"Listen up, everyone!" After introducing Golpalott's Third Law, Professor Slughorn addressed the class.
"Come up to the podium and take a small vial each. Before class ends, you must brew an antidote for whatever is inside. Good luck—and don't forget your protective gloves!"
The students all rose to their feet and crowded toward the podium.
Snape also took a small vial from the podium, pulled out the stopper, and poured the vivid blue-violet poison into a cauldron. Then, with a flick of his wand, blue flames whooshed to life beneath it.
First, he silently cast Scarpin's Apparition Charm. As the spell took effect, shadows of various ingredients slowly precipitated from the poison. He then carefully observed the potion's reactions and, after a precise process and strict procedure, quickly identified the hidden additional ingredient.
When Slughorn first came by to inspect Snape's work, he instinctively glanced into his cauldron. A look of astonishment appeared on his face, but he immediately stiffened his expression and walked away with his hands behind his back.
"Have you fallen out of favor?" Aber had already cleared away the murky liquid in his cauldron that smelled like rotten eggs. Now he looked around in boredom. "Why doesn't Old Sluggy praise you anymore?"
"Spare an old man's fragile heart, Aber." Snape did not even raise his head as he continued waving his wand over the cauldron. "If you were him, just being able to come teach us would already be difficult enough."
Under the gentle simmer, wisps of white smoke rose from the cauldron, carrying a wonderful fragrance. Snape's antidote was nearly finished.
"Do you want a grade for this class?" He turned to Aber. "Go get a bezoar from the storage cabinet. Old Sluggy will give you points for it."
"A bezoar?" Aber looked utterly confused.