I was consumed by remorse over Lily's death

The Potions Classroom at Hogwarts was at the very bottom of the castle.

Between the eerie atmosphere and the oppressive air Snape carried with him,

not a single person in the classroom dared even breathe loudly!

Even Ron, who normally loved to chatter, had become as timid as a quail.

Bang!

A sudden thud came from the doorway.

Snape strode into the classroom.

With a sweep of his wand, the classroom windows shut one after another.

The already dim classroom felt even more confined.

"There will be no foolish wand-waving or random incantations in my classroom."

"I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and precise art of Potions."

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic."

"I don't expect you to truly understand the beauty of a softly simmering cauldron giving off white fumes and wafting fragrances."

"Nor will you truly understand the mysterious power of liquids that flow through people's veins, bewitching their minds and ensnaring their senses..."

"I can teach you how to raise your reputation, brew glory, and even stop death-but only if you aren't the sort of dunderheads I usually have to deal with!"

As the only professor at Hogwarts who knew how to use PowerPoint, Snape employed extremely advanced teaching methods.

He braced one hand on the lectern, his hawklike gaze sweeping over the heads of the new students.

It finally settled on a certain student who was busily scribbling away.

"Then again, perhaps some of you arrived at Hogwarts already possessed of extraordinary abilities, confident enough to believe..."

"You! Can! Ignore! My! Lesson!"

Without Hermione's warning from the original story, Harry failed to notice the murderous look in Snape's eyes.

He simply kept writing, oblivious.

Until Snape came to stand before him.

"Mr. Potter!"

Harry jolted in fright at being called on so suddenly.

The classroom erupted in laughter.

Snape stared fixedly into Harry's eyes.

"Mr. Chosen One, tell me, what would happen if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Here it comes! Here it comes!

A classic scene from the original Harry Potter!

And one of its most deeply hidden hints!

Snape's remorse!

Argus watched the scene unfold with great interest, even regretting that he hadn't brought some sunflower seeds and peanuts along.

Harry shook his head.

"You don't know?" Snape gave a contemptuous snort.

"Then let me ask you something else."

"Mr. Potter, where would I look if I wanted to find a bezoar?"

"I don't know, Professor."

"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"I... I don't know."

Snape smiled mockingly. "Clearly, fame isn't everything."

"Is it, Mr. Potter?"

"I'm not the only one who doesn't know the answers!"

Extremely annoyed by Snape's deliberate harassment, Harry looked him straight in the eye and retorted.

"Really?" Snape sneered, turning toward Argus, whose lips were harder to keep down than an AK's muzzle.

"Mr. Grindelwald, please answer those questions for our Chosen One."

I knew it!

The Draught of Living Death is an advanced potion they don't start studying until sixth year!

Pick just about anyone else, damn it, and they might not be able to answer!

Argus stood and answered with the utmost respect.

"Adding powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood and heating it produces the Draught of Living Death, also known as Living Death."

"A bezoar can be found in a goat's stomach."

"Monkshood and wolfsbane are the same thing, just different names."

Snape did not even turn his head.

His voice carried a chill.

"I will warn you only once, Mr. Grindelwald."

"If you dare grin like a troll in my classroom again, I won't mind throwing you out."

"Sit down! Five points to Slytherin!"

"And, Mr. Potter! Five points from Gryffindor for your ignorance and insolence!"

Anger filled Harry's eyes, but Snape ignored him completely, turning to survey the room.

His voice grew colder still.

"Why aren't you writing down those answers?"

The scratching of quills against parchment immediately filled the room.

Anyone with even a little sense could tell that Snape was in an absolutely foul mood!

Nobody wanted to get on his bad side at a time like this.

Potions Class continued.

After teaching them how to prepare dried nettles, crush snake fangs, and perform a series of other steps,

Snape divided all the students into pairs.

Slytherins were still paired with Slytherins, however, and Gryffindors still had Gryffindor partners.

For some reason, though, the sight of Seamus and Ron together gave Argus a sense of foreboding.

Although Neville had been sorted into Hufflepuff, making it impossible for his mistake from the original story to send potion splashing everywhere again,

Seamus was here...

After a moment's thought, Argus pulled his partner Draco into the farthest corner of the classroom.

Draco was puzzled but asked no questions.

The Cure for Boils was not a complicated potion. Even without Argus, he could have completed it easily.

With their tasks clearly divided, the two worked through each step in an orderly manner.

"Oh? It seems our Slytherin chief isn't quite as helpful as the rumors suggest."

Snape, who was patrolling among the students, spotted Argus and Draco tucked away in a corner of the classroom.

He made no attempt to conceal his mockery.

"I simply wanted to leave the opportunity for guidance to other students who need it more."

"Hmph!" Snape smiled derisively.

His already stiff face looked even more frightening.

But a second later, his smile vanished!

A violent explosion rang out!

Green, acidic potion splashed in every direction!

And it happened right beside him!

Sizzle!

The acidic potion hit the floor with a harsh, corrosive hiss.

Quite a few nearby students were caught in the splash!

Snape, who was closest, took the brunt of it!

"Idiots!"

He swept his sleeve up to cover his splashed neck, his furious roar nearly deafening Argus.

But it was far from over.

Because of the explosion, many students accidentally knocked over their own cauldrons as they dodged.

Even the flames beneath the cauldrons began to spread!

Most of the desks and chairs in Hogwarts classrooms were wooden, and they quickly caught fire.

The entire classroom descended into chaos.

"Aguamenti!"

A jet of water shot over from a distance, swiftly extinguishing the surrounding flames.

Another spell immediately followed, clearing every trace of debris from the desktops and floor.

"Scourgify!"

Everyone turned toward the voice.

Argus had just put away his wand and was striding toward them.

"Anyone who isn't hurt, help take the injured to the Hospital Wing first."

"Those who can, use Aguamenti to help give the classroom a quick clean."

At Argus's reminder, everyone snapped out of their daze.

They hurried to support their injured classmates.

Argus was filled with relief.

I knew something would happen!

Even without Neville here, which of those three-Ron, Seamus, and Harry-isn't a troublemaker?

If I hadn't stayed so far away, I might have gotten caught up in it too.

Just like Snape!

"Mr. Grindelwald, if you dare look at me with that disgusting expression again, I won't mind gouging out both your eyes!"

Snape's face was so dark it looked as though water might drip from it.

He stared straight at the culprits behind the incident.

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Finnigan, I think you need to find a reasonable explanation for your idiotic behavior!"