Potions Class

Hogwarts's first-year schedule was quite relaxed. For instance, on Monday, Wade had only a double Potions Class in the morning.

After breakfast, a group of Ravenclaw first-years headed for the Dungeon Classroom together. As the surroundings gradually became colder and gloomier, the students' faces also grew somewhat pale.

"I heard Professor Snape, who teaches Potions Class, is the head of Slytherin House." Michael, walking beside Wade, took the initiative to ease the tense atmosphere. "You noticed him during the Sorting last night, right? That teacher with black hair and a hooked nose."

"Of course," Padma said. "I have to say, we'd better not provoke him."

The group arrived at the Potions classroom in silence. The cabinets along the walls held rows of glass jars containing all kinds of animal specimens. Some of the more timid children looked as though they were about to cry and shakily sat as far from the specimens as possible. Wade chose a corner directly—he was not afraid of dead specimens, but he worried that certain classmates might make a mistake and drag him down with them.

Before long, the Hufflepuff students arrived in groups as well, their reactions much the same as those of the Ravenclaw first-years. However, the Ravenclaws who had arrived first had already claimed the better spots, forcing the Hufflepuffs to scatter around the edges.

Two Hufflepuff students also appeared near Wade's previously empty corner.

"Hello, I'm Theo, Theo Mancini. This is Ryan Caro." The brown-haired Hufflepuff boy was the first to greet Wade. "And you are—?"

"Wade Grey."

"Wade?" Theo Mancini asked curiously. "Do you know about the professor for this class—"

The blond boy named Ryan suddenly said, "Theo, stop talking." He added, "The professor's here."

The moment he finished speaking, the classroom door was slammed open. A man in black Wizard Robes strode inside. His expression was icy and his manner imposing. Many students instinctively shrank their necks, and the classroom instantly fell silent.

Snape swept his gaze across the students, took out the roll book, and began calling attendance. Seeing that no one had been late for the first lesson, his expression finally eased a little.

"Potion-making is an extremely precise discipline—" Snape said in a low voice, almost like a whisper. "It requires strict procedures and exact proportions. If anyone alters a potion recipe without authorization, casually adds or removes ingredients, or foolishly waves a Wand in an attempt to conceal a mistake—"

His chilling gaze passed over the terrified first-years, lingering especially on the Hufflepuff students wearing yellow-and-black striped ties—

"I will make him understand deeply just what terrifying consequences an incorrect potion can bring."

Theo swallowed nervously, as though Snape's words had been directed at him. Wade suddenly had a bad feeling—he had chosen a corner to avoid distractions, but it seemed there was a landmine sitting right beside him.

Snape seemed to have a radar installed in his head. He immediately caught some young badger's unease and called out without looking at the roll book, "Theo Mancini!"

"Yes!" Theo hurriedly stood up, nearly knocking over the Cauldron. "Yes, Professor."

"When brewing Pimple-Curing Potion, how should Slugs be treated?" Snape asked.

Seven or eight arms shot up throughout the classroom, most of them belonging to Ravenclaw students.

The good news was that Snape was not deliberately making things difficult for the students. The question was from the first chapter of the textbook.

The bad news was that Theo had not reviewed the textbook beforehand.

The boy trembled as he said, "I—I don't know, sir."

"Sit down!" Snape said coldly. "You did not prepare the lesson in advance. One point from Hufflepuff. Wade Grey!"

He casually called on the Ravenclaw sitting beside him.

Wade immediately stood. "Boil them for five minutes, sir."

"Correct." Snape nodded, but instead of awarding Ravenclaw points, he immediately asked another question. "Michael Corner, what is Nettle used for?"

"It can—it can treat inflammation and hair loss—and stop bleeding," Michael stammered.

"Not bad." Snape nodded for him to sit down, then asked, "Hannah Abbott? When should Porcupine Quills be added?"

The blond girl stood with tears in her eyes, as if she would burst into loud sobs if Snape said one more word.

Snape looked away and called another name. "Ryan Caro?"

When the questioning began, Ryan had quickly flipped open his book and skimmed through it. This question happened to be one the book had specifically emphasized.

"—After the fire is extinguished, Professor," Ryan said as steadily as he could.

Snape's gaze dropped to the open textbook before him. "I hope you will put knowledge into your head in advance, rather than cramming during class and praying for Merlin's favor!"

Ryan's lips remained tightly pressed when he sat down. Theo patted his arm comfortingly.

Snape was not targeting any particular person in this lesson—he was targeting everyone. The barrage of questions gave them all a harsh warning. By the time he officially began explaining, Hufflepuff had lost thirteen points, while Ravenclaw had lost five.

Amid complete silence, Snape began instructing everyone on how to brew Pimple-Curing Potion. He divided them into pairs according to their seats, then flicked his Wand. Detailed instructions appeared on the blackboard, and everyone hurriedly scribbled them down. Wade noticed that the blackboard instructions contained a few subtle adjustments from the steps in the textbook. If they followed the book exactly, they probably would not produce results that satisfied the professor.

"Sorry," Theo, who had been paired with Wade according to their seats, said softly. "I didn't prepare the lesson beforehand, but I'll try my best not to hold you back."

His amber eyes were utterly sincere, and Wade's frustration at being paired with a poor student eased somewhat.

"It's nothing," Wade said. "Pimple-Curing Potion is simple to make. As long as we follow the steps, there shouldn't be much of a problem."

Theo went to the nearby shelves to collect the ingredients. Wade weighed them on the scale, then used a small knife to push the snake fangs toward Theo. "You handle the ingredients. I'll do the brewing."

"Okay."

Theo answered, put on protective Dragonhide Gloves, and ground the snake fangs into powder in a mortar. Meanwhile, Wade used tongs to pick up four Slugs with distaste and put them into the Cauldron to steam, carefully controlling the heat with his Wand.

A few minutes later, Wade removed the discolored Slugs and set them aside for later use. He changed the water and began heating it again, while reviewing the brewing steps once more. Theo beside him had already finished preparing the Snake Fang Powder and was now chopping dried Nettle.

Wade discovered with some surprise that although this Hufflepuff student looked a little clumsy, he was extremely meticulous. The prepared powder was fine and uniform, without any coarse grains or impurities.

Perhaps this partner wasn't so bad after all.

Wade thought.