“How ridiculous.” Snape was genuinely irritated.
What kind of absurd day had this been?
First, he had to endure Charlie’s outrageous claims.
And now even Professor Sprout was talking nonsense.
“You pointed out mistakes in my Potions textbook.” “Your insights are years ahead of current theory.” Who had the time to joke about things like that?
The more Snape thought about it…
The angrier he became.
His face flushed red.
Eventually…
He returned to his office.
Setting down his teaching materials, he let out a long sigh.
Finally…
He could get some rest.
Massaging his temples, Snape slowly entered a meditative state.
The past few days had been utterly bizarre.
Soon…
Time quietly passed.
Half the day slipped by.
After resting enough, Sprout’s earlier words resurfaced in his mind.
“Mistakes in Introduction to Potions*?”* “Revolutionary theories?” Something wasn’t right.
Thinking it over calmly…
Sprout might be elderly and somewhat absent-minded.
But she had never been careless when it came to Herbology.
Never.
Nor was she the sort of person who would play practical jokes on him.
Could she have been telling the truth?
Impossible.
Those comments had been written by Charlie.
How could that be?
Fine.
Even if Charlie had somehow skimmed through all those books in a single day…
Snape could reluctantly accept it.
But actually identifying mistakes in the textbook…
And earning Sprout’s approval?
Ridiculous.
He chuckled at his own absurd thoughts.
Yet only a few minutes later…
His expression slowly changed.
Almost unconsciously…
He picked up the remaining pages of Charlie’s letter—the ones he hadn’t thrown away.
Most had already been torn in half.
He unfolded one of them.
It contained Charlie’s summary of the principles governing magical power condensation.
Originally…
Charlie had only hoped Snape could recommend more advanced books to help verify and refine his ideas.
Snape narrowed his eyes.
He intended to completely destroy the unrealistic fantasy forming in his own mind.
One minute passed.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
Five minutes later.
His brows furrowed.
Ten minutes later…
Snape suddenly inhaled sharply.
Something was wrong.
Charlie’s theories…
Weren’t nonsense at all.
How had he come up with such ingenious angles?
No…
I have to test it.
With that thought, Snape entered meditation once more.
Following Charlie’s method exactly…
He began condensing his magical power.
As the process continued…
The expression on his face grew increasingly solemn.
It…
Actually worked!
Charlie’s self-created method was astonishingly efficient!
Good heavens!
What have I done?
I wrote him an entire thousand-word letter…
Filled with nothing but criticism and condemnation.
He’s only a child.
How could I do something like that?
I’m an absolute fool!
Snape shot upright.
Breaking out of meditation, he immediately began searching frantically across his office.
The previous day, after tearing Charlie’s letter apart, he’d casually tossed the pieces everywhere.
Now…
He had to recover them.
Finally…
Half an hour later…
A dusty, disheveled Snape managed to gather most of the remaining fragments.
Unfortunately…
Several pieces had already been lost for good.
“So…” “My notes are wrong here?” “The herb cultivation process doesn’t need this step?” “…” Snape murmured to himself.
He immediately gathered several potion-making tools and began experimenting.
Several hours later…
He slowly leaned back into his chair.
Staring blankly at the ceiling.
Unable to speak for a long time.
Everything Charlie had written…
Was true.
Every single point.
Merlin…
What a cruel joke.
And I actually wrote back insulting him.
Calling him…
A pig.
A pig…
The real pig…
Was me.
“…” Snape sighed weakly.
The letter had already been sent.
Although it would still take several days to reach Charlie…
Trying to intercept the owl now would be far too late.
He replayed the entire incident in his mind.
His scalp tingled.
Just what kind of child is Charlie?
His talent was downright terrifying.
A wizard blessed by heaven.
Snape had never even heard of someone with gifts like these.
The boy was only ten years old.
Even Dumbledore…
At that same age…
Would probably pale in comparison.
“Albus…” “Someone is going to surpass your place in the magical world one day.” Snape shook his head with a bitter smile.
Then he slowly pulled himself together.
No more wallowing.
The only thing he could do now…
Was fulfill Charlie’s request.
He would collect those books himself.
And personally deliver them.
Apologize face to face?
…That was a little difficult.
Forget it.
He’d decide when the time came.
After all…
Apologizing to Lily’s son…
A once-in-a-generation magical genius…
Didn’t seem so unreasonable.
With that thought…
Snape tidied himself up and left his office.
Soon…
A tall figure dressed in black appeared inside the Hogwarts library.
Supporting himself on the ladders…
He searched shelf after shelf for the books Charlie had requested.
…
Meanwhile…
Charlie was completely baffled.
He had just received Snape’s reply.
The entire thousand-word letter consisted of nothing but criticism of his arrogance.
Thankfully…
Snape had at least shown some restraint.
He hadn’t used a Howler.
Otherwise, if someone had accidentally opened it in public…
That would have been truly humiliating.
“If you didn’t want to help, you could’ve just said so.” “But Uncle Snape…” “You really went all out.” “A thousand words just to lecture me…” Charlie sighed helplessly.
Still…
He had no intention of giving up.
Once Snape had calmed down in a few days…
He would simply write another letter and explain everything.
That was Charlie’s plan.
Time flew by.
After calculating the dates…
Charlie figured Snape’s anger should have faded by now.
He picked up a pen.
He had only just finished writing the opening greeting…
When one of the nuns called out from outside.
“Dear Charlie…” “Someone’s here to see you.”