It was Potions class on Friday morning.
No one dared to be late for this class, everyone arrived early, especially the Gryffindor lions. They were all looking as if their mothers had just died.
Ethan, however, didn't care. After all, he was a Ravenclaw, and he had no beef with Snape.
Bang!
The classroom door was slammed open when the time for class arrived.
Professor Snape walked in from the doorway. He was walking so fast that his black cloak billowed behind him, making a "whoosh" sound.
No wonder he was called "Old Bat," he truly looked like one.
Like most professors, Professor Snape's first order of business was to take attendance. Apart from pausing at Harry's name, he was as cold as a robot throughout the entire process.
The low, muffled voice, coupled with the gloomy basement, the specimens soaking in bottles and jars, made the whole classroom feel incredibly oppressive.
The young wizards and witches didn't dare breathe a word except for the occasional "present".
"You have come here to learn the precise science and strict methods of potion-making," Snape said.
"Many of you will not believe that this is magic because there is no silly waving of wands here. I do not expect you to truly appreciate the beauty of a simmering cauldron, spewing white smoke and wafting a delicious aroma. You will not truly understand the wondrous magic of the liquid flowing into people's veins, the kind that makes hearts race and minds wander."
"I can teach you how to rise to prominence, brew glory, even stop death, but there is one condition: you must not be the kind of fool I often encounter."
An extremely captivating opening statement that elevated the prestige of Potions to an infinite level.
Even the Philosopher’s Stone couldn't stop death, it could only extend life. But the body would become extremely fragile under the erosion of time, not to mention saving the dead.
In the end, Snape was just painting a rosy picture.
Snape scanned the students below, his gaze fixed on a particular direction.
"I must reiterate, perhaps there are some in Hogwarts who, relying on their great fame, are so confident that they can ignore my lessons!"
As he spoke, the killing intent in Snape's eyes grew stronger.
Ron, sitting next to Harry, was now frozen in place. He had sensed where the problem lay, Harry was still writing, but he dared not move!
Snape approached Harry, looming over him.
"Mr. Potter!"
Harry, startled by his name, shivered and quickly looked up, meeting Snape's eyes that held no emotion whatsoever.
And Harry had a strange feeling, as if Snape was going to gouge out his eyes.
"Mr. Potter, the new generation's celebrity!"
"If I were to add powdered Dittany to a leathery extract, what would I get?"
This was absolutely one of the deepest hints, representing Snape's repentance.
The flower language of Narcissus is love, and the flower language of mugwort is pain.
Love and pain, it was self-explanatory.
Snape's love was Lily, meaning Snape was deeply pained by Lily's death.
Ethan watched this scene with great interest. Snape was confessing to Lily's son, but her son had no idea.
Moreover, this content was not for first years, it was from the sixth-year textbook, and it was specifically designed for Harry.
Seeing Harry shake his head, Snape snorted. "You don't know?"
Hermione, sitting not far from Harry, raised her hand high. She had been overshadowed by Ethan and Cassandra in class before, now she was determined to seize this opportunity. She had reviewed all this knowledge beforehand.
But Snape's eyes didn't even glance at her.
He only had Harry in his sights!
"Then let's change the question. If I were to ask you to find me a bezoar, where would you go to look?"
Here it comes again, bezoar is an antidote.
This links to the above, how do I resolve my pain?
"I don't know, sir!"
Hermione's hand was trembling as she held it up, but Snape continued to ignore her.
"What is the difference between a Aconitum delphinifolium and an Aconitum Lycoctonum?"
The flower language of Wolfsbane has several meanings, one of them being "living for love."
This is a private matter that's packed with too much!
"I don't know!" Harry was quite unhappy at this point. Ever since their first encounter in the Great Hall, he had felt that Snape disliked him.
Now he was sure of it. Snape was deliberately picking on him. He retorted angrily:
"Hermione knows the answer, why don't you ask her!"
Hermione was already standing up, with her hand still raised to answer the question.
"Sit down!"
Snape roared, there was no room for self-assertion in his classroom.
Suddenly, Snape turned his head and glared at Ethan.
"Mr. Adrian, answer my question!"
My dad didn't steal your wife, why are you targeting me?
According to Snape's character, even if an outsider answered correctly, he wouldn't give them any points, it would be a thankless task.
But Ethan still reluctantly stood up.
"Powdered Dittany and a leathery extract can be combined to make a potion called "Life and Death Water."
"Bezoar can be found in a goat's stomach and has a strong antidote effect."
"Aconitum delphinifolium and Aconitum Lycoctonum are the same plant, collectively known as Aconitum."
"Correct answer, but I must tell you, if you keep looking at me with that gaze, I will gouge out your eyeballs."
"Now sit down!"
"And, Mr. Potter, five points will be deducted from Gryffindor for your ignorance."
Snape's emotionless eyes swept over the two of them.
Ethan sat down with a look of displeasure. This was just watching a spectacle, but who asked you to cram so much private stuff into it, and you got caught too.
It serves you right for losing your wife and being bullied.
Harry, beside him, also had anger flashing in his eyes, but Snape didn't care at all. After glancing around the classroom, he said coldly:
"Why didn't you write down the answers just now?!"
Just then, Ethan felt a gaze locked on him. He followed the gaze to its source and found that it was Hermione.
He wouldn't be thinking that he stole her opportunity, would he?!
Ethan could only spread his hands helplessly. It wasn't his fault, and besides, except for the Slytherin students, no one else would get extra points for answering correctly. But the deductions would still be there.
Unless Harry was a girl, then he would still get points even if he answered wrong.
Honesty, bravery, aren't these all good reasons? Snape could find them if he wanted to.
Unfortunately, Harry was a boy, and he looked exactly like James.
"You two, are you flirting with each other?"
"Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, five points each deducted!"
Snape, who had the whole classroom under his eye, naturally saw everything. He couldn't stand to see boys and girls interacting, especially in his classroom.