Draco's mouth fell open, his face as pale as paper.
A new kind of panic rose inside him-the academic anxiety of falling behind.
"I... I haven't been slacking off, Professor!"
Draco spoke urgently, pointing at the books on the desk.
"I studied ahead! I've been reading the fifth-year Standard Book of Spells! I've also practiced..."
"Show me."
Snape gave the order coldly, stepping back and folding his arms.
Draco swallowed and picked up his wand with a trembling hand.
"Protego!"
A translucent barrier appeared in the air, lasted about three seconds, then burst like a soap bubble.
Draco looked at Snape expectantly.
For a student who had only just finished his fourth year, this was already an excellent result from studying ahead.
But Snape merely raised an eyebrow, a trace of mockery appearing on his face.
"Weak and feeble."
"Unstable magical output, stiff wrist movements, unfocused willpower."
Snape delivered his assessment mercilessly.
"If this were an actual fight, a single Disarming Charm from Potter would send you flying into the ceiling."
"But..."
"No buts."
Snape interrupted him, took a roll of parchment he had prepared earlier from inside his robes, and tossed it onto the desk.
"This is the 'Summer intensive training plan-Slytherin special edition' I have devised for you."
Draco unrolled the parchment with trembling hands.
The writing on it instantly drained the last trace of color from his face.
The densely packed writing listed every arrangement from six in the morning until midnight.
``` [06:00 - Morning run (based on the Holmes training method, to improve physical fitness)]
[08:00 - Advanced study of Potions principles (memorize every chapter of Intermediate Potions)]
[10:00 - Defense Against Dark Magic combat simulations (targeted counters to commonly used spells)]
[14:00 - Ancient Runes and logic (develop tactical thinking)]
[22:00 - Review