In Slytherin, Humility Is Not a Virtue!

Whether it was because he saw Devero's smugness, or simply because he wanted to give Devero a hard time, Snape immediately wiped away his expression of shock and reverted to his usual gloomy demeanor.

"Fine. From now on, you will come here every Friday afternoon. I have tasks for you," Snape commanded in a low, gravelly voice.

Devero's face fell the moment he heard this.

You've got to be kidding me!

I have to spend an extra afternoon every week alone with this old bat?

That's going to be absolute torture!

However, Snape was both a professor and the Head of Slytherin House, so Devero could not refuse.

As if specifically to ensure Devero wouldn't have a moment of peace, Snape brought up another matter.

"Furthermore, let's discuss the subject of spells."

Devero pursed his lips.

The moment he had been dreading had finally arrived.

Snape was likely here to hold him accountable for the incident on the train.

Although in the original story, Harry and his friends had once cast hexes on Malfoy on the train, Devero couldn't be certain if he would receive the same treatment as The Boy Who Lived.

"Professor, Malfoy insulted my friend first, which is why I took action," Devero argued, trying to make his case as best he could.

"What Malfoy?"

To Devero's surprise, Snape acted as if he had never heard of the incident, his brow furrowing slightly.

"The time I used a spell to attack Malfoy on the train... er... you didn't know, Professor?"

Snape waved his hand impatiently.

"That is of no importance! I am asking how you know so many high-level spells, and how you even mastered Apparition! That is an extremely dangerous piece of magic!"

Devero blurted out, "So, Professor, I'm not going to be expelled for casting spells on a classmate?"

Snape let out a cold snort and pointed toward the parchment on the desk.

"With this thing in existence, as long as you haven't committed murder, I will not let you be expelled!"

Devero was stunned.

He hadn't expected the Polyjuice Potion to have such a significant effect, or that it would make Snape protect him to this extent!

At that moment, the words Marcus had spoken to him at the Slytherin table echoed in his ears once more: "In Slytherin, humility is not a virtue!"

Seeing Snape's attitude, Devero felt much more at ease.

As long as he wasn't getting expelled, everything was fine!

Devero immediately relaxed. Between his earlier conversation with Marcus and Snape's current attitude, he realized that he absolutely could not hide his abilities.

So much for playing it humble.

Packaging himself as some sort of little kid.

A first-year who knows nothing.

That simply wouldn't do!

He was a super genius.

Why?

Because at school, there were many places accessible only to those who were sufficiently outstanding.

For instance, places reserved for top students who could rank first in their grade.

Or for those who demonstrated exceptional performance in other areas.

Moreover, as long as you were outstanding enough.

The school leadership would turn a blind eye to some of your actions.

Just like Voldemort had back in the day!

Therefore, in order to explore Hogwarts in every aspect, without leaving a single corner untouched.

And to secure more care and privileges within the school later on.

He had to show these old fogies at the school what he was made of!

Besides, he had the Transmigrator trait.

He wasn't afraid of Legilimency.

So what was there to worry about?

He would let them see what a true, absolute genius looked like!

At this thought.

Devero relaxed into his chair.

He acted as if he were back in his own home.

Snape's brow furrowed even tighter.

Devero loosened his posture and sat up straight.

"Professor, the reason I know so many spells isn't because I have any dealings with dark wizards, nor have I done anything illegal. It's because..."

He looked at Snape with a firm and serious gaze.

"Actually, I am a genius!"

"I can learn any spell the moment I see it!"

"Take Apparition, for example. I watched someone do it once, and I roughly knew how it was done."

"After watching a few more times, I could use it proficiently. It's the same for all other spells."

Devero finished speaking.

A long silence followed.

Snape crossed his hands.

Covering half of his face.

Obscured by his black hair.

Devero couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Perhaps he was holding back laughter?

Or perhaps he was weighing the credibility of Devero's statement.

Of course, Devero felt the former was more likely.

"You can learn a spell just by watching someone else cast it?"

Snape repeated the sentence.

"Without having undergone any training, any systematic guidance, and having possessed your own wand for only a month."

His low voice betrayed no emotion.

"You claim that just by watching a few times, you can master spells that even upper-year students cannot."

Devero nodded repeatedly as he listened to the other man recount his words.

Indicating that this was indeed the case.

Bam!

Snape slammed both hands heavily onto the desk.

The books on the table shook from the impact.

"Do you take me for a fool?"

The dark figure stood up abruptly.

He leaned forward.

He loomed over Devero.

Snape's eyes were locked onto Devero's gaze.

It was as if a raging fire were about to erupt from them.

The two were so close now.

Devero could even smell the scent of the shampoo Snape used.

Er.

Well, it was probably the scent of greasy hair.

Snape's reaction was something Devero completely understood.

After all, he had lived with Snape for a year.

Just like with Potions.

He hadn't really shown any signs of being a peerless genius at spells before.

So, it was understandable that Snape found his words so hard to believe.

However, it was a fact that he knew various high-level magics.

Coupled with the Polyjuice Potion he had brewed and the modifications he had made to his wand earlier.

He reckoned that must have given Snape quite a shock.

Now, with the addition of him being a prodigy in magic, Snape should have built up some resistance to it, right?

Besides, he hadn't told a single lie.

So, he wasn't afraid of Snape testing him later.

Devero had just wanted to say something more.

But Snape ignored him entirely.

He walked straight out of the office.

He even warned Devero not to leave.

And not to enter the storage room or anything of the sort.

So now, he was left all alone in Snape's office.

To be honest.

He was truly itching to go.

He wanted to take a trip to the storage room to broaden his horizons.

But he kept feeling like Snape might return the very next second.

Devero struggled with himself countless times.

It felt just like the time in his previous life when his parents went out.

And he wanted to sneak a play on his phone.

Finally.

After who knew how many internal struggles.

Devero decided to take the gamble!

He jumped off the chair.

Devero arrived in front of the storage room door.

He first tried to see if he could open it manually.

But the doorknob wouldn't budge at all.

Devero immediately drew his wand.

"Alohomora!"

He was already very proficient with the Unlocking Charm by now.

And Snape's storage room hadn't been visited by Hermione, Dobby, or the others yet.

Clearly, the security measures weren't quite up to par.

It was easily opened by Devero with a single spell.

The corners of Devero's mouth curled upward.

Just as he was about to open the door and properly patronize this sanctuary of potion ingredients, a voice cut through the air.

"What do you think you are doing?"

It felt like a basin of ice water dumped over him in the dead of winter.

Devero shivered uncontrollably from the sudden chill.

He turned around.

Snape was staring at Devero with a dark, gloomy expression.

"Come with me."

Strangely enough, Snape did not press the issue further.

Instead, he said with a grim face, "Let's use a practical demonstration to see if you are truly this so-called 'genius'."

Devero smiled faintly.

His hands had been itching for a fight anyway.

Besides, he had never intended to rely on mere words to convince Snape.

He gladly followed Snape out of the office.