As the two entered the Potions classroom, they couldn't help hugging each other tightly.
The classroom was sowhat chilly, but that wasn't the main reason, since the Slytherin dormitories were also underground and just as cold. The row of glass jars along the walls, filled with various animal specins, combined with the eerie atmosphere, gave the place a rather creepy feel.
Dressed in black robes, his greasy hair looking as if it hadn't been washed in years, Snape walked into the classroom, picked up the attendance book, and began calling nas.
He paused when he reached the na Harry Potter.
But to Ethan's surprise, Snape also paused when he called Ethan's na.
After finishing the roll, he snapped the book shut and tossed it casually onto the lectern.
Then he surveyed the entire class, his dark eyes devoid of warmth, filled only with indifference and emptiness.
"You have co here to learn the art of potion-making, the precise science and rigorous craftsmanship." His voice was barely louder than a whisper, yet everyone heard him clearly.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving here, so many of you will likely doubt that this is magic."
"I don't expect you to truly understand the wonder of inhaling the delicate fragrance rising from a great cauldron of simring white steam over a low fla."
"You will never truly understand the wondrous, captivating power of that fluid flowing through your veins, its ability to enthrall and bewitch the mind."
Suddenly he stopped, opened his eyes, and faced them. "Here, I can teach you how to increase your reputation, cultivate glory, and even prevent death."
He spoke those words softly, but they stirred a longing in everyone.
He raised his voice. "But! You must be different from the idiots I usually encounter."
When the introduction ended, the entire class fell silent. Not a sound was made.
Suddenly Snape spoke. "Potter, what would I get if I added daffodil root powder to wormwood infusion?"
Ethan watched intently, observing Snape and Harry's expressions, his heart pounding with excitent. Here it cos! The iconic scene is here!
Harry, looking thoroughly bewildered, glanced at Ron, who looked equally confused, shook his head, and said softly, "I don't know, Professor."
Snape said sarcastically, "Tsk, tsk. Fa doesn't an everything, does it, Mr. Potter?
"Since that's the case, I'll give you one more chance. Where can you find a bezoar?"
"I have no idea."
Ethan looked at Hermione's raised hand and gestured for her to lower it. Hermione saw the gesture, but stubbornly kept her hand raised.
After Snape finished questioning Harry about aconite, Hermione stood up without thinking, her hand raised. She couldn't stand watching Snape harass Harry, nor could she tolerate Draco and the others mocking him.
It wasn't that she wanted to defend Harry personally. Rather, Hermione valued her House's honor deeply and refused to let Gryffindor's reputation suffer.
However, she clearly didn't know about the feud between Snape and Harry Potter.
Snape berated Hermione furiously, ordered her to sit down, then turned on Harry and reprimanded him rcilessly.
Ethan pressed his hand to his forehead in helpless frustration, unable to look at Hermione's reddening eyes.
For today's assignnt, he'd been paired with Draco to brew a potion for treating scabies.
"First, asure out three grams of dried nettles, add them to the cauldron, and simr over low heat for ten minutes. Then add one gram of crushed snake fang powder and simr for another ten minutes."
anwhile, in another cauldron, slugs with tentacles were being stead.
Ethan followed the book's instructions, working through them step by step.
"When you strain the nettles, stir three tis clockwise!" Snape said from beside him.
"Yes, Professor!"
Snape gave him a penetrating look before moving on to check the other groups' progress.
"When adding the fang powder, add it in two batches, stirring well each ti." Snape was at it again.
"Yes, Professor." These were details not ntioned in the book.
When Ethan removed the slugs Draco had stead, disaster struck. Neville ruined his potion.
A plu of green smoke billowed up, and the contents of his cauldron spilled across the floor, eating holes in the shoes of nearby students.
"Idiot!" Snape roared. After sending the unfortunate Neville off to the Hospital Wing, he seized the opportunity to deduct a point from Harry.
Snape vanished the spilled potions from the floor, leaving the rest of the class to continue brewing.
"Damn it! The slug's ruined, Draco. The instructions said to chop it imdiately after cooking, but it's cold now. We need to prepare another while we still have ti."
Draco hurried off to prepare more slugs, while Ethan monitored his potion, watching the color to see if it matched the shade described in the book for this stage.
"Here!" Draco said quickly, holding up a small, chopped slug.
"Good job! Let see. Weigh out five grams, add it to the cauldron, and stir constantly until the potion turns green. Then continue to boil for another five minutes."
He held the stirring rod and stirred in one direction, watching the color gradually shift toward green.
"Alright, remove it from the heat. When the bubbling stops, add the porcupine quills. Then return it to the heat and simr until the quills dissolve completely and the liquid turns dark green. Your potion should be ready."
He focused on his first potion, ignoring Snape as the professor circled past their workstation.
"It's done!" He gave Draco a high five.
Potions class stretched on for what felt like forever. Snape had paired the students up because brewing this particular potion required two large cauldrons.
This ti, Ethan was the assistant while Draco personally brewed the dicine, and he executed the scabies treatnt perfectly.
"Alright, class dismissed."
Ti flew by amid all the bustle. Not many students had managed to brew the potion correctly, and Hermione was one of them. However, she wasn't very happy because she felt singled out.
After leaving the classroom, Ethan kept comforting Hermione, telling her not to be sad.
"Ethan, stay here for a mont."
He was puzzled, wondering why Snape wanted to see him.
Under Hermione's worried gaze, he returned to the Potions classroom and stood before Snape.
"Professor, is there sothing you need from ?"
Snape didn't speak. He simply stared at him with empty eyes, his thin lips moving slightly.
Suddenly, Ethan felt a sharp tingling sensation in his mind.
"What are you doing?"
"A natural-born Occluns, no wonder. Good luck, Mr. Jones." Snape glanced at him with pity and headed toward his office.
"What's wrong with you?" Ethan was annoyed. He didn't know what Snape was doing, but the stinging pain, which was more intense than when he had been sorted by the Sorting Hat, made him very uncomfortable.
He suppressed his anger, left the classroom, and went with Hermione to visit Neville at the Hospital Wing. She was still waiting for him.
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