Potions Class

Today was Friday, and Eli was about to have his first Potions class.

Whether it was deliberate or not, although Slytherin and Gryffindor had always disliked each other over the years—and even fights between them were nothing unusual—the school put these two rival Houses together in many classes.

Potions was one of them.

Eli dared to guarantee that, starting today, the first-year Gryffindors would utterly hate Potions.

For no other reason than that their Potions professor was Snape.

Eli knew a little about Snape's miserable childhood. Not only had Gryffindor stolen away the woman he loved, but those people had publicly humiliated him every other day.

Apparently, one time they had even pulled Snape's trousers off in front of everyone.

With Snape's vengeful nature, as long as he remained a professor at this school, Gryffindor would never have an easy time.

To make matters worse, he was also Slytherin's Head of House.

His fearsome reputation for favoritism and fiercely protecting his own was known throughout Hogwarts.

Such was this terrifying figure—and the person who had humiliated him back then was Harry's father. Fate was truly strange: Harry had Lily's eyes, but his father's face.

It was easy to imagine Harry losing points today just for entering the classroom with his left foot first.

Eli was also extremely nervous. With a face so similar to Lily's, he was genuinely afraid Snape might do something unexpected.

If one had to name the most devoted lover in the entire Harry Potter series, it had to be Snape.

So, in order to draw less of Snape's attention, Eli had not brought his set of chemistry equipment.

The Potions classroom was as gloomy as Snape's face. It was a basement—dark and damp. No normal person would want to attend class in a place like this.

"Eli, where have you been these past few days? We've barely seen you!"

Before Snape arrived, Harry sat down beside Eli.

Damn it, man, could you stay farther away from me?

Eli nearly kicked the approaching Harry away.

He was terrified of being noticed by Snape. In Snape's eyes, this guy was practically a target—sitting beside him was basically drawing enemy fire!

Of course, Eli considered himself a very composed person, so he did not do anything inappropriate.

He merely shifted a little farther to the side.

"I've been studying lately. It's normal that you haven't seen me."

Harry and Ron both shot him skeptical looks.

The moment Eli saw them, he got worked up.

What, you looking down on me? Just wait until my divine skills are complete—I'll make you die of envy!

Just as they were chatting happily, a loud bang came from the doorway. The old bat—ah, no, Snape—made his dazzling entrance.

From head to toe, there was nothing but black.

Wrapped in a black cloak that dragged along the ground and flared high as he walked, paired with those hollow, dead-fish eyes, he looked exactly like an old bat.

The classroom instantly fell silent. Even the Slytherin students did not dare breathe loudly in the face of Snape's ghostly entrance.

"I guarantee this professor is not someone to mess with,"

Ron whispered.

Snape strode to the podium, his hollow gaze sweeping over the classroom like he was searching for prey.

He found his prey. Snape's eyes immediately stopped on Harry.

More precisely, on Harry's eyes.

The moment he looked at Harry's face, Snape's expression twisted in disgust as though he had swallowed a fly.

Then his peripheral vision caught Eli beside him. His pupils suddenly contracted, and his eyes could no longer move away.

The instant Snape entered, Eli had lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet Snape's gaze at all.

Snape's eyes lingered on Eli for a long while. When he glanced at the dazed-looking Harry beside him, his expression was like someone who had discovered a pile of crap next to his rice bowl.

"Mr. Potter."

Harry, suddenly called upon, raised his head in confusion. The poor boy had no idea what was about to happen.

Eli had already begun observing a moment of silence for him. He had not expected Snape to target Harry so quickly.

That emotionless yet magnetic voice echoed through the dark underground classroom.

"Did Gryffindor not save you a seat?"

At the moment, Harry and Ron were sitting among the little snakes along with Eli.

Though there was no explicit rule, it was customary for wizards of the same House to sit together during class.

"Professor..." Harry tried to struggle, only to be mercilessly interrupted by Snape.

"I do not wish to repeat myself, Mr. Potter!"

Faced with Snape's frightening expression, Harry and Ron could only return sheepishly to the Gryffindor seats.

After driving away Harry and Ron, Snape looked at Eli sitting alone and immediately felt refreshed. The whole world seemed beautiful again!

In his excellent mood, Snape began delivering his Potions class declaration.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making."

His voice rose slightly.

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I do not expect you to truly appreciate the beauty of a softly simmering cauldron sending forth white steam and waves of fragrance. You will not truly understand the wondrous power of liquids flowing into people's veins, bewitching the mind and clouding the will... I can teach you how to improve your standing, brew glory, and even stop death—but only if you are not the sort of dunderhead fools I so often encounter."

Sitting there alone, Eli felt uncomfortable all over. Now he was completely exposed beneath Snape's watchful eye.

Still, Snape's speech was undeniably enticing, and the young wizards in the classroom were all drawn in.

Draco especially lit up at the mention of improving one's standing. When Snape spoke of immortality, his expression made it seem like he was about to rush forward and swear loyalty to Snape on the spot.

But after hearing this, Eli began mourning for Harry once again, because the poor boy was about to receive Snape's first attack.

"Mr. Potter!"

Harry, suddenly called on again, raised his head in confusion. A bad feeling had already begun to rise in his heart.

Sure enough, Snape spoke calmly. "Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Harry had barely opened his textbook a few times. How could he possibly know the answer?

"I don't know, Professor."

Snape showed no reaction, because from the moment he asked the question, his eyes had remained fixed on Eli.

A few snickers rose from nearby, all from the little snakes' side—mainly Draco and his lackeys.

Hermione raised her hand high to show that she could answer, but Snape turned a blind eye.

"Don't know? Very well. Where would you look if I told you to find a bezoar?"

"I don't know, Professor."

It was the same answer. The laughter grew louder, Hermione's hand remained raised high, and Snape still ignored her.

"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"I don't know..."

By then, Harry's voice had become much quieter. Snape's triple barrage of questions had truly caught him off guard.

Snape slowly moved his gaze away from Eli and glanced at Harry.

"Oh, clearly extraordinary fame cannot stand for much. You cannot even manage to prepare before class. Ten points from Gryffindor!"

Unrestrained mocking laughter immediately erupted from the little snakes. Draco looked smugly at the expressionless Harry.

Snape swept his gaze around the room. "So why did none of you write down the questions I just asked? It seems Mr. Hall is the only one who knows that a quill is meant for taking notes. Ten points to Slytherin!"

Eli: "???"

Looking at the quill before him, which had not even touched the ink, Eli slowly produced a question mark.

Hermione glared at Eli with utter dissatisfaction. She clearly could have answered those questions!

Even the little snakes were baffled by the sudden points.

Head of House, isn't this favoritism a little too blatant...? Though, a little more would be fine!

Eli, however, felt somewhat emotional. Snape truly loved wholeheartedly. Those questions had seemed like deliberate humiliation, but in truth, he had been expressing through them his regret toward Lily.

It was just that this unique method had really made things difficult for poor Harry.

Next came the practical portion of Potions. Snape assigned them a potion for curing boils, to be made in pairs.

Yet Eli was assigned to work alone. He did not know whether that had been deliberate.

Such a beginner's potion was a piece of cake for Eli.

Even without those scientific instruments, he could rely on the feel he had developed through previous practice to brew an excellent potion.

His movements were very quick, because he had no idea how many times he had practiced this potion before.

Chopping ingredients, squeezing juice, heating the cauldron—his actions flowed smoothly, carrying the air of a grandmaster.

All of this was seen by Snape, the true grandmaster, and a gleam flashed in his eyes.

He slowly walked to Eli's side. By then, Eli was nearly finished, while the other groups were still stumbling through the process, flipping through their books as they chopped ingredients.

Snape scooped up a spoonful of potion and gave it a slight sniff. His expression was like that of someone who had discovered a treasure.

"The book says that three drops of flobberworm mucus should be added. I noticed that you did something slightly different just now?"

Snape's voice was unexpectedly gentle.

Though Snape's sudden gentleness made Eli uncomfortable all over, his potion had caught the attention of a Potions master, and he could not help feeling a little proud.

"Actually, I discovered that the amount in the book is only the most common and stable dosage, but it isn't precise enough. So after collecting the mucus, I pour it down along the stirring rod. That makes it more accurate."

Eli said it rather casually. He had spent a great many Galleons testing that result!

The light in Snape's eyes nearly overflowed. He looked as though he had found a kindred spirit. "Yes, yes, the book's method is not precise. You should have ideas of your own."

He suddenly straightened. "Twenty points to Slytherin!"

He lifted Eli's potion and displayed it to everyone. "I think you should all take a good look at what a real potion is!"

Hermione had only just finished heating her potion. Eli had already completed his, and with such high quality too. She stared at him as if she had seen a ghost.

Had he really been studying?

Class ended quickly. Most students had managed to make their potions, but none could compare with Eli's.

Perhaps because of Eli, Snape was in an exceptionally good mood. He even gave Harry a few pointers, nearly leaving Harry flattered beyond belief.

Even when Neville spilled his potion, he was only shouted at a few times.

"Write today's experiment on parchment and hand it to me next time. Also, Mr. Hall, remain behind."