Breakfast at Hogwarts was surprisingly good.
After finishing their meal, the students set off in groups of two or three, making their way toward their first classes of the day.
“Our dormitory is amazing!” Lily’s voice was filled with excitement.
She could hardly wait to share everything she had seen with Severus, her bright emerald eyes sparkling as she spoke.
“You can even look out the window and see the lake!
It’s incredible!” “And it looks like Remus has already made some new friends.
Those two boys we argued with on the train are with him, along with that short, chubby boy.
I don’t really like them, though.” Like a cheerful songbird, Lily chatted almost nonstop as they made their way to the Charms classroom.
Charms was a shared class between Gryffindor and Slytherin, so after carefully navigating Hogwarts’ ever-changing staircases, Severus and Lily naturally arrived together and took seats beside one another.
A sharp, resentful gaze landed on Severus from behind.
He didn’t even need to turn around to know it belonged to Melvin, the dormmate he had ignored the previous night.
“…Who’s that?” “My roommate.” Severus answered matter-of-factly.
“A poor soul whose brain has been thoroughly poisoned by pure-blood ideology.
I haven’t decided what to do with him yet.” Lily’s smile froze.
After a moment of silence, she seemed to recall scenes from detective novels and crime films she’d watched with her parents.
Her expression gradually became solemn, then strangely determined.
Finally, she nodded firmly.
“When you’re done…” “I’ll help you carry the body into the Forbidden Forest.” “We’ll just have to make sure none of the students or professors catch us.” Severus jerked his head toward her, wearing perhaps the most shocked expression Lily had ever seen.
He had always believed people were influenced by those they spent time with.
But it had only been two years.
How had Lily’s morals deteriorated this quickly?
“What are you thinking?” He lightly flicked her forehead.
“I’m eleven.” “I have absolutely no intention of ending up in Azkaban.” Lily covered her forehead and glared at him indignantly.
I finally made up my mind to become your accomplice, and this is how you repay me?
She was about to argue back when the classroom door opened.
Professor Flitwick entered.
Reluctantly, Lily swallowed her complaint, though the glare she sent Severus made it abundantly clear that this matter wasn’t over.
Professor Filius Flitwick, the Charms professor, was a very short wizard with goblin ancestry.
Because of his height, he climbed onto a stack of books before addressing the class, his high-pitched voice carrying surprisingly well throughout the room.
Many first-years subconsciously underestimated him because of his appearance.
Severus, however, knew better.
Few people knew that Professor Flitwick had once been a British Duelling Champion.
That title alone was enough to prove his extraordinary skill.
Among the professors at Hogwarts, his magical ability could easily rank among the very best.
“Charms,” Professor Flitwick began with a warm smile, “are an indispensable part of a witch or wizard’s daily life.” “They allow us to unlock the true potential of our wands.” “In countless situations, the right charm can save both time and effort.” “They allow us to accomplish what would otherwise seem impossible.” “And in a duel…” “A clever spell cast at precisely the right moment can turn defeat into victory.” Standing atop his pile of books, Professor Flitwick quickly drew the students’ attention with his lively and approachable teaching style.
He raised his wand and pointed toward a feather lying on the desk beside him.
Pronouncing every syllable clearly, he demonstrated the spell.
“Wingardium Leviosa.” Before the students’ astonished eyes, the feather slowly rose into the air.
It drifted gracefully around the room, following the movements of Professor Flitwick’s wand.
While everyone stared in amazement…
Lily quietly leaned toward Severus.
“You cheated before school started, didn’t you?” “…” After a brief silence, Severus finally realized she was still talking about the day they had received their Hogwarts letters.
“Yes.” “And I taught you this spell too.” “You just didn’t have a wand back then.” Lily snorted.
“So should I thank you?” “You’re welcome.” “I wasn’t thanking you!” Unable to contain herself, she quietly stepped on Severus’s foot beneath the desk.
At that exact moment, Professor Flitwick was explaining the proper wand movement for the Levitation Charm when an irritating voice rang out from the back of the classroom.
“Professor!” James Potter stood with a smug grin.
“Why don’t you let the great Mr.
Snape demonstrate it?” “He seems awfully busy flirting with his girlfriend.” “I’m sure a simple charm like this won’t be any trouble for him.” Laughter immediately spread through the classroom.
Sirius laughed the loudest, while Peter eagerly joined in beside him.
Only Remus, sitting quietly on James’s other side, looked uncomfortable.
He opened his mouth slightly, clearly wanting to say something, but eventually lowered his head without speaking.
Children were much the same everywhere.
A dull lesson could make anyone sleepy.
But the moment something unexpected happened, even the smallest incident suddenly became the most interesting thing in the room.
The mocking gazes from every direction settled on Severus.
For an ordinary eleven-year-old, such attention would have been overwhelming.
James eagerly waited to see him panic.
Instead…
Severus calmly picked up his wand.
Without the slightest trace of nervousness, he pointed it toward the feather on his desk.
“Wingardium Leviosa.” The feather immediately floated into the air.
There was no hesitation.
No struggle.
It rose smoothly and naturally, as though gravity had simply ceased to exist.
Professor Flitwick’s eyes lit up.
“Excellent, Mr.
Snape!” He clapped his hands excitedly.
“Perfect execution!” “Ten points to Slytherin!” The award instantly energized the classroom.
If Severus could do it on his first attempt, perhaps the Levitation Charm wasn’t as difficult as Professor Flitwick had claimed.
Reality quickly shattered that illusion.
Peter’s spell went disastrously wrong.
Instead of making the feather float, he somehow caused himself to shoot toward the ceiling, where he hung helplessly until Professor Flitwick rescued him, screaming the entire time.
Melvin confidently attempted the charm several times.
The feather didn’t move even a fraction of an inch.
As each attempt failed, the confidence on his face gradually gave way to confusion and disbelief.
James and Sirius displayed considerable talent.
Although neither managed true levitation, both succeeded in making their feathers twitch and quiver across the tabletop.
They were clearly only a step away from success.
Only then did everyone truly realize how difficult even an introductory charm could be.
However, before most of the class had recovered from their repeated failures, another student succeeded.
“Excellent work, Miss Evans.” Professor Flitwick beamed.
“Ten points to Gryffindor!” “Thank you, Professor.” Lily smiled shyly.
“But actually…” “Severus taught me this spell a long time ago.” “If anyone deserves the credit, it’s him.” Professor Flitwick blinked in surprise before looking back toward Severus.
A broad smile spread across his face.
“So we have someone who studied ahead before arriving at Hogwarts.” He chuckled.
“Still, Mr.
Snape, remember that now you’ve started school, underage magic outside Hogwarts is prohibited.” “Thank you for the reminder, Professor.” Severus nodded politely.
His respectful attitude pleased Professor Flitwick even more.
“In that case…” He announced cheerfully, “Miss Evans keeps her ten points.” “And Mr.
Snape will receive an additional five points for his eagerness to learn and for helping a fellow student.” Immediately, countless looks of envy and surprise turned toward Severus.
Naturally, there were also plenty of dissatisfied mutters.
For some students, their hostility toward him only deepened.
The first Charms lesson ended amid this subtle atmosphere.
By the end of class, only five or six first-years from both Houses had successfully cast the Levitation Charm, and every one of them received enthusiastic praise from Professor Flitwick.
Unfortunately for those who succeeded after Severus and Lily, no additional House points were awarded.
Their homework was simple.
Practice the Levitation Charm until everyone could cast it successfully before the next lesson.
The students gradually left the classroom in small groups.
Under James’s deliberate encouragement, sarcastic remarks aimed at Severus echoed loudly through the corridor.
Severus paid them no attention whatsoever.
To him, it felt no different from listening to an overconfident child loudly proclaim during a family gathering that they would one day be admitted to Oxford or Cambridge.
It was amusing.
Nothing more.
He had long outgrown the age where he needed validation from other people’s opinions.
Even if James somehow persuaded every student in Hogwarts to dislike him…
So what?
The knowledge Hogwarts offered over the next seven years was real.
Everything else was temporary.
Seven years later, how many of those students who mocked him today would still be qualified to stand beside him?
Severus had absolute confidence in the answer.
Even without the Replication System, he believed he could make a name for himself in the magical world.
The system would simply allow him to reach that destination much sooner.
After most of the students had left, Severus walked over to Professor Flitwick.
“Professor, thank you for today’s lesson.” “I was wondering if I could ask you questions whenever I run into difficulties.” “Of course!” Professor Flitwick smiled warmly as he shook Severus’s hand.
“Your theoretical knowledge is remarkably solid.” “I doubt you’ll find many challenges in the first-year curriculum.” “If you have spare time, I’d recommend visiting the library and reading ahead.” “I’ll take your advice, Professor.” The moment their hands touched, Severus’s eyes froze for an instant.
A trace of excitement flashed across his normally calm expression.
Because in his field of vision, Professor Flitwick’s talents shone with an astonishing golden radiance.
— [Name: Filius Flitwick] [Replicable Talents: [Time Lag] — Red [Aggressor] — Gold [Agile Footwork] — Gold [Erudite] — Gold [Spell Master] — Gold —