Lightning Rod

Snape's gaze swept over the students below the podium. The gloomy classroom, paired with his icy stare, made quite a few children shrink their necks.

The Slytherin students were here too. Led by Malfoy, they happily watched the little lions squirm in discomfort.

Snape coldly called roll according to the class list, pausing when he reached Canopus Black.

Canopus looked up and found that the man's expression was somewhat unpleasant.

He had probably recalled those "wonderful memories" of trading attacks with the four Marauders during his school days. Canopus's surname and appearance both reminded him of Sirius Black.

But Snape said nothing and continued down the list. Then, when he softly read out the name Harry Potter, he stopped.

The Slytherins could no longer contain their excitement. One after another, they craned their necks, eager to watch the show.

"Harry Potter, our newcomer. A very famous figure."

He gave a derisive snort and began his opening speech.

"...I can teach you how to improve your reputation, brew glory, even stop death—but there is one condition: you must not be the sort of dunderheads I so often encounter."

He paused, then immediately turned his spearhead on Harry.

"Potter!" Snape suddenly said. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry's expression was as blank as his mind. Hermione raised her hand, wanting to answer, but Snape ignored her.

"Let us try again. Potter, if I asked you to find me a bezoar, where would you look?"

Hermione's hand rose even higher, yet Snape still ignored her.

Canopus stared at the dead toad's wide-open eyes in the cabinet, unable to bear watching any longer.

This was nothing less than an adult bullying a child. Whether by the standards of teaching or morality, Snape's behavior was absolutely wrong.

There was a specific term for what he was doing: taking out his anger on someone else.

"Because Potter talked back to a teacher, Gryffindor loses one point."

What Canopus thought at that moment was that, without Potter, he would probably have been the one targeted today.

Good brother, you've had it rough.

Just as with Herbology, Canopus's knowledge of Potions needed updating. Moreover, in the centuries since Merlin had left the mortal world, methods of processing various raw materials had also improved tremendously.

And Canopus had the foundation of an adult who had graduated from a chemistry-related major. He handled raw materials steadily, precisely, and quickly.

In other words, Snape could not find fault with him for the time being.

Thus, the Potter-brand lightning rod continued to do its job. Snape's venomous tongue crackled like lightning as it struck Potter again and again, leaving him dazed.

If not for Canopus at the neighboring table stopping him from time to time, Harry would have blown up his cauldron long ago.

It was not until Potions class ended, and the Gryffindor students stumbled and scrambled out of the underground classroom, that Harry finally came back to his senses.

"What a nightmare. I don't know why Snape hates me so much."

Harry took several breaths of the warm air aboveground and complained irritably.

"You should call him Professor Snape, Harry. At the very least, you should show him basic respect."

Hermione spoke from beside him, and Harry's brow immediately furrowed.

They said good advice was hard on the ears but good for one's actions. It might be good for one's actions, but it was still unpleasant to hear.

He did not respond, simply leaving with Ron.

Hermione turned to Canopus in confusion, but Canopus could only shake his head wordlessly.

Not all good advice could be accepted. Hermione would have to understand that lesson herself.

Although Canopus was not particularly welcome in Snape's eyes either, he would not give up studying Potions just because of a few sarcastic remarks.

One day after Potions class, Canopus walked up to Snape.

Though seeing Canopus's face reminded Snape of the past, Canopus had not behaved too much like a thorn in his side these past days.

More importantly, Harry had drawn most of Snape's hatred, so Snape could barely bring himself to give Canopus a proper look.

"What is it?"

"Professor Snape, I would like to learn about the history of how ancient potion formulas evolved. Which book should I consult?"

Snape narrowed his eyes, staring at Canopus from behind his greasy curtain of hair.

"You are only a first-year student. There is no need for you to know such things. Or have you finally lost patience and decided to imitate your uncle by showing off at school?"

"I have my reasons, Professor. Headmaster Dumbledore is aware of them." Canopus met Snape's eyes directly. "I have no intention of showing off, but acquiring knowledge is also my right. Is it not, Professor?"

Canopus had not wanted to bring Dumbledore into it, but Snape's mouth was truly foul. Canopus could not help reminding him that he was a teacher.

"Professor, I believe you are here to teach and educate students, are you not?"

Snape's expression stiffened, as though he had once again seen the proud, handsome Sirius standing before him.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he forced out the title of a book.

Canopus gave a light bow and turned to leave the underground classroom.

Snape's feelings toward Harry were complicated, and Canopus had no ability to change them. But if Snape wanted to redirect his firepower toward him, he would immediately remind the man to mind his identity.

He had no obligation to serve as Snape's living target for reminiscing about the past.

A few weeks later, the basic flying lesson began under Madam Hooch's instruction.

This was the latest class to begin for first-year students that school year. After this, there would be no major changes to their timetable.

"Put your hands above your brooms, then say, 'Up!'"

Looking at the bare broomsticks, Kano inexplicably felt a faint sense of sorrow.

Though flying brooms had invisible cushions, looking at these brooms that had likely been passed down through countless generations at Hogwarts, Kano genuinely doubted whether those invisible cushions were still there.

What if the invisible cushion had fallen off? Who would dare sit on one without worry...

Some pure-blood families had always been rather short on heirs, hadn't they?

Malfoy felt a pitying gaze upon him. He looked around, but could not find who was watching him.

Never mind that. He had ridden a miniature flying broom as a child, so he was definitely better than Potter, who had grown up in a Muggle family.

Malfoy was nursing some malicious thoughts. He would make Potter look bad later.

Following Madam Hooch's instructions, everyone commanded their brooms to jump into their hands. Only a handful managed to make their brooms move at all.

Harry's and Kano's brooms flew straight into their hands. Harry seemed quite pleased, while Kano was only mildly interested.

His biological father, Regulus, had also been a Quidditch player, but that did not mean he would like the sport as well.

If he wanted to fly, then once his abilities grew in the future, he could transform directly into a hawk or falcon. That was far freer than riding a flying broom.

Everyone straddled their brooms, and Kano carefully sat down as well.

"Think of it as getting a wizard's driver's license..."

He was still muttering when he saw Neville kick off with both legs and shoot into the sky.