Snape stood at the corner, half his body hidden in shadow, looking sinister.
Douglas could not help growing wary.
Especially since Snape had disliked him for ages, but had always held back because he was a student.
Now they were both adults, and Douglas had effectively taken the Defense Against Dark Magic position he coveted most...
Douglas suddenly thought of a serious problem. If he really lifted the curse on the position at the end of the school year...
Wouldn't that mean Professor Snape would never have a chance to get the job?
Ha ha...
The thought made Douglas want to laugh.
Professor Snape saw the strange expression on Douglas's face, as though he were desperately trying not to laugh.
His gaunt face grew even darker.
Douglas felt a chill sweep across his neck and hurriedly collected himself.
"You're welcome, Professor. Heh, you know, using Dark Magic of this level, even in class, is against school rules. Strictly speaking, it calls for expulsion..."
Snape glanced at Dolohov and said coldly, "I'd rather he were expelled!"
At those words, Dolohov, standing nearby, began trembling even harder.
Heaven knew, ever since Slytherin had lost the House Cup last term after winning it for seven consecutive years...
Professor Snape had unwittingly found himself a head shorter in front of Professor McGonagall.
Every point Slytherin earned was hard-won, yet this fellow had lost fifty in one go.
The more Snape thought about it, the angrier he grew. He snapped at Dolohov:
"What are you still standing here for? Do you want me to copy out the school rules for you?"
Dolohov was so frightened that he took to his heels.
Snape's thin lips twisted into a faintly mocking smile as he said to Douglas:
"Come with me!"
Douglas did not know why, but he followed Professor Snape anyway.
Once he had followed Snape into a classroom...
The door clicked shut behind him.
Upon entering the classroom, Douglas was stunned by the sight before him.
He looked at Snape, with his greasy black hair, hooked nose, and sallow skin.
Then he looked at the spotless Potions Classroom.
Snape showed his impatience.
"Hmph! Don't get any ideas. I simply thought this would better reflect the rigor and precision of Potions.
"I heard you actually spent some time studying at a Muggle school...
"I brought you here for no other reason than to let you see for yourself.
"The wizarding world is no worse than the Muggle world!"
Douglas said nothing. He had already guessed why the Potions professor had brought him here.
Heh, if you want me to see how the Potions Classroom you've set up compares with a Muggle laboratory, just say so.
Why put on that face as though you're doing it for my own good?
Ahem, after all, I'm currently the only professor at Hogwarts who's studied at a Muggle university.
Douglas made a show of inspecting the classroom.
He was very surprised to see graduated beakers on the tables.
After all, every potion formula was like a cooking recipe.
They were always full of highly subjective terms.
Very imprecise.
Fortunately, Snape had never been a rigid stickler for convention. Even during his school days...
He had questioned some of the textbook's contents and corrected them himself, which showed how truly obsessed he was with Potions.
That was probably precisely why he had made these changes.
After all, in the wizarding world, adopting some of the Muggle world's ways of doing things sometimes took courage.
All the more so for a Slytherin.
After looking around, Douglas asked in puzzlement:
"Professor Snape, haven't you drawn up anything like 'Potions Classroom Safety Regulations'?"
Snape said in a dry voice:
"'Potions Classroom Safety Regulations'? Yes, yes, I've already drawn them up. Mm, yes!"
From Snape's tone, Douglas immediately knew he had never paid any attention to such a thing.
Following the principle of putting education first, Douglas eagerly suggested:
"Professor, the book I gave you contains relevant regulations.
"Most can be used directly, and you can trim and revise them based on your years of teaching experience.
"To make them better suited to the Potions Classroom!"
Snape snorted and said disdainfully:
"Hmph! What use would putting them together do?
"Every lesson, I remind them what mistakes they shouldn't make, but don't they make them anyway?"
With that, he gave Douglas an unfriendly look.
To think that the most unruly fellow in Potions Class back then was actually suggesting drawing up Potions regulations.
How absurd and ridiculous.
Douglas cleared his throat and said earnestly:
"Professor, do you often feel out of your depth while teaching?
"Do your students often make you irritable and short-tempered?
"Do students often complain behind your back that you're so strict they can barely breathe...?"
Seeing Snape's already sallow face grow darker and darker, Douglas hurried on:
"Of course, they don't understand your good intentions, and you don't care about any of that.
"But if there were classroom safety regulations, and they were made to memorize every rule thoroughly...
"Then, without you having to waste your breath reminding them, they'd know why what they did was wrong.
"I also suggest finding yourself an assistant. While the students are working...
"They could handle some minor emergencies for you..."
Snape's tone shifted slightly as he said, full of skepticism:
"Like you, appointing those so-called class representatives everywhere?
"Heh, what do you think Potions is? Something you can accomplish with a wave of a wand?
"..."
Before Snape could finish, Douglas had already guessed what he meant.
He hurriedly cut Snape off. He had no interest in listening to his barbed remarks.
"Professor Snape, I have to say, you need to learn to make proper use of your resources.
"Your assistant doesn't have to come from the same class. There's more than one sixth- or seventh-year taking Potions.
"Besides, even advanced potions don't require them to watch over them every moment.
"You could arrange a rotation and have each of them set aside some time every day.
"To serve as an assistant in your classroom.
"It would actually benefit them too.
"They're bound to encounter emergencies when brewing potions in the future. With experience, at least they won't panic.
"It would also let them see from another perspective how a cauldron of potion sometimes gets ruined, giving them plenty of experience..."
As he listened to Douglas's explanation, Snape slowly nodded.
Once Douglas had finished, Snape said unceremoniously:
"Hmph! Since when did the Potions Classroom allow someone who hasn't studied Advanced Potion-Making to tell us what to do?
"Close the door on your way out!"
"Uh!"
Douglas's face darkened. He had never expected Snape to burn the bridge after crossing it.
Was it that I didn't want to study it? Clearly, someone was afraid my achievements in Potions would surpass his and sabotaged me!
Douglas felt terribly wronged. He was a professor too.
But there was nothing he could do. Which of the Hogwarts professors hadn't taught him for five to seven years?
What could he do? He was inherently a rung below them.
Douglas thought,
Once I've put in five or six years at Hogwarts and built up some seniority...
I'll call them Albus, Severus, Minerva, Filius, and Pomona, one by one...
Forget it. I'd better show my own Head of House some respect and keep calling her Professor Sprout.
Before you continue