Snape: Have You Ever Drunk a Rejuvenation Potion? Get Out!

The second Defense Against the Dark Arts class this week had Hufflepuff attending with Gryffindor. Professor Thorn first had the students cast the Knockback Jinx on him one by one. Once he saw that everyone could at least successfully fire off the spell, he began having them practice on actual Hinkypunks.

Of course, when it was Roy's turn to cast the spell at Thorn, Roy carefully controlled its power. After all, sending the professor flying again would have been hard to justify.

Since Hinkypunks themselves lacked the ability to attack humans and could at most turn into a ball of ghostly fire to confuse passersby, Professor Thorn boldly let the students engage in practical combat.

Thorne had made plenty of trips to the swamps around Hogwarts these past few days. Catching enough Hinkypunks for the students to practice on had not been easy.

Fortunately, the first-years' spells were still rather poorly executed. After taking dozens of Knockback Jinxes from the students, the dozen or so Hinkypunks had merely collapsed on the ground, still barely alive.

Most of the students performed very well. Professor Thorn generously awarded both Houses several dozen points. Even when a few Hufflepuff students failed to make their spells work due to nerves, Professor Thorn remained very tolerant and encouraged them.

After class, students from both Houses left the classroom in high spirits. Roy called Cedric, Connor, and several others to stay behind and help Professor Thorn clean up the classroom after the lesson.

After helping Thorn put the dozen or so twitching Hinkypunks into cages, Thorn happily clapped his hands and gave every student who had voluntarily stayed behind three points.

"All right, I'll have to feed these ugly little things more raw meat. We'll still need them as teaching materials for the remaining classes with the two Houses."

Before leaving, Thorn did not forget to remind Roy to come to his office tomorrow evening.

Roy raised a hand and gave Professor Thorn an "understood" gesture, then left with his arms around his classmates' shoulders, chatting and laughing.

After taking Charms with Ravenclaw, Potions that afternoon would be with Slytherin. Roy had already prepared himself for whatever difficulties Snape would give him in that class.

Roy deliberately arrived early and sat at the very back of the Potions classroom. It was clear that the lower-year Slytherin students now looked at Roy with hatred and fear in their eyes.

Rumors about Roy had been spreading wildly around the school these past few days. Anyone with even a little sense knew that although Roy looked unreliable, he was actually a truly ruthless character.

Naturally, those little Slytherin wizards did not dare provoke Roy. They could only hope that Snape would teach this arrogant bully a lesson.

The Hufflepuff and Slytherin students very consciously formed two separate rows. Roy specifically sat in the corner at the very back of the classroom, hoping Snape would not notice him.

The students from both Houses had originally been sitting in their seats, whispering to those around them. But the moment Snape strode into the classroom like a giant bat, the entire room fell silent.

Snape stood at the podium, his expression dark as he swept his gaze over the students below as though inspecting his territory.

Snape's icy voice, one that made students tremble with fear, rang out.

"Well, well, Roy Smee—isn't this the great hero who sent a classmate to the hospital? If you love showing off so much, why are you sitting in the corner? Get up front."

Hearing this, Roy knew he could not avoid it. He picked up his things, lowered his head, and walked toward the front of the classroom.

A few Slytherin students let out soft snickers. Roy immediately turned toward the sound with a "kind" smile on his face, and the laughter instantly vanished.

Naturally, this did not escape Snape's eyes. When he saw Roy sit once again in the same left-and-right guardian positions from the previous class, Snape gave a cold snort, tapped the blackboard with his wand, and began explaining the lesson.

This class covered how to prepare a potion base, one of the ingredients used in brewing many different Potions. Snape briefly explained the steps and key points of its preparation, then began discussing its general uses.

"Skele-Gro, including the advanced Rejuvenation Potion, both require this base in their brewing. Smee, tell me the relationship and differences between Skele-Gro and the Rejuvenation Potion."

Snape questioned Roy in his loathsome, icy voice. Roy stood up and looked at Snape, a very humble smile appearing on his face.

"I don't think it is particularly rigorous to say that the Rejuvenation Potion is an advanced form of Skele-Gro. Skele-Gro helps the drinker rapidly regrow bones, while the Rejuvenation Potion is used to help patients recover from injuries to their flesh and skin. In terms of preparation, the materials and steps used for the two potions are almost identical at the beginning. However, after Dittany Essence is added, the steps become completely different. Granted, the Rejuvenation Potion has a longer production cycle and uses more complicated ingredients in its later stages, but I think it should be called a different branch rather than a different level. For example..."

Roy went on and on, not only explaining the preparation methods and effects of the two potions in detail, but also comparing them with other similar potions.

Snape listened from the side as Roy rattled on endlessly. Once Roy finally stopped, Snape could not help laughing in fury at Roy's challenge to his knowledge of Potions.

Yet there was actually nothing factually wrong with Roy's "reasoning," so Snape could only loudly berate him.

"You say the Rejuvenation Potion is not an advanced Skele-Gro? Then let me ask you, have you ever drunk a Rejuvenation Potion? You ignorant fool, get out!"

Faced with Snape's rebuke, Roy showed an extremely remorseful expression. Without saying a word, he lowered his head and walked outside, remembering to close the classroom door behind him. Faced with Roy's impeccable manners, Snape appeared utterly lacking in grace.

The moment he stepped outside the classroom, Roy revealed a smug grin. Standing in the corridor outside the Potions classroom, Roy somehow pulled out a pile of packaged food. He also took that Ancient Magic book from the inner lining of the robe he had made himself, used Transfiguration to conjure a very soft sofa, and sat in the corridor stuffing himself while reading with great interest.

After Roy was kicked out of the classroom, Snape continued explaining Potions to the silent, terrified class. Regarding the question Roy had just raised, Snape even deliberately elaborated a little further on that subject.

However, only a few students in the class could understand such complicated Potions material. Snape spent another half hour explaining the points to note for the lesson, and only when it was time for practical work did he remember Roy, who was still standing outside the door.

The sound of Snape's approaching footsteps reached him. As the footsteps drew closer, Roy immediately began cleaning up the scene of his crime. Fortunately, before Snape opened the door, Roy had completely destroyed all evidence and stood perfectly straight in the corridor, like he had when serving as a soldier in his previous life.

When he saw Snape push open the door, Roy even gave him a military salute.

"Reporting, Professor, I've finished eating—no, I know I was wrong."

As he said this, Roy wiped one grease-covered hand on his green trousers.

Seeing Roy's excellent attitude in admitting his mistake, Snape agreed to let him return and begin the practical work.

Although Roy only began after returning and had to process the ingredients by himself, he still became the first student to finish.

Snape deliberately came over to inspect Roy's result. He gave a cold snort, said nothing, and walked away.