, flowing smoothly from one action to the next.

Snape stood to the side, his gaze sharp as a blade as he watched Damon's every move, seemingly waiting for him to make a mistake.

However, every one of Damon's movements was beyond reproach.

A few minutes later, with the final step—adding the Porcupine Quill to the cauldron and quickly stirring three times—the liquid gradually turned a medium green, giving off a faint herbal scent.

Damon poured the potion into two test tubes, put one away, and handed the other to Snape.

"Professor, please judge it."

Snape stared intently at the test tube Damon offered him. Looking at the nearly perfect potion, without a flaw to be found, his brow furrowed slightly, and his voice was low with a trace of displeasure.

"I do not recall saying that the potions made here could be taken away."

Damon smiled faintly, as though Snape's words had not affected him at all.

"This is the first potion I have ever brewed. It is a milestone on my journey to becoming a Potions Master. Please allow it, sir."

Potions Master, sir.

The corner of Snape's mouth twitched. He silently took the potion, gave it a shake, and carefully examined its texture and color.

A minute later, he finally set down the test tube. His face remained expressionless, but a barely perceptible trace of approval flashed through his cold eyes.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke. His tone remained icy, as though he were unwilling to appear overly generous.

"Remember, do not casually take your potions away next time, unless you can make them flawless."

"Also, Gryffindor gets one point for your barely passable Scabbers Potion."

"Now, your Potions Class for today is over. Leave my classroom!"

"As you wish, sir."

Damon efficiently packed up and left, leaving behind a group of stunned young wizards.

"What are you all standing around for? Have all your potions been completed? Neville Longbottom, join Mr. Potter's group and learn from them properly. If I see you make another small mistake like that one, I will deduct ten points from Gryffindor directly!"

"Yes, Professor!"

Neville hunched his neck and fled to Harry's side, but his gaze could not help drifting toward the classroom door Damon had just left through.

By the time class ended, Gryffindor, which had originally held a slight lead in the House Cup, had lost twelve points under the various excuses Snape found.

Meanwhile, the Slytherin students had gained ten points for all sorts of reasons.

The Gryffindor students were deeply dissatisfied, but the only response they received was, "Talking back to a professor, another two points deducted."

The moment the young wizards, all holding back their complaints, left the classroom, they erupted into loud discussion. Aside from Snape's unfair scoring, the main topic was Damon's performance.

"I heard Professor Snape rarely gives points to students outside Slytherin, yet Damon actually managed to win back a point after Snape had deducted one from him!"

"He even took away the potion he made, mate! You should have seen Professor Snape's expression when I tried to take mine away! I swear, if he had looked at me for two more seconds, I would have wet myself!"

"I'm afraid Damon is the only one who can leave that unfair professor with nothing to criticize! I bet Gryffindor is going to have a hard time from now on!"

Hermione walked among the chattering students, looking dejected.

She had lost! Lost completely!

Snape had not praised her potion, nor had he allowed her to take it away. He had even used Damon to mock her mercilessly!

She tried her best to hide her emotions, but Harry and Ron quickly noticed something was wrong, especially her unconsciously lowered head and slightly drooping shoulders.

The two exchanged a glance, both clearly noticing her mood.

"Hey, Hermione, what's wrong? You don't look quite right."

Harry walked over to Hermione, trying to break her silence with a casual tone.

Hermione glanced at Harry, pressed her lips together, said nothing, and walked away.

"Mate, why make trouble for yourself? Just look at her. She obviously thinks she is inferior to Damon and got discouraged."

Watching Hermione's retreating back, Ron thought the girl was really difficult. He silently complained that she belonged in Ravenclaw rather than Gryffindor, but he still changed the subject.

"Still, I'm more curious about why Damon did not care about Snape's mockery at all."

"Did you see that? Snape practically sounded hostile then, but Damon was completely unaffected. He even said, 'As you wish, sir.' Could he be related to Snape somehow?"

"No, Damon said he was Muggle-born. He cannot possibly be related to Snape."

"That is strange." Ron thought about it, failed to figure it out, and promptly gave up. "All right, we have nothing to do for the next two and a half days. Time to enjoy our holiday!"