“He wants more advanced magic books?” “He’s already finished all of these?” “He claims he’s summarized the principles of magical power condensation and wants a more advanced book to optimize them?” “He says there are many mistakes in Introduction to Potions and wants more authoritative books to verify them?” “And my notes…
contain mistakes?” The muscles around Snape’s eyes twitched violently.
“Outrageous!
Charlie…
Charlie!
You’re just as arrogant and rude as your father!” “I must have lost my mind to agree to lend you those magic books.” “If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I’d have crushed any thought you had of learning magic.” Snape stood up and began pacing around his office.
His expression darkened by the second.
He was furious.
Absolutely furious.
And honestly…
His reaction wasn’t unreasonable.
A child who had only received those books a single day ago…
Actually claimed he’d finished reading all of them.
And now he wanted more.
Was that even remotely possible?
Any first-year student at Hogwarts would need at least a year or two to properly study those books.
Fine.
Even if Charlie had somehow skimmed through them all…
Snape could reluctantly accept that.
But what was all the nonsense that followed?
He’d summarized the laws governing magical power condensation and wanted to improve them further?
Introduction to Potions contained numerous errors?
If there were mistakes, wouldn’t I know about them?
And my personal notes had errors too?
Merlin’s beard…
What an incredible joke.
No…
I was the joke.
I’d actually wasted so much time indulging him.
Damn it.
After a long while…
Snape took a deep breath.
Trying to calm himself.
He sat back down and closed his eyes.
Half a day later…
He picked up his quill again.
“Charlie, I hope you will grow into an honest and upright person.
Everything you wrote in your letter was unbelievably arrogant.
I am deeply disappointed in you.
Reflect upon yourself.” …
Snape filled several pages with similar reprimands.
Then he summoned his owl.
The letter was sent off immediately.
Only after that did he finally let out a long sigh.
Disappointment was written all over his face.
He had always thought highly of Charlie.
Especially after witnessing the astonishing things Charlie had done as a baby.
He had believed Charlie to be a wizard blessed by fate.
He had never imagined Charlie would become so conceited.
The realization disappointed him immensely.
…
A day later.
Charlie remained at the orphanage, patiently waiting for Snape’s reply.
He had absolutely no idea…
That the letter waiting for him contained little besides criticism.
Meanwhile…
At Hogwarts.
Snape had just finished teaching a Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
He packed up his belongings and left the classroom.
His mood remained terrible throughout the walk.
Every time he thought about Charlie’s letter from the previous day…
His anger flared up all over again.
That arrogant tone…
It reminded him far too much of Charlie’s father, James.
And Snape despised it.
“Oh, Professor Snape!
I wasn’t expecting to find you here.” A slightly hoarse voice interrupted his thoughts.
Snape looked up.
An elderly witch stood before him.
Pomona Sprout.
Hogwarts’ Herbology professor and the Head of Hufflepuff House.
Her face was full of excitement.
The way she looked at Snape was almost glowing with admiration.
Confusion flickered across Snape’s face.
Judging by her expression…
She had come looking for him specifically.
“Can I help you?” Snape asked bluntly.
“Oh, forgive me for being so abrupt.” Professor Sprout apologized immediately.
“I’d like to borrow just a little of your time.” “I promise it’ll only take half an hour.” Snape frowned.
He disliked being interrupted.
“I’m sorry.” “But I truly hope you’ll agree.” Her expression was utterly sincere.
“…Half an hour.” “Thank you!” Sprout beamed with delight.
She immediately led Snape into a meeting room.
“Please forgive my excitement.” “I simply couldn’t contain myself.” Snape stared at her blankly.
“…?” “Oh, right, sorry.” “I still can’t calm down.” “Please, just give me a moment.” Taking a deep breath, Sprout pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper.
“Was this page discarded by you?” Snape glanced at it with mild annoyance.
…Charlie’s letter.
That was indeed his.
The previous day, in a fit of anger, he had crumpled several pages and thrown them into the trash.
Apparently, after the cleaners emptied the bin…
It had somehow ended up in Sprout’s hands.
“Ridiculous.” “It’s just a piece of trash.” “And you came all this way because of it?” “No, Professor Snape, you’ve misunderstood me.” Sprout’s expression changed immediately.
She knew Snape’s personality well.
Proud.
Cold.
And clearly…
He was getting angry.
“I happened to notice the paper sticking out of the trash while passing by.” “I only intended to pick it up.” “But then I accidentally noticed some observations about magical herbs written on it.” “Forgive my bluntness…” “But those insights were astonishingly advanced.” “You even pointed out several mistakes in Introduction to Potions, the very textbook I helped compile.” “So I checked the waste bin’s markings and realized it came from your office.” “That was why I assumed you’d thrown it away.” “I only came to discuss those ideas and your corrections with you.” Snape froze.
…What?
Is she serious?
Is she actually going this far just to toy with me?
“Enough!” Snape barked.
Then he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Leaving Professor Sprout utterly bewildered.
She stood there in complete confusion.
“Did…
did I say something wrong?” “Why is Professor Snape so angry?” She sighed.
“Never mind.” “His notes identified several mistakes in Introduction to Potions.” “I shouldn’t overthink it.” “I simply need to thank him.” “I never imagined Professor Snape’s expertise extended so far beyond Defense Against the Dark Arts.” “Even his understanding of Potions is so profound.” “He truly is remarkable.” “Hogwarts is fortunate to have him.”