The Undying Family

Snape realized that this completely overturned the traditional Potions -making process.

Grinding, chopping, and juicing are the basic methods for processing all materials.

If only the life-activating properties are needed, then wouldn't the formula change? Wouldn't it still be the Potions?

It sounds simple, but it's extremely difficult to do in practice. The slightest mistake can ruin the medicinal properties of the materials.

He carefully examined Tom's experimental data. These days, Tom had been brewing too many tonics, and he found the most troublesome part to be the processing of the Dragon Heartstring. Impurities had to be carefully removed, leaving only the most essential part. If it wasn't processed properly, it would affect the efficacy of the medicine.

He had a sudden inspiration and thought of modern medical extraction techniques. After two failures, during which he lost two-fifths of the Dragon Heartstring, he finally succeeded.

The tonics we made were more effective and easier to absorb.

He hadn't originally planned to write a thesis, but seeing that his credits were stagnant, he decided to try to earn credits through academic research.

Snape turned to the last page; the experimental data and the improved drug efficacy were genuine, Snape couldn't find any problems. But he discovered a blind spot.

Dragon Heartstring, Sphinx's eyeball—how come this looks so much like the medicinal herbs he threw away?

"Riddle, where did you get these materials? And why didn't you explain the effects of this Potions?" Snape's eyes were full of scrutiny.

Tom, who was prepared, smiled shyly and said, "I obtained this Potions recipe by chance. As for the ingredients, they were sponsored by Daphne, or more precisely, the Greengrass family."

Snape hearing Greengrass's name, Snape's suspicions largely dissipated; if it came from this family, then there was no surprise.

He thought to himself, "Riddle is still a damn fool. He's so young and already living off a woman. How is he supposed to work hard in the future?"

Seeing Snape's reaction, Tom became even more curious about the Greengrass family, and he leaned closer to ask.

"Professor, Daphne is a bit of a scatterbrain; she doesn't know much about her family. But I think Greengrass is excessively wealthy."

"They don't intermarry with other families, so how did they grow so powerful?"

Snape gave him a deep look. "Riddle, you should have read Cantankerous Nott's * The Pure-Blood Directory *, right? Do you remember what he said about Greengrass?"

Tom pondered, searching for the corresponding memory. "The epitome of Pure-blood, a family that will never decline?"

Snape didn't say anything more, and lowered his head to continue reviewing the paper.

In Snape's office, the fireplace was burning brightly.

Tom leaned back in his chair, those words still swirling in his mind: Pure-blood paragon, an everlasting family.

Cantantalize Nott's Book of Pure-Blood Directory was a must-have for almost every Slytherin student.

The Pure-blood Slytherin treated this book like bible, since it praised them to the skies, which conveniently proved their "legitimacy."

The Weasley family scoffed at this, claiming to be close to Muggle, but subconsciously still gravitated towards Pure-blood when looking for partners.

The current Mrs. Weasley's original surname Prewett, which means she is a Sacred Twenty-Eight.

Tom never took that book seriously. How could the Nott Family not praise the Pure-blood Slytherin line when writing a book? But Snape's expression just now didn't seem like he was just reciting something.

"Professor, is this assessment serious? Never declining? That's impossible," Tom couldn't help but complain.

"Even the Gaunt Family, a direct descendant of Slytherin, is completely finished. What trump cards does Greengrass have up his sleeve?"

Snape didn't look up, continuing to flip through the paper. "That old man from the Nott family only did two decent things in his life. One was writing this book, and the other was fathering a son."

He turned to the last page of the paper. "You've asked the wrong person about the Greengrass Family."

"I don't belong in that circle," Snape said calmly.

Tom was taken aback. Snape wasn't part of the Pure-blood circle? He was a descendant of the Prince Family.

Although the Princes had fallen on hard times, their bloodline remained. Snape seemed to sense his confusion, and his lips twitched slightly.

"A disgrace to the Prince Family, and to the Death Eater." He put down his paper, leaned back in his chair, and said, "Do you think that circle would accept me?"

Tom didn't say anything. He assumed the Malfoy family' good relationship with Snape was due to their ties within the Pure-blood circle.

Looking back now, I realize that someone like Lucius Malfoy only considered two things when making friends: strength and utility.

It seems they were just trying to curry favor with Snape because of his high position and power under Voldemort; it had nothing to do with bloodline.

"What about the Greengrass Family? They won't accept you either?"

Snape glanced at him. "Greengrass doesn't need to accept anyone, and they don't need to be accepted by anyone."

Tom raised an eyebrow.

"When Voldemort was at his most rampant, Greengrass remained neutral." Snape's voice trailed off. "Guess what? He came to him himself."

Tom's breath hitched; Voldemort himself had come to his door.

"Then what?"

"And that was it. After he went back, he issued an order: don't provoke Greengrass."

"The position of Department of Magical Transportation has been held by a member of the Greengrass Family ever since then, and no one else has ever dared to challenge it."

Tom fell silent. Voldemort himself came to their door, then slunk away, giving his men a special order not to mess with this family.

This is more effective than any title like "Sacred Twenty-Eight Families" or "Families That Never Decline."

The Black Family has seen its members either go mad or die, with the last male member, Sirius Black, still living in Azkaban.

The Malfoy family was adept at navigating all sides, Lucius was thriving in the Ministry of Magic, but when Voldemort returned, he would still have to kneel before him.

What makes Greengrass so special?

"Professor, what is so special about Greengrass?"

Snape stared at him for a few seconds. "Riddle, you should ask Mrs. Greengrass about that; she's a very capable lady."

Tom opened his mouth, but didn't press further. Snape had already pushed the issue to the level of the parents, which meant he didn't want to talk about it, or perhaps he didn't know.

A family that even Voldemort wouldn't dare to mess with, a family that even someone like Snape wouldn't dare to talk about.

Daphne, that naive and innocent girl, all she does is jump around all day, what secrets is hidden in her house?

Snape turned to the page with the experimental data and tapped on the table with his finger.

"Besides the Potions you listed, have you experimented with other types of Potions?"

Tom spread his hands, feigning pitifulness. "Professor, I'm still a child. I have homework and classes to attend, where would I find the time to do so many experiments?"

"The rest is up to you. I'll arrange for you to be a second author, isn't that generous enough?"