Potions Class Bonus Points?

Weekends always seem to fly by.

On Monday morning, sunlight streamed through the dormitory window, waking Kyle instead of an alarm clock.

Mikel and Ryan were still fast asleep, their breathing slow and even. Kyle didn't wake them, quietly changed his clothes, and left the dormitory.

On his way to the Great Hall, he also ran into Filch.

After what happened last year, the castle keeper seemed like a completely different person. He no longer had the arrogant attitude he once had, who wanted to drag all those who violated the school rules to the dungeon and hang them up. Instead, he became timid and cautious.

Upon encountering someone, his first reaction wasn't to fulfill his duty, but rather to instinctively hide behind a suit of armor. Only after seeing Kyle's appearance clearly did he step out again.

Judging from his appearance, he must have been quite frightened before being knocked unconscious by Barty Crouch Jr..

However, this also has its advantages; at least Hogwarts students no longer have to worry about being scolded for speaking too loudly.

The first period in the morning was Defense Against the Dark Arts.

After Kyle finished breakfast, he went to the classroom with Kanna.

At first, Kanna was a little worried that Kyle would continue to clash with Umbridge, just like in the previous lesson.

Although she didn't like this person either, Umbridge was, after all, a professor, and it would be very disadvantageous for a student to go against her.

But to everyone's surprise, Kyle was quiet for the entire class, and even Professor Umbridge seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened a few days ago.

This undoubtedly relieved Kanna.

However, some students who were hoping to see a spectacle were extremely disappointed.

Slytherin were attending class with Hufflepuff this time. Ever since they heard about Kyle slamming the door and leaving, they had been looking forward to this day, wanting to see the spectacle up close.

The new Defense Against the Dark Arts is so boring. It's always just reading books and copying notes. I need to find something fun to do.

The class went by perfectly normally, and even more unbelievably, near the end of the class, Professor Umbridge gave Hufflepuff five points for Kyle's answer to a question.

This led some to suspect that the so-called "slamming the door and leaving" was a rumor deliberately spread by Hufflepuff and Gryffindor to trick them.

They felt that this class was no different from any other, just as boring. The only difference was that Umbridge had developed a little habit; they didn't know if it was because of an injury or something else, but she would rub the back of her hand every now and then.

After Defense Against the Dark Arts, it's time for advanced Potions Class class.

There were more people this time than in Transfiguration Class, a total of sixteen, but half of them were Slytherin students.

Kyle didn't think all of their OWL results met the requirements, after all, he knew a thing or two about Slytherin and other former big clients.

A large portion of these people have only average Potions skills; they're not bad, but they certainly aren't excellent.

But they still came here, so it's clear that Snape's bias remains as consistent as ever.

The underground classroom remained as cold and damp as ever.

Snape's expression was equally chilling; his face looked worse than usual, pale, with sunken eyes, as if he hadn't slept in a long time.

Just as the two Ravenclaw students walked to a table and were about to sit down, Snape suddenly spoke up.

"Sit separately," he said coldly. "You don't think you're supposed to be in an advanced class and work together to make a Potions, do you? If you can't even make Potions on your own, you'd better leave now."

One of the Ravenclaw students immediately took two steps forward and went to another table.

The others also stopped gathering together and each found a table.

Although the underground classrooms have limited space and the number of crucibles is not large, it is enough for each person to have one crucible because of the small number of people.

"Advanced Class," Snape said in his emotionless voice, "You are all the best students I have chosen..."

At this point, Snape paused suddenly and glanced at Kyle in the corner, seemingly casually.

"But..." Snape quickly looked away and continued, "I expect you to demonstrate abilities that match."

"My standards will be very high, and I hope you won't make any silly mistakes in my class, otherwise I'll... be very angry."

His gaze swept around.

Upon hearing Snape's words, the Wright immediately straightened their backs and held their heads high, seemingly eager to prove their superiority.

But Snape didn't look at them.

"Today, we're going to concoct the simplest Potions in the <Advanced Potion-Making> manual: the Draught of Living Death."

"Does anyone know what the Draught of Living Death is?"

Almost everyone raised their hand.

Unsurprisingly, Snape chose Kanna.

"The Draught of Living Death, also known as the Draught of Living Death, is a potent hypnotic potion that can put the user to sleep within one minute."

"Half a minute to be exact," Snape said, "But that's a very good answer. Hufflepuff, five points."

Everyone else was used to Snape giving Kanna points.

"Although it's the simplest potion in the <Advanced Potion-Making> series, it's more complex than anything you've ever made before."

Snape tapped the blackboard with his wand, and the ingredients needed and the cooking process immediately appeared on it.

Kyle was no stranger to the Draught of Living Death; he had been able to brew it years ago, also during Potions Class.

However, the steps on the blackboard this time seemed a little different from what Kyle knew.

In Snape's old book, the ingredients of grass roots and lionfish bone meal were retained, but they have been crossed out here and replaced with dried Belladonna flowers.

Combining two materials into one undoubtedly simplifies the process, and Belladonna flowers are also relatively easy to process; simply grind them slightly and put them into a crucible—there are no special requirements.

Kyle gathered the materials and followed the instructions on the blackboard step by step. After half a class period, the potion in the crucible had successfully turned into the standard "smooth, brownish-yellow liquid".

Kanna also completed this step.

Apart from those two, the other people's Potions were either too dark or uneven in color, none of them were as standard.

"The Valerian Root is cut into uneven sizes..."

"Who told you to throw the whole Belladonna flower in...?"

"You didn't stir it enough..."

Snape walked around the classroom, pointing out everyone's mistakes without any hesitation.

However, he never passed by Kyle, as if he didn't exist at all.

Snape stopped next to a Gryffindor student, frowned at the potion in the cauldron, and was about to say something when the door to the underground classroom was pushed open.

Before Kyle could even turn around to see who it was, a sweet, coquettish voice told him the answer.

"Professor Snape, I hope I haven't disturbed you," Umbridge said from outside the door.

Snape's eyes twitched. He pushed open the door during class; did it even need to be said whether he was disturbing the lesson?

After a moment's hesitation, Snape refrained from saying anything harsh, "Professor Umbridge, what brings you here?"

Umbridge glanced at the students in the classroom. "How about we talk outside?"

Snape nodded and went outside.

When he returned, his face was even uglier, as if he had lost money, and he muttered under his breath, "Why didn't you go to the Hospital Wing... I'm not a therapist."

So for the rest of the class, everyone was extremely careful, afraid of making a mistake that would anger Snape...

Another half hour passed.

"Time's up!" Snape shouted. "Everyone, put down the spell and stop stirring!"

He began moving between the tables, inspecting each crucible.

Kyle glanced around and, following the steps Snape had given on the blackboard, all the potions, after being stirred, turned into a pale pink potion.

Although the colors are not entirely uniform, with some being darker and some lighter, these are minor issues and do not affect the normal use of the medicine.

Snape walked along, pointing out everyone's mistakes without any hesitation. He didn't seem to think that successfully brewing a complex Draught of Living Death in the first lesson was something to be proud of; on the contrary, he thought it was only natural.

If these people still can't succeed by following the steps he gave them, then there's no need for him to stay here any longer.

Soon, Snape walked up to Kyle.

Just like last time, Kyle's potion was perfect.

"Not bad." Snape's voice sounded like it was being squeezed out of his throat.

"Hufflepuff adds one point."