A group of people stood furtively on either side of the door to Snape's office, pressed against the wall.
Hermione gave Silan a thumbs-up.
"Hang in there, Silan. If anything happens, just shout, and we'll rush in to save you."
"Maybe not so fast." Fred stuck out his tongue and made a face.
"I might hesitate for a second," George said with a smile.
"But don't be afraid of him." Fred waved his wand. "If all else fails, just throw a Lumos at him. Maybe he'll come running out as soon as he sees the light."
"Snape isn't a bat afraid of light," George grinned. "It can't be that simple."
Harry, standing nearby, muttered quietly, "Isn't he similar enough?"
A slicked-back hairstyle, long hair, and a thick black robe; a silent, gloomy old bat.
To the average person, Snape really did look no different from a greasy-haired bat.
Harry and Ron nervously clung to George and Fred's clothes.
They were still very scared.
Perhaps no one in the entire Hogwarts knew Snape's terrifying nature better than they did.
They both felt that Silan was probably in Elphias Doge this time, Snape would likely give him a severe dressing-down.
"Snape has been in a bad mood these past few days. I wonder if it's because he's so unpopular and no one's given him Christmas presents, so he's jealous."
Ron whispered a reminder to Silan, "You'd better not talk back to him."
Harry then shared his secret with Silan: "Of course, you don't need to be too afraid. Just imagine him as a talking cabbage."
Judging from their expressions, they seemed even more nervous Silan.
Silan knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Snape's muffled voice came from behind the door.
"Don't worry, Silan, we're right behind you." Ron gestured to him. "We'll comfort you in a bit."
It seems that their fear of Snape led them to believe that Silan was going to be punished.
Silan pushed open the office door and was greeted by a gust of cold wind.
Snape stood by the window, letting the cold wind blow in from outside.
"Professor, you wanted to see me?"
Hearing the sound behind him, Snape turned around abruptly and slowly walked to the chair.
"You've arrived... Mr. Prewett..."
Snape drew out his words, waved his wand, closed the window, and lit the fireplace.
The chill in the room was quickly dispelled.
"Please sit down."
Snape gestured for Silan to sit in the chair in front of him, while he himself placed his left hand on the armrest and slowly sat down.
After Silan sat down, Snape didn't rush to speak, but simply watched him quietly.
Even the cold wind outside seemed to be getting impatient for them, banging on the window several times before Snape finally spoke.
"Was that case of Potter shampoo a gift from you?"
It really was for this reason.
Silan's mind raced, and she began to feign ignorance. "What did you say, Professor?"
He looked bewildered and surprised.
"You gave Christmas presents to all the other professors, but not mine," Snape, staring intently at Silan. "Isn't that strange?"
Actually, Snape didn't realize that the box of shampoo was a gift from Silan.
He just wanted to take this opportunity to find out why Silan hadn't given him a Christmas present.
Shampoo is just an excuse.
"Of course I prepared a gift for you, Professor. It's just a little late."
Silan hurriedly took out a Self-Stirring Cauldron from his leather bag, which he had originally prepared for his own use.
We'll have to use it as an emergency measure now.
I bought this during the Christmas holidays. The store used Christmas packaging, so no one would doubt that it was a gift.
"Heh, humph."
Snape let out a strange, cold snort, "Stop your foolish tricks! Don't you think it's too late now?"
"I'm sorry, Professor," Silan said softly, clutching the gift box containing the Self-Stirring Cauldron, "You know I'm a poor Half-blood wizard."
"It takes a long time to save up enough money to buy a Self-Stirring Cauldron, so..." At this point, Silan's voice lowered even further, as if hiding endless sorrow, "So it's too late."
Snape fell silent.
He was also a Half-blood wizard, and even at Silan's age, he didn't live a wealthy life.
Therefore, he could easily imagine Silan's standard of living.
But he wasn't easily fooled.
He already knew that Silan and the Weasley Twins made a lot of money selling maps, and that the bag Silan had just taken out was a valuable Mokeskin Pouch.
Can you afford such a magical tool, but not have the money to buy Self-Stirring Cauldron?
"Don't play the victim in front of me."
Snape, fighting back his surging emotions, gritted his teeth and said, "Didn't you and your stupid cousin make a lot of money selling maps? And you can afford Mokeskin Pouch, but not a Self-Stirring Cauldron?"
Silan gave a wry smile, "I was just helping my cousins out, I didn't earn much money. As for the Mokeskin Pouch, that was my father's keepsake. Besides..."
Snape frowned. "And what?"
"And I spent almost all the money on Miss Granger's birthday present. She's my best friend in Gryffindor. Although she comes from Muggle family, she's always been hardworking and ambitious."
He deliberately emphasized "Gryffindor" and "Muggle family".
Finally, Silan's voice was low and hoarse, tinged with grievance and trembling. "I'm so sorry, Professor, I originally thought I would be able to save enough money to buy an automatic crucible very soon."
[Silver Tongue: Proficiency +1]
The invention of the Self-Stirring Cauldron greatly improved the success rate of Potions production, leaving a record throughout the History of Magic, which is why it wasn't so cheap.
It's indeed not easy for a novice wizard to save up enough money to buy Self-Stirring Cauldron on his own.
It makes sense that the Mokeskin Pouch was a relic of Prewett.
Upon hearing that Silan had used all the money he had earned to buy Hermione a birthday present, Snape could no longer contain his emotions.
His muscles tensed, and his right hand instinctively gripped the armrest of the chair tightly.
Birthday present... Lily...
As certain long-forgotten memories resurfaced, Snape fell silent.
He also once saved up money to buy Lily a birthday present.
The bullet fired in his youth, transcending time and space, struck Snape squarely between the eyebrows, leaving Snape overwhelmed with mixed emotions and speechless.
He stared blankly at Silan.
How much this resembles myself!
Should we punish him to prove that we were wrong back then?
The answer is obvious.
Snape slowly exhaled, released his right hand from the armrest, leaned back in his chair, and gazed at Silan across the table.
It's like looking at yourself from a distant past.
"You can leave now."
Snape waved his hand, turned his gaze away, and refused to look at Silan any longer.
It seemed as if they were afraid of seeing the shadow of certain people in him again.
Is that all?
Silan was a little surprised; she thought they were going to argue for a bit longer.
Professor Snape's defenses weren't great either.
I couldn't even handle a few words.
With that thought in mind, Silan stood up, politely placed the chair back in its place, and bid farewell to Snape: "Goodbye, Professor."
Silan walked towards the door, lingering somewhat reluctantly as she passed Snape's shelf displaying Potions Ingredients.
He was really drooling over these Sickle.
It's a pity it's not mine.
After a few sighs to himself, Silan was about to push open the door to leave when he suddenly heard Snape call out to him from behind:
"Wait a moment."