Today, Roy and Aisling were going to prepare the base liquids for their respective Potions first. There was no need to light a fire; cold processing would do. Still, even the first step of such a complex potion was incredibly complicated. Roy and Aisling each made two mistakes just in the proportions of hard liquor and red wine. If Roy had not chopped enough chicory yesterday, the two of them would have had to go back to chopping herbs before they could even finish the first step of soaking the chicory in the base liquid.
Perhaps because Aisling had made mistakes as well today, Snape did not say anything nauseating after the two of them messed up repeatedly. He merely watched them a little more closely as they mixed the hard liquor and red wine.
Once they had both finished chanting over the base liquids containing the soaked chicory, Snape glanced once more at the liquid in their cauldrons. This time, it had not turned the black that signified failure. Only then did Snape nod with slight satisfaction.
Now that Roy had succeeded, Snape instead began speaking sarcastically. He walked behind Roy, gave a disdainful snort, and spoke viciously in a low voice by Roy's ear.
"Hmph. You failed twice on just the first step. Roy Smith, stop showing off that cleverness you're so proud of. Don't think knowing a few people makes you a Potions master. If you want to save that little girl, then do exactly as I tell you."
Roy was speechless. Had he not been following Snape's instructions all along? He had only made a few minor mistakes. Why was Snape not saying the same thing to Aisling beside him? What a double standard. But despite the countless complaints in his heart, he swallowed every one