Blatant favoritism

Well, clearly, Professor Snape had stopped the rest of her analysis purely because Harry, standing before her, had already understood what she had worked out...

Since Harry understood it all, did she have any reason to keep going?

Obviously not.

None of this was material required by the textbook or teaching plan. She had only explained it to help Potter understand better.

Leaving it out would not affect the final exam the first years would face in June, so there was no real need to explain it.

Draco, the only other student she needed to look after, had already been entrusted to Harry for tutoring.

If the other young wizards did not understand, so be it. They would surely study it after class. There was no need to worry.

And what if they did not study?

That was simple, too.

Fail them on the final, and they would fall right into line. Nothing to worry about whatsoever.

No young wizard who had experienced Professor Snape's exams would dare fail...

After all, this was Hogwarts, not one of those universities in London!

At other universities, if a professor failed you, you could simply retake the course with another professor the following year.

If you failed Potions Class, Snape would still be there next year...

Who would want to keep facing Professor Snape?

Besides, over all her years of teaching, when had Professor Snape ever taken the young wizards' feelings into account?

Hogwarts' bully, without a doubt.

In short, signs that something was off had already begun to appear in Potions Class...

Judging by the current situation, Potions Class was not quite that absurd yet.

After all, they were still only being taught theory. The young wizards had not yet been allowed to try their hands at the practical work of brewing potions.

Once they started brewing potions, the young wizards would probably witness even more outrageous things...

By then, perhaps Snape would find a reason to award Harry twenty points just for lighting a flame.

Remarks like, "Mr. Potter has perfectly demonstrated how to light a fire under a cauldron. Twenty points to Ravenclaw," probably would not even be anything new by then...

Throughout Potions Class, whenever she passed another young wizard, she would spot a flaw at a glance and casually berate them.

When she passed Harry, she would lavish him with praise if he did well, and patiently guide him if he did not...

When something happened once or twice, everyone would find it unbelievable, perhaps even wonder from time to time whether they were still half asleep.

But if it happened every day, every single time...

Without a doubt, everyone would simply grow numb and stop showing any unusual expressions.

Yes, the current Aunt Snape really was completely different around Harry from how she had been in the original story...

Harry had seen absolutely nothing of that nasty Professor Snape from the original.

Instead, he had gotten a very clear look at this beautiful, radiant Aunt Snape, cold on the outside and warm within~

He had to admit, Information Check really was a wonderful thing!

Feeling the kindly looks Professor Snape cast his way from time to time, Harry finally managed to finish the very last of his Potions notes before class ended.

He raised his head and gave Snape a gentle smile.

He tried to make his smile as mild and innocent as possible, without letting any hint of arrogance show.

At first, Harry had not noticed.

But later, he realized.

Snape was pacing the entire lesson around how quickly he absorbed the material...

What more was there to say?

He could only thank Professor Aunt Snape for her immense kindness!

Tonight, he would definitely show even greater enthusiasm for learning and diligently study Professor Snape's signature skills!

He absolutely would not be rebellious and resistant like Harry in the original story.

Ah, should I study Dark Magic first tonight, or Potions?

Or maybe studying mental magic like Legilimency would be pretty good, too?

What a headache. It's so hard to choose...

Why did I have to face such an agonizing choice when I'd only just arrived at Hogwarts and had a single day of classes? This is terrible!

Of course, terrible or not, I like this bad Aunt Snape anyway. Hehe...

Ahem. Anyone who's good to me is a good person.

Anyone who isn't good to me is no good.

Having transmigrated here, Harry might not have had quite as upright a moral compass as the original Harry Potter.

But being comfortable was what mattered most in life, was it not?

When it came to making life more pleasant, the original Harry certainly could not compare to the current Harry~

As the bell rang to end class, Harry hurriedly packed up the densely covered parchment notes on his desk, along with the Potions textbook whose pages he had turned so often over the summer that it had almost developed a patina.

After bowing to Professor Snape, Harry walked side by side with Malfoy out of the Potions classroom...

"Don't forget tonight. Seven o'clock sharp, Mr. Potter."

The moment Harry stepped across the threshold, Professor Snape's voice appeared in his ears without warning, like a bat's ultrasonic call transmitted straight to him.

He had to admit, that was a talent.

Silent footsteps when she walked, a terrifying atmosphere when she spoke-Professor Snape certainly had some unique talents...

"Yes, Professor. I'll be there on time."

Harry nodded.

After giving Professor Snape a slight bow of thanks, he left the Potions classroom for good...

"Exactly like Lily. Even when thanking someone, he bows at about thirty degrees..."

Ever since she had fully begun seeing Harry as Lily, Snape's fiercely burning urge to dote on him had started to grow a little out of control...

Yes, Lily's child.

The child of the one I once loved so deeply.

Why shouldn't I dote on him a little?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with adjusting my pace in class to suit him a little, is there?

Even if Dumbledore asks, this is simply my teaching style. It has nothing whatsoever to do with anything else.

Harry isn't like that bastard James Potter!

He merely has a damned father. What does that have to do with his mother?

And what does it have to do with him?

A father's sins should not be borne by his child.

And love for the mother can be transferred to this child. That's perfectly normal. Mm-hmm~

In any case, I, Severus Snape, am definitely protecting Harry now!

Besides, I need to prepare for tonight. Potter's performance in the last lesson really was exceptionally good. His learning speed was simply absurd...

That's very good.

Just what I'd expect of Lily's child. Phew...

With a gentle smile, Professor Snape used her fair, slender fingers to pull aside her outer robes and reach into the pocket of the garment underneath, over her chest.

Professor Snape drew out an exquisite brass locket containing a photograph so old it had yellowed:

"Lily..."