"Then how did he come up with the Improved Wolfsbane Potion?"
Voldemort's voice was low and dangerous, every word setting Snape's nerves on edge.
It seemed that one wrong word would mean he would never leave this Castle today.
"Improving the Wolfsbane Potion isn't as simple as adding a little sugar. It means restructuring the entire potion, breaking down the Werewolf Poison factor at its very root."
He pointed at the books on the table.
"Even I only understood what that sort of improvement meant after reading these Muggle theories. This has already departed from magic, yet it isn't a Muggle method at all."
"Tell me, Severus. Where exactly did he learn all this knowledge about bloodlines and biological structures?"
"Could the Hogwarts Library contain forbidden books on Life Alchemy that even I don't know about?"
The hall fell silent once more.
Lucius huddled in a corner, not daring to breathe too loudly, terrified that he would be silenced for hearing secrets he should not have heard.
Snape remained on one knee, his mind racing.
That bastard Douglas really hadn't attended many Potions Classes. He spent his time either roasting meat in the Forbidden Forest or researching how to bring Muggle things into the school.
The Improved Wolfsbane Potion?
He had no idea how Douglas had come up with it either.
But Snape couldn't say that.
He had to give Voldemort a reason, one that would convince him and keep him charging down the path originally laid out for him.
"Muggles."
Snape gritted his teeth and forced the word out between them, as though it burned his mouth.
"What?" Voldemort narrowed his eyes.
"I said Muggles, my Lord."
Snape raised his head, forcing a bitter, faintly mocking smile onto his face.
"You may have overestimated him. He has no profound